Hello everyone,
mysticalvoid111: While it's true what you're saying and I've changed a few things I agreed with in the first chapter. That doesn't mean that Shirou can't have some character development all this time. The guest before and you were right tho' he isn't some ball of energy and I'm sorry if it seemed that way to you.
Lugal Kug-ga: I didn't really research it that much, but I have read some stuff, and in some of them it is said that the name "Subaru" is mostly for males. Like, there aren't many fem-shirou fics when her name is actually Shirou, same goes to Subaru. I just choose what I thought was right, if you want I can change it to Subaru, it doesn't really do much difference to me, though I know that Subaru's name has a meaning. If you want this change you should say it in the reviews then, and not just one person but like 10 of them or something, so I would know for sure.
Your question about Ayako's appearance and her last name. You can imagine her appearance as that of Mitsuzuri, but with the characteristic black hair and red eyes of Shinomiya from you know what anime, but they have nothing to do with each other beyond that, and their name is a coincidence.
DannyPhantom619: I won't say it :x. I'm currently trying to write their interactions and some other idea and will see if I even reach it.
fattypatty47549: I think forever until the moment he hums his last breath, if humming is like breathing to him :)
Thanks for all your comments/reviews, it really helps me and many more authors to write something for you because I don't have that much time.
Sorry for any grammar issues, English is my second language and I try my best.
Happy soon to be New Year from me, be safe!
The air couldn't be thicker, you couldn't actually cut it with a knife, but you know what they say. Natsumi gulped, absently playing with her fingers from behind her back and looking at the situation as if a brawl was about to break out. It was no surprise to her, however, seeing how the red-eyed girl looked as if she wanted to burn a hole in the late student's head, if it were possible her clenched hands should have already bled considering the strenght she felt.
Despite not knowing the reason for his tardiness, Natsumi guessed that something important must have happened that would have forced a student called Emiya to come so late on his second day of school. She didn't know why but she couldn't imagine Emiya voluntarily not coming to class, he just didn't seem like that type of person.
Even when I've only known him for one day, I still feel that way.
There was something special about his demeanor, something that was unremarkable, but she could not unravel the reason for her curiosity. Ske kept thinking about it until the Club President spoke up, displeased and much less in a humorous mood.
"You made me look like a complete fool Emiya! What's your excuse huh!? I was waiting in that club, sitting still since early in the morning, counting down the seconds until you showed up! Can you imagine how I felt when the Student Council came to check if any members had joined as I mentioned? I felt like like an idiot trying to find my way out!"
While Natsumi understood her to some extend, she also knew from her interaction that the Club President might have acted impulsively, and she doubted that Emiya had promised her his coming, because he looked confused.
"Sorry Shinomiya, I didn't know you needed help with something like this, also, I overheard your conversation and now I feel partly to blame. Even though I didn't promise anything at all." He whispered that last part silently, "You should have warned me before, I will join you another time." Natsumi couldn't understand how two students could speak to each other with such recognition despite the fact that they met just yesterday.
"Fool, sweet words won't convince me. There will be no more next times Emiya, it should be expected that my rival will show up in time, but apparently it's too challenging for you. After all, all I can see is that you are slacking off and not even coming to class, how pathetic. To think that I chose someone like that for a rival."
Although Club President uttered these words, they held no animosity nor disappointment, but only expressiveness of a moody student, Natsumi was unable to believe her eyes when she saw the other girl struggling to restrain herself from pouting.
The red-head looked as if he had at least noticed this, judging by the way his eyes lighted up upon seeing something familiar, before saying as if talking to a child, "What a moody Club President, I guess it can't be helped. It looks like I still have a lot to learn."
"You better." She huffed.
To put a panther to sleep you must first feed it, in this case feed its ego.
Huh.
It went better than expected, it seems that Emiya really made her pleased with his words.
But was she really different somehow? Did this apply to all people, or did Emiya make it easier for people to communicate. Looking at his awkward face, which looked quite funny, Natsumi realized that maybe it was a matter of their respective characters.
Would another person also have approached him yesterday and asked him what he was doing while he was fixing Shimada-sensei's computer, or would they have passed by indifferently going on with their day and forgetting about that momentary encounter?
Probably. She could only think.
"So how are you going to atone, Emiya? Should I turn you into a target to be aimed at and put you up as an example of my wrath?" Shinomiya-san threatened, promising punishment for those who defy her.
"A-Ah," he said in his reply, surprised. It was the first time Natsumi could see the red-head stammering, but after a moment his posture straightened and he regained his confidence and let his thoughts run free, "You wouldn't do something like that, I know you're not that kind of person-" Before he was abruptly interrupted.
"Don't try to talk your way through me with this bullshit moron talk, dumbass." She threatened, her eyes sharply narrowed into slits, daring him to continue that ridicule.
Natsumi felt sorry for Emiya, considering that the scary girl insulted him several times in her remarks. The black-haired girl even liked the boy. She didn't want him to feel hurt.
Maybe she was too considerate.
Although it's true, the line he was about to utter was pure bullshit of a typical clueless protagonist of some cheap rom-com manga. So lame. Only a girl who has not heard such lines because she has never used the Internet could blush under normal circumstances, how it was possible though in todays century? Natsumi didn't want to imagine. Yet, considering the circumstances weren't even such, the Club President was furious.
"So what are you going to do now, Emiya?" She repeated, making Emiya sigh in defeat.
"Okay, I'll go with you and tell the Student Council President personally that I joined your club-augh!" He received a bump in the head, Natsumi winced at the sight, having experienced the same thing before and 2 times in a row, "And what's that for!"
She walked over to him and massaged his head without thinking much about it.
"Let us join in the pain, Emiya." She expressed her sorrow and he looked as if he didn't know what she was referring to, "President is certainly cruel."
The aforementioned person pinched her nose in annoyance, "Both of you are fools. I don't care if the stuck up ass guy lets me run the club 'cause I'm going to do it anyway. Do you seriously not get it? I just wanted to win on his battlefield, I could simply prepare an arrow and shoot down his stupid smile. But in order to hunt the animal, you first need to know his way of existing and now that's done for, how annoying."
They fell silent, although Natsumi didn't know if Emiya was due to pondering her words or if he was simply dumbfounded.
After all, she knew, the logic of the person in front of her was single-minded around hunt for prey, no wonder Emiya could be confused.
The red-eyed beauty, ehem, predator looked at them and continued with a smile that spoke for trouble, "Well, if you're both here, you'll join my club." She straight away stated as if the fact, meanwhile Emiya raised his hand, "Don't try to run away Emiya, or you'll regret it. You're not afraid of me, are you? Oh no-you aren't, but you know, you will leave little Natsumi-chan alone," Who do you call little and when did she let you use her first name?
"Hey!" The sheer glare she got alone spoke of silence.
"who will I force to do hard chores around the club? Judging by your look, that's not a plausible answer." Said Club President and Natsumi forced herself to look at Emiya and how he appeared beside her when she didn't notice his presence. Is this the so-called sneaking shinobi, he appeared so quietly.
Emiya Shirou was making a face similar to a person choosing between a hammer and an anvil, his face set in a cold expression, making Natsumi wonder yet again what was in his head and how he saw her despite the fact that they had only met yesterday.
No, seriously, he makes a face like Natsumi on a math test.
"…"
But still, he looked like he was about to make a decisive choice, couldn't he just ignore her and go do his own thing? They hadn't even known each other that long, one could hardly call it an acquaintance.
So she put her own slice on the table, it also concerned her after all, "Wait Shinomiya-san-"
"I told you to call me Ayako!"
"Stop for a moment, I think you shouldn't force anyone to join the club! Emiya apparently doesn't feel like it and has more important things to do, the school term has just started for him at our school and he certainly has a lot on his plate to catch up on-"
"I will do it."
"E-Eh?!" His sudden answer made her take a step away from him, a stunned look on her face, not knowing what to think of his response, "W-What?"
"I said I will do it." His hard statement didn't change nor his full serious expression, "I know we haven't known each other long," He breathed, "but I also know that you have never practiced archery, and seeing that you would be left alone with only Shinomiya-san of all people, I just couldn't do it to you. I won't leave you, Natsuki-san. That I can promise." There was no lie in his words and it made her stop thinking.
Natsumi exe has stopped working,
"Aah-I-wha-?"
What the-how could-why?!
W-What was he saying all of sudden!? Uwaaaaaaa-! Stooooop!
Her face grew hot and her eyes had swirls in them. H-how could someone say something like that so directly. It was too much for a Neet like her. There was no mistake, its again another one of these picking lines!
Out of whose imagination did he break free!
The worst part was, she could see making her blush was not his intention, Emiya Shirou was just being painfully honest with her at that moment.
"Are you okay, Natsuki-san?"
She's allright and well and what, why don't you put your hand to her forehead yet, that would be so cliche.
Fortunately, he hasn't done so, but still studied her worriedly.
She could only nod weakly.
They both heard laughter and saw that it was Club President tried to stay on her feet and was having the time of her life, "Ahahah... Watching you guys is the best, I haven't seen such a good show in a long time! But now let's go, it's time to shoot."
They followed shortly after.
Natsumi held the bow for the first time in her life with the intention of getting a good shot at something, her fingers shaking on the string, trying to pull as steadily and powerfull as possible.
She was currently dressed in something called Kyudo, her top shirt was white with short sleeves, whereas she was also wearing something akin to a black cloth, but it was not uncomfortable.
Focus.
The bow, made of wood and bamboo, rested in her hands, more than ready for its duty. Yet such a noble tool was just about useless in them. How sad.
Her technical knowledge was lacking at best, and the only source she learned anything from was movies and games, where most of the archers' stances were made for show to the audience or players enjoyment and to make it most spectacular.
The reality was different and so was likelihood that she would have known how to shoot an arrow herself.
Natsumi released the arrow clumsily, her arrow missing the target completely, burying itself in the ground on the side.
She was so bad at this.
She didn't even want to look in the direction of the Club President, not wishing to see the other girl's reaction to her failure.
"You pull the string pretty well, you have plenty of muscle strength." Ah, Emiya, she forgot about him for a moment as she tried to shoot, too focused then, all while the new student stood quietly at the side watching her closely.
"Ah, yeah I'm pretty strong, I do exercises every morning!" God why did she say that, "Er, actually my muscles hurt." She blurted out to make him forget her previous comment, "It's hard to stretch my arms like that, it hurts like hell! And I'm not very good at it, it didn't even reach the target after all." She chuckled wryly as she saw her work.
"Archery is not something a normal person can do right away. While many may think that they could hit at least a near shot at the bull's eye after a few times, it is not as it seems. I've known several people who had to train for several years to be able to hit a shot right in the middle and spend some time more to polish that. Your use of strength wasn't bad, but we need to work on those shaking hands, you're stressed because it's your first time doing it. There are also a lot of corrections to be made, but I'm sure you can do it." His words gave her some reassurance, although it didn't last long when she realized it would be really difficult to get used to a bow.
But still, "I don't know…" She murmured.
Perhaps seeing her distress, the red-head put his hand on her shoulder, trying to convey comfort with his touch. Much to her surprise, she didn't mind the gesture.
"So we'll work on your stance first so you don't have fundamental flaws in the future. Make no mistake, I'm not a good teacher, but I'll try to help you as much as I can, after all, this is just an archery club and not something run straight as a school activity. Follow my movements." The student declared, then began to take a stance beside her, Natsumi repeated after him, being able to keep up with his pace due to his slow movement, making it easier to follow.
Emiya showed her a good stance, after which she tried to imitate it, then walked over to her and put her hand in a good position to correct the irregularities she was making in the process. Despite what he had said earlier, his eyes took on slightly older or rather more judging look and Natsumi felt like she was under the guidance of teacher.
Natsumi didn't know how much time had passed, but she could actually feel her progress after Emiya noted that she had mostly become more familiar with the stance. Although there was still the question of her hands left, regarding this topic the boy approached her and began to direct her fingers carefully but gently, pulling the string along with her. With his help, she didn't feel any resistance at first, it made her wonder how strong Emiya must be.
But he's way too close! This guy!
The fact that they were face to face next to each other made her slightly red in the face but she managed to ignore it somehow. Besides, Emiya looked apparently unaware of the implication of their proximity, there wasn't much of a gap separating them, they were almost cheek by cheek and she tried to look anywhere else but him.
Still, she made some progress.
"Emiya, stop leading her by the hand like a child and finally give her an arrow." Shinomiya voiced from the distance, and Natsumi saw her draw the string precisely and smoothly after which she fired it, hitting the center of bullseye, catching the newbie off guard, how was she supposed to match up to something like that? "The best method is nothing but practice. Give her an arrow and show her how to aim, not play babysitter, Momiya."
Emiya was not impressed, shooting her a silent eyeroll upon hearing his new nickname.
"I dunno if I'm ready for an actual arrow." She said frankly.
"While what Kaichou says may sound inadequate and ignorant, there is some validity in her words. In practical training, practice is the most important thing after all, you pull the arrow here and now, theory won't do you much good when you have little time to shoot, over time, it will pass to your instinct." He explained shortly.
"'kay."
"Watch me."
Emiya took his stance and drew his arrow slowly, to Natsumi's eyes, there was a certain grace in the way he shifted, as if having repeated this action hundreds or thousands of times before, all while his eyes held a fraction of nostalgia and something she couldn't pinpoint. It would not be an overstatement to say that Emiya looked like a professional at what he did, a true archer.
Her auburn-haired classmate breathed out and let the arrow sail free through, the moment lasted so quickly for the spectating girl.
The arrow hit true, right in the bullseye center, Emiya not surprised by that at all unlike her.
He turned to her, "It's your turn now, imagine everything we've done so far, recall all the steps one by one in your memory and find the first action you want to do."
She wasn't so sure, but it's not like she had anything to lose, right? Natsumi could only hope that she had even one thing she was not instantly bad at.
Natsumi inhaled and assumed the position, her outstretched arm held the front of the bow while her other grasped the arrow and rested it on the string in the manner parallel to the red-head's.
She began to pull the string to its almost limit.
It's done.
Her fingers were shaking, however, Natsumi recalled the teachings of her fellow student nearby, and waited until focus and concentration gained the upper hand and calmness trumped her anxiety.
Nothing stood between her and her target anymore.
She was alone with her Yumi, just her, the arrow and the target. The bow in her hands became light, its weight which caused her trouble was no longer, and the unpleasant feeling of her fingers holding the string and arrow disappeared into oblivion.
The world on the sides of her vision became a blur, there was a kind of anticipation waiting to be fulfilled.
Unbeknownst to her, Natsumi exhaled softly, imitating Emiya with his shot, and let go of the string. Putting her shoulders into relief, however, her mind still in concentration, waiting for the last moment.
Swoosh!
The eyes of the two people who were watching widened slightly, one who had been quiet so far cracked a smirk, and the other looked on, content with her achievement.
The arrow struck.
It may not have been at the center of the Bullseye like in some anime, where the protagonist is overpowered from the very beginning and everything works out for him, but still the goal was achieved.
The arrow was embedded at the very end ring of the Bullseye, barely penetrating the surface and threatening to fall off, but still.
The person named Natsumi had a talent.
The sun was slowly setting, and the clouds were taking on a darker hue.
"Ahahaha, I knew there was something different about her! I was right Emiya! Natsumi Natsuki, I declare you as special by me, be honored. There are not many people who would even hit the target the first time, how amusing!" The girl named Shinomiya Ayako burst out laughing with certainty as if she had won a bet. Her laughter showed her canines, making Natsumi truly believe that the girl was not fully human, but some demi-human in disguise.
After she was scored with her arrow, Natsumi tried a few more times and made some progress, Emiya complimented her and said she had done very well and how she was doing, but comparing himself to Emiya was like comparing an amateur to a master, he proved this after Shinomiya challenged him to a game of who hit more, and he hit the same point several times in a row, causing several arrows to be stuck in the same spot!
She didn't know how he did it, watching the red-haired boy was sometimes like watching a machine, his work was fluid and never changing, always repeating the same action the same perfect way.
Honestly, she was slightly frightened by the look in his eye then, he appeared so devoid of life.
But it didn't change her opinion of him.
Once everything was over, she picked up her belongings to leave, on the path Emiya was standing, his amber eyes peering at hers, it was not unusual for him to be here, after all, it was already after class.
"Archery was fun, I think." She wanted to start a conversation and avoid awkwardness.
"Really, I'm glad." He let out a sigh of relief, "I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable, so if anything, I was ready to tell Kaichou not to pressure you. This girl is definitely something else."
She giggled at his response, not disagreeing with him, "She is, isn't she? I thought the same thing when she started talking about hunter and prey. I thought she was nuts!"
They marched in silence toward the bus stop, causing Natsumi to once again look back through the prism of the setting sun at the events of today. Her morning, seeing Emiya on the bus, meeting Ayako, did she just say her first name in her mind? Uh, that will definitely stay in her habit.
Now there is only one thing left.
"Say, did you see me on that bus at that time?" She inquired, already knowing the answer.
He didn't answer, not immediately, looking into the distance and confirming her assumptions.
"You really are observant huh."
This time he answered, carrying an uncertain face, as if he was afraid of what to say, "I didn't know until the end that it was you, only that someone was watching me, then I saw you coming out of that bus. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." He paused, before setting his mind on something, "Just so you know, I wouldn't want to hurt you over this, so I didn't speak up."
"You're not that kind of person, are you? Stupid ikemen." Her words caused him to be taken aback; he wasn't expecting this.
She suddenly turned around, her hair partly covering her vision.
Joining the archery club, a new student named Emiya Shirou, everything happened so fast, in the blink of an eye.
"As if it were a dream." She blurted out by accident.
"Hmm?" Looking at his puzzlement at her sudden words and his sincere reaction, Natsumi knew it wasn't just that.
It's just, it was unreal, he was unreal, as if out of this world.
But even if, she wanted it to stop, it was too late to turn back.
She just hoped that nothing would snap her out of this happy feeling.
"Um."
She fidgeted on her feet, but didn't refuse to meet his eyes, even if she looked pitiful in the process, "Are we... are we friends?"
"I would like to think so."
"Then, you can call me Natsumi." She announced shyly, her smile growing bigger by each second.
"I don't like formalities anyway. Just call me Shirou when you want." He scratched his cheek.
They were officially friends now.
"Thank you." She said softly, making his eyes widen in surprise from the sheer gratitude, "I'm glad to have met you, Shirou."
His name left a sweet taste on her tongue.
"Shirou, Shirou, Shirou." She realized that she had repeated his name too many times, it must surely have made her look like a wierdo.
But after a quick glance, the face of new student was colored with blush, hearing it so many times, the auburn-haired boy tried to cover up his face by rubbing his hand into it.
.
.
.
Natsuki Naoko, meanwhile, wondered and could only guess why her daughter came home all bright red with steam escaping from her ears.
That's the end for today, thank you for reading, this part was quite difficult to write and I'm not too satisfied with it.
While this story is not supposed to focus on any pairings, writing Natsumi and her interaction with Shirou was quite an interesting experience for me haha.
But there won't be a definite femSubaru/Shirou because that's not the purpose of this fanfic, its more about friendship and there is also something else I hope to get to soon.
After all, it's obvious, unfortunately, that Subaru/Suffering is quite fated but who knows.
Next Update: Hikikomori Girl 5 or Intrelude: Shirou Emiya, I'm still deciding between them.
I hope I can continue this fanfic and improve whatever I can.
Edited: Aaaaah, this site is trolling me so much, cutting off words and everything, so annoying! Sorry for issues in reading and worse experience.
