Xiang Yu looked at Akuta, his expression curious. "May I know about your time in Chaldea?"
Akuta's gaze softened as she thought back. "Let's see... Pepe was always too much to handle, full of energy and mischief. Daybit was very quiet, and sometimes I felt like he was a human goldfish, just drifting along. Kadoc had this inferiority complex all the time, especially since Ritsuka joined Team A. Ophelia tried to make everyone in Team A good friends, which was something. Mash was a bit strange and quiet when I first joined, but after Ritsuka came, she changed. Kirshtaria was basically the prodigy, literally the student of Marisbury. And then there was Ritsuka, our team leader."
Xiang Yu noticed the rare smile on her face. "I see you must have liked them for you to smile like that."
Hearing this, Akuta blushed. "No, no, I don't. They are just people I worked with. Sure, we played games together, and sure, I and Ophelia shared secrets, and on missions, we all had fun. And now I'm digging my own grave by saying all of this, aren't I?"
Xiang Yu chuckled, a rare sound coming from him. "Perhaps, but it's nice to see this side of you. It means they had an impact on you, even if you don't want to admit it."
Akuta sighed, her blush fading as she looked away. "Maybe. But that doesn't change the fact that we're here now, dealing with this Lostbelt. I can't afford to be sentimental."
Xiang Yu nodded in agreement. "Of course. We must focus on our mission. But it's good to remember that even in the harshest times, we found moments of camaraderie and joy. It makes us stronger."
Akuta gave him a small, appreciative smile. "You're right. It does."
Xiang Yu then looked at her. "You said, 'then there was Ritsuka.' What about him made him different?"
Akuta sighed, a mix of exasperation and admiration in her tone. "Where do I even start? It felt like he was the main character of a show, especially with his powers. Sun Magecraft, Rune Magecraft, Shadow Travel, Shadow Control, Amaterasu Flames, Fire Control, Umbral Summons, and weapons created from Sun Magecraft. His sword, Albion, and his ash locks... He was unlike anyone else."
Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "He sounds incredibly powerful. How did he manage to acquire so many abilities?"
Akuta shrugged, a hint of a smirk on her lips. "He worked hard and trained endlessly. He was always pushing himself to get stronger, to protect everyone. He had this determination that was both inspiring and frustrating. No matter how tough things got, he never gave up."
Xiang Yu nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It sounds like he was a remarkable leader."
Akuta's expression softened slightly. "He was. Even when things seemed impossible, he found a way. That's why we all followed him. He had this way of making you believe that anything was possible."
Xiang Yu placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's good to have known someone like that. It gives you strength, even now."
Akuta nodded, her eyes distant as she remembered. "Yes, it does. And it's a reminder that we have to keep fighting, no matter what."
Xiang Yu smiled gently. "Exactly. We'll face whatever challenges come our way, together."
Akuta looked at him, a determined glint in her eyes. "Together."
Akuta then looked at Xiang Yu. "Actually, let me tell you something that happened during my time in Chaldea."
### Flashback
**Timeline: Before the Singularities and Lostbelts**
Akuta walked the halls of Chaldea, a book in her hand. She was headed to the library to read. Upon entering, she found a quiet corner and settled down, absorbed in her book. The peaceful silence was soon interrupted by the sound of something falling. Curiosity piqued, she got up to investigate and found Ritsuka sprawled on the floor amidst a pile of books.
Ritsuka looked up at Akuta, an embarrassed grin on his face. "It looks bad, but it's not what it seems."
Akuta just stared at him, unimpressed. "Leave."
Ritsuka scrambled to his feet, dusting himself off. "Sorry about the mess. I was just looking for a specific book on advanced Magecraft."
Akuta sighed, her stern expression softening slightly. "Which book?"
Ritsuka hesitated for a moment before pointing to a shelf. "That one, about combining different forms of Magecraft."
Akuta followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing as she considered his request. After a moment, she reached up and pulled the book from the shelf, handing it to him. "Here. Be more careful next time."
Ritsuka took the book, smiling gratefully. "Thanks, Akuta. I owe you one."
Akuta just nodded, turning back to her own reading. "Just make sure you return it in one piece."
Ritsuka gave her a mock salute before heading back to his study area. As he left, Akuta couldn't help but feel a small sense of camaraderie with him. Despite his sometimes clumsy nature, Ritsuka's determination and earnestness were qualities she couldn't help but respect.
The next few days passed, and Akuta and Ritsuka continued to coincidentally meet each other around Chaldea. One day, during breakfast in the lunchroom with Team A—Mash, Kadoc, Ophelia, Akuta, Pepe, Kirshtaria, Ritsuka, and Daybit—things took an unexpected turn.
Kadoc, ever direct, looked at Ritsuka and Akuta. "Okay, let's get this out of the way. Are you two dating?"
Mash's glasses immediately broke, a classic anime reaction. Ophelia's head fell onto the table in shock, Ritsuka choked on his food, and Akuta nearly sprayed her drink all over Daybit.
Akuta, recovering from her surprise, shot Kadoc an incredulous look. "What the hell, Kadoc? Why would you think that?"
Kirshtaria, always observant, interjected calmly, "Well, you and Ritsuka have been spending a lot of time together, constantly meeting each other."
Akuta's glare could have melted steel as she replied sharply, "That's only because he keeps going the same way I'm going. How many more people around here believe we're dating?"
Kadoc smirked mischievously. "Do you want me to pull out the list?"
Ritsuka, finally recovering from his coughing fit, raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Wait, wait, we're not dating. It's just coincidence."
Pepe, breaking the tension with a grin, added, "Or fate bringing you together."
Daybit, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up with a smirk. "Maybe Chaldea just ships you two."
The lunchroom erupted into laughter at Daybit's comment, even Akuta couldn't help but crack a smile amidst her irritation. Ritsuka, trying to diffuse the situation, said, "Well, at least we know where the rumors are coming from now."
Kirshtaria nodded sagely. "Indeed, rumors do tend to spread quickly here."
The rest of the meal passed in a mixture of laughter and good-natured teasing, with Kadoc occasionally threatening to update his infamous list. As they finished their breakfast, Akuta and Ritsuka shared a glance—perhaps there was more to their constant meetings than just coincidence.
End of flash back
Akuta then just looked at Xiang Yu. And that let to even more things
Xiang Yu just looked at his wife. So there is more to the story then just that
Akuta nodded, her expression softening as memories lingered. "Yes, after that incident, things became... different between us."
Xiang Yu leaned closer, intrigued. "Different? In what way?"
Akuta hesitated, reflecting on the past. "Well, Ritsuka and I started to understand each other better. We began working together more closely on missions, and I found myself relying on him in ways I hadn't expected. He was always there, steadfast and reliable."
Xiang Yu smiled knowingly. "Sounds like you two became quite the team."
Akuta nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "Yes, we did. Despite our initial clashes, we developed a mutual respect and trust. Ritsuka's leadership and unwavering determination inspired everyone around him, including me."
Xiang Yu chuckled softly. "And did this 'teamwork' lead to anything else?"
Akuta blushed faintly, shaking her head. "No, nothing beyond that. We remained close allies, comrades in arms."
Xiang Yu leaned back, satisfied with her answer. "I see. It's good to have someone you can rely on in challenging times."
Akuta nodded, grateful for the understanding in Xiang Yu's eyes. "Indeed, it is."
With a shared understanding of the complexities of their shared past, Akuta and Xiang Yu continued their conversation, reminiscing about their experiences and preparing for the challenges ahead in the Lostbelt.
After a while, both Akuta and Xiang Yu found themselves in a different part of the Lostbelt, examining the ground where intricate magical circles had been inscribed.
Akuta crouched down, inspecting the markings closely. "Yup, definitely a Heroic Spirit summoning circle."
Xiang Yu nodded, his eyes scanning the surrounding area. "It seems someone has been trying to summon Servants here. The question is, who?"
Akuta straightened up, her expression serious. "If someone is summoning Heroic Spirits, it could mean trouble for us. We need to find out who is behind this and what their intentions are."
Xiang Yu agreed. "Yes, and we must do so quickly. Any Servants summoned here could pose a significant threat to our plans."
As they continued to investigate the summoning circle, Akuta's mind raced with possibilities. Could it be Chaldea trying to intervene? Or perhaps a rogue magus looking to exploit the Lostbelt's unique properties?
Akuta looked at Xiang Yu. "We need to report this to Genghis Khan. He needs to be aware of the potential threat."
Xiang Yu nodded. "Agreed. Let's not waste any time."
The two of them made their way back to Genghis Khan's stronghold, their minds focused on the new challenge that lay ahead. The presence of Heroic Spirit summoning circles meant that the stakes had just been raised, and they would need to be even more vigilant in their efforts to maintain control over the Lostbelt.
Akuta looked at Xiang Yu. "I don't think it's Chaldea. They have Mash's shield for that; they don't need to resort to summoning circles. Plus, if they had arrived in this Lostbelt, we would have felt the rip in space-time."
Xiang Yu nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Chaldea's presence would have been unmistakable. So, this must be someone else. But who would have the resources and knowledge to perform such summoning rituals here?"
Akuta furrowed her brow, considering the possibilities. "It could be a rogue magus or another faction trying to exploit the Lostbelt's unique properties. We can't rule out the possibility of internal dissent either."
Xiang Yu's mechanical eyes gleamed with determination. "We need to get to the bottom of this quickly. If there's an enemy force within our territory, it could spell disaster."
Akuta agreed. "Let's head back and inform Genghis Khan. He needs to be aware of this potential threat."
As they made their way back to the stronghold, Akuta couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The presence of Heroic Spirit summoning circles meant that there were unknown players in the game, and in the unpredictable world of Lostbelts, that was never a good sign. They needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead, and that meant staying one step ahead of their enemies.
Upon reaching the throne room, Genghis Khan looked up from his seat. "What have you discovered?" he asked, his voice a commanding presence in the room.
Akuta stepped forward. "We've found evidence of Heroic Spirit summoning circles within the Lostbelt. It seems someone is attempting to summon Servants here."
Genghis Khan's eyes narrowed. "Summoning circles? Do you have any idea who might be behind this?"
Xiang Yu shook his head. "Not yet. But we have ruled out Chaldea as a possibility. This is likely the work of another party."
Genghis Khan rose from his throne, his presence imposing. "We must be vigilant. Double the patrols and keep a close watch on any suspicious activity. We cannot afford to let our guard down."
Akuta and Xiang Yu nodded, their resolve strengthened. They had a mission to protect their Lostbelt, and they would stop at nothing to ensure its safety.
Back Chaldea Ritsuka and everyone was training as Ritsuka was using his powers as Kadoc looked at him
Kadoc looked at Ritsuka before he started to speak. I wonder what Akuta reaction will be to your vampire powers.
Mash stopped from her mode shift as she turned back. Yeah I am wondering that as well, see what Akuta is
Ritsuka paused in his training, lowering his sword as he glanced at Kadoc and Mash. "Honestly, I have no idea how she'll react," he admitted. "She might be intrigued, or she might just think it's another one of my quirks."
Da Vinci, who was overseeing the training, smirked. "Knowing Akuta, she'll probably have a lot of questions. She's always been analytical."
Ophelia, taking a break from her own training, chimed in, "Akuta is hard to predict. She's always kept to herself, but she has a keen interest in unusual powers."
Goredolf, who had been observing from the sidelines, nodded. "It's important to be prepared for any reaction. Akuta's knowledge and perspective could be invaluable."
Sion, adjusting her glasses, added, "We'll need to ensure that Akuta feels included and informed about everything happening here. Her insights could help us understand the Lostbelt better."
Ritsuka sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, let's hope her curiosity doesn't lead to another wall-slam incident," he said with a wry smile, recalling the earlier encounters.
Kadoc chuckled. "Yeah, let's avoid that. But seriously, Ritsuka, your powers are impressive. They might be the key to navigating this Lostbelt."
With renewed determination, Ritsuka nodded. "Thanks, Kadoc. We'll need every advantage we can get." He turned back to his training, the weight of their mission ever-present in his mind.
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give power stones