Tokyo Side Story: Summer Festival (Part 1) - Reunion...

1.

Hawaii Torya.

As the annual summer event drew to a close, Fujimaru Ritsuka walked out of the Servant Festival with a smile. The sweltering sea breeze ruffled her wet bangs, and her perpetually upturned ahoge (cowlick) drooped down from the heat.

After thinking for a moment, she decided to abandon the idea of ​​waiting for Artoria under the blazing sun and turned to walk towards the beach chairs. Unsurprisingly, as she passed the popsicle shop, she found herself squatting down next to a certain white-haired fairy king.

“Let me state this first,” he said, “I’m not standing here because I can’t get credit.”

Ah, the familiar Oberon, that familiar feeling. The orange-haired girl smiled, waving the purse in her hand. "Do you want some?"

“On another note,” Oberon slowly turned around, “popsicles are indeed a very appealing gift. I’ll accept them with gratitude.”

A moment later, the Fairy King, holding an ice pop, followed Fujimaru Ritsuka to the beach. But just as he was about to speak, a clear and loud voice pierced through the sweltering heat, growing ever closer.

"Ritsuka—!"

Artoria, wearing a swimsuit and clutching a piece of paper, ran towards Fujimaru Ritsuka.

Oberon, who was eating an ice pop nearby, suddenly pulled Fujimaru Ritsuka back a step. Artoria missed her target and barely managed to regain her footing, glaring fiercely at Oberon.

"Oberon! What are you doing!"

"Whoa, are you calling me? I'm so sorry to have disturbed your little plan to hug your Master."

Oberon feigned innocence, "But the thought of Master fainting from being bumped by you, Artoria, made me unable to resist intervening."

"You! I would never knock Ritsuka unconscious!" Artoria was furious and embarrassed. As she waved her arm, the paper she was holding was blown by the wind and smeared onto Maru Ritsuka's face.

“…Summer Festival?” Fujimaru Ritsuka reached out and grabbed a piece of colored paper, slowly reading out the three large characters on the paper that looked like a title. She suddenly realized, “It’s the cover of the doujinshi that Alter and the others drew for the new one!”

She handed the paper back to Artoria, then gently pressed down on her waving arm and offered her a popsicle. "It's chocolate flavored, a new variety around here! Want to try it?"

The air seemed to freeze for a second. After a cough, Artoria carefully took the popsicle, a blush creeping onto her face as if from running. "Is...like this?"

She asked apologetically, "Am I too late?"

"No, not at all." Fujimaru Ritsuka winked playfully. "I bought it on a whim when I caught an Oberon in front of the popsicle shop. We promised to play together all day!"

Ignoring Oberon's protesting gaze, she took Artoria's arm and asked curiously, "What's the matter with you holding this cover?"

"Oh right!" Artoria slapped her forehead. "If we have the chance, how about we go to the summer festival together! I heard the snacks there are really delicious!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "...?"

"Go to the summer festival?" she asked hesitantly. "But it seems like we can't find a venue like that right now."

Artoria exclaimed in alarm, "Ahhh, it was still too abrupt!"

Oberon crossed his arms and said, "This is so unexpected. Is there really someone who knows their own limitations?" He was about to continue his rant when he was silenced by Fujimaru Ritsuka's next words.

Fujimaru Ritsuka: "But maybe we can get Leonardo da Vinci to set up the simulated battle in Japan?"

...Huh? Oberon was stunned. No, is it really okay to cooperate like this?!

Even Artoria immediately retorted, "No, no, I know it's not possible now. But if there's a chance, like when a Servant suddenly has a whim, or after humanity is restored..."

“Let’s go to the summer festival together! A real summer festival!” She coughed lightly, “and there’s a fireworks display.”

She'd heard that if you made a wish under fireworks, it would come true, so she wanted to—

"Want to watch fireworks together?" Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately seized on the key point, stroking her chin. "I'd love to if you did. What about Oberon?"

"Hmm, you've finally noticed my presence." Oberon narrowed his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "But are you still going to invite me to your dates? That's rather perplexing. How should I put it?"

"Let's go on a date!" A wave of heat instantly rose from Artoria's head. She did, deep down, have that thought a tiny bit, but it was too embarrassing to say it out loud!

Oberon: "..."

“Okay, Oberon is willing too,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said. “It’s a date then! Let’s go to the summer festival together sometime!”

Oberon: "...?"

"Hey! What did I agree to?!"

"Of course it's the summer festival!"

Artoria grabbed Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand and ran towards the sea. The summer festival poster was held in their palms, like a beautiful dream being held tightly in their hands.

Oberon looked at the two girls with bright smiles and sighed helplessly, unaware that a indulgent smile was also playing on his lips.

2.

Is this the end? If it's just a fleeting, unremarkable promise, wouldn't that be such a waste?

Perhaps fate heard the girls' prayers, or perhaps it was just a coincidence. On the last day of this summer event, the three who remained embarked together on the journey back to Chaldea via spirit transfer.

Then, an alarm suddenly blared throughout Chaldea! Error messages flashed incessantly on the large screen in the control room, but the spirit transfer had already been initiated and could not be stopped.

Everyone in Chaldea watched helplessly as Fujimaru Ritsuka was moved to another coordinate.

The more intense turbulence than usual prevented Fujimaru Ritsuka from opening her eyes immediately. Fighting off the dizziness, she groped around with her hands. Suddenly, she touched the cold, flowing water—

Thump—!

The next second, a huge thud slammed into Fujimaru Ritsuka's ears, the icy water enveloped her body, the salty taste filled her nose and throat, and gravity pulled her deeper into the water.

Before losing consciousness, her last thought was, "So, why? Another fall from a great height!"

Time passed second by second.

"Oberon, I found Ritsuka! Please help me get her out of this mess!"

"Hey! Use magic in this situation, Artoria! You're a magician!"

It's so noisy.

"I've got her, let's get to the beach!"

"Wait, someone's walking this way... I clearly used magic!"

"...Oh, everyone! King Oberon the Fairy is back in the summer! It's so good to see you all again. It's really great."

The next second, the noise abruptly disappeared, replaced by a refreshing breeze that cleansed Fujimaru Ritsuka's mind. As her consciousness gradually returned, she slowly opened her eyes.

Gojo Satoru's exquisite face loomed large before her eyes, his hair half-wet, water droplets rolling down the beach in the sea breeze, creating small puddles. His blue eyes, like a clear summer sky, were filled with her image.

He looked at her and gave her a radiant smile.

Then he said, "Hey Ritsuka! Are you guys playing a game of jumping into the sea? Can I join you?"

Clang! That was the sound of the beauty filter shattering.

Xia Youjie: "..."

Taking a deep breath, he smiled kindly and tightened his arm around Gosho's neck, pulling him away from Ritsuka's sight before letting go. "Sorry, Ritsuka, Gosho just doesn't know how to talk properly."

"Also, it's been a long time."

His eyes were gentle, a mixture of nostalgia and surprise in them.

Compared to Gojo Satoru, who firmly believed that Fujimaru Ritsuka would return to this world, Natsuyu Suke knew that their farewell a year ago was probably the last time they would ever meet.

Afterwards, the savior of the world has a broad and arduous road ahead, and they also have a new future to go through—intersecting lines will eventually drift further and further apart.

So when he saw Fujimaru Ritsuka reappear, his first reaction was actually that she was a cursed spirit skilled in illusion.

The summer sun shone brightly, and the damp waves lapped against the fine white sand, making a soft, rustling sound. Xia Youjie knelt, staring intently at the orange-haired girl before him, the salty sea breeze ruffling their hair.

Belatedly, his blood and heart trembled. What would happen after the sweltering summer? Countless impossible miracles.

If this is a dream, then please let Natsumi reach out his hand to Fujimaru Ritsuka for a little longer, a little longer still.

Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled, "It's not a dream, long time no see!" She declared, taking Natsuyuu's hand and slowly standing up. "Was it Shoko who was using a reversal spell on me just now?"

She looked around. "Also, have you seen anyone who came with me?"

How strange, she clearly heard Oberon and Artoria's voices just now?

“If you’re referring to that Oberon and the little girl,” Gojo Satoru pointed to the figures in the distance, “they volunteered to go with Shoko to deal with the people who saw you fall into the sea.”

Fujimaru Ritsuka subconsciously looked over, and as if sensing her gaze, the two blurry figures turned around. When their eyes met, her heart seemed to calm down instantly.

Before Ritsuka could react, Gojo Satoru hugged her tightly, grinning broadly and revealing eight pearly white teeth. "I knew you would come back to find us!"

He nuzzled Ritsuka's neck like a kitten, "Jay lost the bet! All the mission reports from now on are..."

"Hey!" A lively female voice interrupted Gojo Satoru's boasting from afar.

"You! Let go of Ritsuka—!" Artoria shouted as she ran. She had never acted so naturally towards Ritsuka before! What right did this girl have?!

"Eh~" Seeing the blonde girl running over, and Oberon trailing behind, seemingly walking slowly but actually looking equally hostile, Gojo Satoru chose to hug Fujimaru Ritsuka even tighter.

"I'm not letting go, what can you do to me?"

"……you!"

After a period of chaos, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt like the mother hen in the eagle catching chicks story—forced into the role.

After the reliable Ieiri Shoko contacted the assistant director and ensured that the values ​​of all ordinary people would not be shattered, she saw that Fujimaru Ritsuka had used her strong affinity to get Gojo Satoru and the blonde girl to reach a truce, shake hands and make peace, and introduce themselves in three steps.

Ritsuka is still as popular as ever. This time, a new young girl has arrived.

"Hey, Ritsuka, it's great to run into you here." Shoko Ieiri said, one hand in her pocket, waving to Ritsuka with the other. "Are you here to handle something too?"

"It's a long story, but first thank you for saving me." Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled and gave Ieiri Shoko a hug. "Coming here must have been an accident."

She briefly recounted how she and others had just experienced a summer singularity and were unexpectedly transported here on their way back.

Then she looked at the group of three college students, who were also wearing swimsuits, and asked curiously, "What about you? Are you here on vacation?"

“It was a graduation trip.” Xia Youjie seemed to recall something funny. “To be honest, we have to thank Mr. Oberon. If it weren’t for what he left behind, those rotten oranges wouldn’t have made it so easy for the three of us to have a holiday together.”

"Hey, it's Oberon again?" Artoria said, as if she had expected it. She and Ritsuka exchanged a glance and gave each other similar, mischievous smiles.

“Hey, it’s something Oberon left behind—” Fujimaru Ritsuka winked mischievously, like a child about to steal candy, “Could I be lucky enough to know what he left behind?”

"Of course, it's the rotten orange's incriminating evidence and a copy of 'The Operational Guide of an Evil Organization'."

Wow, this is so obvious, they didn't even bother to act.