Suddenly, I snap out of my thoughts. Ms. Fujimura is still talking, going over the contents of this class. I focus my ears on her words, though the lecture is oddly familiar.

In fact, I could swear that I've listened to her explain this specific part of recent history before, word for word.

Is she maybe simply repeating herself from a few minutes ago because someone other than me also zoned out for a moment? Or is she going over this again to explain it more deeply?

No. No, that's not it.

I can vaguely remember yesterday was the same. But there's no way, right?

Ugh, this makes my head hurt.

I try to shake off the headache — not that it works.

Right. I should check my timetable. It should be able to confirm whether or not this class has taken place yesterday as well, maybe even the day before.

However, upon looking at the timetable in my notebook…

Well, it's empty. Nothing written on it, not even a scribble.

That's impossible. Though it's a fact.

The more I try to recollect the recent few days, the more odd details present themselves to me. How could I ignore them before…? Or did I just really not notice? But…

The same exact lecture.

No timetable.

My whole notebook is empty, each page just waiting to be decorated with ink. There isn't even a pen to be found in my belongings.

A student ID is all I find. My student ID. But I don't dare to look at it. What if there is yet another mismatch?

I'm already feeling nauseous. I feel like I don't belong, or this school doesn't belong… or nothing belongs. Nothing is right. Everything is off.

My mind fails not only at reconciling expectation and reality, but reality altogether.

Taking a deep breath, I try to calm my nerves. Nobody takes note of my peril. Most seem to intently listen to Ms. Fujimura's tangent as though they haven't heard it three times before.

The student ID in my hand… is something I can't ignore after all. I may be losing my mind, but I have to know.

My name… is Hakuno Kamiyoshi, I recollect with my eyes closed.

I open them to check my memory against the student ID — it's a match. Written in a plain, printed font is my name: Hakuno Kamiyoshi.

That is my name, I'm sure of it. I remember it. Anything else… I draw a blank. A blank?

… What do I mean, a blank?

There should be more I remember. What about my family? My age? My birthday? Friends, hobbies, favorite book…

Nope, none of that. I get the exact same result as someone would if they tried to recall an event from a century ago, one they can't possibly have experienced.

It takes all I have to calm my nerves and keep the rising panic from overcoming me.

Knowing nothing about myself besides my name, being in a reality that is entirely off — it sounds crazy, but it feels like I might just disappear. Fade out.

Like I shouldn't exist, like I'm what's wrong.

Unaware of my on-going identity crisis, the boy sitting right in front of me stands up. As abruptly as he does so, he is in no rush. It's Leo, the transfer student with an aura of someone unapproachable and above everyone else, yet, at the same time, the charisma and sociability to get along with just about everyone.

Only now do I realize how much he stands out. He's wearing a bright orange school uniform instead of the light brown one every other student wears, except for the student council members, who wear black. But orange? That's exclusive to Leo.

How could I miss that obvious fact until now? There's no way to overlook something like that.

As if not disrupting class, taking everyone's attention, he addresses Ms. Fujimura, though his words are meant for everyone.

"I'm afraid my time here comes to an end," Leo notes.

I can't see his face from his back, but he doesn't seem sad in the slightest. Neither does he seem to be joking. It's completely surreal.

"It was fun while it lasted. I'm grateful for having gotten such an experience. I bid you all farewell."

With that, not even bothering to pack his belongings, he walks over to the classroom's door.

The door is opened. And closed.

Gone is Leo, my classmate. Well, now former classmate, it appears?

The class moves on like nothing happened. Making Leo's departure feel unreal.

I would go so far as to assume that I simply imagined this event, or Leo's presence as a classmate in the first place, if not for the scoff from Shinji in a nearby seat.

He's a little too far away for me to be able to make out exactly what he mutters under his breath, though I can tell he's complaining about Leo causing such a fuss.

Come to think of it… who of my classmates do I even know?

It feels like such a benign question.

Those are my peers, we've been attending classes together for at least several months at this point. I should know the name of every single one of them, and even call at least a few of them my friends.

The key word here is should because… that's not the case at all.

Hakuno Kamiyoshi — that's me.

Leonardo Bistario Harway — that's the blond transfer student who just left the classroom.

Shinji Matou — that's the insufferable blue-haired boy I consider a friend.

For the rest…? I draw a blank, again. The same goes for why or how Shinji came to be someone I consider a friend. Have we even talked before? I can't say for sure we haven't, but… it's a fuzzy memory, though calling it a 'memory' seems like a stretch already.

It's more of a vague feeling that something happened rather than being able to recall a past event.

I don't want to question this further. It's the least concerning.

Not able to just wait out this nauseous panic anymore, I push back my chair, get up and rush out of the classroom myself.

Unlike Leo, I don't say anything at all.

Nobody stops me.

There isn't even anyone calling after me.

It's as though what I do doesn't matter, as if it has no effect on this world at all. I'm inconsequential to it; my whole existence is.

Who are my classmates…?

I make my way over to the school's library. It should have a register, I should be able to look over the names of my classmates there. Maybe I've simply forgotten them, and seeing them jogs my memory.

Deep inside, I know I'm just clinging to a straw here. But doing something is better than doing nothing and still waiting for change.

The library is empty, apart from the student in a black uniform who manages the library. She gives me a quizzical look, probably because I should still be in class, but she doesn't question me. Apart from her expression, she gives no reaction to my being here at all.

I get to the bookshelf holding the student registers. They are ordered by year. What year is it even?

How can I not even know the current year!?

I shake my head to get rid of that thought and simply take the latest register, as soon as I find my name, I'll know I have the right one.

What I find should shock or at the very least surprise me. Yet, it doesn't. Instead, I just feel my heart sink. Despair is engulfing me.

The pages are empty. Unstained, plain white — every single page, from start to finish. I take another register, and yet another. I don't go by any chronological order, or any at all, just pick out random ones.

None of them have anything written in them.

"This has to be a joke," I mutter bitterly.

If this is a dream, I want to wake up. If this is hell, I want to know what I did to deserve being stuck here.

Dejected, I exit the library, not sure what to do with myself now. Class is pointless. I don't have any other leads as to what I could check.

Just when I come to that realization, I feel like I spot part of the bright orange uniform around the corner, just at the end of that hallway. That's Leo. It must be!

For some reason I'm glad to see a sign of him, confirming that I didn't just imagine his existence. I don't know if I was genuinely concerned about that, or if I've simply reached the point that I assume every experience, every memory, ever piece of knowledge a lie.

I slowly make my way over to Leo, the nausea making the movement more of a chore than it ever should be. The headache is a bit easier to ignore, at least for now.

Leo seems to be talking to someone. I recognize that other voice, I think…

Who is that again?

I close my eyes and focus. Focus, Hakuno.

Right…! It's that teacher. The one clad in black, who looks like a murderer poorly pretending to be working in a school.

They're keeping their voices low, possibly to keep others, like me, from eavesdropping.

"About a third of the participants regained their memory," the teacher whose name I cannot recall for the life of me says.

Regain… memory? I repeat in my mind. So I'm not the only one?

That's strangely reassuring.

I don't catch more of their conversation. I think they mentioned a name. Rin Tohsaka, was it…? It feels like a name that should tell me something, but weirdly it doesn't. Should I know her?

Their conversation seems to end and Leo comes my way. He seems not surprised at all to see me, not concerned over what I may or may not have overheard.

"You seem to have it rough," he comments in a soft voice as he comes to a halt in front of me.

My confusion must be clearly written on my face, as he elaborates without me prompting him to.

"I've heard that some are riddled with a harsh migraine when they recall their self. I'm not sure what exactly causes it, nor do I know how to alleviate your headache. Though that is of no concern, it will be gone once you move on after all."

The bell rings, signaling the end of class. Just before the other students fill the hallway, before I can ask Leo what he means by 'move on', Leo nods at me and walks past me.

"I correct my earlier 'farewell'. In our case, I think 'see you' is more appropriate."

With a last smile, he casually makes his way to the stairs, descending them.

I have no idea what he was talking about. I have no idea what's happening, and what's wrong.

But I know for a fact that Leo has to know more than I do.

Naturally, I follow him. After reaching the end of the stairs, I see Leo turning at the end of the hallway. However…

This is the first floor. Turning right there leads you nowhere. It's a dead end. There's no room, no door, no anything. Is he waiting there for someone? For me?

From the corner of my eye, I see a girl standing near the lockers. She… Ah, I know her. That's Sakura Matou, a year below me. Shinji's younger sister, and outside of classes normally found in the infirmary.

A gentle, kind girl. That's my impression of her.

The look she gives me is one of lonely concern. Did something happen? It can't be that she's this worried about me. As caring a girl as Sakura is — naturally, for someone manning a school's infirmary — my suffering surely can't be that obvious. Else, someone… anyone would reach out.

Sakura, too, averts her gaze and makes her way back to the infirmary.

Ignoring the worsening headache, I move on.

I could swear there's something wrong with my eyesight. Somehow, it's getting blurry? No, not quite. Like seeing static? That's not it either… It's a strange impairment that I can't put into words or compare to anything else.

As long as I can see enough to keep walking, I am fine, though.

I reach the end of the hallway and turn right, just like Leo did before me… to find exactly what I expected: a dead end.

Yet Leo is nowhere to be seen.

He can't have turned around, I would've seen him pass me in that case.

… would I? Can I trust my eyes?

No, no I can trust them. Surely I can.

Something doesn't add up. Well, nothing adds up in this school, but that's not what I'm concerned with here.

I need to explore the dead end. Although I don't fully expect to find anything, while at the same time I somehow know there must be something — and I find what I've been looking for: The wall doesn't seem to be a wall at all.

For some reason, it gives in. I can put my hand into the wall. How is this…?

There's no way this is possible. No way! This goes against the laws of physics.

But can I deny what I'm seeing, feeling and doing? On top of that, it explains where Leo has disappeared to.

I brace myself and walk into the wall… to find myself in what looks to be a janitor's storage, or something along the lines. All of a sudden, I'm… fine? The headache is gone, the nausea is gone and I can see just fine again.

Turning around reveals no door. It's almost as if this room exists in a space by itself, if not for a strange opening on the opposite side. I wouldn't call it a door, and it doesn't remind of a door frame even. If I have to describe it, it's like a part of the wall is visibly glitched and allows for passing through.

As Leo isn't here, this is where he must have gone. There is no other way.

I take a deep breath and calm my nerves. Now that I think about it, Leo isn't the first student to disappear. I clearly remember one guy missing. I'm sure he was still in class yesterday, the guy next to Shinji. Today? Gone without a trace, nobody even mentioned it.

Not that I can complain, I didn't realize his sudden absence until now either. Did he go through this place as well? Is there something waiting for me?

There's only one way to find out.

The strange wooden human-shaped doll leaning against a locker seems to come to life somehow. I prepare to defend myself, or flee if possible — hopefully the way back into school still works. But before I can make further plans that rely on treating this thing as a threat, a voice seems to call out to me.

[Welcome, potential Master.]

I can't tell where that voice comes from. It sounds like it comes from all around me and nowhere at the same time. I can't even say what it sounds like.

[That effigy is to act as your sword and shield. It is not a partner, but a trial. Command it wisely and proceed. The truth you are seeking… lies at the end of the path of which there is no turning back from.]

Silence engulfs the room. There is nothing else this voice has to tell me, it seems. I understand the words and meanings, but I feel I can't fully comprehend it.

There seems to be no life in the effigy, yet it doesn't seem dead either.

The voice knows I'm looking for the truth, and I'm already here. There is no other way but forward, so I walk into the darkness of the glitch in the wall.

On the other side, I find myself on a seemingly endless path of platforms that seem to consist of light. The effigy is by my side, not allowing any distance between us. It really means to protect me, or so it feels, anyway.

Behind me the path seems to stretch as eternally as in front of me.

I start walking. Honestly, I can't say how long it takes, but the surroundings seem to light up, and once in a while a rectangular shape appears to fly by.

The view is strange and fantastical; something that shouldn't exist. But unlike the experiences in school earlier, it doesn't invoke the unbearable feeling of mismatch in me. It feels right, and in place.

At the end of the path which's length is impossible to estimate, I find myself on a round platform. There are beautiful windows of stained glass around, and I wonder if they lead anywhere. I honestly doubt that on the other side of them is something like 'the outside world'. It feels that common sense doesn't apply here.

A few steps away, there seems to be… a student lying on the floor!?

"Are you all right!?"

I rush over towards him, reaching for his hand to check for his pulse but… it's cold. I don't think there's any need for it anymore. A hand that cold… can't belong to a body that still has blood pumping through its veins. I recoil in shock. The guy's skin is just barely paler than mine, he can't have been… It must have been recent.

Not that I have any experience with these things. I think? Would I even remember whether I do or not…? Well, in this case, it doesn't matter whether I lack the experience entirely or just don't remember it.

For some reason, possibly noticing my presence, an effigy that looks like a carbon copy of mine, comes to life. It slowly gets onto its thin, wooden legs and walks towards me.

"Is this how…?" I briefly wonder, but my effigy gets in between the approaching one and me protectively.

That's right — the voice said it would fight for me, essentially. And I am to command it.

My chances aren't bad.

If those effigies are to be commanded in battle, then the other one is at a major disadvantage, not having a person by their side. The two look the exact same, so I'd assume them to have the same fighting capabilities.

"Go!" I command, reaching out my hand in a gesture in support. "Attack!"

My effigy strikes at the other one, but it hits thin air. The other effigy swiftly evades the hit and counters with a kick of its thin leg — stabbing my effigy where a human's heart would be found if the effigy was human.

But it's not, so… It can still fight, right?

"C-Counter!"

My confidence wavers at how useless my effort seems to have been at the first strike. And seeing my effigy sink to the floor motionlessly, what's left of it is gone, too.

I lost.

There wasn't much of a fight, but the winner is clear, and it's not me.

Done with the effigy that was supposed to fight in my place, the enemy now approaches me. I take a step back, though even the path I used to come here disappeared in the meantime. I have nowhere to go.

Before I can react, the effigy strikes at me, and I drop to the ground, just like my effigy.

…that's it. It's over. I feel the strength seeping from my limbs. Even keeping my eyes feels like such an exhausting thing that takes all my remaining energy.

In the corner of my eye I see what I've been blissfully ignorant of before. I'm really stupid, aren't I?

It wasn't just that one student. This area is littered with bodies of students. I'm not the first to fall here, and I certainly won't be the last.

[Hmph. You seem to be lacking as well.]

The voice comments, clearly disappointed in my performance.

What am I lacking? Is there something I should've had to be able to win this fight? Is there something I could've done?

…ah, this is stupid!

I grit my teeth in pain.

It's not over yet. I know the situation. I can feel the numbing pain searing through my body. I'm perfectly aware that the remainder of life is leaving my body.

However, I am still alive.

"I refuse…to give up…!" I bring over my lips.

I try to support myself with my hands and get up. I fail pathetically, but I don't let it slide.

For as long as I still breathe, I won't just lie down and accept my fate. No way.

I have no idea what this is about. I have no answers. I've been thrown into a battle with all odds stacked against me.

I refuse to let it end like this.

"I'm not done yet…!" I cry out in frustration, finally at least getting to my knees.

A voice harrumphes amusedly in the far distance, or so it feels.

"Well said," the voice adds. "I will answer your call."

The glass windows shatter, and out of one of them, a girl falls to land gracefully in front of me.

Her eyes strikingly golden orbs that seem to lack the warm shine of humanity, light blond hair tied up in a bun and wearing a black dress. Her chest and underarms are covered by armor as jet black as the sword she holds in her hand.

There is no way to sugarcoat it. This girl looks intimidating in every way. Her eyes trained on me feel like I'm her target. I don't dare to say a word, but she reaches out her free hand towards me.

Reluctantly, I grab it and let her help me up onto my legs.

"Your will is strong, but everything else about you is pathetically weak," she criticizes me.

I'm… well aware of that fact. I'm not made for combat in any way, not like she seems to be.

"I take it you are willing to overcome those deficits."

It's not a question.

"Yeah," I answer her. Not because I feel to intimidated to disagree. No, I want to be stronger. I don't want to feel the brink of death again, not if I can help it.

"In that case, I am willing to accept you as my Master," the girl says, turning her attention towards the effigy that raises to its feet again. "For now."

It seems to have realized that its job isn't finished yet, and is intending to follow up.

Should I… command this girl? Just like my effigy earlier? Though that didn't go too well. Ah, whatever! I can't just stand around and watch.

"Cut it down!" I cry out.

With a smirk, the girl follows my order. It takes just a single, swift slash of her sword and the effigy is in two. Its halves start to fall apart, then disintegrate into black particles, disappearing into thin air.

[Congratulations. It appears you have managed to summon a Servant after all.]

The voice calls out again. The girl next to me dematerializes her sword, deeming it unneeded now that the effigy is taken care of.

… a Servant? Is that what this girl is supposed to be? What does it mean?

All of a sudden… I feel a sharp pain on the back of my left hand. It's unbearable. There is no blood, yet it feels hot as though it was bleeding. A glance reveals a strange red symbol imprinted on my hand.

[That is your Command Seal, a proof that you control a Servant. With it you can give three commands that are absolute and must be followed.]

I don't get it. I don't have the energy to ask questions, or to even wonder.

Now that I seem to be safe, I can feel my consciousness drifting away, and my body slumps. The pain in my left hand doesn't help much to keep my mind present.

[Welcome to the Holy Grail War.]

That's the last thing I hear before blacking out.