With just minutes left before registration closed, Shirou and the Ahoge King managed to make it in time.
"You, help us register."
Shirou spoke quickly, "Single challenge."
"Single challenge?"
The sweet-looking staff member froze, her hand still holding the couple's challenge registration form.
Looking at Shirou and Artoria, she smiled brightly, "Understood."
Seeing the registration process go smoothly, Shirou let out a breath of relief and said to Artoria:
"Saber, for this eating contest, you can also register as a single participant. It's just that the couple's challenge has richer rewards. If it's only for eating, registering as single is fine."
Holding up her skirt, Artoria's delicate face looked a bit puzzled.
"Why is it that every version I hear is different?"
She vaguely sensed something…
"All done, guests, I hope you enjoy yourselves."
The sweet staff member's voice was cheerful after completing the process.
"Thank you."
Shirou politely accepted the form.
Then—
"Wait a second, isn't this wrong?"
Shirou pointed at the form, doubtful, "I asked for 'single,' two 'single' registrations, not 'couple.'"
"Sorry," The staff, well-practiced, replied with a sweet smile, "Single registrations closed at 2:40. If you don't want to do the couple's challenge, then there's no way to participate."
"No…"
'…way,' He didn't even finish.
Artoria instantly entered battle mode, her straightforward gaze pressing on the staff member.
"Understood. Couple it is."
On the battlefield, there was no male or female, only friend or foe.
Besides, the red-haired boy before her who looked exactly like Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't seem like a bad person.
At the very least, he hadn't tried to trick her.
But what Shirou wanted to say was not this.
With Artoria's words hammering the matter down, he only felt his scalp go numb, a chill rushing out of the top of his skull.
The only thing worth being thankful for was that no acquaintances were here.
'As long as it stays secret, there shouldn't be a problem… right?'
All in all, Shirou's heart was overflowing with unease.
Just eating a meal somehow felt more nerve-wracking than fighting in the Holy Grail War.
———
The clock moved to three o'clock.
Finally arriving late, Roman parked the car and headed to the atrium of 71 International.
"Emiya should have already signed up, right?", He muttered while pulling out his phone.
The message screen still showed two minutes ago, where he had asked if everything went smoothly.
There was no reply.
Roman guessed it must have gone fine, and once the contest started, Shirou was too busy eating to answer.
Anyway, speculation was pointless, a look would tell him.
"Whew!"
Catching registration at the very last second, Mash and an exuberantly confident Nero arrived at the contest venue.
"Please wait in the rest area for now. Currently, the single challenge is underway. Once it's over, it will be the couple's turn."
The staff smiled, then left.
Mash, who had been stiff and silent the entire way, finally relaxed.
And then she was startled by the sight before her.
At the center of the contest, a huge crowd had gathered. Temporary stands had been built, massive in size, with a display area enclosed in transparent glass.
Inside were dazzling food props: giant golden crispy fries, brightly colored cartoon cakes, flowing sushi platters, and finely carved ice goblets filled with beautiful shimmering liquids.
These seemed to be only for display.
The contestants waited beneath the stands.
All the single challengers added up to about a hundred people.
Some looked eager and ready to go.
But most just stared with interest at the food on the stands.
"So few!", Mash had thought there would be more.
Spectators, however, were numerous, cramming the entire area.
Seeing this, Nero nodded in satisfaction, spreading her arms with confidence, "Umu, so the contest is about to begin?"
"Though not quite on par with the festivals I host, it is still worthy of note."
"But speaking of contests, it would surely be best if I, the Flower of Olympus, presided over it," Nero said it as if it were only natural.
Her words drew the gaze of all the waiting couples around them.
Mash, dressed as a boy, immediately froze stiff, cold sweat beginning to bead.
'Please stop talking, Your Majesty!'
Mash wanted to cry.
———
As for Shirou, he was even stiffer than Mash, especially when he spotted Illya, Miyu, Rin, and Sakura among the spectators, his whole body turning cold.
'What to do? Can he still escape now?'
He glanced at the Ahoge, whose eyes were already burning with hunger.
No mistake about it, running was also a dead end.
Disguise?
Don't even joke. He couldn't guarantee anyone else, but Illya and Miyu would 100% recognize him.
'No solution!'
Shirou felt utterly lifeless.
'I'm so stupid, really.'
'Why not just eat at a buffet, why did I have to risk my life for 300,000 yen?'
Before the contest began, Illya looked around.
"What is it, milady?", Sella asked.
"Strange," Illya thought for a moment, then voiced her doubt, "I feel like Shirou is here."
"Illya feels that too?"
Miyu was surprised, "I thought it was just my imagination."
"Hearing you say that…", Sella's crimson eyes swept suspiciously around, pausing briefly on the stunning girl in a pure white gown before looking away.
"Just now, I really did feel that guy's gaze."
"For real?", Kaede Makidera laughed, "Are you all radar detectors named Emiya?"
No one answered her lame joke.
The girls' expressions varied.
Especially Rin, her eyes narrowed the instant she spotted the Ahoge King.
Noticing that look, Shirou, who had ordered the system to max out concealment, nearly had his heart jump out of his chest.
'Don't notice… don't notice…'
So nervous he was practically casting mental magic, which showed just how much pressure he was under.
"Why are you hiding, Shirou?", Artoria asked in confusion.
After a brief exchange, the two had gotten roughly familiar with each other and even exchanged names.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't very polite to just call him Shirou.
But Artoria simply felt it was natural.
Same reason Shirou called her Saber.
Hearing the Ahoge King's words, Shirou put a finger to his lips, signaling her not to ask anything or say anything.
He knew this wasn't a long-term solution, but he'd drag it out as long as he could.
At the same time, Shirou called on the system, 'System-san, projection, give me any disguise.'
Whether it could hide him or not, better to try.
And at that moment, Nero finally noticed the Ahoge King's presence, especially that gown she was wearing.
At the same time, Artoria also noticed Nero.
The instant the two locked eyes…
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