Chapter 10: I've Reserved Saber
After witnessing Rin leave with the newly transferred boy and girl, the three girls eating their lunch boxes began to discuss the situation.
"Oh, Yuki got dumped. See, I told you—Tohsaka didn't bring a lunch box. If you're going to invite her, you have to prepare a meal for her~"
"Makidera, does that mean we should just go to the cafeteria too?"
"No way, the cafeteria is too small; there aren't enough seats for the lunch box group. Besides, try sitting with Tohsaka—the boys' stares are so annoying. On a holiday once, the two of us went out to play, but that girl was the only one who got all the attention."
Kaede Makidera spoke carelessly around Yukika Saegusa's desk. Contrary to her sharp tongue, Kaede Makidera was a beauty who looked very good in a kimono.
"Makidera, watch those bad things you say; be careful Miss Tohsaka doesn't hear you."
On the other side, Kane Himuro had a cold and stoic vibe, in contrast to the noisy Makidera.
"What? It's fine to complain a little, right? Be more generous; Tohsaka and I are on very good terms."
Puffing out her cheeks and twirling her disposable chopsticks, Kaede Makidera spoke. No one would imagine that her hobby was actually collecting wind chimes.
"Still, Tohsaka seems to be on very good terms with that transfer student. She hadn't mentioned this at all before."
Makidera recalled for a moment.
"Why do you think people would tell you everything?" Kane Himuro said in a freezing tone.
"...Do you think Tohsaka would tell me if I asked?" Makidera said curiously.
"That wouldn't be good, asking about things others don't want to talk about..." Yukika Saegusa said with some concern.
"I'll try asking the next time we go shopping. That girl is super scary when she narrows her eyes. I'm telling you, the last time we went to play baseball, she kept that exact expression, and then..."
At this point, Kaede Makidera suddenly shivered and let out a "Yikes—!" sound.
...
"Achoo!"
While returning to the classroom after finishing lunch, Rin suddenly sneezed.
"Did you catch a cold?" Shirou asked.
"No... I don't think so..." Rin shook her head with some confusion.
"Speaking of which, does Rin intend to participate in this Holy Grail War?" Shirou changed the subject.
"I..." Rin twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, hesitating on whether to speak.
"If you're going to participate, I'll have to defeat you personally. Don't cry then," Shirou laughed.
"I won't lose to you!" Rin said with full confidence. "I will absolutely summon the strongest Saber, and then I'll defeat you fair and square. Just you wait and see!"
"I've already reserved Saber. Pick a different one," Shirou said suddenly.
"Huh?"
Rin was instantly filled with confusion.
"What are you talking about? Saber should be mine!"
Rin grew anxious, and her voice involuntarily got a bit louder, drawing curious looks from the surrounding students. Being watched by so many people, Rin restrained herself slightly.
"Then let's see who can summon her. Anyway, Rin, you don't have a Saint Graph (Catalyst), do you?"
"I..." Rin couldn't help but be stunned.
She indeed hadn't prepared something like a Saint Graph. Most importantly, she didn't know how to obtain a catalyst for the strongest Saber. In Rin's understanding, among all Servants, Heroic Spirits of the Saber class were the strongest.
"Even without a Saint Graph, I will summon the strongest Servant!"
Casting those words, Rin walked back to the classroom aggressively.
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Time soon arrived at the end of the school day.
"Class is dismissed. Those on duty please confirm the classroom log and lock the door. Students without club activities, please go home quickly."
Leaving behind the standard lines, the homeroom teacher of Class 2-A departed.
Rin walked a bit faster; it seemed she was motivated and wanted to rush home to summon her Servant. Shirou, however, left unhurriedly with Sakura.
"Are you heading back?" They happened to run into Ayako Mitsuzuri, who was headed to the Archery Club.
"Yes, I have some business today, so I'm heading back early," Shirou replied, while Sakura also smiled and gave a slight nod.
"I see. See you tomorrow then~"
After saying this, Ayako Mitsuzuri waved to them, turned around, and walked briskly toward the Archery Club.
"Let's go too, Sakura."
"Mm." The girl followed obediently by his side as they walked down the path together.
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At nightfall.
In the backyard of his home, Shirou began to draw a magic circle. He held the "Excalibur" he had created himself, tracing it back and forth on the somewhat hard, dry soil.
"Hmm... right here. I'll just erase the traces once it's finished."
Shirou looked at the magic circle he had drawn and nodded with satisfaction.
"Then, let's begin."
Since he possessed "Avalon," a catalyst that could 100% successfully summon her, there was no need to prepare other materials. Simply drawing the magic circle meant the preparations were complete.
Of course, with Shirou's current strength, he could even go directly to the Throne of Heroes to snatch someone, and Gaia and Alaya could only watch him act willfully while trembling.
The longsword held in his hand began to bloom with the brilliance of magical energy; the dense blue light illuminated the backyard increasingly brightly. The blue magical light followed the sword's tip as it left marks on the ground; even though the magic circle was already drawn, the magical energy, filled to excess, did not completely lose its light.
While chanting the incantation, Shirou took out the scabbard, "Avalon," and placed it in the center of the magic circle.
"This should do it..."
Then, Shirou took a few steps back.
"I declare—"
The moment the incantation was uttered, the patterns of the blood-red Command Seals manifested on the back of Shirou's right hand.
"So they've appeared..."
Shirou had been recognized by the Holy Grail for his will to fight, gaining the qualification to participate. However, his current strength was already far beyond the Grand rank. If he were to activate a "Another Cosmology" (Simulated Star Chart), it would be a direct dimensional strike. But that didn't mean Shirou could do whatever he wanted; after all, in this chaotic world, even stronger existences might exist.
"Thy body shall be under my command, and my fate shall be at thy sword. In response to the Holy Grail's summoning, if thou wilt abide by this will and this reason, then answer me!"
The sensation of magical energy surrounded his entire body, and the light of magic began to bloom wildly.
"I am the one who shall achieve all the good in the world; I am the one who shall lay out all the evil in the world!"
The feeling of full-body pain from his first summoning was completely absent this time. This bit of magical pressure was nothing to Shirou.
"Seven days clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of deterrence, Saber! This time, I will fulfill my promise!"
Boom—!
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