Hopefully going to vatheon when apps open

[springreturns]

Don't be nervous. I'm sure you'll be fine. We can do some canon reviewing later, since apps don't open for a bit. That way, we can work more on my voice. Just be sure to get some rest too or you'll get sick! P-Plus I think studying for finals is more important.

I'm not going anywhere, after all. [ There's a slight sad smile on her face. ] It's not spring yet.

He still has to come back...

[ She's silent and in deep thought for some time before clasping her hands together. ]

Y-You should probably go ahead and start studying! I'll be around, don't worry. Good luck, mun-senpai!

Comments

[eighteen_winters]

Are you waiting for someone?

[springreturns]

Mhmm. And he'll come back, I know it.

[observesthings]

... you lost someone too, huh?

[ Taking a gamble just by talking to her, but damn it, he needs CR. >:| ]

[glassesgottago]

It's good to wait...but try not to sit around while doing it.

[Then again, their situations were different. Archer never had the choice of waiting. It was her fate to keep walking and keep searching; to put the past behind her and look into the future.]

[springreturns]

Hmm... Maybe not lost, just...

[ trying to find the right word. ]

Missing, currently.

[eighteen_winters]

I'm sure he will.

[springreturns]

B-But what if I leave for a bit and he comes back when I'm not there? [ that's not what she means, Sakura. ]

[springreturns]

We have to watch the cherry blossoms together, so I really hope he comes back.

[glassesgottago]

Then he can wait for you. For just a moment. It won't change the fact that he'll probably be surprised by what he sees.

[It's impossible to stay the same throughout the years, no matter how hard you try. Sometimes the change comes in one instant, and sometimes it happens gradually.]

[knightism]

Your devotion is truly admirable, Sakura.

[ you can do it! \o\ ]

[springreturns]

S-Saber-san!

R-Really...? W-Well... Thank you. [ Smiles! ] I see we're heading to the same place.

[observesthings]

[ That's slightly different. Even in the Third World, his Third World self has his parents, but he himself doesn't. No need to spring the "Hey, one of the two gods of this world is an alternate version of your son!" bombshell on them. He's actually taken to living with Yuno. ]

Maybe they'll show up here.

[ That's the nice thing about this place. The possibilities are endless. Even the possibility of Yuno being truly happy, for once. ]

[springreturns]

I know, but... I don't want to make him wait.

[springreturns]

I really hope so... My mun says there's a possibility.

[ She hopes that Shirou shows up. She wants to be happy with him. She wants to be happy with him and her sister as well. ]

[glassesgottago]

Maybe you don't want to now. I'm really not saying you have to go anywhere far away. Just try to do something that makes you happy instead of sitting around.

[knightism]

So it appears. Perhaps we shall find him there.
[ smiles as well. ]

[springreturns]

... Someone has to take care of the house. And I want to be the first one to greet him when he comes back.

[ The smile returns. ]

[springreturns]

That's what my mun says! It'll be nice to see him again.

[glassesgottago]

That's a nice goal. Do you only think of him, though?

[springreturns]

O-Of course not. I think about nee-san and a lot of other people.

Senpai is... Special, though. Really special to me.

[glassesgottago]

A special person...then I guess he might be worth it. No matter how long you have to wait or search. If he still exists in any form in this world, I'm sure you'll be able to meet again.

[She sounds absolutely confident.]

[observesthings]

Yeah... there is.

[ Something he has mixed feelings about. He might get away with someone like Minene showing up at Vatheon, but all bets are off if Tsubaki, Akise, or Hinata show up. There is no force in heaven, hell, or earth that would be able to call her off. ]

And I learned first-hand that sometimes, the odds are better here than in our own worlds.

[springreturns]

Really? [ That means there's a slight possibility someone like Shinji or her Grandfather won't show up, which is good. Even if they were dead now, it was better to leave the past buried in some cases. ]

Maybe Vatheon is a new beginning...

[springreturns]

I'm sure of it too. I know he'll return to me.

[ No matter how many springs will pass, she'll always wait for him. ]

[glassesgottago]

[For a long time, Archer says nothing as she regards the girl's face. She can see joy, hope, youthful passion, and also foolishness. It was foolish to think that she could always wait. It was foolish to think that she would not change. It was foolish to think that she could love him the same way forever. It was foolish to think that her entire life could revolve around one person, however special he was. In the end, it would just hurt this girl.]

[But it really wasn't her place to point that out. Maybe the girl could realize it for herself. Maybe she never would. Archer can only smile and wish her the best of luck.]

Or perhaps you'll find him in that game.

[observesthings]

Yeah. Really. [ He feels very much the same way about Takao Hiyama, don't worry. Probably the one participant of the Survival Game who didn't deserve a Happy End. He was just plain crazy without a Freudian Excuse to justify it. ]

It is, isn't it...? [ He closes his eyes, thinking. He had this same talk with Yuno a while ago. If there's any chance of salvaging what's left of her sanity, this was the place to do it. ] I hope you're right.

[ Because really, any progress he makes with chilling Yuno out can be reversed as easily as one person having the audacity (or stupidity) to try hitting on him. ]

[springreturns]

Mhmm! A-After all, most stories have multiple chapters. Maybe Vatheon is just a new chapter in our lives.

[ She hopes. She simply wanted to move on with her life. Yet, she wanted to wait for Shirou as well. She wasn't going to leave him behind. ]

[springreturns]

Y-You think I will? I really hope so...

[ She closes her eyes gently, picturing his face once more. If he was at that game she was going to, maybe they could start something new. Leave the past behind them and move on. It's the ending she wanted, after all. ]

[glassesgottago]

Yes. My mun says anyone can come into a game. Even people who might have died.

[springreturns]

... But...

He's not dead.

[glassesgottago]

I'm just giving an example.

[springreturns]

Were you?

Ah, oops, brainfart. Thought we were talking about death still

[glassesgottago]

My mun wouldn't say what happened to him.

[observesthings]

[ Well, Sakura, you might have just given him a small glimmer of hope. Because so far, all he's been hearing about this place is "game," "Yuno," "probably died at least once," and "been here before." Needless to say, he's wary of anything in which those four things can all be used in the same sentence to describe it. He really, really doesn't want to go through that again. ]

... Thanks.

[ It's all he says. ]

[eighteen_winters]

That sounds like a lot of fun.


[And Illya will kick Shirou's ass if it isn't.]

[dieswhenkilled]

Hey, Sakura...

Uh, hope I'm not late...sorry.

[YOU'RE ALWAYS LATE but w/e Shirou.]

[springreturns]

[ She's silent for a bit, just staring like she's seen a ghost. Well, he kind of sort of is but Sakura doesn't really know that! After a bit of unintelligent staring, she manages to put a smile on her face with a few tears forming in her eyes. ]

Senpai... Y-You... You came back...

[springreturns]

Senpai is strong. He'll come back.

[glassesgottago]

I'll help you keep a lookout on here. What does he look like?

[dieswhenkilled]

Sakura.

Yeah, I...couldn't just let everyone down, right? I had someone to come back to.

[Was thinking the hug image there, but you kind of beat me to it.]

I'm sorry.

[springreturns]

His name is Shirou Emiya... He has redish hair and his eyes are golden-brown, if that helps.

[springreturns]

I-I knew you would come back! I'm really happy!

[ Hugging him tightly, a few tears slipping out. ]

I missed you...

[dieswhenkilled]

It's alright now.

[That all you can....whatever.]

But, what is "vatheon", anyway?

[glassesgottago]

He sounds like a person who should be easy to spot. If I see him, I'll tell you as soon as I can.

[springreturns]

O-Oh... It's an underwater city, apparently... My mun is sending me there soon.

[springreturns]

Th-Thank you...!

[dieswhenkilled]

Underwater....city?

[And you thought the space station was sci-fi, Emiya-kun.]

That's a tall order. Like I'm one to talk.

[And that hero city thing ain't working out, either.]

Now if only mundane-san would stop getting crazy ideas...