Dear readers,
I hope this message finds you well. As you may have noticed, I've been working on a series of updates. Before diving into the details, I'd like to share a personal news: I've achieved the long-awaited promotion and am now the head of the medical department I desired. However, this might lead to certain time constraints for updating my stories. I trust that once I adapt to this new responsibility, I'll be able to resume the usual pace of updates.
With that said, life is a gamble, and I am determined to play to win! I am here once again, proudly sharing my work as KaleidoMirror with all of you.
I am excited to announce that we are finally beginning to explore aspects of the story that I've been eager to share for some time. However, I don't want to give away too much just yet; instead, I invite you to guess which worlds we will be exploring. In the next chapter, you will learn more details and spoilers of my works, and I will even include brief snippets of other stories that I have saved on my computer but have not yet published. I hope you can share your ideas in the comments and try to guess the crossovers I've been working on.
I sincerely appreciate your patience and continued support. Your comments and suggestions are vital to me, as they help me improve and adjust the narrative according to your preferences. I would love to hear in the comments which story you would like me to prioritize for faster updates, given my limited work schedule in the future.
I would like to reiterate that "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War" and "OnK" and all their installments are the property of their respective authors. Likewise, "Fate/Stay Night" and its various adaptations and visual novels are the property of Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.
Are you ready?
Enjoy!
– Boundary Between the Shadow of the Void Tree and the Ocean of Memories –
"Ara, ara~," Murasaki Shikibu watched her descendant's bewildered expression with amusement, clearly pleased. "Oh, this meeting is... very special to me, my little flower."
"You're lying!" exclaimed Mei, her impulsive nature reflecting her father's heritage. A spark of ancient, dangerous fire flickered in her golden eyes, but it quickly faded, replaced by pure confusion.
"Oh, my," Murasaki said with her usual elegance and grace, easily dissipating the tension with a slight wave of her fan adorned with a bonsai tree. "You truly are an 'Emiya'," she smiled behind her fan, observing Mei with curiosity. "Your father responded the same way when we first met. It is not my intention to anger you, my dear."
"I still don't understand!" Mei remained cautious, noting the woman's nonchalance and recognizing her evident superiority. This, combined with the fact that she seemed to be one of her famous Fujiwara ancestors, made Mei change her approach and dismiss her brush. "Are you really my ancestor, the renowned writer of 'The Tale of Genji'?"
The woman, dressed in the traditional colorful twelve-layered robe, nodded before speaking, marveling at the level of sorcery skill for her young age.
"Indeed, I am the Servant Caster. In life, I was known as Murasaki Shikibu. I ask you to take good care of me, Mei Yamamoto, or would you prefer... Mei Emiya?" she said, raising her fan again as a purple glow intensified in her eyes. "As you may have realized, being a descendant of my Fujiwara lineage, it is no surprise that I can perceive the degree of magic you now possess, especially since it seems you have inherited the special part of my legacy deep within you. That is why we have this kind of connection."
"What do you mean by being part of your legacy?" Mei asked, deeply shocked and trying to understand what was happening. Just hours ago, she was preparing to celebrate her birthday, enjoying a special tea hour with Rhyme, and now, of all the magical things that could have happened, she was standing before a historical figure who was, ironically, her ancestor. "What kind of connection do we have?"
"One that is a bit difficult to explain for now," Murasaki sighed before trying to maintain her elegant demeanor. "But I would be very pleased if you could call me Lady Kaoruko, my sweet Mei."
"Are you serious?" Mei rolled her eyes, trying to make sense of this absurd conversation.
"This poor lady, even her descendant intimidates her!" Murasaki continued her dramatic act with the best imitation of distress. "I blame your gangster attitude on Emiya's lack of upbringing! I am sure he has caused my poor Chika so many worries!"
Mei observed the 'virtuous' and 'educated' lady, who previously exuded an air of elegance, descend to this level of dramatics. She truly wondered if she was still dreaming. "I don't think my parents have anything to do with how I behave," she confessed, trying to control her actions despite her emotions almost rebuking her ancestor for her lack of composure. "But they are the best parents for me!"
"I see... That strange magical energy again," Murasaki murmured, noticing the slight cracks forming around them. She realized they didn't have much time for now. Looking intently at her descendant, she felt guilty for what was about to happen but accepted it with a deep sigh. "This is how it works."
Putting on a pair of reading glasses, which she adjusted before winking and trying to lighten the atmosphere with a smile, she continued to maintain appearances.
"I know you have many questions, my dear, but time is not on our side. Before we talk, I believe it should be in a very special and, above all, safe place. In this case, my workshop in Novum would be the best option," she said, looking at her with that sparkle in her purple eyes. Mei felt a kind of resonance within her. "Little Mei, would you like to accompany me?"
"Workshop... what do you mean?" Mei asked hesitantly, her curiosity mixed with distrust, noticing how the cracks began to become more evident.
Murasaki smiled and extended her hand.
"Come with me, I know you'll love it!" At this point, the die was cast, but she trusted it was the best given her current options, so she decided to briefly explain. "Once we leave this Zen garden, we will bypass the defenses of the Antarctic base. We will arrive at a place, a sort of secret agency, specialized in handling temporal anomalies and other existential threats to humanity."
Mei hesitated for a moment before taking Murasaki's hand. "Anomalies? Threats? Humanity?"
"Yes, my little flower," the woman smiled before placing a hair ribbon with a small spiraling blue orb on Mei, much to the girl's annoyance, but knowing it was the only way for her to enter without drawing unwanted attention. "Its original purpose was the promulgation of the human order revision incident by CHALDEAS, following the Grand Order of Marisbury Animusphere."
"What was its purpose… what changed?"
Murasaki seemed to hesitate for a moment before looking at her, satisfied with the hair arrangement she had made. "Not exactly changed. There is much to discuss, but to simplify, we aim to restore human history with all its potential futures."
"…"
"For now, it is time to depart so we can have a long conversation without interruptions."
– Novum Chaldea –
Grand Expansive Library
To her surprise, as they walked together, the surroundings began to change, transforming into a library even larger and more spectacular than any Mei had seen before. The familiar smell of ink made her feel secure, but she was absorbed in the sight of the enormous murals on the ceiling.
It depicted a lush garden of blooming flowers, their petals dancing in the wind among intricate engravings. The most enigmatic thing was the magical energy that seemed to pulse in the air.
"Welcome to my personal library, my dear," Murasaki explained with a confident smile as they sat at a fine wooden desk adorned with Japanese art. "Here, none of Chaldea's unwanted guests will bother us for now. Unfortunately, I had to cancel the writing class for another occasion."
"Writing class?" Mei asked, coming out of her reverie but feeling curious about the topic.
"Yes," Murasaki sighed a bit before showing a guilty expression while fanning herself. "Due to my position as Librarian, both Chaldea's staff and the various Servants eagerly take the opportunity to read physical books instead of the digital records I so abhor."
Seeing the unsightly expression of her ancestor, the young girl understood that there was indeed a story she would like to hear later. "But I don't understand. Tell me, Miss Kaoruko, what do you really want from me?"
Murasaki looked at her for a few moments before feeling guilty about having her 'hands tied' with the future content of the conversation. "As you may have understood, there is much I wish to tell you about Chaldea, but since we are a bit short on time, we will focus on the root of this whole problem."
"I wonder if I am somehow connected to all of this," Mei bit her lip, feeling a bit confused and worried, realizing that she was slowly being pushed into a matter far beyond her understanding.
It was just the beginning, but she felt lost, as today she only expected to properly celebrate her birthday party and now she didn't know what to think, much less how this day would end.
"I am afraid so, my little flower," Murasaki laughed as she continued with a gentle wave of her fan, making an exquisite book with a metallic and rusty cover appear in her left hand.
"This whole matter concerning Archer Emiya-san, who is your father, has been detected for some time by SHEBA, one of Chaldea's observation mechanisms. It has been determined that his existence, or a variable thereof, whether direct or indirect, is causing a collapse of the observed future in many other realities, creating what we have termed 'Emiya Singularities'," she said, gripping her fan with some trepidation. "They have endangered the mass destruction of multiple worlds."
"My father would never do something like that!" the young ojou-sama stood up, feeling completely furious and speechless at the weight of the revelation, forgetting all sense of composure she still tried to maintain. "My father always spoils me! My mom loves him very much, and I have never seen him get angry at any of our antics! He has always been by my side!"
The lady nodded as she waited for her anger to subside. "I know, Mei-chan. It's just that there is more than you know about Emiya-san."
"What are you talking about? You still haven't explained how you know my father," at this point the younger girl still felt her emotions raw, refusing to show any kindness.
"Certainly," Kaoruko apologized but sighed, fearing how the young girl would feel knowing she was about to shatter the 'reality' she knew about her father. "The Servant under the Archer Class, also known as the iron-forged hero, has a reach that is difficult for me to begin to explain. It is better to see it for yourself so that you can understand."
At that moment, the book she had held in her hands until now floated between them. Like a realistic hologram, it displayed the most common appearance of a man in his late twenties, holding his imposing black bow, the wind blowing his white hair, and staring coldly with his gray eyes at his target, his skin tanned. To the girl's astonishment, she realized it was indeed her father but with a serious attitude that she had never seen in him.
"Is that my dad?" Her voice wavered as she walked towards the image, trying to process what seemed like the biggest joke of her life. But facing this reality was beyond obvious, feeling her world shatter into pieces. "But... how? How is this possible!"
"Emiya Shirou is a Servant who usually works as one of the many cooks in Chaldea's cafeteria and takes care of the child Servants. He played an active role in 'Singularity F,' having been summoned as one of the Servants in the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki in 2004," Murasaki's gaze sharpened as she continued. "Unfortunately, he perished after being corrupted, ceasing his functions in battle."
A magical pulse emanated from the book, resonating with those present as they watched the figure of Archer fall into a darkened pool, deteriorating.
"But that's not what's important right now!" she tried to speak as seriously as possible. "What's important is to explain that your father is intrinsically linked to many events here, Mei!"
"You're lying!" The young heiress was inconsolable, tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried to forget what she had just seen. "That's not my father!" she slammed the table, still distraught. "He would never look at anyone that way!" she glared at Murasaki, hurt and resentful. "None of what you're saying is true!"
Seeing her in this state, the Servant Caster could only continue, trying to soften the blow. "You're mistaken, my little flower," she tried to approach, but the girl took a step back, trembling with fear. "Mei, you need to be strong, because what I'm about to tell you is part of a truth beyond your imagination!"
Murasaki made another gesture with her fan, and this time the rust-covered book vanished, replaced by one with a red cover adorned with hearts in pink and red hues.
What struck Mei as strange was that both her Aunt Kaguya and Uncle Miyuki were on the cover, along with a peculiar title in crimson and black with a large central heart: 'Kaguya-sama: Love is War,' with a golden sentence beneath it that sent a shiver through her heart: 'The Echo of the Seasons.'
"I don't understand," she trembled, gathering the courage to ask, slowly approaching but remaining alert. "Why are my aunt and uncle involved in all this?"
Murasaki nodded, looking at the book with a gentle gaze.
"As I warned you before, this is just the beginning of a 'story' you know well, at least up to a certain point."
"I know it?" Mei asked, confused, tilting her head as she finally put her worries aside and took a seat, wiping away the traces of her tears.
"Of course!" Murasaki exclaimed, surprising Mei as the pages of the book finally opened, revealing a version of her father that resembled him more closely. Mei approached cautiously, deciding not to ask questions and trying to control herself reluctantly.
"Your aunt Shinomiya Kaguya-san, as you well know, is the daughter of a very important and influential family in Japan. On the other hand, your uncle Shirogane Miyuki-kun comes from a completely different family background, but despite their differences, he excelled to the point of becoming the student council president. Admired by everyone at Shuchi'in Academy, both were in love with each other but refused to admit it, trying throughout their school years to make the other confess their love first." The librarian's expression turned dreamy and pleased as she threw expressions of love into the air. "Isn't it a beautiful and perfect love-hate story?"
"I think so..." Mei replied, noticing now that the student council group she remembered from her mother's yearbook photos was shown among the pages. However, she noticed that the story her ancestor revealed was a bit different from what she remembered. "But... I still don't understand," she tried to speak softly, organizing her thoughts and wiping her face with a white embroidered handkerchief. "What does my dad have to do with all this?"
"Really?" Murasaki sighed before continuing, feeling guilty upon seeing the still sad expression on the little girl. She felt unsure about how to address the topic correctly. "We could say it was thanks to LAPLACE, which successfully predicted the repercussions and the extent of your 'father's' involvement in everything related to your world, leading to the 'original' reality being altered to some extent."
"You said my world?" Mei's expression was full of wonder, her heart racing. "Are there many more?"
"Well, to be exact, even for Chaldea, we're not sure about the numbers, but we're getting off topic, my dear."
Murasaki felt tempted to digress about how Da Vinci-san had even provided extremely funny images, but that would be for another occasion. Meanwhile, the young heiress began to realize that this was all simply unbelievable.
"For now, just imagine how Chaldea was shocked by this incredible fact. Even with our latest computing engine, TRISMEGISTUS, as an auxiliary method to LAPLACE, it was difficult for us to monitor and analyze in real-time the records of Emiya's past, including the history outside public knowledge and the silently concealed events."
"But... what's the reason?" Mei asked, feeling that she couldn't be more surprised, but somehow sensing that what she would hear next would be something she feared.
"Well..." Murasaki felt a lump in her throat, struggling to find the right words. "Your aunt Kaguya-san is one of the two protagonists of your world, so you could imagine that, despite discovering this issue recently, for more than 28 years that your father was there, surprisingly the 'origin' of your world did not show a negative attitude towards his existence."
"My aunt is one of the two protagonists of my world?" Mei covered her mouth with her hands, shocked and unsure how to respond to this secret. "Is my mom the other protagonist?"
Despite her innocent question, at this point, she feared her father had taken a wrong path and her uncle Miyuki suffered. She refused to think of that possibility, shaking her head vigorously, trying to breathe properly in her attempt to forget it.
"Rest assured, Mei-chan, it's nothing like what you're imagining," Murasaki joked, imagining what the little girl was thinking. She decided to burst her bubble by turning the pages, now showing an image of Chika Fujiwara joking with Shirou in his youth, making the girl smile. "Because that possibility never occurred. Instead, given that your father's existence somehow created two variables, but given the 'will' of your world to rectify it, it only allowed him to support one of the protagonists, in this case, your aunt Kaguya-san, which resulted in the reason behind your existence."
"Is it thanks to my aunt Kaguya that I exist?" Mei now looked completely terrified. "How is that possible?" she nearly fell off her seat.
"That's the truth. Da Vinci-san is 99% sure that your father influenced Kaguya-san, so he only interacted 1% with the other protagonist of the world. But given that he met your mother, Chika Fujiwara," her voice trembled for a moment, recalling the harsh truth behind this choice, "it was at that moment that 'fate' was decided, and it triggered the loss of the last chance for salvation in your world."
"Her?" Mei asked fearfully. "Are you talking about the second protagonist?"
"That's right," Murasaki said, and a heavy silence filled the room, neither of them attempting to start the topic. But seeing her ancestor trembling, the girl decided to break the ice first.
"Do I... know her?" Mei tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. Seeing Murasaki's brief confirmation, she finally mustered the courage to ask, "What happened to her?"
Caster decided it was better to show her so she could understand that this was difficult even for her to mention.
At that moment, the book they had been looking at closed, but this time, instead of looking at the cover, they looked at the back, which appeared to be covered in what seemed to be stars. But what froze the young Emiya was seeing someone extremely well-known in her world at the time. Especially because she loved to listen to and sing her songs, but for the past three years, there had been no news of her in the entertainment industry.
"The second protagonist is... the famous idol Hoshino Ai?" Mei was still trying to comprehend what this new secret meant. The gaze of her idol, who always seemed to shine like stars intoxicatingly, now looked empty. Moreover, unlike the case of her book, the title seemed to be dim and fragmented.
"'Oshi no Ko'?" she murmured, dragging out the words, trying to process everything her ancestor had revealed.
Murasaki sighed deeply, hiding her gaze behind her fan. The atmosphere grew increasingly dark.
"I'm afraid there is no future beyond what you can imagine," she said with a voice that reflected both sorrow and frustration. "It's because there is so much at stake. Multiple realities are being corrupted at this moment by forces beyond our understanding. Da Vinci-san spared no effort in offering us her support so that the realities we can still save do not end up like this or worse."
Mei felt overwhelmed. "But why?" she exclaimed, everything she had been hiding in her heart exploding suddenly: anger, sadness, confusion, disappointment, betrayal, but most of all, a deep sense of loneliness. "Are you telling me that because of my existence... Ai-chan died!?"
"You're wrong about that, Mei-chan!" Murasaki stood up suddenly, catching the girl by surprise, trying to console her. But it was evident she tried to resist her touch, yet Murasaki did not give up, feeling her heart break.
"Isn't there a way to save her?" the grieving heiress still tried to push her away, but she felt the trembling grip of the woman accompanied by words mixed with conflicting emotions.
"What happened to Ai-san is something that no one could have prevented!"
"You're lying!" The silver-haired girl lowered her gaze, losing all sense of strength, drowning in her emotions. "I don't know what to think anymore!"
"You must understand that your father's presence in Ai-san's life could have saved her to some extent, but her 'original' fate was already set in stone!" Murasaki knew the girl wouldn't take this news well. Not only because of her young age but because she still hoped this hadn't affected her birthday. But it was a necessary evil; she needed her to rise to face what was coming. Seeing her descendant in tears, she felt conflicted about whether what she was about to do was right, but this was a decision that had been taken into consideration.
The lady pulled a small crystal from her sleeve, glowing with a faint blue light, still unsure about her decision. "This crystal contains a few fragments of memories about what really happened."
"What do you mean?" Mei asked, confused, but noticed how the library began to fill with light, blocking her view exponentially.
"I'm afraid this is a risk in showing you," her words became a whisper as everything turned to darkness. "But I believe you deserve to know the whole truth."
– Oshi no Ko –
Meeting of Miracles
Chapter 1. Meeting the Shooting Star (Erased State)
Light enveloped Mei, transporting her to a distant memory. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a completely different setting.
She was inside a worn-out room in the middle of the night, where two young children seemed to be sleeping next to each other. What caught Mei's attention was the familiar color of their hair: a bright bluish-purple and pure white.
"Where are we, Lady Kaoruko?" young Emiya asked, her voice tinged with confusion as she observed the strange scene before her. "Are they...?"
"It's exactly as you imagined, my little flower," the lady nodded as she stood beside her, her voice heavy and saddened. "To be precise, it's a childhood version of both Shirou-san and Ai-san."
"Really?" Slowly, her mentality began to adapt, showing curiosity as she took a step closer to the scene.
"Yes, it's exactly as you see. Ai-san, right after being taken to an orphanage due to her mother's neglect. At this point, she managed to leave the abusive environment, starting to create a 'facade' to protect herself from outbursts."
"Did Ai-chan have a very difficult childhood?" Mei looked back at the scene, seeing how even in her sleep, her idol seemed to cling to her father, her small hands clutching his clothes. Shirou woke up and stroked her hair, just as he usually did with her in her 'spoiled child' mode.
"Shirou-kun," Ai mumbled sleepily, making the boy next to her roll his eyes, obviously familiar with the situation.
"Stubborn as always, Ai," Shirou said as he picked up the scattered cookie wrappers before taking out a blanket to cover them both. "But I'll prove to you that you can trust me because as your first friend, I can't let you down!"
Mei felt conflicted seeing this, especially since there was her father's famous smile that said 'everything will be fine.' All she could do was sigh, confused. Part of her really doubted she knew her father well enough at this point, even wondering if her mother, Chika, knew about all this.
"Ai-san suffered more than you can imagine," Murasaki sighed before continuing. "It was during that time that Shirou, being the oldest in the orphanage, managed to be the first and only one to break down Ai-san's mental barriers and start changing her way of thinking."
"Change? What do you mean?"
"I mean Ai-san lacked any memory of having loved or being loved herself. Until... that happened."
At that moment, the memory changed completely. A building could be seen being engulfed by flames.
Now both were outside, watching a large number of firefighters battling the blaze, while the police cordoned off the area. Given the intensity of the fire and the lack of action and preparation, it was expected that many lives would be lost or at least many would suffer in the process.
"What just happened, Lady Kaoruko?" Mei cried desperately, trying to understand what had occurred. "Why is there a fire now?"
"That's... something even Chaldea... we... still don't know," Murasaki, each time she saw this scene, felt deep sadness knowing what would happen. "But what I can tell you is..." her voice trembled before she abruptly fell silent.
"Ai-chan..." Mei murmured, trying to reach her. But every step she took felt heavier, as if the air itself was against her. Both her voice and she couldn't break through the barrier of time.
"Stop! This is just a memory," the lady shouted, but her words fell on deaf ears. The little girl fell to her knees, desperately trying to hit whatever was stopping her.
"Ai-chan! Ai-chan! Ai-chan!" Mei's voice became hoarse from all the shouting, but her tears were in vain.
At that moment, amidst the flames, a young red-haired boy jumped from the second floor. Despite his short stature, his shirt charred in pieces, his body with some minor burns and covered in soot, he held an unconscious Ai tightly in his arms.
"Help! Help!" he shouted desperately, as if it were a miracle. The lights in the sky shone the moment a couple of paramedics approached and took them both. As they were taken inside an ambulance, young Shirou kept a big smile, seeing that his actions had saved his friend. "I did it!" he said, raising his small fist to the sky before collapsing.
"Will they be okay, Lady Kaoruko?" Mei asked, trembling, grateful that her greatest fears hadn't come true. Still kneeling, she looked at the woman beside her, who also knelt and took her in a strong embrace.
"Yes, they will be fine, Mei," Murasaki responded with a calming whisper, her arms wrapping around young Emiya in a gesture of comfort. "Your father is sarcastically annoying," she frowned, remembering some of their past interactions, "but he is one of the kindest people ever, even from such a young age," shifting her gaze to the other involved, "Now, regarding Ai-san... she just... decided to follow her 'role.'"
Young Emiya felt a whirlwind of emotions. "How could he survive? How could he save her?" she wondered silently, her thoughts intertwined with the image of her childhood father, giving his all to save her idol; that show of selflessness in his smile was genuinely real, something she rarely saw even in the present.
"You will find out soon," with each of Murasaki's words resonating in her mind, the scene faded away.
The scene changed again.
Now, it showed a hospital where her father, still in his child form, was wrapped in special bandages and dressings covering much of his body. Strangely, next to his bed stood a figure Mei knew very well.
"Takeshi-ojiisan?" she asked, bringing her hands to her mouth, her voice still hoarse from crying. "Why is he here?"
"He is the reason for the divergence in Hoshino Ai-san's future," Murasaki responded, instructing her to keep watching.
"So you're my grandfather?" Shirou asked, wary, eyeing the old man with suspicion.
"Yes, my boy," the old man had an expression full of guilt, bowing deeply in a complete dogeza, surprising the child. "You are the last flame of our family, the blessing your clumsy and inflexible grandfather had been searching for," his expression, tears streaming down, mixed with a joy that seemed like it could end his life right there. "I truly thank the gods because I can still fulfill duties I couldn't for so long."
Yamamoto Takeshi, stripped of all charisma and dignity as the last patriarch, was the current CEO of the country's largest military conglomerate. Now, he was with his grandson after committing the greatest mistake of his life, trying to fix it for the past decades. At his advanced age, he had given up hope that his bloodline had ended with the life of his son, but unexpectedly, the heavens smiled upon him after countless disappointments.
"Why are you doing this now?" Shirou asked, his eyes reflecting a mix of distrust and curiosity. "After all this time..."
"Because I couldn't live with myself knowing how much I had failed," Takeshi replied, his voice breaking. "I've made many mistakes, Shirou. Mistakes that cost your father and mother their lives. But I still have time to make amends, to help you fulfill your dreams and protect those you love."
They talked for a long time before a nurse interrupted, informing them that visiting hours were over. A bit frustrated, the old man nodded, but not before looking at his 'grandson,' who was still pondering that 'promise' and whether it would help him achieve his 'dream.'
"But… Will you really help all the orphans, Ojii-san?" Shirou asked, looking confused.
"It's the least I can do after they took care of you for ten years, Shirou." Takeshi looked at him for a moment before sighing. "You have the same stubborn look as your father," he said, reminiscing. "The Yamamoto blood definitely runs through your veins, Shirou."
"I'm an Emiya," the redhead replied firmly, pouting in a way that made the man burst into laughter.
"I know," the laughter faded into a serious expression. "This stubborn old man will respect the selfish wishes of his pampered grandson," he said, feeling guilty for being the cause of all the misfortune in his grandson's life. His wrong choices had taken his son and daughter-in-law. "I'll keep my promise! But I need you to come with me, Shirou," he sighed one last time before leaving. "These old bones still have unfinished business, and I'll need you by my side to show you the true side of the 'Yamamoto.'"
Shirou nodded, not knowing the cost of that promise.
When he tried to reconnect with Hoshino Ai, she had already met Ichigo Saitou, a talent scout, to start her famous group 'B-Komachi.'
It was the first step for her to deceive the media with her fake smile; everyone wanted to know her mysterious secret, even if she was still playing the role of the perfect liar, a very clever idol!
In the years that followed, she only expanded her personality.
Believing she had never been loved by anyone and never loved anyone before, the lies she continued to tell would never become reality; she no longer believed in that!
Because, as expected, even 'her first friend' betrayed her. That thought was the final step she needed to make 'lying is fine' an indispensable trait as her destiny returned to its predestined path.
—Novum Chaldea—
Great Expansive Library
As the vision faded, Mei blinked and found herself back in Chaldea's library, with Lady Kaoruko by her side.
In front of her, the remnants of the fragment dispersed into faintly golden dust with the wind, creating a solemn atmosphere, filled with an uncomfortable silence.
"What happened next?" the girl whispered, her heart heavy with what she had seen.
"As you can imagine, after that, Shirou-san continued his life with the weight of his 'promise' on his shoulders," Murasaki replied, gesturing with her fan. The book of 'Echo of the Seasons' opened, showing him in the uniform of Shuchi'in Academy during the entrance ceremony. "He never stopped trying. Thanks to his actions, a large number of orphans were supported by institutions and trusts sponsored by the Yamamoto group, but it was too late when he wanted to reunite with Ai-san."
"What do you mean, Lady Kaoruko?" the little ojou-sama looked confused as she turned the next pages of the book. The soft light in the room illuminated her face, enhancing her puzzled expression.
"It was unfortunate, but we could say their reunion wasn't the best," Murasaki's tone was filled with sadness and longing as she slowly stood and approached her. "That was the last time they saw each other because now they had their own reasons for their paths never to cross again. Shirou-san followed what he believed was right, never stopped fighting for those he loved. And Ai-san... well, she found her own destiny, one we better not continue watching for now…"
The scene showed a slightly older Emiya, looking at a pregnant Ai. The tension was palpable as they argued fiercely. The woman's eyes were filled with tears, looking at the man with a mix of pain and resentment. Finally, with an inaudible murmur, Ai closed the door in his face before entering her hospital room. Mysteriously, it became clear that a hooded figure outside the medical institution was stalking her, hiding a weapon and watching her with deep hatred. Before the scene progressed further, the book, with its stellar blue tones, shut tightly with a loud thud.
"Why did it have to be this way?" Mei's voice broke, her eyes filled with tears. "Isn't there a way for everyone to just be happy?" Her voice trembled, reflecting the anguish she felt.
"Life is complicated, my little flower," her ancestor shook her head, placing a comforting hand on Mei's shoulder. "Because that was the beginning of your own story, my sweet Mei-chan," the lady sighed, looking at her with tenderness. The softness in her voice contrasted with the harsh reality she described. Slowly, the book glowed a pinkish tone before its pages turned once more.
This time, her father was lifting her mother in his arms, and she was smiling radiantly. In the background, her uncle Yuu was held by her aunt Miko, who playfully hit him for embarrassing her. As usual, her aunt Kaguya held her uncle Miyuki's hand, teasing the silver-haired couple. In the middle of the celebration in the student council, Chika launched herself at her father, trapping him in her arms before surprising him with a passionate kiss.
"Now you understand," Murasaki said softly, closing the fan. With this, the book seemed to disappear into golden motes of light, storing itself among the many shelves of the vast library. "What happened to Ai-san is not your fault. Her destiny was sealed long before you were born in this reality."
Little Emiya nodded, drying her tears with her adorable handkerchief, still trying to process the wave of emotions she had experienced in the past few hours. "Thank you, Lady Kaoruko. I think I understand a bit better now." Her voice was firmer, though it still trembled slightly.
Murasaki knelt in front of her, gently caressing her hair and rearranging it with her small hair accessory gift. "You must be strong, Mei-chan. I'm sorry these revelations have been so heavy, but there is much I want to share with you before explaining the exact reason I brought you here." The warmth in her touch offered silent comfort, a sense of protection she only felt in the company of her parents.
"So, this is just the beginning?" Mei asked, letting herself be comforted. Her eyes, still tearful and reddened, showed a burning determination.
"Yes, my little flower," she looked at her again, feeling great guilt for putting her descendant at the center of something she deeply opposed, planning to confront her irresponsible Master-san and Da Vinci-san about it later. "I'll be by your side, supporting you along with other Servants as the situation requires," she sighed, looking into her eyes, a deep purple worrying about an innocent gold, "Not just because you've inherited my blood but also my 'Onmyōji' power, which will serve you on your path. But for that, I need you to trust me."
Mei took a deep breath, feeling a strange resonating magical energy surrounding her. "Then tell me… what are we facing?"
"It's difficult to explain even for me," she felt the undeniable bond between the Fujiwara lineage resonating in her soul, "But we face forces trying to corrupt worlds, realities, and even planes beyond the known, actively working against us in ways even Chaldea doesn't yet understand."
At that moment, Mei collapsed to the floor, feeling her strength leave her, but her expression remained resolute. "What can I do then?" she whispered, unconsciously clenching her small hands.
"Well… for starters, I think it's a good time to talk with Rhyme-chan. Don't you think?"
"Alice-chan… is she also here?" the girl with golden eyes felt betrayed by this unexpected surprise.
"Yes…" the lady smiled enigmatically, covering her mouth with her fan, "And she's not alone, as she's accompanied by her usual group of friends."
At that moment, light enveloped the library, and a small table appeared occupied by a colorful group of personalities, looking at both Murasaki and Mei in astonishment, especially since they were in the middle of a 'tea time,' leaving their snacks half-eaten upon being discovered.
"Kaoruko-sama!" the first to respond was Alice-chan, who immediately floated over to the lady, "Kaoruko-sama!" she clung to her skirt, "Why didn't you let me join Mei-chan earlier?"
Mei looked amused at her servant's usual childish behavior, laughing at the unexpected act.
"Ha… ha… ha."
"I was waiting for the right moment for you to join us and for us to talk more amicably before Mei-chan made a decision."
"So this is your master?" a girl with golden hair and bright green eyes in twin tails hidden by a large gray hat stood up from the table, though her large staff made her slower than the rest of the group.
"She seems a bit special, doesn't she?" beside her, a girl with short white hair and dangerous daggers looked at her curiously.
"I sense a unique magical energy from her," another girl with short ash-colored hair under a visor and slanted eyes switched hands with her spear.
"It's not just that, I feel she shares the same essence as Onii-chan!" this time, it was a young girl with long golden hair, wearing a black hat and matching dress.
"Ara, ara~," Murasaki watched with amusement at her descendant's bewildered expression, clearly confused by being surrounded by so many servants studying her carefully, but she felt immensely pleased as she instantly didn't let herself be intimidated. On the contrary, she now unconsciously displayed the same pose as her father, smiling ironically as only he could, "Oh, this meeting… was even unexpected for me, my little flower."
Mei nodded slowly, her mind still processing revelation after revelation, each more impactful than the last. However, the idea of having Rhyme-chan by her side gave her some comfort. Moreover, the mysterious presence of Lady Kaoruko seemed so wise and protective with her, which instilled an unexpected courage in her.
Little did she know, this was only the beginning of her journey, especially since the ruby pendant she received as a gift that day glowed mysteriously in her pocket for a moment before showing a small crack.
On another note:
I know that I have left many readers in suspense about what will happen next. I encourage you to guess the crossovers we will explore. Don't just think about the stories I have published so far; I have written many more that I have not published for various reasons.
We have reached the end of the chapter, laying the groundwork for a more complete understanding of the plot. You just need a little more patience to understand all the details presented in both this last chapter and the previous ones.
I hope you enjoyed "The Protagonists of the World Are Revealed". What do you think about the secrets behind Shirou?
It's rewarding to see that we have received a total of 16 reviews, along with the support of 81 favorites and 100 followers.
Your support has been crucial, and I am truly grateful to be the first to trust in this work.
Before I say goodbye, I would like to address some comments received about the previous chapter:
Fanfiction:
keybladelight: To start, I thought your idea was excellent. When I started writing this story, I did it with the idea of a parallel story to FGO, focused on Shirou Emiya's daughter. We will see how she faces the actions of her 'father' and if he is really the man she thinks she knows.
Guest: I know, the beginning was a bit cheesy, but it was necessary to emphasize the plot of "Kaguya-sama: Love is War". We will see more than one Emiya here.
QuantumQuasar: I hope you liked the update, my friend. Thank you very much.
DataDynamo0101: We will soon get to Shirou's interactions. We are getting to the part I've been waiting for, and I can't wait for you to see the next chapter.
Guest: Yes, we will see more of the "Kaguya" universe, given the 'origin of Mei', but for now, we are in Caldea, so we will see.
SiliconSorcerer: I hope you liked this update, my friend. Thank you very much.
Wattpad:
No comments.
AO3:
Guest: Thank you very much for correcting that small detail, my friend. Thank you very much.
Guest: I hope you liked the update. See you next time.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your words and reviews. Your support has been crucial to me, and I am truly grateful.
For now, I say goodbye as KaleidoMirror, but I look forward to our next meeting in the next update.
Until then!