New Chaldea Corridor
The air was filled with a sweet, rich aroma—so overwhelming it was almost suffocating.
This was the flavor unique to Valentine's Day, a blend of various cacao beans, milk, powdered sugar, and mysterious magical ingredients such as Kiyohime's aphrodisiac or a trace amount of Serenity's toxin.
For Chaldea's Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka, today was undoubtedly the most physically taxing day of the year—perhaps even more exhausting than clearing a Singularity.
From 6 a.m., she had been spinning like a tireless top, relying on the kitchen team leaders—EMIYA, Enma, and Tamamo Cat—to embark on a marathon called Obligatory Chocolate Delivery.
Delivering knight-sword-shaped chocolates to the Knights of the Round Table while enduring Gawain's resentful gaze after he couldn't eat the Mash Potato Chocolate, delivering rune-engraved manly chocolates to Cu Chulainn's group while being careful not to get haiku'd to death by the Berserker on the spot, delivering quill-pen-shaped dark chocolates to the writer group while being subjected to Hans Christian Andersen's endless sarcastic remarks…
Even the newly joined Peperoncino and Kadoc received heartfelt, Chaldea-style welcome gifts prepared by Ritsuka.
And now, the clock hands quietly pointed to midnight.
The noise in the corridor had gradually died down. Most of the staff had returned to their rooms or headed to the cafeteria to continue the feast.
The only one left was Ritsuka. With somewhat heavy steps, she gripped the beautifully wrapped final gift box tightly and walked toward the room at the end of the corridor.
It was the room of Steve—the technical advisor of New Chaldea and savior from another world.
"Phew… I'm so tired…"
Ritsuka leaned against the doorframe and let out a sigh of relief.
Her body was completely exhausted, but a faint light of anticipation still lingered in her eyes.
Nominally, Steve was Sion's Servant, but theoretically he was not subject to this mutual reciprocity contract.
Like Meuniere or Director Goldolf, receiving chocolate would be enough for a thank-you or a return gift of cookies.
However…
Ritsuka looked down at the gift box in her hands.
It was not ordinary chocolate. Under EMIYA's guidance, she had painstakingly made it herself using the highest-grade cacao beans, infused with her personal feelings.
Not long ago, just like New Chaldea's Leonardo da Vinci and Sherlock Holmes, Steve had offered to form a temporary master-servant contract with her. It symbolized trust and bonds.
In other words, on this special day, he was no longer just Sion's Servant—he was also hers.
Knock, knock, knock—
Ritsuka took a deep breath, raised her hand, and gently knocked on the door.
"Please come in. The door is open."
Steve's familiar voice came from inside the room. It sounded like he was busy with something.
Ritsuka pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Before her eyes spread a workshop filled with futuristic technology.
Various holographic projection screens floated in the air, displaying complex blueprints and data streams.
In the center of the room, Steve had his back to her, seemingly adjusting some intricate mechanical device.
Hearing the door open, Steve stopped working and turned around.
He was still wearing that red uniform, with a reassuring smile on his face.
Seeing Ritsuka's slightly disheveled but energetic appearance, a fleeting look of tenderness crossed his eyes, followed by an even warmer smile.
"Hey, Ritsuka. You worked really hard today."
Steve lightly waved his hand to dismiss all the holographic screens and pulled out a chair for her to sit. "I heard you ran around so much your legs got tired… How was it? Did those guys give you any trouble?"
"Hehe, I'm fine."
Ritsuka sat down and scratched her head a little shyly. "Everyone was really enthusiastic, and some of the return gifts were pretty… weird, but I managed to deliver everything."
"Really? That's good."
Steve nodded, then shifted his gaze to the single gift box in her hands.
"So… what is this?"
He blinked deliberately, pretending not to know.
"Ah! This is…"
Ritsuka's face instantly turned bright red.
She stood up in a slight panic and held out the gift box with both hands toward Steve.
"Um… Steve, it's a bit late, but… Happy Valentine's Day!"
"Is this… for me?"
Steve did not immediately accept it. He slightly lowered his head, fixing his black eyes on Ritsuka as he spoke. "I'm Sion's Servant, yet you prepared something special just for me?"
"Mhm!"
Ritsuka nodded vigorously, her eyes sharpening. "Because… Steve is my Servant too."
"It's an additional contract, but Steve is a very important person to me."
"So…"
She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage.
"Please accept this! It's… my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to you, Steve."
A brief silence fell over the room.
Looking at the girl before him, blushing yet stubbornly clutching the gift box, something gentle deep in Steve's heart was softly stirred.
He reached out and solemnly accepted the gift box.
"Thank you, Ritsuka."
His voice was gentle, yet carried a tenderness unlike any before. "I can truly feel your feelings."
He did not open the box right away. Instead, he carefully placed it on the table behind him, next to the precision instrument he had been adjusting.
"Since you have fulfilled your duty as Master, I, as your Servant, must give an appropriate response."
Steve turned around, a mysterious smile on his lips.
"However, by the rules, the return gift should be given on White Day."
"But… since you came last and brought such a special gift, I can't be stingy."
"Ritsuka."
He extended his hand toward the girl in an inviting gesture.
"Close your eyes."
"I've prepared a special return gift just for you… a gift only for you."
"Eh? Right now? This very moment?"
Ritsuka was somewhat surprised, but she obediently closed her eyes while gazing at Steve's eyes full of mystery and anticipation.
"Mhm… then I'll close my eyes."
In the darkness, she heard Steve's soft chuckle, the sound of some mechanical device activating, and… the faint, reassuring aura emanating from the approaching man.
"Are you ready? This is… my masterpiece that even Sion has never seen."
Steve's voice echoed in her ear, tinged with mischievous delight.
"Then… open your eyes."