Things moved at a rapid pace after news had arrived. Nero and Chaldea set themselves up in a meeting room as soldiers quickly laid out a map of the surrounding region and routes on the table. They were soon joined by legate Asisculus and several commanders of the emperor’s forces. Lu Bu was currently standing outside standing guard. As a Berserker, having him within the war council wasn’t going to help.
Plans were discussed and made. With the location marked for the United Roman Empire’s forces, they quickly figured out plans for defense. Confronting them in head-to-head combat was impossible – Nero’s forces were about a thousand at absolute best, and her forces were in shaky condition. After all, the whole campaign was designed with speed in mind and not power, with dwindling supplies and questionable morale. The invading force easily outnumbered them several times over and had the reinforcement of golems as well. Even with the power of the Servants, it would be nothing but suicide.
Mediolanum was also indefensible. A large, sprawling city with impromptu defenses would be impossible to hold with so few forces. They would be stretched incredibly thin. Not to mention, with such numbers, the United Roman Empire could simply surround the city and lay siege, pinning them down. Even if they could break out, the surrounding soldiers could charge in and invade. No matter what, they would lose the city.
Thus, the defensive line would lay in the route where the United Roman Empire would march. There were two roads: The coastal road and the mountain road through the Alps. The coastal road was the more obvious option – easier traversal, with possible naval support from the United Roman Empire forces who were most likely holding the island of Corsica. From there they could easily strike at Mediolanum and march on the way through Florence and then to Rome.
Jing Ke, however, had a different idea. “I mean, consider my opinion with skepticism,” she pointed out. “But honestly, if it’s something that big, they’ll want momentum. Stopping by the city to conquer it before marching on will halt that momentum, plus they’ll have to secure it. No, most likely they’ll come down from the mountains, crash against the city and take it like an ocean tide, then just move right on past.”
The legate narrowed his eyes. “And what makes you so certain of this?” he asked, wrinkling his nose with slight distaste at the scent of alcohol drifting from her.
The Chinese woman shrugged. “Call it a failed assassin’s hunch,” she replied calmly before taking another swig of the jug.
Ren frowned as he looked over the map and frowned in thought. “If we took the idea of reinforcements from Corsica,” he said slowly. “Then they could easily move behind us and take Mediolanum, or even Rome. And if we’re at the coastline, we might be able to spot them doing so and intercept them.”
“Would that even matter?” one of the commanders grumbled. “With a force like that, we won’t be able to do much anyway.”
“One of the Servants can still intercept an invasion force,” the Master pointed out. “There’s a lot of variables, sure, but honestly, I’m with Jing Ke – it seems a bit more likely they’ll take the mountain path. More momentum and gives their naval forces a better ambushing point.”
“But they can just send a naval force anyway, no matter what path they take!” another commander bemoaned.
Here, Nero smirked. “I have already sent capable men to deal with them,” she responded confidently. “After all, a being that bears my voice can only succeed. Am I correct on this front, Centurion?”
Ren matched her smirk. “When it comes to things like this, Morgana can’t be matched,” he agreed. “He’ll come through for us, no doubt about it.”
The emperor nodded happily. “That settles it then,” she concluded.
That being said, after the meeting concluded, Jing Ke was sent to verify the enemy position. With her speed as a Servant, it would be a trivial matter for her to make sure of which direction they were marching. While she was gone, all the soldiers began mobilizing and mustering, ready to set out toward the mountains. Civilians were getting inducted as well to help operate with logistics. There was an atmosphere of grim tension as everyone went about their duties accordingly.
So it was a surprise for both Ren and Ritsu when they were summoned to dine with Nero in the evening. “I thought she’d be too busy to eat with us,” she commented to Ren as they walked through the streets towards the governor’s house, stepping aside for soldiers rushing by. “Think something’s up?”
“No idea,” he admitted with a shrug. “Nero’s not typical in a lot of ways. She might’ve called us just to relax for a bit though, unless there’s some other plans she wished to share.” Indeed, the messenger had made it clear that it was a dinner, not another war council. But given how flighty the emperor was, Ren was honestly prepared for anything.
Ritsu nodded pensively, then spun around to grin at Mash who was quietly walking behind them. “Still, didn’t expect you to immediately pipe up to come with us,” she commented mischievously. “You’re certainly getting gutsy nowadays, Mashmallow!”
The shielder in turn blushed. “Um, I j-just thought I should b-be doing my d-duty as your Servant and protecting you!” she spluttered. “We ARE in a war so anything could happen at any time, so I simply thought that…”
Ren glanced over and smiled. “And we’re very glad for it, Mash,” he replied genuinely. “Thanks for always watching out for us.”
Mash blinked and blushed even redder as she cast her eyes down. Ritsu elbowed Ren with a broad grin. “Come on, don’t toast the Mashmallow yet,” she jokingly admonished.
The Phantom Thief in question chuckled in response, holding up his hands in surrender. “Just telling the truth here and thanking her for it,” he replied, feigning innocence, leading to more laughs from the red-headed Master. Mash, meanwhile, said nothing – and missed a concerned glance from Ren in turn.
Reaching the governor’s house, they were shown by the guards into the dining room, where Nero sat at the head of the table. She beamed as the three stepped in. “Come in, come in, centurion! Auxiliaries!” she called out. “I tire of my lonely repasts and constant staring at maps and reports! Please, join me!”
The three glanced at each other before taking seats at the table, with Ren and Ritsu on either side of her. That left Mash whipping her head indecisively at each spot. Nero, seeing how Mash was acting, laughed heartily. “Ah, forgive me, I didn’t mean to divide your loyalty and affection in such a manner,” she apologized, her grin widening as the shielder began spluttering again. She glanced over at the nearby servants. “Come, move my plates!” she called over.
With that, she moved and sat right beside Ren, leaving Mash to sit beside Ritsu in turn as the staff moved the plates for both girls. With that, the food began being served: Slices of roast pork topped with mushrooms and asparagus, with olives on the side, as well as the usual complement of bread and cheese. “I reserved some food for exclusive imperial use,” Nero explained with a grin. “Only for the emperor’s pleasure! Please, enjoy some fine Roman cuisine!”
And they ate. The pork was indeed good (though Ren wasn’t very used to the extreme sourness of the olives) but for the most part, it was definitely a modest meal – hardly the extravagance he expected from an emperor like Nero. He noticed out of the corner of her eye that while she chatted and boasted about her empire and its cuisines, she was also observing them closely for their reactions.
“If you are still discontent with the cuisine, however, I must apologize,” Nero also added. “This is the most that can be procured for my personal use. Everything else has and must be distributed to my people.”
“You really put your people first, huh?” Ritsu commented, taking a bite of bread between slices of pork.
Nero nodded. “Umu!” she agreed. “For what is an empire without its people? They have shown me loyalty and their love, so it’s only fitting that I love and support them in turn!”
She glanced at the three. “So, that being said,” she continued. “Tell me – why do you see it fit to fight for me and Rome?” she asked as she poured herself some wine (Ren, Ritsu, and Mash had bottles of water as usual).
All three could only blink in surprise at the unexpected question. “Well, because it’s the right thing to do,” Ritsu replied earnestly. “The United Roman Empire isn't supposed to be here, after all. We’re here to fix that and help who we can on the way. I mean, that’s all I can really do so hopefully that’s enough.”
The emperor nodded pensively. “Indeed,” she agreed thoughtfully. “It is a straightforward yet surprisingly elegant motive. And you are not wrong that the United Roman Empire is, quite frankly, unnatural in many senses. I approve.” It wasn’t the most complex answer, but that wasn’t what she was looking for anyway. Earnestness was what she wanted here, and Ritsu was nothing but. She reminded her of herself in many ways.
“Um, I’m their Servant,” Mash explained quietly. “I’m here to support them and their goals, whatever they may be. I’m their shield and I wish to protect them, after all.”
Her shy answer was capped off by Ritsu launching herself at Mash and cuddling her. “Aw, Mash, you are so cute!” the redhead squealed. “You’re the best demi-Servant one could ever wish for!”
“R-Ritsu-senpai!” Mash stammered out as she blushed madly once more, half-heartedly trying to escape the overly affectionate girl.
Nero, on the other hand, looked mildly displeased by the answer but didn’t comment on it. She had a response but with how Ritsu was acting as well as Mash’s abashed attitude, the moment had passed. She glanced finally at Ren. “And you, Centurion?” she asked. Ritsu and Mash stopped and returned properly to their seats, also intrigued by what he would say.
Ren was quiet as he thought. Under normal circumstances, he honestly would never fight for Rome or Nero. In history, Nero had been known as a tyrant to his (her?) people, and the Roman Empire, while a beacon of western civilization, had also been extremely cruel and callous towards many of its people. It reeked of the same society that had falsely accused him of assault and tried to gun for him and his friends for trying to solve it.
Yet here, Nero had taken him under her confidence. She was a thoughtful, capable leader – a far cry from the tyrant he was taught about in history. The Roman Empire was a civilization with people just trying to make their way through life; no more, no less. It reminded him of his time in Tokyo, where everyone struggled with the flow of society. But even then, that wasn’t enough. So why did he fight?
He thought of his friends – the Phantom Thieves. He thought of his confidants. Even just the regular people he chatted with whether he worked or shopped.
“To get back what I’ve lost,” he answered quietly. “And to make sure there’s a tomorrow for everyone.”
The quiet that followed his answer was thick. Both Ritsu and Mash looked speechless at the answer and even slightly ashamed that their replies had been so shallow. Nero in the meantime nodded sympathetically. “A goal with no small number of obstacles, Centurion,” she said solemnly. “I have no doubt your path will lead past Rome and beyond. But as you’ve aided me, so I shall aid you. Call upon me when you have need, and I will assist you as befits an emperor.”
The Phantom Thief gave a small, sad smile of gratitude to the normally boisterous emperor. “I appreciate that,” he replied genuinely.
Once they were done (and they ate everything – despite the modest meal it was still very good), the servants took away the plates. “And now, I have a gift for you, Centurion Ren, and you, Auxiliary Ritsuka,” Nero announced, nodding at both Ren and Ritsu. She signaled to the staff who came and brought in two mannequins, dressed in a cuirass of scale mail armor – Roman armor.
“The coming battles will be challenging affairs,” Nero explained, her usual mirth gone from her voice. “Capable as you might be, I’ve lost many men already to a stray blow or arrow. I’ve had my finest blacksmiths craft these for you. Please accept them.”
The two Masters looked at each other in shock. Ren’s first thought was to deny the gift, but there was no way to do so without being rude to the emperor. Not to mention, she had a point – even back in the Metaverse, they had been ambushed once or twice before. Each time it was a harrowing affair, even when normally he and his friends would deal with the shadows with ease.
Ritsu evidently had the same idea as she bowed in gratitude to Nero. “Thank you so much for the gift,” she said earnestly. “I didn’t expect such a high honor.”
Nero smiled once more. “Think nothing of it,” she said easily. “Now please, try them on. If there is anything wrong with the fit, inform me and I will have my smiths amend it.”
Ren and Ritsu glanced at each other once more before standing from the table and walking over to the mannequin. The Phantom Thief gently lifted the cuirass off the mannequin. It felt weighty and dense in his grip, but not overly so. Although he was a novice at analyzing armor, it seemed to be of fine make. It probably took a lot of time and good material to make this. From the corner of his eye, he could see Ritsu similarly admiring and weighing the armor.
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He slipped on the armor much like he would wear a shirt. It was a bit tricky at first, with how stiff the metal plates were, but the loose connections allowed him to slide it on without much trouble in the end. Once on, he tied and tightened the leather straps on the sides to enclose the armor.
Once he was done, he looked at himself. It felt… strong and sturdy, despite how thin it seemed. It was also a lot lighter than he expected as well, with his arms and legs still free so he could maneuver as necessary. He gently flicked the metal plate and heard the small tink that came with the impact. This was a new experience, one that normally would be extremely cool but, in this circumstance, served only as a sobering reminder of the stakes. He wondered what Morgana would think of it.
The Phantom Thief glanced over to see how Ritsu was doing – only to see her struggling with the leather straps. “Here, I can help with that,” he offered, walking towards her.
Ritsu blinked and sighed in relief. “Really? Please and thank you,” she breathed.
Ren approached her to tie the straps. Unfortunately, she had made a slight mess of the knots that he needed to untangle. “Lift your arm, please?” he requested. The redhead immediately complied, allowing him easier access to properly tie and tighten the straps – with the close proximity causing the girl to turn a bright shade of red as her idol worked. It almost was like he was adjusting the straps on a dress, only it was armor. Wait, was that better or worse? She couldn’t decide, and it only made her turn even redder in response.
Nero, meanwhile, observed with a grin. She wanted to say something, but sometimes flowers left on their own tended to bloom more brightly than if interfered with. Mash, on the other hand, was watching with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. She had only read about Roman armor before and certainly hadn’t expected it to be used on Chaldea’s Masters. It wouldn’t protect them against a Servant at all, but against more standard soldiers…
Once they were done, the emperor looked at the two. “Well?” she asked. “How is the armor?”
Ren had to grin. “No complaints here,” he said as he stretched his torso about, testing the flexibility of it and finding to his delight that he still had a great range of motion still.
“Yep, this is great!” Ritsu cheered as she jumped, testing the weight on her body. “I honestly thought armor was a lot heavier, but it just feels like another set of clothing! I could get used to this!”
“That’s because armor was designed to spread the weight,” Mash interjected, immediately remembering what she read. “While they could be quite heavy, the weight is distributed along the body to allow for mobility and speed. Even heavier armor followed similar concepts, allowing for a surprising amount of speed. Armors especially fitted for their wearers were even better about it as they could take their physiology into account-“
Suddenly, she was aware of the three staring at her and immediately shut her mouth, blushing. “Er, s-my apologies,” she stammered. “It w-was something I r-read.”
“No need to be sorry,” Ren answered, smiling genuinely. “It’s good to know. No wonder why this armor feels good to wear.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” Ritsu agreed with a grin. “I thought it’d be like a stage costume or something but no, this actually doesn’t feel all too bad! And strong too, like I can take on the world!”
“I do understand your grievance with stage costumes,” Nero agreed sympathetically. “I’d like to talk to you more about that, but first…”
She turned to Mash, catching the shielder by surprise. “Auxiliary Mash, I would’ve offered you arms and armor,” she said. “However, there is nothing in my armory, nor is there anything my smiths could make, that could compare to what you wield or adorns you now.”
Indeed, despite her armor design – or even lack thereof – neither Ren nor Ritsu could really remember the armor breaking on her. And the areas it did cover did an admirable job of protecting her in turn. The shield itself was a given. Even after the fight with the blackened Artoria back in Fuyuki and bearing the full brunt of her Excalibur, he didn’t think he saw a single scratch on the shield. It was rather remarkable.
“If there is a boon you would wish for, name it,” Nero continued. “If it is within my power, I shall grant it.”
Mash could only blink in surprise before shaking her head fervently. “I thank you for your generosity, but there’s no need!” she rapidly replied. “I’m merely glad to be able to fight and contribute to your cause! I do not require a boon, but again, I thank you.”
Nero frowned, then sighed. “You are all too modest for your own good,” she grumbled. “Then I shall consider the boon on hold, auxiliary. If there is something you wish for, do not hesitate to ask it of me! The favor of an emperor is not so easily given, nor will I allow it to be easily shrugged off! Until then, can I count on your continued assistance?”
The shielder blinked before nodding confidently. “Of course,” she answered.
The emperor smiled. She hadn’t been able to hope for months but now… Now, she could hope once more. Rome would weather this storm, just as it always did.
—--------
Mash sat on her bed with a sigh. The dinner had been decent enough and it was nice to personally talk with one of the most well-known emperors of Rome - even if that fame came from him (her?) being a tyrant. She also got to spend a bit more casual time with both her senpais as well. With the whole march and campaign going on, there hadn’t really been a decent time to talk overall.
But still, she couldn’t take her mind off what had happened. She felt out of place at that dinner, no matter what they talked about or what they did. The frown of disapproval from Nero when she had given her answer of why she fought was something she didn’t miss, even with Ritsu-senpai cuddling her like that. And there was also the armor Nero had gifted them as well.
She looked over her own armor. While it didn’t cover as much as she wanted – leaving her shoulders and her thigh bare for instance – hers was still very protective. Not to mention, she honestly forgot she was wearing it most of the time as it moved like it was regular clothing regardless. She could even sleep in it, no problem. Even with the finest armor Nero could provide, she doubted their armor could do the same. And yet…
A gentle knock on her door caught her attention. “Who is it?” she called out.
“It’s me,” came Ren’s voice from the other side.
The shielder blinked in surprise before walking over to open the door. Ren’s smile gave her heart a jolt, an unexpected yet not unpleasant feeling. “Is something the matter, senpai?” she asked, looking curiously up at the Master.
Ren shook his head. “No, not at all,” he replied easily. “Just wanted to see how you were doing. We haven’t had much of a chance to talk recently. Am I interrupting you?”
Mash blinked in surprise at the suddenness but shook her head. “Oh, not at all, senpai!” she hurriedly assured him. Then she realized they were still standing at the doorway. “Er, would you like to come in?” she asked, hesitating a bit as she stepped aside. Ren blinked with surprise but after a moment’s pause, walked in as she closed the door behind him.
“So, what do you make of the Roman Empire so far?” he asked out of curiosity, glancing at her.
The girl blinked again before smiling. “It’s really fantastic, senpai!” she breathed. “I didn’t expect to see Rome as it was before except in books and simulations! Much of the architecture has survived as well, but even seeing them used as temporary defenses is fascinating to look at! Roman discipline as well is intriguing – I always thought of them as a rather unified empire but hadn’t expected so many different perspectives. I realize the books and documentaries aren’t always accurate, but still, seeing them like this is quite a shock!”
She froze as she realized she was rambling and turned to Ren, who had pulled up a chair and was sitting down, listening to her. “I-I’m terribly sorry, senpai,” she quickly apologized with a bow. “I didn’t mean to talk so much.”
Ren chuckled. “No, trust me, I get it,” he agreed. “It IS rather fantastical to go to all these places. I certainly never thought I’d go to such places.” Ren paused in thought for a second. “Though I did go to a castle once, even if it was a Palace,” he pointed out. “Does that count?”
Mash giggled. “I guess it does,” she admitted. “Though, what was that castle like, senpai?”
The Phantom Thief’s face twisted into one of disgust. “If I could describe it in one word, it would be ‘gross’,” he grumbled. “The guy had busts and pictures of himself everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. There was even a book puzzle with books of himself! Not to mention, everything had this pink ambient light around it that just made it uncomfortable to stand it.”
The shielder shuddered at the rather lurid depiction. “It must’ve been quite a harrowing experience,” she commented.
Ren scoffed. “That’s putting it lightly,” he replied with a grin. “Honestly, I think I preferred the one in Orleans. It’s actually less disgusting in comparison.”
The girl thought for a second. “Wait, did you mean the doppelganger’s Palace’s castle?” she asked. “We didn’t really see the castle of Orleans that much after we came out from the heist. And her Palace had Gilles de Rais’s creatures populating it…”
“I know what I said,” Ren solemnly confirmed. They both paused, then just chuckled at the absurdity of it all.
Then Mash noticed another detail. “You’re wearing the armor that the emperor gave you,” she noticed.
Ren blinked and looked. “Oh, yeah,” he confirmed. “It’s probably better for me to get used to this sooner rather than later. Besides, not every day you get to wear Roman armor.”
The shielder blinked, then nodded in agreement. “Oh,” she replied quietly. “Yes. Of course, senpai.”
The Phantom Thief glanced over at Mash. “Is something the matter, Mash?” he asked quietly as he moved to sit beside her on the bed, catching the girl by surprise.
Mash’s face turned red at the close proximity of her Master as her mouth worked up and down, trying to find a decent answer, before finally sighing. “Am I really a good Servant?” she asked quietly.
That caught Ren by surprise. “Why do you ask?” he asked, frowning slightly.
Twiddling her thumbs, she stared at the floor. “There’s not really much for me to do, senpai,” she murmured. “You and Mr. Morgana are more than capable of fighting with all your knowledge and experience. I’m happy to be able to fight alongside you of course, but I don’t know if I’m required to be here.”
She pointed at his armor. “It’s even to the point where you were given armor for protection,” she added. “I know that logically, more protection is always useful but I can’t help but feel that…well, I’ve become redundant, senpai. It’s…it is foolish of me to think and ramble on about this, I know. I simply can’t help it.”
The lilac-haired girl drew her knees in. “I’m sorry, senpai,” she finished quietly.
Ren thought about his response. He could just reassure her that she was doing just fine, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t exactly do much right now. Thinking about it, what did he know about her? He knew that she hadn’t stepped outside Chaldea at all and any social interactions she had would’ve been fairly limited. Not enough to make a good identity for herself or build a foundation for her confidence.
No, just the usual reassurances wouldn’t do.
“I know the feeling well.”
A sad smile twisted Ren’s lips as Mash turned to him in surprise. “The feeling of being powerless, like you’ve let everyone else down isn’t unfamiliar,” he muttered. “After all, when I was first arrested, all my past friends immediately cut contact with me, and my parents treated me as nothing more than a nuisance afterward. They were pretty happy to ship me off to Tokyo. Hell, they didn’t even bother contacting me the entire year I was there.”
“That’s… that’s horrible, senpai!” she gasped. “Aren’t families supposed to care and support you? Why would they do such a thing?”
Ren could only give a humorless chuckle. “Guess I rocked the boat too much,” he replied, shrugging casually. “Where I’m from, law enforcement and order are taken extremely seriously. Anybody who disturbs it is to be shunned. I think there’s a saying, ‘the nail that sticks up gets hammered down’ or something. The hammer just hit a bit harder on me than normal.”
He turned to her with a smile. “I was lucky a lot of the time,” he admitted. “With my powers, yes, but I also found new groups of friends all around me. They all helped and taught me, and I helped them all I could in turn. If it wasn’t for them…well, I doubt I’d even be here right now, let alone as capable. So…”
This time, his smile turned into a more confident smirk. “I’d like to make a deal with you,” he stated.
Mash blinked in surprise. “A deal?” she echoed in confusion.
The Phantom Thief grinned. “I can talk to you more about what me and my pals – the Phantom Thieves – did, and help teach you in terms of our tactics, combat skills, what have you,” he explained. “In return, I’ll be counting on you to watch our backs no matter where we go. Sound like a fair trade?”
The shielder could only blink in surprise, then a wry smile spread across her lips. “But I already am doing that, senpai,” she pointed out. “It won’t be an equal deal to you.”
The answer caught him by surprise. He certainly didn’t expect such a near-mischievous answer from Mash - one that only left him chuckling in a bit of surprise and amusement. “Touche,” he agreed with a grin. “In that case, how about letting me know more about you? What you’re worried about, what you like or don’t like, anything you’re thinking or contemplating about. I just wanna know more about my cute kouhai, Mash.”
The shielder blushed deeply at his suggestion. “Y-Yes, senpai,” she stammered. She took a second to recollect herself then nodded confidently. “I look forward to your guidance then,” she said. “Please teach me well.”
Ren nodded confidently – and then his grin faltered slightly as a powerful, familiar feeling flowed through him. Pushing the thought out of his mind for now, he glanced outside. “It’s getting late,” he noted, observing the night sky. “We should probably get some rest. We’re gonna be busy tomorrow.”
Mash blinked in surprise, then nodded in agreement. “Yes, of course, senpai,” she agreed. Then she beamed at him and bowed. “Thank you so much, senpai,” she added. “For everything.”
A genuine smile once more crossed his lips. “Not at all, Mash,” he replied honestly. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” With that, he walked out, closing the door behind him – and his smile vanished as he gripped his heart. Honestly, he thought that with the Velvet Room as crippled as it was, wouldn’t be able to grant him the ability. However, it did. It was a heady feeling, but it was familiar. And it was… comforting.
It felt like old times.
He walked back to his room, feeling lighter than before. He wished he could talk to Morgana about this, but that would have to wait until his return. For now, he simply accepted what had happened. He needed every advantage he could get, and the strength granted to him from his bonds were just what he needed. This was a new one for him, but he could still utilize it, and all in all, he felt confident.
After all, the Aeon Arcana probably had a lot of surprises for him. He couldn’t wait.
----------
Morning had come, with the weather being spotty at best – the blue sky peering through increasing cloud cover. It was still warm, though occasionally a chill breeze blew through that made everyone shiver. Officers barked commands as soldiers and citizens loaded supplies onto supply wagons in preparation – including warm coats and boots. Jing Ke had returned in the middle of the night and confirmed the United Roman Empire’s plans: They were taking the mountain road.
Ren did some stretches as he watched the soldiers move about. Despite his wishes, there was no visit to the Velvet Room. It would probably be the next night when he could make whatever preparations were necessary. Still, Igor, Lavenza, and Olga hadn’t let him down yet, and he would trust them.
Trust…come to think of it, when did he become so distrustful? It was probably the new environment and their warnings, coupled with the incineration of humanity setting him on edge. That needed to change, and he had already taken his first steps. For the first time in a while, he actually felt hopeful. It was just another day for him now, dangers and all.
“Good morning, senpai.”
Ren glanced over to see Mash running up to join him. “Morning, Mash,” he greeted. “Did you sleep well?”
Mash beamed and nodded. “Yes, thank you, senpai,” she chirped. “I slept better than I had in a while after our conversation. Once again, I look forward to working with you from here on out.”
The Phantom Thief grinned. “Same to you,” he acknowledged. “I’m counting on you.”
“Oh? Did I miss something?”
Both Ren and Mash jumped at the presence of Ritsu, who had somehow sneaked up on them and was now eyeing them like how a cat eyes a particularly interesting mouse. The little mischievous smile she wore wasn’t reassuring either. “Did you two have some sort of tryst here?” she asked as her smirk widened. “Come on, give me all the juicy deets here.”
“Wha- it wasn’t anything like that, Ritsu-senpai!” she spluttered. “We just had a conversation where we were discussing some arrangements. It wasn’t anything in particular!”
Ritsu eyed the shielder skeptically. “Uh huh,” she deadpanned. “Welp, in that case, you two are gonna talk to me over breakfast about it! It’ll be a while before we have some better food so we better make this count!” With that, her hands shot out and snagged both Ren and Mash’s wrists. “To the mess hall!” she declared before dragging them with her. Mash gave a panicked look at Ren who could only give an exasperated, resigned shrug in return.
What a day.