Chapter 65: Each Heroic Spirit is Different
"Well, since I lost... According to our agreement, if you ask me, I suppose I could tell you." Erina twirled her hair around her finger as she spoke.
Although she wasn't happy about it, she would still stick to her word.
So, Erina began to tell Shirou the story of how she had been reading manga while playing a mobile game, and accidentally summoned Tomoe Gozen in the process.
"Wait, hold on—how were you reading manga and playing a game at the same time?" Shirou asked, clearly puzzled.
"Of course I was! Otherwise, that game would've been so boring. Unless I'm preparing for cooking, which I take very seriously, I usually multitask while playing FGO. I only really focus during story chapters. Otherwise, everyone plays it while doing something else," Erina replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Huh? Is that really how people play it?" Shirou asked again, still confused.
At that moment, a small voice came from his phone.
"There's nothing wrong with that. FGO's system was originally designed to help people connect with and grow fond of Heroic Spirits. Since Heroic Spirits are akin to divine beings, the more belief and admiration they receive from people, the stronger their existence becomes."
Shirou took out his phone and saw a miniature black-haired sprite appear on the screen.
"Ah, it's that little fairy I saw before," Erina said, recognizing the figure.
"Hello, Miss Erina~" the sprite—Da-chan —waved cheerfully.
"So you knew about all of this? Why didn't you tell us before?" Shirou asked Da-chan.
"Because after the recent battles, the world's restrictions on the supernatural have weakened. It's become easier for people to summon Heroic Spirits. The FGO system works like a simplified summoning circle—it offers people a channel to communicate with compatible Heroic Spirits."
"In this case, Miss Erina summoned Tomoe Gozen purely through her own talent. And since every Heroic Spirit has different goals, I can't exactly force them to help us fight."
"Wait, you mean some Heroic Spirits can be summoned even if they don't want to fight?" Shirou asked, surprised.
"Not all Heroic Spirits are battle maniacs. In fact, if they can achieve their wishes without fighting, most of them—especially the peace-loving ones—would prefer not to fight," Da-chan explained.
Tomoe Gozen, for instance, wasn't summoned when Erina was in danger.
She came to this world voluntarily, for the sole purpose of learning how to cook. So unless Erina specifically asks her to fight, she has no intention of doing so on her own.
"I'm perfectly satisfied with how things are now," Erina said while fiddling with her award certificate. "If I run into trouble, I can handle it myself. I don't want to bother anyone else. But I do need to focus entirely on my culinary training, so I'm not interested in going off to slay monsters or whatever. Of course… if one of them dares to appear right in front of me, I wouldn't mind wiping them all out."
This girl, who aspired to stand at the very peak of the culinary world, had no intention of letting so-called "monsters" interrupt her path.
"I see. If it's a decision you made with your own will, then I'll support you," Shirou looked at her and nodded.
More than involving others in dangerous fights, he truly hoped more people could just live happy, peaceful lives.
"Wh-What the heck... why are you suddenly saying something like that?"
Erina was flustered by the way Shirou was looking at her and the words he spoke. She turned her head away and blushed.
'What's with this guy? Why can he just say such embarrassing things so casually? Support me? Seriously?'
Her mind flashed back to the smug smile of the boy who had just defeated her, that irritating victorious expression.
'So annoying! He's like a buzzing bee, flitting all over the place! This weird feeling… it's making my heart itch. And it's driving me crazy!'
"Who needs your support?! That's enough already! I'm going home! But I'll say this now—I'm not giving up! Next time, I'm definitely going to beat you! And when I do, you'll have to compete with me in cooking!"
Erina pointed dramatically at Shirou, then turned to run off.
"The cooking match you mentioned… once you get into International High, we can borrow the school's kitchen and each make a dish to taste-test," Shirou called after her.
"Really? Okay! We'll do that when I get to the school!" Erina stopped mid-run, her eyes lighting up, and ran back enthusiastically.
"Wait, you haven't even been admitted yet," Shirou reminded her.
"Pfft, that's no big deal. All I have to do is make a call and the principal will admit me. Come on, let's do this match! Or better yet, let's go to the school right now!" Erina grabbed Shirou's arm eagerly, itching to start.
"Uh, we still have to attend the award ceremony tomorrow, don't we?" Shirou said helplessly, pinned by her sudden enthusiasm.
"Hey~! Erina-chan! Onii-chan! What are you two doing?"
"Shirou~!"
Suddenly, Komachi and Yuigahama came running over, waving their arms. Behind them were Yukino, Asuna, and Mash, following close behind.
"Huh? Erina-chan, are you and Onii-chan that close already?" Komachi asked in surprise. "Wow… maybe duels really are the best catalyst for developing relationships!"
She hadn't expected this proud, haughty girl to open up to her brother so quickly—barely two hours had passed!
"Wha—No! I'm just challenging him to a cooking match, that's all!" Erina quickly pulled her hand away and objected.
Nice one, Onii-chan, Komachi gave Shirou a secret thumbs-up. That's basically a win already!
"Hey Komachi, introduce us!" Yuigahama said excitedly. "Is this the girl in the cap who dueled with Shirou? She your friend?"
"Yup! Let me introduce her." Komachi turned to Erina and gestured to the others.
"Erina-chan, these ladies are all upperclassmen at International High!"
She pointed to them one by one:
"This is Yukinoshita-senpai, Yuigahama-senpai, and Yuuki-senpai."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nakiri Erina. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Erina gave a small, refined bow.
Though she carried herself with noble pride, she was not rude—her manners were actually more polished than most.
"And this is Mash-senpai, a first-year like you, and also a member of the archery club with Onii-chan," Komachi added, stepping up to Mash.
"Hello, Mash-senpai," Erina bowed politely.
"S-Senpai...?" Mash blushed slightly, feeling a little lightheaded for some reason.
In her life so far, the only feeling that came close to this kind of bliss was back in her first dream of the year in 2018— playing with Gudako-senpai, throwing a frisbee for her to fetch, and rubbing her belly.
It was that level of joy.
"Wait a minute! Why are you being so polite with everyone else? I'm your senpai too, you know!" Shirou interjected, annoyed.
"Hmph! If you want me to respect you, you'll have to beat me in cooking first," Erina huffed and turned her head away again.
"Such an unlovable kouhai… maybe Mash really is the better junior," Shirou muttered, glancing at the pink-haired girl.
Mash, however, was still completely absorbed in her fluffy daydreams.
(With the exception of a certain annoying boy…)