Ever since the death of Matsumura, Fujita has been in this sort of downward spiral. One that was hard to escape despite how hard he fought to get out of it.

Grief, guilt, and insecurity clawed at his throat like a feral cat that refused to detach from him. He was full of regret, full of what if's. What if he had just reacted faster? What if he had done something differently on that day? Would Matsumura still be alive today?

It felt like this was all his fault. However, that didn't mean he could stay in his dark mindset too much. He had to at least try to bring him back. After all, he knew how to with the help of a few people. Unfortunately, at every attempt, something blocked him from being able to resurrect his best friend.

At some point, he just had to accept the reality. Matsumura was dead, and he had to try his hardest to move past it. To ignore the guilt he felt despite having tried his absolute hardest.

He eventually grew past it, not the easiest journey, but he did it. Still, Matsumura remained in his thoughts everywhere Fujita went. Including the close arrival of the Blue Night Festival.

The festival made him think back to Matsumura. However, he knew that it could also be a new start for him. Perhaps with a new partner if he was lucky enough? Though he always doubted it, most of the partner submissions went to his much better peers.

But he was willing to put that aside, and as patiently as he could, he waited for any and all submissions.

He was used to the lack of requests, how the rest of En's family flooded and damn near drowned in the millions of them they received.

However, that hopelessness quickly faded when, amongst the chaos of the festival, he received a request. A singular page that made his heart beat faster and his eyes beam with joy.

Part of him couldn't help but wonder if it was all nothing but a cruel prank to mess with him. After all, he had been so used to getting ridiculed and pushed aside for his lack of power. But maybe, just maybe, there was someone out there that saw potential in him.

And that was all it took for him to start looking around, hoping to bump into this mystery person. Ebisu tagged along behind him as she usually did, singing whatever gibberish she thought of at the moment. That, however, was abruptly stopped when she bumped into Fujita's back. He had stopped walking, and just as she was about to say something, she stopped herself.

There was someone in front of them, the receipt to the request in their hands, a small smile present on their lips. Were you the one that submitted it? Had he finally found you?

He couldn't help but blush. You were pretty, so damn pretty to the point he couldn't even get any damn words out. To which Ebisu giggled at.