THE LONER I
"So that's who you truly are sempai"
"I don't understand what do you mean by that, as far as I'm concerned I have always acted as myself"
"STOP WITH YOUR DAMN SOPHISTRY! YOU ARE A MAGUS! you kept it hidden from everyone... from me, why you didn't trust me"
"...Iroha"
"Fuck... another of those sick dreams"
I muttered coming out from my not-so-peaceful sleep
Slightly shaking my head I began to re-gain awareness of my surroundings, I was lying on a warm Futon in a place miles away from my home.
"Right Fuyuki"
I thought as my brain finally started to work properly
The magical adventures of brain-kun epsiode-11
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Standing to my knowledge today was friday, exactly a week had passed since I started : an unwanted exchange project, a long abstinence from Max Coffee and to have weird dreams...
Of course by weird,I didn't mean dreams like those in which I turn into a laser-shooting unicorn (those were my favorite), but WEIRD dreams where I was in a burning building, on Chiba's bridge,in an air port or a sinking ship...or other places, doing conversation I never had before with people like: Isshiki, Shizuka-sensei, Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and other I won't bother to list.
"really there is really something off with this city"
I said leaving my lukewarm nest and stretching my arms
"six hours and ten minutes of sleep every night, this is really a holiday"
I muttered while my body gradually left aside the morning numbness.
It was a strange sensation...not being sleep deprived and without the need of drinking coffee every three hours.
"Damn if it sucks"
It took me just three days to change my mindset from"ahaha finally I got a vaction, bye bye stupid paper work and reports, I don't have any mission to do, mail to read or clubs to attend, I'm free". To "I'm so Booooooooooorrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddd, why there isn't wi-fi in this house!"
and please don't get me wrong I was a great fan of peace, quiet and procrastination, God I was the king of doing-nothing-all-day...but I finished all the books I took with me from home in less than 72 hours, there wasn't a decent internet connection in this stupidly big maison so no animes, or netflix, leaving me only with one option: spend my free time grinding on Monster Hunter with my Vita-chan
"speaking of which, where did I leave it?"
I said looking around the room.
To be honest, I wasn't exactly comfortable with looking this room, why?
well because IT WAS OF A DAMN MAGUS!
and if all the time I spent with my family and Oroboro taught me something was that when I touched the wrong object in the room of a Magus the consequences could be atrocious: explosions, curses, summonings, my dad's collection of footnails and God knows what else!
To be fair I had yet to found anything dangerous, but I couldn't lower my guard, after all It could be a trap of Emiya Shiro, the happy go lucky teenager who's hosting me during my exchange project, the same dude owner of this magically protected maison, the same boy that every night train in the use of basic magic failing 99 times out of 100 and cooked all my meals since I arrived here.
"...Naaaaaa, he too good of a guy, really so good he reaches the level of being annoying, besides from what I have seen Emiya barely has enough power to use reinforcement magic...Kyotaka and Ed calls me a Noob magus, I can't imagine their reaction if they saw Emiya at work in his...workshop...I guess the tool shed is his workshop "
I said brushing aside all my concerns
"Still where the hell is my Vita-chan"
I groaned deciding it was better ask to the maid of the house
and so I carelessly came out from the room, without my fake skin and still wearing my tracksuit-slash-pajama.
Really one week of peace and I had already softened that much
Walking quietly in the hallways of Emiya's household, I headed towards the kitchen, at first I had a few problems orienting in this f***ing big maison, the number of times I turned in the wrong direction or begged the God of travellers, Zoro Roronoa-sama, were more than I could count, fortunately now it was a problem from the past.
"So right or left...Zoro-sama"
I muttered in front of a fork
The magical adventure of brain-kun episode 12
"Now Hachiman standing from your memories and Goolemaps you should go...lef...I mean right"
"you mean the direction where the smell of food doesn't come from?"
"...right? who said right? I clearly said left"
"So left"
I said distracting peaking at my reflexion on a window.
Jeez my hair were a damn mess and my eyes...WHAT THE HECK WAS WRONG WITH MY EYES!, they didn't have the usual pair of black shades under them, was I sick?, was I dying? Was I having enough sleep?
"Oh right..."
I whispered returning to move in my original direction.
closing my distance with the kitchen I delighted myself with the delicious smell coming out from it. Really I Emiya might sucked in magecrafth, videogames ( I will tell you another time) and theatrical improvisation (I will never tell you...PTSD), but he really knew his way around cookers.
In my personal list he was under Magumi Tadokoro, above Yukinoshita and... light years above Yuigahama: so Silver medal to Shiro Emiya.
"Sup Emiya"
I said entering in the kitchen
"Oh good morning you two"
he responded greeting me and...Sakura Matou
Emiya's personal cute kohai, she was under every physical aspect of a rare beauty, violet hair and eyes, not too tall nor too small, endowed chest proportions and a particularly sweet voice...at first I thought to trade with Emiya Isshiki and her, but that plan of mine was short lived.
After all Sakura Matou was the most dangerous person I met since coming here
"good morning Hikigaya-sempai"
She said to me with her sugared voice...that voice that only God knew was what truly hiding
"Y-yo, Matou-san"
I responded calm as possible looking her while my magical senses began to scream.
Blackness
the only thing I saw starring in Sakura Matou's eyes was blackness,
Thanks to my magic I had the ability to see the manifestation of someone's pain just by starring in his eyes and focusing.
but when it comes to Sakura Matou...
Well,
she was so filled with pain,
I could see black screaming smoke rising from her and I didn't even need to focus.
The eyes are the mirror of the soul a sentence I heard countless time in my life (mostly as a mock in middle school due to my "peculiar" trait), that however it held some truth: While laughs, tears, blushes,grimaces are all things that with the right amount of practice can be mastered and turned into tools to craft the perfect masks, eyes are a direct portray of someone's mind...they can not be trained, they can not be turned into tools.
Sakura did a good job at using expression: she looked amused when she should, she was embarrassed when she should and put her smile downwards when it was needed; To be honest at first glance she even fooled me, a feat even the queen of manipulation Haruno Yukinoshita didn't achieved
(Hikigaya's actual first thoughts about Sakura " aaahhhh her eyes have no fucking pupil, and why does she trigger my OniChan-senses plus my -SheIsADamnYandere-senses" ).
Still it just took me a glance lasting one second at her eyes to see the truth behind her quiet and timid mask.
Sakura hid a suffering beyond comprehension, I could see it in her cold and empty... eyes.
Usually the eyes of those who have suffered resembled the ones of a wounded animal: diffident and lit by sparking anger.
Yet such a light didn't exist in the girl's eyes
Matou Sakura was a girl whose eyes told the story of a child that had and was still suffering
the story of someone so broken who forgot how it felt to be free from pain
... so stupidly corny and familiar.
Still, after the watching her eyes for just another moment I realized there was something else in her, something even I couldn't define
A Darkness much deeper and ancient that far exceeded my expectations.
Sakura wasn't just broken.
She was a bomb ready to explode.
She was like a mass of glass shards kept together by power of will and the thing she desired the most.
EMIYA SHIRO.
It was evident for anyone that Sakura had a massive crush for Emiya (EXCEPT FOR THE GUY HIMSELF STUPID HAREM PROTAGONIST) and this fact alone reassured me, because it made Sakura not stable, but predictable
"Damn I don't dare to imagine what would happen if Emiya got a girlfriend, Sakura will probably turn in one of the Wivern from Monster Hunter...which makes me remember"
I thought averting my eyes from Sakura and turning towards Emiya
"Hey Emiya have you seen my PSvita?"
I asked to him
"you left it on the couch in the living...I guess you were saying something about a GODDAMN TEMPERED RATHLOS"
He boredly said without turning his head away from the food.
"oh Right!"
I told myself rushing away from the kitchen
partially because I was scared of interrupting Emiya's senpai-time with Matou
"AHRG"
and partially because activating my magic senses in Fuyuki was the same as smashing my head against a hammer.
"Mom! Where are you!?"
girl cried far away making my brain explode
legs began to shake and I fell on the ground
"move it's falling down aaaaaaaaaaa"
an old man screamed before something silenced him for ever
"Just what happened in this city ?"
I groaned paralised on the ground while visions of fire and smoke obscured my view
"I can't breathe"
Muttered a child as he alone remained in that blazing hell
Then in one moment all the screams and all the flame disappeared, my powers had re-entered under my control, yet those imagines were still vivid in my mind.
"Ah This is... fucked up, too much negativity for a single city on fire"
I grunted holding my head in my hands.
For a long minute I remained immobile on the floor, slowly inspiring and expiring unwilling to stand up.
"I'd better do some researches...after all there I have enough free time"
I told myself once managed to relax
So I sluggishly got up and headed towards the bathroom hoping that a warm shower would have Re-set my terrible morning.
unfortunately IT DIDN'T; on contrary it just triggered another unpleasant sequence of events.
To begin with the water coming out from the shower decided to constantly switch from Boiling to freezing, then I realized I had forgotten my bathrobe, so I was forced to use just a towel to dry and cover myself.
"Cold cold cold cold cold"
I muttered wandering in the arctic hallways of the Emiya household to reach my room
Really couldn't that damn red haired Riajuu spend more money to warm his damn house, my balls were freezing. My goosebumps had goosebumps and the hairs on my body were bristling like a werebat's teeth...trivia when you are bitten by them you don't turn in a vampire, but in an anthropomorphic mosquito eater.
when I finally arrived in my room, I wore my fake skin fast as a lightning, I couldn't bear this insupportable cold anymore so I began to tap my shoulders until a small.
*bip resounded and a mechanical voice said "warming system activated".
suddenly orange lines started to glow inside the synthetic layer of skin spreading a hot fuzzy feeling through my whole body.
"Oh yes, so much better"
I started dressing up, finally enveloped by warmness,
"that's right repent cold because I'm not a pyromaniac dragon slayer, but I can still defeat you ahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahah"
I grimaced re-entering in the kitchen
Where...Emiya and Matou were doing...something I guessed indulging my eyes on the scene before me:
Emiya's head against the wall, Matou's hand on a knife, wall, knife.
Probability a enraged Yandere murder was going on? Medium
Probability some idiotic shananigans from a third tier Ecchi were going on? Medium
"sound like not my business"
I concluded coming again out from the kitchen
In fact Standing to my accurate calculations whenever, you were dealing with a Yandere, Yuigahama's cooking, Levi's spring cleaning or isshiki's duties retreat was always the best option.
So whistling like a murder possible at 50% wasn't going on I returned to my room and began to kill time on my Iphone.
" 7 new mails"
I read on the screen.
"let's see, Komachi, Yuigahama, Yuigahama, Hiratuka-sensei... Yukinoshita-senior, unknown number and Totsuka"
I scrolled down the phone checking the various messages
Moving my thumb I selected the message with the highest priority and began to read it
From Totsuka
"Hello Hachiman how are you? It's already been a week since you went away and many people feel you are not around. I was a bit sad you didn't tell me about the exchange project but, I bet it wasn't your fault...
Anyway I hope you're enjoying yourself, call me when you are free"
"...I didn't warn Totsuka about the exchange project"
I trembled
"I made sad the purest of all creatures...I'm a monster"
I whispered ashamed of my own existence.
I had to apologize, to explain to Totsuka-sama the reasons behind my actions, earn his forgiveness, regain his favor.
"Jesus"
I muttered ready to type the most tear jerking apologize ever
Unfortunately for me an intruder made her way in the room (with the classyest war shout I ever heard ),before I could start
"HIKIGAYA!"
"what?"
Was the loquacious answer I planned to use.
But before I could even open my mouth, the intruder swinged some kind of stick towards my face.
Acting out of instinct I rose my left forearm to intercept the blow, much lighter and slower than I expected. With an empty *tung the stick bounced off my arms, leaving me the perfect opening to strike back. Faster than my opponent expected I closed the distance between us.
Foe- Unknown, female by voice
Threat-minimum
Counter- throw off balance with a foot swipe, grab with right hand and punch unconscious with a left hook
Time needed -1 second
With one fluid movement I moved my right heel behind the feet of my opponent and swiped them away with a *swam
sense of balance corrupted
Then with my right hand I tightly grabbed the fabric of her clothes and pulled it towards myself
footing completely threw away
and moved my fist towards Fujimura-sensei's face...
ABORT ABORT!
I stopped my punch one centimetre away from Fujimura-sensei's face
"uh? Sensei?"
I asked utterly confused looking at her distorted face
she was keeping her eyes closed, her whole body was squirming as if trying to escape from my grasp and from her blushing face the only thing coming out was
"Don't hit me, I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry "
before she started to just emit meaningless grunts
"OH PLEASE CAN YOU AVOID TO TURN EVERY THING I DO IN AN ANNOYING SITUATION UNIVERSE?!"
I screamed in my head as I started to calm down Fujimura-sensei
At first with kind words like
"are you okay?, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you"
or
"open your eyes, com'on open them ooopen them, really open those damn eyes! Just How old are you five?"
and then when Fujimura-sensei became too uncooperative, I chose more direct words such as
"Okay is something I shouldn't ask to a woman, but really act your age"
or
"no I'm not being rude I'm pointing out that you entered in this room swinging something and expected I just let you hit me"
and
"I don't care what Emiya does"
Unfortunately none of them seemed to work so I decided to use the heavy weaponry
" Really stop to roll on the floor or I will eat your breakfast"
and got reactions
"No my breakfast NOOO!"
Fujimure-sensei finally got a grip
"Well we have an agreement, now get up the others are waiting for us"
I said leaving the room with my usual bored fashion
The rest of morning went on pretty smoothly, I ate a tasty breakfast I did nothing to have and most important Emiya and Matou didn't seem to care about my little fight against Fujimura-sensei.
Nothing went wrong until I did something utterly stupid...small talks
"Matou, Emiya what did you do to the back of your hand?"
I asked capted by a few red marks the teenagers had on back of their hands
I believed it was nothing important maybe some dirth or hikeys made in a peculiar position...I never expected such an uproar from the two teenagers in front of me.
They had two opposed reactions: Matou lost all colors on her face and stopped to breath, meanwhile Emiya's face was like set on fire and his eyes started to glitter of an ominous light.
They were respectively the epitomes of fear and anger
Without even bothering to control his own hand Emiya immediately, moved to check Matou that, oddly enough, rejected him and muttered
"I-it's fine Senpai, I just fell...beside you have a bruise too"
It was clear she didn't want to talk about that bruise behind her hand, so she attempted to distract Emiya. pretty poorly in my opinion
"Okay... the situation went beyond my control scaringly fast...ehm Time to use an adult to quiet down the situation?"
I thought caught back by the events in front of me, mostly because each time I imagine something similar to happen the one snapping was Matou.
as the roles inverted my mind made a simple reasoning, Matou in emotional shock + emotional pressure from Emiya = Nothing good for me.
Eager to stop whatsoever was going on, I searched for Fujimura-sensei emitting "help" vibes. Unfortunately the woman was nowhere to be found
"What the hell! she disappeared, it's like a lazy author forgot her in a previous chapter and now is just getting along with the flow!"
I screamed in my head.
Unable to drop the matter to someone else I conveyed it was time I took the reins of the situation
"well at least let's bandage your hands"
I said taking a first aid kit from a corner of the kitchen
Forunately, it was enough to calm down the two teenagers in front of me
"...did they perhaps forget I was in front of them."
The magical adventures of brain-kun episode 13
"It's a question you don't want an answer to"
Anyway, after calming a bit down Emiya got away from Matou and rose his bruised hand towards me
"Oi what are you doing Emiya?"
I looked at him with empty eyes
"Uh, letting you do some first aid?"
he asked confused...really the cavalry was dead
"Ladies first!"
I brushed away his hand and gestured Sakura to come
"really what a impolite guy"
I said in my mind slightly influenced by my Oni-chan senses triggered by Sakura Matou.
"Okay..."
she whispered reaching me with careful steps
"Dammit do not overlap Komachi's imagine on this girl"
I ordered myself, looming in a mutiny
fuck
"Let's see what you have here"
I muttered lightly grasping Sakura's hand; it was warm and tough, yet it shivered in my hands like it could crumble in a second
"Nothing seems off but, it's bad for a girl of your age to fall and bruise your hand"
I said in the same tone I use with Komachi examining Matou's hand.
"uumm"
Sakura muttered while I was bandaging her... bruise
Still that so called bruise for its unusual pattern and color seemed to me more a washed-out tattoo.
"What the hell is this thing"
I whispered as I perceived some faint traces of mana coming out from those red marks.
I wasn't sure though, near Matou my magic senses were uttermost inaccurate.
Thanks Hikigaya-senpai"
the girl whispered flustered once the bandaging was over.
"You're welcome but really...be more careful,
your hands are strong and frail at the same time, maybe you should think about entrust them to someone"
I spit out some "you can make him yours ", bullshit.
It wasn't out of kindness or anything it was just re-directing all attention on Emiya after I showed my irresistible Oni-chan side.
"well now It's your turn Emiya"
I called him out to bandage his hand too
"oh Right"
"ah you have the same strange bruise as Matou, did you handled a vegetable treated with, I don't know, strange insecticides?"
"Dunno, to me it seems more like a bruise than an allergic reaction"
"Bha until it doesn't hurt or turn yellow do as you like Emiya"
"Is only with this creepy style that you show concern about people?"
"Naaaa just with morons"
"I see...Wait did you just call me moron?"
"I most certainly didn't do not"
"...I hate double negations"
Subsequently the "great battle in the holy land of Emiya's kitchen" the incredible me and the ordinary Matou and Emiya headed towards school.
This friday didn't start exactly with a ten but, the sun kissing my skin promised a quiet and easy going day but.
the magical adventures of brain-kun episode 14
"something is starring at us, third building on our right, feeble mana signature, treat unknown"
Now for those who haven't known the sun for long let me tell you this
the sun doesn't keep its promise,
Yeah you heard me Solaire DO NOT PRAISE THE SUN
"sun you filthy bastard...Emiya, Matou, I forgot one thing in my room, I have to go back,"
I said to the two teenagers turning my back
"Sure no problem, we will wait here"
responded Emiya while I rushed back and gave my thumbs up
Re-entering inside the powerful magical field surrounding Emiya's house I let out a groan filled of annoyance
*ttttthhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Then after barely managing to keep my cool I inhaled and exhaled until my nerves stabilized.
"Really what the fuck is wrong with this city, first an insane amount of negativity that breaks my head in two, then a terrible romantic subplot and now...something at least on the level of a Death Apostole"
I whispered entering in my room while glimpses of a woman standing on top of a building flashed in my mind.
Stepping with angry feet on the floor I went to take my emergency silver suitcase, left in a corner of the room. Reflecting the state of peace my mind was in I roughly put my hand on the handle and said
"8man Rocks"
"voice recognized"
the suitcase responded opening with a ftssss.
"Thank god I asked Winry to add the suitcase mode on my drawer all those years ago"
I muttered taking out from the suitcase a.k.a. The-secret-drawer-in-my-room various object.
First my gun, then a magazines of normal bullets, then one of magically enchanted ones, my dagger and a small Lapis filled with light magic.
"Okay and my insurance is ready"
I said hiding all the stuff in my pockets and other locations I will never disclose with anyone
Sure I wasn't the kind of person that liked to go around armed, I mean why should risk to have all my blow up my cover because someone saw me with a gun...still it was better being safe than sorry.
"Now let's see if she is on any database"
I took out from the suitcase my laptop, then rapidly typed the 20 characters password and opened a program named WWML (World Wide Mercenary List)
"a woman...171/ 172 centimetres tall, pink hair...eh wearing a sleep mask? In her middle early twenties"
I calmly typed all the details I remembered of the one on the roof-top.
Know your enemy, surely the catch-phrase I liked the most...okay not the one I liked the most, that spot was occupied by "ZA WARUDO! (the world)", but still the catch-phrase I applied the most in my life.
Knowing a potential or actual opponent, was a head start I always struggled to obtain.
Why?
well because Name, surname, nickname, nationality, allergies, past works or favorite ice-cream, were all info that properly used could be turned in weapons
Shiro Emiya for example, he is a good guy there is no doubt about that, still in case one day I had to fight him ( and he was actually a treat), I'd be sure to poison all the toffee flavored ice-cream in the whole Fuyuki.
Unfortunately for me the mysterious roof top woman didn't appear on my database, even after I added the filter "probably not human".
"Not her, not her, not her, this one shot me one time, not her and not her. Really this is just a list of cosplayer of Yuno Gasai"
I muttered scrolling the profiles of dozens of pink haired murderer and anthropomorphic magical creatures.
With my disappointment I didn't manage to find a single clue and so I decided to interrupt my researches and return to Emiya and Matou.
"Sorry if it took me so long, I couldn't find my pencil-case"
I said coming out from the house hold and trying to avoid the "we are going to be late" stares from Emiya
"Really Hikigaya, couldn't you pay more attention preparing your school bag now we have to run"
the golden eyed teenager responded annoyed
"Oi give me a break, I said I was sorry. Besides you could have gone on your own I didn't ask you to wait"
I retorted displeased...did he not know a ominous was observing woman us? Oh of course not!
"Ma Ma stop you two you can argue later, now let's move or we are truly going to be late"
entered in scene the voice of reason a.k.a Sakura Matou stopping a potential insult fight between me and Emiya
I was a bit sad though I had just renewed my repertory of insults for Riajuus
"Aye"
"Aye"
Emiya and I responded, starting to walk in order to follow Matou's example
"Next time next time Hachiman, you will make him repent his popularity another time"
I thought walking a little behind the auburn and violet haired duo.
"Still I'd prefer that woman wasn't continuing to stalk us"
" five minutes left, if we speed up a bit we can do it"
"all right Sempai"
"Hikigaya don't slack and move those feet"
"Why you two are so concerned with arriving punctual, it is not the end of the world if we arrive late a few minutes"
"Hikigaya-sempai I heard today Max Coffee will be inside the vending machines"
"GET OUT THE WAY YOU TWO"
"nice job Sakura look how he is running now"
"Thanks sempai I do my best...but maybe I overdid"
"why you say so?"
"GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE MAX COFFEEE"
" just a feeling"
I can't believe she tricked me
Seven words, seven words that spoken in furious tone portrayed perfectly my mood after discovering that the school was still without Max Coffee...
"I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE TRICKED ME!"
I said walking on the stairs of the school beside Emiya
"Are you actually angry? Com'on it was just a prank"
Responded Emiya Shiro completely ignoring the delicate state my mind was currently in
"Oh yeah joke...THEN IF I STARTED TO MAKE PRANKS USING YOUR FRYING PANS"
I retorted angered
"Do not touch my kitchen tools"
he hissed poisonous
"And you don't desecrate the saint name of Max"
I growled
"Damn this guy is going to make me go crazy"
we both whispered leaving between us silence.
For a few steps none of us spoke, and I found myself free from stupid social interactions for ten entire blissful seconds.
But of course Emiya had to ruin the magic starting to speak again
"So what do you think?"
He suddenly asked without introducing any topic
"about what?"
I asked since mind reading wasn't one of my 108 loner skill
"About Sakura, I mean that bruise I'm sure you have noticed she was lying about "falling" "
said Emiya doing air-quote, how old was he seven?
"Of course, its the oldest excuse ever made"
"I bet it's Shinji's fault"
FLASHBACK
"Hikigaya he i-"
"The name is Shinji Matou, keep it in mind new guy"
"Fantastic a Jerk"
"ah Jerk-kun he is Matou's cousin right?"
"brother actually, but it's not the point...I just want to understand what happened to Sakura and how much should I worry"
"Uh unexpected, I believed you were just going to take up the cudgels and assault Jerk-kun, I'm impressed"
"...Hikigaya I'm serious"
"Okay okay my bad, I think it's better wait. I highly doubt Matou will talk or admit anything now, or at least I wouldn't in her situation. The best approach is trying to interrogate her in a few days"
"maybe you're righ-Shinji!"
"Of course I'm righ-aaaannndd there he goes"
I said after Emiya disappeared from my field of view and rushed in front a guy descending the stairs
The one I called Jerk-kun...MATOU SHINJI HIMSELF!
"why do I keep doing casual conversations it always end badly"
I scolded myself following my landlord
"Shinji did you hurt Sakura?!"
Introduced himself Shiro Emiya...with his horrible habitude of not introducing the topic, really the dude should understand people do not read his mind
"Good morning to you too Emiya and I don't know what your talking about"
retorted Matou senior with a smug on his face
"the bruise on the back of her hand"
said the Emiya barely containing his anger
"That!...oh that, the idiot just fell down the stairs"
responded Jerk-kun after losing his composture for a moment
"...My Oni-chan senses are telling me to beat him down"
I thought while imagining the interactions between Matou (the cute one) and Matou (the jerk one)
"Y-you.."
Shiro clanged his fists
"Oh please do not start a brawl here...there is none I can make bets with"
I muttered closing the distance with the two teenagers
"Oh are you angry Emiya? but I wonder why, after all I didn't do a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g"
Matou grinned and leaned forward trying to make Emiya snap
"Just let's go Emiya"
I said in bored tone crossing my arms
"Hikigaya?!"
the golden eyed boy turned towards me surprised
"Right follow the advice of your boyfriend and move aside"
"OH God does he ever shut up"
I thought watching his confident and grinnning face
Just how insecure he was, to act like this with ,apparently, the only person that called him friend.
As his Sister Shinji Matou wore a mask, I could see i. Yet it wasn't a mask he crafted to fool other people...the facade he kept going on was to fool himself.
I didn't know well Matou nor was interest in to, still staring at him I could break apart each part of his personailty...And I hate to admit it but I could empathize with the guy.
None ever expected something from him.
That was the single reason, the single point where all the arrogance of Matou Shinji came from and the only thing that joined us
Trying to convince yourself you are not worthless by acting like you are superior to the others,
If Matou and I were ever accused of this crime probably our only sentence would be
"Yes judge I'm Guilty."
Growing as the only "not" magecraft user in my home wasn't exactly easy, my parents never had expectation for me, they just dropped everything on Komachi...for a long time I ignored it yet, I eventually grew tired of feeling worthless and choose to feel different, to feel superior to common people. It was delightful at start with the right mind set I could turn my insecurities in confidence but, keeping lying to myself wasn't healthy; my confidence turned in overconfidence, then in arrogance...and my arrogance turned me into a crazy sliver.
It was still the early days of Oroboro we were barely five member...Kyotaka, Kasumi, Hiccup, Megumi and I. Arrogant as I were...and partially am still now, I kept organizating missions one more dangerous than the other and if someone asked me if it was too much I just responded
"what are you talking about I'm me after all I can do it"
Yes I could steal precious materials from a Magus hide,
yeah I could continue to heal all my brats bringing their wounds on me
of course I could go head on against a Death Apostole
CERTAINLY I COULD BRING THIS FUCKING WORLD TO KNEE BEFORE ME BECAUSE THAT WAS HOW MUCH I VALUED.
(Right...that was kinda my mindset...it still is but now I take proper time to plan each of my moves and don't deliberately try to kill myself and my brats.)
BUT (returning to the original topic) one day I understood I was lying to myself: It was a Tuesday afternoon and Komachi had run away from home, she didn't go far she just arrived at the park near our home, still it was enough to make my parents panic after returning from work. They could just wonder where their little powerful Magus went...patethic, of course the one to find her was me more to calm down my parents than out of brotherly love.
In fact until that day I quite despised my own little sister
After all she was the one who got all the attention, she was the one that mom and dad were proud of, was it wrong to hate her after my life turned into a living hell because my parents only thought about the future of their little powerful Magus?
Of Course the answer was Yes...it was wrong, but I would have never accepted it.
"Oi What are you doing here? mom and dad are worried"
I asked her that day.
I didn't care for the answer I just wanted to bring her back at home and start a new Oroboro's mission, Yet her response completely changed my life
" I escaped... mom and dad always talk about magic with me, you never give me attention and... and none is ever at home I feel lonely"
She said with her tiny little teary voice.
For all that time I thought I was the only one to suffer and so I decided on my own that everybody else had an easy life.
It was a lie I created by myself: maybe to appreciate me more since I was enduring suffering a common person would never feel, or I just wanted hide from my sight my own hypocrisy.
I who was wounded deeply by being ignored by my family, now was ignoring my little sister
I who bragged to be superior to common people, now couldn't even make my little sister stop crying
I who decided to be the best, now realized...I was just the worst.
That day I decided to stop to blame others for my shortcomings and to love my little sister as much as I could no-stop, because if I ever stopped one day, I might have re-started to hate her again.
"Still it's better this guy realise the truth, I'll destroy that screwed up illusion of yours!"
I thought ready to use my personal version of the Imagine Breaker
"Ah don't misunderstand Matou, I'm not doing it for him, I'm doing it because arguing with you it's a waste of time...
It sucks have an inferiority complex towards all your friends and siblings uh?"
and Bam I dropped my bomb, it was supereffective, upon hearing my words Jerk-kun snapped and tried to punch me...key word
Tried
"You bastard-AH?
Eh!
IH!
OH!
UH!
FUCK!"
He said while attempting to punch me, being dodged and blatantly fall down the stairs...it was Fucking hilarious!
Of course he then started to shout something about lawyers, revenge ect ect and the situation wasn't so funny anymore.
Thank God Emiya took responsibility for the whole mess and I didn't get punished...or at least that was what I thought
Being popular, otherwise known as PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MY EXISTENCE: the base of the school social ladder and the major interest of people around my age.
I have heard countless times by boy X or girl Y say "I want to be popular" for many different petty reasons.
However I doubt that the XY couple ever realized one thing... being popular, being known didn't mean be liked as well. And the reason I Hikinvisibleaya Hachiunpopularman knew that was simple
"have you heard...the new guy Hikigaya beat up Matou"
"Really I didn't know, but it doesn't surprise me he looks kind of dangerous and creepy besides Matou..is Matou"
Becuse since This morning none seemed to shut the fuck up about me... and still nobody liked me.
"employee-san this Riajuu popularity I received is defective I don't want it, take it back"
Really it was from the second hour of lesson that annoying whispers had started to run through the classroom.
I got it I look creepy! Couldn't people just drop the argument already, besides nobody really cared about Shinji Matou or me so they were just rumoring for the sake of rumoring.
"I REALLY hope Lunch pause arrives already"
I muttered leaning on my desk trying to ignore all the whispers around me.
But of course my ultra trained senses played against me!
"Better not get to close to those two"
Girl whispered
"Yeah, besides have you seen his eyes"
A random dude responded muttering, striking my weak point
Why it was always my eyes? com'on at least they could have tried something new like: " have you seen his socks they are so black and uncool" or " his hair are too long"... really anything was better than another comment about my eyes.
"I heard he hides a third eye, deader than the other two"
and that was it! The straw that breaks the camel's back.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE I IGNORE YOU WHY DON'T YOU DO THE SAME !"
I screamed...or at least was what I wanted to scream really, really badly.
But since it would have been unsightly, I just bit my tongue and endured another minute of whispers.
the magical adventures of brain-kun episode 15
"stop to bite that point goddamn, you will never taste something salty for the rest of yours life if you don't stop now"
(whisper from a far)
"Have you seen those eyes"
"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
*DRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNN
resounded the celestial music of the school bell
"Fucking finally"
I said standing up from my seat.
"Now I haven't got to listen anymore"
I muttered taking my bento out from the school bag.
Finally I could get some peace until the voice of the devil called me
"Hikigaya"
Rin Tohsaka spoke my name
"What"
I responded drily, avoiding to make eye contact
"Did you really beat up Matou?"
She asked me inquisitive
"Nope Jerk-kun handled the matter himself"
I responded tring to move away from the black haired bishoujo
a.k.a. Rin Tohsaka
a.k.a. The most dangerous Magus I met since arriving in Fuyuki
Really I believed she and Matou (the cute one) were tied in spot of most dangerous human being in Fuyuki.
Now For those who are confused right let me explain
I divided people I met in four separate and clean boxes:
Those who I care about : The Friends/Aquitances
Those who I don't care about : The Others
Those who are dangerous and can stab you: The Psychos (Sakura Matou)
Those who are dangerous and can summon demons to stab you: The Magical Psychos
And ladies and gentleman Rin Tohaska was a prime example of Magical Psycho. why?
because when I had the masochistic Idea of conversing with Luviangelina Edelfelt, the only thing she could talk about the "pranks" her so called rival Rin Tohsaka pulled off on her, and believe me if half of what I heard it's true...she should have been thrown in prison a long time ago
" wait Emiya-kun beated up Matou?"
Tohaska gasped and widened her blue eyes
"What! NO! Jerk-kun is Matou, Matou beaten up himself...but I bet Emiya would have enjoyed punching him one or two times "
I said doing the nth mistake of the day
Making eye contact with Tohasaka because I remained charmed by those beautiful pools of blue that were her eyes...Just kidding
No, ahahaha she did have pretty eyes indeed but, the reason why I tried not to stare at her was because as much as I could detect someone's pain through eye contact a Magus could detect another in the same way.
Sure it wasn't like you just stared in the eyes of someone and "look at there a Magus!", no you needed to focus, you needed talent (more than anyone in Chiba had) and hope the other Magus didn't try to conceal his power
"which makes me think why am I not doing it already!"
I thought trying to keep even a drop of my mana flow in my body
HIGH COUNCIL OF THE 7 RINS, SESSION 1
"There he is, he is cracking now we'll find out if he is Master who's harvesting mana from the school"
"Hold your horses ProudRin, we can't give for assured he is involved in the war"
"Oh right InnocentRin ! A strange creepy boy arrives in Fuyuki out of nowhere just before the beginning of the Holy Grail War... it must be a coincidence! "
"You and the your sarcasm, now I know why I'm the one we show to other people"
"Girls girls why are you so concerned with this stupid war? Why don't we focus on more important things like Archer's biceps"
" WHO LET HormonalRin OUT!"
"Then why don't you tell your version of the story"
said Tohsaka cheerfully while gripping my wrist in order to avoid I broke free from our battle of stares
Truly her face and her actions were like the night and the day, still...What a grip next time I couldn't open a jar I'd be sure to ask her help
"Too much pain for no results Tohsaka"
I responded unable to escape from those sapphire eyes that treated to pierce my soul
"Really?"
questioned me the black haired bishoujo, still feinting innocence and intensifying her stare.
With the result of making me shiver in fear.
"Seriously what's wrong with these girls, at first they look just like two cute teenagers but Geez...they all have a prized collection of creepy smiles, stares and giggles"
I thought while Tohsaka-san's face gave me goosebumps.
"I mean really! Each time I distract Emiya from Matou or ignore one of Tohsaka's passive aggressive questions, I feet chills run through all my spine..is it sure Matou and Tohsaka aren't related? Because I swear they have the same "I'm going to kill you in your sleep" stare."
I told myself focusing more on suppressing my mana
"yup What's the point in correcting people that have not even the desire to confirm whenever the rumor they are spreading it's true or not.
Probably it will be over in a few days, just the time they found something more interesting to rumor about"
I finally retorted freeing me with a rough movement and heading out from the classroom
With a few fast steps I fully immersed myself in the undetectable HIKKI STEALTH, slipping through waves of hungry students, finally taking distance from my classroom, rude insults about my eyes and Rin Tohsaka.
"somehow I managed to fool her"
"Rin I didn't perceive any mana from him, he is just a regular human"
"So he managed to fool you Archer"
"What? Are you doubting my ability of reading mana"
"Just how you many much energy did you feel swelling in Hikigaya's eyes"
"Zero...oh"
"exactly OH, all human beings have at least a spark of energy in their eyes, Hikigaya did not"
"He suppressed his mana"
"Precisely too much I would add, by trying to hide his power he confirmed its existence to me"
"but most important he knows you're a Magus"
"Okay at last some peace and quiet"
I said as arrived on a small cement stair right after the service port of the school
"weather, check
none around, check
handmade bento, check
depression because the handmade bento was done by a boy and not my little sister...check"
I listed falling on my butt as I could enjoy my free meal in my...LUNCH SPOT FUYUKI VERSION!
"ittadakimasu"
I muttered starting to quietly eat.
To me lunch was sacred part of the day in which I could forget about all my worries and just focus on my next bit. Really what could be more poetic than eating a good lunch in a nice spot sipping canned tea...oh I know EATING A GOOD LUNCH IN A NICE SPOT SIPPING MAX COFFEE!
"Wow I really hope this exchange project ends fast, so I can start drinking my coffee again"
I said staring at my half finished lunch
"and... "
I looked around
"get away from two psycho"
I exaled while the empty smiles of Tohsaka and Sakura ran through my mind.
"I wonder if I should draw up the list of most dangerous teenagers in Fuyuki. I did make a sketch but, it was just to kill some time while Vita-chan was charging."
I then said resuming to eat my bento.
"Thinking about it, the list I made a few days ago was really a mess born from my soggetive thoughts; I didn't do any research or put any real effort... To begin with I put Matou Sakura on the first place just because she is unstable and I spend a lot of time in her proximity, but to be honest I highly doubt she has got any kind of offensive power."
I thought scratching my chin
" But if not her, who can aim to the spot of more feared teen in Fuyuki, Emiya? Matou senior"
I whispered barely holding back my laughs
Really I could beat the living shit out of them with one hand behind my back, one eye closed while singing the opening of Dragon ball Z.
" well the roof woman I saw this morning was indeed strong but I highly doubt she is under 19...And there is Rin Tohsaka who's for sure a powerful magus."
I put my thoughts in order
"Shit...Not to be monotonous, but just how messed up is Fuyuki? a Yandere, Magi popping around like mushrooms and an ominous mysterious lady... is some kind of event going on?"
I groaned
"Damn I can totally see it"
I realized while an announcer voice started to ring in my mind
hey you, yes you!
are you some kind of unappreciated potential murderer?
THEN FUYUKI IS THE CITY RIGHT FOR YOU!
apply now for the event
A BUNCH OF DANGEROUS PEOPLE!
Edited by Soichiro Kuzuki
"Just why did I accepted to come here"
After the lunch pause ended I listlessly returned to my classroom, comforted by knowing that the last hours of the school day would have been Kuzuki-sensei's lessons.
Not because I was particularly fond of his subject (F*** Math), but because none dared to even whisper in his presence, after all he was damn scary in his own right. Has anyone seen those lifeless eyes of his, heard the rough timbre in his voice or...
"am I similar to Kuzuki-sensei?"
I asked myself taking seat ready to fake attention for the lesson about to start.
"what do you think brain?"
the magical adventures of brain-kun episode 16
"yes... yes you are, just slap a pair of classes on your face, get an hair cut and look in a mirror to see your ugly face"
"and so the value of x is"
"Fuck you brain!"
I unconsciously said directing all the attention of the classroom on me.
For a long moment nobody said a single word, the whole class seemed frozen in time.
"did you say something Hikigaya?"
asked me Kuzuki-sensei with a tone so neutral that managed to scare me...ME THE GUY WHO FACE KILLERS ON REGULAR BASIS
"Nothing sir"
I responded entangling myself in a battle of stares with Kuzuki-sensei while my heart refused to beat
"I see but please, avoid to interrupt my lesson again"
he then said with that terrifying voice of his turning towards the blackboard.
"yes"
I muttered while the classroom came out from its stasis
Apparently for the second time that day I had managed to drag an insane amount of unwanted attention on me. And of course Rin Tohasaka who took quite the liking in pushing me to the break point threw salt on my wounds whispering
"psss Hikigaya do you remember that "something more interesting to rumor about" you mentioned during lunch pause?"
"..."
"I guess they found it"
she continued with that scary face of hers aiming her index towards the rest of the classroom
...forty four eyes were stuck on me
"... why can't I just disappear in a corner already and why Tohsaka is so bitchy today? Until today we barely interacted with each other, what did I do wrong to get this treatment?...I have to be sure she never meet Yukinoshita"
I internally groaned crashing on my desk for the rest of the school day.
"Master"
"yes?"
"the Blood Fort Of Andromeda Just need other two seals to be completed but..."
"But What Rider!?"
"I don't have any mana left"
"And where is the problem? we will just have you eat the soul of someone"
"As you desire, I will take action during the return to your residence"
"perfect...or not...I have a better idea"
"Master?"
"Today I will give you a special target...do you see that disgusting guy crossing the entrance gate"
"yes"
"make him your next meal"
"Master...he is one of the acquaintances of your sister"
"are you daring to object my orders"
"...no"
"Then go and do not fail me"
Must
get
away
from
this
school
six words that together formed a sentence
Must get away from this school
a sentence that endlessly repeated turned in my mindset after the school's bell rang to announce the end of the lessons.
put in a more narrative way
"Must get away from this school,Must get away from this school"
I muttered after my llllllooooooooooonnnnnnnnngggg school had finally decided to end
Foused only on returning to Emiya's household and relax with my Vita-chan, I let my feet activate the autopilot and began to jog across Fuyuki's streets leaving with each step a piece of my stress behind.
I noticed when I was seven: jogging calmed me and to a ridiculous level I would add. It was like that monotonous aerobic exercise had magic proprierties...probably I had ran a few hundreds kilometres in the past year just to calm me down before Oroboro's operations.
"Okay I'm calm, I'm calm, totally calm"
I said concluding my cardio.
"...Now where am I?"
remembered my feet's autopilot was precise as Apple Maps
"So If the Takoyaki stand is here... and the bank is there, I'm half the way"
I positively concluded after looking around me...before
the magical adventures of brain-kun episode 14
"mana signature detected...the roof woman is following us"
my brain made me notice that each time I dared to calm down the universe acted to re-equilibrate my stress level.
"This day is never going to end isn't it"
I groaned starting to search an isolated alley to deal with my "problem"
"Thank God Emiya remained at school to clean the archery dojo...things would get even more a pain if he was here.
I hope I can talk my way out...is it too much to ask she just need an indication for the closest convenience store?"
I muttered turning on a desert side-street definitely sealing my FATE.
"Oh I'm sure I'm going to regret this".
was my last thought before starting to walk in complete silence.
It took me five minutes to reach a suitable spot far enough from innocent bystanders and stop.
the air around me seemed filled with electricity, my palms were sweaty and to be honest I didn't know what to do.
I mean shouldn't the intimidating woman get an hint and come out already... I moved on my own in a dark-illfamed alley, did she want a glowing sign that said EASY TARGET or what?
"So shall we start or you will just keep playing the ominous and shit woman on that roof "
I muttered waiting for something to happen.
Dammit this lady had been stalking me for the whole morning and really! I had already had an annoying day. Taking part to this mouse hunt was truly the last thing I wanted Goddammit!
Eventually growing tired of waiting I tossed away my school bag and stripped of my winter coat, remaining with just with Sobu school uniform.
Then I slowly turned my head and fixed both my dead eyes on the top of the building to my left.
"OI LONG HAIRED WOMAN WITH A SLEEPMASK! I HAVE SEEN! CAN YOU STOP FOLLOWING ME IT'S CREEPY"
I shouted with all the air I had in my lungs.
Mostly because I wanted to deal with this problem and go home as fast as I could...also to quickly clear two important points:
I knew I had been followed
and I was pissed off
I let you decide what was more troublesome for her.
"Ara ara ara ara aren't you an interesting prey"
said the woman I was waiting for coming out from a shadow.
It was the first time I managed to clearly see her...and she was gorgeous (a 9, 8.5 at worst): tall, long purple hair, a...revealing outfit, leather booths, chains and blindfold on her eyes...
"Wait a minute, am I being stalked by an employee of a kinky shop?"
I narrowed my eyes
"eh may I ask your name?"
I asked politely trying to achieve three things.
1 understand why she was wearing that outfit in winter
2 figure out how much of a threat she was
3 and buy a bit time that always useful in these kind of stand-offs
exactly in that order
"You may not, but"
she responded jumping down from the ten metres high building and landing gracefully...on heels!
"you can refer to me as Rider servant"
"AH! so you were the slave of some pervert!"
I outbursted while al the piece of a dirty puzzle came together in my mind
"Wha-WHAT NO!, I mean yes, but NO!...just what do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me, chains, Sleep mask, sluttish outfit"
I said indicating pointing at that kind of micro-onepiece dress this Rider-girl was wearing.
"the option are two"
I announced while the woman blushed and tried to use her hands to cover herself?...I guess...
(she wasn't exactly doing a good job, with so much skin exposed I doubt even eight pair of hands would have sufficed.)
"or you are a cosplayer or you have just finished some kind of sadomasochistic play...God now I can imagine why you called yourself Rider EHW SICK!"
I continued trying to buy as much time as possible.
Listening to my ridicolous words the purple-haired beauty was caught off guard and started to mutter incompres
incomprehensible things like "S-s-lutthish" or "is he drooling?"
however I didn't pay attention to her words, after all I spent my time in more useful ways such as studying her.
Judging from her stance and built she was the quick type fighter: fast and precise, but frail to direct hits and lacking in raw power
"probably her chains are more a tool to move around than fight, but that lives the doubt on how does she use those spikes? as a hooking, weapon, both...definitely both"
I thought as I rose three fingers and unleashed my last taunt
"and just to be sure do you see under that thing? Rider-san how many fingers?"
" JUST STOOP!"
Rider screamed launching one of her spikes at me
the throw by itself was just clumsy, cut the power behind it was frightening.
I managed to dodge it and keeping a passable imitation of calm...but that speed that strength, just what the heck was she?
I didn't sense any kind of magecrafth activating nor she used a particular technique; that was pure raw power.
"ehehehe"
Shocked in my very core I erupted in a nervous laugh.
"Okay my bad I let my imagination run wild, I apologize, Still would you please give me more information about yourself...otherwise I might misunderstand something else"
I said trying to calm down the very-much-insanely-dangerous Rider-san
"NO! ...ugh Why my backup-Master gave me such a troublesome target!?"
"MASTER!?"
"Do...not...dare to say another word"
"Yes ma'm...still Master and target sound a bit off to me, might you...I dunno give me a hint, just to understand in which mess I got involved into"
I asked mustering all my diplomatic skills...usually they sounded more effective when I had a bunch of scary agents behind my back
"I'm not allowed to respond to any of your questions, still I will tell you this: it's nothing personal, I just received the order to dispose you from my Master, but rejoice you are not the first nor will be the last victim of this Holy Grail War"
"SO THERE IS AN EVENT! WHY DOES IT SOUND FAMILIAR?"
I screamed in my head, while quietly saying
"And I guess I can't talk my way out, right?"
and drawing my gun.
"No you can't "
Rider responded dashing towards me with one of her spikes aimed at my chest
"too bad"
I groaned watching Bondage-san coming
"I hate fighting right after school"
I whispered in monotone I dodging her spike at blank-point range and emptying my gun on her
*ba, bam bam bam bam bam bam
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
she screamed backing off after receiving an entire magazine in her guts.
Normally that move would have been the end on the fight. GG Rider-san.
Yet with my fear and wonder Rider was still able to stand, she was bleeding of course but, not as much as I expected or wanted.
It took me a second to realize that all the injuries I left on her were much more superficial than they should.
*tin tin tin
all the bullets I shot tingled on the ground slowly coming out from Rider's body
"That's unexpected"
I commented feinting calm while in my head...
I was considering all the options
"my normal bullets pierced at maximum two centimetres, when they should have trespassed her or stuck into a bone...What did she do? What's up her sleeve?
Pre-casted magical defences...no
Extra strong muscles...yes bu they are not enough alone
Blood manipulation?...yes the blood on the bullets is already coagulated"
"YOU"
Said the woman touching her wounds and tinting her hand of crimson blood
"What? Why are you acting so surprised , isn't this legitimate defence, from law's the point of view I'm the victim here"
I retorted switching my guns magazine and assuming my fighting stance
"Now go away or stop Whining"
I continued as my eyes grew colder and sharper
"I have lost already too much time Rider".
Thus the battle began
Bam*bam Bam
Shooting three alchemic bullets I opened the fight respectively aiming at Rider's shoulder, knee and waist.
I knew that she would have been able to avoid one or two of them, but I was sure at least one would injure her.
Yet the blindfolded Woman exceeded my expectations and dodged all my projectiles with ease, She was more agile than I thought; her movements were so wide and flexible that for a moment I believed I was currently facing a humanoid snake.
"I just caught her off guard before uh?"
I realized drawing my dagger to parry an incoming strike
*Clank
my blade and Rider's spike clashed in a shower of sparks. My knees bent and my feet slided back as I was completely overwhelmed by the woman's strength.
Fuck she was on the level of a Death Apostole.
"let me taste your fear boya"
Said Rider trying to stab me with her other spike
Barely making in time I avoided Rider's attack jumping back, still paying the price of having my school uniform tored
"strength 7, agility 8"
I roughly estimated after that first exchange of blows.
It was a good match up for me since my fight style was based on disabling and redirecting blows, I just had to get more acquitanced with her fight style and then I was confident the fight would have turned in my favor
-Scio ubi dolor-
(I know where the pain is)
calling my magic at forth I discarded my gun and dashed towards Rider. As we began to dance between each other's slashes and stabs the alley was filled by silver arcs, It was a fight of pure agility, we didn't bother to make our weapon clash, Rider and I just continued to attack letting our reflexes handle all dodges...probably we looked like two snakes twisting against each other.
Thanks to my premonition spell I had been able to stick Rider in this dog-fight. At first I had hard time to slip through the woman's attack and consequently received countless small cuts on all my body. Seeing me all bleeding and sweaty the tall woman had smiled thinking that discarding my gun and choosing a close-fight I had either decided to try the suicidal approach or just weren't thinking.
Unfortunately for her nothing was more far from the truth. Speed, power, tecnique, time reaction; I learned everything I could with each blow me and Rider exchanged and in less than a minute I started to adapt to her fighting style.
Every slash, every stab I could see them coming from miles away.
Moving the bare minimum I avoided all Rider's blows progressively becoming more and more aggresive with my stabs.
"ARGh"
Rider groaned as I finally managed to injure her on the left hip
"Oh Jesus Christ took an eternity "
I thought once I at last started to Get Good and backed off from Rider
"this is your last chance GET AWAY"
I told her calling a short pause from our fight
"ahah is this supposed to be a threat boya, I hope you didn't get so cocky just because you scratched me in this little game"
Laughed at me Rider intending she had held back until now
"I warned you"
I simply responded making my mana flow through all my body
-Memento dolor-
-Dolorem accipit potestatem-
I whispered as the uproar of past fights and battles from all the history resounded in my brain. From the depths of my soul I summoned countless injuries that materialized on my body for a second before turning into black smoke.
Now to be honest I hoped that making appear a cloud of negativity and pain would have.. I dunno scared Rider, left her confused or any other kind of reaction, yet she remained completely unfazed.
"ready to resume ?"
I asked Rider surrounded by a nightmarish aura while the smell of my own blood filled my nose
"Ah ah ah you never chase to amaze me my prey, may I ask your name?"
responded amused Rider starting to spin her chains
"you may not"
I said as I sent seven tentacles of darkness towards Rider
"But"
she blocked them with her chains
"You can refer to me"
I dashed towards the woman condensing the black mist around me in my fist
"as Angra Mainyu"
I concluded slipping through her defence and connecting my dark fist with her face
-MEMENTO MORI!-
(remeber you have to die)
I roared letting all my pain magic burst in Rider's body.
"AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGSSSSSSS"
The woman screamed as all my black smoke converted into countless injuries with an obscure flash.
Suddently afflicted by my signature spell Rider collapsed on the ground copiously bleeding while the ground beneath her was covered by a crimson pool.
Watching at my opponent twist on the ground painfully, I let a small grin rose to my lips.
It had been a while since I used my sure "kill" technique or fought an opponent strong as Rider, so seeing I was still deathly pleased me.
Sure to reduce her in that state I had to give up the 70% of all the mana I had left and gather the pain of two hundred people...around four times the usual amount, but the result spoke for themselves.
"tendons tored, internal and external hemorrhages and fingers broken"
I listed stepping on Rider's hands, surrounded by a thin veil of smoke as my injuries healed
"Ugh"
she grunted
"you will probably die in three minutes"
I continued fetching all the stuff I tossed around
"Bastard..."
the woman spit poisonous crawling towards me
"yeah I get that a lot, but if you want to survive you'd better stop throwing useless insults and contact that master of yours"
I told her trying to hide the strain in my voice
"I have to get out of there before any kind of reinforces arrive"
I thought while I started to feel the effects of using so much pain magic all together.
My magic circuits were on fire and I could only feel the taste of blood in my mouth, standing to my calculation I had around five minutes before the drawbacks of my magic started to appear making me unable to fight properly for at minimum three hours.
"Don't think you have defeated me"
grunted Rider unsuccessfully trying to stand up
"mmmmmmm no I think I have..."
I retorted dispassionate walking away from the ally and... just to throw a bit of salt on Rider wounds I added
"Sure you didn't have the chance to make properly use of your agility in this thin ally and if you had managed to land a direct blow with all your power I would have surely died but, the strongest doesn't always win "
How much I regret to have done that..why?
because once I ended my second-rate-kung fu master line
"Really"
said Rider's exactly from behind my back before a monstrously powerful blow sent me flying.
THE GORGON
Fear
fear was what I had never wanted to inspired in people, it was my only selfish desire.
The only desire of me, Medusa the imperfect gorgon... the only one of the three sisters that would have grown older and eventually died.
I didn't think it was too much to ask, but the cruel destiny didn't have the same opinion.
I who was originally considered to be a princess loved by humans, were one day cursed, stripped of the "faith from each and every person" and exiled to the Shapeless Isle a crude island where only weeds and bitter roots grew.
Banished by those who had adored me
after all their love had turned into hatred
I still remember the countless night I spent weeping in solitude, praying that none of the humans that now frightened me with their unwarranted resentment would tread on the island.
Yet the destiny made fun of me and let blood thirsty men set foot on my land...They called me monster and attacked me because they were scared of me.
Actually when they arrived a part of me felt relieved; finally my life would have been put to an end and I'd never had to spend another night shivering in fear.
ready to reach to end everything
I let those men hit me
I let those men stab me
I let those man spit on me while I was crawling on the ground
However when they tried to hurt my sisters, the only ones who had always been at my side, the ones that left aside a life of luxury to join me in my exile, they that were able to cheer me up in my darkest moments.
I snapped
"if they came to hunt a monster then a monster they will get"
I thought at that time standing from a puddle of my own blood and killing all those men with a power I never knew I had in my eyes.
I still remember with delight the scared face of the other men when the first one turned into stone.
Eventually other men landed on my island calling me monster and attacking me because they were scared of me.
I kill them all
one after another
until I turned in what they accused me to be
until the fear I inspired in their hearts I once hated
turned in my one and only joy.
until I died there was no man who could face me without fearing me, even after I was reincarnated as a servant or...at least it was what I thought until I met him
my prey
" the strongest one doesn't always win"
I said delighted stomping with my booth on a dark haired teenager
"well I guess this is not the case"
I added moving my weight on my booth
"ugh what a shitty day"
groaned the boy twitching under my booth's heel and coughing a bit of blood...dirtying my shoes Of course!
"Geez why I can't never avoid to dirt my stuff with blood"
I thought observing this Angra Mainyu boy trying to reach his metal spitting weapon.
"internal bleeding, cracked ribs and broken fingers"
I listed crushing his his hand under my foot
"Oh really! using my words now, can't you do something more original"
spit the boy like the broken fingers of his right hand meant nothing
"aren't you a little too lively for someone who's going to die?"
I asked puzzled by this bizarre human as I returned to stomp on him
first he noticed I was tailing him, second he provoked me and my clothing...really was I exposing too much skin? And third managed to injure me to an incredible level
"Couldn't I ask you the same question? Two seconds ago you couldn't even stand up and it wasn't a play"
he retorted with a casually confused voice
"I'm the one making questions here"
I outbursted exasperated by this human, who kept ignoring my power and rudely retorted to everything I said
"Oh I get it you stitched yourself with blood manipulation...that explain why the blood puddle disappeared...it must took a lot of energ-ugh"
he said more to himself than to me before I stomped on him again
"That's not what I want to ear"
I exhaled staring at the magus
Seriously I was literally crushing him under my booth, couldn't he be more scared or just read the mood a little?
"what do you want me to say? I'm lively because I'm about to die of course...not because I have been peaking to your violet panty for the past minute"
"you what!"
"pushing too hard pushing too hard I'm sowwy I'm sowwy"
he choked knocking with his good hand my booth.
"Just what is wrong with you! Humans always start to cry or worse in this situations why do you act in this way?"
I asked in a weird, mix of amusement and desolation...this boy was really just too peculiar
"Because I believe panic is never the answer...jesus add perforated lung to the list of injures, what are those booth made of ?"
he responded again with calm voice shaking his head
"well it's the end for you young magus"
I said softly smiling and summoning my divine reins
"any last words?"
I asked as a sign of respect for a worthy opponent
"Can I see your eyes?"
he responded randomly
"I said last words not last request"
I pointed out
"uuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggggg and not the name and not the explanations and now not even this! Rider you are pain. You know that! Just throw me a bone already"
"Why would you want to see my eyes?"
"because I'm about to die and the last thing I want to see is the face of a beautiful woman"
"Am I beautiful?"
"are you fucking kidding me right ?"
"..."
"sorry but if you had to give yourself a mark from 0 to 10 what would it be?"
"eh 7?"
"...What the hell are your comparison terms"
"my sisters...they were both a 10"
"ohh... have you perhaps any photos ?"
"what's a photo?"
" Forget it just take off this sleep-mask already!"
"Fine! But you won't like what you see"
I finally give in to the request of this unreasonable boy...after all he was going to die soon, it didn't matter whenever he saw my mystic eyes and beside his heart would replenish all the mana I wasted.
Looking from above my next meal I removed my blindfold with a swift movement, letting my purple eyes free to enjoy the light of the day.
Accordingly to his request I fixed my stare in the dead eyes of the teenager and without having to wait that a second the body of the boy began to stiff.
With a bit of disappontment I realized my prized mystic eyes power had really went down drastically since Matou Shinji had assumed the position of my Master...in my peak form I could turn humans into stone in a second, now I only managed to paralyse them...so humiliating
"ahahah"
the magus laughed for some reason
"what's so funny?"
I asked watching him force his lips to move and say
"I don't u-understand w-why you said I... w-w-wouldn't like what I saw,
I li-k-ke your eyes and y...uo know
the eyes are the mirrors of the soul
-Tamashī no kagami-
(mirror of souls)
and then the world around me disappeared
Light, darkness, hot, cold, happiness, sadness.
a chaotic storm of contradictions and opposites: that was the only thing that greeted me before I found myself lying on a boundless meadow I had never seen before.
I didn't know where I was or how did I get there but, I liked the feeling this place gave me.
it felt oddly familiar...
"where am I?"
I thought standing up on a carpet of soft grass.
exploring with my eyes the surrounding area I tried to answer my own question, yet all my thoughts died when my stare lay on my bare feet; they were so tiny
"uh?"
I muttered finding myself surprised by how childish it sounded
"UHHHHH"
I echoed staring at a pair of small hands that couldn't belong that to a six years old girl...oh wait a second they were mine!
"What is going on?"
I studied the rest of my body
It appeared my body had somehow returned to the age of six and all my battle gears had been replaced by a white tunic I wore as a child.
Then before I could question my situation any further a stream of memories ran through my brain and everything became clear: it was that boy's fault.
He lured me into removing my blind-fold and then used some kind of magic to transport me in this place.
"seriously is this an illusion?"
I said finally focusing on the environment around me.
It was like someone had taken all the places I loved and squashed them together; a sea of grass that stretched to the horizon, studded with pink and white flowers, where sporadic olive trees stood here and there, and the ancient Greek temples, the playgrounds of my childhood, were at no more than 100 metres from me.
"It's so beautiful"
I muttered as the sweet memories of my childhood turned into tears in my eyes.
Carefree days, runs through the fields and smiles from those who worshipped me...
"...flashes of what my life had been, what does my prey hope to achieve"
I thought trying not to sank in a spiral of nostalgia
"better move around and search for a way out"
I said making my first step since I arrived in that strange place.
I didn't even get the time to prepare myself for what happened next:
one moment I was rising my left foot and the moment later
I was feeling the time itself flow inside me.
with a quick sequence of painful shocks my legs, hairs, body and arms grew longer, my clothes changed from that plain white tunic to a more elaborate one blue with purple embroidery.
"Ugh"
I grunted as my body left behind its childish appearance and welcomed an adolescent one
suddenly my head was like slip in two from the pain. If before I had remembered my quiet and peaceful memories of my childhood, now I was reliving all the experiences I faced in my girlhood: The curse from the goddess Athena, my exile, the love of my worshippers turning into hate, and the fear that started to lodge in my heart.
my legs immediately started to shake as those memories I buried ages ago, now transfixed my mind
"why are you showing me this?"
I asked to none in particular while the environment around me, as if reacting to my feelings started to darken
the once gorgeous and green grass rapidly turned yellow, all the pretty, fragrant flowers rotted and countless cracks appeared on the various temples.
It was like the time I got exiled...everything I loved crumbled around me and I couldn't do anything except stare impotent.
Trying to escape from that view I once again stepped forward. My body painfully aged even this time, my clothes changed again turning into dress of rags.
I didn't even get to properly finish my step that an incredibly heavy obsidian chain came out from my back.
"ahhhh"
I screamed falling on my knees
"What's happening? "
I clenched my teeth trying to stand up enduring at my best another storm of horrible memories
*CRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH
roared one of the temples crumbling on itself.
"DAMMIT"
I cursed as I managed to move one of my feet forward.
It was a torture: each time I took a step I was forced to revive a part of my life.
I saw the world around me twist and take darker connotations: what once was a beautiful lawn now had turned in a disgusting swamp invaded by deformed plants and broken statues.
"Just make this hell stop"
I muttered taking another painful step and feeling a new chain burden my back.
I fell again on my knees unable to endure the weight of the various chains on my back any further
"I'm sorry but this hell cannot be stopped..."
said a voice in front of me.
"after all it is your mind Medusa"
"WHERE ARE YOU!"
I roared turning towards the voice
"I'm a few years behind you, just give me a moment"
The voice...no my prey responded.
his voice sounded tired, very tired and even though I couldn't see him, I felt his presence at no more than two steps from me.
For one endless minute I waited for him to arrive, I wasn't sure about what to do once I saw him:
choke him?
breaking his legs?
his arms?
his arms and legs then enjoy the sight of him trying to creep away?
Or question him about WHAT THE HELL THIS NIGHTMARE WAS!
probably the latter, then the fourth and the first.
"sorry for the waiting, your mind is pretty though to break into, you know?"
said my prey while the word in front of me was filled with cracks.
I couldn't believe my eyes it was like the swamp I was staring at had turned into a mirror about to break.
then before I could say anything, the cracked reality I was watching fell in thousands of pieces, letting my eyes escape from that swamp.
All my field of view was filled by giant flat mirror of dark water, surmounted by a starry sky.
"Yo"
Greeted me a bleeding teenager standing between the edges of two words.
he was wearing some kind of half-destroyed battle outfit and judging from his wounds he was having hard time to remain on his feet.
"Apparently this strange spell it is double-edged weapon"
I thought noticing my prey had attached to his back countless obsidian chains
"took you long enough"
I said neutral forcing myself to stand up.
"I'm sorry it's always difficult to handle this thing when I'm low on mana, I wonder for whose fault"
He responded sketching a sneer
"cut this madness, where are we?"
I asked pondering the distance between me and my prey
he was at no more than three step from me, if I was fast enough I could manage to catch him and put an end to his life, probably making this illusion cease to exist as well in the process.
" Didn't I tell you already that is your mind, and this is mine; with each step you take you can see how it changed as you grew up"
he responded pointing at the swamp behind me and at the water behind his back
"and these chains"
he continued tapping on his back
"are just the pain we carry with us, Medusa"
he finished pointing at mine
acting out of instinct I touched the chains that burdened my shoulders.
"Stheno, Euriale help"
suddenly a painful memory was recalled in my mind
"aaarh"
I exhaled on the verge of a panic attack
"tsk I wouldn't do that since you aren't exactly comfortable with your past... after all who would..."
my prey retorted emotionless
"How can you know that! How you know my true name!?
I retorted taking a painful step towards that damned boy.
"The basic principle of my spell, connecting two minds"
he said neutral watching me fall on the ground as I succumbed under the weight of a new chain.
"In this precise moment our inner words are colliding with each other, leaving countless information free to flow from me to you and from you to me.
and that's why I know your identity: the third Gorgon Medusa"
"ara ara ara and why I don't get any information my prey, I don't even know your name Angra Mainyu "
I asked feinting calm and struggling to stand up from the ground
"simple, because you can't accept someone else if you can't accept yourself first"
he responded stepping out from his world and entering in mine
"you have lived your life bounded by chains you didn't want or deserved and turned yourself in what you despised for protect your loved ones"
he moved effortless even if with each step he made in my swamp new wounds appeared on his body.
"just who are you?"
I whispered as I stared at that boy
I just couldn't understand he was walking towards me maintaining a totally calm expression, still his body was wounded beyond human comprehension, his legs were shaking and the countless chains on his back should have been so heavy to tore him apart.
Yet nothing, his expression betrayed nothing, he was continuing to go on like nothing was wrong, while the world at his back refused to change and new wounds wanted to crack him
"Who am I?"
he said staring in my eyes like no one was ever able to do
for the first time, in centuries I was having a face to face with a person and I realized I didn't know how to react. His death eyes were fixed in mine, I wanted to escape from them, but I couldn't it was like they were piercing in me
"Let me show you"
my prey extended his hand grabbing the chains on my back and starting to lift them
suddenly the burden I was carrying on my shoulders disappeared and the disgusting swamp I was surrounded by returned to be a meadow; not as shiny and pure like the first one but still beautiful
"if this is my mind when I'm not burdened by pain...I could get used to it"
I thought looking around.
"follow me "
the boy said moving towards his own world still holding my chains
Aware that disobeying him meant re-suffer that insane burden I gulped down my pride and reached his side, with my surprise now walking was thousands times easier than before. I still faced a turbulent stream of memories with each step, but it wasn't as fierce as before...was the dark haired boy doing?
"before you get strange ideas, let me tell you the six rules of this place"
the boy said once I reached his side
"First we can't physically injure each other
Second we remain stuck here until both of us have reach the borders of our words, then it's up to how much mana I used to cast the spell
Third once we arrive at the border of your word we're given basic knowledge of the other: name and random bits of memories
Fourth after we both reach the borders, I can see your mind as much as you can see in mine."
He took a pause as we were in front of the crack that divided our two words
"Fifth if we can completely understand and accept a part of the other's mind we can steal it, modify it, or seal it, for example this "
he said raising one of my chains
"the fear that comes from being hunted, if I can understand it, if I can accept it...I can take it"
He continued ripping off from my back that obsidian curse and adding it to his owns.
To me it was like breath of fresh air
"sure, when if you focus enough you avoid I steal or do anything and of course you can try to take it back"
The boy concluded letting go my chains and crossing the rift of our worlds giving me his back.
Founding myself at the edge of my world I felt an electric shock ran through my spine... then that famed basic knowledge about my prey arrived in my brain.
"Hachiman, Hikigaya Hachiman is his name"
I thought before flashes of his past ran through my eyes
"Dad open please"
a boy was beating his fist on a wooden panel until they were bleeding
"it doesn't hurt it doesn't hurt at all"
the same boy a bit older was limping in a building on fire holding his left arm
"So what kind of person this Hachiman will be?"
a girl asked to the boy on top of a building
"we are the one that stand from the ashes of the past, we are the one that endure the night to seek the light of the dawn, we are Oroboro"
the same boy, Hachiman, this time around fifteen and covered in strange tattoos was giving a speech to a crowd composed of young men and women...no they were all to young...they were children
"Just who the hell are you?"
I whispered fixing my eyes on him
"and at last the Sixth rule"
Hachiman turned towards me
"Until you don't know the six rules we can't start"
(One hour later)
"so did you carry out my order Rider"
"yes master I did as you ordered, sneaked upon the boy and beaten him until he wasn't able to stand anymore, then stole the magic jewel he had on himself and used it to replenish my mana"
"You didn't kill him !?"
"Should I had?"
(59 minutes before)
"Damn that was close! Thank God the mirror of souls worked
AND THAT's HOW 8MAN SURVIVED HIS FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH A SERVANT...
NEXT TIME HACHIMAN VS CU CHULLAIN BECAUSE IF OUR FAVORITE LONER'S LIFE WAS QUIET THIS WOULD'T BE MY FF