08—Antagony

In the archery dojo, lunch finishes to little fanfare. Fujimura's and Makidera's contentious discussion about which club merits more meritorious accolades ends in a draw, with both debaters deciding to discuss the issue further at another time. Scraps from plates are scraped into a bin, and the plates themselves are gathered into the cloth sack which carried what was used to prepare the sandwiches everyone has enjoyed.

"Well, see ya all later!" Makidera waves over her shoulder as she slides the dojo's door open. "And thanks for the lunch invite, Matou!"

Sakura frowns at the form of address, but says nothing. Behind Makidera, Saegusa and Himuro stand, waiting for her to step through so they can follow.

"Would love to stay and chat more, but we need to take advantage of what time we've got to get our track times down!" Pinching her eyes shut, Makidera flashes a wide grin, while Saegusa sighs, shaking her head and frowning.

Makidera steps out, and Himuro follows close by. Saegusa pauses, casting a last glance over her shoulder toward Sakura, and the other person she shouldn't even be able to see. After a polite smile, light bow, and small wave, which both Sakura and Rider return with a small smile of their own, she departs as well, following the other two as they head for the track to begin what will doubtlessly be a rigorous and draining training session.

"I'll take these home so they can be washed," Fujimura says, holding the cloth sack now stacked with plates and cutlery. "And these should be returned to the faculty fridge…" she mutters, glancing down at, then collecting the two condiment containers she'd commandeered from said fridge. "And this… may as well?"

Saying this while eyeing the bread, she collects that also, depositing it in the cloth sack with everything else.

"So, what will you be doing for the rest of today, Fujimura-sensei?" Sakura asks, returning from sliding the dojo door closed.

"Hm…?" Tapping her chin, Fujimura arches her brow. "Well, I'd planned to take Itchi-chan shopping for some clothes…" Looking down at what the girl wears, Fujimura frowns, wrinkling her face. The drab, depressing colors seem to sap any semblance of joy from the surrounding air, even if a person didn't know what the one wearing them was currently enduring. "She can't be wearing the same thing every single day, can she?" Shaking her head, she lets out a long, despondent sigh. "But for that, we'll need to go home first, and see if I can borrow some money from dad…" As she says this, she pulls out her wallet, which she snaps open, pouting down at it. "Nothing's changed since this morning…" After another sigh, she glances down at Shizuka with a forlorn smile, then looks back up at Sakura, who works to clean the crumbs from the table, sweeping them into her hand.

"And what about you, Sakura-chan?"

"Me?" Finished with brushing the dregs into the bin, she rubs her hands over it, scattering into it what few stubborn bits still cling to her palms. "Well…" Moving toward the archery yard, she looks through it, staring at the building where she knows Shirou is likely finishing, or has already finished with, his classes. "Senpai said he had a few things left to help Ryuudou-senpai with. I was planning to wait for him."

"Ah…" Hearing her words, Fujimura flashes a knowing grin. "So you can walk together?"

"Er, yes…"

Fidgeting, Sakura's eyes hit the floor like dropped weights as a brief flash of red washes over her complexion. Enjoying her reaction, Fujimura presses further.

"So, what will you do while you're waiting?"

"While I'm waiting…?" Hearing the question, she stops fidgeting, instead lifting and laying her finger alongside her chin, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure…"

"Well, you could always go help him, right?" Moving to stand next to her, wearing a wide, pressed grin, her shining eyes reflecting the noonday sun, and just a hint of playful mischief, Fujimura nudges Skura in the rib with her elbow, causing her to jump. "Maybe get to spend some quality time together?"

Sakura settles from the nudge, but not from Fujimura's words. The brief flash of red returns, deepening in her complexion. But the flustered flutter in her chest at those words lasts only a moment before she's taken by a deep smile, looking down as her hair drifts back, caught in a gentle breeze coasting into the dojo through the open wall.

She nods. "Maybe…"

Fujimura blinks, surprised at Sakura's uncharacteristically subdued reaction. She then smiles herself before departing with Shizuka in tow, leaving Sakura with her thoughts. By the time Sakura realizes she's alone, the clock on the wall's long hand is just a hair before the five.

Well, that sounds like a better use of my time.

Thinking this, her deep smile widens as she heads for the door as well, clicking off the room's light on her way out.


With it being Saturday, classes end when lunch would normally begin, with the sun passed its apex, painting everything red and orange. The school bell sounds, and Shirou works to gather his books, papers, pencils, and whatever else he's scattered about his desk while busying himself with schoolwork. The few remaining students trickle out until it's just him, agitated at their delay. When the last has finally left, the clock reads half-past.

He turns from it with a sigh, preparing to finish what he'd begun a few days ago; repairing that which he's able. Looking down at his hands, then at the classroom's heater on it's last legs, he frowns.

"Right, I'll need my tools…" he mutters, moving toward the door and pulling it open.

Stepping through, he turns into the hall, then stops short at the presence there he'd not detected until that moment, looking up to see who's there.

"Sakura…?" Surprised, he shakes his head to clear his thoughts. "What happened? I said I had to help—"

"Ryuudou-senpai, right?" Sakura shows a warm smile and nods her understanding. "I remember. But Fujimura-sensei thought instead of idling at the school gate waiting, I could just… you know…"

Words failing her, she gestures at the classroom, and Shirou finds an inkling of understanding.

"She said to help?" He chuckles, running his hand through his hair. "I mean, I don't mind. And it does seem like a better use of your time…"

She blinks at his words, an echo of her own thoughts from not five minutes ago, while he nods, then motions for her to follow as he heads for the council room where he keeps his tool carrier.


With Sakura's help, the work flows. It's not much. Mostly handing off a tool or holding a worn wire in place while Shirou melts in some solder. Or holding a few screws so she can pass them off to him, one at a time.

"Ah… Senpai?"

As he works through fixing the last heater, noticing something about how he's working, Sakura speaks up. Shirou looks up, holding the next screw between his teeth, arching his brow.

"Oh, I just noticed… You're using your magecraft…?"

Smiling around the screw, he spits it into his free hand, the other occupied holding a screwdriver, so he can give a proper reply.

"Well, yeah. It makes it easier to figure out where the problems are with these things." He looks down at the heater as he slips the last screw into place, then sets about tightening it. "It's about all I'm good at, really. But at least it's useful for things like this."

Sakura crouches down, nodding, then rests her chin in her hands, watching enamored as he works through getting the screw fixed in place, then re-tightens the rest.


Elsewhere, the school day ends, leaving Tohsaka feeling ill at ease. Despite Archer informing her that the Servant he'd sensed has since stopped following them around, it's very presence is more than enough cause for concern.

I really hoped everything he said this morning was baseless paranoia. But there wouldn't be a Servant without a Master, and I need to discover who that Master is. Especially if they'd so brazenly cart them around the school like—

She sighs, shaking her head and stopping herself mid-thought.

—Like I'm one to talk. It wouldn't be a stretch for a Master to bring their Servant here, since I did just that very thing. But still. With two Servants and two Masters, it's only a matter of time until we meet. And I won't let them get the jump on me. Let alone drag other people into this.

The school bell sounds, signaling the day's end and pulling her from her thoughts. Outside, the sun sits low in the sky. With the winter days being shorter, it will soon complete its descent, bereaving the land of its life-giving light and warmth and implying an invitation to the less savory elements who've been anticipating this conflict's beginning.

Tohsaka glances around the classroom, finding it empty. In the short time before that became true, Mitsuzuri had given her a playful jab about still having Taiasu in her company, then departed, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She breathes out another frustrated sigh, kneading her forehead and deciding her move.

If there is another Master at this school, I have to make sure haven't done anything that might endanger the students or faculty.

She looks over at Archer, standing unseen nearby.

Aside from his warning to her about the other Servant's presence, he'd been silent the entire day, only breaking it when he'd gleefully mentioned a feigned concern about one of Tohsaka's classmates seemingly casting glances in his direction. Taiasu had maintained a similar silence, finding nothing worth talking with her about, and still trying to wrap his head around how Sakura could feel anything toward Shinji outside resentment.

"We need to investigate the school, Archer."

She then glances down at Taiasu, who stands stiffly, glaring at the floor like it'd just insulted his lineage.

Hm…? What's he so irritated about?

Reaching down, she prods his shoulder, breaking him out of his stupor. "Something on your mind, Taruko-kun?"

"Huh?" Taiasu shakes his head, dismissing his train of thought about Sakura's brother so it can fester in the darker places in his mind. "No… I mean, not really. Just thinking about someone I don't particularly care for…"

"Well, you should probably stop. No reason to let them live there rent-free," she says, poking his forehead. Smirking, she then stands and heads for the classroom door. "After all, if you're going to make good on what you said this morning, you'll need to be paying attention to what's going on around you, right?"

Chuckling at the thought, she slides the door open. Taiasu doesn't share in her mirth as he walks toward the door, held open by Tohsaka as she waits for him to pass through. Looking up at the door, he frowns again, then shakes his head, sighing.

Damn it. I was supposed to do that.


Shirou drops the screwdriver he's been holding into the tool carrier, where it rattles before rolling to a rest.

"That's the last of it," he says, gathering a few other miscellaneous odds and ends while Sakura collects what few are near her, setting them inside the tool carrier as well. "Thanks for the help, Sakura. With that, we might've saved fifteen minutes." He grins as he says this, and Sakura puffs her cheeks, feigning indignity. "But seriously, thank you. I usually have to do this alone because, well…"

He waves his hands about, making strange noises.

"People can't see me doing stuff like that, so it's nice having someone I can talk with while I work."

Sakura breathes the air out of her cheeks, and she returns his sincere smile with her own.

"Not at all. It was pleasant getting to spend time watching you work, Senpai."

Their small talk ends, and they head toward the door. Shirou slides it open, then steps through first. Sakura's about to follow when he holds his hand out, stopping her. She only barely catches his smile hardening into a frown as he pulls the door closed, leaving her blinking at it blankly. Through the door, she can hear the muffled tones of another discussion starting. She recognizes the second voice instantly.

"Oh, you're still here, Emiya?"

And with that recognition comes swift understanding.

Nii-san…?

She turns, resting her back against the door and trying to pick up what she can. Outside the classroom, Shirou places himself between Shinji and the door as he finishes pulling it closed.

I don't know what he'd say or do if he saw Sakura, and I don't really care. It'll just be easier this way.

Behind Shinji, two girls in school uniforms with brown hair, one darker than the other wearing dark stockings while the other wears simple half-length white socks follow closely, tittering and giggling, though about what Shirou doesn't know.

"Even with nothing to do?" Shinji says through a cold smirk. He then looks at the door behind Shirou, who could swear that smirk darkens. "Ah, I see. Sticking up for the student council again? It must be nice, being able to get good reports from the school despite not being in any clubs."

Already tired from this interaction, Shirou's hard frown deepens, and he sighs. "I wasn't doing anything for the council. It only makes sense for students who can to work on keeping up the school's equipment, right? Since we're the ones using it."

Shinji just shrugs. "Sure, keep talking like that. Everything comes naturally to you, doesn't it?" He then leans in close, slamming his hand against the door. On the other side, Sakura startles at the sound, barely able to suppress her surprised yelp.

"So, how was she last night?" His dark smirk lifts into a leering grin as he speaks in a hushed tone.

"Huh?" Shirou leans his head, trying to parse Shinji's words. "How was…? Oh." Despite the open provocation, he relaxes his mouth into a placid, neutral line. "You mean Sakura. She's fine, if that's what you're asking."

"Oh, I'm sure she's fine…" Shinji hisses smoothly. "In fact, I know she is. It's impossible not to notice lately, after all."

"Hey, Shinji." Shirou pushes his hand into Shinji's chest, moving him back. "What are you doing, talking about your own sister like that?"

Surprised, Shinji takes a step back as his smirk falls away. It doesn't stay gone long, returning heavy with contempt. "Do we really need to have this discussion again, Emiya?" With his hands at his sides, he shakes his head, scoffing. He leans in again, speaking low to keep the discussion between them, so the girls looking on from behind can't overhear. "You're right. She is my sister. Which means I'm free to talk about her however I like."

He snickers again, then takes a step back. "Every guy in the school's noticed." Shinji breathes out a slow sigh. "Even you, I'm sure. Whether or not you pretend you have. Speaking of, have I ever told you how much I hate that goody-two-shoes act you put on?"

Behind the door, Sakura stiffens as Shinji's whispered, venomous barbs seep through and sink into her again. Just hearing them threatens to shatter the sealed door in her mind, holding back her darker memories.

In the hall, Shirou frowns at his implications, then shakes his head again.

I'd love to clobber him again, but getting into another fight with him here over this, now… I'd ask him about that mark he left on Sakura, too, but I know where that would go. It's not worth it. Not with those two girls hanging around, and Sakura waiting inside.

So, keeping their discussion moving along, he addresses Shinji's rhetorical question directly. "Sorry, I can't say I recall hearing that. Even if I had, I probably just assumed it's something you'd say and didn't pay much attention to it."

Shinji's smirk falters into a frigid frown as, one after the other, his provocations don't evoke the desired response. Behind his teeth, he clicks his tongue so loud it Shirou can hear it. His eyes narrow as his gaze hardens into a seething glare.

"Alright, fine. So have you finished fixing everything in the school, then?"

Shirou shakes his head. "For tonight, but fixing everything is impossible. The best I can do is maintain what I can."

"Sounds like you're done here then, at least. So if you are, then you can do your old archery club mate a favor. See, the club's in a bit of a mess right now." He folds his arms, eyeing Shirou from the side. "Disordered and what not, and some bows need to be restrung. Surely you have time to spare for that? Unless you've committed it all to the student council?"

Behind him, the girls who've been watching and waiting quietly finally speak up. "Wait, Senpai? Didn't Fujimura-sensei tell you to do that?" the darker-haired of the two asks.

The girl with the lighter hair follows up with her own observation. "Right? You'll be scolded tomorrow if you don't do it properly…"

Shinji sighs, shaking his head, then turns to look at the two. "Yes, but if I start now, we'll miss that beautiful sunset, remember?" He recasts his minor frown into another smile. "The one I was going to share with you two?"

The girls exchange uncertain glances before speaking up again. "I don't know… He's an outsider, right? Would he even know how?" the darker-haired girl comments again, after which the other comments, "But Shinji said he used to be in the club, right? So it should be fine to let him do it."

Shirou glances at the girls as they vent their impatience. Hm… I don't recognize either of them. He must've recruited them recently.

Smirking now, Shinji looks back at Shirou, letting his arms relax at his side. "Then I'll leave it to you, unless you've got a problem with it? The key's in the usual place, so feel free."

Shirou looks at the classroom door, frowning. Any other day, it wouldn't be a problem, but with Sakura with me… But if I refuse, he might suspect something's up… Damn it…

He sighs, then nods. "No, it's fine. It's not bad to do this sort of thing once in a while."

"Haha, thanks!" Shinji shows a full-faced grin. "Well, with that settled, we can leave the boring chores to him. Let's get going, girls!"

Shinji turns, leaving Shirou at his back. But after a few steps, he stops again at the classroom door and slams his palm into it. On the other side, Sakura again has to clamp down on her lip to stop her startled surprise from escaping.

Looking at his palm, Shinji shrugs. "Guess I was seeing things. I could've sworn there was a bug there…" He grins again, chuckling to himself as he makes his way down the hall.

"Oh, wait, Senpai!" the girl with the lighter-brown hair calls after him. She then turns toward Shirou, offering a shallow bow. "Yes, thank you for taking care of that for us, Senpai."

Both girls turn to follow Shinji, who lets out another deep-throated chuckle. "Yes, we wouldn't want to miss the sunset. It's absolutely breathtaking to watch from the roof."

Still frowning, Shirou watches the trio turn down the hall, heading for the nearest staircase.


'He knew you were here, Sakura…'

Sakura nods while, in her head, she hears Rider state in her smooth, calming cadence what was only too obvious before answering, 'But I wonder how…? It sounds like he's left, at least, so it should be fine for us—'

The door behind her slides open, and she stumbles back. Surprised, Shirou snaps out his arms to catch her, helping her get her balance back. She lets out a deep and relieved sigh. Just feeing his hands against her back pushes from her every ill feeling stirred by Shinji's blatant provocations.

"Sorry about that, Sakura…" Shirou mutters, pulling his hands back. "I mean, the door, but also for… you know, making you wait in here."

As she turns to face him, his eyes drift toward her wrist, then harden into a frustrated glare. One Sakura doesn't notice as she takes in a deep breath to settle herself further before donning another calm smile.

"It's fine, Senpai. I understand…"

"I'm glad… But now I have to deal with the cleaning the dojo." His glare shifts to the floor. "It'd be fine any other day, but today it's just going to be a big inconvenience for you, isn't it?"

Sakura shakes her head, then looks up as her smile widens into a grin. "No, it's fine, Senpai!" Repeating herself, she turns, then walks opposite the way Shinji had gone. "After all, I've been trying to get you to go back there, so it's perfect."

Shirou blinks at her back, then glances outside, watching as the sun's base touch the horizon. He then turns, and his hard frown relaxes into a light smile as he moves to catch up.


Few students remain in the school as Tohsaka moves through the halls at a swift pace. Faster than casual, but not so fast as to appear rushed. Even with Taiasu close in tow, those who idle about pay her little regard.

How could they? Between the imposed curfew mandating the need to return home and the weighty decision of what to do with the rest of the day, the peculiar behavior of one otherwise flawless girl could only serve as fuel for Monday's lunchroom gossip.

Finding fewer and fewer students remaining brings with it mixed feelings of relief and desolate isolation. The need to conduct such business in secret is paramount, and that those who've left are out of any potential harm's way is certainly a weight lifted from her chest and shoulders.

Yet as they make their way through the school, heading for the stairs to descend to the first floor, and to the commons outside, the distinct lack of anyone else leaves everything quiet, and deathly still, only broken by the consistent, echoing click accompanying each step she takes against the finely polished hall floor. A grating sound, grinding in her ears, contesting with her heart pounding in her chest and head for her attention.

It feels like everything is coming to a head… Open conflict must be inevitable. Archer sensing another Servant is proof enough. How much longer could it be until we find another Master…?

Their descent ends, and they make their way toward the western doors, leading to the outdoor commons. As she reaches for the door, Tohsaka swallows hard, a thin film lining the inside of her mouth, all the way down her throat.

Or a Master finds us. I have to be ready for that, too.

Firming herself up, she gives a determined nod, then moves to push against the door, only to stumble forward outside. Spinning to see what happened, she spots Taiasu stepping through behind her, letting the door glide closed before he turns, looking up with a small frown.

"Sorry…" he mumbles.

After blinking a few times, she chuckles, finding the simple gesture settles her anxious heart. "No, it's fine. Thanks."


With Taiasu and Archer following, Tohsaka makes a thorough inspection of the school grounds, exploiting every available moment of sunlight possible, and even taking advantage of Archer's keen senses.

Both his eyesight and acute spiritual sense.

Their investigation begins with the commons outside, west of the main building.

A careful examination turns up nothing of concern. Nothing in the grass filling in the space between the brick-paved walkways, or among the trees lining the perimeter. Even the small fountain in the center, the most obvious place to plant something dangerous for being empty of water for the bitter winter weather, sits innocuous in the light of the setting sun, betraying no hints of tampering.

From there, they move around the building into the schoolyard; an open area paved with dirt, where no grass or trees grow. Their efforts turn over nothing nefarious. Just a few stragglers, each of whom pays them little more concern than a curious glance as they cross the yard, making their way east, toward the school's gate.

"What are we looking for?" Taiasu asks, unable to bear the quiet, but also a touch curious as they stalk north across the grounds toward the archery range.

"I don't know for certain…" Tohsaka mutters, biting her thumbnail. "But I'm sure I'll know if we find it. Just try to keep your head down."

Everything that's happened that day, from Archer's warnings to his gleeful revelation about the other Servant, has her on edge.

I hope we find nothing, but honestly, I just wish we'd find something now, so it didn't feel like I was wasting all my time. Sometimes I hate being the town's overseer…


End Notes

Just before posting this chapter, I had to make a significant revision. The initial introduction, which I've moved to the start of another chapter further along, actually made absolutely no sense here. Unfortunately, such things tend to happen in the absence of a beta reader :-/

And that change actually brought with it another thought that will bring more changes, as changes are wont to do. Like skipping a pebble across the surface of a placid pond, such things are just inevitable.

Fortunately, it matters little as the pre-changed chapters haven't yet been released. And the changes are all forward-facing, so nothing should need to be revised in the chapters which have already been posted.

Unfortunately, it might delay their release, as I need to make sure everything is done smoothly. And finding the time, energy, and motivation all at once to do such things is, as often the case, more of a chore than it should be.

With that said, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it!