"MASH!"

Before Shirou could open his mouth, Fujimaru Ritsuka jumped up, "You can't do that, that kind of thing has to wait until after marriage!"

"Marriage?"

Mash looked a little dazed and cute, "The kind of marriage I'm thinking of?"

"What do you think?"

Shirou let out a breath and asked back, the feeling of fright fading away.

Mash blushed until even the tips of her ears were red.

Muttering under her breath, "Marriage… marriage…"

"Honestly, Mash."

Fujimaru Ritsuka scolded, "You can't do that next time. What if you scare Senpai half to death?"

"Got it!"

Mash answered earnestly, "Next time I'll find a way that won't scare Senpai."

"But… that banquet just now was amazing."

Mash lowered her gaze with a soft smile, "Whenever I eat food made by Senpai, I always feel happiness. My heart feels so warm, so comfortable."

"And from Mr. Touta's rice bag came food as plentiful as water rushing from under a waterfall."

"Everyone was immersed in joy."

"The Infinite Rice Bag… so incredible! It's truly amazing! I never even imagined such a miraculous Noble Phantasm could exist!"

"It can't be used in battle."

"No, that's wrong!", Mash clenched her palms tightly, "It's a special Noble Phantasm that doesn't need battle to be used, a skill ranked at EX level."

"Without battle, it can still fill everyone's stomachs; without battle, it can still make people show happy smiles. I… I've never seen this before, never even heard of a Noble Phantasm like this."

"It makes me remember Miss Nero's words: how can one endure a country without laughter."

"Before the fight with the Divine Ancestor Romulus, that's what she said to Master…"

"You heard that, Mash."

Fujimaru Ritsuka grew very quiet.

"Yes," Mash nodded firmly, "I heard it, even though I didn't show myself at the time."

"And I also saw it, the expressions of everyone in the village just now. Even Sir Bedivere was so happy, his face breaking into a smile."

"All of this, it was thanks to Emiya-senpai and that rice bag."

"I had never thought before that such simple food could make people that happy, that blissful."

"But if there is no battle, there are also people we can't save."

"So…"

"I'm sorry, Emiya-senpai!"

Mash suddenly bowed her head, "I got a little carried away. I can't even find the right words to describe it… I truly apologize!"

"It's fine," Shirou shook his head, raising his hand to gently wipe away the girl's tears.

Mash obediently closed her eyes, her emotions overflowing with strong reluctance, "I know very well… everything that happens here in this place, all of it is not allowed, it shouldn't exist. It's a distortion, it doesn't belong to true history."

"As long as we obtain the Holy Grail, after repairing the Singularity, everything will return to its proper course. Whether it's the memories we left behind, the traces that exist, the things we've done, they will all vanish."

"Therefore, for Chaldea, for Master, the only thing that truly matters is repairing Human Order."

"Even Emiya-senpai will forget us, right?"

"I understand, I know."

"Master already told me."

Mash looked at him, "Senpai, this is what you said, isn't it? That we're substitutes, because in your world there are people with the same names as us, who are your very important friends."

"Only they are what matter most to you, the things that must be protected."

"So you can't abandon us, but you also don't want to get too close to us, because that would be meaningless, an act that essentially holds no significance."

"But," Mash bit her lip hard, "Even so… even so, I absolutely do not regret meeting you, Senpai!"

"That's right!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka lifted her head, eyes shining, "Mash is right, I was wrong too."

"It's not meaningless action."

She clenched her fists tightly and said, "Even if it can't be recorded in the world, it will still leave meaning."

"Here!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka pointed to her own head, "Others will forget, anyone might forget, but I absolutely won't! I'll remember it crystal clear, not only with Senpai, but also with everyone."

"All those feelings, they've been piling up, up to now, and in the future they'll only continue to accumulate and be preserved. I'll keep writing them down again and again."

"Paper can't preserve it, electronic devices can't record it, even if everyone else forgets. The meaning left behind, I'll record even just a little of it."

"So!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka grabbed Shirou's and Mash's hands, "Mash, it's fine if you deny it, Senpai, it's fine if you avoid it. I'll chase after you both. No matter what method I use, I'll draw closer to you with all my strength."

"If you forget, then we'll slowly create again. If you can't remember, then just leave it with me. Even without a record, meaning definitely exists. Because this is the proof of us humans continuing on from beginning to end, without pause."

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