FGO/KONOSUBA: GOD BLESSINGS ON THOSE WONDERFUL HEROES

[F] The Boy That Is Favor By The Goddess Of Fortune~

As I stood there, arms crossed and lips pursed, I watched Ritsuka getting a lap pillow from Mash. Of course it would be him, that lucky Senpai of hers. I turned away with a small "hmph," trying to hide how much it actually bothered me. How did he manage to earn such easy devotion? Sure, he's been through a lot, but I mean, so have I!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cu, grinning, watching me with his usual bemused expression. His form seemed fainter somehow, edges softening, as if he were slowly fading. I blinked and realized what was happening—it had to do with the war's end. 

King Arthur herself had been defeated; the Holy Grail War was over, and so too were the Servants who had fought in it. And yet, there he stood, laughing at my inner monologue like he always did, like he'd still be there tomorrow. I was still getting the hang of these Holy Grail War mechanics, and I blurted out, "Cu-san... so that's it, huh? You're gonna disappear too? I mean, I'm still trying to figure out how all this... works."

Cu shook his head with a knowing smile, then gave a casual shrug. "Don't go gettin' sentimental on me, kid. Look, it was bound to happen. 'Disappear' is just a word for us spirits." He gave a half-hearted wave, as if brushing away my concern. "But you—you're real. You're still here. And don't think this is the last of me, alright?"

I opened my mouth, about to press him, to say something—anything—but he cut me off, his gaze sharpening as he looked me straight in the eye. "Kazuma," he said in a tone that was less teasing and more sincere, "here's a bit of advice. From the outside, yeah, you might seem like some loser or even a bit of a... well, you know, a bit of a jerk." He chuckled, but it wasn't unkind. "But deep down, Kazuma... you're a hero."

I froze. A hero? Me?

"You've got guts. You may not fight like a knight or a king, and maybe you don't have all the flash of a hero. But you've got courage. And you do the right thing, even if you don't want to admit it."

He took a step back, the colors around him dimming further. I clenched my fists, wanting to say something, anything to get him to stay just a bit longer. "Cu-san... I mean, I never thought of it that way, but..."

"Don't sweat it. Just... don't go around letting people tell you what you are, yeah? Deep down, Kazuma, you've got what it takes. Ah right! Give this message to that Master over there when he woke up ok." He gave one last, easy smile, then laughed his familiar, carefree laugh, one that echoed in my mind as his form finally faded into nothingness.

I stood there for a long time, the echoes of his words lingering in the silence.

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As I watched Ritsuka sit up slowly, looking dazed, I couldn't help but feel the exhaustion of the last battle wash over me too. He rubbed his head, looking around in confusion. "What... what happened?" he asked, his voice weak but concerned.

Mash was by his side in an instant, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Senpai, you just... you ran out of Mana. You shouldn't push yourself so hard," she said, her voice soft but filled with worry.

But Ritsuka didn't seem concerned about himself at all; instead, his gaze shifted to her with a look of genuine worry. "Mash... are you okay? Are you hurt?" he asked, his words laced with that genuine, instinctive protectiveness he always had for her.

I felt a small sigh escape my lips. They were so concerned for each other, so easily affectionate and natural in their bond. I wasn't even sure how I'd ended up here—on this field, in this strange position as their director, trying to do the impossible. Somewhere deep down, I couldn't help but wonder, What am I even doing?