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For reasons unknown to Ritsuka, Sanzang has been hanging out around the summoning room a lot lately.
Sometimes after Ritsuka resolves one shenanigan or another, related Servants will start to loiter near the summoning room to see if the culprit slash victim will shortly be called to Chaldea. But the last time anyone relevant to Sanzang was involved in an incident was... uh... the Indian Lostbelt, maybe? And at that time they already had Nezha summoned anyway.
"Are you expecting somebody, Sanzang?" Ritsuka blurts out one day.
Sanzang jumps. "Oh! Master! No, definitely not, there's no reason anyone in particular would come, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"And, anyway, unfilled desires and wishes are the enemy to enlightement! A true monk is satisfied with what they have," she says, starting to sweat. "So I definitely, positively would not be hoping for someone specific to show up!"
"Uh-huhhh." Ritsuka keeps eye contact with her.
After a minute, Sanzang slumps. "Okay... I do miss Wukong, just a little bit."
Ritsuka remembers, distantly, meeting Sanzang in the desert outside the Holy City, crying for Wukong to come save her. How many years ago did they face off against the Lion King? It's hard for Ritsuka to keep track. "Are you lonely in Novum Chaldea?"
"No! Well, not most of the time. I have plenty of friends here, and it's always busy so I never run out of things to do," she says. "And as my disciple, you're also very important to me! ...But Wukong... Wukong is special."
"I know you went through a lot together." Mostly in the form of Wukong saving her from danger, if they remember right, but then again it's been a while since they read Journey to the West.
Sanzang nods emphatically. "He was there through every part of my journey, but I haven't seen him since I became a Servant. And I want to tell him about everything that's happened since, everything I've done! I want to show him the Buddha Palm and tell him about the times I punched a Demon Pillar! I want him to see how strong I am now! And... and..." She chews on her lip. "...It's silly, because I'm his master and he's my disciple, but I want him to pat my head and tell me he's proud of me."
Those are feelings Ritsuka knows well, even if the details are different. All they can offer is, "Can I hug you?"
Sanzang squishes them into a hug instantly, and they wrap their arms around her as tightly as they can.