Looking Back

...You know, I've realized something.

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This summer...I think I've been all play and no work.

I see that, "You're just realizing this now?" look, Master, and I don't like it.

But seriously, it's been nothing but fun and games, delicious food, and a wonderful night's sleep in a cool and comfortable tent.

Then I wake up refreshed the next day and do it all over again.

It's amazing. With all the fun and hunting for secret treasures, it's like my life has been a perpetual entertainment machine.

But as great as this has been...I can't help but wonder if it's even okay for me to live like this!

Am I truly fulfilling my Servantly duties!?

Am I not simply wasting my summer vacation away like some ordinary high school student!?

So, after giving it some thought

Ahem. The soumen you requested is ready.

Ooh, wonderful. I'll be right there.

Yes, yes. Go set the table, will you?

Okay, let's eat♪

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It's delicious. Absolutely delicious.

The only thing that could make it better is if there was some Russian food here, too.

Now be reasonable! You can't always have everything you want!

That's not what Ivan the Terrible would say. He'd say, "Ivant what Ivant!"

... ...

Was that not funny? It always killed in Russia.

Um, not so much.

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Hmph. Well, I guess I appreciate your honesty.

Fine, I'll admit it wasn't my best effort.

But, I am a member of the tsardom; I cannot let this disgrace stand.

Granted, I was so far down the line of succession that it would've been faster to count my place from the bottom.

And if I had actually inherited the throne...I probably would have brought the country to ruin.

That's just what the Russia I come from was like.

That's surprisingly, um, forthright of you.

I'm nothing if not honest. But we digress.

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Yes, that's true...

Well, as I was saying, I've been spending this summer like a lazy high school student.

And that won't do at all. It even threatens to taint my legacy once I'm gone.

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It's simple.

I'm going to go viral.

Viral?

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I was one of the first people ever to take selfies, so now, I'm going to take even more influential photos.

Well, I know selfies are fairly common among both the masses and socialites these days, but...

...are you sure about this? You're not worried you might, er, get flamed to a crisp for posting a bad pic?

(Really, when you think about it, flames might be the least of her worries.)

Not to worry. Taking selfies is like having a dialogue with yourself.

I'm going to take selfies of an elite world you two can't even begin to imagine.

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(Mark my words: this will not end well.)

Uh... Fujimaru, I want you to go along with her. That's an order.

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Oh, would you like to come too, Master? Yes, of course! I'd love that!

All right then, let's get

Well, I'd best get going. I still have a lot of work to do.

Oh, hold on. I want to take my first selfie here, together.

Uh...

Is there a problem?

(I'll say. Thanks to her spirit friend, Viy, her selfies always seem like they're sucking the soul right out of you...)

Well, it doesn't matter. I'm taking one anyway. Okay, everyone get in here. Master, I want you to squeeze in the middle, okay?

Say cheese!

Ch-cheeese.

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Okay, now to make the rounds with everyone else. I think I'll start with...Da Vinci.

It's time to make some lasting memories!

Oh hey, what's up? Huh? Selfies?

You don't mind, do you? And don't forget to include Steggy!

...Well, I guess you can never have too much data! Okay, go ahead!

If people in the future ever see this photo, I wonder what they'll think the creature you're holding is.

Maybe a big lizard? Or, hehe, just a stuffed animal?

Hey, it's not every day you see a real live dinosaur.

Okay, it came out great. You can tell we're all friends having fun hanging out.

All right, on to the pirates!

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Whoa, whoa, what do ye think yer doin' here, girly!? This ain't no place for classy dames like you!

I know! Let's kidnap her and sell her to th' highest bidder!

Hehehe, that oughta fetch us quite the bundle... Huh? What're ye doing?

There, that's a nice picture. Just me flashing a peace sign with pirates.

Although, right now, it's just a picture of Caribbean pirates. Nothing special, right?

So I had a thought. What can I do to make this picture go viral?

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What we need...are before and after shots.

(I don't like where this is goin'!)

Cheeese.

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Brrr... S-so cold...

Don't worry. The Caribbean sun will melt you free sooner or later.

Well, let's look on the bright side. At least we're not sweltering anymore!

If we're gonna be here for a while, we may as well make the best of it. Oi, barkeep! Another round!

How're ye gonna drink it when ye can't move?

Barkeep! Mind pourin' it down me throat for me!?

Hell yes I mind!

Okay, on to the next one! Oh, I know.

Excuse me everyone, but would you happen to know where I can find Blackbeard and Sei Shounagon?

Um, here, this is what they look like.

Oh, those two? We saw 'em in another tavern.

Wait. How'd ye get this paintin' lookin' so realistic!?

Hm hm hmm♪

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Oh, very much.

I never visited anywhere so bright and sunny when I was alive.

Of course, Servants are given the knowledge they need to adapt to their surroundings when they're summoned, so I certainly knew places like this existed.

But knowing about something and experiencing it for yourself are very different things. Okay, on to the next tavern!

Another!!!

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Heh. You'll get it when you grow up, Master.

When it comes to guilty pleasures, there's nothing better than day drinking!

Besides, you can probably tell from the crowd that we're not exactly in a fancy crowd here!

Who asked you!?

I see. Then I guess I'd better have a drink myself.

I'll take a fruit juice, please. Something strong.

Here you go.

What is it?

Aqua regia. Also known as...royal water.

I'm not drinking that. (*Definitely poisonous)

I'm just kidding. It's cranberry juice.

You gotta watch out for this barkeep. Sometimes he really DOES mix in poison!

Anyway, what'd you wanna see us about?

Oh, yes. I was hoping you'd be willing to take a photo with me.

Huh? No way. I like my soul where it is.

Seriously? What century are you froOh, right. You're actually from way before my time, aren't you?

Well don't worry, Blackbeard. You soul isn't going anywhere.

I'm just going to post this pic to Servantgram and make it go viral.

All right, let's fight for it! If I win, I won't have to be in the picture!

Huh? I'm not going to fight you for this. That's too much of a pain.

That is not how these conversations are supposed to go!

Now stop whining and just let me take the picture already. I'm on a schedule here.

Nagikooo.

What'd you have in mind? Should Chan-mas and me make a heart with our hands?

No way. Now smile for the camera!

'Kaaay!

...This is turning out to be quite the group photo. Oh well, that's okay.

Huh? You wanna take a picture with me?

Sure, that's fine! Oh, is this outfit okay?

Should I put on a tuxedo or something? No? Got it!

You want to take a picture with me? Yes, of course that's fine.

Fine, but be quick. I got shit to do.

Are you sure you want me in it, too?

I'm so pretty, the rest of you will seem downright plain.

I'm sure it'll be peeerfectly fine. Besides, this is mainly to make summer memories.

Hmph.

I don't usually like having my picture taken...but, if Wielder doesn't mind, I guess it's fine.

Do I have to change? Should I put on a suit or something?

Why does everyone want to change into something fancier?

Now then...

Things have gone smoothly so far, but the next one will be a doozy.

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Because next on my list is our downer of a Rider.

Sup. Downer here.

You want to take a photo together, huh...

...I'm not very photogenic, so I'd kind of rather you didn't...

I thought you might say that.

Hm?

Don't worry, I can edit the photo to make us look better.

For example...

This is the before shot.

'Kay.

And this is the after.

Uh, where'd those come from...?

Before...

After.

O-okay.

Before...

And after.

Those aren't even the same guys!

Photo editing apps can do a lot these days.

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So, what do you say? If there's anything about the photo you don't like, I can edit it.

So you don't have to worry about how it turns out!

Well, all right then, I guess...

Come on, Master. You should know by now to get in here, too.

Cheeese.

Ch-cheeese.

Okay, I'll edit it right now.

Gotcha.

A little of this, a little of that, and...

Okay, here's the before.

And here's the after.

Are you kidding!? We don't look anything like ourselves!

Whoops. Maybe I took it a little too far.

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I'm just kidding. Here, how about this?

Wow, I actually have a normal smile...

Granted, it may not be the most true-to-life picture...

Still pretty cool though, don't you think?

Yeah, it is.

If we can do stuff like this, maybe I won't be so shy about having my picture taken.

Now then. Oh Chaaar?

Anastasia? What are you doing here?

I'm actually here to see you.

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Yes, that's right.

I wouldn't be particular about titles like "Grand Duchess" after all this time.

...Besides, there are so many kings and queens at Chaldea that I feel anything but grand in comparison...

Well, I for one never thought I'd become friends with a grand duchess. Just goes to show you never know what might happen when you're summoned!

I feel the same way.

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Of course we do.

We're both from very different worlds, so we obviously have our personal differences.

Hm? What do we do when we argue?

Don't be silly. This is Chaldea, remember?

There's only one way we settle our differences in Chaldea!

With a trading card game!

That's right! A trading card game!

My turn! I draw! The card I drew wipes out every monster on the field!

Activating magic card! Special summon!

I draw three more cards from my deck and summon again!

Activating monster fusion! Direct attack with Ivan the Terrible's electricity!

I draw again!

...No, wait. That's not right at all.

Hey, you took the ball and ran it all the way down the field, Anastasia.

Look. Master's so shocked he looks like a deer in the headlights.

Ahahaha, we're just kidding, Master.

No, we usually just fight in the simulator until we've gotten it out of our systems.

Anyway, what's up?

This. I'm taking selfies.

Oh... Selfies, huh. Nnn...

Oh, right. You never cared for them, did you?

It's not that I dislike them, per se. It's just...

Well, this one's to just to make a summer memory. Doesn't that sound worthwhile?

...I just don't like myself all that much.

That's why I've never liked having my picture taken or being painted, either.

I mean, if someone wants to paint me, I won't go out of my way to stop them, but...

No. That is not okay.

I understand how you feel, but I can't support it.

I see...

...Okay! Let's fight it out.

If I win, you agree to make some memories with me. If you win, you don't have to do anything.

How's that sound?

...Okay. That does make things nice and simple.

I'll do it. Gladly.

Did you hear that, Master? You're our eyewitness.

So you have to watch us fight without taking sides, okay?

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Hehehe, look, Char. He doesn't know what to make of this.

I admit, this may not be the most elegant way to resolve our differences.

But really, when you think about it, we're just cutting right to the chase.

Now, let's do this!

Okay! Here I come!

Wh-why don't we call it here? We've both used all our big moves at this point.

Don't worry. I accept my defeat.

That felt more like a draw to me, but all right.

Well then, it's selfie time. Master, you get in the middle, and we can stand on either side.

Um... Should we link arms or something?

Heh... Don't be silly, Char. This is a selfie. You need to get in reeeally close for selfies.

Forget arm in arm. This is more like cheek to cheek!

...Are you serious?

Deadly serious. Okay everyone, get in here!

Gaaah! This close!? Are you sure!? It feels like I've overstepped a boundary or something here!

Hey, this is just what selfies are like!

And you know, in my day, we had to hold poses like this for hours at a time!

Thank goodness for modern technology! Now, say cheese!

Oh gosh, th-that was so embarrassing!

You just have to get used to it, Char. Take more selfies and you'll get the hang of it.

...I'll think about it.

Okay, Master, let's head back to camp now. Coming, Char?

I think I'll stay here a little longer.

...Hey, Anastasia?

Yes?

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Oh my, it's so dark now.

Mash should head back now, so I think I'll take my last selfie of the day with her.

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Oh yes, lots.

Hehe. And it looks like you did, too.

I'm glad. This stuff just isn't as fun on your own.

I'll send you the pictures later, okay?

Oh, and, once this is all over, and everything's back to normal...

...the next time you set off on a journey...I hope you'll bring them with you, if you don't mind.