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The rain had slowed to a drizzle, casting a melancholic stillness over Fontaine. The city, once filled with the echoes of battle, now stood in quiet anticipation. The people had seen the sky crack open, had witnessed the divine enforcer descend—only to be forced back. Hope was fragile, but it was there.

Inside the opera house, Furina sat on the edge of the grand stage, legs swinging idly. Her sword rested beside her, still damp from the battle. She let out an exaggerated sigh, tilting her head back dramatically.

“What a day, what a tragedy! Fontaine’s former biggest celebrity, forced to fight celestial lackeys! And now, instead of basking in the adoration of her people, she’s left to mope in an empty theater.”

A soft chuckle interrupted her performance. “You’re not alone.”

Furina turned, her pout fading as she met Yoshika’s dark pink eyes. The dancer stood near the rows of velvet seats, her hands resting on the back of a chair. Her majestic outfit was slightly tattered from the fight, yet she still carried herself with elegance.

“Of course, I’m not alone,” Furina huffed, crossing her arms. “I have my beloved audience. All… zero of them.”

Yoshika shook her head but walked toward the stage. She didn’t sit beside Furina. Instead, she lifted herself gracefully onto the stage and stood, gazing out over the empty hall.

“It’s a beautiful theater,” she murmured. “Even when it’s quiet.”

Furina studied her for a moment before sighing, her usual bravado softening. “It used to be much livelier. Back when I was… still playing my part.”

Yoshika turned her head slightly. “And now?”

Furina shrugged. “Now, I suppose I’m just… me.”

Yoshika tilted her head. “And who is ‘me’?”

That caught Furina off guard. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came. She had always been playing a role—the God of Justice, the star of Fontaine. Even after her exposure, she had clung to the idea of being Fontaine’s former biggest celebrity. But who was she when the audience was gone?

For once, she had no dramatic answer.

Yoshika must have noticed, because she let the silence linger before speaking again. “Whoever you are,” she said, turning fully to face Furina, “I like her.”

Furina blinked. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks before she scoffed, looking away. “Hmph. Of course, you do. I am quite likable, after all.”

Yoshika smiled. “Mhm.”

A comfortable silence settled between them. The war was far from over, and Celestia would return stronger than before. But in that moment, in the dim glow of the opera house, they allowed themselves to breathe.

Even if only for a little while.

—
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖨𝖽𝗄 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗐𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖾