Fate DxD Vol.10

Chapter 52

Monday, January 30, 2023.

"Ugh! It's over! About time..." As I leave the school, I see Jonouchi stretching tiredly. "Hey, Yugi? How about a drink?"

"I don't mind." He said as he approached him.

"That's a very good idea, Jonouchi-san." Usui steps forward. "In that case, why don't we go to the new Burger-world that just opened?"

"Oh yes I've heard of it." Motohama puts his glasses back on. "I hear the burgers there are insane!"

"I didn't ask you anything..." Jonouchi is annoyed.

"Let's go Jonouchi-san, with everyone, it's going to be great! Hey Senji-san, you're coming with us aren't you?" Yugi calls out to me.

"Hmmm..." I hesitate.

"Let's go Senji-san, I'd love to eat a burger together again!" Asia seems excited to go.

"I'm never against the idea of a good burger!" Inaho is already starting to salivate.

"Count me in, boys! That sounds like a lot of fun!" Shiria raises her hand.

"Well, all right, hard to refuse after all." I nod.

"Wow, everyone's excited." Youta observes.

"How can you blame them, everyone loves a good burger, and on top of that the girls are coming with us, so it's shaping up to be amazing!" Matsuda exclaims.

"What's going on here, why such a meeting in front of the school?" Anzu walks towards us, accompanied by Sakura and Rin.

"We're just deciding to go to the diner all together, are you coming with us Anzu?" Yugi asks.

"No, I have things to do sorry." She said.

"Besides, have you forgotten what the teachers say? Not to hang around town, there's a resurgence in violence in the state!" Sakura retells.

"As far as I know, Fuyuki is pretty safe." Rin announced, with a touch of pride.

"At least, we're doing everything we can." It's Kiba's turn to come and meet us.

"Kiba-san, we're going to burger-world, do you want to come with us?" I ask him.

"Why not, after all it's just opened, I'm curious too."

"What about you girls?" Inaho asks.

"I'm coming too of course, after all we haven't eaten yet. Sakura?" Said Rin.

"Well okay, I'm coming too, I'm starving!" Sakura exclaims.

"Can we come too?" Jojo asks, accompanied by Kai.

"Sure thing guys, let's head for Burger-world!" Jonouchi announces.

"Yes!"

"Well, this place is great." Says Motohama said as we arrived in front of the restaurant.

"We're not going to stand here and watch it, our stomachs aren't going to fill up otherwise." Sakura steps forward to enter when a waitress greets us.

"Hello! Wow, there's a lot of you! Thank goodness it's not so crowded... at this... hour..." It's Anzu who freezes and turns livid when she notices it's us.

"I didn't expect to see Anzu working here at all..." Says Youta.

"So that was the thing to do..." I thought back.

"She looks pretty cute in her uniform!" Said Asia.

"Yes, it looks good on her." Yugi nod, seeing her coming toward our group.

It's for our table, she puts the tray down abruptly. "Pffhn!" And walks away sulking.

"This sucks..." Says Kai.

"Anzu-chan, there's nothing to be angry about!" Shiria stands up, all smiles.

"Yes, but now you know about my job, I have nothing to hide..." Anzu turns to us. "I'm saving money! After high school, I want to go to the USA!"

Our whole group is surprised to hear this.

"I want to go to dance school! That's my dream! Don't make fun of me!" She says, pointing at us.

"It's no laughing matter." Kiba said reassuringly.

"No." Jonouchi nods.

"No." Sakura does the same.

"We're not going to make fun of you!" Said Tohsaka, before biting into her burger.

"Yeah!" Kengo is more focused on the burger than anything else.

"Anzu-san, rest assured, we're not the type to snitch." Kiba said, pinching Matsuda's hand.

"If we betray you, we promise to eat a thousand hamburgers like these!" Sakura winks at Anzu.

"Thanks guys, I trust you!" She She waves to us, before returning to the kitchen.

While everyone is enjoying this peaceful moment of eating and chatting together, my gaze turns to the parking lot, where a black van pulls up and a dozen people get out, all dressed in black too. I bite into my burger, wary, following them with my eyes.

"New York, that sounds impressive!" Yugi exclaims.

"Yeah, I thought she was just a pimple." Motohama said, poking at Matsuda's sauce.

"She's got guts Anzu-san, not like some here who speak ill of her!" Rin pulls a nasty face at Motohama.

The people in black enter the restaurant and are greeted by Anzu, doing her job as waitress.

"Welcome! How many of you are there?" She asks.

"There are eleven of us, but there's no need to give us a table." At these words, he grabs Anzu, preventing her from speaking, and pulls out a gun, the others doing the same and pointing them at all the customers. "We're here for the money, so pull out all the cash you've got, even the customers, come on, hurry up!"

"Anzu-chan!" Inaho panicked.

"Ouahhh! This is a robbery!" Shouts a distraught customer.

"We told you to shut up!" Said one of the robbers, advancing towards her.

"We don't plan on staying long, so we're going to ask you to behave yourself and let it happen!" One of the robbers strides towards us with a bag in hand.

He chooses Shiria first, and you can see under his mask that he's smiling.

"Say, isn't that Shiria Ootsuka-san? You must have a lot of money, and if you're in the mood, we'll take you with us for a little ransom..." That was the last sentence needed.

Shiria leaps to her feet and strikes the robber with an uppercut, knocking him unconscious.

"Now I'm very upset. You take it out on a friend and now this?!" She said, energy gathering in her fists.

(Thanks for the diversion Shiria.)

I slide back in my seat to face the robber in front of me and kick him in the stomach with both feet, sending him staggering to another table, dropping KO.

Everyone springs into action, to the confusion and dismay of the robbers, Inaho pounces on one of them, pinning him to the ground and throwing his gun away. In the confusion, Anzu breaks free and runs towards us, taking cover with those who can't fight..

"Who the hell are these kids?!" One of them panics and shoots in our direction.

A green gem explodes on the ground, creating a large green shield with Rin stepping forward, putting her hair back in place.

"It's really bad luck for you, dear thief, but we're Kuoh students, so get ready for a good beating!"

She points, magic gathers and turns into a ball, before being shot towards the robbers, taking cover.

Jojo picks up a table and throws it at two robbers under cover, who cry out in pain and surprise to see a table raining down.

"As a gentleman, I must defend the innocent!"

"Everyone take cover if you haven't already!" Kiba stuns three robbers with the flat of a sword.

Sakura and Kai went around, surprising the last ones still standing, tackling them to the ground. Then, with the help of the cooks and waiters, we rounded them up and tied them together with plastic wrap, waiting for the police.

"And there you have it, a well-run operation, thank you everyone!" Shiria makes us a V with her fingers, proud of our performance.

"It helps to have a mage on the team." Said Kiba, smiling.

"Oh that's nothing, I've always dreamed of stopping a robbery, like in the movies." She said, blowing on her finger.

"Wow, you were amazing!" Said Matsuda, emerging from his hiding place with the others.

"Is everyone okay, no injuries?" Asia runs to us.

Reassuring Asia and the others, the police finally arrive. Thanks to Shiria, who is a Shinobi, we manage to explain the situation easily enough and return home without being reprimanded.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023.

"Hey, have you seen the new cinema in town?" Masuda asks.

"Is there a new cinema? I didn't even know." Says Youta, a packet of cookies in hand.

"Yeah, I hear people disappear there, if it sucks like that, believe me I won't set foot in it." Usui exclaims.

"Hmmm... It looks like a movie theater straight out of the '80s..." I'm standing in front of this famous cinema.

I look around me, but nothing shocking, I pass a shot of magic circuits on the wall of the cinema, I pick up nothing either.

"It was an alley here if I remember correctly..." I mumble.

(Tell me Ddraig, do you feel anything strange or abnormal?)

"The only person I feel strange or abnormal is you fidgeting in front of this building."

"...That doesn't really help me... If there really are disappearances..."

"These are just rumours, aren't they? So nothing to really worry about."

(That's the problem...)

I move towards the entrance when a familiar voice calls out to me.

"Senji-senpai?" It's Sophie, I turn towards her to see her all smiles. "Hello Senji-senpai! Are you going to the cinema on your own?"

"No, I was curious to see the new cinema, it looks bloody old. And what are you doing here? Have you finished school too?"

"That's right, I'm heading to the diner, will you come with me?"

"...Say, would you like to leave Sword alone, at least for a day?"

"Until I have more information about Eldorado, I must insist or he may forget. Either way, I'm off."

I watch her go with a determined step, thinking about whether or not to follow her. But my curiosity gets the better of me.

"Well, why not, what could possibly go wrong anyway. Wait for me Sophie, I'm coming."

*Cling Cling*

"Welcome!" As I open the door, letting Sophie in, and the bell rings, the waitress greets us.

"Hello!" Sophie said enthusiastically.

"Hello." I bow to her too, before following Sophie.

"Hey, Sword!" Sophie waves her arms at him, instantly noticing him.

Sword is sitting opposite another person enjoying a quick lunch of coffee and two triangle sandwiches. It was Luke, the makai priest, who had assisted us with his sniper against the runner.

"Sorry to have bothered you." Sword sees Sophie coming and tries to escape.

"We need to talk, sit down." Luke asks in an authoritative tone.

"I don't know this kid at all!" (That was the stupidest thing to say.)

"Say, can I have an orange juice?" Sophie asks, arriving in front of Sword, who backs away. "Hello." She turns to Luke.

He just stares at her, still with that cold stare, then turns to me.

"There is an error on the person..." Sword sinks even deeper.

"Is he a Makai knight too?" Sophie asks.

Hearing this, Luke turns to Sword, this time with an even more unfriendly look on his face.

Seeing the situation getting worse and worse, Sword stares at me, as if begging for help. I let out a sigh, then put a hand on Sophie's shoulder to get her attention.

"Let them talk to each other, we can wait and play darts in the meantime." I point to the dartboard.

Sophie turns her gaze towards them, then me, then the dartboard.

"Well okay, but don't try to back out Sword." She points at him before following me.

We take three darts each, make a rock, paper, scissors, which I win.

"All right then, I'll start." I position myself and shoot, putting the dart in the center.

"That's the luck of the first shot! You'll see!" Sophie takes her seat and shoots, hitting the bottom of the dartboard. "Hmmm..." She pulls a sad face.

"It's that girl, the hostage of the wandering devil in October." Sword explains.

"And why is she still in your way?" Luke asks.

"It's a long story."

"You're endangering one of the civilians you're supposed to protect."

"...I know..."

"In that case, I can erase her memory, and his at the same time."

"Calm down, and then it won't work on Senji."

"The discussion is closed."

"She's also looking for clues about Eldorado."

While listening to their conversation, I position myself and fire, putting the dart towards the top of the dartboard, just near the center.

Sophie takes her place and shoots again underneath but this time close to the center, seeing this, she turns to me and smiles, before giving me a dart.

Luke says nothing when he hears this, watching us intently. Then he finished his cup of coffee.

"And the kid, how much of our stuff are you planning to take him in? I remind you he's a civilian too."

"Rather unusual as a civilian, he's a student of Kuoh and an aspiring shinobi, he even faced a Horror by himself and won, this kid has a promising future."

"I don't understand you." Luke stands up, preparing to leave.

I fire my last dart, hitting the center again, as Sophie looks on in surprise.

"What?! You wouldn't use your powers to cheat by any chance, would you?" She asks.

"No, it would show otherwise." I reply, showing my arms.

"'Yeah... you've practiced before, admit it!" She turns to take her last dart but stops when she notices Luke leaving.

He stops in front of the entrance and takes one last look at us before heading off.

"Have a nice day!" Said the waitress.

She doesn't even finish the game and walks over to Sword, sitting down in front of him.

"He looked angry." She remarked.

"It takes a long time to explain." Sword sighs.

"I see. So, did you find out anything about Eldorado?"

"You can't find it like that, I'll have you know."

"I know, but I can only count on you." Sophie smile.

Seeing the waitress arrive, I sit down next to Sophie and look at the menu.

The rollers stop in front of our table, calling out to both of them.

"Excuse me, could I take your order?" The waitress bends down, leaving her breasts in full view.

"Thanks for the view..." Sword clasps his hands together in front of her. "I'll have a steak."

"I'll have a perfect chocolate and orange juice for the girl." I order, under Sophie's surprised and appraising gaze.

"Noted!" Said the waitress, before rolling toward the kitchen.

"This again? That's not very balanced." Sophie remarks to Sword.

"Having to think about all this prevents you from enjoying the food!" He explains in a theatrical tone. "My credo is to enjoy everything."

"Oh... What do you like to do then? Go to the movies?" Sophie asks.

"I haven't been there in a while." Sword realizes.

"Come to think of it, where do you live?" She asks.

"What kind of question is that? I raise an eyebrow.

"Indeed, it's none of your business." Sword turns his gaze, avoiding Sophie's insistent stare.

"Do you live in some kind of slum?" Sophie insists. "Zaruba, where does he live?"

"You don't need to know." The mechanical voice defends Sword.

Defeated, she sprawls out on the table, sticking her tongue out at us.

Later that evening as the night has fallen, after my daily workout, I head for a Chinese restaurant that has agreed to hire me. But I can sense that I'm being followed, so in one straight line, I turn to see my stalker behind a corner.

"Sophie, get out of there, I know you're following me." I raise my voice.

A few seconds pass before she emerges from her hiding place, advancing towards me shyly.

"Hi Senji-senpai, everything okay?" She asks me casually.

"Don't play innocent, why are you following me?" I ask.

"You're going to see Sword aren't you?"

"..." I let out a long sigh, beginning to tire of her persistence. "No, not at all, I'm going to see my new workmates, that's all. Now go home or Sister will worry again."

"Hmmm..." I can clearly see in her eyes that she only half believes me. "Can I go with you, just to be sure?"

"...Seriously...?" I pinch the top of my nose, exasperated. "Fine, but the second you don't see Sword, you're going back to the orphanage, clear?"

"Roger that!"

(Why do I have a bad feeling about this...)

"Oh good evening Senji-san, you're early, the cooks are still on break." Entering the restaurant, I'm greeted by Meifang.

A young woman with brown hair and eyes, styled in two braids. She wears a scarf on her head, a light-blue jacket with a pink T-shirt underneath, an immaculate white apron, green jeans and black heels.

"Good evening Meifang, no problem I can wait."

"Oh, but you're accompanied, how cute you are!" She turns to Sophie, who enters shyly. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No, she followed me here." I explain dryly.

"Senji, Sophie? What are you doing here?"

I turn towards the familiar voice, to see Sword sitting at a table with five other people, including the restaurant manager.

"You've got to be kidding me..." (Why is he here?)

"Ahah! You lied to me! He's really here!" Sophie remarks to me.

"I can assure you I had no idea!" I defend myself.

"Good evening Senji, thanks for coming so late" The manager turns to us.

"Good evening Feilong-sama, thank you for the invitation" I bow.

The restaurant's manager, Feilong, is a rather short old man with a beard, moustache and grey hair. He wears a small chef's hat, an open light-blue jacket and black T-shirt, dark-green pants and black-and-blue shoes. He also has a necklace adorned with a large golden turtle.

"Chef, do you know him?" Sword asks.

"Yes, he applied to work here." Feilong replies.

"I see, well welcome mate, but that doesn't explain Sophie's presence..." Sword sees me exasperated.

"She'll explain, I'm not responsible for anything anymore." I say as I put my things down, annoyed.

"Hmmm..." She looks at me, embarrassed, she's probably just realized she's just done something stupid. "Sorry for following you without your consent, and sorry for barging in without warning..." She apologizes.

"There's no harm in it, you learn by doing stupid things after all, but since you're here, why don't you eat some gyoza, there's quite a bit left." Feilong suggests.

"Oh! Thank you!" Sophie approaches and I do the same, getting to know the cooks and Meifang as they arrive.

"Can I bring some back? I want to share them with everyone?" Sophie asks.

"Phew!" Sword whistles. "Now that's a good idea!"

"Hihi!"