Reviews:
NovaSudanaPutra: Ahahahaha, poor cu still doesn't have a women! Also thank you for the chapter author! It's so cute!
He doesn't have that EX rank Harem Protagonist skill. You're quite welcome, I'm glad you like it!
TimeDiver: Something's been missing, and I've only figured it out JUST before New Year's... what's the situation with Rengoku (the spirit of Okitan's nodachi)? He's practically guaranteed to play the Overprotective Big Brother role and cause no end of hijinks / hilarity between EMIYA and his wielder / aruji.
I haven't forgotten about Rengoku. He will show up eventually of course... when things start to get intimate between EMIYA and Okita XD
clownreaper96: hahahahahah oh shit the devil got himself a woman i can't stop laughing my god hahahahah wait what does that make shirou the fucking anti christ hahahahahahah
He is Actually Satan! v
Weebteam6: Ahh the chaos this may causes. I'm sitting on the edge of my chair with popcorn in hand. Though this does bring into question where the original Emiya is, I'm very excited to see what changed you'll make!
I try my best to make it as chaotic as possible for the laughs without trying to make them as OOC as possible! The EMIYA that appeared in this world will be addressed likely next chapter or the next one after that. Thank you! I hope you look forward to it.
NexusZXD: thank you for posting this blessed fic!
You're quite welcome. Thank you for giving it a read!
RetributionSin: Wow never thought I would find another fic with Orita/Archer ! I love their dynamic you have here :D
Yeees! I go motivated to write about these two since I find them adorable together and the possible interactions they can have! I'm happy you think so!
Reaper200851: Okay, I know that all our thought processes are saying that the chef is Shirou but I think it's someone else due to the fact that it would be too obvious. Also it's nice for Lancer to address that Archer managed to outrun him, whether it being due to the muse of comedy or this technically being an official mission by Alaya and as such the Counter Guardians have a lot more Mana to draw upon than Lancer. Also is that three Abridged references that I see! And all of them by Lancer... hmmm... Now I'm imagining that Lancer somehow got yeeted through realities and that Lancer is the only person from the Abridged! Verse. Logically I doubt it but still... a more likely option would be that the Counter Guardians aren't from the Abridged! Verse but all of the other people are, which could lead to some pretty nice moments of them wondering what's up with this timeline. Also, it doesn't have to happen in the next chapter or the chapter after that but please eventually even if it takes several years have Lancer start spouting lines in Limerick.
I won't lie that I considered it, but just chose the chef that was absent in Today's Meny in that episode lol. Shirou will be making his own appearance along with others in the near future. Lancer is my personal favorite in the Abridged (though they're all pretty good lmao) so I couldn't help but make him do more reference and act like his abridged self. Ahaha... All I can say to Lancer spouting limericks is that it is planned to happen! Fair warning when it happens, it will be chaotic XD
TheReverendGreen: This is so cute! Great work! Been waiting for some fics with Emiya and Okita Alter and I'm glad you supplied ( ‿ )
Thank you very much! I am glad to see another EMIYA and Okita Alter seeker :D
Ashalim: Can't believe literally Satan got a gf
Me neither!
Archie Oswald: Thanks for the chapter! I'm waiting for the moment Saber and Shirou meet Emiya and Okita. I can already imagine it causing misunderstandings.
You're welcome! Yes, me too. I can't wait to write that chapter
TheSlySage: lancer be thinking damnnnn wish I could find one lol reply to last sentence. looking forward to Emiya's critique on the food .
He can if he tries, haha...
rizuplayz: hmmm I guess they were summoned as counter guardian so stats are buff
Well yes since it is technically a mission
"What would you like to have?"
"Hmm..." Okita skimmed through the menu items, perking up for a moment as she closed the menu. "I'll have the potato gratin and a cup of coffee."
"Gotcha!" Cu wrote her order down before crimson hues flickered to the exasperated bowman. "And what about you, my good man?"
Archer grunted in annoyance while rubbing his temple. He wasn't trying to be hostile on purpose, but he wasn't going to act all buddy-buddy with the mutt right now. "Just coffee..."
"Are you sure you're fine with just that, Senpai?" Okita asked with concealed concern. "I know we don't need to eat, but wouldn't it be a good idea to try the food here? For... future reference?"
Her Senpai seemed to understand what she was talking about as he grumbled under his breath, nodding. Reluctantly, he turned to the Irish waiter.
"What do you recommend, Lancer?"
Cu happily welcomed the neutral tone instead of the usual hostility and grumpiness that laced the voice of the silver-haired man. He smirked as he opened the menu and pointed at his recommended dish.
"Our chef's special omurice! I'm confident you'll love it, Archer." The blue-haired spearman smirked, receiving a hum from the other male.
"Fine. I'll have that along with my coffee."
"You got it." Nodding his head, Cu Chulainn turned to the kitchen. "One omurice and potato gratin!"
"All right!"
Archer heard the chef in the back reply as he started getting to work on their order.
Lancer picked up the menus once more and gave the two a smile. "I'll have your coffee ready for ya two in a bit."
As the silverettes bobbed their heads, he left their table to take the other customers' orders. Archer observed the blue-haired Irishman perform his duties as a waiter without any signs of half-assing. Sure, his easygoing demeanor might look like he was slacking off, but he never failed to accommodate the customers. Their differences aside, he can appreciate Lancer's hardworking nature, knowing he also worked as a fishmonger.
His gaze drifted to Okita. EMIYA wondered if his kouhai knew the spearman worked here and purposely decided to choose the café because of it.
...
He doubted that possibility. He was almost certain she would at least mention Cu's employment in this café if that was the case.
Here he was again, overthinking simple matters. Now he was doubting Okita, who only had the best intentions in mind for him. For shame!
"Senpai?"
"Hmm?"
"You've been staring an awful lot," Archer blinked in surprise as she continued, tilting her head. "Do I have something on my face?"
"N-No, you don't." He shook his head slightly, looking away from her curious and concerned gaze. "Guess I spaced out."
"Hmm..."
The concern lingering in her grey orbs remained as Archer shifted around his seat, quite aware of her eyes boring holes into him. He wondered if he fixed himself up nicely—
"..."
...Gods, why the hell was he getting self-conscious? Archer never cared much about his appearance before. But damn, Okita's stare was intense (without it being intentional) that he couldn't help but worry over how he looked at her at that moment.
The silverette stared for a good minute or two before giving a nod, getting up from her seat.
"Excuse me, Senpai. I have to use the restroom."
"Ah, all right."
With another quick nod, Okita left the table and walked off toward the direction of the restrooms.
EMIYA heaved a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. The bowman did his best not to overthink why he had that... strange thought earlier. If only it was possible to skewer trivial thoughts with blades in his mind's world...
As he brooded with a scowl, the annoying voice of a certain mutt cut through his moment of silence.
"Whoa, I didn't know when to butt in when she decided to stare at you for a bit." Cu Chulainn commented in amusement, setting down Archer and Okita's cup of coffee.
Lancer then sat in his partner's seat, earning the blue spearman a quirked brow from the crimson bowman.
"What are you doing?" Archer narrowed his eyes as he poured some sugar and cream into Okita's cup.
Cu Chulainn gazed at the woman's cup, watching the silver-haired man stir the coffee as black turned to dark beige. What a thoughtful boyfriend! The spearman's lips curved into a shit-eating smirk, alarming the male in front of him.
"I gotta say, Archer, I didn't expect to see you again, alive and with a woman, no less." Lancer cupped his chin before clarifying, "A hot woman. Who knew that the grumpy devil got mad game to grab himself a girl like that!"
Archer scowled, left eye twitching slightly. The fuck is he going on about? "We're not like that. She's not even my girlfriend." He said, doing his utmost best to say composed despite his growing irritation. "And what do you mean 'grumpy devil?!'"
EMIYA almost asked what Lancer meant when he stated his surprise at the bowman being alive. His mind was already theorizing the several possibilities of what happened to the EMIYA of this world.
'I probably just died during this world's Holy Grail War before the winner could make that wish.'
The silver-haired man shook his head as Lancer's smirk grew to a size that gave him the urge to punch his face.
"You sure about that? The way she was looking at you earlier could've fooled me. Seemed like she was looking concerned for her dear boyfriend." Cu ignored his query and teased the bowman.
Archer clicked his tone in annoyance, leveling Cu with a glare. "Has your EX-rank stupidity reached a new rank, or do you need glasses since your eyes aren't working properly?"
"Hey now, I'm just saying what I was seeing!"
"Clearly, what you saw was wrong." His glare intensified, yet it didn't have any effect on the Hound of Culann. "Okita doesn't see me in that kind of light. She's my kouhai, and I'm her senpai. That's our relationship."
Surprise flashed across the spearman's face as he stared at Archer with wide eyes. An expression of thoughtfulness emerged from his visage, closing his eyes to ponder.
EMIYA sighed in relief. It looked like the damn mutt finally got it through his thick skull that the bowman's relationship with his fellow Counter Guardian was not a romantic one.
Unfortunately, he spoke too soon.
"So that's what you're into, huh? Getting called Senpai turn you on?"
"Oh, that is it! I'm firing arrows at your ass!"
"Haha, sucks to be you! Did you forget I have Protection of Arrows!?"
"Gah, I'm one step away from using Caladbolg on this bastard..." EMIYA grumbled as he rubbed his temple. Leave it to the Irish spearman to irritate him.
Before Lancer could continue annoying him with taunts and teases, they heard someone clearing their throat.
Cu turned around and saw Okita with her usual stoic visage and arms crossed, though he swore he saw annoyance flash across her face for a second. He immediately shot up from her seat.
"A-Ahaha! I better get going and check on your food. Later!" And like the wind, he left.
Lancer had a lot of questions he wanted to ask the bowman, but he chose to refrain for now. He was still working while Archer had a little lunch date with his attractive kouhai. There's always another opportunity to confront him with his queries. But for now, he'll relish the sight of his pissed-off face in his mind, smirking as he made his way to another table.
As Okita took her seat, EMIYA allowed another sigh to part from his lips. The female Counter Guardian looked at her senior with a slight frown.
"Are you okay, Senpai?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sighing, his hand rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the incoming migraine that Cu Chulainn so lovingly inflicted on him.
Okita's lips parted for her to speak, only for them to close. A faint pink settled on her cheeks before she quickly shook her head. That gained her senior's attention as his brow quirked upward.
"Is something wrong?" EMIYA rested his arms on the table and leaned close. Whether Okita was aware or not, this served to deepen the shade of pink on her cheeks.
A shake of her head. "It's nothing, Senpai. Let's drink our coffee."
"Sure..." He pulled away, picking up his cup.
The silverette did the same. As Okita picked her coffee up, it was only then she noticed that her hot beverage had cream mixed in, likely sugar as well. Her eyes darted to Archer, who took a small sip of his caffeine. The lips of the swordswoman twitched up as she wrapped her lips around the rim.
"Mm..."
"So, is it better than mine?" EMIYA quired, amusement dripping off his tone.
"No," muttered Okita with no hesitation. "It's delicious, but I still prefer yours, Senpai."
"A-Ah, I see..." Archer didn't know what to say. The man found himself rubbing his neck, smiling sheepishly. "Thanks, I guess..."
Okita bobbed her head, a ghost of a smile plastered on her countenance this time. Those rare smiles of hers were quite a sight, Archer must admit. They were brief, but they were beautiful all the same. It reminded him of a certain King of Knights...
Just as they were getting comfy with their comfy atmosphere, the Child of Light entered the fray.
"Here is the potato gratin and omurice for the lovely couple~!"
Coffee spewed out of Archer's mouth as a series of coughs left him. As Lancer snickered at Archer's reaction, a pair of steel-grey orbs narrowed into a glare. Cu would have flinched... if it weren't for the red that dusted Okita's stoic visage.
"Don't be too lovey-dovey now!"
Lancer smirked wider and set their meals on the table before fleeing away. He rather not hears any retorts from the crimson bowman. No matter what excuse EMIYA comes up with, he can't fool the perception of the Cu Chulainn!
Archer clicked his tongue. If it weren't for the fact they were inside, he would have used Caladbolg! Twice!
Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and turned to Okita, whose attention was directed at her potato gratin. Her eyes were glued to the dish as if it was the most interesting thing around her right now.
"Okita?"
"Yes, Senpai?" The Alter said, her gaze directed at her meal.
"Um... You can't wait to eat your potato gratin, huh?" Archer wasn't really expecting a nod in response to his tease. Was she bothered that Cu referred to them as a couple? That's the only reason he could think of...
While EMIYA mulled over the possible reasons for his companion's odd behavior, said companion glared daggers at her meal, hiding the blush on her cheeks from the man. It was extremely rare for her to feel flustered, but that damn Lancer's voice rang in her mind.
Thanks to her enhanced senses, she picked up the words Cu had said earlier as she left the restroom.
You sure about that? The way she was looking at you earlier could've fooled me. Seemed like she was looking concerned for her dear boyfriend.
Recalling the words left Okita blushing even more.
'W-Was I... really looking at Senpai like that...?'
And that's the chapter! Sorry I couldn't get this out earlier! I was busy for the past few weeks after I posted the last chapter. Anyways, thank you to all those reading The Domestic Life of Counter Guardians! I hope you all look forward to the next one where we continue to the cafe scene and more Lancer shenanigans!