The First Step

The bell signaled the end of class and beginning of lunch break. Kuzuki-sensei, class 2-A's homeroom teacher and the Ethics teacher curtly dismissed the class and went out of the classroom.

The classroom, which was as quiet as an abandoned graveyard suddenly came alive with chatter as soon as their teacher was out of earshot. Kuzuki-sensi, a perfectionist and someone who commanded the respect of every student he taught, was incredibly strict. So naturally, his classes were the quietest in the whole school. Perhaps in all of Fuyuki, even.

Rin put his books away and looked around the crowd. He spotted Mitsuzuri sitting in her seat, rummaging through her bag. Maybe she brought lunch today. Though he wanted to apologize to her and tell her that the confession was a bald-faced lie, he felt incredibly nervous.

Not that Mitsuzuri was an unreasonable person. It was just that the circumstances were so unique that it was impossible for him to anticipate her reaction, which made the act of facing her all the more daunting.

"Man up, Tohsaka." He told himself and took a deep breath. He exhaled as he sprung to his feet and walked towards Mitsuzuri in a businesslike manner that would make Ryudou proud.

"Mitsuzuri-san?" He said briskly once he was within earshot. Mitsuzuri, who was about to open her bento, looked at him with a start. "T-Tohsaka!"

"I would like a private word with you, if you wouldn't mind." He told her, disregarding the obvious pang of guilt as he looked at her flustered face.

"I apologize if it seems sudden," He continued when Mitsuzuri didn't respond. His hands were crossed beneath his chest, with his left hand over the right and the index finger of his left hand on his right elbow and his back was impeccably straight; the perfect body language to go with his curt tone which said that this "business" which he spoke of wasn't personal. "but it's too important to be postponed."

"h-huh? Okay..." She said and she got up stiffly.

"Damn it, Mitsuzuri, act normally!" Rin said in his head, but it seemed Mitsuzuri still had enough sense to take a deep breath and compose herself.

"Let's go then, Tohsaka." She said with an oddly-too-natural smile which confused Rin.

"You should bring your lunch with you." Rin said, gesturing towards the bento Mitsuzuri was abandoning on her desk. He relaxed his cold expression into a slight smile as he added, "I'll treat you to something as a thank you."

"That's oddly considerate of you, Tohsaka." He heard an obnoxiously loud voice say.

"It's unfortunate that you think so, Makidera-san." Rin said with a smile which put Makidera off. "I'll be sure to be kinder to everyone in future."

"Okay okay, stop glaring at me already!" Makidera exclaimed, rather unnerved.

"Maki, you're being incredibly rude. Tohsaka-san is only smiling at you." Himuro said in her usual composed voice.

"Yes, he's just trying to be nice." Saegusa told her friend, "He rarely smiles at anyone in class, you know."

"You don't know the whole story, Yukicchi." Makidera replied, "His smiles are actually his worst death glares. He's scariest when he smiles." She said in a voice just loud enough to let the whole class hear, and Rin would've probably become incredibly annoyed if he wasn't used to her antics.

"It's actually even more unfortunate if you think so..." Rin said, reverting to his usual cool demeanor. "Now. if you'd excuse us."

"Um... I'm sorry on behalf of Kaede-chan. I hope you're not offended, Tohsaka-san." Saegusa said, being the kindhearted girl she was. Rin felt a rush of affection for the seemingly plain and unassuming girl, and replied in a relaxed tone, "You don't have to apologize, Saegusa-chan. Makidera-san isn't compared to a hurricane for nothing."

"Damn straight!" Makidera said, puffing up in pride, "These are the fastest legs in Fuyuki!"

"Maki, I don't think that's what Tohsaka-san meant." Himuro said, trying in vain to make her friend less oblivious.

So Mitsuzuri, perhaps still rather perplexed, followed him with her lunch in tow. They made their way through the hallway, scarcely talking. Mitsuzuri followed a few feet behind him, and Rin was torn between curiosity and trepidation about Mitsuzuri's expression.

"Hey, Tohsaka, about what you said this morning..." Mitsuzuri started rather uncharacteristically softly.

"L-let's talk about that when we get to the roof." Rin replied without looking at her.

They made the rest of the journey in silence, and Rin was tempted to close his eyes and make a run for it as they both reached the empty roof.

"Wow, I didn't think that Ryudou would let you have a copy of the keys to the roof." Mitsuzuri said, her voice without any indication of the events which transpired the very same morning.

"He didn't. He'd never even if I threatened him with disembowelment." He replied stiffly, "Fujimura-sensei gave me her copy in exchange for clearing out the old desks blocking the door. "The school never uses the roof anyway, so I don't think there's a problem with you having a copy. Just return it before you graduate." was her reasoning."

"That's Fujimura-sensei for you." And they both chuckled a bit awkwardly, "Well, I think you being a Model Pupil had a large role in her decision as well."

There was a pause in which the atmosphere became oppressively awkward.

"Do it, Rin!" He told himself and with a deep breath he turned around-

"Mitsuzuri-san!" "Tohsaka!"

They both said at the same time. Mitsuzuri blushed and looked away, and Rin couldn't help but feel like giving her a hug.

"You first." She said, still not looking at him.

Rin went into a low bow, and kept his eyes firmly planted to the ground. "O-oi, Tohsaka what-"

"I'm really sorry. I lied to you this morning. I don't have anyone I like. I just wanted to get out of the situation." Rin said, trying to sound as apologetic as possible.

"Oh..." came a rather underwhelming reply. Rin was shocked into looking up, and saw that Mitsuzuri was looking at him as though nothing was wrong.

"I figured as much." She grinned. "You never really gave off the impression that you liked me."

"I do like you." Rin retorted, and it earned a strange half-chortle half-giggle from Mitsuzuri.

"But not in that way, huh?" She said, phrasing it in a way that made it sound like a rhetorical question.

"Yeah..." Rin replied. He hung his head, "I'm truly sorry. I don't know how seriously you take the whole "high school romance" thing, but it was wrong for me to say something like that. I never meant to toy with your feelings, and I wouldn't think of it as an overreaction if you'd never want to speak to me again."

He bowed again, "I'm really sorry."

"Oi, oi, it was a bit of my fault too." She said as she put a hand on his shoulder to get him to stand up straight. "Well, actually it wasn't but I'm still saying it."

"Gee, thanks a bunch." Rin said sarcastically and Mitsuzuri cracked a smile.

"But don't think that you'll get off with just a sappy apology." She told him mischievously, "There's a new crepe place open in Shinto. I want one of their deluxe crapes as an apology."

"B-but they cost a thousand yen a piece!" Rin said, horrified as color drained from his face.

"Playing with a maiden's feelings is a grievous crime, Tohsaka Rin." Mitsuzuri said cheekily, "You shouldn't expect your atonement to be cheap."

"Fine, fine." He sighed, defeated, "Let's go today and get it over with, I'll be busy after today." Rin added as he reminded himself about the War and Summoning Ritual.

"It's a date, then." Mitsuzuri replied in a mysterious tone.

"Oh, yum! This is the best crepe I've ever had!" Mitsuzuri exclaimed as she took a bite out of something that was less of a crepe and more of a bouquet of fruits and creme.

"Yeah, yeah..." Rin sighed as they both sat side by side on a bench nearby the stall in the heart of Shinto. He opened a can of black coffee he bought for himself and took a sip out of it.

"Hey, I almost forgot to ask you," Mitsuzuri said in between bites, "Did you say something to Shinji? He was in a foul mood all day. Well, fouler than usual."

"Eh..." Rin said, trying to sound as disinterestedly as possible, "I ran into him today after our little... "rendezvous"."

"I think the word you're looking for is "fiasco"." Mitsuzuri said. Rin snickered as he leaned back into the bench in a relaxed manner.

"Anyway, he was badmouthing everyone in the archery club and being an all-round arrogant toerag. I couldn't pass up a chance to put him in his place."

"You really don't like him, do you?" Mitsuzuri asked.

"Yeah..." he said, sinking down a bit in his seat and looking pensive.

Mitsuzuri, as though saying, "I won't pry" didn't question him any farther but extended the overlarge crepe towards him, "Here, have some. It's too big to finish on my own."

Rin looked at the thousand-yen monstrosity and leaned in to take a bite, but a sudden idea hit him.

He made sure to take a bite from the place where Mitsuzuri was eating from and gave an exaggerated "Mmmmm...!"

"I can't decide if it's the chef I should compliment or you." He whispered to an extremely flustered Mitsuzuri.

"Pervert! Idiot! Lech!" Mitsuzuri cried as made to punch Rin in the arm who just chuckled and defended himself, "Stupid! Water Fountain!"

"Wait, was the last one an insult?" Rin said playfully as he jumped out of the seat.

"Idiot!" Mitsuzuri snapped, still furiously red. Some people were starting to stare, so Rin proposed a tactical withdrawal to which Mitsuzuri reluctantly complied.

"If you ever do anything like that again..." Mitsuzuri threatened as they came to the intersection where the Japanese-style houses drastically began to decrease between Western-style houses.

"Oi, Mitsuzuri, your house isn't this way." Rin said when Mitsuzuri didn't part ways with him.

The sky was now a brilliant shade of vermilion, and the sun was almost out of sight, so Rin was worried that Mitsuzuri wouldn't make it to her home before it was totally dark.

"I know it isn't." She said simply. "I want to go with you to your house."

"Is that a good idea?" Rin said quizzically.

"Oi, I'm from a family of martial artists." Mitsuzuri said simply, "I could snap any common thug in half if I wanted to."

"That you could." Rin chuckled as he rubbed his arm which he was sure was going to bruise.

"So, what's the hold up? Let's go!" She said and marched forward, holding Rin's hand in her own.

Rin vaguely felt like a girl being escorted home after her first date. Not that it was an unpleasant feeling, but it did feel out of place.

They were just a few blocks away from his house when Mitsuzuri suddenly pointed at two people at a distance, "Hey, isn't that Matou?"

Rin was surprised to see that it was Sakura. She seemed to be speaking to a foreigner, judging from his blonde hair.

Rin frowned. This part of Fuyuki was known to be inhabited by some families of foreigners, but he never actually saw anyone non-Japanese before. It was especially surprising that Sakura of all people would be acquainted with someone like that.

"Looks like she's in trouble." Mitsuzuri said, and Rin was brought out of his reverie to see Sakura looking at the ground with an odd expression on her face. Before he could say anything, Mitsuzuri ran there.

Rin followed, half annoyed at her recklessness and half pleased that she's the one who was intervening.

"Oi, Matou, is this person bothering you?" She called to a startled Sakura as she sprinted in front of her.

"This doesn't concern you, mongrel." The blonde scarlet eyes which shone like rubies said. He exuded an aura of grandeur and magnificence that was quite otherworldly and Rin was both shocked and impressed at the cold confidence on Mitsuzuri's face.

"Mongrel, eh? You sure think highly of yourself." She said to him calmly as Rin joined them at their side.

His eyes lingered on Rin for the smallest of moments before he addressed Mitsuzuri again in his imposing voice, "But of course. Pride is an ornament which suits only me."

"I admire your self confidence, but are you sure you have the thing called "pride"?" Mitsuzuri replied, "A person with "pride" wouldn't really pick on people weaker than them. It's something common schoolyard bullies do. They need to push people down and belittle them to feel superior. Someone who really is superior wouldn't need to do such things, would they?"

For a moment Rin thought that the young blonde was going to explode and try to attack them, but he was surprised to see that he burst into laughter, "Of course, of course, there's no doubt about it! Such magnificent bravado! You've redeemed yourself in my eyes by a small margin, Mongrel. Maybe you'll find a place in my new world... For now, know that you've been pardoned on account of your ignorance." He turned to leave, leaving Mitsuzuri and Rin perplexed and rather disturbed.

"Who was that weirdo?" Mitsuzuri wondered out loud, "Does he have chunnibyou or something?"

Rin shrugged as Sakura gave a soft laugh. "Thank you, Mitsuzuri-senpai, Rin-senpai. But you didn't need to do anything."

"I didn't actually do anything." Rin said frankly, "With Mitsuzuri-san here, I didn't need to."

Mitsuzuri chuckled but straightened up and gave Sakura a serious look, "You'll only encourage him if you take everything lying down. I didn't hear what he said to you, but in future, just ignore him or tell him to fuck off."

Sakura nodded, and Rin said instinctively before he could stop himself, "Should I walk you home?"

Sakura looked at him with an expression between shock and joy. But thankfully, she didn't comply. "I'll be fine. My house isn't that far away."

"Okay, if you insist..." Mitsuzuri said, still looking a bit worried.

Sakura bowed to them and went off in the other direction.

"See you tomorrow!" Mitsuzuri called as she and Rin waved at Sakura.

"I hope you'll be okay, Mitsuzuri-san." Rin said as he opened the front door to his house.

"It's okay. It's only, what, seven?" She said with a confident grin. "I'll be fine."

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you if you get into any trouble." Rin said.

"Duly noted." She chirped.

Rin turned with a last "Good evening." and pushed the door open, only to feel a small tug on the cuff of his uniform. He stopped at the sensation and it was followed by the feeling of a body pressing against his back.

His face went red as he tried to steady his heartbeats. For a minute which felt like hours they stood there and Mitsuzuri said something into his back which was totally muffled.

But he still understood what she wanted to say. She separated from him with a quick motion and scurried away.

"See you tomorrow, Rin!" She said, as she waved back at him while running.

Rin could only smile sadly back. The lukewarm feeling of Mitsuzuri's body pressing against his back was still present even when she was out of sight, and Rin muttered, "Damn you, Mitsuzuri. Now I'll have to keep away from you."

He felt drained as he plopped onto the large sofa in his living room. He looked at the ceiling as though some interesting show was magically being projected on it.

He promised himself that he wouldn't regret this life. He still remembered that rainy day; the emotions he felt as he held his father's Azoth Sword in his hand. That promise was getting harder and harder to keep.

Today, after a long time, he felt like he was leading some semblance of a "normal life". He didn't mind leading a double life, nor the feeling of isolation, nor the constant lies... Those have become normal for him.

But times like these made him want more than anything to be a sociopath. To tear out the part of his brain which gave him his emotions.

But... today wasn't the day for having an episode of teenage angst. He needed to summon the strongest servant, not just to win, but also to defend the people who were a part of the other half of his life. The cruel and beautiful lie which was the other half of his life.

He hopped up onto his feet as he looked at the large clock on the wall behind the sofa.

He did a double-take. Didn't Mitsuzuri say that it was around seven? But the clock showed...

...Oh, he forgot. Father and his pranks. Maybe he was so repressed during childhood that his inner child acted up when deciding how to test him?

After painstakingly fixing each and every clock in the house, he made the preparations for the Summoning Ritual in the basement workshop.

He stood between the magic circle passed down through his family and took ten jewels in one hand and the tome describing the procedures in another.

"Anfang." He said, and he extended his fist full of jewels forward, his palm facing downwards.

The jewels became liquid and slowly trickled down the gaps between his fingers. Usually this part was done with blood. but he decided to use liquefied jewels filled with his prana for an extra "oomph".

The liquid slowly traveled to the lines drawn on the floor to form the magic circle and seeped into them.

The circle glowed with a red light.

When the clock struck two he began the incantation for the summoning. He chanted the German aria and concentrated. The image of him falling off a skyscraper to his doom filled his head, and his heart pounded as his body responded to the stimuli by opening all his magic circuits.

His body reacted to the alien that were his Magic Circuits and Family Crest by flooding his senses with incredible pain. He was melting from his fingertips, a current of power was going from his body to the air around him. A whirlwind of mana engulfed him as his body and Family Crest etched on his arm struggled to convert the ambient mana into prana.

And it came, the whirlwind reached a peak and ether solidified before him in a blinding flash of light as the heroic spirit materialized.

As the light subsided, so did the pain engulfing his body, and before him he saw a tan woman in black and scarlet attire with her white hair in a knot behind her head.

She was frowning as she seemed to seize him up with her silver eyes for a moment before announcing,

"I am the Servant Saber." Rin felt an odd urge to squeal like a girl and hop on his toes, but resisted as she continued,

"I ask you..." Rin held his breath, "Do you have a brain in that head of yours?"

"...Huh?"

A/N:

mile21: Yes, they do. I got the idea for this fic after seeing the protagonists of Fate/Grand Order.

And yes, I will use canon Servants... Just not the way one would expect ;)

Thank you for all the reviews favorites and follows.

Oh, this will probably be the last we see of Mitsuzuri... I'm sorry to anyone who wanted RinxAyako.