Shedding tears while stifling her sobs, Mash wept as Olga Marie quietly stayed by her side.
Her tears flowed continuously until, like a seeker pleading for salvation, Mash asked desperately,
"…Director. How… how am I supposed to face Senpai from now on…?"
With eyes red from crying, Mash pressed on.
"How can someone as selfish and horrible as me… do anything…?"
"Isn't it obvious? Exactly as you have been."
Gently wiping away Mash's tears, Olga Marie smiled warmly.
"Your glasses have finally come off. That's the face of a true friend—someone who can finally see Rikka for who she really is."
"Just… as I have been…?"
"Yes. Keep protecting Rikka. But this time, accept her weaknesses and flaws alongside her strength, and fight by her side with your eyes wide open."
Do not force expectations, dependency, or admiration onto her. Hold them in your heart and look forward.
Protect her weaknesses and flaws with your soul. Because you are the one capable of doing so.
That was what Olga Marie was telling her. Because you are Rikka's Servant.
"You can do it. After all, you've fought this far for the sake of the person who took your hand, haven't you?"
"I..."
It came back to her. The view from the beginning. Rikka's smiling face as she reached out and took her hand.
"This time, it's your turn to support her. Because she's surprisingly strong and capable of handling most things, it's easy to misunderstand… but she's just a regular person, no different from us."
Support. Not just protecting, but supporting. Not admiration, but support…
"That's… the same thing as Miss Jeanne's 'pride.' A step toward standing beside Senpai…"
Mash's heart reached a new horizon. Something achievable precisely because Rikka wasn't an extraordinary entity or a superhero, but a human being just like her.
Because they were both lives living in the present… a meaning for fighting that belonged to her alone…
"Exactly. So, isn't taking a look at Rikka's daily life the best first step? Daily life is brimming with opportunities to truly understand someone."
Spurred by Olga Marie's words, Mash bolted up from her seat.
"Thank you so much, Director! I… I think I understand now! What it truly means to support someone!"
"I'm glad to hear it. It's nice to know my advice was useful, even if I'm still learning myself."
"I'm off, Director! Ah, please let me pay for this!"
Eagerly, Mash pulled out her wallet from her pocket.
"…Oh. I only have enough allowance for one person…"
"…It's fine, Mash."
"…I'm sorry…"
Amidst the slightly awkward atmosphere, Olga Marie settled the bill, watching as Mash dashed away. She softly looked after her retreating back.
"Silly girl. Who do you think protected Rikka during her weakest moments?"
You really have a friend who worries too much, Olga Marie thought, finishing her coffee. More than a friend, Mash felt as endearing as a younger sister.
"Keep giving it your all. We saved the world, after all—there will be plenty of chances to get closer."
Inside the closed cafe, Olga Marie looked up at the ceiling with satisfaction, smiling softly to herself.
"…Though, feel like I'm being influenced way too much by that dandy guy… Am I sounding like a villain?"
Deciding she should tone down the villainous expressions and lay off reading evil texts too much, Olga Marie made a silent resolve.
Rikka's Room
"'It's suddenly massage time, Senpai!' completely caught me off guard! Ah well, go right ahead~"
Lying face down on the bed, Rikka surrendered herself to Mash's care. Her body was clad in spats and a sports bra, revealing soft skin backed by dense, highly trained subcutaneous muscle forged by Chiron's brutal regimen. Mash felt a brief sense of disorientation at the gap between her feminine appearance and her steel-like, hyper-flexible musculature, but she continued kneading her shoulders.
"Senpai…"
Looking closely, her skin was covered in faint scars—mute witnesses to how grueling Rikka's journey had truly been.
"Ah, sorry about the scars. But hey, these are memories from middle school… back when Gudoshi was around."
As Rikka laughed cheerfully, Mash spoke up softly.
"…Senpai."
"Hmm~?"
"…I want to support you. Not just as your Master or Servant… but as one human being to another."
"Ahaha, really? I'm actually super lazy and messy, you know? I leave my grooming entirely to Jeanne, and I rely on her for everything."
"I don't think I can become like Miss Jeanne right away… But I still want to support your weaknesses, Senpai."
"..."
"I want us to show each other our weak sides, lift each other up, and push forward together. I want to provide real 'support' and 'backup.' And… I want to stand by your side."
"—Mashhh… ahh~…"
"So… please let me—Senpai?!"
Rikka suddenly went completely limp, turning into a puddle of mush.
"You're gonna pamper meee~! Pamper me more~! Turn me into a total good-for-nothing~!"
Grasping Mash's resolve, Rikka deliberately dropped her 'cool Senpai' front to show her the raw, everyday 'Rikka.'
"S-Senpai?!"
"What's wrong, Mash! Hurry up and spoil me! Just like Jeanne! Just like Jeanne does!!"
"W-Wait a minute, Senpai! That's not what supporting means…!"
"No way~! I don't like a Mash who isn't nice to me~! Swap! Swap with Jeanne~!"
"Geez! Senpai! If you keep saying things like that, I'm moving into your room! I'll make you an even bigger good-for-nothing!"
"Bring it on!!"
"Senpai! That's so manly yet so terrible~!"
The two broke out into laughter, trading silly banter back and forth.
"—Honestly, you two take so much work."
Watching the two from afar, Jeanne quietly set down two portions of decorated cake.
"—I'm looking forward to seeing how close you can get to Rikka. Just remember: the moment you become disillusioned with her is where your true starting line lies, so watch your step."
Giggling softly, she departed with all the confidence and grace of Rikka's best Servant.
The Next Day
"Good morning, King of Heroes!"
"Umu. A spirited greeting… Hmm?"
"Mornin'~"
"Senpai, stop slouching! Pull yourself together! Are you an Evil of Humanity or not?! Are you Chaldea's hope or what?!"
"Even Evils of Humanity want to lounge around lazily…"
"That's not a dragon, that's a hippo! You're acting like a hippo, Senpai!"
"Oho?! If my junior gets too cocky, Mr. Hippo's gonna bite! Mr. Hippo is super strong, you know?!"
"I will counter with my shield!"
"See?! Resorting to brute force right away~! Senior Galahad is gonna lose all faith in you—are you okay with that~?!"
"If that happens, I'll just fight back with my fists as Mash! Once I win, I can do whatever I want!"
"Hmm?"
—You two look remarkably full of energy! You've gotten so comfortable with each other!
"It seems they have finally settled into a relationship fitting for their age. Once dependence and rose-colored glasses are removed, this is the natural result."
"Now then, as your junior, Mash Kyrielight shall slap your behind, Senpai!"
"My junior is so strict! Alright, time to do my best today too!"
Gilgamesh watched their retreating backs with an amused expression.
"—If that is the case, then forging new armaments for her will be well worth the effort. Whether she can master them will be a sight to behold."
(Mash… look how much you've grown…)
[Armored Chassis: Orthenaus]
[Autonomous Flying Unit: Sparta]
[Tactical Propulsion Booster: Achilles]
[Reflective Optical Mirror: Aegis]
[Multi-Stage Deployment Frontal Barrier: Rho Aias]
[Ejection Propulsion Board: Prydwen]
—Please wait a moment while I finish selecting the originals! Let's fine-tune the blueprints with Da Vinci-chan!
"Fuh. Fear not, Mash. A fitting upgrade awaits you as well."
With a smirk, the King of Heroes made his way toward Da Vinci's workshop—
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