smashcon | 'in the silence' (2018 FanFiction Competition) (Reply)

Title: 'in the silence'
Rating: G
Prompt: #5 - If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets. (Haruki Murakami)
Series: Fate Series (Fate/Grand Order)
Word Count: 1,383
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creators.
Summary: In a room that is no longer occupied, a phone rings. There is nobody to answer.

'in the silence'

Hi! You've reached the voicemail of Romani Archaman. I'm probably busy doing important Chal- wait, I mean, I'm not supposed to say that! Important work! That's right, important work! I'm busy saving the world right now, so please leave a message after the bee- huh? It's too long?! Wai-

(unread voicemails: 1)

(Silence, then the softest sob. A girl's tears splash onto hollow tile; the soft rustling of tissues. A set of footsteps heading closer, then-)

Mashu? Hey, are you okay? Mas-

(unread voicemails: 2)

Doctor...

I can't believe Senpai walked in on me crying yesterday. I know it's only been three days since Da Vinci got us back from the Time Temple...

It's so weird to not have you around. We've been celebrating saving the world, but...things don't feel normal, you know? It's...it's...

It feels weird because...you're not here.

(unread voicemails: 3)

Somehow, I keep coming back to this phone. I know it's only the work phone the Director gave us all, and there's nothing but basic functions...

Hearing your voice makes me feel at ease. Like normal.

...I don't know any more.

(unread voicemails: 5)

We've been celebrating the return from the Time Temple for a week. Everyone's really happy that we managed to save the world, and even Da Vinci joined in the party...

It feels like I'm the only one stuck in the past. Maybe it's because I've known you the longest, Doctor, that it feels so lonely here. Like there isn't anyone to mess up or cause a huge fuss about little things...we got used to you doing all those silly things that Chaldea isn't Chaldea without Doctor.

Even though Senpai is always looking out for me, Senpai has to look after the Servants we've summoned as well.

I should be stronger so I don't need to depend on Senpai, but...

(unread voicemails: 8)

It's...a little difficult, but we're moving on. There's nothing to do except to move on, but...

I don't want to forget.

(unread voicemails: 10)

Doctor?

It feels like Chaldea is getting lively again. Did everyone forget about you already? Da Vinci and Senpai are making preparations for Rayshifting again. Everyone...seems to have gone back to normal.

We used to make jokes that Doctor was always the guy who everyone missed because he was so normal. You remember too, right? Senpai couldn't stop laughing. But it's true. It was so refreshing to have a normal person to talk to. Even if...you were hiding the truth from us, it was fun.

It was...really fun.

(unread voicemails: 17)

Senpai's been hanging around in the Command Room lately with a weird expression.

...Senpai has always had that burden of responsibility on their shoulders. And now, the only sane person around here is Senpai.

I should check up on Senpai, but...

It feels like I'm the only person who still holds onto this. Being erased from human existence...

That's really cruel, Doctor.

(unread voicemails: 23)

Hey, Doctor...

I don't want to say that it's hard. But...it really is. It hurts so much to remember everything that happened, and...sometimes, I really don't want to think about it.

I wish there was something you could do.

(unread voicemails: 38)

I don't know what I should do, Doctor.

I just...wanted to listen to your voice again.

(unread voicemails: 43)

Doctor...?

Sorry for not being here in a while. Senpai just came back from Shinjuku in Japan. It's a little disappointing that I couldn't meet the new Servants, but...

...Actually, Senpai came across a few Servants we'd met before, too. I know you've always wanted Sherlock Holmes' autograph...

I suppose I got Senpai to get it for you. Even though it was on some extra fast food wrapping left over by Moriarty...

Look, Doctor! You've always wanted it. I know Senpai shouldn't have brought this back because it belongs there, and it'll eventually disappear when the place returns to normal, but...

For now, I'll keep it safe for you.

(unread voicemails: 46)

It really does feel like...either everyone's putting on a strong face, or everyone's forgotten about you already.

Chaldea is so busy now that there's almost no room to think about the past. There's so much going on...

Well, even at night, the Servants are always lively and cheerful. Senpai is always surrounded by smiling Servants, and sometimes I see them Rayshifting off for a bit...

Senpai really has it tough. Chaldea's last Master...

Oh, that's right. You promised to tell me about the time when you were eating cake in Senpai's room, before...everything started. But...with the Grand Order finished...

There's no helping it, I guess.

(unread voicemails: 67)

(Soft sobbing, the rustling of fabric. A blown nose. A clink, then a muffled noise-)

(unread voicemails: 73)

(Silence.)

(Then, finally, a gentle snore. Another, then another.)

(The line cuts.)

(unread voicemails: 74)

I...I fell asleep...

I'm glad nobody came in to see me with the phone like that. Even though I trust Senpai...

Senpai knows what happened to me in the past, but only the basics. Our everyday life is still something we've never really talked about. Because we've always been so busy saving the world...thinking about that 'every day' makes...me nostalgic.

Remember...when you used to read books with me in Chaldea's library? It used to be little things like fairy tales, when I was little. You read out The Little Mermaid once. Ah, and then when we summoned Andersen, he complained about it...

He kept on saying that he thought it was trash.

But then I remembered how Doctor once read it out to me...it's still my favourite.

I wish we could have those times again.

(unread voicemails: 81)

It's already been...four months. Doctor...you've been gone for four months.

It's weird.

...It's weird!

I'm still not used to Chaldea without you.

...I wish you could come back.

(unread voicemails: 86)

Chaldea's been such a mess recently. I've been so busy that I keep crashing into bed after coming back from the Command Room...

I know Da Vinci is trying her best to get everything in order, but she has so much to do. I took over the Command Room when you left, but she still has to act as everyone's leader. Senpai and I try to help out, but...with the time Senpai spends out Rayshifting, we can't do much at all...

It's ironic that we didn't realise how much we needed a normal person to keep us okay.

...Well, Da Vinci is a Servant. Even if Chaldea has infinite mana, she has feelings too...

I wonder what I can do.

(unread voicemails: 90)

Good morning, Doctor.

It's a bright and sunny day today! Senpai's going to be Rayshifting out into a place Da Vinci called Agartha. We're kind of excited...!

But it means I'll be busy monitoring. There won't be time to comfort myself here.

I have to be strong for Senpai.

Even if you're not here, you're always here in our memories. That's what Senpai said once. That even though the Singularities are erased, something still remains.

That...something is our memories of meeting people. Our bonds that we formed, however strong, however weak...they all live on within us.

That's why you live on within us, Doctor.

(unread voicemails: 94)

Senpai is back, Doctor!

Agartha was interesting. We-

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