#chapter finale

“Mata let us in, we uh, fell right outside and she kind of heard us,” Azure answered. “But seriously, that thing's dangerous, what are you even doing here with it?!"

"Considering the time period, I believe Sela would actually be the most likely recipient of the Grail, with everyone else having been summoned as a result of the Grail's influence. I strongly suspect this to be the original iteration of her existence, and would not be surprised if Mare is also here as a result—"

"Don't even bring Mare into this," Sela interrupted Ram’s analysis. "I don't know where you're coming from, but that monster can stay as far away from here as possible, I don't even wanna hear her name."

Azure grimaced in response. "...Right, this is all before sie figured out sier gender, that's uh, that's a whole thing, right."

Sela squinted at Azure. "What would you even know about any of this, huh? I don't think I've ever seen you here before."

"Ah, I guess you could say that I'm uh, your older distant half-sibling from the future...?"

Sela stared for a bit, processing. "And... I'm guessing you're here to stop me?"

"Peacefully, hopefully, but yeah."

Sela shook her head. "I'm sorry, but blood-relative or not I don't think I can allow for that. Do you have any idea what this thing does??"

"I believe we have plenty idea," Okita replied, "but go ahead and tell us, what are you using it for?"

Sela threw both her hands in the air, gesturing around the room and towards the other residents. "I've got all this now!! See? I got a nice happy family here, everything is fine, I'm safe, and everything is okay! I have people I can talk to and rely on and they all care about me and I'm actually loved here!!"

A moment passed as Azure just looked at Sela, before letting out a sigh and standing up from the couch.

"Unfortunately, I don't think the Holy Grail is an optimal substitute for therapy, but I do understand why you would take it regardless. However..." Azure started, conjuring her glaive in her hand. "...That still doesn't change that we have a timeline to fix, and that we need that Grail to do so. The uh, entire future of our life kind of hinges on it, so a peaceful resolution would be preferred if possible."

Solace set her tea on the coffee table and rose from her chair as well. "I understand your intentions, and I would also prefer to avoid unnecessary violence, however I do not believe I can allow you to cause harm to Sela regardless of your goals."

"Even if you want to fight me for this," Sela spoke, "I think you forget who all you're going up against here."

Okita looked at the room as she stood, noting Mata Hari beside her, Solace and Cursed Arm in front of her, and a dual-katana wielding child adjacent from her, before drawing her own blade.

"Even if the odds are slim, I will still take my chances. Now, will you help us restore our future or stand in our way?"

"I'm not giving up this life so easily," Sela responded, drawing her swords. "Mata Hari?"

Mata gave an affirmative noise, joining Sela by her side. "Just leave it to me, Master~!"

Both Azure and Okita made the mistake of looking towards her, however, as Mata Hari simply smiled as pure a smile as one could ever witness, a soft and uplifting giggle resounding through the air as she looked towards the two with the sunniest eyes known in history.

"There's no need to worry, just bind together, open up, and drown in my embrace ♡"

ALL OF YOU PEOPLE FOREVER HAVE MY LOVE AND GRATITUDE AND I APPRECIATE YOU CARING ABOUT ME AND WHAT I DO.

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