(𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗈; 𝖠𝗋𝗅𝖾𝖼𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗈 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗒 𝗋𝖾𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗇𝖾𝗓𝗁𝗇𝖺𝗒𝖺 𝖿𝖾𝗐 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗀𝗈!)

-

The streets of Fontaine were bustling with activity, not with the usual lively chatter of its people, but with the weight of preparation. Soldiers reinforced defenses, engineers secured the waterways, and strategists worked tirelessly to finalize their plans. The looming battle was no longer a distant threat-it was a certainty.

Amidst it all, Yoshika and Furina found a rare moment of solitude in the quiet balcony of the Court. The evening air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of Fontaine's preparations.

Yoshika leaned against the railing, her dark pink eyes fixed on the city below. "It's strange," she murmured. "How quickly everything can change."

Furina, seated dramatically on the balcony's edge, swung her legs idly. "Tch. I suppose it is. One day, you're adored by thousands, the next..." She exhaled sharply, her blue eyes flickering with something unspoken.

Yoshika glanced at her. "Regretting anything?"

Furina scoffed, tossing her short white hair over her shoulder. "Regret? Please. The Former Fontaine's Biggest Celebrity does not dwell on such trivial things."

Yoshika raised an eyebrow. "Not even a little?"

Silence.

Furina sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. Maybe I do, just a little. Not about being exposed, not about losing my title. But..." She paused, gripping the edge of the balcony. "I regret how Fontaine looks at me now. I was their goddess, their guiding star. Now, they see me as... an actress who played the role of justice."

Yoshika studied her for a moment before speaking. "You're more than just an actress."

Furina blinked. "Huh?"

"You were a symbol, yes. But even now, Fontaine looks to you," Yoshika said. "You may not be their god anymore, but you still have a place here. You chose to stay and fight for them, even when you could've walked away."

Furina fell silent. It was rare for Yoshika to speak this sincerely, and the weight of her words settled deep in her heart.

"...You're annoying," Furina muttered, looking away.

Yoshika smiled. "I know."

A comfortable silence stretched between them before Furina finally spoke again. "You're leaving soon, aren't you?"

Yoshika nodded. "Tomorrow. I need to return to Snezhnaya, speak with the Tsaritsa, and prepare our forces."

Furina frowned, kicking her legs against the balcony. "I suppose that makes sense, but I don't like it."

Yoshika tilted her head. "Why?"

Furina huffed. "Because! Who else is going to stop me from throwing myself into trouble while you're gone?"

Yoshika chuckled. "Clorinde might."

Furina gasped dramatically. "Unacceptable! Clorinde is no fun. She'd just glare at me disapprovingly instead of indulging my dramatics!"

Yoshika shook her head. "Then try not to get into trouble while I'm gone."

Furina pouted. "No promises."

The two fell into silence once more, watching the lights of Fontaine flicker below.

"...Come back soon," Furina said quietly.

Yoshika glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice.

"I will."

For a moment, there was nothing but the cool night air and the distant sounds of Fontaine's preparations. And in that fleeting moment, neither war nor Celestia mattered-only the quiet understanding between them.

Tomorrow, Yoshika would leave for Snezhnaya. But for tonight, she and Furina could rest in the presence of one another.

---
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝗁𝗂𝗂 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 3 𝖽𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗂 𝗎𝗉𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗅𝗆𝖺𝗈