Flashback.

The kendo club at Kuoh High School was a bit noisier than usual today. Two people dressed in white sports kimonos sparred with bamboo shinai. The girl with chestnut hair tied in a ponytail and the red-haired boy with brown eyes. Both ruthlessly and continuously clashed swords and then separated again. However, the boy had a shinai in each hand, which he skillfully wielded, not allowing his opponent to catch a break with his frequent attacks. And no matter how hard the girl tried to get closer to her opponent, all her attempts were met with a steel defence and a quick counterattack. Moreover, since she maintained such a fast pace for ten minutes already, she was rapidly running out of breath. Noticing this, the boy got closer and made a feint. In a second, the girl was unarmed, and the spinning shinai fell to the floor. Another moment and the sword stopped just a few centimeters from the girl's face, which was covered in sweat. All sounds in the dojo fell silent, except for the girl's deep breaths, as she looked in amazement at the tip of her opponent's shinai.

"Again," she lowered her gaze and pouted. "I lost again! You become too agile when you equip the second sword. It's not fair, Emiya-kun!"

"Hm, will you also talk like that to your opponent in a real fight, Murayama?" Emiya Shirou sheathed his sword and asked, to which Murayama simply looked away.

"No, of course not. I just can't understand where you learned this. I've never seen a swordsman with two swords before. Where can one even learn such a thing?" She leaned on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

"It's a trade secret," Shirou answered, picking up the fallen sword and putting it away with the rest of his weapons.

"And why do you constantly refuse to join our club? Such talent goes to waste. We would easily win the prefectural competitions in no time."

"Sorry, Captain of the Kendo club, Murayama-sama. But I'm not interested in that," he smirked.

"Don't play around, it doesn't suit you. And thank you for coming. Thanks to you, my skill level is growing faster than Chinese bamboo."

"Always happy to help."

"Well, it's time for me to go. The club's activities will start soon. You can change in the neighboring room, as usual," she sang and disappeared into the locker room.

Shirou followed her advice and quickly changed out of his kimono into his school uniform. Of course, he should have taken a shower, but since he didn't even break a sweat during practice, the need for it automatically disappeared. After buttoning his jacket, he was about to leave quietly when his gaze was drawn to the wall of the clubroom, which had windows overlooking the school garden.

"Oh, I just remembered," he thought, and with brisk steps, he left the dojo and then stepped out into the open air. After turning the corner a couple of times, he found that same wall and witnessed the standard scene.

Two students were sitting by the wall, pressed against the wooden base and kneeling. One was completely bald, and the other had round-framed glasses. They were notorious troublemakers that Shirou had repeatedly tried to set on the right path, but without success.

"Move over, I can't see anything! The girls will be coming into the locker room soon!" the bald one said with obvious enthusiasm.

"It's all good. The activities will start any minute now. There will be plenty to see," the bespectacled guy slobbered with enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Emiya just sighed heavily.

A few silent steps, then a tilt and...

"You've recovered quickly from last time," Shirou said, drawing the attention of the two deviants, who were already breaking out in a cold sweat, knowing that the kendo club sometimes had one person keeping an eye on things.

"E-E-Emiya?" stammered the bald one.

"Emiya," his doomed friend cursed.

"Matsuda and Motohama. The scandalous duo of perverts from Kuoh," Shirou confirmed in a matter-of-fact and carefree tone.

"Please, don't expose us!" the idiots pleaded.

"Well then, tell me, guys, what are you up to? Do you really want all the girls at the Academy to hate you even more?" Shirou asked.

"What do you know?! We've been studying here for a whole year, and nobody has even given us a second look! It's not fair! We just want to enjoy our youth!" the bespectacled guy blurted out with tears in his eyes. And he would have continued if it weren't for Shirou's heavy hand, which came down on his head.

"Could it be that nobody looks at you because you ruined your reputation on the very first day of school by sneaking into the tennis club locker room and getting locked in empty lockers? By the way, it was your loud and joyful laughter that gave you away back then."

"That's not…"

"Could it be that you are to blame for your own troubles?" Emiya pressed, hoping for some remorse from the two. Despite everything, he never lost hope of turning them into normal teenagers, rather than animals drowning in their own hormones.

"Shut up! You wouldn't understand! This is all we have left! At this rate, our youth will be filled with failures and shattered hopes!"

"Oh, how exaggerated," the imitator sighed once again. Beyond the wall, the voices of girls entering the changing room could already be heard. And then an idea struck him. "So, here's the deal. You have two options, guys. Either you swear on your lives that you'll smarten up, stop spewing filth, and quietly leave. Or... don't leave at all."

"W-why?!" Motohama trembled.

"The injuries will be too severe. You have five seconds."

"What?!"

"Four."

"Wait!"

"Three."

"We can't!"

"Two."

"Please!!!"

"One."

"No-o-o!!!" they screamed in unison.

A piercing whistle echoed throughout the vicinity. It seemed like everyone in the Academy heard that sound, no matter where they were. The two perverts with open mouths and faces as pale as marble stared at Emiya's impassive expression. In just a few seconds, fierce-looking girls from the kendo club surrounded them. Correction, extremely angry girls from the kendo club armed to the teeth.

"Your chance of survival, guys, is pretty slim. Try your best," the red-haired hero of justice patted them on the shoulders. Then he turned to the girls. "They're all yours, ladies. Don't break the equipment!"

"Although, I'm the one who reinforced this equipment myself. Well, that's a minor detail. The main thing is that justice has been restored," thought smiling Shirou, easily passing through the crowd of enraged kendo practitioners and headed for his remaining classes. The girls didn't suspect him of conspiring with the perverts at all, all because Shirou was known throughout the Academy as the "Helping Hand." He had often come to the rescue of various clubs when they had problems. It's no wonder he had earned such a reputation.

"Kia!"

"A-a-a-a-argh! It hurts!"

"Mercy! Ouch... a-a-a-argh! Please!"

Accompanied by the horrible screams and the sound of swords hitting skin at high speeds, Shirou made his way to the school building.

*

Occult Research Club. This is one of the oldest school buildings assigned to a group of students with the permission of the student council of Kuoh. Although the building looked shabby and past its prime from the outside, it could rival the strength of a good bunker. And the magic reinforcing it was the secret behind it, as it was filled to the brim with it, which is not surprising. This is the territory of devils, or more precisely, of the devil responsible for all the neighboring areas.

In the main room on the second floor, two girls were having a casual conversation. One of them had an exquisite figure and dark hair tied up in a ponytail. Her eyes shimmered with a purple color, and a half-smile played on her face. The second girl sat across from the first. Her beauty was in no way inferior to her companion's, and maybe even surpassed it. Her facial features and figure were uncommon for this country. She was a foreigner. Her eyes, blue like sapphires, and her hair, crimson like blood, were her distinguishing features. A tea table stood between the girls, with a chessboard placed on top with pieces arranged on it.

"Akeno, have you found out what I asked for?" the redhead asked without taking her eyes off the board. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, resting her chin on her hand.

"Yes, President. According to reports, the activity of stray devils in the city has significantly decreased in the last six months. However..."

"What?"

"They didn't leave. They were killed. Traces of battle were found in all the nests. In addition, according to the reports, it was done by one person. And there's no involvement from the church, no traces of light magic."

"An avenger? It's been a while since we've seen one. It's good that he's making our job easier, but I can't let him run wild on my territory. We need to find him, Akeno. Maybe he'll agree to become my servant."

"I will do my best, President," Akeno smiled, escorting the girl who had went up for the shower in the room.

*

Classes had ended, and the sky was gradually turning orange as the sun hurried to disappear behind the horizon, giving way to the night's darkness. Shirou slung his bag over his shoulder and walked straight home. As he walked on the overpass, he involuntarily stopped and stared at the setting sun. He loved to look at such scenes, especially this one. It reminded him of one memorable event. He had plenty of memorable events, but this one was special. Once upon a time, he stood just like this, watching Saber disappear. Back then, they had defeated Kotomine Kirei and his servant Gilgamesh, preventing them from obtaining the Holy Grail. The War was over. There were no more Masters, and with them, all the Servants had disappeared. Nevertheless, it hurt him. It hurt to see someone dear to you; despite everything you've done, not being saved. He couldn't break the chains of fate binding that brave girl.

"I love you, Shirou," he heard her last words before her silhouette shattered into numerous bright fragments. But Shirou didn't have time to capture that moment properly. Right at the last moment, the bright sun rose above the earth, bathing everything in its radiance.

She was a woman who had forsaken her own happiness in the name of duty. Despite the wounds and doubts, she continued to fiercely pursue the path she had chosen. It couldn't be denied. From the moment she swore an oath on the sword in the stone, young girl became a king, and nothing else. A soul that had chosen the path of a ruler. The woman named Artoria…

Acting as his sword, she defeated all of their enemies and protected him. She fulfilled her vow.

With the cool breeze blowing, the image of the knight disappeared. Just as it had appeared.

The distant, sunlit field remained etched in his memory forever. Just like the fields, she once rode across.

"Excuse me... You're Emiya Shirou from the Kuoh Academy, right?" Someone's voice brought him out of his recollection. Raising his head, he met the gaze of a beautiful girl in an unfamiliar school uniform. Long, luscious, black hair flowing down to her hips and billowing freely in the wind, a slender figure, smooth facial features, and burgundy eyes with an enigmatic expression studying him.

"Yes, that's me," Shirou replied, making an effort to suppress the emotions surging within him.

"And... why do you look sad?" she asked as she approached. Although it was clear that she didn't initially intend to ask that.

At that moment, Emiya finally noticed the expression he had on his face. Sadness, regret, sorrow, it all reflected on his face, and his gaze was vacant, as if he had been plunged into a cauldron of someone else's suffering. But he quickly erased all traces of sadness with a single stretch of will and finally answered the question:

"Nothing, I just remembered someone," he smiled, and his voice once again filled with warmth. One way or another, he had long since come to terms with everything that had happened, far, far away from here. Because the girl who had so fiercely defended her country now slept an eternal sleep.

"I'm probably here at the wrong time, I'm sorry…"she walked past the Shirou with a slightly red face. He watched her go, unsure whether to say anything. Suddenly, for just a moment, he saw that same image he had once captured at the horizon. The girl in the blue dress. And at that moment... she was smiling encouragingly.

"Wait!" he decided. Realization crashed over him like a waterfall. Now he understood everything. No matter where the girl in silver armor was, she always wanted him to be happy. She wanted to save him, just as desperately as he had wanted to save her. They both needed salvation. But now, one of them would never find it. However, that did not mean the other should share the same fate as the former. "Don't lose your chance," that's what that smile meant. Because of the path he had chosen, he had avoided getting close to anyone. It meant risking what would be dear to him in the future. However, the boy, no, Emiya Shirou still decided to try to find a piece of his own happiness. "What's your name?"

"A-Amano Yuma," she introduced herself, turning around.

"You wanted to talk about something, didn't you?" he inquired.

"Yes... tell me, are you currently dating someone?" she blushed. But Emiya already guessed where the conversation was heading and was perfectly fine with it.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend," he replied.

"Then, p-please, let's start dating!" she blurted out, closing her eyes in anticipation of his response.

"I don't mind," he said.

Upon hearing this, her face lit up with joy.

"Great, let's meet on Sunday!"

"Sounds good. I'll look forward to it."

*

The darkness of night descended upon the sky. The sun had set, and the spacious streets had turned into deserted paths illuminated by streetlights. Only one blurry silhouette raced through the city at night, swiftly avoiding all the deadends with an impressive speed that even athletes couldn't match.

"You've located it, you say?!" the young man spoke while running.

"Yes, on the outskirts of the city. It's a strong stray. I'll be able to give you a more precise location once you get closer. Be careful," a warning sounded in his head. The young man simply nodded to his thoughts and continued running.

He reached his destination, a forest located near a river. Following the dragon's instructions in his head, Shirou confidently made his way through the night forest. His magical vision provided a good enough view in the darkness, so within ten minutes he arrived at the stray's hideout. An old abandoned building with broken windows and worn-out wood against the backdrop of the dark forest created an image of great decay. Approaching the entrance, the boy pulled on the door handle, making sure it was unlocked, and entered inside. Perhaps they were already waiting for him.

Inside, the building looked no better than it did from the outside. Broken furniture, trash, and shattered tiles littered the floor, and all the wallpaper had long since peeled off the walls. Walking down the corridor, Shirou's gaze fixed on a large door, and he took a deep breath. The stray was right behind those doors, quietly exuding a thirst for blood. It was hungry and ready to embark on a hunt. But today, it will get a small dish in the form of projected steel.

"Trace on!"

A kick, and the door swung off its hinges, while twin blades, Kanshou and Bakuya, appeared in Emiya's hands. With a quick leap, he stood in the middle of the room, assuming a defensive stance.

"Who's there? I smell a delicacy. How hungry I am..." a charming female voice sounded and a naked figure appeared from the shadows of the room. Her beautiful face and violet eyes sparkled with grace and her black hair cascading down her ample chest would captivate any man. However, Emiya knew that appearances could be deceiving.

In an instant, instead of swords, the boy held a smooth black bow and drew back the string. The arrow, filled with prana, increased its piercing power and flew off.

At full speed, the shot punched a hole in the stomach of the naked maiden and through the wall behind her.

"What?" she stared in surprise at the wound. "What an audacious dinner. I'll eat you slowly."

"You would choke."

The girl's body suddenly rose into the air and completely emerged from the shadows. Now it was a mix of a snake's tail, two hairy arms with sharp claws, and a belly resembling a black sack with a devil's torso attached to the top, the most human part.

"Ew, you definitely wouldn't choke."

"I'll devour you!" the monster screeched, no longer with a sweet voice, but with a distorted growl, like nails scraping against glass.

The hands on which the monster stood turned out to be longer than Shirou expected. One of them reached out, almost grabbing him. However, he dodged to the left and spun on the spot, summoning his blades again. A sharp and powerful slash severed the creature's arm. It roared and struck again, with the same arm that was now just a stump. Shirou jumped away, pushing off the wall with his feet in mid-air and immediately ran in a curve, closing the distance. A jump and the swords were already aimed at its head. At the last moment, Emiya saw that the creature's cheeks unnaturally bulged and, at the limit of his reflexes, managed to tilt his head to the right. At that moment, a stream of some liquid pierced through that spot. But he didn't have time to examine it. Falling on top of the monster, he tightly gripped the sword handles and with one motion, beheaded it, somersaulting onto the floor.

The monster's body froze in place, and then collapsed to the ground, crushing the tiles under its weight. Making sure of its death, Emiya looked up at the ceiling. In the spot where the liquid landed, there was now a hole emitting steam with a hissing sound. The hole was a couple of meters wide.

"That was close," Shirou said, finally exiting his battle mode. Only now did he allow himself to exhale and calmly head home, knowing that today he saved many people from becoming dinner. After that, in two days he will have his first date in this world. And he didn't want to be distracted by things like hunting down strays.

The Occult Research Club.

"President, I have news. The fallen angels have made their move. They are targeting one of our students at the Academy. According to our information, there is a high probability that he has a sacred gear."

"Is that so? And who is this student?"

"Ara!" the girl exclaimed with delight. "This person is quite popular in our school. You probably haven't heard of him, as you don't involve yourself in school gossip. His name is Emiya Shirou. He's 172 centimeters tall, with red hair and brown eyes. He was born and raised in Japan. He's cheerful and sociable, and has shown good skills in swordsmanship. He also occasionally visits the kendo club and gives advice to their captain. He's known as the helping hand'."

"The helping hand?"

"He's helped countless clubs," explained Himejima. "And he's also kind and popular with the girls. He's such a golden boy, oh, I could just eat him up!"

"Your nature is showing again...either way, we need to keep an eye on him and decide what to do. And also, let him come across a flyer with my summoning pentagram. We can't let such a good young man die. If he has a sacred gear, he should become my servant. However, it will all depend on him."

POV Shirou

And so Sunday has come. Leaving the house and not forgetting to feed Kuro, I headed to the shopping center for a date with Yuma. Catching the right bus, I reached the center in just fifteen minutes, luckily, living nearby. For this occasion, I dressed in blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a light black and white jacket. Whoever in the old world had told me before that I would be going on dates while also slicing up evil devils at night, I would have deemed them insane. Life sometimes presents surprises and well, we live with it.

As any self-respecting guy should, I arrived at the location half an hour before the appointed time. As did Yuma, who was sitting on the nearest wooden bench. The girl was wearing black sandals that perfectly matched her short black skirt... even a little too short in my opinion, and a snow-white shirt with short sleeves. Meeting each other's gaze, we exchanged smiles and took off.

We've been everywhere. I took her to a clothing store where we (mostly she) tried on various outfits. After that undoubtedly exhausting marathon, we went to a small restaurant for a snack. Back in the day, I managed to improve my finances by working in various places that needed extra hands. So in this matter, I could not deny myself, let alone my date. That's why, in commemoration of our first date, I bought her a blue pendant that she immediately put around her neck, blushing like a ripe tomato. Then we went to take a few memorable photos, and everything would have been fine if someone hadn't slipped a flyer into my pocket. It was not just an ordinary flyer, but a magical one. Because ordinary fliers don't try to enchant you so much that you don't want to throw them away. But I still riskily kept it.

"It's a pentagram for summoning a high-class devil!" exclaimed Ddraig, while I read the inscription on the back. It said, 'We will fulfill any of your wishes.' I hate such claims ever since the fifth Holy Grail War.

"It seems that day has finally come. Though I didn't expect to stay in the shadows for long, how in the world did they spot us? There were no traces."

"No idea. I didn't notice any surveillance and didn't use sacred gear. Maybe they have special equipment or mass scanning spells. Oh well, what should we do?" I asked the dragon.

"Let's not rush it. It seems like they're trying to establish contact with us."

Yuma and I had fun until the evening, and during that time, I couldn't help but notice something strange. Whatever she did, whatever she said, however she smiled, I constantly felt a incongruence on the edge of my consciousness. As if, her feelings of joy momentarily shifted to regret or distress. Could it be…?

We stopped by the fountain. Illuminated by the rays of the setting sun, she asked:

"Tell me, Shirou, will you fulfill one of my wishes?"

Damn. I've seen scams that started just like this. Let's go all-in.

"Well, if it's not to fetch you a star from the sky, then please, go ahead. So, what will you ask of me?"

"Die for me." she wished.

I knew it.

"It's a trap!" sounded the alarm from Ddraig.

The strike was like a lightning flash. The spear aimed to pierce my heart. No human eye would have caught up with this lightning. But I am not just a human. I am a magus.

Behind Yuma, two wings as black as the night unfurled, and she soared, launching a bright red spear at me. Why do people want to impale me on a red spear in both worlds?

"However, there is a long road ahead or her to stand near Cuchulainn."

Exactly.

A step back, a 90-degree turn, and the spear punctures the cobblestone behind me. I looked into her cold eyes and remembered Ddraig's words.

Flashback

I watched Yuma with my eyes as I walked home, feeling something was amiss.

"Your perception is developing. That's good. You already understand, don't you? This girl is not human."

"Yes, but... that doesn't matter. I want to know: why did they start all these games? And I have a feeling that everything will be resolved d this Sunday."

"Wait, you don't want…"

"I want to save her."

"Again, your inflated sense of justice. Do you wish for my death?"

"Ddraig…"

"It's hard to understand from your memory, so tell me yourself, why do you desperately want to save everyone? It's impossible."

"Emiya Shirou has long lived for others. Moreover, the only way to repay the dead is to dedicate one's life to others. That is my ideal. Worlds change, debts remain. And I will repay that debt until the very end. I swore it on that graveyard of swords. Even if it is impossible, I will hold onto my dream until the very end. Even... if I never find what I am searching for."

"To live for others means not to live at all. That's what I think."

"You speak just like… him."

End of the flashback

"So, are you really a fallen angel, Yuma?"

"You aren't surprised? Interesting. It seems like you really will become a hindrance."

"A hindrance?"

"My name is Raynare, human. Your sacred gear poses a threat to us." Raynare descended to the ground and her appearance changed. The ordinary clothes vanished, torn into shreds, replaced by some black leather outfit with steel rings and straps, which I could only see in movies. In adult movies, to be precise. Her hair grew slightly longer and she gained a bit of height. In general, she looked more mature, like she was in her twenties.

"So, please be a good boy and die."

Spear flew towards me again. But this time, faster than before. In those few moments, I analyzed its composition, the concept of its creation, the manufacturing process, and the accumulated…

Error.

I couldn't analyze it.

I couldn't analyze this spear.

Because it wasn't a spear.

The released and modified mana emanated from Raynare's hand and took the form of a spear based on the magical formula. It was so simple that it could be easily memorized and used without chants or activation words. But there was one condition. The one who wields it must be a fallen angel. It's not a weapon, but a spell. That means I won't be able to project it.

Nevertheless, I dodged again and looked at Raynare with magical sight.

"Trace on!" a black bow settled in my palm, and a replica of Azoth's sword was already on the bowstring. I filled it with prana and turned it into a Broken Phantasm. The shot surprised the fallen who instinctively raised her hands in a defensive gesture. An explosive wave engulfed the target, raising clouds of dust. When the dust settled, I saw a girl lying in front of the fountain, which she had crashed into after being hit, shattering it to pieces. She was battered but not seriously injured. Before shooting, I noticed a protective barrier around her body and accordingly poured prana into the sword. The impact only broke the barrier and slightly grazed her skin. That's what I wanted. After all, I don't want to kill her.

"What the... damn it! What kind of magic is this?!" she kept coughing.

"Go away, Raynare."

The fallen angel looked at me in disbelief, then lowered her head. It was clear to see her gritting her teeth. Her barrier had fallen; she underestimated her opponent and thus lost. Moreover, she encountered my magecraft, which I believe has no analogues in this world. If she had fought someone else, she would have died. But now she had a chance to retreat.

Which she took.

"Damn you! Fine, I'll leave for now, but you better not cross my path again. Otherwise, I'll definitely kill you!"

The fallen angel flapped her large wings and swiftly took to the sky. With another flap, she flew strictly westward, leaving me alone amidst the ruined part of the park.

"You liar. If you truly hate me and want to kill me so badly... then why did you hesitate? Why did your hands tremble when you threw the spear? Why did you feel regret about something during our date? And why did you desperately avoided looking me in the eyes?"

I never got an answer.