Shirou really wanted Fou to just ram him dead.
'How am I inhuman again?'
"Mash!", His tone was stern.
Scared the poor eggplant stiff.
"H-Here!"
"How could you slander me like that."
Shirou spoke righteously, "I only want everyone to be happy!"
"..."
A crow flew overhead.
"I see, to make everyone happy."
The Little Emperor pulled a notebook out of nowhere.
"Those kinds of words…", Roman grumbled outwardly, but in his heart he had already taken note.
If the Master said it, then there must be some truth.
Shirou couldn't take it anymore. He said, "Can't you all be normal like Saber?"
Turning his head.
There was Artoria at the stall next to him, stuffing her cheeks like a hamster.
Sensing Shirou's gaze, she blinked, reluctantly passed him some food, "Shirou, do you want some too?"
"..."
Shirou slapped his forehead, nearly losing his breath. He said, "Is now really the time to eat?"
"Umu~"
"Not bad, top-class water source among C-rank."
After finishing, Shirou gave a serious review, then realized, "Wait, I'm not here to eat. I need your help, Saber."
"Help?", Artoria paused mid-bite.
"That's right, just explain our relationship a little, so my family won't misunderstand," Shirou felt relieved.
Good thing he hadn't actually messed around, or tried tricking the ahoge.
So…
"I understand."
The ahoge patted her chest, cleared the little mountain of food in one breath, then earnestly announced to everyone, "My relationship with Shirou is, we're a couple now."
BOOM!
An atom bomb, an atom bomb exploded.
At that instant, Shirou really wanted to plug his ears.
He was stupid, truly.
Knowing full well she didn't understand human feelings, and still…
As expected, the girls' eyes turned sharp.
Fujimaru Ritsuka also dropped her jaw, "I never thought Emiya-kun already had a girlfriend. So cruel."
She covered her face, sadness flowing like a river, yet her smile only grew wider.
Mash was speechless.
In the end, Shirou chose to shoulder it all, "I just wanted to eat. I happened to meet Saber, we had the same idea, so we joined the challenge together."
"I registered for the solo contest, but the staff said registration closed at 2:45, so I had no choice but to sign us up as a pair."
He could've dumped all the blame. After all, the ahoge king bore great responsibility for this mess.
But as a man, and one who had indeed taken advantage, saying so would've been irresponsible.
Shirou's heart didn't allow him to shrug it off completely.
"..."
Countless pairs of eyes bore down with crushing pressure.
At last, Illya, ever understanding, spoke, "If Shirou says so, then that's how it is. I believe you."
She showed an angelic smile.
'Truly an angel! Illya the best.‚
"Is that so," Miyu also sighed with a smile, "Onii-chan, next time you want to go, take me too. I can join."
'Miyu the best!'
"Hmph! Since Milady said so," Sella's tone softened: "I'll forgive you for now."
'Sella the best!'
"Shirou… and me," This one couldn't be promised recklessly.
So, best to say: 'Liz is the best!'
At last the situation was smoothed over, Shirou let out a breath of relief.
That was when Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly cried, "Oh no! If Emiya-kun teams with Artoria, doesn't that mean the champion just flew out of our mouths?"
She collapsed helplessly to the ground, drawing circles, "My fifty thousand yen with Mash… my couple's pendant with Mash."
'Couple's pendant', that delicate phrase instantly muddied the air again.
The girls' thoughts all tangled.
Shirou pretended not to notice.
Sometimes being a block of wood was a good thing.
At least until victory was decided, no one would move against the wood… sneak attacks not included.
———
"Looks like it's settled."
Rin Tohsaka held her empty milk-tea cup.
She saw Kaede Makidera and Yukiko Saegusa stumble back, dazed.
"What's with you two?"
Even the always composed Himuro Kane was stunned.
"N-Nothing."
Silenced, the two dared not speak a word.
In contrast, Sakura frowned and asked, "Settled? What do you mean, Onee-chan?"
"Nothing."
Rin smiles, "Sometimes learning to share, even selflessly help, will raise your place in his heart."
"..."
Sakura stared coldly for a moment, then gave a dazzling smile, "Though I don't quite understand what you mean, Onee-chan, I'll remember your advice well."
"Hope you really do remember it."
Rin didn't mind, arms crossed as she told the still-bewildered Ayako Mitsuzuri, "Let's go find Emiya."
———
Inside a private room of the Happiness Restaurant, enough to seat over ten people.
Facing Rin's half-smiling expression, Shirou rose, "Sorry, I'm going to the bathroom."
He really went to the bathroom.
Afterward, he waited at the corner of the hallway.
About five minutes later, Rin's voice came from behind, "What's with you, looking half-dead?"
Turning, Rin's delicate face was right in front of him.
"Phew~", Shirou sighed, "Just now…"
"No need for thanks."
Rin smiled, "I didn't come here to hear you say that."
"That's true."
Shirou gave a helpless smile.
"In that case then…", He leaned closer, gently putting his arms around her.
Really gently.
The kind of contact that could only be called friendly.
"!!!"
Even so, Rin froze.
She hadn't expected him to do that.
"Seriously… cheating, huh," Her face suddenly felt hot.
She recalled the good weather she'd seen upon waking this morning.
Really was a good day.
"Since I have no way to repay you, after thinking it over… this was the only thing I could do. If you don't like it…"
"No," Rin wrapped her arms back around him, shedding her shyness, speaking softly,n"It's just right."
A quiet atmosphere spread.
Not pink, but calm and gentle, blending into nature.
After a while they let go, facing Sakura's empty gaze.
"Onee-chan… Senpai."
"Sakura."
Shirou smiled, "Stomach upset? You ate a lot earlier."
"No, it's fine, just…"
"'Fine' isn't good enough. Roman's here, let him take a look."
He said this as he took her hand.
That left the girl flustered, and the black haze rising from her dissipated too.
Rin followed behind, shrugging, "Getting more and more practiced, huh."
Just like that.
Even the system acknowledged it.
[Eagle Eye: C]
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