Issei Scenes, Part 2 - Unlimited Blade Works, Heavens Feel
...Then.
I notice that a female student is looking at me.
She must have found it awkward that our eyes met, as she starts walking on quickly.
"Oh, Emiya? Were you glaring at Tohsaka?"
"Huh...? Oh, morning, Issei.
I wasn't glaring at her. It's just that our eyes met."
"Really? That's fine, but make sure not to pick a fight with Tohsaka, okay? It's her principle to counter twice as hard. You'll be throwing away your last year in school if you do so."
I don't know how serious he is, as Issei murmurs Buddhist scriptures.
But that's needless worry.
"Are you stupid? First of all, I don't even know her.
...Well, she did look beautiful, but I didn't know such a student went to our school."
"Yes, that is the correct response. That thing is too much for us humans. It is our way not to get involved with her.
Huh, I was worried for a second, but everything is settled now!"
Issei goes up the hill.
I’ll sneak out for a bit.
Issei might be there if I sneak out to the student council room, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start thinking up strategies for the final exam coming up in a month.
“All right, I’m going to go to the student council room. Do you know if Issei’s there, Fuji-Nee?”
“Ryudo-kun? Hm… I don’t know. At the very least, I haven’t seen him.”
“I see. Well, I’ll come back if he’s not there. Tell Sakura that I give her my best regards.”
“All right. But you’re picking a male friend over a female friend? You’re still just a boy, huh?”
“-Hm.”
…I want to object, but Saber will notice me if I do.
“Gah.”
…Man.
The student council’s door is unlocked, today of all days.
“That is the second ‘gah’ I have heard. It seems you really want to hide something from me.”
…And on top of that, she clearly sees my displeasure.
I don’t know if it’s her insight as a swordsman, but I don’t think I can fool her.
“I just didn’t want to cause a big commotion instead of just hiding things. …Well, I guess it’s fate that Issei’s here. I’ll introduce him to you.”
The student council room won’t have any other students, and we’ll be able to kill time until the archery club ends.
“Issei…? Is he a friend of yours?”
“Yeah. He’s this school’s, let’s see - leader of the self-defense force, and he’s a man of steel aiming for a smooth organizational structure.” (14)
“-A leader of the self-defense force, huh? I might be able to hear some interesting stories from him.”
“Maybe. He’s a stubborn guy, so he might get along with you.”
“Hey, I’m coming in, Issei-“
“What’s wrong, Issei? You’re not eating lunch?”
“No, I just finished eating. I’m just really sleepy right now. Wake me up when lunch is over.”
Issei then puts his head on the table.
“Did you stay up all night or something? I thought you had to go to bed at eleven at the temple.”
“Yes… But I’m having difficultly sleeping lately. My fatigue won’t go away no matter how much I sleep. So for the past few days, I’ve been sleeping whenever I get the chance.”
“…? What is that? You shouldn’t be sleepy if you’re sleeping whenever you get the chance.”
“That’s true. But sleep won’t let me rest, so I have to sleep to rest.
…I know I’m contradicting myself, but I can’t help feeling sleepy.”
“-Man, it’s too early to be spring, you know?”
“In spring one sleeps a sleep that knows no dawn, huh? You certainly got me there.” (15)
Issei doesn’t even try to get up.
…I guess it can’t be helped.
It looks serious, so I’ll stay here until lunch is over-
“Huh? Someone’s here, Issei.”
“I don’t care. Tell them the student council isn’t open today.”
“I can say so if you want… But I think it’s Kuzuki-Sensei.”
“-. Hm, that’s bad.”
Issei gets up slowly and opens the door.
“Ryudo. It is about the archery club this morning-“
Kuzuki-Sensei stops his words after seeing that I’m here.
Kuzuki Souichirou is the homeroom teacher of class 2-A and also in charge of the student council. He’s a very strict teacher and quite blunt.
“Huh…? Then she didn’t even go home?”
“Correct. We will probably call the police. I believe you know, but do not spread the rumor.”
“-I know. Then how about Mato? The student in the archery club said he saw her and Mato together.”
“It is the same for him as well. Mato Shinji is absent today and his house is empty. His sister, Mato Sakura, was staying over at Fujimura-Sensei’s house last night, so she does not know anything.”
…Issei and Kuzuki are talking about disturbing stuff.
Summing up what they said, it seems a student’s been missing since last night, and Shinji’s the last one to talk to that student-
“Sorry to interrupt. I am sure that the school’s curfew will be set at an earlier time now.”
Quickly stating his business, Kuzuki leaves the student council room.
“…Geez. Have you seen Shinji, Emiya?”
“No, I didn’t go to the archery club this morning. You should know as well that he’s absent, right?”
“I see. I hope that’s the case…”
Issei’s face clouds up.
-Geez.
It’s not something I should rudely butt in on, but it seems this concerns the archery club.
I’m sorry for Issei, but I should get some information out of him.
“Issei. Who is this person who hasn’t been home? Well, I already know Shinji hasn’t been home.”
“Hm…? Well, you’re no outsider, so I guess you can know.”
“It all happened last night.
We got a contact from a family saying that their daughter has yet to come home from the archery club. When we contacted the students who actually went to the club, we found that it was Shinji that last talked to the student.”
“---“
Talked to Shinji…?
“Hold on. Shinji wasn’t at the practice yesterday.
And I parted with everyone at the school gate.”
“Yes, it seems you were there as well. But this is after that. When a student returned to school to get something he forgot, he saw Shinji in front of the archery range. It seems he and the missing student were having a quarrel.”
“---“
I have a bad feeling about this.
…There’s only one student that could’ve been there.
“Don’t leave out the important detail, Issei. Who is this student that’s been missing?”
“…Okay. Mitsuzuri Ayako, the captain of the archery club.
We do not know where she went after returning the archery range keys, and after someone saw her in front of the archery range.”
Issei averts his gaze.
“I think Issei’s suspicious.”
…Whoa.
First thing she says is straight to the point.
“…What do you mean by ‘suspicious’?”
“Caster’s Master. Caster is at the Ryudoji Temple, and Issei is coming from the Ryudoji Temple. There has to be a connection there.”
“There’s no connection. It might just be coincidence.”
I try to defend Issei.
“That can’t be true! Look, the mountain gate to the Ryudoji Temple has been closed for the past few weeks!
No outsider can come in, and Issei’s like the only one who came out from there!
If he’s not suspicious, everyone would be a fair call!”
“…Hey now. You say nobody comes out, but don’t monks usually stay at the temple?”
“You idiot. How outdated is your knowledge? There’s no way monks can live without going out to beg nowadays!”
“---“
Wow, that’s a big prejudice.
If Issei was here, I’m sure that the secret feud that lasted for two years between them would have been settled right there.
…But that’s not the problem.
It’s important to protect Issei, but I should worry more about our surroundings.
We’re at the school gate.
Students coming to school are all around us, and they are all paralyzed at the disgraceful behavior of the school idol, Tohsaka Rin.
“What’s up with those eyes? What, are you going to stand up for Issei?
Heh, fine. If you’re going to ignore the obvious, I’ll go and solve things myself!”
But our school idol is the only one who does not realize the situation.
“…Tohsaka, come over here.”
“What, are you going to run away!?”
“I won’t run away. Just come this way.”
I drag Tohsaka by her hand.
“H---hey, Emiya-kun…!?”
She can complain later.
Just let me get away from here as fast as I can.
-scene change-
The morning practice must be canceled because of yesterday’s incident, as the archery range is quiet.
“-Phew.
…Good.
We won’t attract attention here.
So the remaining problem is-
“---“
…Tohsaka, who’s glaring at me silently.
“I know. I know what you want to say. I know, so don’t make a face like that. I don’t know what to do if you sulk.”
“I’m not sulking!”
“Ugh.”
My mind is stunned at the lightning comeback.
But I have to deal with her calmly.
Issei’s life is on the line.
Knowing Tohsaka, I bet she would do something reckless to test Issei.
“Don’t try to deceive me. Caster’s base is at the Ryudoji Temple, and Issei is coming to school from the Ryudoji Temple. Why are you ignoring that fact!?”
Tohsaka yells at me.
…She’s right, but I just don’t think it’s Issei…
“-What? Do you have any objection?”
“…”
But I’ll die before Issei if I give her such an ambiguous answer.
But I can’t leave Tohsaka like this, so I have to try to convince her somehow…
“-All right. You’re saying Issei is suspicious no matter what, right?”
“Right. You might not be able to tell, but the Ryudoji Temple is really strange right now.
It’s true that Caster’s base is there, but the distortion is too big, and there’s too much being collected-”
“Collected…? You mean the magical energy sucked up from the town?”
“Ugh - no, it’s nothing, so don’t worry about it.”
“…”
…You’re more suspicious than Issei right now, Tohsaka.
“-Anyway! He’s suspicious because he’s coming here everyday with a cool face from such a place!
Yes, I always thought that I needed to give him a kick, so this would be the perfect opportunity.”
Tohsaka’s serious.
I heard that they weren’t on friendly terms, but I didn’t know it was this bad.
…Actually…
What the hell did Issei do to Tohsaka?
I’m a bit curious as to what could cause Tohsaka to be so drastic… No, now’s not the time.
“-Yeah, I agree that Issei’s position is a suspicious one.”
“Of course. You would be guilty too if you keep on defending him.”
“Yeah. So leave Issei’s case to me. I’ll find out if he’s a Master or not.”
“…”
Whoa.
It looks like she doesn’t believe me at all.
“Trust me. I won’t hold back on Issei just because he’s my friend, nor will I lie to you. First of all, this is all needless worry. There’s no way Issei would do something so evil.”
“…”
The silent pressure continues.
I bet Tohsaka’s worried that I might go easy because Issei’s my friend.
Her doubt is only natural, so I just have to endure it.
I have to get her to believe in me.
“…All right. I’ll leave Issei’s case to you.
“-Tohsaka.”
I sigh with relief.
“But how will you figure it out? Do you know how to identify a Master?”
“Huh?”
Tohsaka asks about the fundamental deficiency in this proposal.
“Um - well…”
“…Oh. Don’t tell me you’re going to go up to him and ask ‘Hey Issei, are you a Master?’
Even though we’re cooperating, I will settle my case with you right here if you’re going to do such a stupid thing.”
“-Ugh.”
She’s mad.
She’s really mad.
“Hold on. It’s all right. I have a way to figure out if he’s a Master or not without asking him. I’ll settle this case today, so please don’t do anything. I’ll contact you once I figure it out.”
“-You’re right. Cooperating is like this, after all.”
She starts walking away with a gesture that obviously tells me that she’s not content.
“I’ll trust you. But don’t do anything too stupid. If Issei is a Master, doing anything stupid would only result in death.”
Saying so, Tohsaka gets back to the school building.
“---“
I see her off.
“…Huh? Could that be…”
I realize that she might have been worried about me.
-scene change-
It’s lunchtime, so I go to the student council room.
“Excuse me.”
I call out and open the door.
“Oh. You’re going to eat lunch here today, Emiya?”
Issei is eating lunch by himself inside.
“---“
…Good, this is convenient.
“How is it? How did yesterday’s incident turn out?”
I sit down at the table and start talking casually.
“It’s still unexplained. They are saying something about there being chemicals in the empty classroom on the first floor. That’s the reason they came up with after searching through the school all night.”
He must be unhappy, and he starts biting on a tough-looking carrot.
“But you were lucky. You skipped school after lunch and managed to avoid the disaster. Yes, I guess you were rewarded for your good daily conduct.” (16)
He now sips on his tea happily.
…Man.
This isn’t the right atmosphere to interrogate him, so I’ll wait and see for a while.
-scene change-
“Huh-!?”
Suddenly, I notice lunch break will be over in five minutes-!
“…? What’s wrong, Emiya? Did you come up with something?”
“No, but I remembered something. This isn’t the time to be leisurely eating lunch.”
“?”
I quickly wrap up my lunchbox and turn to Issei.
“…Hm, I have a bad feeling about this. Please do not ask me for money.
I don’t have any even if you want to borrow some.”
I get up from my chair.
…I don’t have time.
I take a deep breath.
“Issei. Don’t ask questions and just take your top off.”
I clearly state what needs to be done.
“W-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!????”
“I told you to take your uniform off. Take your shirt off as well.
It’s not any good unless you’re naked.”
“-W-w-w-w-w-what are you asking for!? Are you insane!? Is it a new way to question me!? No, do I have to do this now!?”
“Yup, this is urgent. Just take off your top. It’ll be too late once school ends!”
I attack Issei.
“Whoa-! Stop it, you fool! Are you really from a family of warriors!?”
-scene change-
“-All right.”
To summarize, I didn’t find a Command Spell on Issei’s body.
I checked thoroughly, but I didn’t find anything like a Command Spell. (17)
“Good. This is really good.”
I nod to myself.
“What’s so good…? What’s with you doing all this for nothing!?” (18)
“? Oh, yeah. I’m sorry, Issei. I can’t tell you what’s going on, but I needed to check something. It’s done with now, so there’s no longer any problem.”
I bow and apologize.
“Hm---o-okay. If you think you have done something bad, it is natural for you to apologize.” (19)
Issei goes silent with a serious face.
“…”
But now, the search has gone back to square one.
If Issei, the one at Ryudoji Temple, is innocent, there’s nobody else here that might be Caster’s Master.
“…Hey, Issei. Is there something strange going on at the temple?”
“Hm? What do you mean by something strange?”
“I don’t know. But is there anything that’s different?”
“…Let’s see. If you mean recently, there is an unfamiliar woman. But that’s it. My father and brother are as always.”
Issei says so naturally.
“---“
…There’s an unfamiliar woman?
Could that be Caster? Well… I’m sure that she could pretend to be human without a problem.
Or would that be Caster’s Master?
“---“
…Maybe I should ask Issei about it.
I’ll-
2. …It’ll be pointless, so I guess I won’t ask.
“---“
No, it’ll be dangerous to talk about this.
Issei’s living at the Ryudoji Temple.
If he gets suspicious of this ‘strange woman’, Issei might get curious and do something.
And - if that woman happens to be a Master, Issei would be in danger.
“---“
This is it for today.
I’ll call it good since I found out Issei’s unrelated to the Holy Grail War.
“Oh, by the way, Emiya. Shinji’s sister wasn’t at school today.”
“…Huh? Sakura’s not at school.”
“Shinji was absent as well. They were both absent without notice today, so the teachers are wondering if something happened at their house or not.”
“---“
I’m at a loss for words, being confronted with a problem I’d forgotten.
“Oh, lunch break is over. Let’s go back to the classroom.”
Issei pushes me out of the student council room.
…All the while…
Thoughts of Sakura’s absence and what Shinji may have done after losing Rider twirl around in my head.
1. …I guess I’ll ask him.
…I guess I’ll ask him about it.
She’s not one to reveal herself to the ones living at the temple, but I might be able to get some clues.
“Issei. Can you tell me about this unfamiliar woman?
Is she from a foreign country, or is her face covered with something like a turban?”
“What is that? We would kick out such a strange person. …I don’t know what you’re thinking, but she is a legitimate guest. (20)
…My brother is happy that she might be an evil woman, but I strangely like her. I have only talked to her once, but she is a good person even if she may look evil.”
“Oh, wow. So asking the question was worth it, seeing how you’re praising a woman. Did you fall in love with her?”
“D-d-d-d-don’t say such a stupid thing, you fool! “I admire a part of her that she doesn’t notice herself. First of all, I cannot fall in love with the lover of the one I respect as my older brother, Souichirou-“ (21)
Issei suddenly stops and lowers his head.
“Ah-, ---“
I don’t know if he felt dizzy or what, but Issei falls on the table and does not move.
“…? What’s wrong, Issei? Is it anemia or something?”
“-No, it’s not that I feel bad.”
He raises himself real fast.
I laugh thinking that he’s acting like a coiled doll.
“---, Issei?
I look at Issei without looking at my slashed stomach.
“YOU fell for my trap. The order I implanted into THIS HUMAN functions only when HE meets SOMEONE who INQUIRES about ME.”
I hear someone else’s voice from Issei’s mouth.
When I realize that voice is of the Servant I met at Ryudoji Temple…
“I DO NOT need this DOLL ANYMORE.”
…The knife in Issei’s hand it stabbed into Issei’s neck.
“---“
…My mind fades from too much blood loss.
The wound. The wound reaching my organs is not causing my consciousness to fade.
My brain that wants to deny the scene in front of me freezes my consciousness.
Issei falls down before me, not knowing what went on.
…I collapse onto the floor from my knees.
I do not hold my wound, and I blankly stare at my friend who is now a corpse-
DEAD END
Ilya: Yay, Gai**x bomb!
Taiga: Kyaa, Ragnarok!
Taiga: Well, it only takes a second to be careful, but the injury could last a lifetime. How was this dead end that teaches you it’s not good to ask just anyone?
Ilya: Osu! It was such an irrational and sudden death! This is what exactly I expect from “Fate”, and it was truly splendid!
Taiga: Yes. But we cannot forget about the sacrifices! Let us give Ryudo-kun a three-second silent prayer!
Ilya: Osu! The three second part is great, master!
-black screen for three seconds-
Taiga: So, Ilya-chan. What is going on with the people at Ryudoji Temple?
Ilya: Hm. They have this artificial Command Spell put in them.
Ilya: They become this thing that executes this one command when they find someone who breaks one of the “three rules” Caster established. (22)
Ilya: She’s good at making things. If she ever captures Shirou, I bet she’ll turn him into a formal tool just to support her magic.
Taiga: Evil! I acknowledge Caster as evil! As a teacher, I cannot forgive anyone who would use others as they wish!
Ilya: …I don’t know about calling her evil just because of that.
Ilya: It’s true that Caster is weak, sly, and cowardly, but she’s not truly bad on the inside.
Taiga: Hm? Why are you sticking up for such a witch…? Do you have something in mind?
Ilya: Huh…? N-no. I just want to say it’s not bad to bind someone with magic.
Taiga: Oh, I remember. You’ve done worse to Shirou!
Ilya: Damn, you found out!
Ilya: Ouu… I can’t beat that shinai for some reason.
Taiga: It’s only natural. No magic is allowed in this dojo. You have to bring in a wild lion or a modern weapon to beat me.
Taiga: Have you repented of your actions?
Ilya: …Yes. I won’t do anything bad again.
Taiga: Yes, that’s a good girl! The boy’s wish is granted as well! Rejoice, Shirou, Ilya is nicer in this route!
Ilya: Fine, fine. So I just have to stay quiet in this route, right?
Ilya: …Well, it’s not smart always to be going on a rampage. I can help Shirou in this route and take one of the other heroines.
Taiga: What - you have put that much thought into this? Loli-buruma isn’t good enough, so you’re taking on such a great role in the main storyline…!?
Taiga: Ilya… She’s a scary child…!
“-By the way, Tohsaka. Issei has nothing to do with all this.”
I say so while turning away from her.
“Huh…? What, you already found out…!?”
“Yeah. Issei’s not a Master. Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me.”
“Huh? No, that’s all right. You’re not a person who can lie. I bet Issei’s innocent if you say so.”
Tohsaka speaks plainly.
“…Damn, I lost.”
I sigh.
I feel stupid for getting angry if she replies like that… And most of all, I’ve cheered up hearing her say that.
“But how did you check? I didn’t feel a Master’s presence from him. So you should only have been able to check by attacking him.”
“Huh? No, I only checked if he had a Command Spell or not. That’s something he can’t hide no matter how much magical energy or Master’s presence he hides, right?”
“Oh yeah. It’s simple if you just look at his arm.” (23)
Tohsaka nods in assent.
But she tilts her head in wonder, as if she’s thought of something strange.
“Hey, Emiya-kun. How did you check for Issei’s Command Spell?”
“I just took his clothes off. He fought back, but I took his shirt off by force.”
“---“
Tohsaka freezes while looking at me.
“…?”
…How strange of her.
What part of that is strange? (24)
“Hm. I don’t know what you were up to, but good job on your work.”
He must be done eating already, as he greets me while reading an old poetry book.
“…Thanks. I’m getting some tea since I’ll be eating here. Oh, where’s the teapot?”
“Oh, it’s here. We only have kelp tea, but is that all right?”
“What? Hm, then I’ll just take water. I can’t stand the muddled feeling of that tea.”
“I see. Then I shall go get some green tea from the teacher’s office tomorrow.”
I leave the laughing Issei to himself, pour some water into my cup, and sit down at the table.
“Itadakimasu.”
I clap my hands together and open my lunchbox.
At the same time, someone knocks on the door.
“Huh? There’s someone at the door, Issei.”
Hm? At this time?”
Issei slowly goes to the door.
The visitor is Kuzuki, the one in charge of the student council.
I see Kuzuki-Sensei a lot in here, but I bet it’s “Emiya Shirou is in the council room a lot” from his point of view.
“---“
I silently eat my chicken-sprinkled lunch.
There must not be anything important today, as Issei and Kuzuki-Sensei are just chatting.
“---“
Munch.
Munch, munch.
“Sensei, it’s almost time.”
“Hm. I see. Sorry to take your time. I think you know without having it said, but do not forget to lock this place up. And make sure to leave school on time.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
Kuzuki-Sensei leaves and Issei comes back in a good mood.
“---“
…Wow, I just saw something rare.
It’s really rare to see Kuzuki-Sensei chatting about meaningless things with a student.
And with that shy Issei.
…Oh. They might get along because they’re both stubborn, but it’s still strange.
“Hey, Issei.”
“Hm? What, Emiya?”
“I’ve been wondering for a while, but are you on good terms with Kuzuki?”
Oh, he’s surprised.
“-No, it’s fine if you don’t want to answer. I just thought that was the case, so don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, no. I just realized I haven’t told you about it. It’s only natural that we are getting along. Kuzuki-Sensei is like a brother to me.”
“-Huh?”
Kuzuki-Sensei is like Issei’s brother?
“Hold on. What does that mean?”
“I’m telling you that he’s like my older brother.
Souichirou - Kuzuki-Sensei has been staying over at my place for about three years. He is a naïve person as you can see, but he has a sincere heart. He is living under the same roof as me, and he is someone I can respect as a person. It is only natural for me to respect him as my older brother.” (25)
“-Kuzuki lives at the Ryudoji Temple-?”
It feels like I got hit in the head with a hammer.
But I act calm and ask Issei to continue.
“Oh, yeah. You mentioned something about an unfamiliar woman at your place, right? Does Kuzuki know about her?”
“She is more than that, as she is his fiancée. We are letting her borrow a room until they hold their wedding celebration.”
“---“
A second shock.
“Issei. You wouldn’t call her an unfamiliar woman in that case, right?”
I try my hardest to object with a dizzy head.
“An unfamiliar woman is an unfamiliar woman. Even if she may be Kuzuki-Sensei’s fiancée, that is all I can say about her, as I don’t even know her name.”
Issei stops the conversation as if saying he’s angry.
“---“
…A-anyways.
“Wake up, you fool.
Everyone else has already left for the assembly. Are you going to boycott it even though you are at school?”
“---“
…My body is being shaken.
The voice brings me back to reality.
“…? Wait, why are you here, Issei?”
I raise my head and look at my classmate.
“’Why’!? We are in our classroom, today is our last day, and it is ten minutes before the closing ceremony!
I came to look for you since I did not see you, but I did not expect to find you sleeping!”
I don’t know if he’s in a hurry or just plain angry, but Issei yells at me.
“---“
We’re the only ones in the classroom.
It’s 9:50.
The closing ceremony starts at 10 o’clock, so I bet everyone’s at the gym already.
“Hey. Are you really awake, Emiya?”
“-Yeah, that woke me up completely. Thanks, Issei. I’m glad you came to wake me up.”
“Hm. …It is fine if you understand. But thank me later. We won’t make it unless we hurry.
I do not want to think about how angry Fujimura-Sensei would get if she finds out we are not there.”
“Oh, got ya. I can’t face my classmates if Fuji-Nee gives us ridiculous amounts of homework before the vacation. I’ll make sure to calm her down.”
“Please. We will be too ashamed to face our classmates if she gives us more homework. I am sure they will curse us.”
He sounds scary, but the frightening truth is that it’s very possible.
The extra homework she gave us last summer after we got her mad was ridiculous.
It wasn’t even English homework.
What was she thinking when she told us to enter any competition to win a medal?
“Emiya! We have to hurry!”
“Sorry, I’m coming.”
We should hurry to the gym for now.
It only takes three minutes if we run. We should make it five minutes early if no teacher finds us.
-scene change-
“No. We cannot run in the hallway.”
I was too optimistic.
As expected from the student council president. He is really committed, as he is still following the rules even now.
“That’s splendid, Issei. But we won’t make it if we walk.”
“Let us hurry without running. We can make up any excuse as long as we are there on time.”
I nod and walk faster.
Kuzuki Souichirou, the person who chose to fight as a Master, is considered missing.
Issei was sad that the one he treated as his older brother was gone, but…
“He suddenly showed up at the temple to start with. It is only fitting that he leave the same way.”
Issei just laughed it off. (26)
“-Gah, Tohsaka.”
Right after we get down to the first floor…
“Oh, student council president. Are you patrolling the building at this time? Or are you taking care of the club rooms? I am getting tired of saying this, but you really are diligent.”
We meet up with the person who’s representing the students at the closing ceremony, who’s coming out of the teachers’ office.
“…Humph. I am also tired of hearing that line. Try guessing something else for a change.
Or do you keep saying that on purpose?”
Issei glares at Tohsaka.
“Huh? Of course it was on purpose. What? Did you not realize that until now?”
“…I see. I thought you had more sense of humor, but I guess you really are a blockhead.
I am very sorry. I always used the same greeting to show my affection for you, but I guess it was hard for you to understand.” (27)
“W-what do you mean by affection!? I have not done anything that deserves your affection! -Come, Emiya, we will be late if we concern ourselves with this fox!”
Issei sure doesn’t get along with Tohsaka.
…Well, I feel the same way, so I’m in no position to feel sympathy.
So.
Our eyes meet as I walk past her.
“---“
“---“
We decided to act normally when there are people around.
I naturally ignore Tohsaka and follow Issei.
But…
“Good morning, Emiya-kun. I’m glad you seem well.”
I don’t know what she’s angry about, but she embraces my arm and puts on a big smile.
“Toh-“
My head goes blank.
It’s because even though we’ve been seeing each other, this is the first time we’ve touched each other in a month.
“Tohsaka…”
I try not to blush as I bear the sensation of her touch.
“I’m joking. But it is true that I am happy, Emiya-kun.
Oh, let’s go home together after you finish helping out the student council after the ceremony. I will keep on waiting in my classroom.”
Tohsaka puts emphasis on ‘keep on waiting.’
“W---what are you saying!? Let go of him already…!”
“It has nothing to do with you, Ryudo-kun.
Excuse us. I am busy as well since I have to make a speech in your place, student council president.”
“Wha-“
Tohsaka leaves, leaving behind the footsteps of a victor.
“What was that about, Emiya?
What is your relationship with that fox…!?”
“…Well, it’s hard to explain.
First of all, I think I told you before that we’re acquainted.”
“That was a month ago! I warned you to cut your ties with her --- O-oh, I get it! Does she hold a weakness of yours!?”
“Well… I guess you can call it weakness.”
“I knew it…!
Dang, I cannot let you go now, Tohsaka! Consult me, Emiya! Confess, Emiya! We shall give that fox her due punishment…!”
Issei shakes me.
“Look at the time, Issei. The ceremony’s starting.”
“-I do not care.
The ceremony starts out with a speech from that fox. It shall be mentally good for us not to hear it…!”
The student council president keeps shaking me.
Issei is normally calm, but his personality changes when it involves Tohsaka.
Tohsaka must be his natural enemy, but…
“…Sorry, Issei. I’m sorry to let you down, but I can’t do anything about Tohsaka. She’ll beat me instead if I go to beat her.
…Um, you shouldn’t go near her.”
“…Hm, that is a rare negative comment coming from you. Is the weakness she’s holding that bad?”
“…Unfortunately. So I’m leaving you to take care of Tohsaka. I know it’s a hard fight, but please do your best.”
“-I see, all right. Do not worry, Emiya. It is for the good of our school. I shall reveal her true identity and overthrow her.
She seems to be planning something with all the athletic clubs, but the student council will be ready for her before the next year is out. The real match starts then.”
The student council president smiles in anticipation.
…Um, but Issei…
We’ll all be graduating in a year…
(14) I have no comments except that this is awesome.
(15) Apparently, this is a Japanese proverb.
(16) No idea whether he's being sarcastic or not, but I think he isn't? Although I would expect the student council president to be more 'rewarded for skipping, grr'.
(17) 'Thoroughly', Emiya? Look, you've given us complete descriptions of various wounds, near-death experiences, death-experiences, and several girl's bodies. I think the least you could do is tell us about the whole stripping thing.
(18) 'For nothing.' Huh. I'm not the only one who would assume that taking someone's clothes off and not being a doctor means you want to sex them up.
(19) Phrased very weirdly. Incidentally, this would have a lot less Ho Yay in it if Issei had excluded the words 'think you'. Perhaps he didn't mind so much when he got over the surprise? ...Wishful thinking, I know.
(20) Note to certain doujinshi artists: Caster doesn't wear her hat around the temple.
(21) When he's very surprised, he uses Kuzuki's first name. It's possible that he addresses Kuzuki less formally while out of school...
(22) What are the other two rules? Still, this is useful information.
(23) Archer will make a comment like this in Broken Phantasm. Issei's reply will be: "Why didn't you tell me before!?"
(24) The part where you forcibly stripped someone, Shirou?
(25) So they've known each other one year more than Issei's known Shirou. Also, naive isn't the word I'd use.
(26) My best guess is that he is worried about Kuzuki, but he doesn't want to show it in front of Shirou.
(27) She's totally making fun of him here.
And one thing I should've mentioned is that he keeps a close eye on all the students, which gives me a legitimate excuse to stalk posts~
"...Huh?"
There's another empty desk.
That's Issei's desk.
"That's rare. So even Issei can be absent, huh?"
I set my bag down and prepare for homeroom.
Of course, my classmate is among them.
Ryudo Issei is sleeping peacefully.
I notice that a female student is looking at me.
She must have found it awkward that our eyes met, as she starts walking on quickly.
"Oh, Emiya? Were you glaring at Tohsaka?"
"Huh...? Oh, morning, Issei.
I wasn't glaring at her. It's just that our eyes met."
"Really? That's fine, but make sure not to pick a fight with Tohsaka, okay? It's her principle to counter twice as hard. You'll be throwing away your last year in school if you do so."
I don't know how serious he is, as Issei murmurs Buddhist scriptures.
But that's needless worry.
"Are you stupid? First of all, I don't even know her.
...Well, she did look beautiful, but I didn't know such a student went to our school."
"Yes, that is the correct response. That thing is too much for us humans. It is our way not to get involved with her.
Huh, I was worried for a second, but everything is settled now!"
Issei goes up the hill.
I’ll sneak out for a bit.
Issei might be there if I sneak out to the student council room, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start thinking up strategies for the final exam coming up in a month.
“All right, I’m going to go to the student council room. Do you know if Issei’s there, Fuji-Nee?”
“Ryudo-kun? Hm… I don’t know. At the very least, I haven’t seen him.”
“I see. Well, I’ll come back if he’s not there. Tell Sakura that I give her my best regards.”
“All right. But you’re picking a male friend over a female friend? You’re still just a boy, huh?”
“-Hm.”
…I want to object, but Saber will notice me if I do.
“Gah.”
…Man.
The student council’s door is unlocked, today of all days.
“That is the second ‘gah’ I have heard. It seems you really want to hide something from me.”
…And on top of that, she clearly sees my displeasure.
I don’t know if it’s her insight as a swordsman, but I don’t think I can fool her.
“I just didn’t want to cause a big commotion instead of just hiding things. …Well, I guess it’s fate that Issei’s here. I’ll introduce him to you.”
The student council room won’t have any other students, and we’ll be able to kill time until the archery club ends.
“Issei…? Is he a friend of yours?”
“Yeah. He’s this school’s, let’s see - leader of the self-defense force, and he’s a man of steel aiming for a smooth organizational structure.” (14)
“-A leader of the self-defense force, huh? I might be able to hear some interesting stories from him.”
“Maybe. He’s a stubborn guy, so he might get along with you.”
“Hey, I’m coming in, Issei-“
“What’s wrong, Issei? You’re not eating lunch?”
“No, I just finished eating. I’m just really sleepy right now. Wake me up when lunch is over.”
Issei then puts his head on the table.
“Did you stay up all night or something? I thought you had to go to bed at eleven at the temple.”
“Yes… But I’m having difficultly sleeping lately. My fatigue won’t go away no matter how much I sleep. So for the past few days, I’ve been sleeping whenever I get the chance.”
“…? What is that? You shouldn’t be sleepy if you’re sleeping whenever you get the chance.”
“That’s true. But sleep won’t let me rest, so I have to sleep to rest.
…I know I’m contradicting myself, but I can’t help feeling sleepy.”
“-Man, it’s too early to be spring, you know?”
“In spring one sleeps a sleep that knows no dawn, huh? You certainly got me there.” (15)
Issei doesn’t even try to get up.
…I guess it can’t be helped.
It looks serious, so I’ll stay here until lunch is over-
“Huh? Someone’s here, Issei.”
“I don’t care. Tell them the student council isn’t open today.”
“I can say so if you want… But I think it’s Kuzuki-Sensei.”
“-. Hm, that’s bad.”
Issei gets up slowly and opens the door.
“Ryudo. It is about the archery club this morning-“
Kuzuki-Sensei stops his words after seeing that I’m here.
Kuzuki Souichirou is the homeroom teacher of class 2-A and also in charge of the student council. He’s a very strict teacher and quite blunt.
“Huh…? Then she didn’t even go home?”
“Correct. We will probably call the police. I believe you know, but do not spread the rumor.”
“-I know. Then how about Mato? The student in the archery club said he saw her and Mato together.”
“It is the same for him as well. Mato Shinji is absent today and his house is empty. His sister, Mato Sakura, was staying over at Fujimura-Sensei’s house last night, so she does not know anything.”
…Issei and Kuzuki are talking about disturbing stuff.
Summing up what they said, it seems a student’s been missing since last night, and Shinji’s the last one to talk to that student-
“Sorry to interrupt. I am sure that the school’s curfew will be set at an earlier time now.”
Quickly stating his business, Kuzuki leaves the student council room.
“…Geez. Have you seen Shinji, Emiya?”
“No, I didn’t go to the archery club this morning. You should know as well that he’s absent, right?”
“I see. I hope that’s the case…”
Issei’s face clouds up.
-Geez.
It’s not something I should rudely butt in on, but it seems this concerns the archery club.
I’m sorry for Issei, but I should get some information out of him.
“Issei. Who is this person who hasn’t been home? Well, I already know Shinji hasn’t been home.”
“Hm…? Well, you’re no outsider, so I guess you can know.”
“It all happened last night.
We got a contact from a family saying that their daughter has yet to come home from the archery club. When we contacted the students who actually went to the club, we found that it was Shinji that last talked to the student.”
“---“
Talked to Shinji…?
“Hold on. Shinji wasn’t at the practice yesterday.
And I parted with everyone at the school gate.”
“Yes, it seems you were there as well. But this is after that. When a student returned to school to get something he forgot, he saw Shinji in front of the archery range. It seems he and the missing student were having a quarrel.”
“---“
I have a bad feeling about this.
…There’s only one student that could’ve been there.
“Don’t leave out the important detail, Issei. Who is this student that’s been missing?”
“…Okay. Mitsuzuri Ayako, the captain of the archery club.
We do not know where she went after returning the archery range keys, and after someone saw her in front of the archery range.”
Issei averts his gaze.
“I think Issei’s suspicious.”
…Whoa.
First thing she says is straight to the point.
“…What do you mean by ‘suspicious’?”
“Caster’s Master. Caster is at the Ryudoji Temple, and Issei is coming from the Ryudoji Temple. There has to be a connection there.”
“There’s no connection. It might just be coincidence.”
I try to defend Issei.
“That can’t be true! Look, the mountain gate to the Ryudoji Temple has been closed for the past few weeks!
No outsider can come in, and Issei’s like the only one who came out from there!
If he’s not suspicious, everyone would be a fair call!”
“…Hey now. You say nobody comes out, but don’t monks usually stay at the temple?”
“You idiot. How outdated is your knowledge? There’s no way monks can live without going out to beg nowadays!”
“---“
Wow, that’s a big prejudice.
If Issei was here, I’m sure that the secret feud that lasted for two years between them would have been settled right there.
…But that’s not the problem.
It’s important to protect Issei, but I should worry more about our surroundings.
We’re at the school gate.
Students coming to school are all around us, and they are all paralyzed at the disgraceful behavior of the school idol, Tohsaka Rin.
“What’s up with those eyes? What, are you going to stand up for Issei?
Heh, fine. If you’re going to ignore the obvious, I’ll go and solve things myself!”
But our school idol is the only one who does not realize the situation.
“…Tohsaka, come over here.”
“What, are you going to run away!?”
“I won’t run away. Just come this way.”
I drag Tohsaka by her hand.
“H---hey, Emiya-kun…!?”
She can complain later.
Just let me get away from here as fast as I can.
-scene change-
The morning practice must be canceled because of yesterday’s incident, as the archery range is quiet.
“-Phew.
…Good.
We won’t attract attention here.
So the remaining problem is-
“---“
…Tohsaka, who’s glaring at me silently.
“I know. I know what you want to say. I know, so don’t make a face like that. I don’t know what to do if you sulk.”
“I’m not sulking!”
“Ugh.”
My mind is stunned at the lightning comeback.
But I have to deal with her calmly.
Issei’s life is on the line.
Knowing Tohsaka, I bet she would do something reckless to test Issei.
“Don’t try to deceive me. Caster’s base is at the Ryudoji Temple, and Issei is coming to school from the Ryudoji Temple. Why are you ignoring that fact!?”
Tohsaka yells at me.
…She’s right, but I just don’t think it’s Issei…
“-What? Do you have any objection?”
“…”
But I’ll die before Issei if I give her such an ambiguous answer.
But I can’t leave Tohsaka like this, so I have to try to convince her somehow…
“-All right. You’re saying Issei is suspicious no matter what, right?”
“Right. You might not be able to tell, but the Ryudoji Temple is really strange right now.
It’s true that Caster’s base is there, but the distortion is too big, and there’s too much being collected-”
“Collected…? You mean the magical energy sucked up from the town?”
“Ugh - no, it’s nothing, so don’t worry about it.”
“…”
…You’re more suspicious than Issei right now, Tohsaka.
“-Anyway! He’s suspicious because he’s coming here everyday with a cool face from such a place!
Yes, I always thought that I needed to give him a kick, so this would be the perfect opportunity.”
Tohsaka’s serious.
I heard that they weren’t on friendly terms, but I didn’t know it was this bad.
…Actually…
What the hell did Issei do to Tohsaka?
I’m a bit curious as to what could cause Tohsaka to be so drastic… No, now’s not the time.
“-Yeah, I agree that Issei’s position is a suspicious one.”
“Of course. You would be guilty too if you keep on defending him.”
“Yeah. So leave Issei’s case to me. I’ll find out if he’s a Master or not.”
“…”
Whoa.
It looks like she doesn’t believe me at all.
“Trust me. I won’t hold back on Issei just because he’s my friend, nor will I lie to you. First of all, this is all needless worry. There’s no way Issei would do something so evil.”
“…”
The silent pressure continues.
I bet Tohsaka’s worried that I might go easy because Issei’s my friend.
Her doubt is only natural, so I just have to endure it.
I have to get her to believe in me.
“…All right. I’ll leave Issei’s case to you.
“-Tohsaka.”
I sigh with relief.
“But how will you figure it out? Do you know how to identify a Master?”
“Huh?”
Tohsaka asks about the fundamental deficiency in this proposal.
“Um - well…”
“…Oh. Don’t tell me you’re going to go up to him and ask ‘Hey Issei, are you a Master?’
Even though we’re cooperating, I will settle my case with you right here if you’re going to do such a stupid thing.”
“-Ugh.”
She’s mad.
She’s really mad.
“Hold on. It’s all right. I have a way to figure out if he’s a Master or not without asking him. I’ll settle this case today, so please don’t do anything. I’ll contact you once I figure it out.”
“-You’re right. Cooperating is like this, after all.”
She starts walking away with a gesture that obviously tells me that she’s not content.
“I’ll trust you. But don’t do anything too stupid. If Issei is a Master, doing anything stupid would only result in death.”
Saying so, Tohsaka gets back to the school building.
“---“
I see her off.
“…Huh? Could that be…”
I realize that she might have been worried about me.
-scene change-
It’s lunchtime, so I go to the student council room.
“Excuse me.”
I call out and open the door.
“Oh. You’re going to eat lunch here today, Emiya?”
Issei is eating lunch by himself inside.
“---“
…Good, this is convenient.
“How is it? How did yesterday’s incident turn out?”
I sit down at the table and start talking casually.
“It’s still unexplained. They are saying something about there being chemicals in the empty classroom on the first floor. That’s the reason they came up with after searching through the school all night.”
He must be unhappy, and he starts biting on a tough-looking carrot.
“But you were lucky. You skipped school after lunch and managed to avoid the disaster. Yes, I guess you were rewarded for your good daily conduct.” (16)
He now sips on his tea happily.
…Man.
This isn’t the right atmosphere to interrogate him, so I’ll wait and see for a while.
-scene change-
“Huh-!?”
Suddenly, I notice lunch break will be over in five minutes-!
“…? What’s wrong, Emiya? Did you come up with something?”
“No, but I remembered something. This isn’t the time to be leisurely eating lunch.”
“?”
I quickly wrap up my lunchbox and turn to Issei.
“…Hm, I have a bad feeling about this. Please do not ask me for money.
I don’t have any even if you want to borrow some.”
I get up from my chair.
…I don’t have time.
I take a deep breath.
“Issei. Don’t ask questions and just take your top off.”
I clearly state what needs to be done.
“W-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!????”
“I told you to take your uniform off. Take your shirt off as well.
It’s not any good unless you’re naked.”
“-W-w-w-w-w-what are you asking for!? Are you insane!? Is it a new way to question me!? No, do I have to do this now!?”
“Yup, this is urgent. Just take off your top. It’ll be too late once school ends!”
I attack Issei.
“Whoa-! Stop it, you fool! Are you really from a family of warriors!?”
-scene change-
“-All right.”
To summarize, I didn’t find a Command Spell on Issei’s body.
I checked thoroughly, but I didn’t find anything like a Command Spell. (17)
“Good. This is really good.”
I nod to myself.
“What’s so good…? What’s with you doing all this for nothing!?” (18)
“? Oh, yeah. I’m sorry, Issei. I can’t tell you what’s going on, but I needed to check something. It’s done with now, so there’s no longer any problem.”
I bow and apologize.
“Hm---o-okay. If you think you have done something bad, it is natural for you to apologize.” (19)
Issei goes silent with a serious face.
“…”
But now, the search has gone back to square one.
If Issei, the one at Ryudoji Temple, is innocent, there’s nobody else here that might be Caster’s Master.
“…Hey, Issei. Is there something strange going on at the temple?”
“Hm? What do you mean by something strange?”
“I don’t know. But is there anything that’s different?”
“…Let’s see. If you mean recently, there is an unfamiliar woman. But that’s it. My father and brother are as always.”
Issei says so naturally.
“---“
…There’s an unfamiliar woman?
Could that be Caster? Well… I’m sure that she could pretend to be human without a problem.
Or would that be Caster’s Master?
“---“
…Maybe I should ask Issei about it.
I’ll-
2. …It’ll be pointless, so I guess I won’t ask.
“---“
No, it’ll be dangerous to talk about this.
Issei’s living at the Ryudoji Temple.
If he gets suspicious of this ‘strange woman’, Issei might get curious and do something.
And - if that woman happens to be a Master, Issei would be in danger.
“---“
This is it for today.
I’ll call it good since I found out Issei’s unrelated to the Holy Grail War.
“Oh, by the way, Emiya. Shinji’s sister wasn’t at school today.”
“…Huh? Sakura’s not at school.”
“Shinji was absent as well. They were both absent without notice today, so the teachers are wondering if something happened at their house or not.”
“---“
I’m at a loss for words, being confronted with a problem I’d forgotten.
“Oh, lunch break is over. Let’s go back to the classroom.”
Issei pushes me out of the student council room.
…All the while…
Thoughts of Sakura’s absence and what Shinji may have done after losing Rider twirl around in my head.
1. …I guess I’ll ask him.
…I guess I’ll ask him about it.
She’s not one to reveal herself to the ones living at the temple, but I might be able to get some clues.
“Issei. Can you tell me about this unfamiliar woman?
Is she from a foreign country, or is her face covered with something like a turban?”
“What is that? We would kick out such a strange person. …I don’t know what you’re thinking, but she is a legitimate guest. (20)
…My brother is happy that she might be an evil woman, but I strangely like her. I have only talked to her once, but she is a good person even if she may look evil.”
“Oh, wow. So asking the question was worth it, seeing how you’re praising a woman. Did you fall in love with her?”
“D-d-d-d-don’t say such a stupid thing, you fool! “I admire a part of her that she doesn’t notice herself. First of all, I cannot fall in love with the lover of the one I respect as my older brother, Souichirou-“ (21)
Issei suddenly stops and lowers his head.
“Ah-, ---“
I don’t know if he felt dizzy or what, but Issei falls on the table and does not move.
“…? What’s wrong, Issei? Is it anemia or something?”
“-No, it’s not that I feel bad.”
He raises himself real fast.
I laugh thinking that he’s acting like a coiled doll.
“---, Issei?
I look at Issei without looking at my slashed stomach.
“YOU fell for my trap. The order I implanted into THIS HUMAN functions only when HE meets SOMEONE who INQUIRES about ME.”
I hear someone else’s voice from Issei’s mouth.
When I realize that voice is of the Servant I met at Ryudoji Temple…
“I DO NOT need this DOLL ANYMORE.”
…The knife in Issei’s hand it stabbed into Issei’s neck.
“---“
…My mind fades from too much blood loss.
The wound. The wound reaching my organs is not causing my consciousness to fade.
My brain that wants to deny the scene in front of me freezes my consciousness.
Issei falls down before me, not knowing what went on.
…I collapse onto the floor from my knees.
I do not hold my wound, and I blankly stare at my friend who is now a corpse-
DEAD END
Ilya: Yay, Gai**x bomb!
Taiga: Kyaa, Ragnarok!
Taiga: Well, it only takes a second to be careful, but the injury could last a lifetime. How was this dead end that teaches you it’s not good to ask just anyone?
Ilya: Osu! It was such an irrational and sudden death! This is what exactly I expect from “Fate”, and it was truly splendid!
Taiga: Yes. But we cannot forget about the sacrifices! Let us give Ryudo-kun a three-second silent prayer!
Ilya: Osu! The three second part is great, master!
-black screen for three seconds-
Taiga: So, Ilya-chan. What is going on with the people at Ryudoji Temple?
Ilya: Hm. They have this artificial Command Spell put in them.
Ilya: They become this thing that executes this one command when they find someone who breaks one of the “three rules” Caster established. (22)
Ilya: She’s good at making things. If she ever captures Shirou, I bet she’ll turn him into a formal tool just to support her magic.
Taiga: Evil! I acknowledge Caster as evil! As a teacher, I cannot forgive anyone who would use others as they wish!
Ilya: …I don’t know about calling her evil just because of that.
Ilya: It’s true that Caster is weak, sly, and cowardly, but she’s not truly bad on the inside.
Taiga: Hm? Why are you sticking up for such a witch…? Do you have something in mind?
Ilya: Huh…? N-no. I just want to say it’s not bad to bind someone with magic.
Taiga: Oh, I remember. You’ve done worse to Shirou!
Ilya: Damn, you found out!
Ilya: Ouu… I can’t beat that shinai for some reason.
Taiga: It’s only natural. No magic is allowed in this dojo. You have to bring in a wild lion or a modern weapon to beat me.
Taiga: Have you repented of your actions?
Ilya: …Yes. I won’t do anything bad again.
Taiga: Yes, that’s a good girl! The boy’s wish is granted as well! Rejoice, Shirou, Ilya is nicer in this route!
Ilya: Fine, fine. So I just have to stay quiet in this route, right?
Ilya: …Well, it’s not smart always to be going on a rampage. I can help Shirou in this route and take one of the other heroines.
Taiga: What - you have put that much thought into this? Loli-buruma isn’t good enough, so you’re taking on such a great role in the main storyline…!?
Taiga: Ilya… She’s a scary child…!
“-By the way, Tohsaka. Issei has nothing to do with all this.”
I say so while turning away from her.
“Huh…? What, you already found out…!?”
“Yeah. Issei’s not a Master. Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me.”
“Huh? No, that’s all right. You’re not a person who can lie. I bet Issei’s innocent if you say so.”
Tohsaka speaks plainly.
“…Damn, I lost.”
I sigh.
I feel stupid for getting angry if she replies like that… And most of all, I’ve cheered up hearing her say that.
“But how did you check? I didn’t feel a Master’s presence from him. So you should only have been able to check by attacking him.”
“Huh? No, I only checked if he had a Command Spell or not. That’s something he can’t hide no matter how much magical energy or Master’s presence he hides, right?”
“Oh yeah. It’s simple if you just look at his arm.” (23)
Tohsaka nods in assent.
But she tilts her head in wonder, as if she’s thought of something strange.
“Hey, Emiya-kun. How did you check for Issei’s Command Spell?”
“I just took his clothes off. He fought back, but I took his shirt off by force.”
“---“
Tohsaka freezes while looking at me.
“…?”
…How strange of her.
What part of that is strange? (24)
“Hm. I don’t know what you were up to, but good job on your work.”
He must be done eating already, as he greets me while reading an old poetry book.
“…Thanks. I’m getting some tea since I’ll be eating here. Oh, where’s the teapot?”
“Oh, it’s here. We only have kelp tea, but is that all right?”
“What? Hm, then I’ll just take water. I can’t stand the muddled feeling of that tea.”
“I see. Then I shall go get some green tea from the teacher’s office tomorrow.”
I leave the laughing Issei to himself, pour some water into my cup, and sit down at the table.
“Itadakimasu.”
I clap my hands together and open my lunchbox.
At the same time, someone knocks on the door.
“Huh? There’s someone at the door, Issei.”
Hm? At this time?”
Issei slowly goes to the door.
The visitor is Kuzuki, the one in charge of the student council.
I see Kuzuki-Sensei a lot in here, but I bet it’s “Emiya Shirou is in the council room a lot” from his point of view.
“---“
I silently eat my chicken-sprinkled lunch.
There must not be anything important today, as Issei and Kuzuki-Sensei are just chatting.
“---“
Munch.
Munch, munch.
“Sensei, it’s almost time.”
“Hm. I see. Sorry to take your time. I think you know without having it said, but do not forget to lock this place up. And make sure to leave school on time.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
Kuzuki-Sensei leaves and Issei comes back in a good mood.
“---“
…Wow, I just saw something rare.
It’s really rare to see Kuzuki-Sensei chatting about meaningless things with a student.
And with that shy Issei.
…Oh. They might get along because they’re both stubborn, but it’s still strange.
“Hey, Issei.”
“Hm? What, Emiya?”
“I’ve been wondering for a while, but are you on good terms with Kuzuki?”
Oh, he’s surprised.
“-No, it’s fine if you don’t want to answer. I just thought that was the case, so don’t worry about it.”
“Oh, no. I just realized I haven’t told you about it. It’s only natural that we are getting along. Kuzuki-Sensei is like a brother to me.”
“-Huh?”
Kuzuki-Sensei is like Issei’s brother?
“Hold on. What does that mean?”
“I’m telling you that he’s like my older brother.
Souichirou - Kuzuki-Sensei has been staying over at my place for about three years. He is a naïve person as you can see, but he has a sincere heart. He is living under the same roof as me, and he is someone I can respect as a person. It is only natural for me to respect him as my older brother.” (25)
“-Kuzuki lives at the Ryudoji Temple-?”
It feels like I got hit in the head with a hammer.
But I act calm and ask Issei to continue.
“Oh, yeah. You mentioned something about an unfamiliar woman at your place, right? Does Kuzuki know about her?”
“She is more than that, as she is his fiancée. We are letting her borrow a room until they hold their wedding celebration.”
“---“
A second shock.
“Issei. You wouldn’t call her an unfamiliar woman in that case, right?”
I try my hardest to object with a dizzy head.
“An unfamiliar woman is an unfamiliar woman. Even if she may be Kuzuki-Sensei’s fiancée, that is all I can say about her, as I don’t even know her name.”
Issei stops the conversation as if saying he’s angry.
“---“
…A-anyways.
“Wake up, you fool.
Everyone else has already left for the assembly. Are you going to boycott it even though you are at school?”
“---“
…My body is being shaken.
The voice brings me back to reality.
“…? Wait, why are you here, Issei?”
I raise my head and look at my classmate.
“’Why’!? We are in our classroom, today is our last day, and it is ten minutes before the closing ceremony!
I came to look for you since I did not see you, but I did not expect to find you sleeping!”
I don’t know if he’s in a hurry or just plain angry, but Issei yells at me.
“---“
We’re the only ones in the classroom.
It’s 9:50.
The closing ceremony starts at 10 o’clock, so I bet everyone’s at the gym already.
“Hey. Are you really awake, Emiya?”
“-Yeah, that woke me up completely. Thanks, Issei. I’m glad you came to wake me up.”
“Hm. …It is fine if you understand. But thank me later. We won’t make it unless we hurry.
I do not want to think about how angry Fujimura-Sensei would get if she finds out we are not there.”
“Oh, got ya. I can’t face my classmates if Fuji-Nee gives us ridiculous amounts of homework before the vacation. I’ll make sure to calm her down.”
“Please. We will be too ashamed to face our classmates if she gives us more homework. I am sure they will curse us.”
He sounds scary, but the frightening truth is that it’s very possible.
The extra homework she gave us last summer after we got her mad was ridiculous.
It wasn’t even English homework.
What was she thinking when she told us to enter any competition to win a medal?
“Emiya! We have to hurry!”
“Sorry, I’m coming.”
We should hurry to the gym for now.
It only takes three minutes if we run. We should make it five minutes early if no teacher finds us.
-scene change-
“No. We cannot run in the hallway.”
I was too optimistic.
As expected from the student council president. He is really committed, as he is still following the rules even now.
“That’s splendid, Issei. But we won’t make it if we walk.”
“Let us hurry without running. We can make up any excuse as long as we are there on time.”
I nod and walk faster.
Kuzuki Souichirou, the person who chose to fight as a Master, is considered missing.
Issei was sad that the one he treated as his older brother was gone, but…
“He suddenly showed up at the temple to start with. It is only fitting that he leave the same way.”
Issei just laughed it off. (26)
“-Gah, Tohsaka.”
Right after we get down to the first floor…
“Oh, student council president. Are you patrolling the building at this time? Or are you taking care of the club rooms? I am getting tired of saying this, but you really are diligent.”
We meet up with the person who’s representing the students at the closing ceremony, who’s coming out of the teachers’ office.
“…Humph. I am also tired of hearing that line. Try guessing something else for a change.
Or do you keep saying that on purpose?”
Issei glares at Tohsaka.
“Huh? Of course it was on purpose. What? Did you not realize that until now?”
“…I see. I thought you had more sense of humor, but I guess you really are a blockhead.
I am very sorry. I always used the same greeting to show my affection for you, but I guess it was hard for you to understand.” (27)
“W-what do you mean by affection!? I have not done anything that deserves your affection! -Come, Emiya, we will be late if we concern ourselves with this fox!”
Issei sure doesn’t get along with Tohsaka.
…Well, I feel the same way, so I’m in no position to feel sympathy.
So.
Our eyes meet as I walk past her.
“---“
“---“
We decided to act normally when there are people around.
I naturally ignore Tohsaka and follow Issei.
But…
“Good morning, Emiya-kun. I’m glad you seem well.”
I don’t know what she’s angry about, but she embraces my arm and puts on a big smile.
“Toh-“
My head goes blank.
It’s because even though we’ve been seeing each other, this is the first time we’ve touched each other in a month.
“Tohsaka…”
I try not to blush as I bear the sensation of her touch.
“I’m joking. But it is true that I am happy, Emiya-kun.
Oh, let’s go home together after you finish helping out the student council after the ceremony. I will keep on waiting in my classroom.”
Tohsaka puts emphasis on ‘keep on waiting.’
“W---what are you saying!? Let go of him already…!”
“It has nothing to do with you, Ryudo-kun.
Excuse us. I am busy as well since I have to make a speech in your place, student council president.”
“Wha-“
Tohsaka leaves, leaving behind the footsteps of a victor.
“What was that about, Emiya?
What is your relationship with that fox…!?”
“…Well, it’s hard to explain.
First of all, I think I told you before that we’re acquainted.”
“That was a month ago! I warned you to cut your ties with her --- O-oh, I get it! Does she hold a weakness of yours!?”
“Well… I guess you can call it weakness.”
“I knew it…!
Dang, I cannot let you go now, Tohsaka! Consult me, Emiya! Confess, Emiya! We shall give that fox her due punishment…!”
Issei shakes me.
“Look at the time, Issei. The ceremony’s starting.”
“-I do not care.
The ceremony starts out with a speech from that fox. It shall be mentally good for us not to hear it…!”
The student council president keeps shaking me.
Issei is normally calm, but his personality changes when it involves Tohsaka.
Tohsaka must be his natural enemy, but…
“…Sorry, Issei. I’m sorry to let you down, but I can’t do anything about Tohsaka. She’ll beat me instead if I go to beat her.
…Um, you shouldn’t go near her.”
“…Hm, that is a rare negative comment coming from you. Is the weakness she’s holding that bad?”
“…Unfortunately. So I’m leaving you to take care of Tohsaka. I know it’s a hard fight, but please do your best.”
“-I see, all right. Do not worry, Emiya. It is for the good of our school. I shall reveal her true identity and overthrow her.
She seems to be planning something with all the athletic clubs, but the student council will be ready for her before the next year is out. The real match starts then.”
The student council president smiles in anticipation.
…Um, but Issei…
We’ll all be graduating in a year…
(14) I have no comments except that this is awesome.
(15) Apparently, this is a Japanese proverb.
(16) No idea whether he's being sarcastic or not, but I think he isn't? Although I would expect the student council president to be more 'rewarded for skipping, grr'.
(17) 'Thoroughly', Emiya? Look, you've given us complete descriptions of various wounds, near-death experiences, death-experiences, and several girl's bodies. I think the least you could do is tell us about the whole stripping thing.
(18) 'For nothing.' Huh. I'm not the only one who would assume that taking someone's clothes off and not being a doctor means you want to sex them up.
(19) Phrased very weirdly. Incidentally, this would have a lot less Ho Yay in it if Issei had excluded the words 'think you'. Perhaps he didn't mind so much when he got over the surprise? ...Wishful thinking, I know.
(20) Note to certain doujinshi artists: Caster doesn't wear her hat around the temple.
(21) When he's very surprised, he uses Kuzuki's first name. It's possible that he addresses Kuzuki less formally while out of school...
(22) What are the other two rules? Still, this is useful information.
(23) Archer will make a comment like this in Broken Phantasm. Issei's reply will be: "Why didn't you tell me before!?"
(24) The part where you forcibly stripped someone, Shirou?
(25) So they've known each other one year more than Issei's known Shirou. Also, naive isn't the word I'd use.
(26) My best guess is that he is worried about Kuzuki, but he doesn't want to show it in front of Shirou.
(27) She's totally making fun of him here.
And one thing I should've mentioned is that he keeps a close eye on all the students, which gives me a legitimate excuse to stalk posts~
"...Huh?"
There's another empty desk.
That's Issei's desk.
"That's rare. So even Issei can be absent, huh?"
I set my bag down and prepare for homeroom.
Of course, my classmate is among them.
Ryudo Issei is sleeping peacefully.