The night hung heavy with tension as Tomoe's footsteps echoed through the darkened alley. His hand clutched the Saber Card in his pocket, the cool weight grounding him despite the chaos swirling in his mind. His pulse was a steady drumbeat, thrumming in time with his quickened pace. The night air felt sharp—alive with a dangerous energy he couldn't shake. Last night's fear still clung to him, but tonight there would be no running. There would be no retreat.
Shinji was already waiting, leaning against the wall of the alley, the faint glow of his tome casting shadows over his sharp features. Gone was the usual cocky grin, replaced by a focused intensity that mirrored the dangerous situation.
"You're late," Shinji said flatly, without looking up, his eyes scanning the dark alley.
Tomoe huffed, catching his breath as he slowed to a stop. "Had to make sure my sister and parents were asleep first," he replied, his voice betraying a hint of frustration. "I couldn't leave her wondering where I went."
"Fair enough," Shinji said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He flipped open the tome in his hands, its pages glowing faintly as he muttered a soft incantation. "Let's get started. We've got a rogue Servant to deal with, and I'd rather not waste time."
Tomoe nodded, steeling himself. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, and every instinct told him to be ready for anything. As Shinji began his preparations, Tomoe's eyes lingered on the odd sight before him—Shinji was holding a transparent plastic box, filled with dozens of tiny flies.
Tomoe blinked in confusion. "Are all those flies? What for?" His voice betrayed the disgust rising within him.
Shinji smirked, not at all bothered by the sight. He opened the box carefully, and the flies fluttered to life, swarming out in a cloud of activity. "Not just flies," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Familiars. They'll track down our rogue Servant for us. Old-school magecraft, but it gets the job done."
Tomoe frowned, watching the tiny creatures scatter into the night. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The mirror world, so unnervingly familiar now, felt thicker tonight. The air seemed to pulse with something dark, something oppressive, as if it too was aware of their presence.
"Shouldn't we be more... subtle?" Tomoe muttered, casting a wary glance around the darkened cityscape. The distorted buildings loomed above them, and he felt as though the shadows themselves were creeping in.
Shinji chuckled, the sound of it devoid of humor. "Relax. These little guys are fast. By the time she notices, we'll already know where she's hiding."
Tomoe kept his eyes fixed on the alleyways, every noise sending his senses into overdrive. He didn't know what he feared more: the Servant's swift, deadly presence or the idea of being unprepared. His hand hovered near the Saber Card, but he kept it tucked safely in his pocket for the moment, waiting for Shinji's signal.
The minutes crawled by, the tension thick in the air. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, and Tomoe's mind raced with questions, his thoughts tangled and anxious. Was this the right thing to do? Could they really stop this Servant before more innocents got hurt?
Finally, Shinji's tome shimmered with a faint light, and he straightened, his gaze sharpening. "Got her."
Tomoe's heart skipped a beat. "Where?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might break the fragile silence that hung around them.
Shinji pointed, his finger cutting through the darkness toward a twisted alley in the distance. "She's moving toward the industrial district. Probably looking for her next victim."
Tomoe's stomach lurched. "Then let's go before she finds someone else."
"Hold on." Shinji raised a hand, his expression turning serious. "We don't go in reckless. She's fast, and she's experienced. Charging in without a plan will get us killed."
Tomoe clenched his fists, frustration flickering across his face. "And if we wait, someone else might die. I can't let that happen again."
Shinji sighed, his eyes briefly softening. "Alright, Enjou. But don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, they began moving toward the industrial district, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the oppressive silence of their situation. Tomoe's thoughts raced, his breath coming quicker as they neared their destination. He had no choice but to trust in Shinji's plan—and in his own resolve.
As they neared the industrial district, the air grew thick with tension. Their command seals glowed brightly, warning them of the impending battle. Tomoe's heart pounded in his chest as they rounded a corner, only to find the world around them suddenly rippling.
They were now inside the mirror world.
Before they could react, a figure dropped from the sky, landing with fluid grace. She was feline in form—green hair, cat ears, and a tail that flicked with deadly intent. Her eyes glinted with cold calculation as she surveyed them, a bow slung casually over her shoulder.
"Servant Archer," Shinji muttered under his breath, his tone one of recognition mixed with dread.
Tomoe's body tensed. This was it. No more running. He gripped the Saber Card in his pocket, and with a sharp motion, activated it.
"Install!"
His body flooded with a surge of power, his uniform transforming into the traditional black hakama, the crimson sash tightening around his waist. The katana appeared at his side, and the weight of it felt familiar and comforting.
"I'm not running this time," Tomoe said through gritted teeth, the words barely more than a vow.
The Servant smiled, her expression predatory. Without warning, she drew her bow, her movements smooth and deadly. The air around them seemed to crackle with energy as she nocked an arrow, her eyes never leaving Tomoe.
The battle had begun.
An arrow suddenly tore through the air, a deadly streak aimed directly at Shinji's head. It was so fast, so precise, that he could do nothing but freeze as death hurtled toward him. His wide eyes reflected the incoming projectile, knowing there was no time to dodge.
Until—
Clang!
The sharp sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the alley as the arrow was deflected in midair. Tomoe's katana gleamed under the pale light, the blade trembling slightly from the force of the impact.
"Shinji, are you alright?" Tomoe called out, his voice tight with urgency.
Shinji blinked, momentarily stunned. "You... you can see that? See where she's aiming? How?"
Tomoe unsure, glancing at the Servant as she readied another arrow. "I-I don't know how, but yeah, I can see the direction she's going to shoot!"
Shinji let out a shaky breath, a grin tugging at his lips despite the danger. "Heh, that's good! Enjou, I'll support you! Get close to her—don't let her get the distance she needs. She's an Archer-class Servant; long range is her specialty. If you let her get away, we're done!"
"Got it!" Tomoe shouted, tightening his grip on his katana as he charged forward.
Shinji darted into the shadows, finding a hiding place where he could observe the battle. The Servant's sharp eyes followed Tomoe's advance, her bow lowering slightly.
Tomoe closed the distance in a heartbeat, his katana slicing through the air toward her. But she leaped into the sky with feline grace, her movement so fluid and precise it seemed almost effortless. While airborne, she nocked another arrow, her predatory gaze locked onto Tomoe.
However, Shinji wasn't idle. He thrust his glowing tome toward her, and an eruption of insects swarmed her mid-flight, their tiny bodies glowing faintly with magical energy.
Boom!
The swarm exploded, forcing the Servant to abort her attack and return to the ground in a controlled but rapid descent. She landed with practiced ease, only to immediately find Tomoe upon her again, his katana slashing down.
This time, she had no choice but to fight hand-to-hand.
Tomoe pushed forward, his strikes relentless as his blade sought to pierce her defense. But she wasn't just a skilled archer; she was a fearsome fighter up close. With deft movements, she parried each strike using her bow as an improvised weapon, her reflexes and precision unmatched.
"Damn, she's good!" Tomoe gritted his teeth as his blade was deflected once again.
She retaliated, her kicks like whiplashes that struck with bone-crushing force. One hit connected with Tomoe's side, and he staggered back, gasping as the air was knocked out of him. Her fighting style was vicious yet elegant, and within moments, she had the upper hand.
Her movements were impossibly fast, and her counters were brutal. She stepped into his attacks, closing the distance even further, and continued with a powerful kick to his midsection.
Tomoe staggered, barely managing to regain his footing as she pressed her advantage. She blocked every swing of his katana with ease, her strikes unrelenting. Her kicks were devastating, each one driving him further back as he struggled to keep up.
A critical mistake on Tomoe's part—a poorly timed strike—left him open. The Servant seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful spinning kick that sent him flying.
Thud!
Tomoe's back slammed against a wall, pain shooting through his body. He groaned, but his instincts screamed at him to move. A split second later, he jerked his head to the side as an arrow embedded itself in the wall where his head had just been.
The sheer force of the shot cracked the concrete, shards of stone scattering around him.
If she fires more than one like that, I'm dead, Tomoe thought grimly, pushing himself to his feet.
Despite the pain, he charged forward again, his katana glinting as he closed the distance. Shinji's bugs swarmed the Servant once more, keeping her from drawing her bow fully. She swatted them away in frustration, her movements quick but clearly hindered by the distraction.
But as Shinji raised his tome to summon another spell, the glowing pages flickered and dimmed. His expression twisted into a snarl.
"Damn it, I'm out! That was my last spell!" Shinji yelled, his voice carrying both warning and frustration.
Tomoe cursed under his breath. "Damn it!"
The Servant grinned wickedly, sensing their growing desperation. She readied herself for a decisive blow, her predatory gaze locking onto Tomoe.
But Tomoe refused to back down. His body ached, his movements slower now, but he gripped his katana tightly, his resolve unwavering. He wasn't going to let her win. Not here. Not now.
In desperation, Tomoe charged forward, his katana held low at his side. The world around him blurred, his focus narrowing on the rogue Servant. Something clicked in his mind, an instinct or clarity he couldn't explain. He gripped the sword tighter, his muscles tensing as he swung with all his might.
The Servant raised her bow to parry, confident in her reflexes, but—
CRASH!!
The sheer force of Tomoe's swing obliterated her bow, splintering it into pieces. The shockwave from the impact shattered windows in the building behind her, sending debris raining down.
"Yes!" Shinji shouted in triumph from his hiding place.
Now that Archer had lost her bow, her power should be decreasing considerably, after all an Archer without a bow is nothing but sitting ducks, right?
But the victory was short-lived. The katana in Tomoe's hands had also been destroyed, reduced to shards by the incredible force he'd unleashed.
The Servant's sharp eyes glimmered with fury and determination. Seeing Tomoe empty-handed, she acted swiftly, her movements a blur.
BASH!!
Her foot slammed into Tomoe's side in a vicious counterattack. The force of the kick would've sent most opponents flying, but to her surprise, Tomoe held his ground. His body screamed in pain, but he endured, gritting his teeth as his hand shot out and caught her leg.
"Got you!" Tomoe growled, his voice strained but triumphant.
Before she could react, he spun on his heel, using all his strength to throw her across the battlefield. The rogue Servant's lithe body thrown in the air as she was hurled several meters away into the air.
Shinji's voice cut through the tension, sharp and panicked. "No! What are you doing!?"
Did he forget what he said? Don't give her any distance between them! Why did he throw her away?
Tomoe turned toward him, confusion flickering across his face. "What do you mean?"
But Shinji's warning came too late. The rogue Servant recovered mid-fall, summoning an arrow with a fluid motion. She hurled it with terrifying speed, the projectile streaking toward Tomoe like a bolt of lightning.
Tomoe's eyes widened as he realized the danger, but his body was too slow to respond.
STAB!
The arrow pierced his chest, its tip erupting from his back. Pain exploded through Tomoe's body as he staggered backward, clutching the shaft of the arrow. His breathing grew ragged, blood staining his uniform.
"Enjou!" Shinji screamed, scrambling from his hiding place, but he stopped short, his face pale with fear.
Tomoe fell to one knee, his vision fading as the world around him seemed to darken. The pain was unbearable, the arrow buried deep in his chest, and for a moment, he felt the cold hand of death tightening its grip.
But then, a brilliant light erupted from his body, enveloping him completely. The glow was blinding, forcing the rogue Servant and Shinji to shield their eyes. The air buzzed with energy, the oppressive tension momentarily replaced by a strange, serene warmth.
When the light subsided, Tomoe was back in his ordinary clothes, the wound on his chest completely healed. He was still on his knees, dazed and panting, and beside him lay the Saber Card, lifeless and devoid of its usual glow.
"What… just happened?" Tomoe whispered, his voice trembling. He reached for the card, his fingers brushing against its now-ordinary surface. Though grateful for his survival, he couldn't shake the disorientation and fear.
Before Tomoe could process further, Shinji's voice turned sharp. "Watch out!" Shinji's panicked scream shattered his thoughts.
Tomoe snapped out of his daze, instinctively rolling to the side just as an arrow whistled past him, embedding itself with a loud thunk into the ground where he had knelt moments before.
Even without her bow, the rogue Servant was far from defenseless. She stood tall, her eyes gleaming with amusement and malice as she summoned another glowing arrow to her hand.
"Shit!" Tomoe growled, grabbing the inert Saber Card from the ground and gripping it tightly. He tried to summon its power again, but nothing happened. His heart sank as he realized the card was utterly drained.
The Servant's predatory gaze locked onto him, a snarl on her face. She raised another arrow, preparing to strike again.
Tomoe's grip tightened on the Saber Card, and he steadied his stance. "I'm not done yet," he growled, his determination flaring.
But before he could act, a dark blur shot toward him. Snap! A cold, slimy sensation wrapped around his torso, yanking him off his feet.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Tomoe shouted, struggling against the tendrils. He turned to see Shinji, now clad in his Assassin garb, his expression stern.
"That's enough!" Shinji barked.
"Let me go! I can still fight!" Tomoe yelled, his voice filled with frustration and defiance.
"No, you can't!" Shinji snapped, his tone cutting through Tomoe's protests. "Your card's useless, you're exhausted, and you're going to get yourself killed!"
Tomoe's protests faltered as the weight of Shinji's words sank in. But the frustration in his heart didn't waver.
"Fight and die! Is that what you want?!" Shinji shot back, his voice cold but laced with urgency. "We're outmatched and I can't cover you. You'll only get yourself killed!"
Shinji pulled Tomoe away forcefully, retreating from the battlefield. The rogue Servant merely watched them go, her expression a blank. She didn't pursue, confident in her dominance.
As they retreated into the shadows, Tomoe's screams of frustration echoed in the night, the sting of failure burning in his chest as much as the pain from the earlier wound.
The night's cold air bit at his skin as they finally escaped the mirror world and returned to the real one. Tomoe collapsed onto the ground, his breathing heavy and labored.
Shinji, standing over him and sighed. "You're reckless, Enjou. If you want to survive this war, you need to learn when to fight—and when to run."
Tomoe didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the Saber Card in his hand, now dull and lifeless.
Shinji's voice softened slightly. "Rest up. This isn't over."
Tomoe's grip on the card tightened, his resolve hardening despite the bitter taste of failure.
"It's not over," he murmured, more to himself than to Shinji.
z
Tomoe sat on the cold ground for a few moments, his chest rising and falling as he fought to steady his breathing. The weight of their defeat pressed down on him, but more than the pain, it was the humiliation and frustration that burned in his chest. His hand clenched the now-lifeless Saber Card so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Why?" he growled, his voice low at first but growing louder. He turned his glare to Shinji, who stood a few paces away, his arms crossed and his Assassin Card's mask resting on his belt.
"Why did you drag me away?!" Tomoe snapped, his voice echoing in the empty street. "We could've finished her! I had her!"
Shinji raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Tomoe's outburst. "Had her? Is that what you think?" he said, his voice calm but firm. "Because from where I was standing, you were about to get yourself killed."
"I could've fought!" Tomoe shouted, standing to his feet and glaring at Shinji. "I could've—"
"—died," Shinji interrupted, his tone cutting through Tomoe's anger like a blade. "And then what? You think your noble sacrifice would've meant anything? That Servant would've moved on to the next victim, and all you'd accomplish is making her job easier."
Tomoe froze, his fists still clenched but his words caught in his throat.
"Look," Shinji continued, his voice softening slightly. "I get it. You're angry. You feel like you failed, like you let everyone down. But lashing out at me? That's not going to change anything."
Tomoe's shoulders slumped, the weight of Shinji's words pressing down on him. "I... I'm sorry," he muttered, looking away. "I just—"
"Don't worry about it," Shinji said, waving a hand dismissively. "You're frustrated. I'd be worried if you weren't."
Tomoe looked back at him, surprised. "You would?"
"Of course," Shinji said, smirking faintly. "I need a partner who actually cares about winning this thing, not someone who gives up after one loss. But you've got to learn to channel that frustration into something useful, not just blind rage."
Tomoe nodded slowly, the anger in his chest beginning to cool. "Alright. I'll try."
"Good." Shinji adjusted his glasses and glanced at the darkened street. "Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get moving."
Tomoe frowned, confused. "Moving? Where?"
"The library," Shinji replied, already walking ahead.
Tomoe followed after him, still trying to piece together what Shinji meant. "The library? Why?"
Shinji glanced over his shoulder, his smirk returning. "Because I know what I saw back there. That Servant's skills, her weapons, even her fighting style—they're all clues. If we can piece them together, we can figure out her identity."
"Her identity?" Tomoe repeated, his brow furrowing.
"Exactly," Shinji said, stopping to let Tomoe catch up. "Servants aren't just random warriors pulled from nowhere. They're all legendary figures from history or myth. If we can figure out who she is, we can also figure out her weaknesses. And trust me, everyone has weaknesses."
Tomoe considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But how do you plan to figure that out from a library?"
Shinji's smirk widened as he resumed walking. "Oh, you'd be surprised what you can find in books. Let's just say I've got a knack for research. Now come on, the sooner we start, the sooner we'll have a plan."
As they walked, the tension between them began to ease. Tomoe glanced at Shinji and hesitated before speaking. "Hey... thanks. For saving me back there."
Shinji didn't look at him, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Don't mention it. I need you alive if this alliance is going to work, after all."
Tomoe sighed but couldn't help a small smile. "Right. Because I'm just your meat shield, huh?"
"Exactly," Shinji said with a chuckle. "But a damn useful one."
Despite himself, Tomoe felt a small laugh escape his lips. For the first time that night, the oppressive weight of failure began to lift.
The two of them disappeared into the night, their path lit by dim streetlights. Neither spoke for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. But for the first time, they felt a shred of camaderie.
Z
Inside the Fuyuki City library, Shinji sat at a long wooden table, flipping through a stack of history books with methodical precision. Across from him, Tomoe leaned back in his chair, looking around at the silent, cavernous room. Rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly into the shadows, lit only by the soft glow of overhead lamps.
"Hard to believe how easy it was to get in here," Tomoe muttered, half to himself. "It's the middle of the night, and no one even stopped us."
Shinji didn't look up from his book. "That's because I pulled some strings," he said matter-of-factly. "Don't underestimate a magus."
Tomoe raised an eyebrow. "What strings?"
"Let's just say I've got connections," Shinji replied with a smug smirk, turning a page. "Oh, and I asked Caren to ensure the city was cleared out tonight. No interruptions."
Hearing the name, Tomoe blinked, suddenly remembering their oddly uneventful walk to the library. Not a single pedestrian, no vehicles, not even the usual stray cat lurking in the shadows. The streets had been eerily quiet.
"So that's why it was so empty," Tomoe said, scratching his head. But something about the way Shinji casually mentioned Caren's name made his chest tighten in an unfamiliar way. "Caren, huh? You two seem... close," he said, his tone carrying a hint of something unintentional.
Shinji finally glanced up from his book, his expression caught somewhere between annoyance and disbelief. "What?"
"I mean," Tomoe said, suddenly feeling self-conscious but doubling down, "what's the deal with you and her? Are you two, uh... you know...?"
Shinji groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Are you seriously asking me this right now? In a library? While I'm trying to figure out how to not get us killed by a rogue Servant?"
Tomoe shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I just thought—"
"Nothing's going on," Shinji snapped, cutting him off. "She's a stranger at worst, an acquaintance at best. Satisfied?"
Tomoe blinked, then exhaled in relief before he realized it was audible. "Yeah, sure. Just... wanted to know."
Shinji shot him a glare before returning to his book. "For the record, you're an idiot."
"Noted," Tomoe muttered, leaning back in his chair and letting the tension fade.
A few moments later, Shinji's hands stilled on a page. His eyes scanned the text carefully before he closed the book with a thud and slid it across the table toward Tomoe.
"Here," Shinji said, his tone serious.
Tomoe glanced down at the book's title. The Legend of the Hunt: The Life and Deeds of Atalanta.
"Atalanta?" Tomoe read aloud, glancing up at Shinji.
Shinji smirked, his confidence returning as he pulled out a chair and sat down. "It wasn't that hard to figure out. Female Servants are rare, historically speaking. A female Archer-class Servant who's that skilled and has feline traits? That narrows it down even more. Atalanta fits the description perfectly."
Tomoe frowned, flipping through the pages of the book. Images of ancient artwork and descriptions of myths filled the pages. "Who is she?"
"She's a figure from Greek mythology," Shinji explained, leaning back in his chair. "A huntress raised by a bear, blessed by the gods with incredible speed and skill. She was one of the Argonauts and famously participated in the Calydonian Boar Hunt. Basically, she's a legendary tracker and a deadeye with a bow. That fits with everything we saw tonight."
Tomoe flipped through the pages, taking in the illustrations and descriptions of Atalanta's feats. "So... she's some kind of legendary huntress?"
"Not just any huntress," Shinji corrected. "She's a hero from Greek mythology. Famous for her speed, her skill with the bow, and her unwavering determination. She was a key player in the Calydonian Boar Hunt and the only woman among the Argonauts."
Tomoe frowned. "And her weakness?"
Shinji's expression darkened. "That's the bad news. She doesn't really have one."
"What do you mean?" Tomoe asked, leaning forward.
"I mean," Shinji said, tapping the book's cover, "she's not just a skilled hunter—she's practically unmatched in combat. Even in her myths, the only times she 'lost' were when gods intervened, or because of her sense of honor. She doesn't have a physical weakness we can exploit."
Tomoe leaned back, the weight of Shinji's words sinking in. "So what do we do?"
Shinji sighed, rubbing his temple. "We'll have to outsmart her. Use strategy. She's powerful, but she's also bound by her legend. That might give us an edge."
"Bound by her legend?" Tomoe asked.
"Yeah," Shinji said. "Every Servant carries the weight of their story with them. It defines their strengths and sometimes their limits. We just need to figure out how to use that against her."
Tomoe nodded, though he didn't feel entirely reassured. "So... what's the plan?"
Shinji smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Give me some time to think. For now, get some rest. We're going to need it."
As Shinji returned to his books, Tomoe leaned back in his chair, staring at the dim library ceiling. The name "Atalanta" echoed in his mind, along with the image of her predatory eyes and deadly arrows.
Tomoe's eyes fell to the card still lying limply on the table, its edges cracked and charred from the earlier fight. The image of the Saber card—a sword-wielding hero in radiant armor—was now tarnished, its glow dim and lifeless. His fingers twitched, aching to reach out and pick it up. The memories of pain and that arrow piercing his chest still stung, as if they had happened moments ago.
"What about this?" Tomoe asked, voice tinged with desperation. "My card... it should work again soon, right?"
Shinji glanced up from his tome, eyes sharp with exhaustion and frustration. "It'll be fine in a few hours," he said, running a hand through his disheveled hair. The glint in his eyes was fleeting, replaced by a look of grim determination. "But it's not the card that's the problem."
Tomoe's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Shinji's expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "The Servant inside your card… Saber… they saved you." His voice softened for a brief moment, as if the words themselves pained him. "The arrow that hit you? It was meant to kill. They took the blow, forcing an uninstall to protect your life."
Tomoe's eyes widened. His mouth opened, then shut as the implications set in. He was alive because Saber had took the blow. A pang of guilt mixed with awe surged within him, and he looked down at the card again, feeling a weight he hadn't known he carried.
"I... I didn't know they could…" He whispered, voice breaking.
"I just found out myself, I knew they had some autonomy but didn't know how much." Shinji replied, eyes narrowing on the tome before him. The pages lay open, covered in scribbles and arcane symbols. "But we don't have time for this." He stood abruptly, pushing his chair back and sending it scraping across the wooden floor. The sudden movement made Tomoe jump, but Shinji's focus was unyielding, his eyes locked on the ancient text.
Tomoe shifted in his seat, the silence pressing down on him. The library's quiet hum of crickets outside seemed to amplify the stillness.
"Rest," Shinji said without looking up, voice sharp. "We have a long night ahead, and we need to be prepared. You shouldn't push yourself. You almost died just now."
A nervous laugh escaped Tomoe before he could stop it. "I think I know that, Shinji."
The older boy's eyes flared with irritation. "Then don't waste your energy talking," Shinji snapped. The harshness in his voice was jarring, but Tomoe couldn't find it in himself to retort. Shinji had always been abrasive, but now it felt different, more real.
"I didn't see you use more spells back there," Tomoe said, unable to let the question go. "Why didn't you cast anything else when we were fighting?"
The way Shinji's expression darkened sent a shiver down Tomoe's spine. Shinji's hand twitched on the tome, fingers curling into a fist. "Because I couldn't," Shinji said, voice cold and sharp as a blade.
Tomoe opened his mouth to respond, but Shinji cut him off, his voice rising in anger. "Spare me the questions! You're lucky I got you out of there alive, and if you don't want to end up like —"
"I get it," Tomoe interrupted, more firmly than he intended. He felt the sting of the earlier scolding, but he met Shinji's eyes with his own resolve. "I'm sorry. I just—" He paused, lowering his gaze. "I need to understand, that's all."
Shinji's eyes softened just slightly, and the tension between them eased, though it still lingered in the air like a storm cloud. He sat back down, his fingers brushing over the tome as if seeking comfort. "Fine," he said, voice quieter. "But for now, rest. Saber's card will be back to full strength soon. We'll need it when we face her again."
Tomoe took a deep breath, nodding. He glanced at the card on the table, its dull glow a stark reminder of what they had lost—and what they still stood to lose. As the weight of the situation settled on his shoulders, he knew one thing: they had to be ready, no matter what it took.
Z
For those that didn't know, Tomoe Enjou is a real character made by typemoon. The company that made the fate series.
https/typemoon./wiki/Tomoe_Enjou
For many fans he is considered to be the prototype of Emiya Shirou, for some other thought Saijou Luca is the prototype for Emiya Shirou.
I myself personally prefer Tomoe as Shirou counterpart due to how similar their life ending was.
Of course if you had your own personal opinion, don't hesitate to put them in the comment.
So for those who asked if it is oc/si, technically speaking no, it's just an occ shirou with a different name.