At four in the morning, the harbor already had people setting out to sea.
The sound of container transport never stopped.
Shirou jogged along the coastal highway, every now and then a small car passed him by.
'I guess this counts as enjoying the sea breeze, right, System-san?'
The system was as cold as always.
Shirou was used to it.
Passing by the school gate where the cherry blossoms had already fallen, he went to the infirmary to report his safety to Romani.
After about five minutes he left, heading to the training field.
'System-san, for my sake, burn yourself out with passion!'
Assassin Black A logged in. System-Shirou, face expressionless, began training.
.
.
.
An hour later, close to six, training was complete.
Strength increased significantly, agility increased slightly.
From Shirou's own feeling, he believed, strength was about to level up.
On the distant horizon, the white belly of dawn appeared like a fish turning over, followed by faint red clouds.
The rising sun heralded revival of the earth.
Romani appeared on the field wearing his white coat, hands in his pockets, smiling as he asked, "Shall we go grab breakfast together?"
"The cafeteria?", Shirou wiped away his sweat.
Some sports clubs, in order to aim for the nationals, came to school early to train.
So the academy's cafeteria also opened earlier.
"Of course, my treat."
"Much obliged!"
Shirou walked alongside him.
Halfway there, Romani asked, "Where's your jacket?"
He remembered Shirou had been wearing one when he left.
"It got torn by a trash bin. I was worried I'd be scolded if I brought it home, so I just threw it away," Shirou said it carelessly.
Romani's eyelid twitched, "Throwing it away means you won't be scolded?"
Shirou looked at the early birds in the sky, "Teacher Romani, what do you want to eat?"
"Hmm… ramen, I guess," Romani thought for a moment.
"Then I'll have ramen too."
"You? Is that enough?"
"If it's not, I'll just have ten more bowls."
"—_—"
Romani fell silent, quietly reaching into his lab coat pocket to count his money.
Only when he confirmed he had enough did he feel reassured.
In the end…
After Shirou had eaten thirty bowls, his gaze sincere, "Thank you for the meal, Teacher Romani."
"N… not at all!"
Romani, who had relied on a teacher's honor to put the bill on credit, was under enormous pressure.
'I'm a fool, truly.'
'I clearly knew ten bowls wouldn't be enough for him, and yet I still clung to hope.'
From today on, Romani decided he would only ever treat Shirou to buffets.
Once off work, he'd scout every buffet restaurant in Fuyuki City.
They parted ways in the courtyard.
Shirou walked toward the school gate.
His nutrition was barely replenished.
"Good morning, Jeanne-senpai."
This time Shirou hadn't forgotten the name of the disciplinary committee member.
Standing at the gate checking on student conduct, Jeanne didn't answer right away, her gaze scanning over Shirou again and again.
Shirou realized something was wrong.
He seemed to not be wearing his school uniform.
"Emiya, I saw yesterday's duel. Quite impressive."
Jeanne first praised him with high EQ, then turned the topic, "But, why weren't you wearing your uniform yesterday?"
"Sorry, I slept in the infirmary and didn't go home. I'll have my sister bring it," Saying so, he took out his phone.
"Onii-chan!", Seeing Shirou unharmed, Miyu lit up with joy. Because they were at school, she didn't throw herself into him right away.
Illya, however, had no such restraint, "Shirou!"
The smiling girl dove straight into his arms.
"Good morning, Illya, Miyu."
Shirou hugged Illya while patting Miyu on the head.
Miyu, unhappy a second ago, was now smiling happily the next.
Backpack on her shoulders, she smiled shyly, "Mm, good morning, Onii-chan."
"Good morning, Shirou," Having absorbed her fill of brotherly energy, Illya returned to being polite.
She stepped out of his arms, retreated a little, and greeted him with a light smile.
Then, worried, she asked, "How's your body? No discomfort anywhere?"
"Relax, I just ate thirty bowls of ramen. I feel great," Shirou flexed his budding biceps.
Miyu covered her mouth, laughing, "Onii-chan can joke now? You used to not even finish two bowls."
It was true. In the past, one bowl of ramen was enough for Shirou.
Illya, however, was curious, "Shirou ate that little?"
"Right," she called to Liz, who had just parked and come over, "the uniform."
"Mine?", Shirou saw the uniform in Liz's hands.
There could be no doubt, the boys' uniform could only be his.
Outside, Liz might have been the perfect maid, but now she earnestly and carefully placed the uniform in Shirou's hands and said, "Young master Shirou, your uniform."
"You don't have to be so serious about it," Feeling Liz was unusually strict today, Shirou took the uniform.
"...", Ignoring him, Liz turned to Illya and Miyu, bowing respectfully, "Mission complete. I'll head home first. Wishing milady and Miss Miyu a pleasant day at school."
The subtext was clear, this wasn't some perfect maid. She was an extremely petty maid with a strong grudge.
She was probably angry he hadn't taken care of his body.
There was no way Liz didn't know about yesterday.
Watching her leave, Shirou chose not to think about it for now.
If he needed to apologize, it would have to wait until after school.
Now it was time to head to the Kendo Club for practice.
Pulling on his uniform, Shirou apologized to Jeanne, who had been silent all this while, "Sorry for leaving you hanging, Jeanne-senpai."
"It's fine."
Jeanne smiled, "It was my negligence not to first ask about your health."
"There's really nothing wrong with me. Not something that needed concern."
After a few more words with Jeanne, Shirou left with Illya and Miyu.
"You two came pretty early today."
Normally they arrived around eight.
"We wanted to come earlier."
Miyu pouted, "Onii-chan sent us away yesterday, I couldn't sleep all night."
"Mm, that was my fault."
Shirou smiled, apologizing, "Next time I'll be careful not to get myself hurt."
Illya hugged his arm, her crimson eyes sparkling with joy, "It's wonderful Shirou can think that way."
"Mm, Onii-chan," Miyu also smiled.
The three split up at the activity building.
———
"This time Fuji-nee is going to suffer."
On the way to the Kendo Club, Miyu held Shirou's hand, snickering.
"No helping it. If she did something wrong, she has to face it herself."
Shirou was helpless, remembering how Illya, upon learning he had joined the Kendo Club, had gone from shocked, to confused, to downright furious.
Shouting about assassinating that tiger.
"Onii-chan, if you're there, will Illya also come to the Kendo Club?", Miyu was worried.
Not because she thought Illya would distract Shirou in Kendo Club.
But because Illya had her own friends in Track and Field, and if she abandoned them it wouldn't be good.
'Yes, that is exactly the reason.'
'Absolutely no other little thoughts,' Miyu's delicate face showed serious thought.
She was Illya's best friend. What bad intentions could she possibly have?
"She won't," Shirou smiled, "Illya's very happy in Track and Field. At most she might dual-join the Kendo Club, dropping by now and then."
The academy didn't forbid students from joining two clubs.
As long as the club advisors approved.
For Illya, if she wanted to, there'd basically be no problem.
"Alright then."
If it was only occasional, Miyu could barely accept it.
[T/N: 🔥A new book is up— "Emiya in Honkai: Star Rail". Make sure to check it out and support. Have a great read~🙇]
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