#practice?

A soft laugh catches his attention, “Why are you smiling Fujimaru-kun?”

He turns to the source, and could not help but rub the back of his neck and laugh as well, “Well, I was just remembering how I completely spilled an energy drink on my bed when Fou tried to settle on my lap last time. Because I got lazy in changing the sheets, I slept with the stain on, which caused everyone to get mad me. Well, not all- but y’know...”

Da Vinci clicks her tongue, setting her cup of steaming coffee on the side. “Even now, you still have that bad habit of bringing drinks near your bed.”

He approached her while she picked up a small ornithopter, caressing its tail with eyes holding some affection... and nostalgia. “I guess so, Da Vinci-chan.”

Ritsuka swallows. His eyes catching sight of the floor before biting his lower lip, and sighed, “How...How are you, by the way?”

His heart was loud in his ears. Each thump was as if something clogged his throat.

Damn. Why is he feeling this way now? 

Her amused scoff was mixed with feigned hurt relieved him more than he could admit, “Same old, same old~ At least my back no longer hurts from hunching over my inventions back in those days. Now, I just have to worry about my back getting hurt from how beautiful my form is!” 

And her smile was wide, ever so similar to the Mona Lisa the painter created, yet so different that she had a charm separate from that artwork alone.

...He missed her.

“Anyways," She gave a dismissing wave before making her way towards him. "I like your mystic code! Did she make it for you?"

Da Vinci leaned close to observe the matching uniform he had with Kadoc. Well, almost. The theme was similar anyways. 

Though it was made only within a week, the care put into it was obvious from the way there were some parts that were hand embroidered, along with hidden pockets strategically put so no obvious lump could be seen.

Besides that, Ritsuka knew what caught Da Vinci's attention the most was Chaldea's symbol attached at the center of his chest.

Ritsuka laughed a little, rubbing his nape once more, "Mini-you and Miss Crane really packed every spell here. Habenyan proposed a sketch of the design. Not to mention, the self-defense mechanisms they put if I were out cold and unable to fight. Haha..."

That soft, proud smile of hers made his heart ache terribly.

Da Vinci was beautiful and confident just like always.

She laughed, throwing her head back in pride, "Fufu! We inventors and artists want nothing but the best for our creations and users!" 

As she reached towards his shoulders to brush the nonexistent lint off, he noticed how there was someone sitting on one of the tables and chairs behind Da Vinci, but he couldn't see who it was.

Their surroundings outside of Da Vinci was blurry, though he clearly recognized it as the old workshop from Chaldea, it was as if the space itself was doing its best to hold up.

"And would you look at that! You're seriously taller than me now! Unforgivingly handsome too! What the heck!?"

Her expression of gawking made him laugh.

"It's called a growth spurt, Da Vinci-chan." He rolled his eyes in half jest, his bangs falling over to one of his eyes. The inventor smiled brushing it behind his ear, but then-

She flicked his nose, which caused him to squawk in surprise, “Even though you’ve matured, you’re still the dork that loves giant mecha and sweets in the morning.”

“So is one of those the things you’re going to give me?” Ritsuka quirked one side of his lip. Even if he was trying to play it cool, deep down, he was a little embarrassed knowing she still remembered that he always snuck in some extra sweets from Emiya’s kitchen in his pocket. He doesn’t do it anymore, but the fact that she still remembered both made him happy yet flustered.

Da Vinci crossed her arms, “What, you caught up on that? Also, nope, it’s none of those! Why don’t you try and guess?” 

With a smirk, he thought long and hard for a moment... actually, a little too long, but then she gave up, “Fine, fine- now, come over here.”

“Wha-”

There was a tug on his sleeves, which caused the Master to stumble forward a little but nevertheless regained his balance.

Something warm pressed against his forehead. Arms wrapped around his frame which dwarfed her own.

.

Ritsuka then realized what it is.

.

“...It’s been tough, huh?” Her quiet voice made it difficult to look at her in the eyes when she pulled away.

All he could manage was a nod.

Her sigh combined with her soothing caresses on his back made him swallow, his chest felt so heavy, a pang was starting to make itself known, “We don’t know when the ‘end’ is but I’m sure there is one. I know there is one. But whether you choose to run away or fight is up to you. No one will begrudge you if you choose the former. What we only want is for you to be happy, Ritsuka.”

That lump in his chest only grew.

A Da Vinci slowly pulled away, she tried to smile, only to have it come out sadly.

“Still, it only felt like yesterday that we were just the same height. You’d also come to my workshop late at night for advice, on how to deal with some Servants you weren’t sure how to talk to.”

...Those times made the young man smile over the bittersweet nostalgia of sharing tea, sitting on a stool while she leaned against the counter and hummed. It may have been artificial, but the golden light that sometimes bathed Da Vinci’s workshop always gave the area a warm reception to anyone who entered.

Aside from the Doctor’s room, the place felt so close like home. Especially when it was decorated and truly loved like a workshop from Italy.

“I remember devising a lot of your mystic codes as well, young man.” Opening her glasses and pushing it up to the bridge of her nose, she glanced into the direction of a certain wooden table holding countless sheets of rough drafts and sketches. “If I could, I’d have included the information and gave it to my successor... but, ah well, sorry for the time constraints! If I knew about what would happen sooner, I’d have packed the info as well to the Border~★“

Her signature wink has Ritsuka chuckling softly, “You’d constantly ask me for feedback on it too. Especially for the Atlas uniform’s spells.”

Those times had been fun. Wearing her inventions, testing them out, and even if it had flaws, the bugs were minor, otherwise...

“But, you know...” Ritsuka paused, now glancing at his gloved hand bearing the command spells, his arm covered in a new mystic code developed by his friends. He can’t deny that he was always happy to receive one every now and then from them, and yet...

His soft blue eyes met the inventor’s own.

“...No one can beat your mystic codes, Da Vinci.”

He appreciated the current ones, but the old mystic codes he had, using uniforms from mage schools and awesome suits, were still the best for any and every situation he came across.

“You’re going to say they’re old and full of creases by now, but you made them, you know? Everything you gave to me, I’ve made sure they’re still taken care of to this day. Because even now, they’ve never failed to protect me from harm.”

...The love she poured into each and all of her inventions were something he’s experienced himself. From her more serious projects to the more silly ones... she wasn’t one to hold back.

Because that is who Leonardo Da Vinci is, one of the people who’s helped him at the beginning, even when he was just... some guy who’s secretly a little scared and confused from all that’s happening.

To the side, he sees her swallow, her expression unreadable behind the glint of her glasses. Even if couldn’t see, he as some sort of inkling. He just hoped he didn’t hurt her feelings accidentally...But the rustle of clothing is what catches his attention, she moves before him, raising her hand to cup his cheek.

Behind the silver frames of her glasses lies the beautiful yet hopeful gaze of the Mona Lisa, Leonardo’s smile ever beautiful like her soul.

“I’m glad. I’m really...glad.” She said, voice almost a whisper, as if something fragile would shatter if it was any louder, “If those could still protect you for a little while longer-help you for as long as you’re still on this journey-then I couldn’t be anymore happier.”

Breath caught on his throat, his gaze lowers while he tries to match her happy smile.

“It truly is a little surreal,” The inventor quietly laughed, strangely soft, “You’re all grown up now. Even for a heart wrenching moment like this... you’re not crying anymore.”

Fujimaru slowly hugged her, feeling her warmth, smelling like home. Back at the observatory atop a snowy mountain. Back to those times where it was just the four of them enjoying a quiet moment beneath an orange kotatsu.

“You smiled at that time, right?” She smiled even as blood red spilled past her lips, even as gold began to gather at her feet, her determination to protect him and Mash had never wavered for even a second. From the beginning, down to her last moments, he always saw a smile.

What Da Vinci deserved wasn’t partings of sadness, rather, a round of applause for someone as great as her. A certain someone would agree with his words.

Tears... He felt that it didn’t suit the occasion. For this warm, happy dream where he was able to meet her again and share another moment with one of people he’s cherished the most. Whether this was real or not, he was going to be honest before her no matter what.

And like the genius that she is, she was quick to notice his implications, the words unsaid between the both of them.

Returning his hug, Da Vinci’s laughter was a little muffled, dwarfed as she is in the hold. And before Ritsuka closed his eyes, knowing that the end of the dream was near, he’d smiled into a certain someone’s direction, seeing now the unmistakable green and white accents of the clothing the man wore.