
Originally Posted by
Petrikow
The commentators are hyped as we have now reached the final stages of the competition. Taigong Wang congratulates you for making it so far. And now, what remains is but the castle...
When you arrive, you find the castle enveloped in mist. Danzou uses her sensors to see through it. She detects a big hostile reading. Something is coming! Through the mist, you hear Sitonai reprimand you for calling her an enemy. But maybe that's true? She never said that getting to the castle was the finish line, after all. Time to give you all a special welcome!
From out of the mist, a strange motor sounds can be heard. Is this some kind of new puppet made by Kashin?! Suddenly, you hear a roar. Chloe remarks it sounds just like a Berserker... You order everyone to get ready to intercept the mysterious machine coming out of the mist...
--- [Battle against <Karakuri BerserCAR> + <Other Karakuri>] ---
With the defeat of BerserCAR, the mist fades. Sitonai falls disgracefully into the ground, and BerserCAR turns back into normal Hercules. Sitonai explains that Kashin was the one who helped turn him into that, and even made it so he'd turn back to normal if the car ever broke. You ask if Kashin could do that to you to, to the shock of the Prisma Illya. That's a joke right? Chloe kinda likes the suggestion.
Anyway, Sitonai has to actually give out a reward now. What was it again? Danzou wanted to meet Kashin, right? Sitonai calls out for Kashin to stop hiding. Kashin appears and Danzou seems a bit intimidated. Kashin has the gaze of a machine. Fake eyes, and a fake face. Every breath perfectly regular and demeanor apathetic.
Danzou begins her dialogue with Kashin by introducing herself. Danzou explains how she's broken. Even though she's a Heroic Spirit, her machinery is incomplete and she can't remember much of Kashin. Therefore, if it so happens that she was ever a disappointment for Kashin, then she would like Kashin to scold her. Please, Kashin, grant Danzou your words!
Wordlessly, Kashin walks over to Sitonai and starts whispering in her ear. Sitonai remarks Kashin should say it themselves, but Kashin keeps whispering, to which Sitonai eventually agrees to something. Everyone is confused. Turns out, Kashin wanted Sitonai to hand over a present from them to Danzou. It's some kind of wooden box. Kotarou speculates it has some kind of mechanism inside that Danzou could understand.
The box is locked by this mechanism, and Danzou begins to open it. Inside is a letter, written in a very cursive handwriting. Danzou can read it, even if everyone else is stumped...
"Congratulations on beating all the courses. This is Kashin speaking, and I'm sorry for causing so much trouble for you all. Please forgive me for conveying this via letter. Unfortunately, my voice machinery does not function all too well. If you need more details on that, feel free to ask Sitonai. As such, allow me to convey the contents of my heart through this letter. It's been a long time, Danzou. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Kotarou. And I'm thankful for all you in Chaldea for looking after these two. I'm truly glad I was able to meet you all. Yours truly, Kashin Koji."
Danzou is very happy at hearing Kashin's words, and at that, Kashin's artifical face finally breaks into a smile, before they start speaking. With a low and smattering voice, Kashin congratulates Danzou once again, and explains how happy they were to see them. Their smile is genuine, and full of the kind of warmth one would expect a human, finally.
Sitonai explains that Kashin has replaced most of their body with machinery. They spent so much time not smiling, they eventually couldn't link their emotions with their expressions. Even after becoming a Heroic Spirit, that remained true. Danzou is relieved that Kashin was never mad at her. Anyway, Sitonai hopes they're not too mad at Kashin. They made all these courses so that they could buy some time for Kashin to be able to form a smile. Sitonai's idea, by the way.
Sitonai thinks back to how they met. Kashin said they wanted to greet Danzou and Kotarou with a smile, and Sitonai agreed to help. Sitonai had a grail, even if a small one, and that was probably why Kashin manifested at all. Sitonai thought a bit about it all, before realizing Kashin was super skilled with illusions and machinery. So given that...
So while you were all going through the courses, Kashin worked hard to link their emotions with their expressions until they could form a smile. You all understand how it feels to want something like that, accepting the explanation. But yeah, it's true Sitonai wanted to make everyone have fun too. So, what'd you think? Did you enjoy the festival? Of course! Thought you would die, but it was fun!