Fate/Infinity Shuffle
Chapter 29 – Debut Concert:
…
"Eh?"
It was a confusing situation, to say the least. It was Sunday morning, the morning after the fight and victory against Isemi. She remembered the after effects of Mad Enhancement that was a much heavier toll on her than Lizzie due to the level of it. While Lizzie's was of the lowest level, hers had the effects of C Rank, and the level of madness was unknown.
So, she more or less deduced Sayuri would bring her home due to her state. Made sense, that's what happened after her fight against Shinji, getting used to the muscle strain and the powers of the Card. And it would be really strange for Sayuri to not guide her home considering last time she got lost for two hours.
…
So why was Lizzie sleeping beneath her?
"Eh? EH?!" Mizuki was so confused. She immediately sat up. The movements shook the bed enough to wake up the pop idol.
Slowly open her eyes. Let out a cute yawn while stretching one arm up. Rubbing both eyes while sitting up.
"Mizuki? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?! Why did you sleep here?! Under me of all places?!" Mizuki's face was red from the sheer embarrassment and confusion over the situation.
"Hm? But it was because of you."
"Eh?" Granted, memory was hazy. But she couldn't possibly think of a situation where Lizzie sleeping beneath her was her faul-
"The moment you saw your bed, you dropped dead. I was holding you, so, you fell on top of me. And you were so hard to budge! I couldn't get out…" Lizzie explained, saddened. But it was quickly replaced by a cheerful smile. "So I simply slept here."
"…" Mizuki could not believe the situation. "I'm not that heavy…"
"You're not. But I was tired from the fight too, so I just gave up."M
Mizuki's became crimson red, all the blood rushing to her head. Needless to say, it was embarrassing. "…I should offer you breakfast. It must've not been comfortable at all."
"Oh, it was, actually."
"What?!"
"It was really comfortable." Lizzie giggled, casually. Mizuki simply didn't know how to react.
Of course, Mizuki offered breakfast. It would simply be rude not to, after what happened.
Miso soup, fried sardines, and side dishes, including bowls of rice.
Lizzie simply stared at them, drooling. "So much food for breakfast…!"
Mizuki found it confusing. This seemed a regularly sized breakfast for the common Japanese person. "You don't eat much for breakfast?"
"Nope. Just a couple loafs of bread."
"W-What…?" Before Mizuki got an answer, Lizzie dug in, devouring the meal like a dragon devoured jewels and treasure.
"Sho good…!"
She decided to not break the moment of happiness and just eat breakfast as well.
Shortly after, however, something came across Mizuki's mind. "Lizzie, you want to be an idol, right?" The redhead nodded while shoving rice into her mouth. "But you haven't made a debut concert." Another reply given with the shake of the head. "Then why don't you ask Hakuno to organize a Player exclusive concert?" At that moment, Lizzie simply stopped all movements. Mizuki flinched at this event, but wasn't as worried the moment the girl swallowed the food in her mouth. She placed down the bowl, wearing a somewhat serious expression.
"…This is why I need an agent."
Mizuki slumped forward, hitting her face on the table. "…God damn it, Lizzie."
'Huh? A concert?'
"Yeah!" Lizzie talked with Hakuno over the phone, as Mizuki cleaned the table. "I mean, I know it's a bit of a big request, but this can be my big debut."
'It's not that big a request, don't worry. In fact, it even helps me out.'
"Eh? Really?!"
'Yeah. I'm guessing… Wednesday is a good day to do the concert. Don't worry, I have a way to get everybody out of school.'
"REALLY?!" Lizzie's eyes widened. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best, Hakuno!"
'Hey, no need for that sort of thing.' He chuckled at the girl's enthusiasm. 'I'll keep you updated, alright?'
"Alrighty then!" The two hung up. "He agreed!"
"Really?" Mizuki was surprised. Hakuno would offer a helping hand to any Player, that is for sure, but making a concert for Lizzie? Regardless, she was happy for her team mate. "That's amazing."
"Yup! Quick! We have to hurry!"
"Huh? Where?"
"I need to buy a special dress for the occasion! This is my first concert, I can't just appear with any Lolita outfit!"
Lizzie grabbed Mizuki's hand and rushed towards the front door.
"A-Ah! Let me at least shower first!"
Mizuki managed to convince Lizzie to calm down her enthusiasm and at least take appropriate measures of hygiene. After Mizuki showered, she offered Lizzie the opportunity to use her bathroom, and even lend a change of clothes. While Lizzie didn't want to walk around the streets without one of her dresses, but she gave in.
Mizuki put on her red dress and leather jacket, while Lizzie took a pink hoodie, and a pair of white shorts. Mizuki did not want to admit that those clothes were from a couple years ago.
The two girls went to the shopping centre, now closer to lunch time. The two woke up rather late, after all.
"I have to find the perfect one!"
"But Lizzie, your budge is limited…" Mizuki pointed out. She was trusted with Lizzie's funding for the dress, and the number wasn't impressive, at least when compared to Lizzie's standards.
"I'll make one if I need to!" She had a point. Buying the materials was far cheaper than buying an already made dress.
"You know how to sew?"
"A little."
"I don't think 'a little' will cut it." Mizuki laughed awkwardly. The stubborn idol kept exploring the shops that called her attention. "Do you know how to sew?"
"No. All my skill is in cooking."
"What about Sayuri?"
"She doesn't know either. I know for a fact that she makes her best not to put holes in her clothing."
"You think Mongami and Isemi would know?"
"I don't think Mongami would be interested in that. And I don't know Isemi all that much. He looks nice, but I don't know if he has a hobby like that." Although, Mizuki admitted to herself that out of the two, Isemi probably looked the better fit for a sewer.
"Hmph…!" Lizzie didn't want to give up. "It has to be something that catches the attention! Something that will make everyone stare at me."
Mizuki figured that an idol would want to be the spotlight of the stage, so it made sense what Lizzie was describing. And that's when she realized…
"Then why don't you Install your card?"
"Eh?" The idol blinked twice.
"Yeah. I mean, the dress is pretty eye-catching. And if you're worried about it not being enough, you still have a dragon tail. That will surely catch everyone's attention."
"…" The pop idol smiled widely like a little kid the moment she realized her team leader was an 'oblivious genius'. "You're right!" The girl leaped and hugged Mizuki. The latter blushed since, well, they were in the middle of a shopping centre. It was somewhat embarrassing to hug people or be hugged in public. "And it's free! I can actually buy groceries this month!"
"Wait, this budget was your entire money?!" Mizuki asked, shocked, as Lizzie let go of her.
"Of course! Spare no expense when it comes to idol business."
"But you should think about yourself first…"
"I am my dream. If I don't fulfil it, then it's the same as not existing. Starving a little bit is no problem."
"I… guess?" While Mizuki didn't agree with Lizzie's unhealthy way of living, the way she spoke, her conviction, her determination, it made Mizuki think 'it just makes sense when you put it that way'.
"Well, since we're here, let's see other things! Maybe eat lunch and watch a movie?"
"Is there even anything interesting at the cinema?" Mizuki wondered. She might be fond of movies just as much as TV series, but she recognized that, more often than not, movies were ending up being disappointments.
"I think they released recently an anime movie that's really popular. What was it again…? 'Kimi no na-'!?" Before Lizzie could finish, there was just a Mizuki-shaped dust cloud standing in front of her. "S-She's fast…"
Mizuki let out a sigh. "Only at four… it's not even lunchtime yet!"
"You really like that movie, huh?"
"I thought it was overhyped at first, but I gave it a try, and I cried like a baby at the end." Mizuki admitted. "Have you watched it."
"Not yet."
"Then we're definitely watching it!"
"But… what are we going to do for four hours…?" Lizzie wondered. Sure, the shopping centre was big, but there was only so much they could do in an hour, let alone four.
"We can eat lunch? And maybe invite the others later?" It didn't sound like a bad plan. But before Lizzie could respond, Mizuki froze in place.
"Hm?" Lizzie noticed this and looked at where Mizuki's eyes were glued to. She spotted a boy with orange-red hair and golden eyes, leaned against a wall. He wore a black and white jersey alongside blue trousers. "Who is he?"
Mizuki suddenly covered Lizzie's mouth and pulled her into a makeshift hideout.
"HMPH?!" The idol struggled, confused.
"Calm down!" The leader whispered. "that's a classmate of mine! His name is Shirou."
After Mizuki let go of Lizzie's face, the shorter girl managed to breath properly. "And?" She asked, confused. "Do you like him?"
"What? No! Not in that way, at least. I don't know him all that much." She admitted. "Like, we get along, but we don't actively speak to one another."
"Then… why are you hiding?"
"…He's clearly waiting for someone."
Lizzie tilted her head, not understanding. "And…?"
"And?!" Mizuki remembered that Lizzie wasn't part of her school, so she wasn't aware. "Everybody knows Shirou is denser than metal! For him to be here, waiting for someone… it could be a date! We can find out who he is interested in!"
"…" Lizzie was somewhat confused towards the idea, but part of her realized that since they had four hours to waste, it wasn't like it was a bad idea. As long as they didn't get caught, of course. "Alright. I'll play."
The two girls popped out their heads discretely and observed the boy. He looked side to side, as if searching for someone.
"It's definitely a date…!" Mizuki was sure of it! There couldn't be a mistake. There were some rumours circling around that he was dating Shinji's sister, Matou Sakura, but no evidence ever came to fruition.
"Hm? Oh! Hey!" Shirou noticed the person he agreed to meet up with and raised a hand while greeting.
Who was it? Matou Sakura? A genius clad in red? A beautiful blonde?
As it turned out, neither.
"Yo, Shirou." It was another man. He was probably a year older than Shirou and the girls.
"Long time no see." The two shook hands like old friends. "Shirou."
Mizuki was shocked at the result. It wasn't a date between a boy and his girlfriend, but just a meeting of two old friends. She sighed in disappointment, ready to give up on the plan of following Shirou around… until she noticed Lizzie's shock.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"T-T-That's Kotomine Shirou!"
"Who?"
"He's one of the five Rulers!"
"What?!" Mizuki looked again at the man. Darkened skin, golden eyes, spiky white hair, black clothes, and a pendant with a catholic cross. "That's… a Ruler?!"
"We definitely have to follow them."
Just as Lizzie finished, the two began to move.
"After them!" Mizuki and her friend moved discretely, following the two boys in the crowd.
What could this mean?! Emiya Shirou and Kotomine Shirou are friends?! And the latter is a Ruler?! This can only end well.
No questions this time around, but I'll make use of this space to inform that this isn't going to be my only Fate fanfic. I have at least one fanfic in the plans, and a few other ideas. The one being planned is focused on Fate Stay Night, while the others have to do with Fate Apocrypha, Fate Extra, and some other miscellaneous ideas. When will I work on them? No idea. But I'll be planning them in the meantime.
Same message as always.
Until next time!
