The hot water in the bathtub rippled slightly, splashing over the edge and slowly draining through the floor funnel.
Scáthach lay limply in Shiomi's arms, clinging to her beloved disciple as if she couldn't bear to part.
Her body trembled faintly, basking in the final waves of afterglow.
"You really don't hold back, Master... Aren't you worried you'll wear me out?" Shiomi whispered softly by her ear.
"It's not often we get time alone, and my dear disciple has finally recovered. Let's just say I'm making the most of this opportunity," Scáthach replied, her fingers gently brushing the back of his neck. "I've put in quite the effort checking on your condition every day."
"Still feels like we're the only ones slacking off..." Shiomi muttered.
Not long ago, Chaldea had reconfirmed the Shinjuku Singularity. Though it wasn't as massive as the seven Singularities during the Incineration of Humanity, it was eventually classified as a "Subcategory Singularity."
Unable to join the front lines, Shiomi remained in Chaldea, continuing rehabilitation and handling matters related to the Clock Tower.
Morgan and Artoria had gone with the girls for Rayshift operations, while Scáthach stayed behind to care for Shiomi and defend Chaldea.
—That had been the result of drawing lots among the three.
Shiomi checked on the Singularity restoration daily from the control room, but most of his time was spent on physical therapy and restoring his Magic Circuits.
Of course... that included Scáthach's half-mischievous, half-concerned "treatment."
"As a man, recovering quickly is part of your responsibilities," Scáthach said, shifting slightly away, though her chest remained pressed against him. "Besides, you don't want to stay like that forever, do you?"
Soaking in the tub, the contrast between the water's heat and their body temperatures made every sensation more vivid.
"Fair enough," Shiomi nodded honestly.
He held Scáthach's shoulders, glancing down at his hands resting on her smooth skin.
Instinctively, he activated his Magic Circuits. Mana flowed through his body, connecting with Scáthach's through their physical contact.
"Your Magic Circuits are finally back to normal... but don't push them too hard," Scáthach said, letting his hands wander across her shoulders and neck. "You may like to act on impulse, but you still know your limits."
"You care about me, Master," Shiomi murmured, leaning in.
Scáthach's ruby-like eyes shimmered with a tenderness she'd never show to outsiders.
She parted her lips in anticipation—but then a communication alert rang from the room outside the bathroom.
"They really don't know how to pick their timing," Scáthach quipped, pulling away from Shiomi.
As she stepped out of the tub, droplets trickled down her soaked hair, gliding over her firm curves and long legs before splashing onto the tiles.
She gathered her dripping hair, wrapped it in a towel, then grabbed another to cover herself and walked out ahead.
Shiomi's body had recovered enough for daily life, though his movements still lacked agility and carried a faint sickliness out of sync with his build.
"The Shinjuku Singularity has been restored. They're returning now. Romani Archaman said if you want to greet them, you can head over," Scáthach told Shiomi as he emerged from the bathroom.
"It's been about ten days. We expected it to take just a couple," Shiomi nodded.
The Shinjuku Singularity had been simpler than previous ones. Even communications remained stable, with uninterrupted contact with Chaldea throughout.
After helping Shiomi change quickly, Scáthach accompanied him to the control room. Before they reached the Rayshifting chamber, they ran into Artoria and Morgan in the hallway—already back from the operation.
Artoria looked completely worn out, like she'd just come out of a fierce battle.
Of course, that wasn't the case.
"Tenkei..."
As soon as she saw Shiomi, she instinctively opened her arms and walked straight into his embrace, letting out an even deeper, wearier sigh.
She didn't even bother hiding it from the others.
Luckily, no one else was coming in or out of the control room at the time.
"You've worked hard on the Singularity repairs," Shiomi said, gently stroking her back and hair.
"No... fixing the Singularity wasn't that bad. Everyone worked together, and we got through it." Artoria sighed. "It's my sister... Morgan was the real headache."
"Ahaha..."
Shiomi let out a dry, understanding laugh. He got the picture right away.
There had been two strange developments in the Shinjuku Subcategory Singularity.
First, Jeanne d'Arc Alter—originally created by the Holy Grail in Singularity I from Gilles de Rais' delusions—had somehow returned again, this time under the Avenger Class.
Second, there was Artoria herself from Chaldea—who was also the goddess Rhongomyniad. She and another Artoria Alter, both existing within proper human history yet representing different possibilities, had appeared together.
Despite some initial misunderstandings, the two Alter Servants had formed a cooperative relationship with the Chaldea girls, which should've made the repair efforts smoother.
That was the theory...
"The problem is, that black Artoria absolutely refused to drop my name from the True Name of her Noble Phantasm," Morgan huffed.
As a result, during most of the exploration and restoration work, Morgan clashed constantly with that Artoria—except when they had to deal with external threats.
This left the Chaldea-side Artoria stuck awkwardly between the two, unable to side with either.
Physically and emotionally, she was completely drained.
After all, what could be more absurd than watching an Alter version of yourself argue with your not-quite-human-history sister?
Whether it was Artoria herself or the others around them, all anyone could do was smile wryly.
"Ugh..."
Shiomi couldn't bring himself to blame Morgan. Her reasoning was perfectly valid.
Unfortunately, Artoria Alter's attitude was pure tyrant: "If Morgan disagrees with me, that means I'm right. If she agrees with me, that just proves I'm even more right."
All Shiomi could do now was try to soothe Artoria's exhausted heart and mind.
"I've got some good news—my dear disciple's fully recovered," Scáthach said, cool and composed as ever. "But I can't take the lead this time. You'll have to put in the effort yourselves."
Artoria shivered involuntarily, feeling her body suddenly flush with heat.
"Tenkei?"
"We're go—" Shiomi began to reply, but Morgan tugged at his sleeve.
She gave him a pitiful, slightly lonely look.
"Don't leave me behind."
"Of course not."
Shiomi took her hand, feeling an inexplicable dryness in his throat.
Then, at Scáthach's suggestion, the three of them headed back to the room together.
...
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