Note: When Archer gets a chance to shine past all the oneshots. Here we go.

Sparkle 9: To Be Careful with Your Words

There were a few crucial factors that made up first impressions. Appearances, voice, eye contact. Archer was familiar with many of them thanks to being — well, having once been human. Memories nonwithstanding, it could go in either direction. To get along or not. To be irritating or not.

Even as a Servant, Master impressions went around those same categories. The teenager version of Rin from his lost days, he underestimated because she was still a kid.

Tomoko? It was a surprise to say the least.

He never expected to be summoned again. After all, he didn't have a goal. Emiya Shirou would never be him. That was enough. So his battle should've been over. He never expected to be on the end of an accident again.

"Servant Archer, I have answered your summons—" he cut himself off once the sight in front of him registered. A storage shed. A magic circle painted into the ground. And in front of him, a bewildered teenage girl with bright blue eyes and long black hair that screamed a likeness to Rin if not for the different bangs and the blue hair ribbon on the right side of her face. "Oh," he said, the resignation coming into his voice before he wiped it away with a casual smirk. "So, you're my Master?"

"A-And you're," the girl's voice was squeaky as she continued to stare up at him. She wasn't even complaining, simply shocked. It was better than what he could've asked for. "You're..."

"Archer?"

No. No, no no no no, that wasn't possible. She was in the last Grail War, how could she be— Archer was already turning around once his eyes caught the slight glint of metal armor over a blue dress, and Saber too was staring wide-eyed at him. It was her. Only Saber had those emerald green eyes. "You were summoned?"

It was the same voice. It was Saber.

The girl behind him was mumbling something along the lines of a surprised, "Ohmigosh, aaaaaaguuuu, whatisgoingonhere," before she squeaked a loud, "Y-You two know each other, Saber?"

Archer lightly nodded his head so that he could ignore the urge of covering his ears. Was anyone's voice that high-pitched? Maybe Illya, but still. His new Master was, from the looks of it, a teenage girl. How was it that high?

At the same time, Saber didn't have Excalibur in her hands, thank goodness, but her shoulders were tense anyways. "He was both an ally and enemy in the previous Grail War I fought, milady." Her voice had already shed the shock in exchange for grim tension, but she still had her fists clenched. "Are you really the Archer I know? From the Fifth Holy Grail War?"

With no other words to express his disbelief, Archer said, "If I wasn't, I'd walk up to Gilgamesh and kiss him while dragging my past self over to take pictures."

Saber's shoulders relaxed as understanding bloomed in her eyes. "I didn't take you as a man who would do that so easily."

Archer let himself laugh. The irony in how he was summoned again, just to meet the sword who started everything for him. "I don't think I'd like the idea either."

Saber smiled wryly at him. "As strange as the circumstances is, it's good to meet you again, Archer." She offered a hand towards him. "Welcome to the new world."

Archer reached out and grasped it, shaking firmly. "It's good to meet you again too, Saber." Without killing one another, was left unsaid. "But," he blinked, "new world?"

Saber smiled and once Archer turned around, the other girl was already on her feet, brushing off some dust from her dress before smiling at him. "Well," she said gently, "How about we bring you inside the house and get you something to eat, Archer-san?" Her smile was hesitant, almost like Sakura's. "I can make some sandwiches."

It wasn't the most expected welcome, but it was a start.

Archer already decided he liked this girl better than Rin from first impressions alone.

The second thing Archer couldn't help but note was how open his new Master was. Rin wasn't a bad Master per say, simply reckless and prideful when it came to her skill as a Magus. It still hurt remembering what he had to do to help her win the Holy Grail, and getting on the rough sides of both Lancer and Gilgamesh made the memories all the more sour. It hurt not being able to tell her that he was a Shirou she once knew.

Still, Tomoko didn't ask questions. It began with a simple invitation into her home, watching her work around the kitchen with the occasional fumble, and hearing her talk with Saber that confirmed his suspicions.

His new Master wasn't a Magus. If anything, she was a pure-bred civilian.

But the energy she was emitting, the world he and Saber were now in, it was all different. It didn't help his paranoia.

"I'm surprised you turn your back on me, Master, when I could easily put a blade through your spine if I was someone else."

That was all it took for Tomoko to stop doing her work, and to turn to look at him with a questioning eyebrow. "But you're not someone else, you're Saber's friend—"

"Ally," Saber corrected softly.

"Sorry about that, Saber," Tomoko amended with an apologetic smile. "But yes, Saber's ally, and you haven't done anything that warrants distrust now, have you?"

Archer, for the first time in a while, found himself blinking. She was trusting him that easily? "You're quite the strange Master," he said instead.

"That comes with the job description of 'ninja-serving pianist," was the musing reply back. "Still. Not 'Master,' Archer." Tomoko turned back to the stove to focus on cooking eggs, but the approving smile on Saber's face was unmistakable. "You can use my name. I'm not magician material, but we'll be living together for a while now." A tilt of her head, and Archer could see the soft sparkle in her blue eyes. "I'm Tomoko. Welcome to my house, Archer."

For once that entire day, Archer's chest felt strangely warm from the new connection.

Nagareboshi Cafe was a welcome change of pace. Not exactly "salvation" from his previous work as a Counter Guardian, but it was close. For once, there was no Holy Grail to destroy, no annoying blue Lancers to fend off, and there were no immediate fights to handle.

Even if he had to deal with the massive number of Assassins — no, ninja — occupying his customer base. Cooking was an alright distraction, but the massive amount of natural energy in the air could've been choking to anyone inexperienced.

He did not want to start thinking on the energy that summoned him in the first place, or how it seemed to leak out every single time his new Master played the piano.

Still, Tomoko didn't seem to mind, if her flying tackle hugs to a few ninja were any indication. Saber's response to the situation was a mere shake of her head and a mouthed, "This is normal."

"How normal?"

"Her best friend is a ninja and her father is a retired one."

Archer decided to not ask any further. Seeing Saber in the best approximation of a butler outfit was a good enough sign to.

Everyone was courteous. It all seemed fine. It felt nice to smirk without anyone calling him out.

The first time Tomoko said those three words, he thought he was dreaming.

Archer?

What is it?

Mental dialogue had become common by the time the moment happened. Even on the quietest of work days, Tomoko was a courteous Master who didn't ask for things unless she absolutely needed it, and even if it was annoying the first few times from her being too hesitant, Saber's happy demeanor around her said otherwise. It was the most respect he could ask for, being a Heroic Spirit, so the least he could do was humor her when she did prod for something on the rare occasion.

...Well. Her mental voice cracked.

Archer absently wiped down a wet dish in the sink. The silence meant she was in thought, probably overthinking and needing advice. Just in case, he made sure to keep the mental link private enough so that it didn't accidentally include Saber. The first few times Archer overheard Tomoko and Saber converse was... something. Private and he was being a bit of an asshole in not diverging that fact. Then again, his Master was a civilian. Like Sakura, but not Rin.

You don't have to be hesitant, Tomoko. I'll be frank with you — we've lived together long enough to where I don't believe you have to be so quiet. What is it?

A pause that hinted at some kind of fidgeting followed, and Archer waited. It wouldn't be right to yell or anything. He was washing dishes, so there was no rush.

...I just wanted to tell you something.

There was some progress. Yes?

...Um. Don't laugh?

Of course not. What is it, Master?

Iloveyou.

He blinked. His hearing must've been fooling him, or his language comprehension, because through the emotional bond, there was an unmistakable outflow of embarrassment and disbelief. Repeat that?

Something along the lines of uguuuuu followed. He couldn't help but hope he was deluding himself, because the embarrassment flowing into the bond was far too heavy. J-Just wanted to say, "Thank you," Archer. And, well. Another small pause. Archer could already guess that her cheeks were turning pink. Then the three words dropped. I love you.

Archer couldn't help but drop his washcloth.

Saber was passing by behind him, just to glance at his shaking hands over his shoulder and chuckle. "She finally said it, hasn't she?"

"What?" he choked out. Master? Are you fooling around right now?

Nonononono, NO! I really mean it! You've been here for a while, helping Mama, Papa and I a lot, so I really do mean it! You're amazing, Archer!

Fuck. The innocent tone and the panic that followed all went into the final conclusion of how she meant every single word.

How did such a girl survive? Even better, how did she find this acceptable timing?!

Even in this world where there was no other Servants, this girl was going to be the death of him. His cheeks were already starting to burn and he turned away to not focus on Saber's teasing smile.

"Our Master is quite affectionate, so with that said, welcome to the ranks, Archer!"

"Oh, shut up, Saber," Archer muttered into his hand. Being a socially inept teenage boy again was not a good feeling. Tomoko?

Uh, yes?

Please reserve that for when you're physically in front of me. And when there's no one else around.

...Was that too soon? I'm sorry!

Archer suppressed a sigh just as Saber looked away, shoulders shaking. No, no. You're simply far too careless with your words, Master.

Is that a bad thing — wait. Oiiiiii. What did I say about calling me Master, Archer?

Archer rolled his eyes. You're quite the silly girl, Master.

Hey hey HEY, I know that already and I'm proud of it! A pause followed before she added a quiet, I'm short, but I can still be proud of that.

Huh. Extra bit of material to use and the first bit of sass from his usually kind Master. Tomoko was accommodating, but never really one for comebacks. Until now. What a Master he ended up with this time. Now how to calm down the organ in his chest...

Another day to tackle in the cafe's kitchen, ignoring Saber's laughter.