This is an experimental chapter with a new writing style, so please enjoy!
PS. If you are one of those with a 'NO SHINJI DIE! EWW SHINJI YUCK!' kind of gag reflex, then this is not for you. Why would you click on this in the first place if you hated Shinji so much to the point of giving the character no chance at all...?
That being said, all flames regarding this version of Shinji would be ignored.
Rewind the Clock (Three Years before Fifth Grail War, 14-year-old Shinji)
A useless freak.
It has always been that way since I was a snotty brat.
There was nothing I truly desired, and I was hollow on the inside.
My whole life, I was unloved, unwanted. My body, a failure, unblessed by magic.
I read hundreds of books on magecraft in the family library each day, only to feel the emptiness of achieving nothing when I lie down each night.
Though recently, I have begun to lose interest in magic itself.
I had even long forgotten why I was so obsessed with magic in the first place. Pride? A sense of self?
...As if such things mattered anymore.
The only thing I have left is my extraordinary physical prowess.
I can run 50 meters in two seconds.
I can throw a cannonball through a metal fence.
My grip alone was enough to destroy the strength measuring device.
And the list of my freaky achievements goes on and on.
Naturally, there were only few who would ever dare to approach such an abomination and even fewer who came close enough to be called my friends.
"Ah, shit."
Swearing to myself, I lie on my back like the piece of shit I was and close my eyes.
All to wake up and see the start of another insignificant day of my pitiful life.
...
...
...
"Big brother, it's morning. Wake up."
I open my eyes to my younger sister's voice.
Meet Sakura Matou, a girl of the Tohsaka family who was taken in by the Makiri family at a very young age.
She is the woman who has gotten everything I've yearned for. She is the person I wished to be. A magus of Matou.
To be honest, her very existence disgusts me and I thought about punching her more than once.
However, there would be terrible consequences considering my strength, and it wasn't her fault I was born a failure.
Besides, she wept profusely when she found out that I had no talent for magic, and apologized repeatedly in front of my door for the entire night when I didn't reply.
Thus, even if I were to hit her, it would only leave me with a feeling of emptiness. A feeling I'm well acquainted with. A hollow feeling in my bones I know all too well.
"...Huh. You never get tired of this farce, do you? Waking up your vagabond brother...every fucking morning."
"I'm... I'm sorry..."
I clicked my tongue. I hated it when she made that expression.
"Don't apologize. You're making me even more miserable. I'm going to change my clothes now, so go away."
I lightly shooed her away with my hand. Sakura quickly left my room.
I got out of my bed, changed into my usual school uniform, and opened the door. My usual routine.
When I arrived at the living room downstairs, breakfast was already served and waiting for me.
It's a wonder why she never gets tired of this morning routine. I know for a fact that the simple act of waking up and going to school is a herculean task.
Especially for her and...her condition. I really, really hated her guts.
"I told you earlier, you don't need to..."
Sakura looked down at her half-eaten breakfast with an ashamed look on her face.
I'm really sick of this shit.
"I'm sorry, That was way out of line. Always too excessive and all that stuff. I'm...always grateful for your help."
Saying this, I sat down and we ate our breakfast in silence. There wasn't much to talk about anyway.
The taste was not bad at all, but the air was, frankly, unbearable, so I quickly filled up my stomach and headed to the front door.
"Thanks for the food.", I said without turning back.
I grabbed my school bag, which I had left at the entrance, put on my shoes, and was about to leave the house when Sakura stood up from her chair.
"Um...big...big brother!"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"Do...do you have something this morning...? You are...a lot earlier than usual..."
"Do I need to explain my reasons to you?"
Sakura lowered her head.
"No..."
"Yeah. Thought so."
The reason is you, stupid.
I swallowed down my curses before they could fly out of my mouth.
Sometimes, I didn't know who I despised more. Me or my sister. My fist tightened around my amulet before I could realize what I was doing.
A loud crack told me how stupid I was.
I opened my palm to see the crushed shards of my ruby amulet in my hand. It was the only thing that belonged to my mother, and I crushed it with my own hands.
Fucking Karma.
My lips twisted upwards in a self-deprecating grin.
Serves me right.
I was suddenly hit by a wave of nausea. My eyes blurred and one of my ears went deaf. I stumbled off the rails and onto the road.
"Brother!"
Sakura...!? Why...that idiot...!
I tried getting up, but the migraine was overwhelming. I felt as if a million little drums were pounding the insides of my brain into mush.
A horn blasted nearby. Several screams of alarm. What are those people looking at-?
Of course. Of fucking course. And Sakura was still by my side, that idiot.
Why not a runaway truck? A tanker with highly inflammable liquid gas, nonetheless.
And it was heading right this way.
With the last of my strength, I grabbed the sleeve of my sister's gown and threw her into a bush. If she was lucky, all she would get would be a few scratches. For me, though...
I closed my eyes. Sakura screamed.
Right before the tank hit me in a fiery ball of inferno, I remembered Sakura's kind smile.
Fuck me.
...If only there was another time...
I think I saw the remnants of the amulet twinkle and shine...like the stars up in the night sky.
An old memory...a warm embrace...
"Big brother, it's morning. Wake up."
A familiar voice. A familiar warmth. Sakura. The tank!
I jumped up, gasping. My body was drenched in a cold sweat.
Grabbing Sakura by the shoulders, I hugged her. I didn't know why, but I hugged her.
A deep-rooted fear of losing her? No, it must be my nerves.
Nothing more, nothing less.
...Nothing more, nothing less...
"B-big brother...?", Sakura asked timidly, unsure what she should do. A soft hand gently caressed my hair.
"...Sakura."
I couldn't let go.
I hated her, so fucking much.
Status Summary (servant style evaluation)
Name: Shinji (14)
Rewind Number: 1
Strength: A+
Agility: E
Toughness: C
Mana: -
Luck: E-
Noble Phantasm: ?
Skill:
Knowledge of Magecraft: C+
Monstrous Strength: A
Inferiority Complex: EX
Noble Phantasm:
Rewind the Clock
?Rewind Period: Three Years?
Please let me know your thoughts about this Shinji-kun.
I've always found Shinji as a more 'human' character if you get what I mean. A boy who went off the deep end due to impossible expectations and obsessions. A wild chihuahua, lol.
Review and all that good stuff! X-kalibuuuur, out.