After spending some time in the dream, Shirou's consciousness returned to his body. When I slowly opened my eyes, I realized that it was already morning.
"Why did it happen... last night?"
Shirou frowned, puzzled that he would enter the Reality Marble under those circumstances. However, an Inherent Enchantment is the closest thing to true Magic, so it is not surprising that it possesses mysterious qualities. Shirou didn't think much more of it; he simply stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down.
Looking down from the upper floors of the hotel, you can see the bustling center of the city. Although it was still relatively early—Shirou checked the time and saw it was just past 6:50—there were already many pedestrians on the street below. Most were office workers in formal clothes, along with some students heading to school.
"Hmm... It looks like I am going to school today, too..."
Shirou suddenly remembered his responsibilities, and his face became heavy with sadness. Not only was he busy saving Fuyuki City, but he also had to attend those boring elementary school classes. Additionally, he had to put a lot of effort into outmaneuvering other magi. Shirou didn't waste any more time; after speaking with Sakura, he headed in the direction of the school.
...
At dusk, the day ended after a series of tedious lessons. At the end of school, Shirou walked out of the gate with the crowd, planning to visit Sakura's hotel first. Suddenly, Shirou sensed something approaching him from behind and reflexively turned his head.
"Ah!"
Rin, who had intended to pat Shirou on the shoulder, was frightened by his sudden movement. Her outstretched right hand stopped in mid-air.
"It's Rin. What is the matter?" Shirou asked.
"No, nothing. I just wanted to ask you something about magecraft," the twin-tailed girl said with a hesitant look in her eyes.
"Huh?"
Shirou couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. As the young lady of the Tohsaka family, coming to a lone magus to ask for techniques was unusual. If Tohsaka Tokiomi knew about this, he would likely have a heart attack. Shirou didn't expose her lack of caution and accompanied her for a while.
"Shirou, do you know about the Holy Grail War?"
As they were walking, Rin suddenly asked this question, causing Shirou to frown.
"I know... Why do you ask?"
"Is it true that the person who wins at the end can obtain a universal wishing cup that grants any wish?" Rin asked curiously.
"Ah... about that..." Shirou hesitated for a moment, then finally replied, "It is fake."
"Huh!?"
Rin was stunned for a moment. After all, she knew her father, Tohsaka Tokiomi, was participating in this Holy Grail War. She was well-aware of the claim that the Holy Grail was a universal wishing machine. She never expected Shirou to deny it so bluntly.
"Why?" Rin asked.
"..."
Shirou hesitated. Should he tell her the truth? After thinking it over, he decided not to answer. Rin was still just a child, and there was no guarantee she would keep such a secret. Whether she chose to believe him or not was out of his hands. When they reached a fork in the road, Shirou waved his hand.
"Anyway, Rin, I'll go first. See you tomorrow."
"Well, see you tomorrow..."
Rin, still preoccupied by Shirou's refusal to answer, raised her hand to say goodbye in a daze.
"Master, I sense a special magical aura approaching!"
Not long after parting ways with Rin, Shirou received a telepathic message from Diarmuid.
"Is it another magus coming for me?"
"No, there does not seem to be any obvious hostility..." Diarmuid replied.
Just as Shirou was puzzled by this, he spotted a familiar figure at an intersection near the mall. The other party also noticed Shirou's highly recognizable red hair immediately.
"Shirou?"
Irisviel, with her long flowing silver hair and white dress, stood alongside Saber, who had golden hair but wore a black suit, looking like a handsome youth. The two of them walking down the street was a sight to behold.
"What a coincidence..."
Shirou noticed the curious gazes of the pedestrians around them and reluctantly raised his hand to say hello.
...
While Shirou was meeting Saber and Irisviel, events were unfolding elsewhere. Waver Velvet was in very poor spirits. This was not only because he had been dragged into staying up late to play games, but also because of the rugged man in a T-shirt printed with a world map: the King of the ancient Macedonian Empire, Alexander the Great.
"So, what the hell are you trying to do, Rider!?"
Waver broke down and screamed, wishing his rebellious Servant would listen to his orders. But, unfortunately, the red-haired man had taken it upon himself to steal a large barrel of red wine from a high-class cellar. According to him, this was not "stealing"—it was "the plunder of kings"!
"What am I doing, you ask?" Rider scratched his head and raised the barrel with one hand. "Is there even a need to ask? It's a wine banquet, of course!" He smiled heroically. "Wouldn't it be grand to have a banquet where heroes from all walks of life share their wishes before competing for the ultimate treasure?"
"You... you idiot!!"
Tears welled in Waver's eyes as he beat his fists against Rider's iron-hard chest. To Rider, these blows were nothing more than a tickle.
"Mmm, a little to the left. Can you give me a thump on the back while you're at it?"
"Get lost!"
"Hmph!" Rider pursed his lips and continued moving the barrel out of the cellar.
"They are enemies! Do you think they will agree to this? Saber is King Arthur, Lancer is a legendary knight, then there is the unknown Archer and the mad Berserker..."
Waver tried his best to convince his Servant to give up the unrealistic idea.
"No!" Rider said solemnly, flicking Waver's forehead. "It is because they are heroes that this banquet is necessary. We must know the wishes of the others for the Holy Grail, otherwise, I cannot acknowledge them!"
It was hopeless. His Servant was completely beyond reason.