Ex-Machina in Dimensional Travel

Ritsuka Fujimaru explained patiently. After all, he knew that Shul's purpose in following him was to "witness more worlds." In other words, compared to those of them whose mission was to "save humanity," Shul's motivation was more to "travel" to different singularities.

But what is strange is that the two parties, who obviously have opposite goals, have opposite attitudes towards things.

"I wonder if the 'burning of human principles' is imminent?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka's explanation made Xiuer confused. Isn't your situation very urgent now? You are the only people left on the entire Earth.

“Why so lazy?”

"Actually, you're too anxious, Xiuer. It's only been two days."

Ritsuka Fujimaru said helplessly. He hadn't woken up yet and wanted to go back to bed and sleep for a while.

"..."

Am I wrong?

Xiuer lowered his head, as if trying to determine whether what the young man said was true or false.

The latter was not angry, or rather, facing Shuul, Fujimaru Ritsuka could not get angry.

Before, it was because of fear, but now, it’s just because he is familiar with the other person’s character.

"You should have asked Dr. Roman and the others as well, right?"

"Sure, but the answers they gave were also very different from yours."

Xiuer stated calmly, but the boy could hear a hint of "regret" in the other's cold voice.

Seeing this, the boy could only sigh in his heart.

"Actually, while you're waiting, Shuul, why don't you go and interact with everyone in Chaldea..."

"After all, you've been hanging out by yourself these past few days. How about trying to make more friends?"

Ritsuka Fujimaru patiently persuaded Shuul, trying to divert his attention.

"Rebuttal, I have 'friends'."

"I know that. I mean, make friends with everyone in Chaldea. After all, your original 'friends' aren't here anymore, right?"

The young man tried to persuade him earnestly, as if he thought that letting Xuer have some company would help to reduce his "urgency".

Of course, part of the reason was that he still wanted to sleep for a while and was just looking for a reason to send Xuer away.

"..."

"Make friends with those heroic spirits?"

The first thing that came to Shul's mind was some Heroic Spirits with a rather "bold" style of clothing, and then some Heroic Spirits with a somewhat eccentric personality...

While Xuel was wandering around Chaldea these past few days, he had already seen most of the heroic spirits.

I can't say we can chat, but at least we've become familiar with each other.

Among them are some people who are approachable or outgoing.

For example, there is a certain "pink boy girl" - Astolfo.

To be honest, when Shul saw the other person in Chaldea, although he knew that he was not the one he had "beaten" before, he was still somewhat speechless when he met the other person.

In addition to this, there are some "familiar" faces in Chaldea.

Atalanta, Achilles, Karna...

These Heroic Spirits are actually all in Chaldea. Regardless of the characteristics of the Throne of Heroes, this is not surprising.

But Shul didn't see the "meaning" of making friends with these people.

And he answered the boy in the same way.

"Negation, meaningless behavior."

Xiuer shook his head.

Seeing this, the boy smiled helplessly.

"Since 'making friends' is meaningless to you, then where did those 'old friends' you mentioned come from?"

"..."

"Answer: Because it comes with a 'reward'."

After all, looking back on the past, Xuer's "friends" were not those he actively made, but were "gained" by the way when he was doing things.

Shuul thought about his past and came to a conclusion that made Fujimaru Ritsuka feel a little uncomfortable.

"It sounds like your 'friends' are pretty 'cheap'?"

"I wonder, isn't Fujimaru Ritsuka the same?"

The other party's question stunned the young man. He didn't understand why he was the same.

"Proving that you are 'friends' with everyone in Chaldea means that anyone can be 'friends' with you. This fits the definition of 'cheap'."

Shuul's reply left Fujimaru Ritsuka speechless for a moment. He didn't expect the other party to come to such a conclusion.

Looking at the boy's obviously strange expression, Xiuer remained unmoved and looked very sure of his conclusion.

"No, that's different. The reason I became friends with 'them/heroic spirits' isn't simple."

"...?"

Xiuer pinched his chin, as if thinking about what the boy meant.

However, Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't want to waste any more time. He just wanted to get rid of Shuul as soon as possible so that he could go back to sleep.

What's the point of waking him up before 5:30?

Besides, he had already answered the main question at the beginning, and now Fujimaru Ritsuka no longer wanted to spend too much energy on the topic of "friends" that he had brought up.

At the very least, we should wait until he wakes up, right?

"Ha~ Maybe you can't understand, but it's because I've been through so much with them that we have the relationship we have now."

"I guess you've been 'traveling' alone so far, Xiuer?"

Even though he was mentally exhausted, the boy still patiently expressed his previous opinion.

After all, he and Xiuer were not very familiar with each other a few days ago, so there was no reason to say this.

But after two days of contact and getting to know Xiuer.

The boy finally said what he wanted to say at this inappropriate time.

"I've always been alone, but I don't understand the 'benefits' of having companions."

"...?"

Xiuer was a little confused as to why the other party suddenly said this.

Feeling the other party's "doubtful" gaze, the boy said nothing more, but forced himself to smile back.

"Can't you understand..."

"Then how about experiencing this feeling with 'us' in the next 'singularity'?"

"..."

After listening to the other party's self-centered speech, Xiuer opened the corners of his lips slightly, as if he wanted to refute, but in the end he did not speak again because he saw that the "sleepiness" on the boy's face was getting stronger and stronger.

Seeing this, Fujimaru Ritsuka's already confident smile became even more obvious.

"But then again, next time you have something to do, can you please not look for me so early? I still want to go back to sleep for a while. Can we talk about it during the day?"

When he said this, Fujimaru Ritsuka's originally confident smile suddenly collapsed, and he looked at Shuul with a pleading look.

It was obvious that he still felt quite resentful about having his sleep disturbed.

"……Um."

Xiuer is not someone who can't read expressions.

He could naturally see the "sleepiness" on the boy's face, but when he saw that he actually brought up a new topic, he followed up the conversation.

Now that the other party has "requested" it, he won't say anything. After all, it is quite early now.

Moreover, the other party has been speaking to him in a humble manner. If he still insists on doing so, it would be his own fault.

"Thanks for understanding."

After saying that, Fujimaru Ritsuka quickly closed the door. Judging from the noise inside, it seemed that the other party jumped directly onto the bed.

"..."

Xiuer stood outside the door, looking at the closed door.

"Actually, I've had the experience of walking with someone 'companion' before..."

……

----

……

8: 36AM

In the cafeteria——

"Good morning~ Senpai... Uwaa, what's wrong with you, Senpai?"

Mashu looked at the boy with a pair of "dark circles" under his eyes in astonishment. Fufu in her arms was also confused about the boy's condition.

"Fu?"

Fufu called softly, as if testing Fujimaru Ritsuka's attention.

"Well……"

Well, it seems that he didn't notice Fu Fu, but fortunately, he at least heard the girl's voice.

"Ah...it's Mashu, good morning...ha~"

"Senior, you...didn't you get enough rest last night?"

"How about you go back and sleep a little longer?"

The worry in the girl's words was genuine, and even Fujimaru Ritsuka, who was trying hard to stay awake, could hear the "concern" in it.

"Yeah, I stayed up late last night and didn't get enough rest. Don't worry...ha~"

The latter smiled and gave a reason he came up with, but before he could finish his words, he couldn't help yawning again.

"Anyway, staying up late isn't good for your health, Senior."

"Yeah, I know."

"Fu~"

Looking at the boy who was so slow even in eating breakfast, Fufu crawled out of Mashu's arms, jumped to the ground, and came to Fujimaru Ritsuka's feet out of curiosity.

"Well, don't worry, Fufu, I just didn't get enough rest."

"Fu?"

Fu Fu was about to jump into the other person's arms, but she saw something and suddenly stopped jumping and ran out of the cafeteria door like a fly.

"Hey, Fufu??"

Seeing Fu Fu suddenly running away, Mashu didn't understand what happened for a moment.

Just as the girl's attention was drawn away by the running Fu Fu, a figure suddenly appeared beside Fujimaru Ritsuka.

"Give."

Cold and simple words rang in the boy's ears. Looking at the "drink" that was suddenly handed to him, Fujimaru Ritsuka knew who was coming without thinking.

"Ah, thank you..."

The boy took the drink handed to him by Xiuer but did not drink it immediately.

He glanced at the colorless and tasteless liquid in the glass with curiosity on his face.

"Hey, Miss Shule?"

At this time, Mashu turned around after hearing the noise and found that Shuul had come to their side without them knowing when.

"..."