Reviews:
MrCrOwZ403: i am satisfied, thank you author
Thank you! I hope you look forward to more!
Guest: Excellent work man that was a quick update.
Thanks! I already had it prepared and a lot found the fic interesting enough to read XD
MordredBestGirl: Ah yes, an archer using glasses. lol
Lol. It suits him quite well! I love EMIYA with glasses
Reaper200851: Did.. did Alaya actually decide to take care of its Counter Guardians mental health. Which madlad convinced Alaya? Or is it just because of Alaya's weird time frame that they get to take a vacation once every millenia or so. Or something like that anyways. In all seriousness though I do like the premise.
I do wonder what island they've been sent to. If there's one tiny itty bitty problem I have it's the fact that Alaya showed amusement. Alaya doesn't do that, and if Alaya did that should set off all of the warning bells. That being said, it is a matter of personal preference that probably won't affect the future story all too much so I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you. Also, I like where you're going with the Senpai Kouhai relationship. I can't remember if that was a thing in fate or not but I love it anyways. It's just the feeling that Counter Guardians give off is like that of something that has been around for a long time, and the contrast between the super serious veteran and that veteran calling another person Senpai is amazing in my opinion.
Thank you for giving it a read! I didn't actually know that about Alaya since I based the one here in one of the fanfics that featured it. No worries, this won't exactly be a serious fic most of the time, mostly comedy and fluffs so characters might be crackey at times. I will try my best to keep them in character though! The senpai-kouhai thing is also something I took inspiration from the other EMIYA/Okita Alter fic lol. Anyways, I hope you look forward to the shenanigans and fluff that occur. About what island well... it was already hinted the last chapter but now you'll find out in this one!
"Where do we buy the ingredients, Senpai?" Okita asked the more experience Guardian.
"The grocery store." He answered. "I take it this will be your first time going to a modern-day shop for ingredients?"
The two Counter Guardians walked beside each other as Okita followed EMIYA's lead to the direction of their destination.
"Well, we don't exactly need to consume food. So I had no reason to go to such a place before. The closest thing to a grocery store that I went to would be a fish market."
"Then consider this a learning experience. Since we'll be living together during our stay here, you might have to go get groceries by yourself," He paused and blinked before smiling wryly. "If it's all right with you, that is?"
Okita gave him a nod. "I don't mind, Senpai. I am your sword. I will do my best to fulfill your orders."
"No, you're not." He facepalmed and groaned. He didn't need anyone cut in half... "You're not a sword. You are yourself, Okita. Except for the fact you keep calling me Senpai, I am not your superior."
"I know. I was kidding." A small smile crossed her stoic visage. Yes, they weren't subordinate and superior but partners. The Alter didn't want to waste that opportunity. "But Senpai will always be Senpai to me."
"I'm going to get a migraine from all of these Senpais..." The bowman groaned as he rubbed his temple. "Why can't you just call me Archer or... EMIYA... without the senpai?" Archer had to force the name out of his lips, grimacing.
"Would you like me to revert to calling you Counter Guardian-senpai then?" Her expression was blank, but Archer could practically see the smugness coming out of her blank stare.
"Gah... Fine! Do what you want!" The silver-haired male conceded with a grumble.
"Daishouri."
Okita flashed a ghost of a smile and sent a V sign to Archer's way, much to his annoyance. The teasing victory pose lacked enthusiasm and came out dry, but there was a certain charm to it that only the swordswoman could produce. It was kind of cute.
...Fine, she won this time.
As Okita silently reveled in her victory, Archer wondered how close this Fuyuki was to his own. They were currently in Mount Miyama. Everything looked about the same, minus the faint dread and lingering conflict he used to feel in the air. If EMIYA could point out one difference between the two Fuyukis, it would be the lighter atmosphere that this city possessed compared to the one in his time, as if they were in the tropics, actually.
Maybe EMIYA was overthinking a simple matter, but this world made him feel like it was all right to let his guard down and loosen up once in a while. That it was all right for him to relax for once... Or maybe that's what the world wants him to think before some great disaster strikes!
Hey, you can't blame a guy for thinking that way after being in servitude for the collective unconsciousness of mankind for a fucking long time!
EMIYA felt a tap on his back as he stopped walking.
"I think this is the grocery store, Senpai."
"A-Ah, yeah. Let's head in." He seriously needed to stop spacing out, especially outside.
The pair of Counter Guardians entered the grocery store with Okita immediately found herself taking in what the market had to offer. Her eyes were filled with innocent curiosity as her steel-grey eyes wandered. A meat section, seafood section, and... cheese counter? They had a section dedicated to cheese?! She wondered why...
"Okay, Okita. I have here the ingredients you need to get. Don't worry, it ain't a lot." Archer said as he handed a piece of paper to her. "I'll be looking for half of the ingredients we need for our oden later. We'll meet at..."
The bowman took a quick glance at the counters. "Checkout 3, got it?"
The swordswoman bobbed her head slightly. "Yes, Senpai. I'll do my best to get these for our dinner."
Though her tone did not change, EMIYA could see the excitement in her eyes. He flashed her a smirk and patted her shoulder.
"I'm counting on you."
With one last nod, the female Guardian grabbed a basket and departed.
Archer scratched the back of his head, wondering if she'll be alright by herself. He quickly dismissed the thought as he shook his head. This was an experience Okita needed if they were to live in this world for who knows how long. The only reason Archer was acting natural was due to his... past experience with getting groceries. Maybe it was the side of Archer that had gotten him to be called 'mom' by others that caused his hesitation.
"I should focus on my task for now. Okita's got this. Now then, let's see if there's a sale on fish cakes."
Okita Alter didn't expect a grocery store to have all sorts of products stored on its shelves. She already expected there to be vegetables and fruits, but they also had a whole section full of milk, canned goods, and snacks. All sorts of frozen food needed to be heated up, and cleaning products were in here too!
Cleaning. Products.
Okita won't lie. She felt as if her mind was blown... and her curiosity got the better of her.
The stoic swordswoman looked down at her basket and glared at a particular item, her cheeks flushing faintly. Guilt caressed her heart and poked it mockingly as she stared down at the packet of dried squid. Ugh, the stares from those cartoony squids felt so mocking. She hoped her Senpai wouldn't mind her putting that little snack in the basket.
She had already gotten most of the ingredients written on the list, albeit it took her a good ten minutes since she had gotten lost while exploring the grocery store.
With a sigh, Okita resumed her quest for the remaining ingredients.
"Konnyaku, satoimo, and kombu. Konnyaku, satoimo, and kombu..." She repeated to herself while looking around the aisle she was currently in. "I must have missed it back in the fruits and vegetable section..."
As she started to retrace her steps back to the other side of the establishment, the Alter stumbled upon something that caught her eye.
Oden!
She stepped forward, instantly appearing in front of the woman running the sample stand, startling her as she stepped back.
"W-Whoa! W-Where did you come from, miss?!"
Okita ignored the question and stared at the hot pot of oden intently. "Excuse me, but how much for one cup of oden?"
The woman quickly changed her expression from shock and surprise to a business smile.
"Hehe, we're not selling them. We're giving them out as free samples!" She then poured the warm broth into a cup with all the necessary components. Okita's eyes lit up. "This oden was made using ingredients from the Shizuoka Prefecture! Would you like to try one?"
"Yes."
Giggling in amusement, she gave the cup to Okita.
The tanned woman eyed the oden with silent excitement. Yes, this scent is indeed oden! Okita poked one of the fishcakes and popped it into her mouth.
"Umph... Tasty." Muttered the Counter Guardian. The woman running the stand sweatdropped due to Okita's blank expression, despite her compliment.
Unbeknownst to her, Okita was pleasantly happy with her oden. She lifted the cup to her lips, taking a sip of the broth. A sigh of contentment left her, an evident sign of her satisfaction. This caused the woman to smile.
"I'm glad to see it's to your liking!"
"Mm..." She simply nodded as she took another bite of a fishcake. She pondered if her Senpai would want to try some... "Can I have another?"
"Okita." EMIYA began as he watched the employee scan each of their items.
"Yes?"
"Where did you get those cups of oden?"
"From a woman giving them out as free samples." She explained as she ate a piece of daikon.
"And she gave you two?"
"Technically, this is my third one," Okita said with a faint sheepish tone, looking away as she handed him the other cup in her grasp. "And this one isn't mine. This is yours, Senpai."
Stunned, Archer blinked at the cup of oden before he reluctantly accepted it. He half-expected Okita to consume all of the free samples before they met up, assuming her appetite for oden was comparable to a certain Saber servant's appetite for food in general. This was the last thing he expected from his fellow Counter Guardian.
Though he had to admit, he was pretty touched and a little amused too.
"Thanks, Okita."
"Mhm..."
"By the way, you wanted to try some dried squids?" He turned to his companion with an amused grin.
She could only nod.
After paying for their ingredients, Archer gave one of the plastic bags to Okita before they left the grocery store.
"Are we heading back home now, Senpai?"
EMIYA had to bite his tongue to stop a sarcastic remark from leaving. The place he considered home was the bloodstained battlefield under an amber sky with an invisible force giving him orders— Okay, that's enough negativity for today.
"Not yet. I was planning to buy some fish for tomorrow, but I couldn't find one that I liked." He sighed. "I remember there being a shop here that sells freshly caught fish."
"Okay. Let's go."
"You don't need to come; I can go myself. You just eat your oden comfortably here." Archer chuckled wryly at seeing the frown on her visage. "Come on, no need to frown. You can have my oden. I'm not that hungry right now."
"But... this is yours."
"And I'm giving it to you as a reward for getting all the ingredients we needed." He smirked. "One of your rewards anyway. I hope you have room for my oden."
"I always have room for oden. More importantly, I am curious about your cooking." She huffed softly before accepting her favorite food. A small smile crept across his features. "Thank you, Senpai."
Her senior poked her forehead in amusement before walking away.
The faker scoured Mount Miyama for his desired shop, hearing a few whispers due to his enhanced senses. He grimaced when he heard some teenager comment about his appearance and wondered if he was a foreigner. Maybe he should have slicked his hair back.
Call him paranoid, but he couldn't cross out the possibility of the boy being present in this timeline. Sighing, he preferred if no one from Homurahara Academy associated him with his younger self due to similar appearances. The chances of those students or even people who know Shirou Emiya to conclude he's related to him were high, considering his hair was down.
Scoffing under his breath, EMIYA reached for his hair and brushed it upward. He'll let it down once he returns to the house... if he feels like it.
"B-Bite Me?! Is that really you?!" He heard a familiar voice directed at him, his eye twitching.
"Who the hell would have a name called Bite M—" The Counter Guardian scowled as he turned to the source of the voice, only for his eyes to bulge out of his sockets.
A blue-haired man with piercing red eyes stared at the bowman in shock, pointing a shaky finger at him with his jaw dropped. His other hand held a sign that said "Big Fish Festival!"
"L-Lancer?" Archer mimicked the Child of Light, pointing at him as well.
"How are you alive?!/ What are you doing here?!"
Okita popped the last fishcake in her mouth before finishing the lukewarm broth. Ha, satisfying. She thoroughly enjoyed the free sample oden; it filled her quite a bit. It had been some time since she ate oden, so she savored every bite. And she was going to do the same with her Senpai's cooking.
Eating all those daikons, fishcakes, konjacs, and dashi broth started to make her drowsy. Okita still kept her guard up and her senses sharp, but the lack of danger in the air made it all too easy to relax. She always reasoned that her body could relax earlier because EMIYA was nearby.
She supposed that a warless environment could do the same.
The silverette began to doze off as her eyelids started to close. She fought back using her willpower, but the gentle breeze that passed only served to assist her drowsiness.
Senpai, heeeelp...
"Hey there, cutie. You came here to Fuyuki by yourself?"
Okita's eyes snapped open, seeing two delinquent-looking teenagers wearing grins. She quirked her brow before narrowing her steely greys. They likely mistook her for a foreigner.
"No. Why?"
"Aww, with a friend?" One of them asked as he crossed his arms.
"I doubt they'd mind if we borrow ya for a bit." The other wiggled a brow. "How about it? We can go do some karaoke. Or even the arcade if that's what you're feeling."
Okita's budding annoyance started an early bloom as they stepped closer to her range of attack. Her mind was going through several methods of how she could get send them running. But before she could do anything to them, someone pulled her to their broad chest.
"Sorry, you two. But she's with me." EMIYA sent them a glare with a smirk that promised pain if they got closer to his kouhai.
"Eep!"
They squealed, which lacked any manliness, and ran off as fast as their human legs could take them. Archer let out a chuckle as he watched the delinquents leave. He turned to his companion and saw her giving him an odd look.
As Okita opened her mouth, EMIYA lifted a finger, smiling apologetically.
"I know you could've handled those brats yourself, but I'm certain you were gonna go for a more physical approach. I know that look in your eye when I see it."
Okita parted her lips again, only to sigh and nod her head. Her calm and calm exterior hid her annoyance well. Archer doubted those two would have left her with words alone.
"Would they have left me alone if I told them I had a boyfriend?" Okita asked out of curiosity. Archer almost faceplanted onto the ground.
"I-I mean, it's possible. They looked kinda persistent, though."
"Hmm..." Okita hummed in thought. An idea came to mind, which she saved for another time. "I see. By the way, Senpai, did you find what you were looking for?"
His shoulders slumped as he hung his head with a sigh. "I ran into trouble earlier. I'll buy some fish tomorrow."
"Ooooooiiii! Why the hell did you run away?!"
Okita tilted her head at the approaching blue-haired man with speed not that of a human.
"Do you know that man, Senpai—"
"We gotta go!"
Without waiting for her to respond, EMIYA took Okita's hand, holding it as he sprinted away with her keeping up with him. The blue-haired fishmonger watched their fleeing forms, dumbstruck.
The Counter Guardian duo soon returned to their shared house, the two entering through the door. EMIYA went toward the kitchen to put the groceries down, and Okita did the same.
"Senpai, I think you know what I'm going to ask here..." She glanced at the bowman as she took out the ingredients from their plastic bag.
EMIYA grumbled while grabbing a large pot. "That guy was Cu Chulainn, a Lancer servant. A guy I fought in the past, from what I can remember." He wearily exhaled as he placed the pot on the stove before taking out another pot and a cutting board.
"Huh, that would explain his speed..." She mumbled as she placed the veggies on the counter. "Then why didn't he feel like..."
"A servant?" Archer finished her sentence with a snort. "Beats me. Probably a wish made by the winner of the Fifth Holy Grail War of this timeline."
The Counter Guardian smiled bitterly. He thought there wasn't any conflict that occurred in this Fuyuki with how the atmosphere lacked the usual feeling of dread and regret. But Archer guessed he was wrong. There was, only it ended before they arrived. His conflicted feelings started to resurface again.
Okita watched her Senpai's expression change, her frown visible for him to see. She placed her hand on his back and rubbed it in circles, pulling the bowman back from his thoughts.
"Let's not overthink things today, Senpai. Remember our mission?" Archer blinked before flashing a wry smile at his concerned kouhai.
"Yeah. Thanks, Okita."
The tanned woman offered him a small smile as the two got to cooking. At Okita's request, Archer allowed her to help him out. She was in charge of cutting the ingredients into bite-sized pieces. As she pushed the cut ingredients to her Senpai, the Alter got a good look at his cooking skills.
He prepared the dashi stock with no wasted movement while multitasking with frying the deep-fried tofu and fishcakes. He then blanched the fried foods in boiling water they had prepared before they started cooking to remove the oil. Amazing, she thought.
Handling a knife would be the easiest way to show Okita his skills. But the simple arrangement of putting the prepared ingredients into the large pot was just as much proof of Archer's cooking skills.
Before she knew it, they were finally done.
The two sat across from each other as EMIYA gave his kouhai a bowl of her favorite food. The fishy yet appetizing scent entered her nostrils, causing her stomach to growl. A rare blush dusted her cheeks as Senpai chuckled lightheartedly.
"Well? Let's eat."
"Ah, yes." Okita sheepishly looked down at her bowl as she wrapped her hand around it, taking a bite of the fried tofu.
Her eyes grew wide as saucers as the flavors hit her tongue. This was... amazing! She had never tasted oden this delicious before. She slowly brought the bowl to her lips, taking a sip of the warmth-filling broth. It felt like she was in heaven...
She then took another bite, and then another, and another, and another, and another until she finished all of the oden in her bowl.
"Oh..." She frowned when she realized the oden in her bowl had ceased to exist. "Um... EMIYA-senpai?"
Archer calmly set his bowl down as a huge smirk crossed her lips. "You're wondering if there are seconds?"
Okita gave him a meek nod. The bowman chuckled once more. It was cute to see her acting so sheepish, he had to admit.
His smirk morphed into a faint smile as he grabbed her bowl and got up. He returned to the table with a full bowl of oden for his kouhai, which visibly perked her up.
"I made plenty for ya. Don't be shy in asking for seconds, Okita."
"Mm... Thank you, Senpai." With a bright smile her stoic mask couldn't conceal, she happily dug into her second round of EMIYA-senpai's oden.
"Is it good?" He questioned, drinking a bit of water to cleanse his tongue. Okita sent him an odd look.
"It's not just good, Senpai. It's amazing! This is the most delicious oden I've ever eaten!"
The compliment actually made the faker sheepish enough to rub his neck.
"You're exaggerating. There are better cooks out there who can make oden superior to mine." Except for the boy. He's better than him.
"But I'm not exaggerating." Okita stubbornly retorted. "I'm placing this oden as number one in my top five oden I have eaten in my life!"
Archer groaned in embarrassment as he gave up convincing Okita, facepalming. Behind his hand, the faker had a smile on his face.
Okay, it was nice to receive such high praise once in a while.