The clock on the wall ticked past 8 o'clock.Its subtle rhythm barely registered beneath the warmth of the kotatsu and the lingering scent of dinner.
Yuigahama's gaze lock on it for a moment longer. She gently set down her bowl, then turned with a small, polite smile.
"…I think I should go now. Thanks for the food, Emiyachi."
Shirou gave a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Of course. Come by anytime you want."
"Eh? Really?"The girl blinked, clearly caught off guard by his casual invitation.
"Yeah," Shirou replied, his tone quiet but certain. "Komachi's planning to move in with our parents once she starts high school.I figured… it'd be better if this place didn't get too lonely."
The girl smiled brightly, her voice light with excitement."Ehehe… I guess I can drop by sometimes, then."
Komachi, watching the two from the side, narrowed her eyes slightly as she sipped her soup.(Is… is my brother entering his popular phase or something?)
"Oni-chan, wouldn't it be better if you actually walked Yuigahama home?"Komachi spoke casually, feigning innocence—though her smirk betrayed the spark of mischief behind the suggestion. Perhaps… she simply wished to support her brother's long-dormant youth.
"Eh? You really don't have to—" Yui began, flustered.
But Shirou had already stood, brushing aside any hesitation."That's quite a good idea, isn't it?" he said, turning toward her."Lead the way, then, Yui."He smiled—a smile so warm, so unexpectedly sincere, it might've been stronger than any confession.
Yuigahama blinked. Just once.(That smile… might be illegal.)
--
info break
Did you know, Karna only can use vasavi shakti one times use? yeah the moment he use it he cant use it again. although if get a proper mana suplies he technically can use it again. But it like need having two master at the sametimes
other then that, despite it true capability to erase somethings, it fails to overpower Akhilleus Kosmos due to its unique properties. Even though the light of the spear melted, boiled and trampled upon its world, the Shield was able to endure it as Vasavi Shakti's power is enough to destroy a "single" existence whether that be a person, an army, a fortress or a God. But it's unable to destroy Achilles' world as killing a God does not mean killing a world. If the god is killed, then all that's left is a world without a god. Even without a god, the vast skies, earth, oceans will continue to limitlessly spread, mankind's triumphant song will continue to resound. What thwarted the spear was the world itself. After completely blocking the blast, the shield was destroyed as enduring the might of the spear was too much.
--
The two could be seen walking together under the deepening sky. It was already past 8 p.m.—the sun long set—leaving only the faint orange residue of twilight bleeding into the dark. Streetlamps flickered to life one by one, casting golden halos on the pavement as their footsteps echoed softly in the quiet neighborhood.
A light breeze whispered past them. Yui held her hands behind her back, walking at a steady pace beside him.
"You know, Emiyachi… I always thought you were that guy. The one who never wanted to talk to anyone."
(…Should I apologize for that?)Shirou felt a flicker of guilt rise in his chest. It wasn't him that gave off that impression—it was the version of himself that belonged to this world. Still, hearing her say it so gently made something ache.
"But I guess I was completely wrong," she continued, her voice softer than before, nearly drowned out by the rustling leaves.
"Ahahaha, I guess I can be a little unsocial sometimes," he replied, eyes forward, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
They continued walking—turning corners, passing dimly lit shops and quiet homes—until they finally stopped in front of a two-story pink house.
"Huh, your house's pretty close to mine," Shirou said, glancing at the building. "Guess the idea of you having dinner at my place wasn't that far-fetched after all, huh?"
He smiled lightly.
"E-Emiyachi, don't say stuff like that," Yui replied, her voice flustered, cheeks puffing out as she smiled anyway. He didn't notice how brightly she was beaming behind him.
Then, something clicked in his head.
(Wait… now that I think about it, I don't think this version of me ever told her where I live…)
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Hey, Yuigahama… I don't think I ever told you about my house. So how did you—?"
"AHAHAHAHA bye Emiyachi!" she laughed a little too loudly and sprinted toward her front door.
He blinked.
She grabbed the handle, then turned around just before stepping inside. The porch light illuminated her cheerful expression.
"Thanks for today!" she said, voice warm and genuine.
The door shut behind her.
Shirou stood there for a few seconds longer, hand in his pocket, staring up at the quiet stars.
"…That was strange," he murmured.
But somehow, not unpleasant.
--
e walked back alone.
The flickering streetlights cast uneven shadows across the pavement, and the quiet hum of the neighborhood buzzed softly in the background. No cars passed. No voices echoed. Just the sound of his footsteps against the cooling asphalt.
It was peaceful. Almost too peaceful.
(Why do I feel like something's wrong?)The thought came unbidden.
His steps didn't slow, but his senses sharpened. The weight in his chest wasn't quite fear—but it was close. An unease, subtle yet persistent, gnawed at the back of his mind.
But…
(Then again, this isn't really my heart, is it?)
He clenched his fist, gazing up at the dark sky.
( Maybe it's just giving me false signals.)
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching.
Halfway home, Shirou stopped walking.
There it was. That feeling again.
But this time—it wasn't subtle.
His breath stilled.
The faint pulse of the land shifted. The wind became unnaturally still. A sharp pressure gnawed at the edge of his senses, like an old instinct waking up.
Without hesitation, he called upon the circuits embedded within him—fifty in total, each clean, honed, unburdened by origin or distortion. His spine stiffened as prana surged like fire through his nerves.
"Trace, on."
Twin pulses. Two swords forged from steel and memory.
Kanshou. Byakuya.
He twisted the hilts in reverse grip.
Clang!
A spear screamed through the air—no, space itself—as if cutting through reality rather than wind. Shirou spun instinctively, bringing the twin blades to intercept.
Sparks exploded in a cascade of white and red as metal met metal.
His eyes widened. The weight. The form. That presence.
"…I thought it was just a news report," he muttered, staring at the man before him.
"You seem better than the last time I saw you, kid," the man replied with a smirk. His voice was cocky, confident, yet carried the undertone of a warrior who had lived—and died—by the spear.
Blue armor. A red spear. A wolfish grin.
Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"...Lancer."