Shirou was in the cafeteria, preparing himself for his duties in the cafeteria. "Phew. Today will be a rush as usual, especially when it comes to Arturia and her counterparts...they can quite stomach the amount of food here. Well, at least Chaldea does have the amount of food to feed everyone here, or else this place would have been gone earlier..."

As Shirou continued preparing himself, it was then that a certain servant came in.

"Shirou!"

Shirou turned around to see who called him out earlier. As he did, he saw Amakusa Shirou Tokisada coming into the room with a smile on his face.

"Hm? Oh, hey Amakusa. What brings you here?" Shirou asked as he placed a washed plate on the drying rack.

"Well...there's a favor I have for you. Would you mind hearing it out?"

"I don't mind. So what is this favor you're asking me for?"

"Well...can you teach me to cook?"

Shirou was surprised. "What? You want me to teach you how to cook?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Well..." Amakusa said as his mind went back to what happened a few days ago...

(A few days ago...)

Amakusa Shirou and Semiramis were relaxing on a couch in one of Chaldea's recreational rooms. As they were relaxing with one each other, Amakusa Shirou asked Semiramis something.

"Hey Semiramis. Can I ask you something?"

"What is it Shirou?"

"Do you have a birthday?"

"A birthday? What is that? Enlighten me on what a birthday is."

Amakusa smiled. "A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, or figuratively of an institution. Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage."

"Is that so? So, it's like a celebration for a person's day of birth. That does sound interesting actually."

"Yes."

"But why are you asking me this?"

"No reason. I just feel like asking you that question. That is all."

"I see..."

As Amakusa Shirou and Semiramis continued relaxing on the couch, Semiramis suddenly had an idea plopped into her head.

"You know, the idea of a birthday seems to be quite interesting. I wish to have one as well now."

"Really? You never experienced a birthday before?"

"Yeah. In fact, right now, I'm declaring that next week will be my birthday, so I will be expecting something grand in my honor as empress. Don't disappoint me, my former master," Semiramis said with a smile.

Amakusa Shirou smiled back. "As you wish."

"Good."

And the two then continued relaxing on the couch. As they did, Amakusa Shirou was having thoughts about Semiramis's earlier declaration. "A birthday party for Semiramis huh? Well that may sound interesting...guess I can do a private dinner party between the two of us. I could ask master to rent out a room for us in Chaldea and make the event a secret. Which leaves the big question, what should I do about the food?"

After a few minutes on pondering the main question about the food, he had one solution.

"Well, guess I could ask Emiya Shirou about this..."

(Back to the present...)

"And that's why I need your help Shirou," Amakusa Shirou said as he was done explaining his situation.

Shirou took a deep breath before he began to recall Amakusa Shirou's idea in his own words. "So, let me get this straight. You wanted to plan a private dinner for Semiramis, who happened to be your former servant."

"Right. And if you're wondering, I've already asked master to make a private room for the both of us."

"I see. And you're here because you want me to teach you how to cook?"

"Yes. That is correct."

"I see. But why me though? Why not ask any of the other chefs in Chaldea? Like Beni-enma? Or Tamamo?"

"Well, it's because they're all busy with their work. Especially Beni-enma in which she's maintaining her restaurant right now. Anyways, can you help me with this?"

"Well...okay. Just let me get myself ready for this."

Amakusa Shirou smiled. "Thank you," he said as he got into the kitchen where Shirou was.

"No problem. So Amakusa, what kind of dish were you thinking of making for Semiramis?"

"Well, that's the thing. I have no clue what to make for her."

"I see. Do you know if she likes something?"

Amakusa Shirou then gave Shirou's question some thought. After a few seconds of thinking, he had his answer. "Well, she does like Syrian food. After all, that's where she came from, and she's the known as the wise queen of Assyria."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

"I see. Let me check what we have in the fridge first and I'll see if there is something I can think of to make."

"Please do."

Shirou then check the fridge to see if there was anything in there that he can cook. As he checked the fridge, what he saw in there was porgy, lemons, garlic cloves, jalapeños, and many more. However, when he noticed the porgy, a thought came into his mind.

"With these ingredients, I could make Galilee-style whole fried fish..."

"Shirou, have you thought of something to make?" Amakusa Shirou asked Shirou, making him snap out of his thoughts.

"Yeah. We're going to make Galilee-style whole fried fish," Shirou replied.

"Galilee-style whole fried fish...that sounds like Syrian cooking, which is in the middle east. You've been there before?"

"Yeah. I've been there once, so I know how to make it. Anyways, let's get cooking now."

"Yes."

Shirou then brought out the porgi, lemons, garlic, jalapeños, some cumin seeds, sweet paprika, kosher salt, flour, parsley, and canola oil. "Okay, rub the fish all over with a 1/4th cup of salt, massaging it into their skin and cavities. Then rinse under cold water and pat dry."

"Like this?" Amakusa Shirou said as he did the same thing as Shirou does.

"Yes. Now we're making the spice rub," Shirou said as he grabbed parsley, garlic, canola oil, lemon juice, pepper, cumin, salt, jalapeños, and paprika. "In a small food processor, combine the parsley, garlic, canola oil, lemon juice, pepper, cumin, salt, jalapeños, paprika, and pulse them to a coarse paste. Once you're done with them, set it aside."

Amakusa Shirou did the same and placed all of the mentioned ingredients into a food processor.

"Okay. Now, make three 1/8th inch deep cuts along the length of each fish side. Rub one tablespoon of spice rub on the outside of each fish."

Amakusa Shirou then grabbed a kitchen knife and made 1/8th inch deep cuts along the length of each fish side. As Amakusa Shirou made the deep cuts, Shirou was impressed with how good Amakusa Shirou was with the knife he was holding.

"Wow. You're good with that knife over there," Shirou complemented.

"Why thank you. I had experience with a sword and black keys after all. This is easy," Amakusa Shirou said with a smile on his face.

"I see. Okay then, now line a baking sheet with wax paper. Then pour the flour onto a large rimmed plate. Dredge each fish in the flour to coat on all sides; pack a little into the cuts and cavities. Shake off any excess flour, then transfer the fish to the baking sheet."

Amakusa Shirou followed the instructions Shirou said earlier and floured the fish while preparing the baking sheet.

"Okay. Now, set a deep-fry thermometer in a large, heavy pot. Add the oil and heat it up to 350 degrees. Add as many fish as you can without crowding them and fry them. Make sure to turn them once until they're golden brown on both sides. I would recommend cooking each side for about four to six minutes."

Amakusa Shirou then grabbed a pot, added the oil in, and heated up to 350 degrees. As the temperature of the oil reached 350 degrees, he then added as much fish as he could with crowded them into the pot and fried them. As minutes passed, he checked each side of the fish until he confirmed they were golden brown.

"Okay. Now transfer the fish to a paper-towel-lined platter. We're going to serve it on a bed of maple leaves with fennel seeds and any leftover chilies from earlier."

Amakusa Shirou then transferred to a paper-towel-lined platter. Afterwards, he then grabbed a plate and on it put some maple leaves with fennel seeds and chilies. As Amakusa Shirou was done with the plating, he and Shirou looked at their work, and was impressed.

Especially Amakusa Shirou.

"You know, I'm surprised," Amakusa Shirou suddenly said.

"About what?" Shirou asked.

"Well, about the fact that you know what dish to make for Semiramis. How did you know about this dish?"

"Well, during my time alive, I went to many countries during my travels. One of them which was in the middle east, where Semiramis was from."

"I see. That's very interesting. I'm glad to hear this."

"Yeah. Anyways, let's move on to the next thing," Shirou said as he went back to the fridge to grab some more ingredients.

"Eh? We're not done yet?"

"Yeah. I mean after all; a birthday isn't complete without the most important part."

Shirou was slightly confused for a moment before the answer hit him. He smiled after realizing what Shirou meant.

He then went back to helping Shirou...

"Here's the room that Shirou has privately reserved for the both of us...I wonder what kind of setting he has set up for the both of us...?" Semiramis thought as she looked at the door in front of her.

As Semiramis entered into the room, what she saw impressed her. The inside of the room was a replica of her throne room at the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Each detail was replicated to the point where it looked like the real thing. In the middle of it all was Amakusa Shirou, waiting for her at a dinner table.

"Hello Semiramis," Amakusa Shirou said with a smile on his face.

"Well, well, Shirou. You sure impressed me today. Did you ask Da Vinci to replicate my throne room?" Semiramis asked.

"Yes. And I asked master to reserve this room for the both of us."

"I see. Anyways, what do you have prepared for me?" Semiramis asked as she came closer to where Amakusa Shirou was.

"Well, I've prepared a dinner for the two of us."

"I see. Hope the dish that you prepared for me will satisfy me," Semiramis said as she sat down. Amakusa Shirou then opened the lid on the plate, revealing what was inside the lid.

"Galilee-style whole fried fish is the main dish for today, Semiramis," Amakusa Shirou said with a smile.

"I see...I wonder how it tastes?" Semiramis then grabbed a piece of the fish with her fork and took a bite. As she took a bite, she felt the taste going through her body, and it tasted good. As she finished her bite of the fish, she then looked at Amakusa Shirou. "This tastes good Shirou. The taste of this fish does go well in my mouth. I applaud you for your cooking."

"Why thank you Semiramis. Although I did have some help," Amakusa Shirou said as he took a piece of the fish.

"Really? Is it that friend of yours, Emiya Shirou?"

"Yes."

"I see. No matter, let's continue the meal."

Amakusa Shirou and Semiramis then continued their meal. While they were enjoying their meal, they talked about their time as master and servant during their days in the Great Holy Grail War. Eventually, they were done with the fish.

"So, anything else you want to show me?" Semiramis asked as she cleaned up her plate.

"Yes. That would be desert." Shirou then went into the corner and brought out one last plate, which was covered. As he brought it onto the plate, he then unraveled it, revealing a dish inside of it.

"This is the desert, Kunāfah. Hope you enjoy it," Amakusa Shirou said with a smile.

Semiramis smiled. "And I suppose that Shirou helped you with this as well?"

"Yes."

"I see...well then, guess your new friend seems to be quite skillful. Both in fighting and cooking."

"Yeah. He is quite the interesting fellow after all."

Amakusa Shirou and Semiramis then enjoyed the kunāfah as Amakusa Shirou cut the kunāfah into slices. As they did, a certain servant happened to be outside of the room, listening to the conversations they were having.

And that servant was William Shakespeare.

"So, it seems that Emiya Shirou has lend a hand for those two...he seems interesting, always helping anyone in need...maybe I should interview him later..." Shakespeare muttered to himself as he was writing the dinner date details on a piece of paper.