"Rudeus, make me breakfast." Luvia's voice carried from across the room. She was already dressed in the new uniform she had gotten for Homurahara Academy. Today was the day she and her Servant would officially enroll, and she was making the final touches to her appearance.
"Ugh, you're treating me like an actual servant," Rudeus muttered as he dragged himself toward the kitchen. All morning, she'd been giving him orders, helping with her hair, preparing her bath, fetching little things. Now, apparently, breakfast was his job too.
As he cracked eggs into the pan, Rudeus couldn't help but sigh. In his head, he wished the Grail War would just hurry up and begin. He didn't dislike the peaceful days he'd been having, but this… this wasn't peaceful. This was exhausting.
"Hurry, or we'll be late. Did you prepare our bentos last night?" Luvia asked, doing final touches on her hair.
"Yes, I did. I even gave you extra, just how you like it," Rudeus replied while flipping the eggs.
She hummed approvingly and sat down at the table. "Sometimes I think I'd like to keep you as a personal servant even outside this war."
Rudeus set the plate in front of her. As a Servant, he didn't need to eat to survive, but he had made himself a bento anyway. Eating reminded him of something human, something he didn't want to forget. Even though high school in his first life had been a nightmare, he still felt a strange nostalgia for it.
"So," Luvia said, resting her chin on her palm as she watched him, "are you excited? Knowing you come from medieval Europe, I doubt you've ever experienced a normal high school. Neither have I. I grew up in the Clock Tower it's nothing like a mundane school."
"Actually, I did attend a kind of magical academy," Rudeus replied." You could call it college, but… it was strange. People could start at twelve and stay well into their twenties. How long you remained depended on skill.
"I see I caused a memory for you." Her voice softened, she held her head in her hands while watching him.
Rudeus shook his head. "You could say that. But let's not linger on the past we're running late." He used a bit of gravity magic to float his bag into his hand, slinging it over his shoulder.
Luvia giggled, watching the trick. "Showing off for me, are you? Well, I suppose there's no shame in impressing a beautiful woman." She flicked her hair, making sure he noticed the way the new uniform suited her.
Rudeus stole a glance before quickly turning away. "I won't let my Master tease me," he muttered, walking toward the door.
"Aww, looks like my Servant's getting flustered," she mocked with a grin.
He ignored her and kept walking. She caught up, shoes clicking, and asked, "Do you even know the way?"
"Yesterday, I scouted the path to the school. I could get us there faster, if you want," Rudeus said casually.
Luvia shook her head. "No. I'd rather take my time. I like enjoying the scenery." Her eyes lingered on the cars and trees passing by, her expression soft.
Rudeus glanced at the watch on his wrista gift from Luvia so he could tell time properly. He also carried a phone, though he barely used it, too focused on preparations for the war.
"Gosh, Rudeus. You're so tense I can practically feel it"
He cut her off midsentence, bolting ahead. "Hey, Rin! Didn't think you'd get to school this late."
Rin turned, already irritated at the familiar voice. When her eyes landed on him, she sighed heavily. "What did I say about calling me that? I don't know you. And for your information, you're early, not late." She jabbed an accusatory finger at him.
Rudeus raised his hands innocently. "Come on, Rin, don't be like that. I just want you to show me around school. Please?" He gave her his warmest smile.
Her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles went white. Her whole body shook with irritation. Then she swung a punch into his arm. "Hurry up." She stomped off, her pace quick and sharp.
Rudeus rubbed his arm but smiled faintly, jogging to catch up and strike up conversation.
Behind them, Luvia stopped dead in her tracks, her jaw dropping. "How dare he cut me off to run after her of all people…" Her voice was scandalized, as if someone had insulted her family name to her face.
She switched to the mental link between them. "What do you think you're doing?! And how do you even know Rin?!" Her irritation seethed in his head.
"It happened last night. Now leave me alone I'm trying to gather intel," Rudeus answered calmly, shrugging her off.
Luvia clicked her tongue and shook her head as she walked through the gates, glaring daggers at him from behind. "Servants are so troublesome."
While walking and chatting with Rin more like Rudeus talking and Rin trying to get him away. He went past an auburn haired boy. "Hello tohsaka" said the boy. Rin just looked at the boy "hello shirou." And then coldly walked past him. Rudues just looked at the both of them and shrugged and kept following Rin. "What was that about?" Rudeus asked. Rin just flicked her hand "it's nothing." She said dismissively. Rudeus just hummed he wanted to probe a little more
"So who even was that?" He asked while looking at her. She stayed quiet for a bit then answered. "That's shirou emiya, nothing really too special to say about him he goes around fixing everything at school so you'll definitely see him around." I kept walking at a steady pace.
"I think I get it, that is why you don't like him?" He said run just glared at him. "Again you're digging into my life, you're like a parasite." She said gritting her teeth.
"Calm down Rin I'm sorry I just wanna get to know you." He said putting his arm on her shoulder.
She quickly moved her arm. "What if I don't want you to know me, have you ever thought about that?" She kept her back turned to Rudeus. "Leave me alone and that's it if you don't you'll see what will happen."
Just then she walked into the classroom and didn't give him a single second glance. "Very much rude." Rudeus said, looking at the young girl walking to her seat. The whole irony of this situation is this is my class. As he was in thought he smelled a sweet scent that he knew. "So it seems like your little tour is over." Luvia said mockingly he turned around exasperated.
"To think my own servant would blow me off for the enemy, the world must be upside down." Luvia said she looked into the classroom and saw Rin. "Hmph to think my enemy is a loner with no friends it's a sad sight." She said with a slight frown.
"Well you don't have any friends either." Rudeus said with a grin. Luvia just chuckled at this. "Said who?" She said confidently. Jsut sent 2 girls came over "Edelfelt let us show you around the school since your new and we can sit together at lunch." The two girls said excitement clear on their face.
Luvia just smirked at Rudeus "toodeloo" ; she was then pulled away by the two girls who started chatting her up. "When did she have the time to make friends?" Rudues was shocked soon he just shrugged and went into the class this was just the beautiful girl aura in action.
He chose the seat right next to Rin. She looked clearly annoyed. "Hey at least act like you don't hate me you know your my only friend." She said putting his bag down.
She clicked her tongue and chuckled. "Who said we're friends?" She looked at Rudeus clearly mocking him. He just smiled at this "Me I'm your first friend I can tell you don't have any."
Quickly, her whole mood shifted, and she went back to ignoring him.
"You know, Rin, a beautiful girl like you shouldn't be frowning so much. It might cause wrinkles," Rudeus said, stifling a chuckle.
Before he could laugh, a ruby flew straight at his face. His instincts flared, and for a split second he almost cast a spell to block it. But he caught himself, restraining the urge.
"Huh?" he muttered, looking down at the gem that clinked on the ground. "Where did this ruby come from?" He bent down and picked it up, feigning confusion. I know exactly who threw this… to think she'd actually use magecraft on a supposed civilian. That's cold.
Rin didn't even flinch. She just stared at him with a flat expression, though he swore he caught the smallest twitch of her lips like she was laughing inside.
"I don't know," she said dryly, "but it must be an attack from the gods to shut you up."
"You know, Rin," he said, rolling the ruby between his fingers, "looking at this gem kind of reminds me of you. You're like a ruby, beautiful, precious, waiting for someone to find you."
Rin rolled her eyes so hard he thought they might get stuck. "You're like another Shinji." Her voice dripped with annoyance.
Somehow, Rudeus felt deeply offended, even though he had no idea who Shinji was.
Damn, that stings. Whoever this Shinji guy is, he better not be some loser. No way I'm being compared to trash.
Still, he brushed it off. Playing the role of an overly flirty high school boy was fun. In his first life, he never got to do this; he'd been too shy, too fat, too scared of rejection. But now? He was strong, handsome, and no high school girl in this world could intimidate him. Though it is exhausting to keep acting like this I'd rather probably be preparing for the war.
Just glancing around the classroom gave him a wave of nostalgia. I could really get used to this…
Omake
"Hey, Caster, why are you being so flirty with Rin? And also shouldn't you be using honorifics?" Luvia asked, arms crossed.
"Well, you see," Rudeus replied, shaking his head like a wise old man, "the author is a lazy American who refuses to use honorifics. A true shame to all weebs."
Luvia gasped, putting a hand to her chest. "Now that you mention it, you're right. When you were summoned, you should have addressed me by my family name! And when he writes about me, it should be Edelfelt!" She posed dramatically, finger raised.
"No, no, that's just because the author hates typing your last name. Says it's too long and complicated. Something like… uh… Edel-flet? Edlefart? Whatever." Rudeus waved dismissively.
"How dare you disrespect the Edelfelt name!" Luvia stomped her foot, eyes blazing. "I'll make you lick my feet a thousand times for that!"
"Heh. Author, I know you're a foot fetishist, but this isn't that kind of story. You've been reading too much of 'Cote: I Want to Grant Your Wish,' and now it's corrupting how you write." Rudeus pointed at the screen, scowling. "Also, could you write longer scenes? It feels like you're pumping these out at three in the morning with zero planning."
A/N: "…."
"You know, don't you find it weird you're basically talking to yourself right now?" Rudeus said, glaring at the void.
A/N: "That's it. You're dying in a tragic love story."
"NO! PLEASE! ANYTHING BUT THE SHIROU AND SABER ENDING!" Rudeus screamed in horror