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Ryougi Shiki knew — from the first moment they met, even — that Vy Duong was far too kind. Honest. Open and a bit too sparkly. To a fault too, considering the number of times she found herself in danger and floundering in the beginning of her journey thanks to the enemy just aiming for the right spot to push.

Even with the Lostbelts cursing the world, creating so many more death lines across the Earth's bleached surface from what Shiki could see, that part of Vy hadn't changed.

Heck, even when wearing a bit more black in her Mystic Codes and the tiniest indication of crow's feet starting to line the corners of her eyes, those brown irises behind round glasses were so bright compared to the rainbow flame in her hands.

Typical Vy.

Just like a certain other glasses-wearing buffoon...

Shiki withheld a sigh and crossed her arms instead. "Master."

Vy tilted her head at Shiki, a tiny "Mm?" serving as her answer.

"How much work did you put into this?"

As expected, pink started to climb up Vy's cheeks as her smile turned upside-down into a pout. "I'm not a salesperson who's going to scam you, Shiki-san."

Shiki rolled her eyes. "That didn't answer the question, Vy." Despite the instinctual fondness starting to leak into her voice, she tempered it as she went on with a harder, "How much?"

Thankfully, Vy got the hint if her wilting was any indication. "Muu." Under her breath, Vy then went on with a quiet, "I think it was 5-6 Saint Quartz's worth of energy."

"Fool," Shiki muttered back, but she let the heat go once she slipped her red jacket off. "What happened to taking care of yourself so that the people back home for you don't worry, huh?"

Vy didn't get a chance to answer before Shiki was draping her with the red, letting the leather jacket rest on top of her hair and cover her shoulders, contrasting Shiki's kimono sleeves dangling freely past her arms.

"Shiki...san?"

If not for the bright red of the jacket and the jet black shade of her Mystic Code, Vy could've resembled a bride waiting for her wedding ceremony with Shiki's furry jacket collar serving as the start of the 'veil.' All she needed was the dress and—

"You're too nice," was all Shiki could say, reaching over with one arm to pull Vy close. The Chaldean Master squeaked like a mouse with the movement, her nose awkwardly bumping the side of Shiki's neck along the way, but Shiki still kept her hand on Vy's back once she was close enough, memorizing the feel of her spine through her clothes. "What is it with you and treating others around you better than yourself?"

There's some people who just can't be saved, but you—

You keep trying. With Asagami, with Kama, with everyone you meet. Just like—

Death lines covered Vy just as much as any other living being, but Shiki didn't want to see Vy with just those.

Vy was more than death lines.

Vy was—

The Bond Chalice was wedged somewhat weirdly between them as Vy tightened her grip on the thing, poking both of their chests in odd places too, the rainbow flame flickering as she attempted to lean back and look up into Shiki's eyes. "It's... how I am," she eventually confessed, choosing to rest her forehead into the crook between Shiki's collar and neck once it became clear to her Shiki wasn't moving. "And you helped me out a lot, Shiki-san, both back in the original Chaldea and where we are now. I wanted to do something for you in return." A tiny, humble giggle brushed Shiki's skin. "Just to pay you back."

Yeah, I knew you'd make fun of me like that any time now, that other glasses-wearing guy added from the back of Shiki's mind, from a memory from years ago. I think the only thing to do is to go see her and talk.

"You didn't have to go so far for this—" Shiki felt her other arm creak when moving it upwards, cursing herself for the lack of personal experience outside of slicing and killing for a moment. She still forced it to go up and rest against the top of Vy's head through her jacket, keeping her close enough to hear the younger girl's breathing. To take in Vy's warmth and remind herself that she was alive. "I'm not greedy, Master."

"Muu." Vy still ducked her head to press her face into Shiki's shoulder through her kimono, nonverbally voicing her dissent with Shiki's opinion. "Wanted to. And what's the jacket for?"

Shiki rolled her eyes again, choosing to smooth her hand down her jacket in the best headpat she could offer. "For whenever that replica cape of yours needs to go in the wash," she answered, shaking her head. "I know you love the forests, Vy, but even that cynical hunter of yours wouldn't want you rolling around in dirt forever. And if you're going to give me gifts," Shiki patted Vy's head again once the girl squirmed at the jabs just left in the air, "you could just steal some strawberries from that porkball of a man you call the new Director."

"Muu — strawberries?" Vy's voice went up a few octaves from confusion. Hah. "For what?"

Why couldn't Kokutou have met you?

"You gave the ice queen sea salt ice cream," Shiki answered, leaning back to press her forehead to Vy's. Those brown eyes were still sparkling, even past all the fatigue, and Shiki grinned. "Can't I ask for homemade strawberry ice cream? The new Director keeps hogging it."

It didn't even take long for Vy to smile back. "Can I take that as a sign to hug you then?"