Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

[Project Black Souls]

"I'm home."

Click to shrink...

Peak, again.
Now I'm imagining when the girls have all become respectable adults who will marry their beloved Sensei/future husband and have a bunch of kids because of how thirsty they have become from all the waiting.

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

Peak, again.
Now I'm imagining when the girls have all become respectable adults who will marry their beloved Sensei/future husband and have a bunch of kids because of how thirsty they have become from all the waiting.

Click to shrink...

I thought you dropped this story already! I didn't see you in the latest chap in Wattpad looool

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

No problem. I figured it'd be best to bring it up, again, since each part always brings up how much the music helps. And yeah, timestamp links can be found by clicking on a video. Just have it either at the time you want. Or count it out in seconds, either works...but just moving the video to where you want it is much easier by comparison.

Click to shrink...

TYSM <333333333333 Will try to use that from now!

 

[Project Black Souls]

I thought you dropped this story already! I didn't see you in the latest chap in Wattpad looool

Click to shrink...

There was a new chap?
*Checks the app and story...
Fucking wattpad, I didn't get a notification at all.
Okay, going to read it now.

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

There was a new chap?
*Checks the app and story...
Fucking wattpad, I didn't get a notification at all.
Okay, going to read it now.

Click to shrink...

Looooooooooooooooool And the Next chapter will come in another 4-5 days! Glad I reminded you or else it'll become a little tooooo long wait. (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ

 

[dwennon]

TYSM <333333333333 Will try to use that from now!

Click to shrink...

I hope it works out well. Would especially be nice to, in the future, see some of the vids of music with less gaps of silence. But that's for the future.

 

[Project Black Souls]

Finally finished...
You monster, dangling that cliff in front like that, take my vote and like and continue your cooking.

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

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Author's notes

Hi readers, welcome to my fanfiction about FGO and Blue Archive crossover! Side stories are my side projects that focus on daily life. This is exclusive, new content separate from the main story yet canon in this fanfiction. Side stories happened between the main stories without spoiling this fiction's plots. This side story takes place between Clockwork Flower Pavane chapter 2 and Vol. F. (The main story has yet to catch up to that.)

(I can't be writing the main story solely all the time, that thing was really exhausting. It requires too much brain power.)

The title 'Toki, Toki' is a play with 'Doki, Doki' (the sound of a beating heart in Japanese) as they sound almost the same. Therefore- Easy guess! TOKI BEST GIRL (This chapter)

ENJOY!

________________________________________________________________________________



Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

Side Story: Toki, Toki, The Maiden's Bewildered Heart (1/3)









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The first light of dawn shone upon.

The soft glow of morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. The sunlight lazily spilled onto the floor... bathing the space in tranquility as the first rays of morrow touched everything gently, painting it in shades of soft amber.

The air was still and crisp, carrying the quiet promise of a new day. A soft breeze stirred the curtains slightly, whispering against the cool surface of the window.



zZzZzzZz... ZzZzz...



"Hnn.." Letting a soft groan, I slowly stirred awake as my senses slowly came into focus. To wake up knowing you have work to do- this was indeed a cruel reality, it made me cherish sleeping time dearly. Nonetheless, the work couldn't do itself... Reluctantly, I quitted the thought of lazing around and came to my senses.

zZzzZz...

"..." Even if my mind was still busy from sleep, my senses could never go dull.





I realized- I was holding something soft, something warm, pressed gently against my chest.

I froze for a moment, slowly opened my eyes- blinked a few times to make sure what I was seeing wasn't a dream or an illusion.





My arms were wrapped around her, pulled together close in my embrace as though it were the most natural thing in the world. The subtle rise and fall of her chest against his own, the soft, rhythmic motion of her breathing syncing with mine. I could feel the softness of her skin beneath the thin fabric of her clothes. The faint, sweet scent of her hair filled my nose...

Her long golden hair glowed in the morning light, splaying across my arms like silk. Her soft, snowy cheek rested on top of my chest... Her waist I was holding was as delicate as a willow. Her tender lips, seemed as if they were cheery blossom petals, kept mumbling in a drowse.

No matter how many times I had seen her in this state, it never failed to leave me in awe. She was always beautiful, but when she slept, her beauty was otherworldly, as if she had transcended the waking world entirely. Her features were softened in rest, making her seem even more delicate, even more ethereal. Her eyes, usually sharp and piercing, were closed, resting in quiet serenity.



zZzz... zZzz...

"Hey... Toki, wake up." Slowly removing my hand from her waist, I poked her cheek.

"Hm..."

"Wake up, will you? It's time to wake up."

"Mmm..."



Letting out a drowsy murmur, she did not even bother to move an inch much less wake up. Normally, I would gently slide her head pillow-my numbing arm, out. Somedays, if she fully pressed against me or cuddled me with arms and legs, I would need to spend a few minutes relocating her limbs piece by piece...

As for today- looked like it was in difficult mode.



"Just five more minutes..." She mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. Her hand instinctively reached for warmth, as if pulling me back into their cocoon of slumber.

"Can I sleep just a little longer...?" Her soft groan, so lethal it could kill any man, melted my heart... But just that alone was not enough to pardon her laziness.



"I think you've had enough sleep, sleepy head."

"nnn.... Don't wanna... I wanna sleep more..."

As she peacefully surrendered to sleep, I continued to teasingly poke her soft cheeks. Reluctantly, she cracked her eyes open, squinting at the sunlight as if it were an intruder in her peaceful morning world. Her expression was a mix of endearing confusion and sleepiness, her soft hair sticking slightly to her face. She blinked a few times before letting out another groggy sigh.



"Morning..."

"Good morning." I smilingly greeted her. Asuma Toki, the 1st year student from Millenium Science School and an elite agent under C&C, finally freed me from cuddle... flipped over...

And sleep...





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It had become our daily lives now.

As for where it started?





"Sensei... I would like to seek you for advice."

"Eh? Toki?! The advice comes later, I will treat your wounds first!"

Rushing to her with a medic bag in my hands, I treated her bruises and scratches. That was the first day she came to the SCHALE office. As the President Rio disappeared, the poor girl had nothing to do and nowhere to go.



After that incident, opposed to the direction I gave "It's fine, you back to school. Live a student life as normal."

She enlightened herself... and came here instead of the highly emphasized 'school'.





"Sensei, I will be your perfect maid."

And declared the role no one would have seen that coming.

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It took me weeks to stop her. With a stoic face, she always made up excuses to work rather than study. On the good side, she was very diligent and determined. After she announced she was my maid, she cleaned every corner left and right spotless without a speck of dust. When the maid had free time- she did absolutely nothing. The girl would lie on the couch, eat snacks, clean her tools, try new hobbies, and back to lying on the sofa again.

As a teacher, I could not let my students stray from education. I tried multiple ways to bring her back to school, some partly worked... some didn't.

As for the results-



"Sensei, starting now I will attend the class online."





Yes... this girl always found a way to betray me.





".........Huh? H-How?"

"When I served President Rio, my presence in the school was confidential. Therefore, I received this special permission-or rather, a privilege to stand by anywhere upon accepting orders or missions.

"Wait, after Rio disappeared, didn't the school instantly you about the insufficient attendance?"

"I condemned it must be the error on the school's part. As a member of C&C, it should be allowed for me and senpais to have more flexibility."

"Then how did you tell them?"

"I fixed the terms."

"............Huh?"

"Sensei, I'm from C&C."



Under the pretense of the maid club, the girl's true role was still an agent working under an intelligence organization. She used her hi-tech equipment to bypass all the Millenium's firewalls and alter her data.

At least, she said she would attend online- right?





Time passed.

There were times when things went south again too- that was when she discovered a bunny suit. Toki was very proud of it, she escorted me anywhere.

I remembered it crystal clear, that made my reputation peak- A rumor spreaded like wildfire.



From a full-fledged, self-proclaimed 'maid', she made this place home. She became more comfortable, she even wore different outfits, reducing my rumor about having a student for a personal maid. The scandals of the SCHALE sensei accompanied by students in bunny outfits faded too... Of course, those outfits were handpicked by me, the girl couldn't comprehend how normal human shopping just yet.



One day, the big turning point arrived.





"..."

zZzzZzz

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"TOKI-SANN?!"

Toki, who tiredly returned from a mission, sneaked into my bed.

In this world, she was the first and only girl I ever slept with.

Afterward, the situation repeated. Despite my protests and scoldings, she slept with me at every opportunity presented. Back at Chaldea, most of the time, Anastasia's Viy doll, Cu Chulainn doll, and Apollo doll performed their night guard duties. They saved me many instances. But now... I have no means- the door lock lost its purpose in front of this girl.

If Raikou or any parental figures in Chaldea knew this, they would surely rain divine retribution on me.

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zZzzZzzz

"..." Back to present, with my mourning routines already finished, I stared quietly at the sleeping beauty.

Sleeping soundly, she curled slightly under the covers. Her loose shirt couldn't hide her chests rising and falling with each peaceful breath. As of late, she was so careless that she would wear my shirt, saying oversized ones made her more comfortable. Since when did she become this precious?

I needed to stop this.

I could allow this no further.



She must return home.



She must live her life, a normal student life. For her own sake.

As for me, I couldn't handle this anymore- It was too much for my heart.



Taking a final glance at the soundly asleep beauty. I swear to myself.

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From today onwards, Toki must return home.

END.







________________________________________________________________________________

Author's notes

That's the end of the first part! Think of it as a prologue, things will start from here. See you in the next chapter! Stay tuned for more upcoming exciting main story and relaxing(?) side stories.

***This is a side story that is canon in this fanfiction (Even though the main story hasn't catched up to this part yet).***

________________________________________________________________________________

 

[dwennon]

Side Story: Toki, Toki, The Maiden's Bewildered Heart (1/3)

Click to shrink...

Well that was a neat read. Though I am, somewhat, curious about Gilgamesh and Enkidu's reactions might be to how some of the things Rio got up to were named.

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

________________________________________________________________________________

Author's notes

Hi readers, welcome to my fanfiction about FGO and Blue Archive crossover! Side stories are my side projects that focus on daily life. This is exclusive, new content separate from the main story.

(I can't be writing the main story solely all the time, that thing was really exhausting. It requires too much brain power.)

The title 'Toki, Toki' is a play with 'Doki, Doki' (the sound of a beating heart in Japanese) as they sound almost the same. Therefore— Easy guess! TOKI BEST GIRL (This chapter)

This side story takes place between Clockwork Flower Pavane chapter 2 and Vol. F.

ENJOY!

________________________________________________________________________________



Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

Side Story: Toki, Toki, The Maiden's Bewildered Heart (2/3)





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"Morning."

"Good morning, Sensei." Her melodic yet calm voice replied.

The sound of a coffee machine sputtered in the background, she poured herself and cup before bringing it over to him. He took it gratefully, the warmth of the mug a welcome contrast to the cool air of the room. A coffee in the morning— a perfect start of the day.

Fujimaru Ritsuka had always been an early riser. Every morning, he would wake up before her and proceed straight to his desk— skimming over the documents, overlooking the workload he planned ahead for the day.



"..." Glancing from a distance, the girl's sharp gaze looked a him.

As a perfect maid and the best agent, she took both roles of his personal maid and bodyguard seriously. As long as she didn't have a mission, she escorted him all day— lately, all night. She found sleeping here very pleasant... the reason? Provided that she was happy about it, she didn't need to bother thinking why. It was a waste of efficiency.

Performing the maid's duty, she set up plates of breakfast on the table.

This situation had become their daily life for a while now. The man would join her, eat breakfast, go back to his desk, then work— signing documents, consulting with students, whatever the day brought him. She, on the other hand, attended online classes, tried new hobbies, assisted him if needed, and just laid around.

"Hey, Toki. Don't you ever miss going back home?" Out of the blue, Ritsuka asked.

"Sensei, you asked a silly question. It's my duty to support you in every aspect."

"Well, but—"

"Please come take a seat before the breakfast gets cold." Despite her monotone speech and stern look, her little mouth lifted up into a small, almost unnoticeable little curl. The man quietly sighed under his breath... Look like it is too early he thought, she was always contented when she was doing her job. She had even even make this place home, a part of his closet even had her spare clothes... The man moved his legs to the dining table, postponing the serious talk so as not to kill this blissful atmosphere.



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They progressed their day.

Glancing over the pile of papers, Ritsuka was sure Toki was doing nothing at the moment. The girl was too comfortable staying here. Today, in her student uniform, she ate snacks, rolled on the couch— No worldly matter could disturb her. Yes— she had been living here rent-free.

"Toki, Are you free at the moment?"

"Yes, I finished my class. What is it, Sensei?"

"I have something to tell you about. Let's talk, shall we?"

—————!!

Feeling an unexpected impulse. Out of nowhere, her woman intuition alarmed her of something.



Not quite understood yet, the girl made her move.

"I'm thirsty after eating all those salty snacks. Let me brew myself a tea over there."

"Mmm.. Take your time, I'll wait."

"It will take some time until finish. Sensei, are you not busy?"

"Don't worry— I'll always make time for you."



This is strange, very unexpected. The girl thought while excusing herself to the kitchen with a calm front. Her sense was certainly telling her something she should be worried about.

"..." With her back facing him, Ritsuka couldn't see her rising nervousness. She slowly took her time brewing the tea, she even drank some and brewed more. As though a psychological war erupted, the man realized something was up. He then made his move, from the desk, he moved to sit down on the couch... opposite to her favorite one.

"...!" Catching a glimpse of what he did, she instantly thought of escape plans.





Nonetheless, the man was not stupid. Living together for weeks, he knew her behavior— she was about to shake the matter off.



She couldn't keep getting away with it. I had told her several times already.

But this time— I won't fail.





"Toki."

"—?" The girl turned her head in question. Strangely, the man's voice just now was different from his normal speaking tone. It was low and serious, he had never been this hard on her.

"I have something to talk to you, a very important matter at that."

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"...Yes"

Toki slowly nodded. Despite looking calm and stoic on the outside, her inner thoughts became a little chaotic. A bead of sweat appeared on her forehead, her senses were tingling— her intuition was alerting her nonstop.

She swallowed a dry saliva. After a huge gulp, she returned to the couch, directly facing the man.



"..."

"..."

"Do you know what I will talk about today?" Ritsuka asked. His blue pupils that shone bright like stars now gave off an entirely different feeling— passionate yet resolute.

"Please elaborate."

"From today onwards, you are not allowed to sleep on my bed."





Like an absolute decree, coupled with his serious expression— an imaginary lighting struck down the maiden's heart. The lighting, accompanied by several thunderous branches, further gave her a flickering thousands shocks... rendering her heart in shamble.



Normally—even just this morning, he asked her to sleep at her own home too.

But... But this time— his tone, his face, his gaze, and her intuition, everything all pointed to one thing. This grave matter.



"..." Seeing the girl suddenly froze on the spot, the man dropped a little bit of his countenance but still maintained a serious and stern expression. Just as he was about to continue, she responded.

"Sensei... I don't see the point of your decision."

"—Then why do you want to sleep on my bed that much?"

"You ask the obvious. It's because the bed is there."

"I remembered you said you won't sleep on someone else's bed except mine... why?" His eyebrows twitched a little, trying his best to understand the girl who needed more common sense than common education.

.

.



Toki became silent, she spent some time thinking about it.





"..."

"..."

"I don't know."

"..."



This was not the first time they had this conversation either. Every time it happened, it never was this serious... she could come up with hundreds of reasons no matter how nonsense they were. Nonetheless, she couldn't do that now— one wrong move and the bed was gone.

Until now, she didn't fully understand herself why either.

Why was she reluctant to part with it so much?



In her defense, she spent most of her time 'operating' in the SCHALE office. Essentially, sleeping on his bed proved the most efficient solution. However, SCHALE also a dorm, which wouldn't let her escape this situation. Why? She wondered in her mind.

In normal circumstances, she wouldn't even bother to spend time on something needed not to be solved. But if she did nothing like usual—she wouldn't be able to protect the bed.



"Sensei."

"Hmm?"

"Then why— why do you not allow me to sleep on your bed?" Like a determined rabbit, her confident gaze pierced him back. Returning a question with a question, the man felt a little shock.



"Of course, it's because you're supposed to sleep on your own bed right?"

The girl took a few seconds to process, she answered calmly. "You're right in some aspect. I can see where this is heading."

"..."

"Sleeping on your bed must have violated your belongings as well as your privacy. After careful consideration, I admitted it was unfair to you—"

"..."

"—So to make it fair, you can sleep on my bed too."





The respond made him speechless. Like a flick of a switch, her words instantly turned his brain off.. All his prepared reasons to why not to sleep on his bed, all his lessons he planned to teach her the basic common sense, all the norms he held into... All gone. This girl was unbelievable.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he facepalmed out of exasperation. "Toki..."

"Yes?"

"..." Why?! Just why does she want to sleep on my bed that much? He screamed mentally.

"..." Why— why doesn't this end already? At the same time, she thought to herself nervously. In all fairness, she also proposed an alternative solution to compensate him. Why did he not want her to sleep that much—after all, it's just a bed.





"A man and a woman shouldn't sleep together." Much less a teacher and a student. He added the later part just to himself.

"I'm listening, please clarify."

"It makes me uncomfortable." Ritsuka confessed. In this world, there were no more normal humans, as the last remaining human and male, he tried his best to adjust to a full society of female students. This situation is one of them— it should have been easy, just mitigate the problem away.

Only if the problem were not this stubborn.

"Sensei, you lied."

"When we sleep, your body temperature is normal, your heartbeat is also within a healthy range. In addition to that, you look very pleasant in your sleep. Sometimes you used me for your body pillow too." Not waiting for him to explain further, she rapidly countered.

"..."

"I suppose you were over-worried about it, Sensei."



"..." Fujimaru Ritsuka sank deep into his thoughts. Reasonings did not work well with her.

"..." On the other side, the girl's mind became at ease. She triumphed over another victory again, 'her' bed should be safe and sound... no one would ever rob it from her. Just as she was about to conclude this pointless conversation, the man spoke up.

"Listen carefully..."

"I don't want to sleep with you. Not you, not with any other student either."





The voice broke out. Little did he know, the maiden's ears shut after the first part already. She heard something internally shatter— it was her heart.

As though shot by a bullet, she felt a sharp, intense pain in her chest. Her vision also became blurry, she could sense some moisture start to form.



It was a feeling she could not understand.

Was she not needed? Would she return to her past self with no purpose? After the Millenium's incident, she was heavily shaken when President Rio was nowhere to be found. Thankfully, she managed to seek his help in time— he gave her purpose. Just what is this feeling?

Was she sad? Disappointed? Did his words upset her?



"So except for bedtime when you return home, you can still come here to attend online classes or hang around like usual." He continued, not noticing a little wetness in her eyes— he also didn't realize the girl had gone through a time chamber of self-thoughts and flashbacks.

"..."

"Toki?" Not receiving her reply, Ritsuka called out to her. After staying quiet for a few seconds, she finally responded.

Quietly and steadily, she voiced out asking. "What if I don't comply?"

"Sigh, then I will not let you escort me."

"—!!"

"I will not let you perform your maid duty too. Please... Toki, it's just only bedtime we're separated, right?"

"..."

"You can come here everyday like usual, stay as long as you like— except for sleeping, of course. See? It's not so different at all. Just like in your earlier days here... Besides, we don't sleep together every night too, do we?"

"..."

"Sometimes you are on a mission, sometimes you go back home— you sleep fine by yourself."



"..." She remained silent, all his words had never been more true. Why did she even become persistent to a mere bed— She couldn't even figure.

"We can start off slow... starting tonight—"

"If you are troubled by anything, just contact me anytime okay? Tomorrow you'll also be here, right?"





Unable to find a supporting reason, as well as confused about her own feelings. Unconsciously, she responded—



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"Yes."

















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Under the starlight in the night sky, Asuma Toki stood in front of her apartment's door.

Just as she was about to rotate the doorknob, she recalled what happened in the afternoon. Hours ago, she and Sensei had a stressful conversation regarding her sleep location. Unfortunately, she contradictorily agreed— back then, she was in a state of confusion. No— even now, she still was.

Afterward, they went on doing separate things, he went back to work, leaving her mindlessly lying on the couch. To make things worse, those acts weren't abnormal in the slightest. That was how the two coexist every day... With his busy schedule and her reserved self, they occasionally chatted.

She was puzzled, today seemed not for her—everything seemed the same yet different. It's just her, her feelings that were unclear.

Like he said, almost nothing was changed. Just why?



"..."



The door swung open, she was greeted by the lightless room. The air was still, the silence pressing against her, almost suffocating. The only light coming from the faint glow of the moon peeking through the window. Luckily, the moon, as soothing as ever, stood on her side...

"..." She hesitated, standing in the doorway for a moment, the feeling of loneliness creeping in. It wasn't a new feeling—she'd spent so many nights like this, in the quiet of an empty room. But tonight, it seemed heavier. Was it always felt this emptied? She questioned herself.

The amount of time she spent in his place couldn't compare to how long she lived here— yet, it felt as though she lost her home.



What is wrong with me?



Ding! Interrupting her thoughts, her smartphone rang a notification.



[Sensei]

>>> Have you entered your home yet? Just now.



The source of problems, the one who caused her chaos, sent her the message. She admitted he was very considerate and caring— but now, some opposite feelings lingered within her. Upset? Betrayed? She couldn't figure it out quite yet. Nonchalantly, she replied.

[Me]

Yes, Sensei. Thank you for your company.​

[Sensei]

>>> You're welcome. See you tomorrow!

>>> Good night! Just now.



The conversation ended. He probably drove off after sending her home too.

Reminded that tomorrow they would still see each other, a little hope emerged in her heart unrealized. Slowly, she put the phone away, headed to shower, and went to bed.

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.





The night was unusually quiet, the soft hum of the city outside barely penetrating through the windows.

Toki laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling. Every so often, she Every so often, she'd glance at the clock, watching the minutes tick by in the darkness. Sleep refused to come, no matter how many times she shifted under the covers or closed her eyes in the hopes of drifting off.

She sighed, frustrated. Her thoughts swirled restlessly

Am I feeling lonely? Since when have I become demanding?



She had no energy, her mind was clouded, the food tasted bland, and now she couldn't sleep. Just tonight, the bed didn't feel right. She also tried hugging a pillow— it didn't help either. The sensation felt wrong— she preferred not this one.

Finally, she picked up her phone and typed a short message.

[Me]

Sensei, are you awake?​

She paused, staring at the words on the screen. It felt silly, like something that could wait, but her thumb pressed "Send" anyway. She set the phone down beside her, the small ding of a new message breaking the silence a moment later.



[Sensei]

>>> Yeah, I'm awake. Everything okay? Just now.



A wave of relief washed over her. She sat up in bed, the cool air brushing against her skin, and typed back.

[Me]

This is an important matter.

I can't sleep.​

[Sensei]

>>> Hmm... I don't recall you having a sleeping problem, do you?

>>> Have you tried adjusting the air-con? Did you forget to wash your mattress?

[Me]

Sensei, I am a perfect maid.​

[Sensei]

>>> Well, that's fair. (;---

[Me]

My mind won't shut off.​

She confessed. It wasn't a lie. The conflicted feelings knotted her mind like a rope, and even worse— it turned into chains that tightened her chest.



[Sensei]

>>> Wanna talk about it? Or just keep you company?



Her heart gave a small skip. She smiled softly, feeling the knot in her chest loosen a bit. The simple offer of company was exactly what she needed, even if it was just through a text.

[Me]

Keep me company, please.​

.

.

.

She set the phone on her lap and lay back against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling again. After almost five minutes, her phone buzzed with his message.



[Sensei]

>>> I'm here.





A small smile spread across her face unknowingly. The loneliness of the room felt more bearable, not as isolating. Their conversation continued, her eyelids slowly grew heavier. The constant back-and-forth of simple words, the familiar rhythm of his responses, and the warmth of his support were enough to calm her mind. Little by little, the restless energy that had kept her awake began to fade.

Before she knew it, the tension in her body had eased, and her eyes fluttered shut. The quiet comfort of the exchange, the gentle words from the other side of the screen, finally lulled her into a peaceful sleep.



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"Hmm.. Toki—"

"What is it, Sensei?" replied the girl, her clear blue eyes looking straight at me.

"You are feeling well now right?"

"I slept— but for some reason, the qualities did not meet. Thanks to your company it made me feel slightly better." She responded in a monotone yet a little bead of nervous sweat appeared on her face.

"I'm sure You'll adjust soon."



After yesterday, when we changed our little routine, she made me worry a little. She often slept at her home— She hadn't had this problem before. Did she grow attached to my bed? I questioned in my head in confusion. Please bear with it a little— At the end of the day, I'm doing this for you.

"See you tomorrow, Toki. If you can't sleep, text or call me okay?"

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"See you tomorrow!"



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"Sleep well, see you tomorrow!"



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.

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"Good night! See you tomorrow."



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.



About a week has passed since I prohibited Toki from sleeping in my bed. Ignore the initial reluctance, she obeyed my words in the end. However, a noticeable change occurred.



[Toki]

Sensei, I can't sleep. 11.27 pm



The girl couldn't sleep. She requested my company until she eventually got drowsy and thus fell asleep. But tonight was unusual, I replied to her already... but she left me on read.

Did she somehow sleep already? But from the past days, it would take another hour or two until she did. As for why she couldn't sleep, she said she didn't know. She told me she tried matching everything already too— temperature, pillows, blanket, or even bed sheets. They didn't work.

There is one thing she didn't have at home— Me.



Was it possible that she couldn't sleep... because she had become attached to my embrace?



She's always been strong, independent... But lately... I breathed a quiet sigh. The thought lingered, it was foolish of me but I couldn't deny how quickly and easily she settled in my arms each night. Maybe I was the comfort she searched for?

I laid still for almost another hour in case she responded— my phone was completely still, no one had messaged me. With nothing left to take care of, I called it a day and buried myself in the blanket sheet.

With my eyes closed, my mind drifting deeper into the warmth of slumber...

Out of the blue, a soft rustling broke the silence, a barely audible sound of movement. At first, I thought it was just a figment of my half-asleep mind, but then I felt it— The bed dipped, a light pressure against the sheets that hadn't been there before. His senses were still clouded by sleep, but instinctively, his body tensed, the familiar warmth of another person slipping quietly beside him.

*rustle* *rustle* It was subtle, almost like a feather-light touch at first, but unmistakable. The weight beside me increased, just enough to make me realize—someone's sneaking into my bed.

"—!!" My heart skipped a beat, the sudden realization pulling me out of the haze of sleep. I turned my head slightly, barely able to make out her form in the dim light of the room. The soft glow of the moon illuminated her features just enough for me to see her familiar silhouette, her hair cascading down as she carefully positioned herself next to me.

Before I could process it, she shifted once more, this time pressing herself closer. The warmth of her body seeped into mine, and her breath, soft and steady, brushed against my skin.

She didn't say anything. No words, no explanation—just a quiet, intimate presence



I didn't even need to think of the intruder's identity, this familiar sensation— the softness, the scent, the body size... all pointed to one person.



"Toki—"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came here."

"..."

"Sleep deprivation leads to less efficient performance. As a perfect maid and the best agent, I find this an urgent matter. After eliminating all possible factors... Surprisingly, it has the same cause and solution— You, Sensei."

"..."

"I need to sleep with you"

"...Wait—" Before I could respond, she continued. What I could hear and see instantly melted my heart.



"Sensei, just today—"

"Please let me stay with you."

With our faces separated by a few inches, the luminous blue eyes shining in the dark— and that face. Unlike her normal stoic face, there was a hint of gloominess. Her gaze which used to be sharp had softened, her arms wrapped around me tightly. As if, she was a begging little kitten... scared to be abandoned again.



Immersed in the moment, I gently place my hand on her head.

"Good night."



With my hand gently smoothed her hair, reassuring her she wasn't alone. She buried herself in my embrace, falling into slumber.

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As though back to square one, the man sighed. His eyes glanced at the problematic student who was enjoying her leisure time on the couch. Last night, Ritsuka lost to her— no, it was more like lost to his own heart, his rationale was gone the instant she approached him like that.

Ahh— I'm too soft. Like the kind-hearted he was, he was certainly weak to the opposition's advances.

As for the girl, she was enjoying the day more than the past few nights they were isolated. Nonetheless, it was today— she looked determined to be studying something on her tablet.



"..."

"..." Having no idea what it was kind of bothering him a little. Just as he was about to ask, the girl suddenly sprang up, headed straight to the bookshelf, and returned with a dozen of books.

Wait, that's not a book... Manga?





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The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of pages being turned. Asuma Toki was giving all attention to a manga— something she never thought she would get her hands on again. After all— she thought information could be relayed more efficiently in written or video visualization.

The story unfolding in front of her was about a girl who didn't realize she was in love until it was staring her right in the face. The heroine's confusion was strikingly familiar to her own. For the past few days, she had suspected the incomprehensible feeling was 'love'.

Why was it so complicated?

She had been feeling it for a while now—an odd flutter in her chest when she was around him, the anxiety when she was separated, a warmth that spread through she was in his embrace or when he looked at her with that soft, genuine expression of care.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the page, her eyes scanning over the text of the manga once again, seeking answers. The heroine's confusion mirrored her own, and as the story progressed, the girl in the manga finally realized the truth—the fluttering in her chest, the constant thoughts about a person, the warmth she felt whenever they were close. It wasn't just friendship. It was something deeper.

Love. She whispered in her throat. The word felt foreign, yet it also felt right, like a key fitting into the lock of her heart.



"..."

"—?" Her sharp eyes peeked at the working man, he returned her a confused look.





From what she had researched... when a man and woman were close together, they became inseparable. They developed a feeling called 'love'.

"..."

"—???" The girl shot him another glance, staring back at his even more confusing face.



Fujimaru Ritsuka, a human male— one and only, the lost species that long disappeared from the Earth's surface. Every condition matched, like a missing piece, it filled the incomplete jigsaw perfectly.

Maybe I love him?



She wasn't sure when it had happened. Maybe it was the way he always made sure she was okay, or the way he looked out for her when no one else did. Maybe it was the quiet moments when they would just stay together, and she could feel the calm presence of him beside her. It didn't matter how it started—what mattered was that it had happened.



She was in love.

Despite her calm appearance, looking at his dorky face made her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, she was ready to figure out what to do about it... But before that, she needed to check, verifying her feelings if they were real or not.



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"..."

"..."





"..." staaare

"( -___- )"





"..." staaaaaaare

"!! ( -____- );;"





Something's definitely wrong! The teacher thought to himself, turning his head away from the unwavering stare. It'd been an hour since this started— whenever he glanced at her, he always found her sharp eyes locked on him. As for why he checked on her? It was because he felt she looked at him first.

"..."

"Toki...?" She's surely up to something! He shouted panicky in his head. Even worse, when he peeked back, she was there staring back at him. Unhinged. This is abnormal! Her behavior is strange!



"Hey— Toki?"

"What is it, Sensei."

"Come here for a moment." Following the man's words, the girl walked to his desk obediently, her eyes still focused on him like a baby bird's first sight looking at its mother. Feeling the awkward atmosphere, Ritsuka coughed in silence, his hand moved— placing it on her forehead.

"Hmm... you're not sick either. Is there something wrong—"



Abruptly cut his voice midway. With a hint of red on her cheek, Toki was blushing.



Countless thoughts rushed to his brain. Just before he could start processing, she spoke up.

"Sensei, this is a good opportunity. I have something to test too."

"Huh? What is it? What test are you talking about?"

"Sensei—"

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"Let me kiss you."















END.













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Author's notes

See you on the last part!!!

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[Project Black Souls]

Oh god, poor Toki...

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

Oh god, poor Toki...

Click to shrink...

Rereading? Looool. Thank you for being supportive as always!

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

________________________________________________________________________________

Author's notes

THIS CHAPTER HAS SONG! Recommend reading with background bgm (provided above). The song will start later, don't worry about it (make sure you clicked play)

This side story takes place between Clockwork Flower Pavane chapter 2 and Vol. F.

START THE SONG AND ENJOY!

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Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

Side Story: Toki, Toki, The Maiden's Bewildered Heart (3/3)





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"Sensei— Let me kiss you."



Hearing her shocking sudden request, Fujimaru Ritsuka froze.





".......W-What?" He stammered, blinking as if he hadn't heard her right.

"I said—" She hesitated, noticing his wide-eyed expression, then sighed, her cheeks tinting pink.

"Never mind. That might've been too much too soon... We'll start with something easier."

"Wait— What?"

Ignoring the dumbfounded man, she stepped closer. Her normally stoic face showed a hint of nervousness yet determination. "A hug, that's softer. Then we can work up to the kiss."

"A hug..?" He swallowed hard, unsure if she was joking or dead serious. He knew she was up to something but how could someone expect this? Nonetheless, from her expression— it clearly was the latter.

"Don't overthink it." Closing the gap between them, She said while spreading her arms wide. "Hug me— Cuddle me, Sensei."

"Toki! You've got to be kidd—" Before he could finish his response, the maiden wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing her head lightly against his chest.



"Do I look like someone who cracks jokes?"



Buried in his embrace, she hugged him warmly as though slowly melting into his flesh.

"See? Easy." The maiden whispered with a little teasing smirk. Like a child winning on their game, her confidence rose. The nervousness dispersed the instance she successfully dived in, the reason? –She was approaching closer to her doubt. The feelings she couldn't understand before, she now grasped the meaning of it.

Thump Thump Thump Her heart throbbed violently, she could feel her cheek redden from the pulsating blood vessels. However, the girl did not hate it at all— it felt... wonderful.

Moreover, to her surprise— she could also hear his heart pounding, thumping so loudly as though reverbing with hers.



"Toki— what is the meaning of this?" Awkwardly he asked.

"It's not like we've never done it, Sensei. Just now, I found it is very different compared to when we were sleeping unconsciously." With a little smile on her face, she finally pulled back.

"Sigh... Hey look, Toki, you are a girl. You can't shove yourself into someone like that." Still in daze, he sat down on his chair. His head suddenly felt heavy, worrying about something.

"Sensei, this is crucial. Please cooperate."

"Hahh— What about you explain to me first what you're trying to do." Despite his nagging, the corner of his mouth still curled up, his face hued in a hint of red. The man unexpectedly took a lot of damage from the unforeseeable attack.



"I realized it is a very important problem. You see, over there." Toki with a determined face, pointed at the couch—piled with mangas.

"...You are bored? You said you didn't like manga too." He asked, feeling a little relieved... her questionable actions previously must be some kind of 'play'. "Alright, I will play with you. What do you want to try today? games? drawing?"



"No— I want to check on something. It seemed to be true as the intel said." She approached him again. This time she sat on lap, one of her slender arms wrapped around his neck— the other one touched his chest, directly on his heart.

Thump Thump Thump

"This weird feeling I felt for the past days. Sensei, I think I know what it is now."

Gulp The man swallowed a dry saliva.



Thump Thump Thump Her heart beat fast. A small proud smile appeared on her tender lips... not only hers, she also felt his too.

Slowly and steadily, she reached for his hand and put it on her chest.

Thump Thump Thump Likewise, the man also felt the resounding heartbeat from the mischievous maiden. Taking advantage of his stupefied expression, the girl continued.

"Let's move on to the next step, Sensei."



As if time became frozen, the moment became an eternity. Locking her last gaze at his lips, Toki leaned in, her eyes fluttering shut.

Her lips were only a breath away.

10 cm......

7 cm...

5 cm.

Just about they were going to touch. Two hands suddenly grabbed her shoulders, pushing away— creating a distance between them.



"..."

"......Why?" She asked, her voice cracking. Her eyes flew open, filled with confusion.





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I exhaled, lowering my hands but still keeping a distance between her. My face turned cold and serious. "That's enough."

"We are teachers and students, we can't continue this."

The color drained from her face as she stared at me. As if the world pressed onto her, her mouth voiced out inaudible words so as quiet as a whisper— The words stuck in her chest, she couldn't get them out.

With her sitting on me, I could feel a little quiver in her body.

After a few seconds, she finally spoke.

"Why— Don't you feel the same way?" she asked, her voice trembling.



In front of me used to be a strong, confident yet expressionless girl. The girl had trouble socializing since she was alone most of the time, thus making her face deadpan, unreadable of her thoughts. But now— that was not the case, the situation I'd not ever want to happen, the situation I hated the most...

The one right in front of me now— it was very painful to describe.

Her slender body was trembling, the hands wrapped around my neck felt powerless. A clear, wet moisture appears on her eyes, forming a reflective droplet of solemn tears. Asuma Toki was crying.





"After the tests, I figured it. I love you— Not as a teacher, but as a man."

"A love between man and woman."

"..." I could only bite my lips, listening to her sobbing voice.





I can't imagine what she was going through.

Sad, Disappointed, Rejected?

All of their causes were me.

I was in conflict— Before this.... I couldn't deny the excitement, since at the end of the day, I was still a young man in my twenties. However, I was now a teacher, and I still had no guarantee whether what would happen to me, or this world in the future. But most importantly, Toki— she was still young and curious. Like a newly bloomed flower, no one should ever lay their hands on it yet.

As a teacher, ethically, I failed. I should not haven't let our feelings and actions develop this far.

I will do anything— to correct this mistake. Even if it hurt her, I would ensure it would be the best option. For her, for her own sake... for her bright future.



"Toki, I appreciate your feeling for me. But right now, you're too young."

"..."

"You just realized how you feel." I struggled to choose the right words, guilt pressing heavily on my chest. "This is all still so new to you. I don't want you to rush into something you might not be ready for."

Her lips parted as if to protest, but no sound came out. The hurt in her eyes was unmistakable, and she quickly looked down, trying to hide the sting of rejection. "I... I wasn't rushing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just thought... I thought you felt the same."



I do



Two easy words I couldn't let them out. Swallowing them back, I continued as gently and sincerely as possible.

"You deserve to experience this when you're sure, when it's not just... curiosity or a moment of impulse."

"What if that feeling disappeared one day, won't you regret it?"

Her shoulders slumped, her eyes blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. "No, no, no— Sensei, it won't, it won't disappear and I won't—" she said bitterly. She took a step back, her arms wrapping around herself as if to shield her heart from further pain.

"Toki, as of now, I can't accept your feelings."

"..."

"Take your time, time will prove everything. Your feelings— our feelings too."



"Maybe after you've graduated or grown up into a fine woman, I may have fallen head over heels for you— But at that time, you'll already be mature. Maybe you'll reject me cruelly... since your feelings for me have long perished."

Toki turned silent, listening to me quietly. Only the sound of sobbing can be heard throughout the room.

Approaching her closer, I gently wiped her tears.

"Take your time, spend a lot of time with yourself."

"I won't go anywhere. I'll always be here."





Like water from a burst dam, her tears suddenly burst out, drowning in all sound and thought.

My heart ached... Today, I made an emotionless girl crumble.

She cried heavily, crying her heart and soul out.

The sight of her like this was too much to bear. Without a word, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around her trembling form. She collapsed into my chest, her sobs muffled against me as she clung to my shirt.

The weight of her sadness pressed down on me. Even if it hurt now, I wanted our story to be one without regrets.

I held her tighter, my hand gently stroking her back as I let her wail out her pain.



"I'm sorry."

I didn't mean to hurt you.

I murmured under her heartbreaking cry.

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Eventually, after almost an hour, her sobs subsided. Shedding the last drop of tear, she pulled away. I remembered it clearly— her face streaked with tears as she looked up at me.

"I need some time." She said softly in a fragile voice. That was my last image of her... I watched as she turned and walked away, her steps heavy with heartbreak.



This must be the best outcome.

I broke my student's heart. It also hurt me but my pain couldn't be comparable to her.

I was worried— but it'd be a valuable experience for a girl her age.

As a teacher, I couldn't show favoritism. As a master— my conditions were too uncertain, I couldn't guarantee anything much less a bright future up ahead. I was also an outsider, I could disappear at any moment— it could be next month, next week, tomorrow, or even today.

I didn't dare picture it, a future I could live a serene, peaceful life— in this world, in this city.

[Me]

Did you get home safely?

(Read)​

I checked on her in Momotalk, she left me on read.

It could be weeks, months, or even years for someone to move on. This was her first love too, it would even take longer... but I was willing to wait, I would do anything to help her. Was I doing it because I was a teacher? Even the sentence had its point contradicted.

Would she start avoiding me? Luckily, at least she made friends and hung out with her senpais, she should have someone to turn to. Yes— that's the most important. Even if she wouldn't see me again, she had grown— she was strong and independent, she would be fine.

With a heavy sigh, I put myself to sleep, hoping the girl would be fine soon.



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"Good morning, Sensei."



"..."





I blinked in surprise, pinching my cheek to check if I had truly woken up.

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. Her blonde, golden hair swayed in the wind as beautiful as ever. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her— the one I expected the least, standing there.

She looked different— not in her appearance but in her presence. In her usual student uniform— unlike the fragile girl yesterday, she held her head high, her sharp blue eyes burned with determination.



"I thought about everything last night."

I opened my mouth to speak, but the intensity of her gaze silenced me.

"You said you wanted to wait because you thought I wasn't ready," she continued, standing across from me "That I was rushing. That you didn't want me to regret anything."

I swallowed a nervous gulp, unsure of where she was going.





"I will do as you said— I will let time prove my feelings."

"But at the same time, I will win over your heart."

"Yesterday, your heart beat for me. You rejected me— but you lied to yourself."





Like a miracle, as if the atmosphere changes... the sunlight brightly lit the room, a gentle breeze brushed strands of her hair. The wind swirled gently around us, carrying the weight of her confession like a melody. With an unwavering voice, she continued.





"You denied your own feelings."

"Thus, it falls to me, the best agent's job, to take care of the resisting suspect."



For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as we looked at each other. In her bright azure eyes, I only saw a reflected image of myself.



"I don't care how long it takes."

"Even if you push me away, even if you need time, I'll wait— I'll keep trying, because I know now that I love you."







"Sensei, Prepare yourself—"



"..."













"I will make you love me."

And like that, the stubborn girl lived with me since then.



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FIN.

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Author's notes

And that's it! The end of our first side story! Feel free to comment whether you like it or not. I really had fun writing this story, I have to admit it's kinda hard to portray Toki's personality (we've never seen her 'romantic' side and she was emotionless most of the time. Plus, because love is a serious matter, I can't even use her sulking mode like when she realized students gifted Sensei tea either.) Yeah, I do hope you all like my interpretation of her here.



See you in the next main story chapter! After the end of the fist volume, the next side story will come next.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

________________________________________________________________________________

Author's notes

Hi readers, welcome to my fanfiction about FGO and Blue Archive crossover! Side stories are my side projects that focus on daily life. This is exclusive, new content separate from the main story yet canon in this fanfiction. Side stories happened between the main stories without spoiling this fiction's plots. This side story takes place after Hyakkaryouran Chapter 1 (The main story has yet to catch up to that.)

(I can't be writing the main story solely all the time, that thing was really exhausting. It requires too much brain power.)

ENJOY!

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Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

Side Story: Game Development Department and The Hero Party (1/3)





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Tok Tok Tok

My steps echoed softly against the pristine floor, the rhythmic sound almost soothing.

Strolling through Chaldea's quiet, labyrinthine halls, I found a rare moment to let my thoughts wander. Chaldea's atmosphere was always a strange mix of tension and serenity, like a heartbeat steadying before a storm.



Today was a serene one.

Lately, storms seemed to follow me no matter where I went.

Now that I could freely travel between this world and Kivotos—my workload had skyrocketed. Two roles, two lives: Master of Chaldea and Teacher of SCHALE. It was like someone had stitched together two entirely separate timelines, forcing me to balance their chaos.

Wait— Wasn't that my choice?

Thanks to Abby, connecting both worlds together allowed me to continue the Grand Order while taking care of my beloved students. Great power comes great responsibilities— The phrase hit me hard like a hammer... a hammer that shattered a glass into a million pieces. Yes, I'm that glass.



Do I regret it? Not at all.

On one hand, I was saving humanity, fixing Singularities, and managing an army of quirky, sometimes overpowered Servants. On the other, I was guiding students through their youth, protecting them from danger, and trying not to lose my mind when Arona updated me with another student drama.

My head was full of scattered thoughts when I rounded the corner and spotted a familiar figure.





"Master!"

A man's voice rang out as brightly as his radiant smile. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Charlie!— Hey!" I called out to him. Charlemagne, or I called him 'Charlie', strode toward me— his carefree aura instantly brightening the hall. Despite his radiant look and carefree personality, he was the King of Franks— The Holy Roman Emperor. Like usual, his black and white hair swayed smoothly as he walked, his blue eyes shone and glittered whenever light touched.



"Good Timing, Charlie!"

"Hmmm? Good timing? From you, Master— That's suspicious! Should I be concerned?" The young emperor laughed, teasing me like we were close friends. He didn't think I would just take him to farm embers right?



"Haha— Not yet." I replied with a laugh. "What's up? You seem in a good mood."

"Well, I could say the same about you." Charlemagne teased, crossing his arms. "It's not every day I catch you strolling around without a mission or a Servant dragging you into something. Normally, you're either wrestling with Singularities, hanging out with servants, or teaching as a teacher in that other world. What's the occasion?"

I let out a dramatic sigh. "Miraculously, no one's called for me yet. No emergency alarms, no tearful pleas for help, no servants ambushing me. I figured I'd enjoy it while it lasts—catch my breath for once."

"Wow, a free Master of Chaldea," Charlemagne said, mock-surprised. "Should I get Merlin? He might want to document this miracle."

"Very funny," I said, though I couldn't help but chuckle. The man probably be eating popcorn whenever I got caught in something. If I had nothing to do, he'd have gone spying on others already.





Suddenly, as I looked at Charlemagne's easygoing face, a thought struck me like lightning.



A little wavy black hair and blue eyes.

A young man in white armor with a cape, like a knight from a fantasy.

A Hero.





"Wait—Charlie!" I blurted out, both hands grabbed his shoulders. "Yes, It has to be you!"

"—!!!"

"Only you! – Charlie!"

Confused, Charlemagne blinked, startled "Wha— Master?! What's that sudden outburst? You scared me!"

I held his shoulders tightly, looking at him square in the eye. "Charlie, I need your help. You're perfect— Too perfect for this!"

"Help?" He tilted his head, bewildered but curious. "Help with what? Master— You're acting like the world's about to end again."

I grinned, already picturing how this plan would play out. "Well... the thing is..."



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"Sensei!"

"Hmm??"

Out of the blue, Aris called me.

The Game Development Department of Millennium was as lively as ever, their club room buzzing with the sound of clicking game controllers, and the audio SFX of video games. I wondered how the treasurer would react if she saw this...

Gently placed her game controller on the mattress, Aris turned to me with a serious expression.



"Sensei... When will you show us your real identity?" She blurted out, completely out of nowhere.

"..." I was stunned for a second. "Huh? What do you mean?"



Aris's eyes sparkled "You know, like how heroes always hide their secret identities? But it's okay—you don't have to hide it from us. We already know who you are!"

My heart skipped a beat. After the Phrenapates's parallel world invasion, I'd learned many students had seen a fragment of my past through some strange phenomenon tied to the ordeal completion. But they knew I was a Master already...



"What do you mean 'my real identity'?" I asked. "You've already seen everything, haven't you?"

Aris smirked. "Of course! You wore armor! A cape! And you had a sword too!"

"...?" I blinked with confusion. "Armor? Cape? Sword?"



"Yes! Are you a warrior? A hero? The chosen sword Hero?!"

With overwhelming excitement, Alice dived at me— Her eyes glowed so bright that one could see stars twinkling inside. Nonetheless, I didn't follow at all.



"Oh! I remember that too!" Momoi chimed in, scooting closer. Her twin sister, Midori, also followed eagerly.

"Yeah! Yeah! You looked so cool!" The younger twin added. "Like a white knight straight out of a fairy tale— Out of an RPG game!"

My eyebrows furrowed. "Wait a minute— I don't remember wearing any of that. You must've seen someone else."

"No way!" Aris interjected, folding her arms. "He looked exactly like you!"

"Exactly?" I repeated, tilting my head in bewilderment. What in the world is going on?

"Yeah!" Aris said with certainty. "Your height, blue eyes, and that black wavy hair with a bit of white highlight. Oh, and he was really handsome."

"Handsome, huh..." I muttered, still trying to piece things together.

"And his aura!" Aris continued, her voice rising with excitement. "It was beautiful, like a rainbow shimmering around him!"







As if time suddenly froze, all the pieces in my head started to put together.



Black hair, blue eyes, same height, same face...

White armor, sword, rainbow aura...





My mind clicked into place, eyes widened. With these descriptions, there could be only one person: Charlie!!!





"Sigh... I figured now, that wasn't me. He is Charlie." I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"Eh?" Aris tilted her head. "But he looked just like you though!"

"Yeah, you could be twins like us." Midori added.



I sighed again, exasperated but amused. "Trust me, that's not me. Charlie— Charlemagne and I happened to look similar."



The three of them looked at each other, no— four if including the hiding Yuzu. They all side-eyes me in disappointment and disbelief. Why do I feel like you weren't believing me?

"That's disappointing." Aris said with visible discontent. "You don't trust us— We're in the same party, there must be no secrets between us."

"Wait— It really wasn't me! That was Charlemagne, not me!"

"It's fine, Sensei. You're a Hero, you need to keep your secrets— even from us..."

"..." Aris's down speech made me lose my words.





You owe me an explanation, Charlie.



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"We look similar?! No way!" Charlie laughed, his hand dramatically clutching his chest as if I had delivered a mortal wound.

"I know right? Of course, we don't!" I shot back, we ended up bursting into laughter.



And that's what happened that day in the Game Development Department. The misunderstanding made us play the game in silence for an hour, it took me a while to make up with the girls. Nevertheless, they still didn't believe we were different people...



"That's what happened that day in the Game Development Department," I explained as I regained my breath. "The girls wouldn't let it go. They kept insisting you were me, or I was you."

"Wait a second..." Charlie interrupted, still smiling mischievously. "I'd been a lot more popular with girls if I had your face and aura!"

I blinked, he certainly caught me off guard. "Wait—what's that supposed to mean?

Charlie grinned devilishly. "Oh, come on, Master. You walk around catching female Servants' hearts like they're Pokémon."

"Hah—says the guy with multiple wives and concubines!" I shot back, glaring playfully at the smug knight.

"Hey, hey, that was Karl der Große, my alternate side, not me!"



Our conversations were always fun. By the way, how did he know about Pokémon? Looked like Chaldea's recreation rooms must be packed nowadays... I thought to myself.



Suddenly, an idea struck in my head— a brilliant one too. No— a cool one, if went by Charlie's logic. My lips unintentionally curled into a devious grin.



"You know, Charlie..." I started, leaning closer. "The girls at the Game Development Department are really into hero stories, games, and knights— those RPG stuff. There's even one girl, Aris—who wants to become a warrior on an adventure herself."

Charlie's curiosity piqued as he raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Go on..."

I smirked. "I think they'd love to meet a real knight. A real hero. Oh, and let's not forget—a king."

Charlie's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

I nodded.

"Yep—"



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"You're coming with me to Millennium as a surprise guest."

END.



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Author's notes

The prologue ended here! If you noticed, Ritsuka is a lot more chilled with servants (especially those like Charlie) compared to his students. As a teacher, he has to maintain somewhat a level of maturity. If you felt why Ritsuka vibe was different in Kivotos, it's my (writer's) intention. Side story like this is where the characters can relax!

Again, this side story happened after the Hyakkaryouran (Vol.5 chap 1)

See you next chapter!

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[SamoyShibaDaDaDa]

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Author's notes

Hi readers, welcome to my fanfiction about FGO and Blue Archive crossover! Side stories are my side projects that focus on daily life. This is exclusive, new content separate from the main story yet canon in this fanfiction. Side stories happened between the main stories without spoiling this fiction's plots. This side story takes place after Hyakkaryouran Chapter 1 (The main story has yet to catch up to that.)

(I can't be writing the main story solely all the time, that thing was really exhausting. It requires too much brain power.)

ENJOY!

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Fate/Grand Order: Where All Miracles Begin, SCHALE

Side Story: Game Development Department and The Hero Party (2/3)





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"Yep. You're coming with me to Millennium as a surprise guest for the club." I said smilingly.

"Wow, for real?" Charlemagne's face lit up, his excitement already bubbling to the surface.



"Yep, but..." I raised a finger. With his brimming face, I kind of knew what he expected. "We can't have you walking around Millennium Academy in full armor and a cape. It'll cause a scene."

Charlemagne blinked, visibly disappointed. "What? No grand entrance in my resplendent armor? No cape billowing majestically behind me?"

I sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, no. As much as I love your flair for the dramatic, Millennium's students might think we're under attack if a knight suddenly storms in."



Wait— Maybe I need to take back my words. It wasn't like the Millenium was always peaceful right? On any normal day, there were always student causing trouble with their inventions.

Maybe just one more knight won't hurt—?

I shook the thought away as someone's face instantly appeared in my mind.





'Sen...sei!'







My ears surely weren't ready for an hour of nagging.

I'm sorry, Charlie... I didn't want to risk myself. It was also better to cause any more trouble for the Seminar.







"Hmmm, fine." The young adventurer said, crossing his arms but already perking up at the thought of the surprise. "So Master, what's the plan then?"

"We go in casual clothes," I explained. "I'll enter first, just to set the stage. Once I give the signal, then you come in. But that's when you'll switch to your full knightly getup. The reveal will blow their minds.

Charlemagne clapped his hands together, his excitement returning in full force. "Brilliant! That'd be so cool!"

"Cool right?!" Imagining their faces made me happy already. "Alright, let's get ready. This is going to be fun."





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"..."





Hey, look at him, Why is he standing still?

Isn't he a bit different today?



In the middle of Millennium Academy's bustling courtyard stood a young man, alone, his arms crossed— his knightly demeanor completely out of place amidst the futuristic surroundings. Students zipped by on hoverboards, drones carried supplies overhead, and a faint hum of machines and devices filled the air.

"Where... am I now?" Charlemagne muttered, his blue eyes scanning the campus with a mix of awe and confusion. "This doesn't look anything like Chaldea... or even a battlefield..."

He glanced down at the small name tag pinned to his jacket that read "OFFICIAL – SCHALE — Fujimaru Ritsuka" in neat letters, followed by a credit card tucked in his pocket. The items only reminded him of the unexpected circumstances that had brought him here.



As for what happened?





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A few minutes earlier, the two of them had been driving toward Millennium, chatting and finalizing their plan. That was until Ritsuka's phone vibrated with an urgent notification.

Ritsuka glanced at the screen. His expression immediately shifted from relaxed to tense. "It's Kikyou... she's my student from another school. She says it's serious."

Charlemagne raised an eyebrow. "Serious? Like, Grand Order-level serious?"

"I don't know the details..." The man admitted, stress evident in his voice. "But if Kikyou is messaging me with the word 'serious,' it's probably very bad."





The one who messaged him was Kiryuu Kikyou from Hyakkiyako, the most serious member of Hyakkarouran Conflict Resolution Council. Most of the time, their chat was only work-related yet he rarely saw the word 'serious' from her.

"..." Ritsuka gulped a dry saliva. Recently, there was an incident with the school too.





Seeing his master's face, Charlemagne leaned back, thinking for a moment. "Hey, Master, then what about the Game Development Department? You can't just ignore her, right?"

Ritsuka frowned and exhaled a long sigh. "This is bad timing..."

"Shall we postpone the game development Department?" Charlemagne suggested, offering the easiest method.

Ritsuka was lost in thoughts for a moment and shook his head. "Hmmm... Just as we finished our talk, I already texted them I'd be there with a huge surprise."

"..." The young king now understood his trouble, breaking a promise was surely something uncool he'd try to avoid too.





"..."

"..."

"Charlie."

"Yeah? What is it, master?"

"Can I leave the girls to you? Just hang out with them, play games, chat— all that babysitting stuff." Ritsuka grinned mischievously "You're a prince charming. They are very good children too, you'll be fine."

Charlemagne's eyes widened slightly "Well... you don't need the latter part, just say the word and I'll do it."



Beaming a radiant smile, the teacher was assured his students would be in good hands. He couldn't imagine anyone who wouldn't like Charlemagne— Friendly and bright, warm but cool at the same time.

Ritsuka chuckled. "Exactly. Here, take this."

"It's a my name tag and a secondary credit card. Just in case."

"Oh, and the directions to the clubroom are pretty simple—"





"Left, go 2 blocks straight, hop on the 3rd platform, left, after you see a weird curvy building, go right, enter the 2nd building, and then up to the third floor."

"Got it?"



Charlie stared blankly at him.

"... Sure."









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Back to the Present, that was what happened.

Now, standing in the middle of Millennium, the Father of Europe scratched his head and pulled out the small note Ritsuka had scribbled directions on. He frowned as he turned the paper sideways, trying to make sense of the cryptic maze his master had described.

"Left, straight, left... or was it left, straight, right?" he muttered.





A group of students passed by, glancing curiously at the tall, handsome man who seemed very out of place. Charlemagne, oblivious to their stares, stuffed the note back in his pocket and tried to regain his composure.

"Alright, Charlie..." he said to himself, straightening up and nodding confidently. "You're a king, a knight, and an adventurer. How hard can finding one little clubroom be?"

With a resigned sigh, he muttered. "Master, you really left me in the thick of it this time, didn't you?"





As the man wandered aimlessly, students began to take notice of the tall, charismatic figure. At first, it was just a few curious glances. Then, whispers began to ripple through the air, spreading faster than he realized.



Wait, is that Sensei? a girl in the distance whispered, her voice tinged with excitement.

It has to be him! Look at his face! her friend replied, clutching her tablet.

But his hair... another chimed in, squinting at him. Did he... dye it? That white streak makes him look so trendy!— like a rebellious teen!



Charlemagne caught snippets of the conversation, his ears perking up at the sound of 'Sensei'. He stopped in his tracks, glancing around to see a small group of students now gathering nearby. Their excited murmurs grew louder.

"Wait a sec..." The man muttered under his breath. "They think I'm... him?"





More students began to gather, pointing and gossiping with an almost synchronized giddiness.

Doesn't he look like a prince from a fantasy novel? That white hair pulled all my heartstrings

He's glowing! Look at that aura! It almost blinded me!"



Charlie's face froze for a moment as he processed their chatter. Glowing? Aura? Really? He fought the urge to laugh with his life. The crowd grew larger, their voices blending into an excited cacophony.





"Ladies, ladies,..." he began, holding up his hands in a calming gesture, his charming smile still plastered on his face. Right now, he had to complete an honorable mission, it was time to ask for direction. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, by the way—"

"Sensei! Are you here to supervise the festival?"

"Sensei, your new look is amazing!"

"Sensei, over here!"

Charlemagne froze as the overwhelming attention hit him like a tidal wave. He had walked into a trap of his own making, though he had to admit—he didn't entirely mind the admiration. Still, this misunderstanding was getting out of hand. A bead of sweat on his temple.

Master, where are you when I need you?!

And what have you done over here?! So, the rumor that you're sinful is true?!

Now he saw why female Chaldea servants seemed to step up their games lately...





"Fair maidens... Do you happen to know where— "

"Kyaaa! Sensei why did you change your speech?!"

"Sensei, are you actually a prince? I knew it, I knew you really are!" Another student blushed.

"I can die in peace now..." One more fell backward to the floor.



"Wait! Hang on—" It failed, just as he was about to give it another try, his voice caught in his throat as the sea of students parted. A single figure emerged from the throng, walking toward him with purposeful steps.



It was Hayase Yuuka.

Her sharp eyes locked onto him. There was something unreadable in her expression—a mix of confusion, irritation, and that telltale air of someone ready to lecture.

The murmurs around him intensified.

Uh-oh... It's Hayase-san.

Sensei's in for it now.

Will he survive the treasurer?





The man blinked, unsure why the students suddenly seemed to pity him, but before he could say a word, the twin-tailed girl reached him, standing toe-to-toe.

"Seeeen...Sei!, What is this?" she asked flatly, gesturing toward the crowd. "What kind of ruckus are you trying to create, Sensei?"

"Ah, you see—" Charlemagne began, but Yuuka wasn't finished.

"And what's with this look?" she cut in, her eyes narrowing as she pointed at his outfit. "What are you even wearing? That jacket—it's not a suit, is it? It doesn't even match your usual style!"

He opened his mouth, waiting for a pause, but Yuuka powered through like a freight train.

"Where's your necktie? Did you forget how to dress yourself? And don't get me started on your hair! Since when did you think looking like a rebellious delinquent was a good idea?"

"Miss, I think—"

"Are you trying to give the students a bad example? Honestly, what's wrong with you today, Sensei?!"





The crowd snickered and whispered among themselves.

Oh no, Yuuka's in full nag mode.

Poor Sensei... He looks like he doesn't know what hit him.

Think he'll make it out alive?... I can't let her see me, or else she'll cut my budget!





Charlie stood frozen, his knightly demeanor slipping as Yuuka's rapid-fire questions and criticisms left him scrambling for an opening. His lips twitched, desperately trying to form a response, but her unrelenting critique left no room to interject.

Finally, Charlie raised his hands in surrender, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Wait! Please, just a moment!"





Yuuka blinked, her tirade pausing for a split second.

"I'm not your Sensei..." The man said, smiling nervously as he gestured toward himself.

"My name is Charlemagne. I'm a guest, and—if you'd allow me to finish... I'm also completely lost."





"..."

"..."

Yuuka stared at him, processing his words. Her piercing gaze shifted to the crowd, then back to Charlie.





"..."

"(o__o;!)" Charlemagne's bright grin faltered as Yuuka crossed her arms, her skeptical glare boring into him.

"You're telling me," she began, her voice dripping with suspicion, "that you're not Sensei? What kind of prank is this?"

"Prank?" Charlie blinked, bewildered. "No, no, I assure you—"

"Your hair, your height, and your face..." she paused, leaning closer as though to inspect him more thoroughly.



The man was also built the same as Ritsuka, the same height and physique. His lean yet refined muscles made the young man look like an athlete instead of a bodybuilder. White shirt, black casual pants, and a black casual jacket... she were all familiar with them.

Because they were Ritsuka's.

Those were the clothes he lent to Charlemagne when they came to Kivotos. Yuuka, as one of his closest students, had spent uncountable time with him— she also helped with bills, clothing bills included.

She knew his items in the closet and fashion sense like the back of her hand...

In addition, the name tag on his neck displayed 'Fujimaru Ritsuka'.





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"Sensei... Don't think you can fool me with some weird delinquent act."

Charlie opened his mouth to protest, but Yuuka's unimpressed look shut him down before he could get a word in edgewise.





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A little further back in the crowd, a girl stood with her arms folded, watching the scene unfold with a bemused smile.

"That's Yuuka-chan... and Sensei?" Ushio Noa murmured to herself, her amethyst eyes narrowing as she focused on the man standing before Yuuka.

The resemblance was uncanny, but something about him seemed just slightly off. His posture was a little too confident, his smile a little too self-assured, and his voice carried a playful undertone that the real Sensei rarely used.



As the Seminar's secretary, she paid attention to details in everything— her teacher included of course. Not only memorized, Ritsuka's actions and behaviors were noted in records too. Nothing odd could have gone pass this woman's eyes.



"No..." Noa muttered, a sly grin creeping onto her face as realization struck. "That's not him."

She chuckled quietly to herself, deciding not to intervene. Watching Yuuka squabble with this 'Sensei imposter' was far too entertaining to interrupt.



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Eventually, Charlie sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Little girl, I'm not Ritsuka. My name is Charlemagne, and I'm a guest here."

Yuuka raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Charlemagne, huh? You're still pulling this act? Fine, whatever you say." She waved her hand dismissively. "If you're not Sensei, then what exactly are you doing here?"

Hayase Yuuka groaned under her breath, thinking the 'Charlemagne' must be his new game alias or something.



"I'm here to hang out and play games with the Game Development Department girls." Answered confidently, the man also straightened up as his knightly pride kicked in.

Yuuka froze, her eyes narrowing as his words sank in.



"The Game Development Department?"

"Yes." Charlie said cheerfully.

Yuuka's expression darkened. "You mean to tell me they're playing games? Not developing them?"

"Uh... I suppose?" Charlie replied hesitantly, sensing a shift in her demeanor. Did not he know, he stepped on a landmine— He was already dead.

Yuuka stomped her feet cutely in frustration. "That club is supposed to be creating games! Do you know what they've accomplished this semester?"

"Uh... no?" Charlie said cautiously.

"Nothing!" Yuuka snapped. "I was just about to cut their funding for wasting school resources. If they have time to play games, they have time to actually work!"





The crowd of students murmured nervously at Yuuka's fiery outburst, while Noa quietly chuckled to herself in the background.

Yuuka turned sharply to Charlemagne, her expression set. "I'm going with you."

"With me?" Charlie asked, blinking in surprise.

"Yes." she said firmly. "I need to see for myself what kind of nonsense they're up to. Let's go."





In the end, both walked off together.

The young knight let out a relieved smile, not that he could finally get to the club... but the nagging ended.

Meanwhile, Noa lingered in the back, smiling knowingly.



"Fufu... This just got even more interesting."

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In front of the Game Development Department's door, a man found himself standing alone. The echoes of his footsteps fading into the hallway behind him.

For a moment, he stood there, straightening his casual jacket. Yuuka had left just a few minutes earlier, summoned to another errand that demanded her immediate attention. She'd barely paused before briskly excusing herself, leaving him with a stern 'don't cause any trouble, I'll be back!' before striding off.





The walk they'd shared through Millennium's bustling campus was... intriguing, to say the least. Charlemagne wasn't entirely sure if their exchange qualified as a conversation or an extended monologue. Yuuka had done most of the talking, recounting her day in meticulous detail—her thoughts on the students she oversaw, the mountain of work piling up on her desk, and the challenges of being Millennium's treasurer.

The young king had nodded along, occasionally offering a polite 'I see' or 'That does sound challenging'. He wasn't sure if she even noticed his responses— she seemed perfectly content to speak her mind.

But as she talked, he noticed something: her unwavering trust in his master.

Hearing that, Charlie couldn't help but smile. Of course they trust him. He's my Master, after all.

At the same time, a quiet thought lingered in his mind, amusing him to no end.

Another world, another harem.





Now, as he stood before the club's door, Charlemagne felt a flicker of anticipation. Ritsuka had already briefed him who the girls were— the man remembered their faces and descriptions with no trouble.

"This is it," he muttered to himself. He knocked once, twice, and then pushed the door open.

The chatter inside came to an abrupt halt as the girls turned to face the unexpected visitor.





"Sensei! You're here!" Aris exclaimed, her voice bright and excited.

"Hi, little girls!" Charlemagne said, beaming with a smile.

"Eh? Sensei! You've changed a lot! Is this your new skin?!" Noticing a huge difference from the usual appearance, Aris was surprised, her eyes sparkled with stars.



"Uh— Haha, well... Actually, I'm not your —"

"Whooa— Sensei! You look so cool today!"

"Yeah! Is this, like, your secret edgy look?!" Momoi shouted, practically bouncing in place. Midori also added, her twin ponytails bobbing as she leaned forward with excitement.

"It suits him..." In the back of the room, Yuzu—who had been quietly observing—muttered in her usual soft-spoken tone.



Charlemagne scratched the back of his head, his jacket shifting slightly as he adjusted his posture. Since the original plan had fallen through—where Ritsuka would introduce him as a knight in shining armor—he decided it was better not to create more of a stir by revealing his true identity in full regalia.

I guess today, I'll just stay in the room, play some games, and wait for Master to return... The young man thought to himself.

"Well— Ahem, Ahem." Clearing his throat, he continued. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Charlemagne, but you can call me Charlie or Charles."

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The room fell silent, the girls staring at him with blank expressions. For a moment, Charlie thought they were finally starting to believe that he wasn't their Sensei.

Then, out of nowhere, Aris's face lit up, and she clapped her hands together.





"Okay!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.





"....Okay?" The man repeated, blinking in confusion.

"Yes, Sensei!" Momoi chimed in, nodding eagerly. "That's such a cool alias! 'Charlemagne' sounds like a knight straight out of a fantasy game!"

Midori grinned. "Using the name 'Sensei' all the time must be boring, huh? Switching to an alias is totally normal in RPGs!"

"So today, we'll call you Charles-sensei!" Aris declared with a triumphant smile.



Charlemagne's mouth opened, then closed as he processed their reaction.

"Wait— You think I'm roleplaying?"

"Of course!" Aris replied, completely missing his confusion. "It's perfect! You're nailing the 'mysterious knight with a secret identity' vibe!"

Yuzu, still standing in the back, quietly nodded. "It's fitting." she murmured.

Charlie sighed internally, a mix of amusement and exasperation bubbling within him. Even though lying was taboo in the chivalry code, this little misunderstanding was for the sake of 'coolness' right? As long as the girls were happy, he didn't care about his real identity in the slightest.



I see... They're still convinced I'm their Sensei. Master, you owe me for this.



"Well then..." He said, resigning himself to the misunderstanding but keeping his smile intact. "If that's what you want to call me, Charles-sensei it is."



"Oh! Sensei, and what is the 'surprise' you told us?"

"Uhmm..." Charlemagne scratched his cheek, using all his wits to avoid disappointing the hopeful girls. "It's not the time yet, it'll come later."

Well, I'm supposed to be the surprise... Nervously thought to himself, he smiled dryly.



"Yay, We're looking forward to that! Come in, Sensei! Let's play games!"

The girls cheered, immediately pulling him toward the game setup, eager to show him their updated game library. Charlemagne chuckled, letting himself get swept up in their enthusiasm.

At least this will be fun.





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Time flew.

Three hours had passed in the blink of an eye.

The once-quiet Game Development clubroom was now filled with cheerful laughter, shouts of triumph, and the occasional groan of defeat.



"Ha! I win again!" Charlemagne exclaimed, leaning back with a triumphant grin.

"Ugh, Sensei—uh, I mean, Charles-sensei, you're way too good at this!" Aris pouted, crossing her arms as her character fell for the third time in a row.

Midori groaned. "Seriously! Where did you even learn to play like that?"

"It's a secret!" Charlemagne said with a playful smirk, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Let's just say I grinded a lot in the scariest dungeon."

Saying proudly, the man had every right to boast. In fact, he honed his skills in the renowned Chaldea recreation room. Since It's a matter of pride, he couldn't afford to lose to the other kings and heroes. After all, he represented France... as the King of Franks, he wouldn't bring shame to his people.

The girls groaned in unison as Charles laughed, his infectious energy filling the room.



Just as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow through the windows, a sharp knock at the door interrupted their fun.

The door creaked open, revealing two familiar figures: Hayase Yuuka and Ushio Noa.



"Ehhh— Yuuka?!"

"The devil is here..." Unlike the surprised Aris, the twins trembled in fear.



Yuuka stepped in first, her piercing gaze scanning the room, while Noa followed behind, her expression calm and mildly amused.

"Sensei... What are you doing here?"" Yuuka's eyes locked onto Charles, her brow furrowing yet her mouth curled into a devilish smile... as though catching a criminal red-handed.

"Uh—"

"He's been playing with us!" Charlemagne began, but Aris cut him off, jumping to his defense innocently. Without knowing— it was the worst thing to say. Now, the evil treasurer knew the teacher did not 'guide' them to properly perform their club duties but played games.





"Playing with you, huh? –Exactly what I wanted to talk about."

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Yuuka crossed her arms, her stern gaze falling on the Game Development Department members. Noa at the back stayed quiet, only smiling with amusement.

"The Game Development Department's performance this semester has been... underwhelming,"

"You've produced nothing. No progress. No prototypes. Nothing at all. And you're using school funds to sit around and play games? If this keeps up, I'll have no choice but to cut your budget entirely."

Aris and the others exchanged worried glances.

"Wait!" Momoi protested. "It's not that we don't want to make something! We just... lack inspiration lately."

Yuuka raised an eyebrow. "Lack inspiration?"





"Yeah!" Midori chimed in. "We've been brainstorming, but nothing feels right. We're struck!"

"We've decided to go with an RPG game instead of a sports game but..."



Sighhhh..... Yuuka let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Then here's a thought: go outside. Get motivated, get inspired by the world around you. Do something."

"If you can't produce any results by the end of the semester, your club will be shut down."

"Lastly, I need to see any tangible progress, whether they are concepts, scripts, or plots— Submit it to me by this week."



Noa, the secretary who had been silently observing, finally spoke up, her voice soft but teasing. "You know, Yuuka-chan, you've turned on your nag mode again."

Yuuka's cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm just doing my job."

"A—Anyway! Come to the Student Council room if anything. I'll be seeing you."









And the two of them left.

As though recovering from shock after the storm dissipated, the room fell silent for a while.





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"That was.... intense" Midori mumbled, sinking back into the couch.

"Yeah..." Momoi agreed, her shoulders slumping. To think that they were back to this situation again in just a few months. Yuzu also quietly came out from the locker.

"Sensei... is this the 'surprise' you prepared for us?"

All eyes turned to Charles, who stood awkwardly near the center of the room, shaking his head emphatically. "Of course not! Absolutely not this one!"





Amidst the sour mood, a girl stood up.

"Everyone! Let's go on an adventure!" With her eyes sparkling brightly, Aris declared— brimming with excitement.

"Adventure? Like... a field trip?" Momoi asked, tilting her head.





Hearing that, Aris grinned.

"Huhu... No, no, no— An RPG adventure! We're making an RPG game, right? What better way to get inspiration than to experience a real adventure ourselves?"

Charlemagne's ears perked up, adventurer was his occupation after all.





"But where do we go?" The older twin asked.

Aris leaned— the grin hadn't left her face, lowering her voice for dramatic effect. "Have you heard about the ghost rumors?"

"Ghost rumors?" Charlemagne repeated, his brows furrowing.

"Yes!" Aris responded, her enthusiasm growing. "They say ghost monsters have been spotted in the mountains behind Hyakkiyako Academy. Glowing eyes, eerie howls, strange shadows moving at night—it's got all the makings of a real adventure!"

The young adventurer blinked, trying to process what he'd just heard. "Ghost monsters? In the mountains?" He let out a small chuckle. "That sounds like a story someone made up to scare kids."

"It's not just a story!" Aris protested. "People have seen them! Right, Momoi? Midori?"

Momoi and Midori exchanged hesitant looks before nodding.

"We've heard about it too." Momoi admitted.

"Yeah." Midori added. "People say it's been happening for weeks— the rumor just surfaced again yesterday."





"Hmmm...?" Charlemagne leaned back, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

In truth, he wasn't too worried. His Master had never mentioned this world being particularly dangerous—aside from the occasional student brawls that bizarrely involved military-grade weapons. If there were truly something dangerous lurking in the mountains, surely his Master would have said something— Wouldn't he?





Clap! Breaking him from his thoughts, Aris clapped her hands together.

"Yay! It's settled! We'll head to the mountain and solve the mystery!"





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"The Hero Party...."



"Journey— Start!"















As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm amber glow over Millennium Academy. The Game Development Department set out on their adventure.

Unaware of the trials and revelations that awaited them.







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END.









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Author's notes

The chapter is sooooo long! But it's worth it for the build-up!

Hope you enjoy Charles's role here. I just can't help it with him and gudao literally have the same face. It's also very refreshing to have Charles as a main character (He also tasted Yuuka's welcome nagging, welcome to Millennium!)

If you're wondering— No, Charles doesn't know that Ritsuka went to where. He only knows his master mentioned the name Kikyou.

What will happen to him? What will happen during the adventure? Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Again, this side story happened after the Hyakkaryouran (Vol.5 chap 1)

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