LOCATION: Tengu City - Itsuka Residence
Shirou Emiya and Shido Itsuka set their plates down before Tohka, Yoshino, and Yoshinon, who gazed at the culinary creations with a mix of wonder and trepidation. Yoshino's plate featured Bamboo Gratin, its golden, bubbly crust beckoning despite the pungent aroma that wafted through the air, reminiscent of something far less appetizing. She scrunched her nose, her curiosity piqued; the unusual scent was oddly compelling, drawing her closer to the dish as she contemplated the flavors hidden beneath the surface. Meanwhile, Tohka's plate boasted a perfectly fried Chicken Katsu, its crispy exterior glistening with the promise of savory delight. The enticing blend of garlic and onion danced in the air, igniting her senses and making her stomach rumble in anticipation. Tohka's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in, eager to dive into the feast before her, while Yoshinon observed with a playful smirk, ready to comment on the girls' reactions.
Tohka uses her chopsticks to pick up a piece of the crispy chicken. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she softly whispered 'Itadakimasu,' a traditional expression of gratitude before indulging. As she took a bite, the explosion of savory flavors danced on her palate, each chew revealing the tender juiciness of the meat. She savored every morsel, relishing the delightful textures, and after swallowing, she playfully licked the remnants of the rich sauce from her lips, her face lighting up with a satisfied smile that spoke volumes of her enjoyment.
"This is delicious, Shido!" Tohka exclaimed, eyes glistening with glee as she looked up at him. Shido chuckled and sat down beside Tohka.
"I'm glad you liked it," Shido said, smiling affectionately at Tohka.
Yoshino picked up her fork and gently pierced through the cheese of her Bamboo Gratin. She pulled out thick bits of cheese intertwined on the fork's pointer and tine. She muttered 'Itadakimasu' before bringing said cheese up to her mouth, instantly tasting the mild, slightly sweet flavor. She moaned in content as she felt the earthy flavor melt into her tongue. Yoshino swallows down her food, and turns her gaze toward Shirou.
"This is amazing, Shirou," Yoshino praised. Yoshinon the puppet hops enthusiastically.
"Yeah, Yoshinon thinks with your cooking skills, you could own your own restaurant," Yoshinon adds. Shirou smiles sheepishly at his friends, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
"Well, I wouldn't say that," Shirou replied.
Tohka blinked at Yoshino and Yoshinon.
"Is it really that good?" Tohka asked, looking at Yoshino curiously. Yoshino and Yoshinon nodded.
"Yeah, try it," Yoshino replied, pushing her food towards her.
Yoshino handed Tohka the fork before she stabbed it on the Grantin cheese. She brought the cheese up to her mouth, and bit down. She closed her eyes and cupped her cheek, moaning in content as she felt the mild sweetness melting in her mouth. She could feel herself floating in the air, gracefully flying out of an open window, soaring into the bright golden sky to the distant horizon. She giggled with a smile as she flew, while flowers rain down on her with grace.
Tohka felt like she was in paradise.
"Oh my goodness, my mouth is in heaven," Tohka whispered softly.
Shido and Shirou chuckled at Tohka's reaction.
I guess she likes it, Shirou and Shido thought.
Once Shido and Shirou brought their own food they sat down on the couch and all began eating. When Shido turned on the television, a woman appeared on the screen. Her hair was tied down to a ponytail and her eyes were hazel with a bit of green to their beauty. She wore a nice red suit with long sleeves, her skirt reaching down to her knees, and black heels. She also donned a raincoat with the hood over her head. The reporter raises the microphone, clears her throat and begins her monologue.
"Welcome again everyone to Tokyo Morning News," the field reporter greeted the camera, her back facing a long field of grass and the sky covered in gray clouds. "As you can see, my team and I are standing in the middle of a field. About five minutes ago, we got a report about strange activity going on near our location."
The screen changed from the field to a photograph of the sky. The photo showed what seemed to be a speeding blur soaring across the sky. It was obviously difficult for Shirou to decipher what exactly the blur was because the wind blew the image around.
"As you can see the image is blurry, so we will be asking questions to eyewitnesses who may have taken the photo," the reporter continued, gesturing to a middle aged man standing beside her. "Tell us, sir. What exactly did you see?"
The middle aged man cleared his throat.
"Well, I came here because I forgot to pick up my camera that I had left behind because I was in a hurry," the old man began explaining. "When I finally got it, I started to hear these strange noises. Then I looked up, and I saw this black shape just zigzagging across the sky. As it drew closer to me, the noise grew louder in volume - and if you ask me, the best way I can describe this noise is something like that of a hummingbird. Except it was pitched in a deep tone. When it finally came close I realized it was a flying man in dark clothing."
Shido skeptically raised an eyebrow. He didn't believe any of what he was both hearing and seeing. He had once seen a news report of people who thought they had caught sight of a UFO, only to find out that the UFO was actually made out of cgi. When people found out it was fake they were furious.
"I have to be honest, that photo looks photoshopped," Shido remarked, pointing at the picture. Tohka, Yoshino, Yoshinon, and Shirou glanced at him.
"What's photoshopped?" Yoshino asked, looking at Shido curiously.
"It's when you take a photo you've taken with your camera, and alter it in any way you want," Shido replied. "That kind of thing happens a lot and it gets people into trouble."
"But why would that man do something like that?" Tohka wondered, tilting her head.
"For attention, maybe," Shirou added.
"Yeah, maybe," Shido agreed.
Shido changed the channel to something worth watching and they proceeded to eat their food.
The rhythmic sound of water splashing filled the quiet kitchen as Shido scrubbed the plates. A stark contrast to the peaceful slumber of Tohka and Yoshino. Shirou, still leaning against the wall, felt the heaviness of his thoughts pressing down on him. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to grasp at the elusive fragments of his past that danced just beyond his reach. What had he done to end up here, in this unfamiliar place, surrounded by people he barely knew? The flickering light overhead cast shadows that mirrored his inner turmoil, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something vital was missing—something that defined who he truly was.
Shirou's brows slightly knitted together. A frown etched on his face as he wrestled with the frustrating enigma of his existence. Why can't he remember anything other than his name? This question gnawed at him incessantly, a relentless echo in the back of his mind that surfaced every time he attempted to piece together the fragments of his reality.
Each waking moment felt like a puzzle with missing pieces, leaving him with only the faintest whispers of a strange dream that danced just beyond his grasp. The dream felt significant, yet its details slipped away like sand through his fingers, leaving him in a state of confusion and longing. He was left with nothing but his name, a solitary anchor in a sea of uncertainty, and the haunting feeling that there was so much more to discover about himself.
"Hey, Shirou."
Shido's call pulled Shirou out of his thoughts. He turned to find Shido exiting the kitchen, and approaching him with a smile. Shirou pulled himself away from the wall and turned his body to face him fully.
"Since you'll be staying here with us, I already have a guest bedroom set up for you," Shido explained, walking past him. "Follow me."
Shirou nodded and followed Shido out of the living room. The pair ascended up the stairs, the creaking of old wooden boards echoing throughout their surroundings. At the top of the stairs, Shido led Shirou down the hall until he stopped before a door at the far end. Shido grabbed the knob and twisted it, pulling the door open wide enough for Shirou to walk through.
Shirou stepped in and looked around. The bedroom wasn't too large, having only two beds, one for him and another for whoever may temporarily stay here. It was cozy and warm here; an air of comfort radiated from the room, making Shirou feel safe and comfortable despite his current situation. His gaze drifted towards one side of the room: a bedside table sat next to one of the beds, where there was a stack of neatly folded clothes on top of it. Shirou recognized them as pajamas.
"They were the only ones I can find, although I'm not sure if they will fit," Shido commented, stepping inside the room himself. "You'll have to try them on to be sure."
Shirou proceeded to scan the room one last time. The walls were painted dark blue and cyan, and the floor was covered with a sand colored carpet. He shifted his gaze towards Shido, seeing him bringing a hand over his mouth to stifle a yawn.
"Well, I'm off to bed," Shido said, closing his eyes before pulling himself back and turning away into the bedroom's doorway.
Shirou rolled his body around to face Shido.
"Shido," Shirou called.
Shido halted mid step and glanced back over his shoulder at Shirou.
"Yeah?" He returned, a bit confused.
Shirou hesitated for a moment.
"Thank you," Shirou said simply, smiling at him.
Shido blinked. He smiled softly back at him.
"Your welcome," Shido responded in kind, then turned around and disappeared into the hallway.
Shirou closed the door behind him. Once he did, he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding in and walked over to the nearest bed. He picked up the folded pajamas, staring down at them for a moment.
Shirou took a deep breath and began unfolding them.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the fourth chapter! Yes, I know I said this chapter was gonna feature Shirou transferring in Shido's school but there's been a change of plans. I decided to save that for the next chapter. But the least I've been able to feature in this chapter is our boy Shirou showing off his cooking skills to the two spirit girls, and becoming a roommate in the Itsuka household. Hope you all have a good day or night wherever you are.
See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!