For years, even the common people knew of the magic of food. It brings happiness, contentment, nostalgia, grief, emotions differing from person to person that directly affect them. To an extent, it is the only magic that ordinary humans can achieve, yet this didn't mean that it can be considered mundane.
The only real problem is due to the simplicity of cooking, and the fact that everyone can do it with a little practice. If magic weakens with a larger userbase, then obviously cooking could be considered obsolete due to its replicability. Cook books and recipes detailing exact instruction to create cuisine create even further elements of genuine imitation. Hence, the mystery of food, though acknowledged by the common masses, had never been a field of interest for any magi.
Shirou didn't understand it, but the way he prepared food was so unique that it can be considered its own branch of a culinary magic art. The fact that he had an 'apprentice' meant that his magecraft was learnable and not something which cannot be acquired through study.
He was at the heart of a revolution that would and will stir the foundations of the Moonlit world through its sheer scale of demand once word began to spread.
The fact that he was still ignorant of everything was astounding, but considering that he was a third-rate magus, he didn't have as broad of a sense of levity in regards to relevant issues.
This tidbit of information would come to haunt him later as he presently stared at another letter that was given to him on the behest of an unknown and unverified sender. The paper was pristine and made from a velvet parchment of considerable value.
This time, it thankfully wasn't addressed to 'Dean Emiya,' but the request was more of a demand to immediately return to the Clock Tower and work as a personal faculty cook. From the tone and presence of character that he could infer from the boldly written words, this was someone who wasn't used to getting 'No' for an answer.
Refusal to comply was tied into with the threat of personal intervention.
An empty threat clearly.
This wasn't the first time some magus tried to threaten him into accepting their demands, and besides, Rin and Luvia said that they'd handle it on his behalf. Nothing was as convincing that a magus was outgunned when put under the scrutiny of the heir of House Edelfelt and a Tohasaka with a Servant employed under her service.
This time would be no different.
Reading over the note once again while on his way out from a Totsuki practical lesson, he crumpled it up and tossed it into the nearest trash bin.
Who did this Lorelei person think she was? Some Lord of the Clock Tower that Rin warned him not to meddle with? Please, this wasn't the first letter he'd received from some random egotistic magus who thought themselves superior to everyone else; granted, there was far less narcissism in the writing when compared to others. It was almost polite in magus standards.
Regardless, the crux of the matter was that he already had too many issues to deal with to just blatantly add another unwelcome inconvenience into his already hectic daily life.
He'd had no luck trying to call out Erina today, and from what he'd heard from Totsuki's staff and even Senzaemon himself, Erina was exempt from classes to recuperate. Senzaemon had made a visit to inform him that his Shokugeki with Erina was to be put on definite hold until Erina recovered.
The man looked genuinely concerned, albeit, Shirou didn't exactly do a very good job of cleaning up the trail of blood droplets leading back into Erina's room the prior night. Moreover, there was no hiding Erina's injuries from her own grandfather.
The man was livid, yet maintained a general air of calm despite ordering an intensive neighborhood investigation.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about Yakuza and a Fujimura group taking residence near Totsuki, do you?" Senzaemon had inquired only because the villa was outside Totsuki's campus and was vulnerable to criminals.
Awkward would be one way to put it, as Taiga had been in the middle of thanking Senzaemon for housing him in such a large villa. The way Taiga's expression had stiffened sheepishly despite her exuberant personality had left quite an impression.
Some things just don't change, and Taiga had never liked flaunting her family's status out for normal society members. Her name had conveniently changed from Taiga Fujimaru, to Taiga 'Fujimafu,' in her addled state. By then though, he'd already ushered Senzaemon out before the man could grow suspicious.
This happened this morning, and once Taiga had learned that something relating to Yakuza may have occurred near Totsuki, she decided to make sure none of her extended family were involved.
He hadn't seen Taiga since breakfast, and he just hoped she wasn't doing anything that could get her in trouble.
As for him, the matter of Dean Emiya was already causing him concern not only because of why he was suddenly being called a Dean, but because this would put even more attention on Erina.
His strides quickened as he neared Totsuki's gates. From there, he'd only have to take a right and proceed along the wall to reach back to the villa. Many students milled past him, some whispering and pointing for some odd reason, but he didn't notice as he lost himself in thought.
The point was, he actually had to give the impression that he was teaching Erina should other magi inquire about his process of apprenticeship.
He had to see Erina soon.
It was quite likely that she would get approached by other magi. The enthusiasm the recent magi from abroad showered over his food left him with the impression that they would try to get a sample of Erina's cuisine. Should they discover not an ounce of magic within it, they may grow suspicious, and this was the worst-case scenario.
Erina would die, then he, Rin, and everyone associated with the breaking of the Moonlit world's number one rule would also die.
He was standing on a house of cards. Any careless mistake on his part or Erina's would spell doom eternal.
She lived on the opposite side of campus. He could still remember the exact path to Erina's dorm. Should he chance a meeting now?
He glanced in the general direction and soon shook his head. Numerous men and women in uniform were patrolling the area likely on Senzaemon's instructions. There was no way he was getting passed in broad daylight, and subterfuge was never his strongest point nor was he suited for it.
For today, he'd have to give up.
A sigh escaped his lips, knowing that the longer he waited, the larger the danger grew.
As he was passing by Totsuki's gate on his way back to the villa, he paused when he noticed a stare on his person.
There was a girl who instantly made eye contact with him after glancing at her cellphone, then back at his face. She'd been leaning on the wall, and instantly pushed off of it once she saw him.
She wore the Totsuki Academy uniform and was holding onto a leather hand-bag in front of her. Her pink hair had a rounded appearance, curving over her ears and stopping near the nape of her neck. There was a piercingness in her eyes that denoted a stern decorum of an elite.
If he was uncertain about whether or not she'd made a mistake in recognizing him, the fact that she waved him over settled any doubts.
"Are you Shirou Yukihira?" She inquired professionally, her brown eyes wordlessly scrutinizing him while walking up to stop in front of him.
He nodded. Due to Soma's declaration against Totsuki's student body during initiation, his little brother was infamous. This in turn brought attention onto him who's resemblance to Soma was uncanny.
"Is there something you need." He got straight to the point. Months of being with Rin had wired him into being as direct as possible because it was the only way to handle Rin.
"Yes, actually," the girl inclined her head lightly before unclasping the buckles of her hand bag. She then began rummaging through its small compartment to produce a written note which she forwarded to him.
"I'm lady Erina's secretary, Hisako," she explained the unasked question in the air as he took the note into his hands. "Lady Erina wished to convey a letter, but couldn't come personally as her grandfather put her on bedrest."
Hisako stood ramrod straight, her features neutral and body language submissive. Her left hand was crossed over her chest while her right was placed by her side in a waiting pose.
"You don't have to be so formal," Shirou said idly, choosing not to read the letter in front of Hisako in case Erina mentioned anything about magic in it. He could be impulsive and reckless, but he wasn't stupid when it came to matters concerning life and death.
A trace of disappointment flickered across Hisako's eyes as he was sure that she was suspicious about what sort of danger he and Erina were somehow involved with. As Erina's secretary, she probably knew of Erina's condition just as well as Senzaemon.
"Is that a request?" Hisako replied robotically. "I apologize, but lady Erina explicitly-" she coughed, a hand over her mouth as she excused her blunder. "I mean insisted that you be treated with utmost respect."
He didn't bother pressing on the issue. "Thank you for this," he said instead while he pocketed the letter.
Hisako suddenly shook her head. "No," she denied. "I should be giving you my thanks."
Hisaka leaned in close to whisper into his ear. "You were the one who saved lady Erina from something dangerous last night, right?"
He blinked unable to deny the statement because he knew he was awful at lies. Hisako would be able to see through any flimsy excuse he could give. Erina's bandages from the prior night would be impossible to miss, and he wasn't going to ruin whatever ruse Erina had created to mislead her secretary. He'd made sure to insist that she keep the knowledge of the Moonlit world to herself lest other magi catch wind of the action and send in a kill team or assassin.
"I just happened to pass by," he played the issue off much to Hisako's consternation.
Grudgingly though, Hisako held back her own reservations and nodded curtly at him.
"At least you're more sensible than your younger brother," she remarked. "I heard he challenged teacher Shinomiya to an unofficial food challenge on threat of expulsion."
"What?" This was the first Shirou had heard of this. Soma and his friends had left for an excursion camp several days prior, and he'd not heard anything about it; granted he, Rin, Luvia, and Arturia had been living as hermits recently due to work at the food truck and magi from abroad.
Hisako grunted. "You can ask him yourself. Even I'm not privy to all the specifics," she grumbled. "He should have returned to his dorm by now anyway."
Inclining her head, Hisako bid herself fair well and left with a composed strut.
As he resumed his walk back to the villa, he felt a hand place itself on his shoulder. He craned his neck back and stared into Taiga's pleasant smiling face which stretched from ear to ear. An odd gleam was flittering across her pupils in barely contained enthusiasm.
How long had she been standing there?
"Soooo," Taiga broke the silence with feigned nonchalance. "Younger brother's back."
That was indeed what Hisako confirmed in their conversation, meaning she'd been listening somewhere in the middle or maybe even the start. She may hate being called a 'tiger,' but she sure as hell could stealth just as well as one.
One careful look at Taiga's face was all it took to predict what she was about to suggest.
Invite him over.
"Invite him over."
He deflated. He could already see the excitement flashing over Taiga's features.
He'd been focusing so much on the magic aspects of his life that he'd neglected the ramifications of normal socialization and customs.
There was no stopping this now.
Family is and would always be important even for underground groups such as the Italian mafia and Japanese Yakuza. The fact that Shirou's birth family was still alive only meant one thing for Taiga: Another brother to spoil and encourage on the road of life.
As this was going to be their first meeting, Taiga was pulling out all the stops and getting something ready in the villa. She'd also sent a trusted member of the Fujimura group to deliver a letter to Soma's Polar Star dorm which caused Shirou to actually worry.
The Fujimura group had good people, but they all looked intimidating with full-arm tattoos and battle scars. This gives all the wrong messages.
You'd think Taiga would be more mindful abound sending her family's men into Totsuki when the headmaster himself had come asking for recent Yakuza activity.
Still, Taiga was Taiga.
Yup. Thinking on that statement, he was beginning to consider whether he should warn Soma not to come while Taiga's too excited. Still, it was too late now. The invitation had already been sent, and Soma was set to arrive for a dinner banquet.
In the meantime, he was presently working on fixing a part of the villa's property before Senzaemon would notice.
Not to get into any specifics, but Rin and Luvia had settled an argument in this particular room while away.
A light fixture had been busted, and rather than hire a mechanics, he'd opted to fix it himself on Rin's insistence. She'd grown up with prudency after being orphaned at a young age with the loss of her father, so every little bit saved counts. Luvia on the other hand had no qualms with calling a repairman, but opted not to when she glimpsed him wearing a skin-tight tank top and holding a tool chest. Loose clothing was the worst mistake you could make while working in trades. Loose fabric. or jewellery, or long hair could easily snag after all.
Luvia had ended up oddly staring at him for a good ten seconds before she reluctantly looked at Rin as if she'd won this particular argument. The two then proceeded to grab chairs and watch him work until Soma arrived two hours later.
The thing was, Soma wasn't alone. Ikumi stood beside him on the reason that it was dangerous to go alone into a haunted forest where a member of the Yakuza may or may not live. The man Taiga had sent to the Polar Star dorm had not only made an impression on its inhabitants, but also on those that noticed him on his way there.
"We just happened to cross paths." Soma explained by the door, using an entirely different reason than Ikumi's while handing Luvia some food he brought as a polite gesture. "I think everyone else just called me crazy to accept the invitation, but I'm not one to judge and assume just because the guy looks tough. Megumi said the same thing, but she was still too anxious to make the trip."
Taiga and many members of the Fujimura group would be pleased to hear that statement. In fact, it even had Shirou smiling when he heard it from across the hall.
Luvia took Soma's offered food and left to give it to Taiga who was still doing preparation in the villa's main hall. This left Rin behind to act as escort alongside Arturia who was waiting patiently on the side.
"I still don't understand why you ended up coming," Shirou heard Soma say as Soma and Ikumi were led into the room Shirou was working on. "I thought you said it was busy at the don's club."
Ikumi looked flustered and somewhat anxious for a better explanation, but she couldn't settle on anything concrete for Soma.
"I-Is it so wrong if I just decided to tag along with you?" Ikumi stressed in a heated fluster.
"Why? Is there something I can do for you?" Soma's confused face said it all. "Are you thinking about asking me for help to decide a new meat dish? It may not look like it, but I do have some prime meet in my family cellar."
Rin had the strongest sense of dejavu made worse when she had both Shirou and Soma in view of each other.
"You can't be serious," Not that she wasn't feeling appreciative at Soma's help, but Ikumi felt as if someone was constricting her throat.
Soma merely scratched leisurely at the back of his head in a certain clueless manner that had Rin growing frustrated on Ikumi's behalf by the second.
An expression of defeat plastered itself over Ikumi's features, her brows drooping and shoulders slumping at Soma's actions. It was enough that Shirou noticed that there was something bothering her, but Soma seemed to have no clue.
"Ahem," Arturia suddenly intervened to catch Soma's attention. "If you would, I'd like to act as your guide while Shirou finishes his work."
"And I'd like to borrow her for a second," Rin called out to Ikumi who looked perplexed at the sudden development.
"Oh, sure," Soma just rolled with the arrangement and made to follow Arturia after waving at Shirou. "See you later, bro. Nice place."
When Soma and Arturia were far enough away down the hall, Shirou saw Rin put a hand on Ikumi's shoulder in condolence.
"It's genetic," Rin said, trying to be reassuring to Ikumi while pinching the bridge of her nose. "Subtilty is the path to ruin. Don't expect them to get it."
If Ikumi understood what Rin was hinting at, she didn't show it. Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she assumed a position of confidence. "Sorry, I don't know what you mean," Ikumi tried to brush the issue aside, but Rin was where he learned to be more direct from.
"You like Soma, don't you?"
Shirou's ears perked up at Rin's inferral and the awkward way Ikumi became lost for words and froze up in the midst of her charade. Her eyes narrowed, her guard raising against Rin.
"Relax, I'm not going to spread the information around."
Nor would he, Shirou decided. This was a personal matter, and the fact that he just so happened to hear it meant that he had the obligation not to share unless Ikumi allowed it.
"I was just trying to let you know what you're diving in for," Rin continued much to Ikumi's chagrin. She wouldn't be able to brush the matter off now that Rin had brought it to the table. Denial at this point would just be seen as truth if she avoided the topic.
"You sound as if you know?" Ikumi probed, feigning calm.
Wordlessly, Rin silently pointed at Shirou's direction. His and Soma's features down to the hair and eyes were unmistakeable.
Shirou just felt like he was being used as the butt of a joke he had no context for. Should he be feeling offended right now?
From the looks of things though, the credibility of Rin's statement seemed to elevate quickly in Ikumi's eyes as she noticed a familiar clueless expression. Ikumi sobered, solemnly nodding at Rin for the advice and letting out a tired sigh which Rin sympathized with.
"I know how it's like, trust me." Exhaustion and frustration bubbled over Rin's deceptively calm visage. "You'd think they'd understand if you wore a giant 'fuck me' sign-" Rin abruptly raised a finger, stopping Ikumi from interrupting. "I tried that too. Didn't work…something about having a bad day. Figures he'd interpret it figuratively rather than literally."
Why did that sound so familiar? Was Rin talking about him?
Shirou remembered the exact situation Rin was describing, but nothing really seemed to stand out to him other than the fact that she'd been gloomy and irritable for the rest of the day. Maybe it wasn't him after all.
"Isn't this pushing things a bit far? People can be different. Everyone is," Ikumi reasoned uncertainly, index finger scratching at her cheek. Her brows were knit together in tentative thought, half believing and half doubtful.
"Alright, fine," Rin seemingly conceded the point, but brought up another one. "Let me guess, are there other women too?"
Ikumi mutedly opened then closed her mouth firmly in what almost seemed like a growl of frustration before blinking. She perked up, momentarily putting aside everything else to focus on Rin incredulously.
"How did you-" Ikumi cut herself off at Rin's bitter expression.
"How many did you already see in this house excluding the blond skank? What if I told you there might be more?"
"…"
All too soon, Shirou felt like the two girls were staring at each other in what could only be described as morbid empathy. More than once, he was considering whether he should still be around. The overhead light fixture was basically replaced already and he only needed to place back the glass covering.
Shrugging, he decided to just finish up and do his best to remain as uninvolved in the two's conversation as possible. It's not like it had anything to do with him, but the fact that they were in the same room made not hearing them impossible.
"So, uhm, how did you, ugh, y'know?" Ikumi pressed her fingers together in a tying knot gesture while finally confiding with Rin in Soma's absence.
Really, how dense could Soma be? Shirou inwardly chuckled at his biological younger brother's short comings while stepping on a ladder to put the ceiling light's protective cover back on.
Rin blanked, and suddenly glanced away from Ikumi while looking exceedingly vexed at him.
Did he laugh out loud?
Honestly, the glare Rin leveled his way felt uncalled for. He didn't do anything wrong to warrant that expression…Well, actually no. She was likely just mad over the recent situation with Erina and his negligence.
"This is exactly what I mean. I've been trying for months to use words rather than actions." Rin stressed to Ikumi who had no idea how to respond.
Suddenly, Rin schooled her features, and cleared her throat to address him.
"Emiya, fuck me," she said.
Ikumi's eyes widened at Rin's boldness while a faint flush worked its way up her cheeks. You can't honestly get anymore direct with words than what Rin had just done, but context varied from person to person. As for Shirou he as always saw the best in people, not the dirtiest.
"The situation really isn't that bad- okay maybe it is bad. I'm sorry it's always like this, Rin, but we've always managed to pull through." Shirou's tone was comforting, but this wasn't the point. Ikumi's reddening cheeks rapidly began to cool in her sheer incredulousness.
"Besides, shouldn't I be the one saying fuck me?" Shirou continued. "It's always me with the bad days."
"No way," Ikumi muttered while shaking her head in disbelief.
"Yes, Emiya," Rin deflated, a hand resting over her forehead as she grimaced. "It's always you. Now run along. I'm suddenly getting the urge to curse at you."
"But I'm almost-" He stiffened, blinking once before observing Rin closely to verify if she was being serious. A second later and he knew full well that she wasn't giving him a figurative statement; the strained smile on her face made it literal, the glowing red index figure discreetly pointed at him, more so..
Straightening his back, he put aside the light's glass cover and quickly excused himself to chase after Soma and Arturia.
Whatever advice Rin would be discussing with Ikumi was something he didn't need to be part of. Instead, as he caught up to Soma, he considered helping Ikumi by getting the two alone in a room. Surely, Soma wouldn't be so dense not to notice the affection of someone he cared for when it was right in front of him?
As if Arturia could read his thoughts, likely due to the Master and Servant link they had once shared, she leveled an unimpressed yet fond 'what can you do' sort of expression at his back.
Meanwhile, Soma didn't miss the way Arturia looked fondly at Shirou and couldn't believe how dense his brother was not to notice such a pretty woman's silent affections.
"I'll help him/ I'll try to help him."
Both brothers had odd expressions on their faces.
It was a pleasant sort of silence. No one asked any questions and were all just content with each other's company in the way siblings do.
Shirou was enjoying this short reprieve. He knew that things would begin to pick up with both the magic and normal sides of his life soon, and that he should take this moment of reprieve to relax and ready himself. This was all that he could ask for.
He only hoped that Taiga wouldn't be too over the top with this small banquet, but honestly, what was he expecting from an excitable elder sister.
The sliding door to the villa dining room was opened.
"Welcome to the family!"
Soma stared blankly at Taiga's inviting expression, flanked on all sides by imposing looking men and women who were making no effort to hide their affiliation to Japan's mob. Some wore formal hakamas while others were content to sit half-naked while downing cups of Sake and roaring with raucous laughter.
Shirou stilled when he saw Soma take everything in and Arturia make a beeline for the food table.
How was he supposed to explain this?
Surprise! You're a surrogate son of Yakuza.
He sighed in defeat. It was going to be a long night.
Meanwhile, Erina anxiously sat up on her bed alone in her dorm.
Why didn't he answer the message yet? Is the prologue phase not over?
Thanks for reading! And thanks to my newest patron: Alan L!
This wasn't as big of a chapter as I was going for while working in between final school projects, but it lays down the foundation for future developments.
Next update: Vasto of White
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious
Fiction Press: Survivor's Log: Reflections (New novel coming out near December)
Book link: Fatedlegacydark. ca