A Blind Mage and A Dog- Fate Grand Order

Ritsuka Fujimaru's POV

After stepping out of the room, my ears caught a faint sound—a soft, playful voice ringing through the halls.

"Fou!"

Jerry's body stiffened. Then, with a sharp bark, she lurched forward. The leather leash in my hand jerked as she reacted to something unseen.

"Jerry?" I turned my head toward her, feeling the slight tremor in her stance. Her nose twitched, and I could tell she wasn't sure what to make of this… thing.

A small patter of feet rushed past me. Light, quick, weightless—something darting through the air.

My mind quickly formed a guess.

"Is it a cat?" I muttered. "Hey, don't attack it!"

But Jerry, clearly fascinated, bolted.

"Wait, Jerry—!"

She rushed towards the cat.

A surge of warmth filled my chest—the kind that came whenever Jerry found something new and exciting.

For a dog who had seen the world through my blindness, she was curious in ways I'd never be.

And right now, she had found herself a new friend.

The rhythmic clicking of my cane echoed in the empty halls as I sprinted after them.

Jerry's barks and the other creature's tiny, quick movements made it easy to track their direction. I wasn't running blind—I was running with purpose.

A turn. A shift in the air.

Another presence ahead.

Then—

A sudden stop.

I could hear Jerry's panting, the soft rustling of fabric, and then… a gentle voice.

"Fou!"

My feet slowed.

Jerry had stopped chasing. I caught up to them, adjusting my sunglasses, feeling the warmth of someone's presence.

I turned my head toward them. "We meet again. Good morning."

A pause. Then, an awkward cough.

"…It's not morning, Senpai. It's afternoon."

I grinned. "Oh, really?" I scratched my head. "Guess my timekeeping skills need work. That simulator is strange for sure."

Jerry nudged against my leg, an apology in her movement. I reached down and gently ruffled her fur.

"Sorry about Jerry. She likes to play with new friends if she likes them. Is that your cat?"

Silence.

Then, an exasperated sigh.

"…I completely forgot," the girl murmured, as if realizing something. "I still haven't introduced you yet, have I, Fou?"

She shifted slightly, and the weightless creature hopped from her arms.

"This squirrel-like creature is Fou. He's a Privileged Life-Form allowed to freely walk around Chaldea."

"Mmkyu, Fou!"

Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

I listened to the soft patter of feet as he disappeared down the hall.

"He ran off somewhere again," the girl——murmured. "He does that sometimes, just walks around."

I adjusted my sunglasses. "What a mysterious creature."

Mashu hesitated.

I could feel her gaze on me. Studying me.

Then, carefully, she asked, "Senpai, are you a Master?"

The question made me pause.

Master.

It sounded so grand. So… game master.

I guess, I'm

Yet, the truth was I'm not sure.

"Yeah," I admitted, leaning on my cane. "That's what I agreed to, at least. The money Chaldea offered was pretty good."

A new voice entered the conversation.

"Ah, there you are, Mash. That won't do, you know, wandering about without permission..."

I tensed.

Something about that voice—it was smooth, polite, but... something in it felt off.

Like a finely-tuned instrument just slightly out of tune.

I turned my head toward the source of the voice.

"Oh? Someone's already with you?"

A pause. Then a chuckle.

"I see… The rookie who just got assigned here."

The voice took a step closer.

"I'm Lev Lainur, one of the technicians employed here. And your name is?"

The moment he spoke, my instincts screamed at me.

My grip on the cane tightened.

Something… wasn't right.

The air felt colder. My skin prickled.

I didn't have sight, but my other senses? They were sharp.

And this man—this Lev Lainur—his presence was wrong.

Something off. Something unnatural.

And I wasn't the only one who felt it.

Jerry, my ever-loyal guide, my eyes in the darkness, let out a low, guttural growl.

Then, she barked.

Loud. Ferocious. As if she were staring at a demon.

Mashu gasped. "Jerry? What's wrong?"

But I knew.

Jerry saw something.

Something that my blind eyes could never perceive.

Something... Something else.

I exhaled slowly.

Then, I faced the presence before me.

"I'm Ritsuka Fujimaru," I said evenly, "and this is Jerry."

And Jerry?

She just kept barking.

"Why did you bring that stupid dog here? I don't like it."

The words dripped with mockery.

I tightened my grip on my cane.

Jerry, my best friend, my guiding light in the darkness, my one true companion, had just been insulted.

Stay calm.

Stay in control.

My breath came slowly as I pushed back the rising anger in my chest.

Jerry wasn't just a dog.

She was the sweetest, naughtiest, most wanted dog in the world.

She was intelligent, stubborn, and caring all at once.

She was the best partner I could have ever asked for.

But that was just my opinion.

If someone couldn't see her beauty, that was their loss.

But this man—this Lev Lainur—he had crossed the line.

I exhaled, forcing my lips into a polite smile.

"Jerry, how many times do I have to tell you? You shouldn't give attention to trash."

Lev's expression darkened.

"Sorry about Jerry, Mr. Lev," I continued, my voice light, almost amused. "She's overprotective. Tries to keep me away from nasty people."

The jab hit its mark.

I could feel his anger, the sharp intake of breath, the way his teeth clenched together.

Asshole.

If you don't like Jerry, then stay away from her.

And if you have a problem with that—well, I didn't ask for your opinion, dickhead.

From the side, I heard Mashu stifle a gasp.

Lev's fingers twitched.

"…Can you tell me why you even brought this thing here, Master 48?" he asked, voice barely controlled.

I pulled out a neatly folded paper from my pocket.

The contract.

Chaldea's conditions for hiring me.

Wordlessly, I held it up.

"Here," I said evenly. "The conditions Chaldea agreed to. Jerry is my guardian. It was clearly stated in the agreement."

Lev's eyes flickered over the paper, but I already knew—he had lost.

His lips twisted into a forced smile.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But keep that thing in your room. You can't bring her to Chaldea's meetings."

I tilted my head slightly.

"Her name is Jerry, Mr. Lev," I said smoothly. "I believe in 'give respect and take respect.'"

He didn't respond.

Instead, he turned to Mashu.

"Mashu, let's go. The Director won't tolerate us being late."

I let out a slow breath.

"You guys go ahead," I said. "I'll find my own way back."

Mashu hesitated but eventually nodded.

"If you say so, Senpai…"

As they walked away, Lev mutter under his breath.

"I'll burn that stupid dog later and then that blind low trash."

Jerry was quiet as we walked.

I knelt beside her, resting a hand on her head.

"Don't take bad people's words seriously," I murmured. "You're the best."

Jerry nudged against me, unfazed.

She wasn't upset by Lev's words.

No, something else was bothering her.

She had seen something in him.

Something wrong.

She stopped suddenly, her body stiffening.

A single bark.

I reached out, feeling the door handle.

"I think this is our room."

With a click, I pushed it open.

Then—

"Whaaaaaat?! Who are you?! This is an empty room! It's where I slack off!"

A loud, almost whiny voice filled the space.

I froze.

Someone was already inside.

The voice huffed. "Who gave you permission to come in?"

I adjusted my sunglasses. "I was told this was my room."

A pause.

Then, the person sighed.

"…Oh. I see. So the last one finally showed up, huh?"

I leaned against the doorframe, tapping my cane on the floor.

"Yes. The last one."

Might as well embrace it.

Jerry sniffed the air, then walked inside, unbothered. That was a good sign. If she didn't sense anything off about this guy, then he wasn't a dick.

"Name's Ritsuka Fujimaru," I continued. "And this is Jerry."

The man made a thoughtful sound.

"Well, nice to meet you, Fujimaru."

A pause.

Then, a soft chuckle.

"Didn't think I'd run into you like this, but let me introduce myself properly."

I heard him shift on the bed.

"I'm the head of the medical department, Romani Archaman."

He gave a dramatic sigh.

"For some reason, people just call me Dr. Roman. I don't know why, but, well… It's easier to pronounce, so go ahead and call me Roman."

Another pause.

"Fact is, 'Roman' has a nice ring to it, no? Sounds cool. Vaguely sweet."

I tilted my head slightly.

This guy… talked a lot.

I could already tell he was the type who filled silence with words.

I took a step forward, carefully estimating the distance to the nearest chair.

I calculated Objects in my room after analysing the sound waves hit on everything in the room. Now I memorized my room details.

Then, with practiced ease, I sat down.

"Nice to meet you, Doctor," I said, leaning back.

Silence.

Roman made a thoughtful noise.

I could feel him studying me.

"…You know," he said after a moment, "for someone who's blind, you move like a normal person."

I smirked.

The chair was softer than I expected.

I leaned back, letting my body adjust, while Jerry effortlessly hopped onto my lap.

As I absentmindedly stroked her fur, I spoke.

"So… you read my profile?"

Roman made a thoughtful noise, like he was sipping tea—or pretending to.

"I did."

Figures.

"It's troublesome," I sighed. "Most people I meet think I'm just playing blind sometimes."

Roman chuckled.

"Well, of course they do, Fujimaru. You don't act like a blind guy."

I smirked. "Well, I trained myself to stand on my own."

I felt his mood shift—curiosity mixed with admiration.

"I see. You're much better than me, man," Roman admitted. "I always get yelled at by the Director."

I raised an eyebrow.

"The great Dr. Romani Archaman, head of the medical department, getting yelled at?"

He groaned. "More often than I'd like."

Jerry nuzzled against me, her tail wagging.

I continued stroking her, letting the moment settle.

Then, a thought popped into my head.

"So, what game are you developing?"

Roman paused.

"…Huh?"

I tilted my head. "Chaldea's a game company, right?"

Silence.

The kind where you can feel the confusion radiating off someone.

Then—

Roman gasped.

A dramatic one, too.

"Oh, I see now! You're an extra recruit, so no one explained this to you."

He took a deep breath.

"Alright, listen up, Fujimaru. Chaldea is not a game company. Let me explain what Chaldea actually is…"

I tried to listen.

I really did.

But when a man like Roman starts talking, he talks.

Something about "observing the future," "securing humanity's survival," "magical research," and… something, something Director.

I got lost somewhere in the middle.

Honestly, I didn't need my sight to know that Roman was throwing around complicated terminology while waving his hands dramatically.

In the end, I only caught the important part.

"A secret organization," I murmured.

Roman took a sip of his tea.

"Yep," he said. "And we're one of thousands of research laboratories across the world."

He took another sip.

"Except, you know, we're located six thousand meters up on an extremely cold mountain."

He placed a warm cup in my hand.

I felt the ceramic, inhaling the faint scent of tea.

Then, Roman added, almost too casually—

"…Fujimaru, I think you got scammed."

I paused, lifting the cup slightly.

"…I see."

I took a sip, the warmth spreading through my fingertips.

"The people who recruited me seemed like good people," I said simply. "So I trusted them."

Silence.

For a few seconds, Roman didn't say anything.

Then—

A quiet chuckle.

Followed by a soft, genuine smile.

"…You're an interesting guy, Fujimaru."

I shrugged.

Jerry wagged her tail.

Whatever I had gotten myself into, it was too late to turn back now.

And that was fine.

"Anyway," I said, leaning back on the soft chair, "I'm fine with you resting here in your free time. Jerry's okay with it too."

Jerry let out a small approving woof from my lap, her tail flicking against my arm.

"Thanks, you two." Roman's voice brightened. "So that means I'm visiting a friend's room! Woo-hoo! I've made a new friends!"

I tilted my head slightly.

"Then, from now on, this will be our secret place," Roman continued, clearly getting into his own fantasy. "We'll spend time together and deepen our friendship—"

"…Doctor." I cut him off flatly.

"Hm?"

"What are you doing in my room exactly?"

Silence.

Then a forced cough.

"You do know the Rayshift experiment is about to start, right?" Roman suddenly became serious. "The entire staff's been sent to help out. But since my job is to look after everyone's health, I had nothing to do. The machines are more accurate at reading the vitals of the mages in the Coffins anyway."

I listened quietly as he went on.

"The Director told me, 'When you're here, Romani, everyone slacks off!' Then she threw me out," he admitted with a sigh. "So I've been sulking here."

I smiled slightly. "Sounds like you got exiled."

Roman groaned. "It was cruel! But then you showed up, and now I have company! This is what they call a blessing in disguise, right?"

Before I could respond, his wristwatch buzzed, breaking the lighthearted atmosphere.

A new voice—sharp, calm, and professional—filtered through.

"Romani, we're about to start the Rayshift. Could you come in case there's an emergency?"

The voice belonged to Lev Lainur. That bastard who insulted Jerry.

Lev continued, "The A-Team's in perfect condition, but the lower teams are showing slight abnormalities. Probably from anxiety. The inside of the Coffins feels like a cockpit to them."

Roman let out a dramatic sigh.

"Hey, Lev, I feel bad for them. Why don't I give them some anesthesia?"

"Yeah, hurry up, will you? If you're in the infirmary, you can get here in two minutes."

I smirked.

"…This isn't the infirmary, is it?"

Roman froze.

"…Oh, uh—"

"You're just hiding and slacking off."

"…Whoa, whoa, let's not say it like that…" Roman sounded genuinely flustered. "Look, no matter what, it's gonna take five minutes from here. Just—just don't tell the Director, okay?"

He sighed again, rubbing his temples. "Anyway, thanks for the chat. Once you get settled, come by my office. I'll treat you to some delicious cake—"

Jerry suddenly tensed on my lap.

I barely had time to react before she jumped off, landing on the cold floor with a sharp bark.

A loud bark.

Then another.

And another.

Something was wrong.

Jerry wasn't just making noise—she was warning us.

Roman stiffened. "Whoa, hey, what's gotten into her?"

I felt my pulse quicken.

"Jerry?" I called.

She barked again, louder this time.

Then—

The ground shook.

A low, deep rumble that vibrated through the entire room.

The air itself seemed to shift.

Red warning lights flashed behind my eyelids, though I couldn't see them.

Then, the emergency alarm blared—

"EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY."

A mechanical voice cut through the confusion.

"A FIRE HAS BROKEN OUT IN THE CENTRAL POWER STATION AND THE CENTRAL COMMAND ROOM."

A fire? No. Something felt off.

This wasn't an accident.

The alarm continued.

"CONTAINMENT WALL WILL ACTIVATE IN 90 SECONDS. ALL STAFF MUST EVACUATE FROM GATE 2 IMMEDIATELY."

I pushed myself up, Jerry pressing against my leg, guiding me instinctively.

Roman's voice sharpened. "Was that—was that an explosion just now!?"

I clenched my fists.

"What on earth is happening?"

Roman rushed to the monitor on his watch. "Show us the Command Room!"

I turned toward him, even though I couldn't see.

"Is everyone alright?" I asked.

Roman didn't answer immediately.

His silence told me everything.

Then, he spoke, his voice uncharacteristically grim.

"Fujimaru, evacuate. Now."

He was serious. No trace of the lazy, carefree doctor remained.

"I'm going to the Command Room," he continued. "The containment wall is about to close. Get yourself out before it's too late!"

I exhaled slowly.

"I'm coming with you."

"What!? No—you can't!"

I turned my face toward him, keeping my voice firm.

"Doctor."

Roman hesitated.

"I won't run away from problems," I said. "I'll try to help."

Roman exhaled. I could hear his hesitation.

"…Sure," he muttered. "The more hands, the better, but—oh man, there's no time to argue!"

I felt his hand on my shoulder, firm but fleeting.

"Make sure you get back before it's too late! Let Jerry guide you!"

I nodded.

"Jerry—go. We'll follow you."

Jerry let out a sharp bark and bolted forward.

I didn't hesitate.

I followed her lead, the sound of her paws against the cold floor guiding my every step.

Behind me, I heard Roman scramble after us, muttering under his breath.

The alarms wailed.

The ground rumbled again.

The moment I stepped into the Command Room, I felt it.

The heat.

It was like walking into the aftermath of a fire accident, except there were no alarms blaring for firefighters—no emergency response teams rushing in.

Only silence.

The air itself felt suffocating, thick with smoke and something else—something heavier than just burnt metal and shattered glass.

Death.

I heard Romani's breath hitch. His voice came out hoarse.

"…No survivors."

I tightened my grip on Jerry's leash.

"Not a single one?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Romani exhaled sharply. I could hear the grief creeping into his voice.

"This was where the explosion originated," he muttered. "This was no accident. It was sabotage."

I clenched my fists. My mind raced, trying to process it all.

Why?

Why would someone do this?

Before I could say anything else, the system's mechanical voice cut through the suffocating silence.

"GENERATOR OPERATION STOPPED. POWER LEVEL CRITICAL."

"SWITCH TO BACKUP GENERATOR – ERROR."

"PLEASE MAKE SWITCH MANUALLY."

"CONTAINMENT WALL WILL CLOSE IN 40 SECONDS. THOSE REMAINING IN CENTRAL AREA, EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY."

Roman cursed under his breath before turning to me.

"I'm heading down to the underground power station," he said, his voice urgent. "We can't let Chaldea's light go out."

I hesitated. "I'll go with—"

"No." His voice turned firm. "Hurry up and go back the way we came. You can still make it. Listen—don't stop anywhere on the way. Go outside and wait for help."he left.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Jerry tugged at the leash.

I swallowed hard.

"…Alright."

I turned on my heel, ready to leave.

Then I heard it.

A small, familiar cry.

"Fou fou!"

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Jerry let out a small whimper, ears perking up.

That cry—I knew that voice.

"…Fou?"

The little creature's voice came again, this time more urgent.

"Fou fou!"

It wasn't just a sound. It was a plea.

I didn't think. I just moved.

"Let's follow her," I said.

Jerry barked in agreement, and we turned toward the direction of Fou's voice.

The deeper we went, the stronger the scent of ash and blood became.

Then, amidst the smoke, I felt it.

A presence.

A familiar presence.

I froze.

"…No way."

Jerry let out a soft whine, her nose pressing against my leg.

Then I heard it—

A weak, trembling voice.

"…Se…npa…i…"

My breath caught in my throat.

I knew that voice.

My fingers trembled as I knelt down, feeling the cracked floor beneath me.

Slowly—cautiously—I reached forward.

Then I felt her.

Warm skin.

Soft, but smeared with something thick—something wet.

Blood.

My fingertips brushed over fabric—her uniform, torn and scorched.

Then—

Something solid.

Unmoving.

Cold.

A pillar.

No…

I swallowed hard and traced my hands further, confirming what I didn't want to believe.

Her body—her lower half—was trapped.

Pinned.

She wasn't getting out of this.

A lump formed in my throat.

She must have known, too—because she gave me the weakest smile I'd ever heard in a voice.

"…It's…all…right," she murmured.

I felt her fingers twitch slightly, as if she wanted to reach out but didn't have the strength to move.

"You can't…save…me," she whispered.

Her breath was ragged.

I opened my mouth—but what could I even say?

What words could possibly exist in this moment?

"Don't mind me," she said, almost pleading. "Please…run. That's right… Thank you… for understanding."

My chest tightened.

"Please, Fujimaru… You need to…get out of here."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

I clenched my fists.

I wanted to tell her she was wrong.

That I could save her.

That I wouldn't just leave her here to die alone.

But my body refused to move.

I couldn't see her, but I could feel it.

She was fading.

And I—

I was powerless.

"!?"

I flinched.

Not from pain.

Not from exhaustion.

But from the sound.

The cold, artificial voice of the system rang through the ruined halls, announcing something I could barely understand.

"WARNING TO ALL OBSERVATION STAFF."

"CHALDEAS' STATE HAS CHANGED."

"NOW REWRITING SHEBA'S NEAR-FUTURE PREDICTION DATA."

The girl—Mashu—gasped.

I heard her shifting beside me, struggling to move.

"UNABLE TO DETECT THE EXISTENCE OF MANKIND

100 YEARS IN THE NEAR-FUTURE ON EARTH."

I felt my breath hitch.

"UNABLE TO CONFIRM HUMAN SURVIVORS."

"UNABLE TO GUARANTEE MANKIND'S FUTURE."

I stiffened.

"…Survival?" My voice came out weak. "Future…?"

What was it talking about?

My mind couldn't process it.

It was too much, too fast.

I had no sight—no way to see what was happening—but I felt something shift.

Mashu's voice trembled.

"Chaldeas…" She took a shaky breath. "Chaldeas has turned bright red…"

She paused.

"…No, never mind that," she whispered. "We can't get out anymore. I'm sorry… because of me, you…"

There was regret in her voice.

A deep, aching regret.

I didn't understand why.

But the fear in her tone—the way she sounded like she was on the verge of breaking—

It was too familiar.

I forced a smile.

"That's not true…"

She gasped softly.

"I'm sure it'll work out," I said. My voice was light, reassuring. Like I wasn't terrified. Like I wasn't standing in the middle of something I didn't understand.

More than anything—I had to hold myself together.

For her.

"…More importantly," I added, "your name. I haven't asked for your name yet."

She hesitated.

How should she introduce herself?

How was she supposed to do it in a moment like this?

Mashu let out a small, wet laugh.

"…I couldn't think of a good way to introduce myself," she murmured, her voice thick with unshed tears.

Then, with the softest whisper—

"I'm Mashu Kyrielight."

A quiet, fragile name.

I clenched my fists.

I would remember it.

No matter what happened—no matter what this all meant—

I wouldn't forget her.

Then, before I could say anything else—

The system's voice returned.

"COFFIN VITALS: MASTERS

BASELINE NOT REACHED."

"RAYSHIFT REQUIREMENT NOT MET."

"SEARCHING FOR QUALIFYING MASTER…"

I held my breath.

Something inside me twisted.

"FOUND."

I stiffened.

"CANDIDATE NO. 48, FUJIMARU

RESET AS MASTER."

"UNSUMMON PROGRAM, START."

"SPIRITRON CONVERSION, START."

I felt it.

Something cold.

Something wrong.

The air changed.

The room shifted.

Mashu's breathing grew shallow.

"…Um…"

Her voice was weak.

Like she was slipping away.

Like she wouldn't exist in the next moment.

"…Senpai?"

I swallowed hard.

"Would you mind…"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"…Holding my hand?"

I didn't hesitate.

I reached forward, fingers fumbling through the darkness—

And then I found her.

Small.

Shaking.

Cold.

I squeezed gently.

Mashu sucked in a trembling breath.

Beside me, Jerry pressed closer. I felt her fur against my leg.

Fou made a quiet sound.

But Mashu—

Her pulse was fading.

Her warmth—vanishing.

She was—

She was dying.

And I—

I couldn't do anything.

Then—

Everything went dark.

---

(Jerry's POV)

When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in Chaldea anymore.

The heat.

The smoke.

The fear.

All of it was gone.

Instead, I stood in a vast, open meadow. The sky above was endless, stretching like a soft blue blanket. Below, the grass swayed gently, kissed by a breeze carrying the scent of fresh earth.

A waterfall cascaded nearby, its sound like a soft melody. Wildflowers bloomed in every direction, their colors vibrant, untouched by pain or war.

It was peaceful.

It was warm.

But—

Where was Ritsuka?

My ears perked up.

I sniffed the air.

No scent.

No trace.

Nothing.

My chest tightened.

He needed me.

I had to find him—

"Child."

A deep voice rumbled through the meadow.

I turned, hackles raised, my tail stiff.

And then—

I saw him.

A towering figure, standing at the edge of the clearing.

A being with the body of a man—but the head of a dog. His fur was sleek and dark, his eyes glowing like molten gold. Power radiated from him, filling the air with something ancient. Something holy.

I took a step back, unsure.

And then—

"You, Jerry... are a good girl."

I froze.

My ears twitched.

That voice—

It was warm. Deep.

Like a master calling his beloved companion.

But his words…

"Don't worry," he said gently. "This place is where all dogs rest after their death."

My heart stopped.

Death.

I felt my legs tremble beneath me.

Was I…?

I lowered my head, ears flattening against my skull.

Tears pricked at the edges of my vision.

Was that why I couldn't find Ritsuka?

Was I gone?

Slowly, I let out a small whine.

Then a soft sob.

Then—

"No, Jerry. You are still alive."

I blinked.

He knelt before me, his golden eyes gentle.

"I summoned your soul here to talk with you."

His large, clawed hand reached out—resting gently on my head.

Warmth.

Comfort.

Like the first time Ritsuka had ever held me as a puppy.

"I am a deity born from humanity's love for dogs."

His voice was strong. Steady.

"The ones who guard them, protect them, and stand beside them in the dark."

I tilted my head, listening.

"Right now, humanity faces a great danger—including your friend, Ritsuka Fujimaru."

My breath hitched.

Ritsuka.

I knew something was wrong.

"Just as the collective consciousness of humanity watches over him," the Dog God continued, "I have chosen to act. For I was born from humankind's love for the dogs that lived beside them. That hunted with them. That kept them safe from the predators lurking in the night."

His eyes softened.

"You love him, don't you?"

I didn't hesitate.

I barked once—loud and clear.

Of course I did.

Ritsuka was my everything.

The one who laughed with me, walked with me, held me when the nights were too cold.

The boy who trusted me—who needed me.

Even when the world turned against him.

Even when he lost everything.

Even when he couldn't see, he always saw me.

I would never leave his side.

Never.

The Dog God let out a low, approving hum.

"Then go to him."

He raised his hand—placing it on my head once more.

A soft, white glow surrounded me.

Warmth flooded through my limbs, filling me with something greater.

Something divine.

Power.

Strength.

A blessing not just from him—

But from every soul who had ever loved a dog.

The hands that once stroked fur.

The voices that once called names.

The hearts that once swore, I will never forget you.

I felt them all.

Every single one.

Then—

A sound.

A voice.

"Jerry."

My ears shot up.

My tail wagged.

It was him.

Ritsuka.

I barked—once, twice, then again.

I turned—sprinting toward the sound, toward the glow of a golden light in the distance.

Toward the gate that would take me back to him.

Back to my boy.

Back to the one who still needed me.

The Dog God watched me go, his expression unreadable.

Then, with a quiet whisper—

"Since the birth of mankind, there have been those who stood by their side."

"The ones who guarded them."

"The ones who protected them."

"The ones who loved them."

"And the ones they loved in return."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"We were born from that love."

"And now, it is time to return the favor."

The light swallowed me whole.

And then—

I was running back home.

---

Ritsuka's POV

I felt her fingers slip away.

Warm. Then cold.

Soft. Then limp.

Blood trickled down my palm, seeping into my skin like ink spilled on paper.

"Mashu?" I called her name.

No response.

My fingers trembled as I reached for her face, tracing her features, searching for any sign of life. But I already knew. I could feel it.

The warmth was fading.

Her breath—gone.

Her heartbeat—gone.

Her life—gone.

A weight settled in my chest, something deeper than sadness, heavier than grief.

It was fear.

Not the fear of darkness—I had lived in that since the moment I was born.

Not the fear of pain—I had endured enough to grow numb to it.

No—this fear was different.

It was the fear of loss.

The fear of knowing that I held someone in my hands and failed to keep them safe.

The fear of knowing that no matter what I did, Mashu Kyrielight—

Was dead.

I felt loneless from her.

The darkness swallowed me whole.

And in that darkness—

A memory surfaced.

I was ten years old.

I had never known color. Never seen the sky. Never watched the sun rise or set.

But there was one thing that had always been my light.

My mother.

She was my world. My everything.

And I was hers.

Or at least—I thought I was.

Until he spoke.

"Doctors told us he will never get his eyes. We managed to take care of this thing for ten years. I think it's time to throw this burden away."

The words came from the man who was supposed to be my father.

A man I had never seen, but whose voice I had memorized like a song I wished I could forget.

I remember clutching my mother's hand, gripping it so tight my fingers ached.

I couldn't see their faces. But I could hear everything.

The disgust in his tone.

The indifference in his breath.

The way he spat out the word thing like I wasn't even his child.

"That's why I called the orphanage people. Let's throw him there. If you miss him, you can visit once in a while. Let's have another child, my dear."

My blood ran cold.

My grip on my mother's hand tightened.

Would she let me go?

Would she listen to him?

Would she—

A sharp crack rang through the air.

I flinched.

Then—silence.

Even without sight, I knew.

She had slapped him.

Hard.

Even in my darkness, I could feel the weight of that moment.

Her voice was steady. Unwavering.

"I have already decided. I will live with my son. Now, it's your choice—will you live with us, or not?"

My breath hitched.

She… She was choosing me.

She was Cool.

I felt something warm roll down my cheek.

For the first time, I wasn't scared of the darkness.

Because my mother was my light.

She had always been.

And he—the man who called himself my father—

Vanished from our lives that day.

My mother raised me alone from that moment forward.

She never once let me believe I was less because I couldn't see.

She trained me.

Taught me how to listen—how to truly listen.

How to read the world through touch, through scent, through instinct.

She made me understand that I wasn't helpless.

That I could stand on my own.

That I wasn't a burden.

And on my eleventh birthday—

She gave me my first real companion.

"His name is Jerry," she told me.

I reached out hesitantly, feeling soft fur beneath my fingers.

A warm tongue licked my palm.

A small bark—excited, eager.

Something inside me clicked.

From that day on, Jerry was always at my side.

A guide.

A protector.

A friend.

My mother—she was my hero.

She taught me the most important lesson of my life.

"Life will never give you anything, Ritsuka. If you want something—happiness, victory, a future—you have to go and earn it."

That's why I never ran.

Not from pain.

Not from loss.

Not from fate.

Because my mother made me strong enough to face it.

The darkness around me shifted.

The cold faded.

Heat replaced it.

The scent of smoke.

The distant sound of fire crackling.

I gasped, feeling solid ground beneath me again.

Where—

Where was I?

A weight landed on my shoulder.

"Fou!"

I recognized his scent, his warmth.

He was still here.

Still with me.

I gripped my cane and tapped the ground.

Stone.

A road.

How?

This wasn't Chaldea.

This wasn't the void.

Where was I?

Then—

A single thought crashed through my mind like lightning.

"Jerry."

I turned, heart pounding.

I took a step forward, then another.

I called out, voice raw, desperate.

"Jerry!"

No answer.

My breath hitched.

I clenched my fists.

No.

Not again.

---

(Mashu POV)

I called Ritsuka as my Senpai because He felt so Normal unlike team A.

Was this my Frist time I felt happy? Yes

I don't have any regrets anymore.

But My ending doesn't have any meaning.

Will Senpai remember me.

Then

I hear a voice -A familiar voice yet strange.

"Mashu, Go and save him with my power. It's humanity will."

Then another voice I heard

"Jerry"

I heard Senpai voice. Without looking back I rushed in darkness.

I don't know what's going on! But I went towards light. Towards my Senpai.

To Be Continued…