-

The quiet between them stretched, lingering like an unfinished melody. Furina wasn't used to silence. She thrived in theatrics, in grand performances where words danced effortlessly from her lips. But now, in the dim glow of the Palais Mermonia, she found herself struggling to say anything at all.

Yoshika had already stepped back, her usual confidence returning, but something in her gaze was softer than before. Furina wanted to mock her for it, to break the moment with something witty-something safe-but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Instead, she let herself focus on Yoshika, truly taking in the sight of her.

The bruises from her battle with Capitano were still faintly visible, shadows of the war they were preparing for. Her pink hair was slightly disheveled, and despite her composed posture, there was exhaustion beneath her eyes.

"You need rest," Furina finally said, though it came out quieter than she intended.

Yoshika smirked. "So do you."

Furina huffed. "I'm fine."

Yoshika tilted her head. "Are you?"

Furina's lips parted slightly, caught off guard. The weight of everything-the looming war, the burden of her people, the role she was still trying to play-settled on her shoulders. She was Fontaine's biggest celebrity, once its God of Justice, but here, in this moment, she wasn't sure what she was supposed to be.

She turned away, her hands gripping the edge of a nearby desk. "...It doesn't matter."

Yoshika sighed. "Furina."

She didn't respond.

Yoshika took a step closer. "Look at me."

Furina hesitated before turning back, meeting Yoshika's gaze.

"I don't care if you're fine," Yoshika said simply. "You don't have to be."

Furina's breath hitched.

The words struck something deep within her-something she had buried beneath layers of performance and pride.

No one had ever told her that before.

Yoshika didn't push further. She didn't need to.

Furina exhaled slowly, lowering her gaze. "...You're cruel."

Yoshika chuckled. "You like me anyway."

Furina scowled, cheeks heating. "I-! That is-that's completely irrelevant!"

Yoshika smiled but didn't argue. She let the silence settle again, watching as Furina fidgeted with her gloves, trying to regain her composure.

Eventually, Furina sighed. "You're really staying, then?"

"Of course."

Furina looked at her for a long moment before nodding.

"...Good."

She wouldn't say it-not yet-but Yoshika understood.

For now, that was enough.

---
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝗈𝗆𝗀 𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗄 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗆 𝖽𝗈𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝗍𝗉😭 𝗂𝗍𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗒𝗎𝗋𝗂 𝗂𝗀