Fate Grand Order: Broadcasting Master Love — Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Atalanta Alter Blushed

Her voice dipped into a soft murmur. The wild, feral energy that usually clung to her faded, replaced by a quiet vulnerability. The dark, tufted animal ears resting atop her head drooped flat against her hair. “…If this were a normal Holy Grail War, I wouldn’t have time for such trivial worries.” She lifted her gaze to Fujimaru Ritsuka. A rare, unguarded confusion swirled in her yellow-green eyes. “But it seems that after spending so much time together, I have started to dwell on these useless things.”

The crashing of the ocean filled the silence between them. Salty sea breeze whipped up the tide, sending white foam shattering against the jagged coastal rocks. Atalanta Alter broke the quiet. Her words were barely louder than a sigh, laced with a heavy, cautious anxiety. “…Did I disappoint you?”

Ritsuka studied her dejected posture. The sight of the fierce huntress looking so small melted away any remaining tension in his chest. “Although it is a bit surprising…”

Atalanta Alter snapped her head up. Her ears twitched, instantly standing at attention as she waited for the verdict. “But?”

A warm smile broke across Ritsuka’s face. He closed the distance between them with a single step, his voice dropping to a gentle, reassuring pitch. “I am a little happy.”

Atalanta Alter froze. A visible rush of heat flooded her cheeks, painting her skin a deep, furious crimson that spread all the way to the tips of her furry ears. She opened her mouth, closed it, and then stammered out a disjointed reply. “Is… is that so… well, that is good then. I suppose it might be fine to lose a bit of face every now and then.” She jerked her head away, staring stubbornly at the ocean to avoid his gaze. Despite her best efforts to maintain a stoic front, the corners of her lips curled upward into a secret, unmistakable smile.

Across the dimensional boundaries, within the world of Prisma Illya.

Illya leaned heavily against her bedroom windowsill. She cupped her chin in her hands, her ruby eyes sparkling as she stared unblinking at the massive light screen floating in the sky. As the romantic scene unfolded, she bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement. “This is it! This is exactly what I have been waiting for! Yes!”

Kuro leaned casually against the adjacent wall. She kept her arms crossed, a wicked, playful smirk tugging at her lips. Her tone carried a lazy drawl, though the amusement in her golden eyes betrayed her investment. “Well, I will agree with you this time. It really is quite good.”

Miyu stood quietly at Illya’s side. She barely paid attention to the broadcast itself. Instead, she watched the bright, infectious smile on her best friend’s face. A soft curve graced Miyu’s own lips. As long as Illya was happy, she was happy.

Down the hall in the Einzbern living room, Leysritt sat rigidly upright on the plush sofa. A steaming cup of black tea rested in her hands, entirely forgotten. She stared at the broadcast without blinking, completely engrossed in the unfolding romance. “Hmm. This drama is very interesting. It has finally reached the climax.”

Sella stood nearby, adjusting her maid uniform. She pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a long, exasperated sigh at her partner’s television-addict commentary. Yet, despite her strict demeanor, a faint smile softened Sella’s features. Leysritt’s description might have been ridiculous, but watching the tender development on the screen, Sella had to admit the romantic progression was wonderful to witness.

On the light screen, the quiet heart-to-heart continued. Having finally poured out her lingering anxieties, Atalanta Alter exhaled a long, shaky breath. The tension bled from her shoulders. She closed one eye, offering Ritsuka a genuinely relaxed smile. “Good. Thanks to telling you my worries, that phantom pain that felt like it was tearing my body apart seems to have vanished. Although it is still a bit uncomfortable, leaving behind a strange sense of incongruity…”

Her smile slowly faded. A shadow of deep sadness flickered across her features, and her voice dropped an octave. “But this must be unavoidable. I suppose I must admit that you and I will eventually have disagreements regardless of what we do.” She lowered her gaze. Her eyelashes trembled against the sea breeze, her words dripping with bitter self-deprecation. “Just like how I betrayed you on that frozen soil.”

Ritsuka’s chest tightened. The memory of the Russian Lostbelt hung heavy in the air between them. He took another step forward, locking his gaze earnestly with hers. His voice rang out firm and absolute. “That wasn’t the Atalanta standing before me now.”

“You are too naive. In the end, that was still me.” Atalanta Alter shook her head, the bitterness in her throat threatening to choke her. “…It is only because I was summoned to Chaldea this time that I have stood by your side.”

“The original me would have likely chosen that exact same path of rebellion. I… am that kind of existence.” She murmured the confession to the crashing waves, entirely helpless against her own nature.

“Despite following the feral logic of a beast, there are still people I cannot abandon. Children I want to protect. A human, yet like a beast. A beast, yet like a human.” She lifted her chin, staring out at the endless horizon where the ocean met the sky.

She turned her face away again, unable to bear the weight of his unwavering trust. “Because of that contradiction, whenever I try to imitate a god, I always fall into confusion.”

“But that is your personality.” Ritsuka’s voice cut through the roaring tide. It was gentle, yet carried a quiet strength that pierced straight through the fog of her self-doubt.

Atalanta Alter flinched. She slowly turned back to face him. The lingering shadows in her eyes dissolved, melting into a deep, radiant warmth. She closed one eye, a bright and relieved smile finally breaking across her face. “Heh. I knew you would say that.”

“Is it because we have been together for so long that I can perfectly guess what you are going to say next?” She opened her eyes fully. The feral yellow-green irises shimmered with a gentle, affectionate light.

Her expression gradually sobered. She looked at him with absolute seriousness, the playful edge vanishing from her posture. “Our connection at the Root was severed… I have always been concerned about that.”

“However, that should be fine, right?” she asked softly, leaning in just a fraction, waiting for his final confirmation.

Ritsuka met her gaze and gave a single, solemn nod.

“…I understand.” Atalanta Alter’s eyes lit up like stars. She flashed him a playful, energetic wink, her voice suddenly brimming with a high-spirited, fierce fighting spirit. “Then, Master! My Master! Let us head to the next battle! I am in excellent condition right now!”

“Right.” Ritsuka smiled, his eyes reflecting nothing but pure trust.

The coastal breeze blew gently through their hair. Waves lapped rhythmically against the shore, and the golden afternoon sunlight bathed the two of them in a warm, dazzling glow. And so, their quiet heart-to-heart by the sea came to a peaceful end.