The coldness of the wind was something that could not be ignored, at this time of the year Fuyuki was particularly cold. It was hard to feel comfortable without wearing a lot of coats.
Shinji walked, rubbing his hands together step by step. Homurahara was already in plain sight; he approached.
The mere image of a red-haired man running at full speed while dragging a purple-haired girl with him was a bit difficult for him to watch without a chuckle escaping him, one that, unfortunately, to anyone would seem somewhat dismissive, as if he were mocking the boy.
While it wasn't entirely right, it wasn't entirely wrong either. Yesterday during dinner he and Taiga decided to prank the fake janitor, the goody-two-shoes, the local boy scout (Emiya Shirou).
They were going to set their clocks ahead, it being the ideal time to consider since it was the beginning of the week, a rare occasion when the boy almost never managed to get up at 5 am as he was used to. A perfect opportunity.
Certainly, he had thought it would be fun to see her reaction when she realized what had happened. The expression on her face would definitely be something he would want to see, and in that case, he might even take a photograph.
Oh Emiya, you never disappoint me.
With a laugh, he entered the establishment. His figure overflowed with what he considered to be the image of true charisma someone of her lineage should have.
Matou.
One of the houses that participated in the ritual known as "Heaven's Feel" or "Holy Grail War." A Magus family that once enjoyed a great prestige...
And so it would have continued, had it not begun to decline.
It was sad how everything quickly went to shit in the last few generations. The quality of the circuits declined, falling like the economy of a country full of corruption and incompetence.
In the end, this is as far as you can go. You'll never be a mage, Shinji.
Anger bubbled inside him; it was good to carry a small anti-stress ball in his pocket; he didn't know what he would do without it.
You are a piece of trash and will never be worthy of the Matou surname.
Simple, clear words that were painful but to the point.
Things like this make him really envy those who can quietly lose themselves in fantasy. If only he could do that, it would be great...
At least that's what he would have liked.
He calmly entered the familiar place, greeting those he knew, knowing that he would miss these times for many years to come.
Life is a strange and complex thing. It changes with a slight alteration.
When even the flutter of a simple butterfly can have its effects. What would changing one person do?
You never know how much a single careless action can affect the whole.
This was the beginning of a long chain of bad luck and disaster, one of which Matou Shinji and Emiya Shirou would unfortunately become involved in.
After all, fate is always a vile bitch.
Once inside the classroom, Shinji couldn't help but feel eyes full of malice directed at him.
It was his turn to act. Music like that from the movie Jaws played in his head as he watched his redheaded friend walk towards him with a bright smile on his face.
It didn't surprise him at all that no one stood in his way; it was common sense to know that Emiya Shirou was basically Homurahara's errand boy, someone who had difficulty saying "No" but was also known to be something else...
Homurahara's Demon.
With ridiculous accuracy and incredible speed, the terror and pride he struck into the hearts of his teammates at the inter-school tournament was still present in the memories of all those who had the privilege of witnessing him.
First he was the Ace of the Kyuudo club, and then by a quirk of fate he ended up as the Ace of the Kendo club... Although it was no secret that the latter was more at the insistence of a certain maniacal tigress teacher.
The point was that seriously pissing off Emiya in a video game was like trying to take on the final boss while being at level 1 and with basic items.
A undisputed Gamer Over.
- H-Hey Emiya, nice to see you. How have you been? - Said the boy with a forced smile while trying to hold back the laughter that tried to escape from his mouth. Although on second thought escaping was what he should be doing at that very moment. - Did you change your haircut? I must say it looks really nice on you
- ...You and I need to have a serious talk, Shinji - Shirou said as he stopped his friend's escape attempt, making sure to hold a strong and firm grip on his shoulder, causing a desperate expression to appear on his friend's face. - It's going to cost you dearly -
- All right, all right, I give up... How many pots are we talking about? - The boy spoke with some resignation as he felt that his wallet would soon be empty. The much-coveted special dessert he planned to try in the shopping district seemed to be further and further out of his hands.
- Pots? Tempting, but this time it won't help you escape punishment. You must help me with the cleaning this week! -
- You monster! Do you want to make me look like a liar?! - Shinji shouted dramatically.
Several rolled their eyes as they gave him a scornful look; it was well known that Matou Shinji tended to behave a bit strangely when cornered.
- Think Emiya, think. Can your heart bear the fact that holding me back with cleaning is going to leave a lot of girls without company? Can you have a clear conscience with that? -
- My conscience is very clear, and I'm pretty sure it will stay that way in the future. I don't think you should worry about that. Shirou commented nonchalantly while smiling and gave a thumbs up to his friend.
- You heartless monster! -
The others just watched the scene with flat stares; they were already used to seeing the two's antics every time Shinji did something stupid... Which was basically every day.
- Good! The time for clowning around is over! - Taiga shouted as she rushed in. Ignoring everything that had happened, the students soon headed to their seats at full speed.
They all valued their lives, after all.
- Rawwwrrr! -
The tiger's roar echoed throughout the place, and the students' bodies shook nonstop, with sweat pouring down their faces and somewhat stiff expressions on their faces.
Yeah, the usual in a classroom already "tamed" by Fujimura Taiga.
The classes flew by. Shinji and Shirou headed to the archery club.
The seaweed-headed yawned as he stretched his arms, Shirou carried a broom and a little stick to start cleaning.
- Okay, let's clean up! - Shinji smiled while shouting.
- I don't understand why you get so excited," Shirou muttered, giving his friend a rather strange look.
They were just going to clean up; it's not like anything cool or dangerous was about to happen.
His day hadn't been much different from normal. Something he was extremely grateful for, considering all the time and effort he had to put into his preparations to make the war go smoothly on his side.
[Had. At the rate you're going, I wouldn't be surprised if a few gray hairs had already started appearing.] A voice commented, one that certainly brought her nothing but discomfort.
The girl's eyebrows quivered as she forced herself to suppress the incessant urge to curse like a sailor who hits his pinky on a piece of furniture.
- Calm down... Calm down, a Tohsaka should always be elegant and serene... - Murmured the girl as a smile appeared on her face, imagining herself tightly squeezing the neck of that gray-haired, dark-skinned man.
[And also a complete tsundere]
Her hand clenched into a fist, and a dry laugh escaped her lips as her eyebrows twitched.
She was someone everyone recognized either by one thing or another.
School idol, Magus, second owner of Fuyuki, also participating in the Fifth Holy Grail War.
Why does she have to lose her temper every time that idiot opens his mouth?
Letting out a sigh, she tried to compose her mood as her Servant manifested only a few steps behind her. Exasperated, Rin glanced at him.
What fun was there in messing with her, could he not go a single moment without hurling those annoying comments at her that made her want to use a command seal to shut him up, unless she gave him permission to speak?
Rin was seriously beginning to think it wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides cementing more and more the theory she had about whether her Servant being Satan.
After all, who else has a sharper tongue than a demon or an idiot?
The gentle breeze of the cold night air ruffled her hair, from the rooftop it was easy to observe Homurakawa's silent surroundings.
So calm...
It was hard to believe that at any moment this place could be torn apart or even become part of the battlefield in a war.
- Rin - Archer's voice snapped her out of her reverie, at her scrutinizing look, the Servant let out a small growl as he frowned with an annoyed look. - Looks like we have company -
The girl said no words as she positioned herself behind the grey-haired man, knowing full well that if she stayed in front or too far away, she would become an easy target for the Servant or Master enemies.
- Well, what a nice welcome - Rin looked over to the side in search of the owner of that voice.
- Oh, and I thought the dead smell came from my master's ugly sweater. - Commented Archer as he turned to face the highest point of the rooftop. Clearly ignoring the kick Rin had given him. - Don't worry; I can beat him easily.
A man stood there with blue hair and blue tights, with bright red eyes and a battle-hungry grin on his face. The malevolent look on his face gave away his class, needless to say.
- Good words - He commented while smiling, but the insult didn't seem to affect him at all. - For your sake and my amusement...
- I hope they're true -
Undeterred by the obvious threat, Archer simply summoned his weapons: a pair of swords, one white and the other black.
Things don't happen by the work of a divine being or something similar.
In this case, it was just a bad decision. Bad luck was the bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It is always oneself who is truly to blame for whatever happens to one, whether it is something good or bad and consequently affects the people around one.
Hearing a strange noise outside, Shirou let Shinji continue cleaning alone, even though he complained, and went out to check what was going on.
The sound was like metal clashing, but it was impossible.
It's not like there were a bunch of crazy people fighting with sharp weapons, is it?
It doesn't discriminate against those unsuspecting bystanders, either.
Those things only happen in video games, like the ones Shinji liked to force him to play, because he didn't want to play alone.
It was unfortunate how accurately one could be with unlikely things.
Before Shirou's wide eyes, what produced those noises was an impossible spectacle.
On one side stood a blue-haired man in blue tights. In his hand was a sinister-looking red spear.
On the other hand, there was a man with gray hair and dark skin, wearing black armor with a red shroud over it, along with armored pants and a skirt of the same color as the shroud. In his hands were two beautiful swords, one white and one black.
Clash after clash, it was impossible for him to keep up with them completely. Sparks flew back and forth along with the powerful noise produced by the metal and the ripples left by the impact. A shudder ran through his body as the feeling of having seen something he shouldn't have filled him.
Using what little strength he had left, he slowly moved his body backwards. He had to get both Shinji and go as far away as he could...
*Crack
Shirou's thoughts ceased as a sinking feeling filled him. He had inadvertently stepped on a twig.
The men stopped, their eyes met those of the grey-haired man, and a chill ran down their spines.
A single thought filled his mind.
- 'RUN!' -
Running into the school building to stay away from where his friend was, Shirou ran as fast as he could in the hope that he could lose his pursuer. But even he understood that.
His efforts were completely futile.
Nothing more than a way to give his pursuer a pleasant moment of hunting. At the moment, he was not unlike a gazelle being chased by a lion.
Death is a cruel and opportunistic mistress. She is an overly greedy one who would not waste a single moment when the chance to take another life presented itself if it were too close. So it was in the past.
It is today, and it will always be so.
Only ... why?
The vital liquid fell to the ground, barely managing to stay conscious. The voice of his attacker, the strange man in blue tights, sounded somewhat strange. Perhaps as a side effect of losing so much blood, it was hard to tell for sure.
- Not something I really enjoy, but it had to be done - He commented idly as he shook his spear, causing the blood on it to fall to the ground. - No hard feelings, okay? Just following orders, kid... It's not like I enjoy messing with someone who couldn't give me a good fight -
And with that said, the same speed at which he had hunted him relentlessly through the corridors of the dark school building, the man disappeared without a trace.
At death's door.
Away from all light, he had no company but the shadows of inanimate objects.
Completely alone, he had not even come close to fulfilling his dreams. He hadn't taken a single step forward.
Kiritsugu...
I failed you.
If he were to describe himself, there would undoubtedly be two words more than enough to do so.
Weak.
Pathetic.
Emiya Shirou resigned himself bitterly to awaiting his end, disappointed that he couldn't fulfill his promise.
As she closed her eyes, she could hear a few footsteps nearby.
He couldn't help but think with a mocking smile.
Do you want to go back and see how it ends?
With this in mind, he closed his eyes, not giving him a chance to think of anything else; the darkness swept over his mind completely.
Shinji let out a sigh after seeing Shirou leave. Now, how will he quickly finish cleaning up without his trusty assistant? He felt like a Mario whose Luigi had been taken away or a Sonic without Tails.
It would certainly be a pain in the ass to do it all by oneself.
In the end, he decided to leave it as it was and go home; he could always blame someone else for messing things up.
With everything settled, he couldn't help thinking.
- "What about Emiya?" - It had been quite a while since he left, and he hadn't returned. He knew what kind of person Emiya was; he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, so it was a bit worrying not to see him come back.
Soon, loud noises came to his ears, as if objects were breaking. Judging from the proximity, it was obvious they were coming from the school compound.
He wasn't going to deny it; he was a curious person.
Besides, what would it hurt if he took a little peek?
Making his way slowly to the entrance, he tried to go unnoticed as much as possible. It couldn't be ruled out that it was a thief or someone like that, so being a little cautious was best.
Soon a snort escaped his mouth as he began walking down the dark corridor. What could go wrong?
- What the heck! - He couldn't help but scream as he saw a body covered in blood. That familiar reddish hair was particularly noticeable even in the dim light coming through the window. His figure lying there motionless on the floor...
A shiver ran through her body as her face paled slightly. Unpleasant memories crossed her mind.
"Swimming pool" and "Worms".
Words that, on their own, sound innocent enough Right? But to him, they are a synonym for horror.
He couldn't help but recoil a little. But he soon shook his head and approached his friend's body.
A resigned look appeared on his face.
...Why was he always like this? Why?
Why is it that whenever someone is sincere and kind to him, they always end up dead?
- Huh? - Once close he managed to notice a gem on Shirou's chest, a strange expression appeared on his face, but he decided to ignore it.
Emiya was lucky to be alive, but why would he leave him out in the cold if he could take him home? Besides, he wanted to know what had happened here.
Hell, he would have to start preparing an excuse if Taiga had slept over at Emiya's home.
- As long as you're alive. Everything will be all right, won't it? - He muttered as he struggled to carry the boy by his armpits.
Damn, he was so heavy.
Little did he know, a guy with a spear was watching them from above. A sigh escaped the man's mouth before he began to follow them.
After all, leaving a job unfinished wasn't his style.
*
New story, and I must say I was originally planning on making it a One-Shot or Two-Shot, but then I realized one thing...
I suck at making shots, so I'd better make it a mini story.
Although it is called a mini-story, it has two arcs, so it is not considered small.
Well, there's no need to pay attention to the small details!
How are you?
I'm happy to be back, and since I'm already on vacation, I might as well be active here again!