Shirou was sitting in his workshop going over various plans for his conceptual weapon and other ways to reinforce the town. It had been two days since he had spoken to Serafall and Sona, and although he had seen Sona at school, they don't ever really get the chance to talk to each other unless it's for devil work or administrative things.
That night when Shirou had confronted Archer and shared memories had come and gone. The only person Shirou had ever willingly let into his kitchen was Archer because they were literally the same person and worked like a machine when cooking, moving around each other seamlessly and cooked for everyone. Artoria, Jack and Atalanta were used to having Shirou's food, so it was like a double serving of it when Archers came out. Sona and Serafall hadn't had Shirou's food in a long time and it showed in the way they melted with each bite.
Shirou made himself a promise to make lunch for Sona as she was the only one he could reliably feed. She appreciated it too, but broke down blushing the moment he turned his back when she received his food in the council room, much to her Peerage's delight and her chagrin when they tried to joke with her about it.
"Wait… shouldn't I try making a sword instead of a gun?" Shirou suddenly stopped.
After a moment of thinking to himself about the differences and his ability to even make it work he slammed his head on the desk. It was hard enough and loud enough that he ended up breaking his nose and causing the girls to rush in thinking there was a fight.
"What's wrong Shirou?!" Artoria asked with her sword at the ready.
"Nothing." Shirou's muffled voice said.
He lifted his head and turned to face them while his nose burst into blue flames and healed quickly before answering, "This whole time I've been working under the assumption that I could mimic Kiritsugu with his Origin Bullets but I never really put any thought into his origin and element."
"He had Severing & Binding as his Origin with Fire and Earth. Mine are Sword and Sword, this whole time I should have been working on a sword!" He shouted in frustration and pulled his hair.
"Well how far did you get into the process?" Atalanta asked, stifling her laughter.
"I had already gotten the design for the weapon down." Shirou said, voice in a childlike whine.
His response was the straw that broke the camel's back, Atalanta and Jack burst out laughing while Artoria smiled mirthfully and chose not to say anything. With the comedic moment over and them not finding any danger to their King, they all left his workshop to return to their previous tasks.
When it came time for them to return to school, Shirou still found himself working on the design of the weapon that he would make. It got to the point where he was even working on drawing up designs in the middle of class and Sona would notice since they were seated next to each other in class, she would always try to get him to stop and focus on his work but she knew it was pointless, she had been around him long enough to notice the look in his eye when he had his mind set on something.
"Shirou, if you are going to be working on that could you at least be a little more discreet please?" She asked one of her best friends.
"Hmm? Uhh yeah sure… just one sec Souna." He'd respond with, using her human disguise name thankfully.
After the third time she asked she just gave up on it and hoped that he would at least retain his grades. He had gone back over his Reality Marble countless times to try and find the perfect type of sword that would fit what he was after but would also nod to his Japanese heritage that he wished to keep.
"Fujimura what's the answer to question number 10?" The teacher called out.
Shirou broke his concentration for a moment to look towards the board to read the question. It was something along the lines of asking for the names of important figures during the Heian period. Since Shirou has had the opportunity to work with a fair few of them he knew the answer easily.
"A few of the more important figures in Japanese history during that time are Minamoto-no-Raiko, Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune, Watanabe-no-Tsuna and Musashibou Benkei are the first to pop up into my head. Is that acceptable Sensei?" Shirou answered.
"Yes, that is acceptable, Fujimura." The teacher nodded and Shirou returned to his work.
Sona was surprised at how quickly he had come up with the names of those figures but then promptly remembered that he had explained some of his history over dinner that one time with that alternate future version of himself. Thinking of the noises she made as she ate still brought a blush to her cheeks no matter how in control of her emotions she was.
A few hours after that lesson Sona found herself sitting in the Student Council office, seated on one of the couches near the coffee table. Shirou was seated in front of her and there was a chessboard between the two. He had most of his attention on a piece of paper in front of him that she guessed were some blueprints for the conceptual sword he was making, their game had gone in her favor the whole time, but it was a fairly close thing.
She reckons that if Shirou were to properly apply himself he would have already won. And if she were honest with herself, she wouldn't mind if he did, as he would have met the requirements needed to marry her. He was already perfect in her eyes, he could cook, clean, was good with rowdy kids if anything of his behavior with Jack and other students at school, and he was also plenty attentive to what she wanted, except with right now being an exception.
"You know Shirou, I didn't think it would take you this long to pick a weapon design." Sona said.
"I wish it was that easy Sona, but there are a few prerequisites that it needs to meet for it to be viable." He responded.
"And what would they be?" Sona asked, wanting to see if she could help.
"It would need to be something that I can easily cut or stab with, but also throw it in a pinch. But if it's going to be used as a thrown weapon then it needs to be fairly short. But I am also doubting that I would always be throwing it." Shirou responded, still staring at the paper.
The sound of the other people of the Student Council were in the background, providing a nice ambiance so that it isn't dead silent, sometimes thoughts flowed better with some kind of background noise.
"Maybe a Tanto? I believe they would meet your requirements Shirou. They are relatively short, but also not too short, they can also be thrown in a pinch if you're that desperate. Also you could dual wield it with another sword while using the tanto as an off hand weapon." Sona spoke, outlining the upsides for him.
Shirou stopped moving for a moment and closed his eyes. Sona knew a fair few of his tells and this time she could tell that he was admonishing himself for not thinking about it. He opened his eyes and his steel gaze landed on her violet and he said with all seriousness.
"Sona, if I could kiss you right now, I would. Thank you so much."
Before anyone could say anything he teleported out of the Student Council office, leaving behind a furiously blushing Student President and a laughing Student Council, except for one Saji Genshirou who was fuming at Shirou's words. Once Shirou was home he threw off his top and ignited his forge.
While it was heating up he Traced one of the swords he had created himself and used it to cut himself open while keeping a tight grip on his healing. Once his chest was opened up he tossed the sword and dug his hand into his torso and gripped a few ribs and pulled. With a crack his ribs gave way and were pulled free from his insides, throwing blood into the fire of the forge in front of him.
With the main components for the sword retrieved, he released the hold on his healing he had and let the wound seal shut and feel his ribs regrow, all within a moment that he would never not find odd. Now with three ribs in his hand he put them to the side while he ducked into his workshop and grabbed his supply of tamahagane that he got as a reward for a commission a while ago.
Going through the meticulous and methodical procedure of melting down the precious Japanese metal was tricky but it wasn't the first time working with such a special metal. He wanted this to be as close to an authentic Japanese tanto as he could get when he added his bone powder to it. He is honestly thankful for each Japanese Servant he has ever come across, because from reading the swords history, he can tell the best way to make a Japanese sword, the only thing better would be if he could have seen a Muramasa or Masamune blade in his life then he would have an actual blacksmiths experience behind making a specific weapon.
He was so focused on the forging process that he didn't even notice that anyone had come to talk to him. To the outside world he was completely consumed by the forging of his blade, and they could see the immense focus in the way he moved, watching every single movement of the blade after each hammer strike and constantly Structurally Analyzing it after each hit.
It got to the point that the girls had to make their own dinner because they couldn't pull Shirou away from his current task. He eventually ended up working through the night, not even really noticing the passage of time.
32 hours, that's how long it took for Shirou to finish the blade itself. It came out to be a 20cm blade, not including the tang. Shirou looked immensely proud of himself as he had finally come out of his fugue with the finished blade. Though he regretted what he had done when he turned around and saw that his Peerage plus Sona was looking at him with varying amounts of disappointment.
"Uh… h-hi girls!" Shirou tried to sound like he wasn't about to shit himself.
"Do you know how long you have been doing this for Shirou?" Artoria asked, sounding disappointed.
"Uh like… 12 hours?" Shirou said in a questioning tone.
"32 hours Shirou… you have been at this for 32 fucking hours." Artoria said, shocking everyone with the language she used.
"Uh… I'm sorry?" Shirou cringed as his voice cracked.
"The only way to fix this Shirou… is if you get in that kitchen and cook enough to make up for a day and a half of your missed food. And also getting out of that contract with the Phenix will go a long way to putting you back in our good graces." Artoria all but ordered.
Shirou knew when to argue against orders and this wasn't one of them, so placing the blade of his tanto away and making his way to the kitchen with a hung head was the optimal move here. So he did just that, walking past the girls and towards the main house, not noticing that Sona flushed when she saw his shirtless body nor did he see Atalanta licking her lips, Jack looking more than usual or Artoria nodding in approval.
Once he was in the kitchen, Shirou got to work emptying his pantry to make up for what he had done. He knew that it was mean of him to get into a state like that and not let anyone know about it, but he honestly didn't know that he would be so out of it he would lose 32 hours on working.
"Hey Jack I've been wondering." Sona started.
"Yes Miss Sitri?" She responded, remembering to speak nicely.
"I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but how come you don't look older than I'd say 14?" Sona asked as respectfully as she could.
"Do you mind if I help answer this one Jack?" Atalanta asked from where she was seated.
"Sure thing!" Jack answered jovially.
"There are two reasons for her appearance, Miss Sitri, the first is that she was only summoned last year and has only just started to physically age. The second being that her current incarnation of her legend is a bit mishmashed together. Notice how she has a lower body comparable to that of an adult and her upper body is closer to that of a child?" Atalanta explained, ending with a question.
"Yes, I think I understand. Her legend is what caused her current appearance, correct? So it's safe to say that given a bit more time she will grow properly." Sona came to the conclusion.
"That's what we believe, yes. It's different for me because I already look the right age and will only age slowly because of reasons we aren't entirely sure of. I was summoned two years ago and I've only slightly grown from 166 cm to 168 cm." Atalanta answered.
"It is also different for me. Believe it or not Lady Sitri, but I used to have a body closer to yours back when I was first summoned. I looked eternally like a 16 year old girl because of the presence of Avalon when this version of me was recorded in the Throne of Heroes." Artoria then spoke, drawing attention to her buxom figure that had every girl who had seen her biting their nails in envy.
Just as they had finished their conversation Shirou had come out with a lot of food. Once he had placed all the food down on the table Sona then turned to him and asked.
"What about you Shirou? What did you use to look like?"
"Well I've had two main appearances. I used to look like I did now only with golden-brown eyes, then when I got to about… I think it was 27? That I slowly started to look like Counter Guardian EMIYA with my hair going fully silver, my skin gaining a slight tan and my eyes slowly turning silver too." Shirou answered.
After the talk about appearances was over, everyone ate peacefully and when the time came for everyone to say goodnight Sona also was brave enough to give him a hug. Shirou knew that she was not good with physical affection, on account of Serafall, but he just hugged her back and didn't try to tease her, she got enough of it from her sister.
Once Sona was gone, everyone in the house went to bed for the night. Shirou slept underneath the girls as usual, mainly so they could make sure he wouldn't start forging again behind their backs.
Today was the day that Shirou would be meeting his 'fiancee' in the human world for the first time in a year. Sadly he has to share the meeting with Rias and Riser, two people he absolutely cannot stand.
"Now remember Jack, even if you notice me getting mad or you are leered at, don't do anything, leave it to me." Shirou spoke as his peerage walked to the ORC.
"Got it mommy. Jack will be a good girl." She smiled sweetly.
"Good girl." He responded and rubbed her head.
"Atalanta, please keep an eye on Hyoudou during the meeting, I don't trust him not to start something." Shirou turned to said girl.
"Sure thing, should I hold him back or just alert you?" Atalanta asked.
"Both, if it gets to a point where it looks like he will say something, gag him. If it looks like he is about to reach for a girl without consent smack him." Shirou responded to her query.
"Artoria, I would like for you to keep an eye over everything. Look for any loopholes in their behavior so I can match it up with the contract and see about getting it nulled." Shirou said to his Queen.
"Sure thing Shirou, the sooner this is behind us the better." Artoria nodded.
They soon came upon the door to the clubroom for the Occult Research Club and knocked.
"Enter." Rias said from the other side.
Shirou opened the door and held it for his girls to enter, once inside he closed it behind him and observed. The blonde he knew as Kiba Yuto sat on one of the couches reading a book while next to him was a white haired girl he knew as Koneko Toujou who was eating some sweets with surprising speed.
On the other couch was a boy with brown hair and brown eyes, letting Shirou know this was Issei Hyoudou and he looked both nervous and surprised at their appearance. Rias sat behind her desk with Akeno standing next to her, and Shirou could smell that Archer was also in the room, likely observing from a corner in the room.
There was also a silver haired woman standing in the corner of the room, Shirou recognised her as Grayfia Lucifuge, the underworld's strongest Queen and the current Lucifer's wife. Shirou gave her a respectful nod of acknowledgement and she returned it with a small curtsey.
"What are you doing here, Malthus." Rias asked.
"I'd rather not meet you know who in my own club room or home, so I'm here because she will eventually show up with your fiance." Shirou answered despite not liking the manipulative girl.
"Ara, Shirou is here!" Akeno said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
He nodded to her while he noticed that both Kiba and Koneko tensed when they acknowledged his presence.
'So they know something is going on between us but by the looks of it Hyoudou is completely in the dark.' Shirou noted to himself.
"Um Buchou, why is this pretty boy bastard here?" Hyoudou asked with clear hatred in his voice.
"Wow Gremory, didn't even give him a proper introduction to the Supernatural? He's been a devil for what, four or so days and he is still clueless on who's who? What have you been doing all this time?" Shirou asked rhetorically while shaking his head.
"What I do with my peerage is none of your business Malthus." Rias retorted.
"It clearly is if he doesn't know that he is speaking to a family head like he is." He responded.
The conversation was interrupted when Shirou could smell fire and sulfur before a fire broke out in front of the door and the flames formed the Phenex clan symbol. When the fire dissipated in its place stood a blonde wearing a maroon suit with the shirt unbuttoned showing off his chest that wasn't all that impressive.
"Ah, Riser has arrived in the human world once again." The man let out a sigh while sounding completely full of himself.
"Riser, shut up and sit down before you make an even bigger ass of yourself." Shirou interrupted his wannabe anime protag monologue.
"You got something to say you low-class trash!" Riser shouted, seemingly out of reflex.
"Low-class trash huh? I wonder if that's how you also see every other family head if you're willing to speak to me like that." Shirou said in admonishment.
"Now, you will shut up and sit down, otherwise I will forge a sword designed specifically to sever your magic core from your body, making you as vulnerable as any other human." Shirou threatened.
As the temperature in the room began to rise, so too did Riser from where he stood, trying to make himself look bigger. Then all of a sudden the room was filled with a suffocating sense and a sudden freezing feeling, not that it bothered Shirou or his Peerage who had faced worse bloodlust when they saved humanity from Goetia.
"As the Queen of Sirzechs Lucifer my word is law, now the two of you, cut it out or else." Grayfia spoke up.
Riser backed off almost immediately while saying, "Well if the strongest Queen says so, then I guess I have to listen."
Shirou only backed down once he was sure Riser wouldn't try anything against him or his Peerage. Grayfia took note of the fact that Shirou nor his Peerage had any noticeable reaction to her presence other than the acknowledgement of it being there.
Now that things were slowly getting underway, Shirou was sitting on one couch opposite Rias and Riser. He watched as Riser constantly tried to touch Rias and the girl tried multiple times to back away only for him to continue.
'I wonder when someone will snap and do something.' Shirou thought with boredom and disgust.
The boredom was because nothing interesting was happening and the disgust was because Riser was commiting genuine sexual harassment right in front of the sister-in-law of the person he is touching. Shirou is honestly amazed that Grayfia hasn't spoken up about the behavior yet and so he turned his gaze to her.
He raised a brow at her when she looked at him and he tilted his head in the direction of the literal crime and got a slight shake of the head in return.
'I'm guessing that means she either knows how much of a brat she is and this is either some kind of punishment for her, or this will only go on until Rias responds firmer than she is and only then can she act.' He thought to himself.
"Riser if you are here to touch women, go and commit infidelity with your Peerage." Shirou called out, sighing.
"Hmph, whatever, it's not like either of your Peerages could do anything to mine." Riser responded and got up.
With a snap of his fingers and another magic circle, his Peerage was standing behind him. All of them looked handpicked for each fetish outfit, there was the twin girls in school bloomers, twin cat girls in torn seifuku uniforms, two maids, what amounts to a middle east belly dancer, a girl who looked hesitant in her skills, a fighter dressed in a chinese dress, a girl dressed like a thug, two girls dressed as differing knights, a girl dressed as though she were a shrine maiden of some anime religion, a noblewoman wannabe and the little sister archetype.
Shirou was knocked out of his observations by the subtle noise of a liquid dripping. Turning to the sound he saw Hyoudou with a nosebleed while he leered at each girl.
"Riser-sama why is that boy staring at us like that?" One of said bastard's girls asked, hiding behind him.
"Forgive him, his dream is to be a harem king." Rias said with a sigh.
Shirou let out a snort and said, "Kid you ain't going to get a harem if you act like a virgin at the sight of tits and get a nosebleed every time."
"You're right for once, Yubelluna, come here." Riser said.
"Yes Riser-sama." the noblewoman wannabe said, stepping up next to him.
Once she stopped moving Riser grabbed hold of her breast and began making out with her in front of everyone. Once he was done, she was a blushing mess and he turned to Hyoudou and smirked.
"You'll never get this."
"You bastard!" Hyoudou shouted and got ready to run and punch him.
Before he could move a step though, Atalanta stepped forward and grabbed his arms and held them behind his back, restraining any further movement. Rias was about to get into hysterics about the treatment of her Pawn but Shirou spoke up.
"Rias, this is for his own good, unless he wants to get dropped by Riser's weakest, who happens to be the blue haired one with the staff."
True to his word, Riser was just about to order Mira to attack Hyoudou.
"Now if you don't mind, I would like to get this over and done with, I have my own marriage contract to get voided." Shirou said.
"Why would you want to break the contract with me?!" Ravel shouted, making her presence known for the first time today.
"Oh many reasons, but the foremost being your absolutely disgusting attitude, is this how all Phenix children are raised? It's honestly a wonder that Ruval came out as normally as he did if this is how you are taught. The other is because for all I know, you could be used goods, being in this bastard's Peerage." Shirou answered.
In reality, Shirou didn't care if a girl was used goods, he would only get with her if there was a proper emotional connection between him and the girl in question. He didn't care if the girl was a virgin or not, hell Artoria was technically not a virgin, having already had a child, sort of, in Mordred Pendragon.
Ravel looked absolutely livid at the accusation of having had sex with her brother and was about to explode on Shirou, but stopped after a look from Grayfia was shot her way.
"Since neither the head of the Malthus clan nor the heiress of Gremory wish to go through with the arrangement there is only option left, that was agreed upon by Sirzechs Lucifer and the Heads of Phenex, Gremory and Malthus. A Rating Game is the final solution to solve this dilemma." Grayfia spoke up.
You heard it right, people. Shirou originally agreed to the marriage contract, under the impression that the person who he's marry would be nice to him, but no, she turned out to be a brat who refused to mature. He is honestly grateful that he managed to slip in that should he wish to void the contract via Rating Game, that he could do so even if she wasn't of age, instead fighting the Peerage of whoevers she was a part of.
"I agree." Shirou spoke up.
"A Rating Game…? I can do it." Rias said, mumbling the first part.
"Due to the unique circumstances we are in, I have been given the authority to determine how the game shall go. Due to Risers Peerage outnumbering both Shirou Malthus and Rias Gremory's Peerages, the two will fight as one Peerage in the upcoming game. If these circumstances are acceptable please say so." Grayfia said to the room.
'Ugh, gotta work with Rias of all people?!' Shirou thought with irritation.
"What happens if one King is taken out but the other isn't?" Shirou asked before he agreed.
"That will be determined on the day of the Rating Game, due to the unusual circumstances it will be brought up to Satan Lucifer and the heads of Phenex and Gremory for their opinion on what should happen, am I to assume you wish for each Peerage to remain as separate entities Shirou Malthus?" Grayfia spoke respectfully.
"Yes, should I be taken out then I will go through with the marriage, and should Gremory get taken out then she goes through with her marriage." Shirou confirmed.
After the rest of the things were confirmed between each of them Riser decided to be cocky and give them 10 days to prepare before leaving. Shirou and his group left, refusing to train with Rias' group and instead wishing to train by themselves and work on their own.