Shirou and Ishtar had been left to their own devices after Ishtar changed into Mashu's spare clothes. Ritsuka and Mashu was talking to Da Vinci and the two alters left because they were bored. There was an awkward silence between the two old friends as Ishtar was the first to speak.
"I... wanted to protect you from him. From Gilgamesh." Ishtar looks down at her hands. "I didn't want him to target you as well. He would've target everyone that was close to me. Now Ritsuka, Jeanne, and Artoria are involved."
"Do you think that Ritsuka would just let someone be harassed like that?" Shirou said as Ishtar looks up at her friend. "Ritsuka Fujimaru is someone who would've taken initiative to help regardless of what they tell him... He has the courage to go through everything without batting an eye. Something that I admire. I stopped trying to help you back then."
"Because I -"
"Because I was weak!" Shirou interrupted Ishtar. "No... I wasn't a good friend is all. If I was a good friend to you, I would've known your struggles, your pain, and yet... I stayed silent to all that and turned my back on you. You suffered and cried alone from their lashing towards you. I won't allow that anymore. Not for one more second."
Ishtar eyes were opened wide with what she just heard. She stares at Shirou who stood strong to his resolve. She lets out a few tears before wiping them away.
"I guess we're both bad friends," Ishtar said as Shirou tried to interject but stopped when Ishtar raised her hand. "If I was a good friend, I should've let you in. Instead, I pushed you away as well. So now, we're going to take him down, together. I won't stand to be just some damsel in distress. I want payback for everything that those two have done."
"...Yeah! Let's show them what happens when they mess with us!" Shirou and Ishtar slap each other's hands before walking through the halls preparing for what comes next.
Chaldea Academy
By: NexusEX
Chapter 6: The Challenge
A green-haired student was walking through the halls after school with a folder under her arms as she was making her way to the teacher's office. From behind, she could hear fast footsteps going towards her as she turned around.
"Ah! Class Rep Atalante!" Ritsuka calls out towards her while running towards her with Mashu. "There you are."
"Ritsuka? Mashu? Is there something that you need? You seem to be in quite the hurry." Atalanta asks as Mashu hands her a paper. She takes a look with interest. "This is the representative form for the sport's festival."
"Da Vinci Sensei wanted us to give this to you. You dropped it earlier." Mashu said as Ritsuka tugs her arm. "R-Right. We have to go. Shirou and Ishtar suddenly disappeared and we need to find them."
The two run off as Ritsuka waves towards Atalanta who stares in disbelief. "Bye Class Rep! Have a good day!"
"Shirou and Ishtar... I remember when they were friends last year... It's a shame..." Atalanta lets out as she takes a quick glance at the paper before thinking a bit. Realizing something, she starts running and easily catches up to Ritsuka and Mashu who were talking to Cu Chulainn, confirming that they had found the two. "Do you two know where they are at right now? I must inform them of something important."
"Yeah. I saw them heading to the courtyard after Gil and Enkidu. It's like they wanted to give them a piece of their mind." Cu Chulainn said as Atalanta makes a mad dash ahead leaving the three in the dust. "Man, what's with her? She ain't normally in a rush like this unless she's going taking care of the kids."
"Wow... Class rep is insanely fast." Ritsuka comments at the speed.
"Yeah. She's the fastest in our grade. The only one faster than her in this school is Achilles who is a third-year." Mashu explains as they made their way to the courtyard to see a massive crowd surrounding something. Ritsuka and Mashu made their way through the crowd to see Nero staring at something intensely.
"Nero... What's going on?" Ritsuka asks.
"See for yourself. It's Shirou and Ishtar... They challenge Gilgamesh and Enkidu to a servant duel." Nero said as this was definitely shocking news.
"Oh... So you've challenged me? Eh, Faker?" Gilgamesh lets out a small chuckle in amusement.
"Not just you but your friend Enkidu as well!" Ishtar responded pointing at the two. "I have had enough of your nonsense. Your reign will end here and now."
"I must say, Ishtar. This is rather brave of you to challenge Gilgamesh like this." Enkidu comments before looking at Shirou. "You were from before..."
"Yeah... I've turned my back on this issue but no longer. We will repeat ourselves. We challenge you to a servant duel! You may have everyone under your rule but we will stop you." Gilgamesh once again lets out an amused smile at the scene. "You find something amusing?"
"It's hilarious that you think you could defeat me, Faker. Even with her at your side, providing no assistance as usual, you would both lose to my power alone. Enkidu doesn't need to waste his breath with you." Gilgamesh laughs hysterically before looking straight at Shirou. "Very well! We will play around with your idea."
"Not so fast!" A voice called out silencing everyone at once. Everyone turns over to the owner of the voice to find Atalanta walking to the four. "I will not allow this Servant Duel to happen."
"Class Rep!? Why!?" Ishtar exclaims as Atalanta shows the four the sport's festival paper.
"The sport's festival preparations have now begun for Class 2-B. At this time, all servant duels with the students in this are now strictly prohibited until the conclusion of the festival. That means that Shirou and Ishtar cannot duel you two."
The crowds talk to each other with Shirou and Ishtar looking at Atalante in disbelief. Shirou was to first to talk. "Class rep... Why? Aren't you tired of him?"
"I'm sorry Shirou. I will not allow this duel to slide No one can defeat a king alone." Atalanta said as Shirou's eyes were opened wide.
"Fighting him alone? I'm not..." Shirou looks at Ishtar and then the crowd before fully understanding what Atalante was trying to do. "I see... There is something that we should do."
"How?" Ishtar asks looking at Shirou.
"Oh? So you've found something around this servant prohibition? Mind enlightening me, Faker?" Gilgamesh said with a glance.
"How about a proposal, King of Heroes?" Shirou looks at Gilgamesh. "We will have our duel via the sport's festival."
This causes the people around them to talk even louder with both excitement and fear.
"I think I see Class Rep's thinking," Mashu said as both Nero and Ritsuka look at her. "Gilgamesh's tyranny isn't just aimed at Ishtar alone."
"It's everyone at this school. By making this a group effort, we can all give Gilgamesh a taste of his own medicine." Nero adds in.
"So this challenge can affect every student in this school." Ritsuka finishes the thought.
"The challenge will be this, King of Heroes. If our classroom wins the Sport's Festival, you are not allowed to put down, bully, or harass anyone in this school."
"Grouping up all of your allies to face me. Very well. But know this, if my classroom are to be victors... you and Ritsuka Fujimaru will become my loyal servants, forced to do my every bidding." Gilgamesh said as Ritsuka lets out a gulp. "People need to know what happens when they defy me."
"I accept your terms but if Ritsuka is to be part of the stakes, he must also give his consent," Shirou said looking through the crowd.
Ritsuka steps forward through the crowd with everyone's eye on him. He stares at Ishtar and then Shirou before looking at Gilgamesh. "I agree to this! I won't back down from any of this. Bring everything you got, Gilgamesh! We aren't going to back down!"
"Very well. We will see you when the day of the competition arrives. Come Enkidu." Gilgamesh said as he and Enkidu left leaving everyone staring in silence before there were cheers of excitement. There were the sounds of praises towards Shirou, Ritsuka, and Ishtar: the first few people to stand up against the Gilgamesh. Shirou looks at Atalante who only nods before walking away.
An hour later, Shirou, Ritsuka, Ishtar, Mashu, and Nero were all at a burger place a block away from the school.
"You've done it. You have officially challenged Gilgamesh." Nero looks at the three before smiling. "Umu. Even though it was a big risk, you three stood strong!"
"Yeah. Senpai, Shirou, Ishtar. You were all amazing... Though. We wanted to help you but we're first years so we're not competing with you against him." Mashu said looking a bit dejected.
"It's fine Mashu. It's nothing too serious. Your support is what really counts." Ritsuka said before offering fries to the first-year who accepts the offer.
"How is your stomach not twisting and turning after all of that? I'm surprised that you're able to eat." Ishtar comments as Ritsuka gives her a confused look.
"Because my older brother ain't afraid of Giggles." Everyone looks over to see Gudako the next table over with Marie.
Shirou was confused at the name. "Giggles? You don't mean..."
'Giggles = Gilgamesh' Everyone thought together as they imagine Gilgamesh chuckling maniacally. 'That fits so perfectly.'
"You have a lot of fate in Ritsuka, Gudako. Is it because you're his brother?" Marie asks Gudako who shakes her head.
"Nope. It's because he's too dense to know what fear is!" Gudako exclaims.
"What do you mean by that?" Ritsuka questions as Gudako points at him.
"Exhibit A ladies and gentleman."
"Huh!?"
'She is absolutely right about that.' Everyone thought at the same time.
"What is everyone staring at me for!?"
_This is a potential after chapter comedy segment. This is noncanon and might not be used. Depends on you guys)
"Ah? What is this? I don't remember this part of the school." Okita questions looking around her to see Nobbu as well. "Nobbu? Do you know where we are?"
"I don't know either. Huh?" Nobbu looks down to see a book and reads the cover out loud. "After chapter talk show? What is this? A comedy anime!?"
(Comedy fanfiction series... close enough)
"Eh!? The book answered me!" Nobbu exclaims tossing it in the air as Okita catches it. "That book is just creeping me out!"
"This segment is just simple character interaction for shits and giggles. Nothing in this part of Chaldea Academy affects the main story." Okita reads off the first page of the book before coughing out blood as she dropped it.
"Oi. Don't die, alright?" Nobbu pulls Okita up. "Great...
"Thanks... So this place is just a place where we talk?"
"Pretty much I guess. *high pitched* I guess I can use this voice with no problem!" Nobbu exclaims as Okita sighs.
"Don't try to act cute. That isn't your character." Okita comments blatantly at Nobbu. "Speaking of which. I heard that Shirou and Ritsuka from our classroom just challenged Gilgamesh to a challenge."
"Eh? That's basically suicide. I know that Ritsuka is crazy but Shirou as well?" Nobbu looks through the room. "I hope that Ritsuka didn't do anything weird."
"We hardly know Ritsuka. The only crazy thing that he's done was go to Artoria Alter and Jeanne Alter and asked them to become their friend." Okita said. "We should get to know him before making anything thoughts like that."
"Fair enough... This place is still weird."
"Hey! I think I found something." Okita says before finding a switch and flips it as the lights turn on revealing a casual lounge area. "Woah. This is amazing."
"The place ain't that shabby. Maybe this could be a place to hang out." Nobbu said as the door opens up revealing Ritsuka and everyone else. "Ah. What are you doing here?"
"This is the after chapter show area. Here we can answer questions, listen to requests, or take a look at some reviews posted. It's a good chance for a healthy relationship with the readers and us." Ritsuka explains.
"Oh... That makes sense. But this whole room is dusty and stuffy. Are you going to be sitting in here like this every chapter?" Okita asks.
"Absurd. You expect us to come here often and have this poor condition of a hangout area all the time?" Artoria Alter asks.
"Well, we're still working on whether this place should even be used. If not enough people leave enough comments, then the school is going to take it down." Mashu explains. "So we shouldn't clean it right now, because we might be doing hard work just for it to get destroyed."
"So you want to stay? It's just the three of us at the moment. Just checking it out. Nobbu, Okita." Ritsuka says with a smile.
"Sure. I don't see why not." Nobbu said sitting down on the couch as a cloud of dust shot up. "Jeez. Can we open up a window or something?"
"I don't think I see one," Okita says as Artoria Alter and shoots out a massive sword beam making a massive hole at the wall.
There was a loud scream that came from the Noble Phantasm as two voices could be heard.
"Lancer ga shinda!" Shirou exclaims.
"Kono hito de nashi!" Ishtar said afterwards as the two were walking together before being knocked down by Nightingale dashing towards the fallen dog.
"I don't understand how you can shoot sword beams though..." Okita comments looking at Artoria Alter who puts Excalibur Morgan away.
"You're a saber and you can't even shoot out a sword beam? Pathetic!" Artoria Alter points at Okita who gets a little pissed off.
"Are you calling my class as a Saber a sham!?" Okita exclaims. "If you can shoot beams, you should be a Caster!"
"Fool. One who wields a sword should not be a Caster. Simple logic." Artoria Alter said.
(There's Sieg though...)
"Shooting sword beams shouldn't define a Saber either!"
"Eh… Are we ever going to get to the questions?" Mashu perks up as Okita and Artoria Alter stare at each other.
Ritsuka just lets out a chuckle as Nobbu looks at Ritsuka. 'He's enjoying this?'
(To be continued)
"Post questions that you want us to answer for future chapters! And it won't be just us. Everyone is going to have fun in the action so you can even ask which specific person that you want! Including the author!" Ritsuka said before waving. "See you next time!"
Wassup my homies! This is your pal NexusEX with another chapter of Chaldea Academy. I'm actually posting this chapter a month earlier than I should be but then finals are happening next month and I want to get started asap. This does not mean that these chapters are being rushed, I am still taking time to write out enjoyable content for all you guys enjoy and I'm trying something out for the next few episodes of this series so hey. Why not leave a comment for the cast to answer and I'll see what I can do.
So here we have our first arc... I don't know what else to call it at this point so arc is what I shall call it, unless someone else comes up with a better name for it. Honestly I thought that Gilgamesh being the arrogant prick that he is would be a villain later into the story when I thought, if it was school then it would be heard of almost immediately so putting him so early made sense to me.
In any case guys, I hope you enjoy this episode of Chaldea Academy! if you liked it, why not give it a follow and favorite for more content. Also hand in some comments regarding questions abd we'll see how our comedy segment does. Still working on the whole concept and all. This is NexusEX signing off! Stay Classy!