DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.
F/SN, F/Z, F/KPI and other products related to the Fate Series are all owned by TYPE-MOON, Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi.
Chapter 9: Almost falling for it again
Saiko smiled as she sent quick, well-hidden glances at the red-haired repairman standing among the few investigators that were there for the demonstration.
Her class, together with another five, were supposed to watch as CCG's workers did their job.
It was similar to the Quinque Demonstation with a lot less technical details and much more practical information.
Shirou Emiya was busy talking with the tall, kind-looking investigator on his side.
Her ears catched a 'Shinohara' and she blinked as she realised whom was that.
One of the finest investigators.. was on good terms with her Sensei.
That was... so cool!
"I still cannot believe that Marude-san had requested my presence there.."
"Nonsense, Emiya-san. You have showed some good promise in defending yourself and your partners from the Dodgy Mother, especially for an untrained civilian.
The Magus bit back a nervous chuckle, knowing full well that his case was way more different from normal.
Yet his nervousness wasn't linked by the fact he had been put on a group of people that should have been considered beyond his own league, but the fact that in that special event the CCG's Reaper had volunteered to assist at the demonstration.
Shinohara's words did nothing to soothe the worries regarding the confusing man and the chillful glances coming from Arima certainly worsened his confidence regarding his acceptance to join the Academy for this day.
Yet this moment didn't brought just bad feelings regarding the whole predicament he had just fell into.
Now that Shirou could stare better at the white-haired man in his classic white trench coat, he felt that maybe his first thoughts had been mistaken by making comparing him to the priest, feeling from him something familiar that he had felt more recently, in some cases less deadly.
Finally the Academy's instructors revealed the reason why many students had been called in the gym room and why there were some veteran investigators there.
Regulated 1v1 spars among each other, with rules and different training weapons for the event.
It was something that was supposed to be decided between the volunteers and Shinohara was more than happy to make a mock-spar and spare Shirou the embarassment of fighting someone way above his position.
Sadly, Shirou's luck was not top notch that day.
"Shinohara-san?" The investigator turned around and greeted Arima as he approached the two. "I would like to spar Emiya-san. Would it be possible if we switched partners?"
The man blinked, considering the proposal and thinking about the implications.
"A-Actually, Arima-san-" Shinohara felt cold chills going to his back as the much younger but stronger Investigator surprised him with his a dreadful stare. "Understood..."
"The red-haired nerd is going to die."
Until now Saiko had been trying to understand what the Reaper was saying to her Sensei and Shinohara-san, but that comment caused her to turn towards the vocal pessimist.
The boy, Kuki Urie, was like the young Yonebayashi an outcast in their class.
Differently from the girl, the brunette was considered as such for a major different reason and that was the reason that fueled his drive and dedication in completing tasks and homework at the Academy.
His father, Mikito, was one of the other investigators that tried to buy time for their team to evacuate and call reinforcements against the One-Eyed Owl.
A noble sacrifice, many mused, that left a vengeful young teen on a very dark path.
One that Saiko had never approached nor glanced at, knowing full well that it would mean going against her own morale.
"I think he will not."
Urie turned his eyes at her, briefly calculating her own poker face, and then returned to watch Arima and the Emiya putting on some protections and choosing their weapons.
"Arima is unbeatable, Yonebayashi."
Moron, that was what Saiko wanted to spit at the infuriating boy but her attention was captured as the teachers called for the beginning of the matches, Shirou and the white-haired glassy-man being placed on the second round of fights.
Technically speaking, Shirou shouldn't have any concern regarding winning the brawl against Kishou Arima.
Sadly the fact that he had to keep his civilian persona going meant letting the White Reaper having easy time dispatching him.
...Was this what Archer felt when he fought in the many timelines he had been summoned?
Admittedly, the reasons for his reluctance to go all in were incredibly different from the Counter-Guardian, because Shirou didn't have to hide his real name nor he had to fight terrible monsters-
Actually that part sounded oddly a lie since he had been put in dangerous situations quite recently.
The Emiya quickly stole a glance at the weapons chosen by the prodigy and was surprised to see him using two long swords.
It would have been confusing for someone as strong to use two burdening blades, yet knowing that Diarmuid Ua Duibhne had been know to use Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg together in every battle, Shirou knew to not underestimate the unorthodox style.
Settling with two Gladi, the Magus waited for the first rounds of matches to finish.
His eyes were once in a while caught by the strategies used by the investigators against each other and he found staring more than once at the interesting stances of Shinohara as he dealt with his opponent with a calm but strong guard, dispatching him quickly.
A small smirk replaced the blank line in his mouth, showing that he was happy for the man's victory.
Half an hour later and the other fights had finished and the tired group of winners and losers left space for the others to start their spars.
Shirou took in some air as he calmed his nerves, knowing that even a quick defeat would have sparked some serious suspicion to his experienced opponent.
"Ready! Set!-"
They both didn't bother waiting for the last call, rushing against each other, blade meeting blade.
Saiko stared wide-eyed at the incredible defence put on by Shirou as the two fighters started to exchange some blows.
For a moment her heart skipped a beat, seeing her Sensei initially keeping up with the Reaper's onslaught lacking doubt and hesitation.
Moments passed and the stalemate broke into a painful and slow one-sided fight.
Shirou's movement, while quite quick and almost reaching the 'invincible' investigator, barely kept up in reaching or dodging Arima.
The blue-haired girl felt someone tugging at her shirt and almost jumped as she turned to see a now much close Urie Kuki giving her his classic death-fish look.
"Yonebayashi, do you know much about the repairman?"
...That was an odd question..
Nonetheless Saiko nodded and Shirou turned to glare at the young man.
"Can you tell me why he is holding back?"
...
"What?!"
The boy hushed her quiet as he explained his reasoning. "My dad once told me that a good way to see if someone is holding back onto me is by the way he looks at me. It is generally a terribly restrained scowl in their face, something that this Emiya has right now."
Returning to look at her Sensei, the girl noticed that Shirou's mouth was indeed twitching once in a while in brief scowls as he guarded his stance.
Why was Shirou holding back!?
Shirou blinked in surprise as he felt the attacks starting to get more and more painful, more precise, more deadly.
He had already had to dodge twice an attempt to his head and, if he had calculated the force behind those strikes, then Arima was trying to kill him.
*Thwack!*
H-He had not seen that one coming!
He felt a warm liquid starting to flood from behind the protective helmet and into his right eye.
Shirou saw it was red and his two short swords barely caught the following attack from the ruthless foe.
His eyes started to get blurry and he felt a painful strike reach for his right arm.
In that moment of agony, something snapped inside of him and he felt his body as if possessed.
It was the familiar adrenaline that argumented his muscle memory into mindlessly focusing in the fight, without restraint or limitation.
Shirou knew that Arima had felt his change, the Reaper changing his stance into a more defensive one for what should have been a brief moment to understand what had changed in the spar.
To the white-haired man's dismay, Shirou started to move so much faster and hit much stronger than before and he could have sworn that the Emiya was actually better than him in that absurd counterassault.
His twin swords started to make quick deal of Arima's undefended arms, landing some hits on his muscles, setting aching fire on them as the Reaper felt his movements halved by the precise attacks.
Shocking pain riddled the Reaper's mind for the first time and, way too much surprised and ached to keep up with the massacre, he let his weapons fall... but Emiya didn't seem to stop.
Shirou's right gladius shot ready to slash at the man's head, to finish the job for Ala-!
The Magus' mind froze, shock overwhelming his mechanic and mindless assault.
His face showed the confusion and the guilt his mind had been thrown into but his attention was all taken by something wrong about all this matter.
Arima wasn't scared of almost dying. No, he seemed ready to die in that moment.
The twin swords fell on the ground and Shirou frowned tiredly at the white-haired man.
"D-Death is right, Arima-san. T-There is s-still things worth living for-"
His whispers were quiet enough for just the Reaper to hear, his grey eyes showing surprise at the younger man's words.
Shirou would have continued, maybe turned to see the reaction of everyone, Shinohara's, Saiko's, Illya's-
His eyes closed as the toll of his wounds finally took him away from reality and brought his body down on the ground.
The pleasant memory of Illya's biggest smile keeping the nightmares away from his slumber as he tried to recover from what had just happened.
AN
Reason why fight was so short? Arima was not prepared for Shirou to go Gung-ho with such strenght and speed so he was unable to defend himself properly.
Kuki is... going to be like a less emo, more social Sasuke and I've already planned for Arima's next step in a new plan.
For those who are concerned if Shirou's berserk moment is going to impact upon his facade I will say to you all that I have a good way to cover this all without much issue and it will be explained next chapter.
Tomorrow no chapter 'cause blood analysis!
And now I can go back to my Hoi4 game...
Review Q&A!
Ezeakel: Thank you!
KRKing: They both hate their fathers, they have a twisted sense of justice and they are seriously strong. I think I shouldn't add much more if I just said that Eto will discover about Shirou eventually.
Yolea Irk's: The more I look at this Omake-Opportunity the more I felt like Haise has been made from Shirou's personality template. And yes, I'm sorry... but actually not!
ElYoker2002: I understand since I am not from any Anglophone nation, but I think that watching some American/English YT videos regarding funny Gaming might actually help a lot in learning a bit more about the language.
ThatIdioticMelody: It's not a problem and was not annoying. Apron!Shirou is a good Omake candidate.
Kayen1024: As you know Shirou has the 'Harem Protagonist' illness and as such he couldn't help himself but have more people jumping on his Harem truck with his personality and housewife skills.
PervyPanda: Yes. Also no, Rider is going to debut much further in this story and she will not be have to fight because Sakura's still frail Circuits.