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FICTION

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Chapter 7: Crush, Dinner and Worm

Having long served the Emiya-Einzbern Household for more than a decade, Sella was someone that had seen so much weird things in her life.

Not 'weird' of the Magus kind, but still relatively strange compared to a normal lifetime.

As much as Kiritsugu and Lady Irisviel had tried to keep both of their children from dealing with the affairs of the Moonlit World, the fact that young Illya was caught by the two adults dabbling with a Mystic Code created by Zelretch was no little concerning.

The Wizard Marshal, albeit the very responsible for making it possible for both parents to give a harmless life for their family, was still someone that was known for dealing with high-level threats.

Discovering that cards connected to another Holy Grail War had suddenly appeared in their dimension had been something that had worried the older Emiya the most.

It wasn't much difficult to pick up that if the ones responsible for the cards managed to reach this plane of existence, any ritual relative to the Grail (even an alternative one) could activate the long-deactivated Lesser Grail functions within Lady Irisviel's body.

Precautions were already being taken, the Magus Killer having managed to get in contact Touko Aozaki thanks to some old contacts in Clock Tower and planned an appointment to completely remove the inactive Grail-relative functions.

Still the man was quite nervous, Sella could see that the former mercenary had gotten slightly more attentive of his wife and she hardly could fault the extra layer of protection the man was capable of affording to protect the former Einzbern Heiress.

It didn't help that another issue had roused out from even another dimension.

The serious maid had hardly followed the subject regarding this supposed 'Matou' and the interesting move he had managed to pull in such limited frame of time.

The Einzbern castle in Fuyuki, which had been mostly inactive for almost sixty decades, was now fully operational under the cautious rule of this new Magus.

It was intriguing, but the maid would hardly give it too much of a brief thought during her day. The young Homunculus had so many things to do and someone that had already proved to be friendly to both Kiritsugu and Lady Irisviel was not something worth of fearing nor consider truly a threat.

She was a humble servant of Lady Irisviel, nothing more and nothing less.

And yet, as she heard the bell by the door ring while she was finishing to prepare the dinner (Shirou had been running late because of his Archery club that day and had left the 'rightful' ruler of the kitchen undisturbed), Sella finished her current task to go for the main foyer of the household, knowing full well that her 'twin' was still watching some TV program from the comfy sofa in the living room.

The young woman reached for the entrance and, adjusting her posture, she went to open the door and-

She blinked.

I blinked back at Sella, waiting for her surprise to cease as we all waited to be allowed inside.

Much to my dismay, I discovered from a cheeky Gilgamesh that the effects of the growth potion were going to last few hours longer than I had expected as the duration was not something calibrated within the potion.

Something that I found oddly weird since the chibified King of Heroes had initially stated that his treasury contained Quality objects and… the potion wasn't?

Shrugging at this odd details and ignoring the blond's attempts to get picked up in my arms, I had to spend most of the few hours before the dinner to finally convince Chloe of coming to the event.

It was a difficult discussion, one that got heated more than once as I knew I was poking at some sore spots in the girl's still fragmented mind.

Sure, I was helping up by showing support and suggesting her some path to take in the recovery, but the road to make a full one would take months if not years to achieve as I had been reminded quite recently of a small, but significant detail of her psyche.

Chloe was sure made by the sealed pieces of Illya's mind and Archer's memories, but the very fragments that made her original self came also by Justeaze herself. The girl wasn't trying to harmonize just 'Illya' and 'EMIYA', but also 'Justeaze von Einzbern'.

The grand clan leader had left quite the large content of information in her descendants and that was something not even Kuro could grasp completely.

I suppose that she had unconsciously created a filter between the Illya-EMIYA mix and the first Lesser Grail's extensive knowledge, letting just some bits of information relative to a topic inside her head when required by the situation.

Luvia had been easier to convince. The blonde had appeared initially skeptical to join a dinner with someone that had 'so deceitfully' tried to 'outsmart' me. She had followed that reasoning with some strange praise towards me and by strange I mean something awkwardly trying to flatter me for my 'grand acumen' in 'shedding some light' over 'the dangerous Einzbern'.

The last bit she had excused herself for as she went on to say that it was just the 'cadet' branch of the family and not Chloe's 'Pure branch'.

This logic was kind of amusing when it repeated back in my head, considering that there wasn't truly a division within the German Magus family but…

I might be wrong but… I think Luvia here was trying to use her basic knowledge of politics between families to make sense of what was going on.

It was a wrong thinking, but the girl was genuinely putting an effort in formulating a proper explanation to herself about what was going on, something she had little clues about as Kuro had been adamant to keep our private discussions… private.

Gilgamesh was quick to accept the offer to join up, much to my chagrin, and the one that gave me the most trouble was, surprisingly enough, Salter.

The Alter version of Artoria Pendragon had still some memories about the Emiya family. I don't know if it was because of her remembering from the 'original' Grail Wars or if it was the Ainsworth Grail having given her that much information, but she had been quite… drastic in her reaction to the news.

Golden eyes widening in surprise, she snarled a little before forming her armor and Excalibur Morgan, her mind set to utterly crush the reason why she had 'suffered' for some reason.

The chibi Sta-rcher was quick to bring out his trusty Enkidu out from the Gate of Babylon, willing it to keep the enraged woman in place as I tried to salvage the situation.

"Artoria, I-" "I will not accept letting them free from their faults, Master. Kiritsugu Emiya is-"

"A terrible excuse of a human being, yes." I interceded in her anger-induced rant. "But also need to remember this isn't the same Kerry from.. your timeline."

"He is still a murderer and-" "Irisviel is here too."

Her fury grew cooler as her eyes widened in surprise. "I-Iri?" I was kind of stunned by the fact that she addressed the woman with the nickname but then I remembered that this is the King that ruled with her emotions and she was less restrained in showing some warmth for that individual.

"She is alive, happily married with a retired Kiritsugu and… with two kids."

The Tyrant blinked again. "S-Shirou?" I had to genuinely restrain myself from scowling as I heard her tone getting a soft shade and… why?

Why was I getting mad at the fact she was still attached to her Shirou?

I wasn't supposed to have nice things, so why I was getting mad? It wasn't like I was the protagonist of a story.

"He is a normal school student that is not sticking for some heroic ideal." He is happy, I had wanted to say, but I guess I just wanted to get curt in my response. For some reason my throat was itching.

The young woman nodded slowly at my brief reply and… smiled in my direction. "Master, why are you getting flustered?"

The blunt query was confusing, so much confusing that I was blinking and -poke- I turned to see the owner of the small hand touching my cheek, a smug looking Gilgamesh pressing further as to- show that I was indeed flushing, blood warming up my face.

"I think Shinji is getting irritated by Lady Saber's interest in the nicer version of the Faker." The little brat eagerly pointed out, further exploiting my growing embarrassment to my current reaction.

Enkidu was slowly removed from restraining the now casually-wearing Tyrant as she… fell on her knees and bowed my direction.

NOW I am confused.

"Master, I am sorry. I didn't mean to be this interested in someone that isn't truly there." She paused a moment, causing me to tilt my head at her sudden action. "I will skip ten of your delicious meals as a punishment."

…

I was kind of perplexed to what I was supposed to do and… decided to reply crazy with crazier.

Sitting on the ground in front of the still bowing young woman, I sighed. "Come here."

She raised her head just enough for her eyes to pick my gesture and she blinked in surprise.

Few moments later, she had her eyes closed as I continued to carefully caress her head as she rested it on my lap.

Yes, I was giving Salter a goddang Lap-pillow and… it was kind of nice. The quietness of the room (excluding the pouting from Gilgamesh at being ignored) was kind of relaxing and the calm expression in her face was… heart-warming.

I wonder how happy she was, away from the duties of being a ruler, to fully experience the beauty of a simple life.

Her eyes opened and she stared up at me. "M-Master, why aren't you mad?"

A sigh left my mouth and I cracked a little smile. "I suppose I have no reason to be truly mad at you, Artoria." She blinked in surprise but I continued. "You were merely remembering a good period of your existence, the first time you tasted a good kind of life."

"B-But I shouldn't be focusing on the past. The present-" She hummed for a moment, her face scrunching in thought as she found it difficult to pick up words at my kind ministrations distracting her. "The present is currently good-no, it is better than I have ever experienced and-"

"You are a kind being, Shinji." We both glanced at Gilgamesh as he decided to sit beside me. "I have ruled enough to know when one is trying to mask insecurity and yours isn't something that should exist."

"I am a simple human." I stated out loud. "Barely a Magus-"

"But you are more than worth of my attention, even Lady Saber surely considers you that." The girl nodded and I sighed. "And then there is your dull sighing." He scowled mockingly.

"You are good, Shinji. Never question that."

It was a very strange ending to that warm moment, but I felt like the words answered some unknown questions that I had in me. I wonder what it was all about…

Anyway, I think the brief digression can now be wrapped up as I have a dinner to be focused onto.

Sella slowly backed away from the door, making way for us all to enter inside the foyer and-

"I AM READY-IIIIIH!" I heard loud footsteps descending from the stairs in front of the entrance and I saw a familiar girl slipping off and launching towards us but… I caught her without much hesitation.

My chest and back taking the brunt of the impact, I hugged Illya close for brief moments to fully stop her momentum, letting her go just as she was safe to be released.

Red-faced, embarrassed at that foolish situation, she bowed her head continuously. "I'm sorry, Shinji-san!"

"That was a close call, Illya. You should be carefully to not run while using the stairs and-"

It was kind of funny how I was literally chiding someone 'five years my senior' and she had yet to take notice of that.

Few moments later, a properly lectured magical girl skipped towards the dining room while I was stopped by Chloe tugging my sleeve.

Some bangs of her hair were covering her expression, her scowl the only thing evident as- "So you can pick someone my age in your arms."

I blinked, paling a little as I saw the tanned girl picking some space before running and jumping towards me.

Instinctively, I grabbed her and picked her up, her giggle reaching my ears as she snuggled her head on my shoulder.

Defeated by the cheeky girl, I remembered that there was one individual that would take offense at that situation.

I glanced at Sella and.. she was staring back calmly. There was no hint of disgust at me doing something remotely 'perverted' on her watch but she looked quite tired.

I suppose living with people like Shirou Emiya and Prillya, the maid had to have had some close experiences of the worse kind.

"So… I heard that you are the chef that is going to delight us with some delicious dishes." I smiled a little. "Could you give us some insight over the menu?"

She blinked, her cheeks reddening a little at the indirect compliments. "I-I decided to mix some Japanese to some classic European meals."

I nodded. "Then I am in luck as I would like to taste some European after so long."

Man, I would kill for some Pasta.

Her blush intensified but she didn't reply, her mind switching to the sole role of guiding us to the dining room as Chloe continued to hum as she tried to relax on the annoying hold she had over me.

Leysritt was a simple woman.

To live a happy life, she just needed a couch, some ice cream and a TV with working channels.

Nothing was worthwhile other than that little certain idea of life and yet she was surprised at the cast of guests for dinner.

The tanned Illya behaved pretty similarly to a sophisticated version of the original one, maybe just a little more mature too.

The pale, golden-eyed blonde eating slowly the content of her plate with a disappointed look seemed to be a fellow woman of culture regarding food.

The little blond boy with red-eyes looked like the average little kid from any TV series.

And finally there was the reason why she felt quite bothered that very night.

Smiling kindly as he was trying to fend off the innocent flirting coming from the tanned Illya, this Shinji looked like a protagonist from a Shonen anime.

While his cheeks were sunken and his hair quite unruly in the style they were left into, the warm dark-blue eyes and the genuine care he was giving to those around him was… curious.

Irisviel had been quite tense at first, same for Kiritsugu, but after few minutes of simple eating and chatting both parents seemed to relax more than enough to engage themselves in simple questions with the young man.

Yet Liz wasn't the only one intrigued by the individual as even Sella was giving quick glances his direction, cheeks flaring the few moments Shinji would chuckle at the continuing bantering by the table.

It was interesting to see that even the laborious maid was showing some attention to the unknown element, the very individual that seemed to lack unique details to make him stand out… except his social capacity to do answer at the several questions thrown his way.

But Leysritt was hardly interesting in mere bantering. No, she felt like this Shinji was hiding something truly worthwhile.

Something that felt familiar but also not. It felt like Shinji was someone she needed to know more, that she needed to befriend at all costs.

She blinked, surprise painting her face just a brief moment as she mistakenly recognized this as a sign.

Was this how a heart felt when it went Doki-Doki?

AN

Before everyone starts a crusade for Liz, I want to give a reason behind her sense of connection with Shinji. She is not currently truly crushing on Shinji… she has recognized a major detail of the one inhabiting the brat's body (the SI) and his inherent similarity to her lifestyle.

Couch-potatoes are capable of perceiving each others and… Liz was the first one to notice.

I wonder how things will develop now.

Also yes, the dinner scene is officially going to be dragged into next chapter too and… it will have a surprise ending to it.

About this ending I can only say that people might see it as me going too fast but… it's just a logical addition to the story, nothing that will kick up the following large part of the plot so… yeah.

P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin

REVIEW Q&A!

Merendinoemiliano: Thank you!

Loser Stuck In Memory Lane: Drake will be in the story in… proper circumstances.

PasiveNox: Thank you!

Guest (Chapter 7): Luvia is going to do some interesting stuff once the Prillya saga comes to a close. Especially with Chibi Rin.

Perran Onh: Thank you and sadly the length is the same like last one T.T .