5
The end of the school day brought no joy to Shirou as he stuffed his books and pens into his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and departed from the classroom. The windows let the evening light shine through, an orange tint akin to that of a warm fire.
As Shirou collected his shoes from his locker, he noticed a head of purple hair next to him. Looking over, he saw Sakura gathering her things. She looked up at him, and smiled.
"Ah, hello, Senpai." Her voice carried a sweet edge to it, and she carried the scent of fresh cherries with her. Her hair fell around her shoulders, with a neat red ribbon atop it. She brushed aside a few stray strands as she smiled.
"Oh, Sakura!" Shirou chuckled, secretly panicking at the thought of having to confront her. She hadn't shown up for Saber to deliver the message, leaving the task of talking to her on his already heavy shoulders.
You got this, damnit! He told himself, trying to muster the courage.
He didn't have it. Not even a fraction of it.
"...Senpai? You look troubled." She tilted her head curiously, her eyes scanning him up and down. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Sakura." He waved his hand to dismiss the question. "Nothing to worry about. So, how's it going with you?"
"Good, thanks for asking." She smiled, and much to Shirou's relief, seemed to drop the prior topic. "Nee-san and Grandfather are away on a trip, so I've been in charge of the house for the time being." She seemed to be thinking of something, based on the way her eyes glanced to the side. He considered dropping it, but his curiosity got the better of him.
"...Really? I doubt it's all smooth sailing. Are you sure?" He tried to be vague to avoid making her uncomfotable, but as he saw her fidget, he knew he might have probed too far.
"Well… I… It's nothing. Really." Her tone and attitude made it clear she wasn't going to admit anything, so he backed off, defeated.
"Hey, Sakura-" He tried to start.
"I should get going now." Sakura shook her head, dismissing him, and walked away, ending the conversation then and there. Shirou internally facepalmed at how badly he'd fumbled the conversation. Not only had he not spoken to her about their status at all, but he'd made her anxious and chased her off. He thought even rocks had better social skills than he did. Hell, maybe even Shinji could have held a conversation with a girl longer than that.
And so Shirou walked home, dejected. He passed by the traditional homes and the corner store, before passing by the park… Where he stopped. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw- and felt- someone's gaze watching him. He quickly looked to the woods and there- right there! He saw someone eyeing him before slinking back into the woods, a single strand of pink hair catching his eye.
Rider.
Shirou's encounters with the Servant were brief in the Holy Grail War. They'd fought only once, after Rider had sucked the blood of a student and attempted to attack him and Rin, and he'd been defeated by her and told she'd take pleasure in dismembering him. The second time, she used a Bounded Field to attack the school, where she was murdered by Caster. He knew she still had fighting potential. He knew she could take him on alone. But he couldn't stop himself from chasing after her into the woods.
The moment he entered, he knew he was in her domain. He felt her gaze on him but from where, he didn't know.
"I know you're here!" He called out. His hands flexed, ready to Trace a weapon if need be.
And then she descended from the trees to meet him. A woman, taller than most, with a mask over her eyes, a short black dress, and pink hair that fell to her knees. Her face was formed in a permanent frown, making it hard to tell what she was ever thinking behind the blank expression and hidden eyes.
"What do you want?" Shirou asked. He couldn't help but feel intimidated by her, not just because of her gracefulness and the way she stared at him. She'd beaten him before, and whilst he was far better at fighting than that incident, he still felt like the naive juvenile charging 'heroically' into the forest.
The Rider regarded him, tilting her head. In her hand she held a sharp dagger attached to a chain that slinked around her feet like a metal snake. Finally, she spoke, in a voice that was both soothing and unnerving.
"...I've been watching you, Shirou Emiya." She took a step closer, her gaze unseen and yet piercing into his soul. "I saw you with Sakura Matou. Why?"
The fact she knew Sakura's name was expected. After all, despite not knowing her True Name, Shirou did know Rider's master had been Shinji, and presumably still was. It was the main reason she was the first casualty of the war. Still, she wasn't to be underestimated, and Shirou gulped as he replied.
"I… We're friends, okay? We've been friends for years now. I was just making sure she was okay after the war had ended."
Rider make a small 'hmmph' noise. "Truly? Well, now I know it's mutual, I suppose."
"Know wh-" He stopped himself as he already realised what she meant. Still, Rider answered him.
"...She talks of you often. I must say, despite her clear bias I did get a good impression of you, Shirou Emiya." She took another step closer, beginning to encroach on his personal space, which she clearly was aware of. "Popular student, good grades, self-taught cook… Friends with Shinji Matou." Now she was leaning in to his face as he backed up… straight into a tree. This was getting uncomfortable.
"...Well, friends is an overstatement now. I think what he did in the War was horrible, depraved even. But we were friends, before it all went down."
Rider scoffed, then leaned in further. Her hair brushed against his cheek and her voice, smooth as marble and yet lined with venom, whispered in his ear a single word.
"Why?"
The question took Shirou by surprised. He let out a deep breath, trying not to piss himself, and answered.
"...He wasn't always this bad, Rider." The Servant frowned a little more at being called by Class, and Shirou began to panic more. Damnit, damnit, damnit I should never have come here!-
"I highly doubt that to be true. From what I've seen, he's a coward and a bully."
"...I think it was the War that changed him, though. Before he was abrasive, stuck-up, sure- but he could smile without looking like a sadist." Shirou remembered his past with Shinji, how Shinji would mock him for bothering to fix things around the school or helping others with work… yet how he'd always stick around him and never denied the opportunity to hang out.
Shirou continued. "He was… I mean, clearly he had problems, but he could keep them in check and actually hold a friendship. He wasn't as much of a bully, nor a coward, nor a pervert in any sense. But when the War 'began', he changed. I presume it was when he became aware."
Rider backed up at that, seeming to take it all in. Don't kill me, was all Shirou could think about to himself as she studied him, like an animal observing it's prey. But she didn't strike as he expected, instead she simply nodded, giving a simple scoff in response, before seeming to loosen up, even if by a margin.
"...I see. You're a good friend then, Shirou Emiya. Perhaps that means what Sakura says is true. In that case…" She withdrew her chain dagger, looking to the trees before her gaze went right back to him, and she spoke, in a low tone:
"...You get to survive tonight." And with that, she was gone, disappearing into violet sparks. She left in her wake a shaken boy sitting against a tree, internally packing himself and wondering how he hadn't been impaled through the hand again… or worse.
And so he did the next thing any boy internally panicking does in the same situation. He ran, ran like hell back to home. The moment he set foot in the Emiya Residence, his panicked run turned into a dignified walk, and when he addressed Saber to say he'd made it home, he spoke like he'd gone for a nice mindful stroll, not been confronted by a Servant who'd tried to kill him before.
As he slept, he couldn't help but get the image of her piercing stare out of his mind. The moment he tried to imagine her eyes, he seemed to stiffen, like he was seizing up. He dismissed it as cramps, or perhaps simply stress from having to recall, but a little part of him couldn't help but wonder…
…Why would a Servant need to conceal their eyes if not to hide them away?
NOTES
Wow, just wow. I've had so much positive feedback from this, and as we approach chapter 5 (my lucky number IRL) I just wanna say THANK YOU. I have nothing but appreciation for all the fine folk who decided to follow this story as it progresses, and I hope you all have a fine day.
Chapter 5 has seen the introduction of Rider into the fray, and her mysterious connection to the Matou. Could it be that the once-battle ready Servant who served Shinji's whims has had a sudden change of heart...? Or maybe it's a mere ruse to lure in poor Shirou Emiya?
Another note: I'll also be trying to maintain an UPLOAD SCHEDULE. From now on, I aim to produce a new Chapter to be released every second day, but due to my terrible time management I can't make promises.
Remember to leave reviews, favourites and stay tuned for the next installment!
-Jason
