Chapter 13: A Sense of Clarity
"A kitty?"
Furina tilted her head, her gaze fixed on Osha.
They locked eyes.
Osha instinctively turned away, his heart hammering like drums. It's Furina! In the flesh! Just seeing her, her presence, her poise, it cleared the fog in his mind. For the first time in months, a real emotion broke through his stoic exterior, adoration. And… something deeper, something fierce... intense love.
His cheeks flushed crimson, his tail twitched and wagged uncontrollably, and his hands trembled slightly. Breathing felt like a struggle, each beat of his heart echoing painfully in his chest.
'She's so… pretty…'
Osha's thoughts barely formed words. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could compare to seeing the real Furina compared to the game or fan arts.
Shuri noticed Osha's reaction the moment he saw Furina. The flushed cheeks, the wagging tail, the trembling hands.
She smirked.
Suddenly, she remembered something, one of the dreams Osha said.
Meeting the Archon herself.
"My Lady, this is Osha, an old friend of mine whom I thought was long dead. Would it be possible for him to join us? I would like to hear what happened to him."
Shuri said politely to Furina.
'Shuri?!'
Osha's thoughts raced wildly as he turned. What exactly was she planning?
"Mm… very well. I suppose I don't see an issue with allowing a reunion with a long-lost friend."
Furina rested her chin lightly on her hand as she considered it.
"But! let it be known, I am not paying for his dish."
"I am paying for all the food, my lady."
Shuri replied smoothly.
Furina opened her mouth to object, then paused.
Well… that was technically correct.
"Hmph! Naturally. My presence alone is already an honor. Most people would beg just for the chance to dine in my company!"
She flipped her hair slightly with theatrical pride.
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely correct, my lady."
Shuri replied calmly.
"Now come along. We're wasting precious time."
Furina gestured toward the carriage, clearly expecting Osha to get in.
But Osha just stood there.
His cheeks were still red, and his tail started wagging even faster the moment she invited him. Shuri glanced at him with a look that practically said-
'Don't waste the opportunity, boy.'
Osha snapped out of it, shook his head slightly, and gulped before opening the carriage door and stepping inside.
Inside the carriage, Shuri and Furina were already seated together. As soon as Osha sat down. Their eyes met again.
'Fuck…'
Osha thought, immediately looking away. Seeing Furina up close like this was almost overwhelming. And oh my god, those thighs are mesmerizing.
He quickly sat down across from them, lowering his head, trying to act normal even though his heart was still pounding loudly in his chest.
'I want to look at her more closely… but I don't want my first impression to be interpreted as creepy!'
Osha's thoughts raced in circles.
'Wait… she likes food. Would she like some fried on-'
"Osha?"
"Y-Yes?!"
Shuri's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"I asked, how is life treating you?"
Shuri looked at him with genuine curiosity. Truthfully, she hadn't expected him to last this long in the Hearth.
"Um… it's okay. A bit rough, but… I'm alive, nonetheless."
Osha replied. Rough wasn't really the right word for what life in the Hearth was like, but it was the easiest way to say it.
"Hm. Did my gift prove us-"
"Are you going to eat that?"
Furina suddenly interjected, pointing at the paper bag filled with fried onions that Osha had been holding, the ones he originally planned to bring back for Freminet.
"Oh! Uh, you can have it!"
Osha quickly handed the bag to her, not about to miss this opportunity.
"See, Shuri? Just as I said, people simply cannot resist offering things to me."
Furina accepted the bag with a satisfied little smile and picked out a fried onion.
"Hm! I really shouldn't be eating something like this at night… but-"
She popped another one into her mouth.
"Ah, forget it."
Furina continued eating the fried onions while Osha quietly watched, completely captivated.
'Sorry, Freminet…'
Shuri noticed how intensely Osha was staring, completely mesmerized. She turned slightly toward Furina.
"My lady, please be a little more considerate of your subjects. Osha over there most likely bought that with every Mora he had left, and you just ate his entire dinner in front of him."
Shuri said calmly.
Furina paused just as she was about to eat the last fried onion.
"Mm? I see… how terribly inconsiderate of me."
She glanced toward Osha, thinking for a moment.
"Fret not, Ocean."
She had already forgotten his name.
"You may indulge yourself to your heart's content later. Still, thank you for this."
Furina held up the last fried onion toward him, clearly expecting him to take it.
Osha gulped.
But instead of reaching out with his hand, he leaned forward slightly. His small fangs showed as he carefully took the fried onion directly with his mouth, his face turning a deep shade of red.
"How bold."
Shuri said with a smirk.
Osha immediately recoiled in embarrassment, covering his face with both hands.
For a brief moment, Furina's eyes widened in surprise, then shortly after…
"Ahahaha! How adorable!"
Furina laughed brightly.
"Ocean, was it? My apologies for not considering your current situation. Fret not, Shuri, do the thing!"
Once again, she had already forgotten his name.
Furina clapped her hands exactly two times.
Right on cue, Shuri handed Osha a small, elegant pouch.
"It's not much, but consider it a token of my gratitude."
Furina said proudly.
'More Mora…?'
Osha thought as he opened the pouch.
'Wha- Gemstones?!'
Inside were small glittering stones, shining brightly under the carriage light, almost like diamonds.
'Just what exactly is Shuri's relationship with Furina…? I don't remember her being this rich. Well… she probably was when she was still the Archon…'
Finally, after feeling like a third wheel inside the carriage for what felt like forever, it came to a stop. It seemed they had finally reached their destination.
The coachman stepped down first and opened the carriage door with a polite bow.
"Ah, finally! Even a brief detour should not feel that long."
Furina was the first to step out, lifting her chin slightly as if she had just endured a great inconvenience. Shuri followed right after her.
"Did you do that?"
Shuri glanced sideways at Osha, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"No?"
Osha replied, the lie coming out naturally as he exhaled.
"Hmph. I'll take that as a yes."
Shuri didn't seem too concerned about whether Osha actually caused the explosion across the street or not.
'Damn… this place looks expensive. And another unfamiliar POI.'
Osha looked up at the restaurant in front of them. The building was elegant, too elegant. Yet strangely empty, like it had been reserved or cleared out for someone important.
*Nuzzle.*
"Hey, Roach."
The horse that had been pulling the carriage leaned forward and nudged him gently.
Osha smiled faintly and patted the horse's neck.
"Boy, time is ticking."
Shuri called out to him from near the entrance.
Osha gave Roach one last pat before turning and following them inside.
Inside was what you would expect from a restaurant meant for the wealthy. Refined, quiet, and decorated in elegant Fontaine style. Despite the luxurious atmosphere, the place was oddly empty, save for a few servers quietly moving about.
At the very back stood a large table with a small sign placed neatly on it.
"Reserved."
"Ah, finally! I'm absolutely starving after all that."
Furina said with a dramatic exhale as she slid into the middle seat of the booth like someone who clearly expected to be served. Shuri sat beside her, and Osha took a seat next to Shuri at a small distance.
"Wasted opportunity, don't you think?"
Shuri leaned slightly closer, murmuring near Osha's fuzzy ear with a teasing tone.
Osha glanced across the table and suddenly realized something.
On Furina's left side… no one was sitting there.
Meanwhile, a server had already placed not one, not two, but three plates of Mille-feuille in front of Furina.
'HOW COULD I BE SO STU-'
"Ocean!"
"Y-Yes?! My lady?"
Furina had suddenly called out to him again, using the wrong name as confidently as ever.
"Oh, don't just sit there looking stiff! Go on, go on, order whatever you like. A guest of mine shouldn't hold back."
With a smooth motion, Furina slid the menu across the table toward him.
Osha picked up the menu.
The moment he looked at the prices, a theatrical boom seemed to echo inside his mind.
'Man… I feel like I'm worth less than any of these.'
Osha stared at the numbers for a moment longer, wondering if the dishes were made of pure gold.
Meanwhile, Furina took a delicate slice of her Mille-feuille, her expression shifting from playful to unexpectedly serious.
"Shuri, how goes the Old Guard? And what of the position at Castle Gaul?"
She asked the question calmly, though there was a clear weight behind it as she took a small bite.
Shuri lifted her teacup and took a sip before answering.
"The void rift has been quiet, my lady. Only a few Abyssal creatures are coming through lately. But I wouldn't let the silence fool you."
She set the cup down lightly.
"Sometimes it stays calm for a whole day… and the next it's pouring out thousands."
'Void rift?'
Osha slowly lowered the menu just enough to peek over it.
'Did Fontaine even have something like that in the game?'
His eyes shifted between Furina and Shuri.
'And what the heck are the Old Guard and Castle Gaul?'
He quietly raised the menu again, pretending to study the food while listening carefully to the conversation.
"This tea is rather bland… hm."
Shuri glanced toward Osha, slightly unimpressed at the tea she was drinking.
"Boy, do you still have those magic hands to make that iced tea of yours?"
She asked casually.
"Huh? I thought you said you memorized it…"
Osha replied, lowering the menu.
"I did. But I can't seem to replicate the taste I-"
"Iced tea?! I want some iced tea!"
Furina suddenly interjected, rising from her seat with immediate interest.
"My lady, it is quite unhealthy to eat something sweet and drink even sweeter drinks at the same time."
Shuri said calmly.
"Nuh uh! A little indulgence is perfectly acceptable. Besides, if it's something new, I must try it!"
Furina crossed her arms with theatrical confidence, clearly having already decided.
"I can make iced tea, but I don't have the ingredients…"
Osha added.
"Fret not, Ocean! Leave it to me."
Furina lifted a hand and called toward the servers like a performer addressing an audience.
"Waiter! Bring every ingredient necessary to make iced tea at once!"
The server immediately bowed.
"Right away, Lady Furina."
He quickly turned and headed toward the kitchen.
"While we wait, Ocean! Have you decided what you'd like?"
Furina asked, leaning forward with clear curiosity.
"Um… I guess I'll just have the fish and chips, please."
Osha replied. It was one of the more reasonably priced items on the menu, somewhere in the middle.
Furina blinked.
"That's all?"
She placed a hand on the table dramatically.
"No, no, no! That simply won't do. A guest of mine ordering so little? What kind of impression would that leave?"
She grabbed the menu and began pointing at several dishes with theatrical enthusiasm.
"Here! Have one of these, and this one as well. Oh! And that one too. Honestly, Ocean, you must eat properly!"
She straightened proudly.
"You're still growing, are you not? Children should eat to their heart's content! After all, the youth are the future of Fontaine."
Osha slowly turned his head toward Shuri.
'Yeah… you're not the one paying, my lady…'
He quickly looked away before Shuri could notice.
"I'll take your silence as a yes!"
"I-"
"Waiter! We're ready to order!"
Furina called out confidently.
The server immediately approached the table and took their order.
"So… what exactly is the relationship between you two?"
Furina asked with clear curiosity, resting her chin lightly on her hand as she looked between them.
'I was her slave…'
Osha thought quietly.
"He was my property."
Shuri answered without hesitation.
"Shuri!?"
Furina immediately blurted out, nearly dropping her fork.
"Wh-What kind of introduction is that?! You can't just say something so shocking so casually!"
Shuri gave a small shrug.
"I was kidding."
'She was not…'
Osha stared at the table.
That wasn't exactly false, after all…
"It's a long story, my lady, but in short, he was being sold by a ronin who had been keeping him back in Inazuma. One of my kind sailors decided to buy him, and he was brought to Fontaine, where I humbly accepted him into my household."
Shuri explained calmly. And just like that… the entire story had been rewritten.
'She's a pretty good liar…'
Osha kept his face neutral.
'How does Furina even have a friend like her? Shuri is also friends with the Fatui… Is she playing on both sides?'
Shuri was, without a doubt, a very suspicious person.
"Oh? So you're not originally from here, Ocean? Hm… tell me, then. How has Fontaine treated you so far? You may answer honestly."
Furina tilted her head slightly, clearly intrigued.
"No, my lady, I was originally from Inazuma, and… uh, Fontaine has been… ok-"
"Extravagant! Yes, of course!"
Furina interjected immediately, as if the conclusion was obvious.
"Fontaine is a nation of spectacle, refinement, and grand new beginnings! Anyone with even the slightest sense would see its brilliance."
She smiled brightly at him.
"I do hope that one day you will proudly call this place your home, Ocean."
'How can I say something bad with that face of hers…'
Shortly after, the waiter returned carrying a tray filled with the ingredients for the iced tea.
"How exciting!"
Furina leaned forward slightly, clearly interested.
"Well then, Ocean! Go on, show us this famous drink of yours. I expect something worthy of the occasion!"
Osha nodded, standing up from his seat as he moved closer to the table.
He got to work.
His hands moved almost entirely on muscle memory. In truth, he didn't really want to think about where he learned it, especially not about his cranky boss back in his old world.
Still, the motions came naturally.
Pour. Stir. Balance the sweetness. Cool it properly.
With a final touch, he cut a thin slice of lemon and placed it neatly on the rim of the cup.
"Your drinks, my ladies…"
Osha said as he carefully served them their iced tea.
"Oooh!"
Furina was the first to grab one of the glasses. She lifted it gracefully, holding the bottom of the glass with one hand to steady it before taking a sip.
"Mm!?"
After the first taste, she didn't hesitate at all. Furina immediately gulped the entire glass down like it was the most refreshing thing she had ever had.
"Pah! Ahh, this is wonderful! Truly wonderful!"
She placed the glass down with clear satisfaction.
"Oh my, oh my… I absolutely must have more of this!"
Furina glanced over and noticed Shuri quietly drinking hers. With a small smile, Shuri slid her glass toward Furina without a word.
Seeing Furina react like that made Osha blush slightly, and his tail began wagging without him even realizing it.
"Mm! Delicious! Ocean, this is impressive."
Furina stood up suddenly and wrapped both of her hands around Osha's hands.
"You're so talented at such a young age!"
That only made his face turn even redder, and his tail wag faster.
"Tell me, have you ever considered opening a mocktail shop someday?"
Her heterochromatic eyes lit up with excitement.
"If you do, I shall personally see to it that the finest mixers in Fontaine teach you! We cannot allow such talent to go unnoticed."
'?!?!?!?!?ABAHABABABABABB'
Yes, Osha had completely gone haywire.
From the outside, he just looked like a shy kid being praised a little too enthusiastically.
Inside, however, his mind had completely disconnected.
His thoughts were a chaotic storm of panic and embarrassment.
"Ocean?"
Furina tilted her head slightly, noticing his frozen expression.
"Ocean? Are you still with us?"
Her voice finally snapped him back to reality.
"Y-Yes?! My lady?"
Osha blurted out immediately.
"So, is it your dream to open a mocktail shop one day?"
Furina asked again, her tone lighter now, though her eyes still carried curiosity.
"My dream…?"
Osha echoed.
"His dream was to meet you, my lady. That's why he's acting like that."
Shuri said casually from her seat.
"Shuri!!"
Osha tried to cover his face, but with his hands still held by Furina, all he could do was lower his head in defeat.
"Ah, well! Then that is one dream already fulfilled, is it not?"
Furina smiled, clearly pleased.
"But tell me… what is your current objective in life?"
'My current objective…?'
"Ocean?"
Her tone softened slightly.
"Ocean…?"
One of Osha's legs suddenly gave out, and he brought a hand to his head.
'Why was I there again…?'
He tried to remember, but his thoughts were clouded, like something was deliberately obscuring them.
A thick fog lingered in his mind.
And yet, from somewhere deep within-
"I want to change the inevitable."