Reviews:
Going to respond to the one thing that is basically shared in their reviews at the same time: Yes, you can consider it that EMIYA and Okita were sent to an alternate timeline of Today's Menu For Emiya Family but with my own twists like adding other elements to the wholesome air of that anime.
Reaper200851: Was that... was that an Abridged reference! Also, as I said before, it's not that big of a deal that Alaya acted like that. On another note, the FLUFF in this chapter is amazing. I'm gonna guess that this is a fusion of some of the more positive slice of life Fate timelines. Overall an amazing chapter and quite possibly one of if not the best slice-of-life fanfictions that I've read.
Yes, yes it was! Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! I love to explore more of the lighthearted, fluffy side so they'll definitely be more fluff, humor, and of course romance! Maybe some angst as well? XD
MordredBestGirl: Can we consider this fic a Abridged AU or was that just a reference to it?
Another thing on the Abridged series but is it just me, or did the most recent episode feel rushed? I mean PW did not even do subtitles for the episode.
It can be considered either, to be honest... or maybe not? I'll let you come to a conclusion the further this fluff story goes. I personally didn't notice... though it is a shame there were no subtitles.
Weebteam6: Feels like they've been sent into Today's menu for the emiya family and I'm all for it.
Basically, yes! I hope you look forward to the proceedings!
Kirby the God Slayer: Bruh this kinda reminds of Today's Menu for the Emiya Family, but instead it focuses on Okita and EMIYA, and I'm loving it.
I was going for that exact feel and "air." I'm happy to know you're enjoying it so far. Other characters will be present as well to spice up their life. More EMIYA/Okita coming!
TheSlySage: soooo cuteeee
They'll be getting cuter in future chapters :3
The morning sun began to rise and greet Fuyuki with its glow of dawn, taking over the role of its nighttime companion. The dark blue hue that basked the once-night sky started to dye itself in amber as the sunrise came. A few have started to roam the streets, whether for a jog or to stretch at the park. The early morning chill would feel lovely while they exercised.
Ray of orange pierced through the window of a certain house: The house of the Counter Guardian duo. The birds that flew past it chirped a lovely tune as a few of their companions decided to take a break on the window sill of the resident bowman. They continued chirping and tweeting a cheery melody.
While it was a beautiful and happy tune, being roused from his slumber was not helping EMIYA's negative thoughts of it.
"Why the hell did they have to perch themselves on my window..." He groused, rubbing his eyes as a yawn left him. "At least this confirms it wasn't a dream..."
...That was actually the fifth time Archer said that to himself.
A week had already passed since they first came to this world. Though, it wasn't enough for the bowman to get used to waking up in a comfy bed while a warm blanket was draped over him. The man was far too used to constantly staying up all night without any sleep. Truth be told, EMIYA didn't sleep during the first three days of their stay, opting to look around his inventory of unlimited blades or do maintenance instead.
He groaned, remembering how Okita reacted when she found out he wasn't sleeping. The silver-haired bowman shivered at the memory; he didn't expect to receive a stern scolding from her, of all people. Archer couldn't exactly not sleep after she said she would stay up as well to keep him company.
That was no good. The faker was well-aware of his companion's... sleepiness; she would have fallen asleep at some point and wake up feeling bad that she couldn't stay awake all night. Then again, there was a possibility that Okita would fight back her sleepiness just to keep herself from breaking her 'oath.'
Archer felt a chuckle bubble in his throat. "What a troublesome girl..." Despite his words, his tone was laced with amusement.
Getting off his bed, EMIYA grabbed a smartphone that lay on his desk. It was one of the items the pair bought for themselves while they were on vacation. He considered it a necessity during their stay in this warless modern era.
He could feel another chuckle of amusement tickle the back of his throat upon remembering Okita's words when he first brought it up.
"Why do we need this when we can communicate with each other through our mental link?"
While he agreed that smartphones were kind of pointless for the likes of them when it came to communication, they had other uses besides sending messages and calling each other.
The bowman opened his device to briefly check the time.
5:43, huh?
"I guess I can make some coffee and water the garden for now." Okita shouldn't be waking up for at least another hour. He'll start prepping breakfast after he's done with his business.
EMIYA stifled a yawn as he ruffled his messy silver locks, exiting his room before walking down the stairs. The silver-haired bowman then went into the kitchen and headed for the cabinet that stored the coffee beans. He grabbed the French press from the cupboard before getting to work with his morning caffeine.
A content sigh slipped past his lips. The fragrant scent of coffee entering his nostrils was one of the things he actually looked forward to in the mornings besides cooking. As his French press did its magic, his eyes drifted to the opened magazine at the table. It was one of Okita's purchases to help her learn more about this world.
After his coffee was finished brewing, EMIYA poured himself a cup as he walked over to the magazine. He hummed thoughtfully as he skimmed through the contents of the page it was currently on.
"A café, huh?" Interest started to stir within the bowman as he took a small sip of his freshly brewed cup of joe. "Ha... I wonder..."
The man wondered if he could start a business like a café to gain income. Despite being... well-off while the two were on vacation, a small part of Archer didn't want to rely on the money Alaya gave them. It was stupid to even think about, he knows. But considering the amount of money they were given, he felt like he was leeching off the collective unconscious of mankind!
...
Okay, he had to admit the combination of words in that thought was weird.
Sighing, EMIYA closed the magazine. "Maybe it could work..."
As he temporarily dismissed the sudden idea that popped into his mind, he left the kitchen with his coffee, noticing a sleepy Alter coming down the stairs.
"Morning, Okita. I didn't expect to see you up this early." Archer greeted with some concealed amusement in his voice, watching his housemate rub her eyes. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Senpai..." She didn't resist the yawn that wanted to come out of her. "Yes, I did. I had a pleasant dream last night..."
"Oh? What's it about?"
"..."
Okita closed her eyes as if to recall the dream, soon opening them again.
"I don't remember."
EMIYA sweatdropped. "Aaaaaall right then. Would you like some coffee?"
That perked the swordswoman quite a bit before she asked, "Can I have it with—"
"Cream and sugar?" Her senior finished her question with a smile. "Of course."
As the male Counter Guardian returned to the kitchen, he missed the faint smile of his kouhai. It seemed her Senpai had ingrained into his mind her preference when it came to coffee. That wasn't exactly odd since they were living together.
Okita followed EMIYA inside the kitchen, her steel-grey eyes spotting the magazine as she walked toward it.
"I knew I left it here..." She muttered as she took her seat.
"Really? And here I thought you left it there on purpose." He snarked with a grin.
"Why would I do that?"
EMIYA chuckled at her confusion. "I'm kidding. I doubt you left that magazine opened, specifically on an article about the best cafes in Fuyuki for me."
"Ah!" She shot up from her seat with realization in her eyes, startling the bowman. "I was actually going to mention that. Let's go visit one today, Senpai."
"Eh?"
The sleepiness in Okita's eyes was long gone, now replaced with a very subtle glint of excitement. A rare sight that he only witnessed whenever she ate his cooking or watch his dual-style in action. Is it childlike curiosity on her part or genuine interest and enthusiasm about cafes? EMIYA wasn't sure.
He saw an opportunity for teasing though!
"I don't mind." He started, a somber tone coloring his voice as he made her coffee. "Going out to eat today doesn't sound bad at all. You're probably getting tired of eating my cooking anyway." Archer smiled with mock sadness as he set her cup down.
To Archer's amusement, her reaction was instant.
"No! I'm not getting tired of your cooking at all, Senpai!" The usually composed Okita frantically waved her hands around as if to emphasize she wouldn't even dare have that thought. Her stoic and cool visage was now completely flushed. "I-I just wanted us to go to one today, hoping it might... inspire you somehow."
"Inspire me? Like... inspiring me to open a café myself?" When Archer received an immediate nod from her, he quirked a brow. 'Did she have the same thought and felt the same as me? Or did she manage to figure out what I thought about using the money Alaya gave us?'
Both weren't exactly impossible. The former could be identified as a coincidence, while the latter would be Okita's observations of him that resulted in that conclusion. Or...
'I could be overthinking things again...' which was the more likely answer to his question.
EMIYA put to rest his habit of overthinking every single thing for now. He promised Okita, after all. His lips tugged themselves upward, forming a wry grin as he placed his hand on her head.
"I see. Let's go to one for lunch, then." Archer ruffled her locks with gentle strokes. "You don't have to keep making that face; I was only joking... again. I'm not offended in the slightest."
Upon his confession, the flustered and panicked look on Okita's countenance vanished. Her blank expression returned as she fired off a glare.
"That was mean, Senpai. Do you like playing with the hearts of young maidens?"
The subtle forming of her pout made Archer inclined to say yes. "No, of course not..."
He couldn't explain why, but Archer felt a cold shiver run down his spine. W-Was that some sign? What was the Counter Force telling him?!
Okita continued to give her senior a blank stare before simply turning away with a huff, picking up her cup to drink her caffeine. Okay, it looks like that was her way of sulking.
EMIYA sweatdropped as he downed his coffee with a gulp. "So... Do you already have a café in mind you want to go to?"
The Alter might have been sulking, but she wasn't one to ignore a question from the bowman. "Yes. I was exploring Fuyuki City like you suggested yesterday and happened to spot one that caught my interest."
"If it caught your interest, then it must certainly be something." Archer snorted as he looked at the article about the cafes. "So, which one of these cafes will we be going to?"
"This one, Senpai."
Okita pointed at one of the pictures. The front of the establishment was decorated with plants and flowers, giving life to its otherwise blank exterior. A few images of the place's best-sellers and reviews from customers were featured alongside the picture.
"It looks like they're doing good in reviews. The food doesn't look half-bad either."
"Mhm. I also heard that their coffee and tea are amazing." Okita said before adding in a panic, "But I still think yours is superior, Senpai!"
"Save that for until you taste their beverages yourself, Okita." He sighed but smiled. "I'm flattered you think that way, but once you have a taste of their drinks, I swear I won't be offended if you consider them better than what I can make. I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to making hot drinks, so I'd get it if theirs are better than mine."
Her usual nod was received as the tanned woman finished her drink. "Understood."
"Well, since you're awake, wanna help out with watering the garden?"
A smile would stretch itself across Archer's face when he saw the faint sign of her perking up.
'How eager...'
Cu Chulainn— the Child of Light, Hound of Culann, Blue Spearman of the Wind, some who would call Irish Hercules, and formerly known as Setanta, was wiping the glass window with a towel, a toothy smile plastered on his visage. The man wore a classic waiter outfit consisting of a black vest over a white dress shirt, black slacks, a black necktie, and a matching-colored apron tied to his waist.
Despite it being a uniform, Lancer looked pretty dapper.
The spearman happily cleaned the windows of the café, humming a tune to his little ol' self. His boss said it was okay to open the establishment a little later than usual because their chef would be a bit late, but he confirmed his co-worker would be coming to work today. Cu'll admit he was a little peeved since his boss messaged him after he arrived at his workplace.
But he'll let it slide this time. Lancer could make the place squeaky clean and homey before the customers start coming in.
The door opened as the chef of the café entered, giving the blue-haired demigod a quick apology.
"Sorry for being late! The train was lagging behind today..."
"It's fine. The boss already told me about it." He waved it off as he set outside his cleaning towel, tightening his apron. "Just get everything ready in the kitchen asap. The boss said to open the café as soon as you arrive."
"R-Roger!"
The chef hastily changed into his uniform and darted to the kitchen. Smirking, Cu Chulainn gave his co-worker a few minutes to get things ready before he took out the sign, stretching his body in the meantime.
As his co-worker prepped the ingredients and cooking equipment, Lancer allowed his mind to wander, walking into the thought he would occasionally come back to.
The reappearance of the silver-haired devil himself, the nameless Archer.
Cu grumbled, recalling their (sort of) reunion. The demigod wasn't given a chance to ask how he was alive or why he was in Fuyuki due to the bowman sprinting away mid-interrogation.
How Archer managed to outspeed him, he doesn't know. The spearman was sure he was faster than the bowman, yet the silverette somehow sprinted at a speed beyond his stats. Not to mention his hot lady friend was able to keep up with him. Was she a Heroic Spirit too? And why did she look strangely similar to Archer?
"I'm good to go, Lancer!"
Lancer had to set aside that thought for now when his co-worker gave him the okay. Pumping himself up with light slaps to his cheek, Cu held the A-board-shaped sign as he went outside, placing the sign beside the door.
"All right! Let's get to work."
It didn't take long for the customers to start coming in, slowly filling the tables of the café. The blue-haired spearman did his usual: greet the customers, flash a charming smile, take their orders, serve their items, and occasionally make small talk. That was pretty much the norm whenever he had a shift in the café.
Cu served another plate of their signature omurice as he heard the chime of the door open. Ha, this place is getting packed.
"This is the café I was talking about, Senpai."
"Hmm. The ambiance here is nice, kinda warm and cozy—"
"Welcome—!"
The Hound of Ulster almost felt his eyes bulge out of his sockets when they met a pair of shocked silver greys.
"W-Wha..."
The silverette's companion tilted her head at the surprised Cu before she turned her attention to the stuttering bowman, sighing. The woman wrapped her arm around one of Archer's before dragging him off to a table as they passed the spearman.
"Well, shit. The devil himself got a woman..."
A little late but Merry Christmas everyone! EMIYA thinking about starting a cafe, Lancer getting some decent screentime, and their second reunion! Things will certainly be chaotic next chapter XD
Anyways, thank you for reading! See you at the next one!