Day 5 – Angry Leader Hungryheart

"—?!"

I wake up with a start.

"…Ah. I fell asleep."

I say so nonchalantly but a sense of icy dread creeps up my spine.

I glance around quickly, taking in the empty park…

…and the very dark evening sky.

"…Ah. I fell asleep...!"

I bounce up from the bench, only to tumble forward face-first and into the ground.

"—"

I stifle a groan of pain and slowly push myself up, ignoring the protests from my aching body.

"…That's right, I was talking with Illya and then she suddenly messed with my Circuits."

Well, she would've used the word 'fixed' I presume, but I don't particularly feel thankful about what she's done. My entire body aches like I've just taken part in a cross-country marathon, and the left side of my body still feels off-kilter and numb.

Dusting myself off as I stand up, I notice that my left hand has started to feel less wooden. I open and close my hand a few times to check if the nerves are still working fine.

"But still…at least I got to talk to her."

And I managed to make a promise to meet her here tomorrow too. Of course, whether or not she'd even come to meet me again after that disastrous segue back into Kiritsugu is up in the air—

—Wait.

A promise. Wait.

"…Man, you inflexible blockhead."

"Did you say something, Shirou?"

"No, I'm just talking to myself. This tofu's really tough."

Oh no. That's right. I promised Saber I would be careful not to visit deserted places, or stay out too late at night without informing her. And…

I glance around the deserted park, then look up at the evening sky. The last specks of orange in the west are fading fast.

I step forward and wince as my left foot refuses to listen to me properly and I almost trip over again.

I look back at the bags full of food still piled snugly against the park bench.

Well. This isn't good.

By the time I make it back, the lights are already turned on at the manor, and Fuji-nee's bike is already parked rudely in the middle of the entrance.

I sigh and decide to face my fate.

"I'm home…"

I take off my shoes and walk into the hallway, dreading every step.

"Welcome home, Shirou."

The first one to greet me is Saber, with a face of utmost tranquility.

She sits at the table in perfect seiza, sipping a cup of green tea.

"Welcome home, senpai!"

Sakura is in the kitchen, washing dishes, likely having served dinner already.

And then at the other end of the table slumps a striped tiger.

"Shirouuuuuuuu…" Fuji-nee moans. "Where did you say you found Saber-san again?"

…Huh? Why are we back to that again?

I glance sharply back at Saber, who continues to sit serenely sipping tea. An agonising few seconds pass before she puts down her cup slowly, sighing.

"I proposed that we move around the dojo if we had some spare time. I concluded that it would not prove fatal if we used shinai instead of real swords during our sparring session, but—"

"—Don't listen to this monster, Shirou!"

The clear loser of the spar suddenly springs up and points at Saber.

"There was intent to kill, I felt it! If I let my guard down in that moment, I would be more bruised than that orange on the table—"

"—But more importantly, Shirou."

A very serene voice cuts through Taiga's protests like knife through butter. My neck snaps back to the owner of the voice.

"Where were you?"

My mind's eye whirls into action to preserve my life, and I find my solution right within my hands. I quickly raise up the bags of shopping from this afternoon. Hah, you can't corner me like this, Saber!

"…You were shopping for over four hours?"

"—"

"—"

Just as I am about to break the silence with a heartfelt apology, Fuji-nee butts in.

"You know, Saber-san was terribly hungry because of your late return."

"T-Taiga—!"

"She wouldn't stop moaning about it until Sakura came ba—EEEEEK—!"

The smug look on Fuji-nee's face turns into white terror as Saber turns her glare on her.

Fuji-nee runs and hides behind a clearly troubled Sakura, poking her head out and popping back under cover every few seconds.

Saber's glare turns back into an apologetic blush as she tries to salvage her case.

"…Ahem, I would like to clarify, Shirou. I was merely anxious that you ran into trouble on your return. D-Dinner has nothing to do with any of this."

"…Yes, I believe you. I really do." I bring out my most sincere smile.

"I-In any case, I will let this go just once. Please don't stay out so late in the evening from now on without informing me, Shirou."

"Gotcha, no problem!" I quickly agree with the new, generous terms. Thank you for your sacrifice Fuji-nee!

"Right, I forgot to mention."

I finally bring up the topic as I settle down beside Saber at the table, after putting all the shopping away and cleaning myself up. Fuji-nee continues to slump on the table while Sakura has finished doing the dishes and has joined us in the living room.

"I'm thinking of having Sakura stay over starting tonight."

"…Eh? Stay over?"

Sakura is the first to react.

"I know it's a bit sudden, but I'm telling you not to go back to the Matou household for a while. Let's see…I want you to stay over for around a week," I say a little forcefully before glancing at Fuji-nee. "Fuji-nee, is that alright?"

Fuji-nee looks at me seriously for a second and then nods.

"If it's Sakura, then it's fine."

"Fujimura-sensei—?!"

Sakura turns around to face Fuji-nee, no doubt shocked she gave her permission.

"If Shirou is saying something like this, then he must really feel it's necessary. Shirou, do you have a reason? I'm fine with this but I'm just curious as to what's going on these few days with you."

I sigh inwardly. Fuji-nee is too sharp sometimes, and I don't think I can keep up a good enough act for long, but at least I've prepared this answer.

"No, I just think Sakura's looked a bit tired recently. You know how Shinji's not home much these days? I just think it's better for her to be around people more…If you're alright with this Sakura?"

Sakura's face stiffens as she returns my look with an insightful stare.

"—Is that really the only reason, senpai?"

It's obvious. I'm not fooling anyone. It's clear the reason I gave is a lame excuse. Fuji-nee merely trusts my judgment, so she's not going to push further.

"—"

Sakura on the other hand…

I can't tell her why.

I can't tell her about the Holy Grail War, about Masters and Servants.

I can't tell her about her brother Shinji's participation and summary elimination by the very being sitting across her at the dinner table.

I can't tell her I am a Master.

These are secrets I must keep from her at all costs. Sakura is an important family member to me, and just like Fuji-nee I will not drag her into this bloodthirsty battle royale.

But on the other hand, I can't lie either.

I cannot lie to someone this important to me.

"—"

I continue to work my slow brain as seconds tick by.

Finally, Sakura smiles gently and breaks the silence.

"Senpai, is it because you're worried about me?"

"—Yeah. I'm worried. Please, Sakura. I know it's asking a lot but…"

The smile grows brighter, and she nods in response.

While Fuji-nee helps Sakura settle in at the outhouse building, Saber shuffles over to me.

"Shirou," she begins in a quiet voice. "I didn't want to bring this up in front of Taiga and Sakura, but I noticed that your magical signature has suddenly spiked. Did you use intensive amounts of magecraft earlier today?"

I blinked and looked down at my left arm.

Right, I had forgotten about this. I open and close my hand again. It still feels detached and numb.

"No, it was more along the lines of opening my Circuits for the first time. Uh, apparently."

"Apparently."

"Apparently. Well, I'm not sure myself, but Illya told me that's what she—"

I gulp as I realise what I just revealed.

"—ah."

I duck my head immediately, refusing to match Saber's stare.

"Shirou," Saber begins in a low and dangerous tone. "I assume this is the same Illyasviel who we have confirmed is the Master of Berserker. This is the same Master whose Servant gravely injured you. This is not a different person with the same name, correct?"

"I can explain!" I quickly yelp, before taking a quick glance at the outhouse. Good, they're not back yet. "She meant no harm, really! She said she even left Berserker at home. We just had a talk, then she got playful and messed with me a bit, that's all."

"No harm? Putting aside the fact that any decent Master would ever walk around without their Servant…"

Ouch, Saber.

"…How is this just 'messing with you a bit'?! Shirou, you're in no state to walk around, let alone participate in our nightly patrols."

I raise my right hand and scratch my head sheepishly.

"Ah, I was meaning to ask you actually. Do you think we can call off tonight's activities?"

Saber lets out a long-suffering sigh. She glances quickly in the direction of the outhouse before sighing again.

"Understood, Shirou. Please rest up well tonight so we can resume our patrols tomorrow. It is far too unsafe to have you outside tonight in this state anyway."

I smile apologetically. "Thanks, Saber."

"Also, please refrain from meeting enemy Masters alone like this, even in broad daylight. This is why I didn't want you to attend school…"

Saber's pretty face draws into a scowl as she recounts our rather heated argument this morning.

I suppose this is the part where I stay quiet about my promise to Illya.

Maybe I should go buy some extra-expensive meat for tomorrow's dinner to pacify my Servant…

"—Is that clear, Shirou?"

"Y-Yes—!"

Being a Master is truly suffering.

Interlude 5-1 Other Night

Al-Alaq

A lone samurai departs the world silently, his existence fleeting and his exit from the stage even more so.

He does not cry out, nor does he struggle. He knows either is futile in stopping the monster that is erupting from his insides.

His greatest defiance is smiling at this spectacle, refusing to be a part of its gruesome cacophony to the bitter end.

Perhaps it would ease his mind if he knew that he would not be the only actor leaving the stage tonight. He would never know, as his existence is overwritten by the True Assassin that devours what remains of the wraith with no name.

He would never know, but his Master would follow in his footsteps very soon.

Together with the man she vowed to protect and serve, they would both exit the stage in darkness, their lives silently snuffed out far away from the lead actors and the spotlight.

And as a lone white skill dances in the moonlight, insects of all shape and form start to converge upon Ryuudo Temple.