If there's something Shirou is uncomfortable with, it's attention. Yes, he used to be stared at when he was still competing in Kyūdō. He was the star member back then, garnering various attention from in and out of the school. The compliments, cheers and sometimes insults wash, simply wash over him. Until he quit when he got a shoulder injury.
The same could be said in his school life. He was the school brownie, always helping everyone without fail. It became a reputation of his, unofficial Janitor of Homurahara highschool. The same thing happened like always, the attention he garnered simply washed over him.
He's simply satisfied with helping others.
But now?
Shirou can't help but feel very very conscious and anxious as he follows behind Rin Tohsaka, the school idol and prodigy. Murmurs and gossip followed as they passed by the hallways. Boys gave him jealous looks and girls giggled as they whispered among each other.
If he would be honest, this kind of attention is something he wasn't ready or comfortable with.
*Thud*
A loud sound of something being dropped alerted Shirou, making him jump and look behind him. Issei, a long time friend, greeted him with jaw's slack open wide in an expression of disbelief. Scattered papers lay at his feet.
"Issei, you should be careful with these." Shirou said as he knelt down to pick up the scattered paperwork.
He can hear Rin pausing and stopping his tracks to wait behind him.
"What the hell, Emiya!?" Issei half hissed and whispered at him, slowly picking up the paperwork with him. His stalling to talk.
"What the hell did you get into with her of all people?!" Issei hissed.
"I don't know myself actually?" Shirou admitted with an uneasy grin. Which is very close to the truth. One day, he just woke up from being attacked by a man in a jumpsuit and then found out he's now a participant in what amounts to a Battle Royal to the death.
Yeah, he definitely doesn't know.
"Well, you better sort it out quickly cause I don't like you following the likes of her." Shirou rolled his eyes at his friend's suspicious glance at Tohsaka.
Who is currently tapping her foot in annoyance for the delay.
"If it helps, you're still welcome to the shrine for asylum. We might have new tenants but I'm sure you'll be welcome and away from the witch."
"I'll take that into consideration." Shirou chuckled, finally finished gathering the scattered paperwork.
With one last look at Tohsaka, Issei took his leave.
"I really don't get that guy." Rin huffs at the retreating figure.
"Don't take it seriously. Issei is just like that." Shirou placates her.
In truth, Issei's dislike and suspicions on Tohsaka is rooted in the fact that she's too perfect. Too beautiful, perfect personality, and academic? That's like a dream person and not a real one. Naturally, the monk in training is skeptical of her and theorizes that Tohsaka is just wearing a mask.
Something that he always shares with him.
"Why would I care? He is unimportant to me." Rin threw her hair back, resuming their walk.
Shirou can only laugh lightly at her dismissal.
It's better than her turning it into a vendetta against the poor monk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So who's this priest by the way?" Shirou suddenly asked while they're on the road. The sun is still bright in the afternoon and traffic is picking up slowly.
Currently, the two are on a sidewalk on a stroll towards the small church.
"He's an old family friend. He's been my teacher and guardian since my parents died."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Rin huffed.
She doesn't need pity.
"Kirei's the son of the previous priest, who is also the previous mediator of the Holy Grail War years ago. He was my father's apprentice before he got killed in the 4th Holy Grail War."
"There's a 4th? Wait, does that means-"
"This would be the 5th Holy Grail War? Yes." Rin confirmed with a shrug.
"What? Why?" Shirou frowned, "Why would a Battle Royale for a wish granting device repeat multiple times? Can the Grail be used again after a wish?"
"Obviously not." Rin scoffs.
"The reason why there's 5 Holy Grail Wars is because no one actually won it since the ritual began." Shirou blinked in confusion.
No one won? How?
Seeing his look of bewilderment, Rin decided to elaborate further as they walk.
"The Holy Grail War is a ritual. A ritual meant to reach the ultimate goal of any magi, to reach the Root of Akasha and no, I won't bother telling you what the Root is cause you'll definitely ignore it." Rin gave him a pointed look.
"The ritual was created by three notable magi families. The Einzbern, they created the Holy Grail. The Makiri, they made the command seals to bind the Heroic Spirits summoned for the ritual. Lastly, the Tohsaka who provided the land for the ritual."
"Unfortunately, the ritual demands seven masters. As such, four outsiders would be invited to witness the ritual. But when the ritual came, they found out only one person can be granted one wish. Of course this didn't align with the main three families as they each have selfish wishes and the four outsiders have their own agenda."
"And so began the Holy Grail War."
"Ooh. That's… educating." Shirou mumbled.
"But what happened in the previous wars?" Rin raised an eyebrow at his question but decided to humor Shirou for now.
"The first war was the mutual destruction of all servants. No winner."
"The second was the experimental run of the war, where rules and regulations were advised. Same results as the first."
"Then the 3rd Holy Grail War happened."
"What happened?" Shirou asked as Rin paused.
"I don't know much but they said it's the most brutal Holy Grail War to date. It's the time when the church decided to facilitate the war to ensure secrecy and minimize the damage of the war. Unfortunately, the war just happened right in the middle of World War 2."
"Ooh."
"Yeah. Ohh," Rin parroted, "It was a messy ordeal with what I can dig up. Nazi's fought here on Japanese soil, somehow they got invited and the Japanese government decided they didn't like them. The entire war was a mess but not only that, this time the Masters were prepared."
"Prepared?"
"Remember the 1st and 2nd wars? The first one is just the first ritual where everyone is as clueless as you. The second is when rules are just being established, experimenting on what is allowed and not. By the time the 3rd ritual rolled by, the three families were prepared to fight to the death and the same can be said to the four outsiders who were invited to this prestigious ritual."
"Prestigious? How can a Ritual where people kill each other just for a wish prestigious?" Shirou bristled, finding such notions very disturbing.
Rin gave him a look.
"For someone who practices magecraft, you're too soft. For us magus, anything is allowed as long as it advances our magecraft."
"Even if it means doing less than moral actions."
Shirou didn't like that notion one bit. Are all magi like this? Is he an outlier?
Is Rin just like Issei said? Someone not to be trusted.
"I wouldn't accept that." He clenched his fist.
"Good." Huh?
"What do you mean, Tohsaka-san?"
She didn't answer. She just continued to walk.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the church.
At the front, a smiling man greeted them.
Somehow, Shirou felt disturbed seeing the man smile.
It's just…unnatural.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question:
Why is Shirou damned curious? He wasn't like this in any Fate route?
-The answer is because he got some sleep. What? Didn't you know a good night's sleep makes your head think clearly?
In the three routes, Shirou was introduced to the Grail War in the same night he was stabbed, died, resuscitated back to life, attacked again, summoned Saber, and then met Rin who brought him to Kirei to register as the last Master or Saber's Master.
Yeah, the boy's probably exhausted that night. I would!
Now give me your stones! Or I'll make an FGO Fic and you won't like that Timeline!