Shirou was taking Tiamat to school with him today.
Earlier that morning, he had suggested taking another day off school so he could stay with Tiamat, only for her to tell him, "Skipping class is bad. You need to go to school properly."
Rin had school too, and they obviously couldn't leave Tia alone in that Western-style mansion.
So...
Tiamat ended up accompanying Shirou to school in Spirit Form.
"~~~♪"
Tiamat seemed to be in an excellent mood as she followed behind Shirou in Spirit Form.
"I'm really looking forward to our date today~"
"It's not a date."
Though from her perspective, going to school with Shirou probably counted as a different kind of date.
Before Shirou had even woken up that morning, she had prepared their lunch with Rin Tohsaka's help.
Since Rin Tohsaka didn't want anyone seeing her and Shirou going to school together, they hadn't left the mansion at the same time.
Shirou left the Tohsaka residence first with Tiamat, while Rin waited another ten minutes before heading out.
"It would've been nice if we could all go to school together~"
"Tohsaka's just a little awkward like that."
"In that respect, she's actually more like Ereshkigal. Hehe."
Shirou and Tiamat chatted about nothing in particular through telepathy as they walked, eventually arriving at the school gates.
"Aren't you going to your classroom?"
"Not yet. The Kyūdō Club has morning practice today, so I'm going to stop by first."
"Shirou is so diligent."
Calling it morning practice wasn't quite accurate. Shirou mainly wanted to find Sakura and explain what had happened.
He had suddenly skipped class yesterday afternoon and hadn't gone home that night. She had to be worried sick.
"Yo, Amamiya. You actually came to morning practice today?"
The moment he entered the archery hall, Ayako Mitsuzuri lowered the Japanese bow in her hands and stared at him as though she had seen something rare.
"What's that supposed to mean? I do come to morning practice sometimes."
"Hmmm~"
"Where's Sakura?"
Shirou looked around, but there was no sign of the purple-haired middle school girl.
"So you really did come looking for Matou."
Shirou protested, "Fine, let's say I did. Is there a problem with that?"
Ayako Mitsuzuri gave him a teasing grin. "Not at all. If that girl knew her beloved Senpai had gone out of his way to come see her, she'd probably be moved to tears."
"But unfortunately, Matou isn't at school today... I heard from the middle school students that she apparently took the day off."
"...?"
Shirou frowned slightly.
Sakura Matou being absent was genuinely hard to imagine.
Shinji and I are one thing, but Sakura isn't the kind of student who'd skip school for no reason. Is she sick...?
Ayako seemed to be thinking the same thing, because she narrowed her eyes and pressed him.
"Hey, Amamiya. You didn't do something to that girl, did you?"
"No."
"After all, you've been getting pretty wild lately, Amamiya."
"That's a terrible thing to say."
"You've gotten pretty close to Tohsaka, haven't you?"
"..."
"And someone saw you on your day off with a pair of beautiful silver-haired, red-eyed maid sisters following you around."
Maid sisters... Oh, she means Sella and Leysritt.
Shirou had long since gotten used to the two of them, but their looks really did draw far too much attention on the street.
"They're maids who live at my house. I've told you that before, haven't I?"
"Lucky you. Do they sneak into your room every morning and say, 'Master, your servant has come to help you dress'? That's every boy's dream, right?"
"I can dress myself!"
Ayako Mitsuzuri patted the red-haired boy on the shoulder.
"Just make sure you apologize properly."
"If you're sincere about it, Matou probably won't hold it against you... especially when it's her beloved Amamiya-senpai."
"I keep telling you, I didn't do anything!"
Shirou irritably took the Japanese bow Ayako handed him.
Since he was already here, he might as well shoot a few arrows.
A few seconds later, five arrows were embedded dead center in the target.
All five had struck the exact same point.
"......"
The archery hall instantly fell silent at the sight of a feat that could only be called divine skill.
The only sound Shirou could hear was Tiamat applauding beside him, audible to no one else.
"Shirou, amazing. So amazing."
Ayako Mitsuzuri stared at the red-haired boy in disbelief. "Amamiya... did you get even stronger?"
"Did I?"
Shirou asked while maintaining his zanshin.
Of course he had.
From Ayako Mitsuzuri's perspective, only half a day had passed, but Shirou had actually spent six months in Uruk.
"Before, when you shot, it felt like your body became one with nature. Your concentration was almost unbelievable."
"But now... it feels like you've reached the point where you can simply do whatever you want. Even an arrow you casually fire just..."
Ayako Mitsuzuri looked at him as if she were staring at a monster, while Tiamat stood beside Shirou and nodded proudly in agreement.
Ayako was making it sound so exaggerated that even Shirou started feeling embarrassed.
"Amamiya, at your current level of martial skill, you might actually be comparable to Fujimura-sensei back in her 'Tiger of Fuyuki' days, when she was in her prime..."
"...?"
Shirou was speechless.
Even if you put it like that, I'm not happy at all. Don't you have a more impressive comparison?
To Ayako Mitsuzuri, who devoted herself to martial arts, Taiga Fujimura was a living legend of Homurahara, a martial artist whose skill no one could match.
The "Tiger of Fuyuki" in her prime...
I already defeated her when I was eight.
"Taiga Fujimura... Shirou's older sister... is even stronger than Shirou...?"
After receiving completely incorrect information, Tiamat began trembling.
"Hmm? Why is it so lively this early in the morning? My radar seems to be detecting someone talking about me~~"
By the time that bright, cheerful voice rang out, it was already too late for Shirou to escape.
"Shirou!!"
"...Ugh."
"......Jaguar Warrior?"
The Goddess of Creation stared in astonishment at the short-haired female teacher who had appeared inside the archery hall.
After Ishtar and Ereshkigal, Jaguar Warrior had apparently spawned in Fuyuki too.
Shirou hurriedly explained that Fujimura-sensei wasn't Jaguar Warrior herself, but rather the human Jaguar Warrior possessed.
Even Shirou found it strange.
How had so many people close to him ended up appearing in Uruk?
If I hadn't gone through everything I have up until now, would I have ended up becoming the vessel of some Heroic Spirit too?
Taiga Fujimura strode over to Shirou with both hands planted on her hips.
"Shirou~ You just went 'ugh,' didn't you?"
"That disgusted expression, like you'd just spotted grime in the kitchen... Is that any way to treat the big sister you've secretly been in love with since childhood?"
"Shirou has secretly been in love with his own older sister since he was little...!"
"Then... Jaguar Warrior is the legitimate wife, and Mother is the homewrecker!?"
"Stop believing everything she says!!"
Tiamat was visibly shaken.
Shirou had thought letting her remain in Spirit Form would prevent any trouble, but Fuji-nee always managed to surpass his expectations.
"Oh my, oh my. You stayed out all night yesterday, then came to the archery club first thing in the morning to admire all our pretty girls, and now you've even made your big sister your number one target. Shirou, you really are insatiable."
"But I suppose it can't be helped, can it?"
"Eight years ago, on that peaceful afternoon when Shirou and I first met, the sight of your big sister looking so cool in her kendo uniform was forever burned into your heart."
"Ever since then, Shirou's heart has started pounding whenever he sees a girl wearing hakama... Hmm~ Your brain must've been ruined that very day."
"So Shirou's preference is actually girls in hakama... Mother wants to try wearing them too."
Tiamat clenched her fists, looking utterly determined.
"I'm telling you, stop believing her..."
When Shirou thought back to his first meeting with Fuji-nee now, the only thing that came to mind was her throwing herself on the ground and bawling after losing to him.
...
Compared to the chaotic morning practice, nothing unusual happened during the morning classes.
Once classes ended for lunch, Shirou took the extravagant bento Tiamat had prepared out of his schoolbag and headed up to the rooftop alone.
After reaching the roof, he locked the door behind him.
Tiamat then dropped her Spirit Form and materialized.
"What is it?"
Tiamat noticed Shirou staring at her.
No, it's just that no matter how many times I look at you, you're so beautiful that I can't help staring...
Naturally, Shirou would never actually say that.
He turned his face away. "Nothing. Let's eat."
"Mm~"
Tiamat and Shirou walked over to a bench on the rooftop and sat down side by side.
They each rested their bento on their lap, while Tiamat took out a thermos filled with hot tea.
Shirou opened his bento box and found an astonishingly lavish assortment of food inside.
And then there was...
A huge "Love♡Shirou" written out with ketchup and daikon radish.
"What... is this?"
The corner of Shirou's mouth twitched.
Tiamat answered, "Rin said this is how a loving wife is supposed to make a bento."
"That girl keeps filling Mother's head with weird ideas..."
"Did I do it wrong?" Tiamat asked uneasily.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just a little embarrassing."
Thank goodness Shirou had brought Tiamat up to the rooftop for lunch.
If he had opened this bento in the classroom, he would have died of embarrassment on the spot.
"There are a few new dishes."
"Mm. Rin taught me how to make that one... Do you want to try it?"
"I'm going to finish every last bite. Thanks for the food."
Shirou picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of sweet-and-sour pork, and put it in his mouth.
Delicious.
It was nothing like the convenience-store version he had eaten before, where ketchup had basically been used as a substitute. This sweet-and-sour sauce tasted completely authentic.
"...Is it good?"
"It is."
Shirou nodded as he ate.
Tiamat looked delighted and handed him a cup of tea like a newlywed wife attending to her husband.
"Here you are."
"Thanks."
After that, the two of them enjoyed a leisurely lunch together.
...
"Found them... Here they are."
When Rin Tohsaka arrived on the rooftop, Shirou was taking a nap.
The breathtakingly beautiful woman with enormous beast horns had carefully settled the boy's head on her lap and was gently stroking his hair.
In other words, a lap pillow.
"...Shh."
When Tiamat saw Rin Tohsaka enter the rooftop, she raised a finger to her lips.
The black-haired girl nodded, quietly walked over to them, and folded her arms.
"What a spoiled man..." Rin Tohsaka muttered softly.
Tiamat gazed lovingly down at Shirou. "Hehe. Shirou looks cute when he's sleeping, doesn't he?"
Rin couldn't deny that.
Shirou's face had always been exactly her type.
Tiamat noticed the faint envy showing in Rin Tohsaka's expression and spoke.
"Does Rin want a lap pillow too?"
"Huh?"
"Shh~!"
"N-no! I'm not that childish."
"I see..."
Tiamat looked faintly disappointed before asking another question.
"Then do you want to touch Shirou too?"
"......"
Rin Tohsaka hesitated for a split second.
That single moment of hesitation was enough for Tiamat to understand exactly what she was thinking.
"I knew it."
"No... I wasn't thinking that..."
Rin Tohsaka's face turned bright red.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If she let it pass, she might never get another chance.
Shirou was sleeping deeply on Tiamat's lap, completely defenseless and free for her to touch.
And Tiamat probably wouldn't make a big deal out of it either...
"...Gulp."
Rin Tohsaka swallowed and asked guiltily, "I-is it really okay?"
"Of course. I'm sure Shirou would be happy to have Rin pet him too."
There's no way he would, but...
Rin Tohsaka simply couldn't bring herself to let such a rare opportunity slip away.
She smoothed down her uniform skirt and crouched in front of the bench.
Then, as though petting a large dog, she reached toward Shirou's hair.
Pet, pet~
It felt even nicer than she had imagined.
Tiamat gave her a look that clearly said, See? I told you.
Rin Tohsaka could only nod, her face still bright red.
Could I... touch somewhere else too?
Rin had been visiting the Amamiya residence frequently over the past year, and on several occasions she had accidentally seen Shirou with his shirt off.
She still couldn't forget the shock it had given her.
He looked so slim in his uniform, but once he took his clothes off...
Rin Tohsaka swallowed and moved her hand down to his collarbone.
Then slowly traced downward.
Shirou's chest... Mm... It's so firm compared to a girl's... Is all of this muscle?
Rin Tohsaka furrowed her brows.
He's the same age as me, yet he can fight on equal terms with great heroes from the Age of Gods and even Dead Apostle Ancestors. No matter how I think about it, that's strange, isn't it?
As the girl's hand wandered across the boy's body, the light gradually disappeared from Rin Tohsaka's eyes and her breathing grew faster.
Of course, she realized perfectly well that what she was doing right now was no different from the behavior of a total pervert.
And yet Shirou's body seemed to possess some strange magic that made her unable to stop touching him.
This is an examination... Y-yes, that's right. It's just an examination!
Amamiya-kun only just returned from the environment of the Age of Gods. As a responsible Magus, I should check whether he's suffering from any lingering aftereffects!
"You're really enjoying yourself."
Tiamat smiled brightly. "Does Shirou's body feel that nice?"
"N-no... not at all."
Rin Tohsaka was breathing heavily when, at that exact moment...
Shirou's eyebrow twitched.
"!!"
Rin Tohsaka didn't even have time to pull her hand away before Shirou woke up.
The two stared at each other from so close that they were practically sharing the same breath.
"What are you doing?"
"W-what? I'm not doing anything!"
"Not doing anything?"
Shirou stared at Rin Tohsaka in confusion.
The red devil of Homurahara was crouching right in front of him with one hand resting on his chest.
"T-this isn't what it looks like...!"
Rin Tohsaka flushed scarlet and yanked her hand away.
Shirou didn't pursue the matter. Instead, he turned to Tiamat.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Less than half an hour."
Shirou stretched and sat up from the bench.
"Shirou, are you done with your nap?"
Yeah, I've slept enough. Let's go back to class.
Shirou was just about to say that when he caught a faint flash of disappointment in Tiamat's eyes.
"Hmm... Let's stay up here a little longer. It won't hurt if I go back to class a bit late."
"Okay~"
The Goddess of Creation immediately perked back up.
"Well then, you two enjoy yourselves. I'll head back first."
Rin Tohsaka had only come up to the rooftop to check on them.
She wasn't tactless enough to intrude on Shirou and Tiamat's time alone together.
"Rin, stay and chat with us."
As she spoke, Tiamat pressed herself closer against Shirou, making room beside her, then patted the empty spot on the bench for Rin to sit down.
Rin Tohsaka glanced at Shirou for permission.
He nodded.
"Well, if you insist, I suppose I'll take you up on the offer."
...
The woman slowly opened her eyes on a soft bed.
She sat up and warily surveyed her surroundings.
The room was elegantly furnished, yet strangely gloomy. Despite it being broad daylight, the sunlight seemed unable to penetrate, as though some Barrier were keeping it out.
"......"
Just as the woman was trying to make sense of her surroundings, the bedroom door opened.
A girl who looked to be in her teens stepped inside.
"Ah... You're awake. Are you all right?"
Sakura Matou set down the basin she was carrying and approached the bed.
The woman stared at her face and asked, "Where... am I? Why am I here?"
"I found you collapsed by the roadside. You looked extremely weak, so I brought you back with me."
Sakura Matou briefly explained what had happened, then asked the question that had been bothering her.
"Um... you aren't human, are you?"
She wasn't as accomplished as her older sister, but Sakura was still a Magus.
She could clearly sense that there was something abnormal about the woman she had brought home.
Her impossibly lustrous long hair, her flawless beauty, and a figure so striking that even Sakura, another woman, couldn't help feeling envious.
Most important of all were those eyes, which radiated an unmistakably supernatural allure.
She isn't human.
Sakura Matou understood that much.
Normally, she should have contacted Tohsaka-senpai, the administrator of Fuyuki's Leylines, and left the matter to her.
But the Matou family was also one of Fuyuki's Magus families, second only to the Tohsaka Family in influence and the land under its control.
And so, almost on impulse, Sakura Matou had hidden the matter from everyone and brought the woman home herself.
"May I ask... who are you?" the girl asked.
"I don't know."
The long-haired woman shook her head.
"Have you... lost your memory?"
Sakura Matou looked surprised.
The woman nodded at first, then quickly shook her head.
"I have no memory of what came before or after, but I know exactly why I was summoned down to this land..."
The long-haired woman, Rider, Medusa, gripped her wrist as an unwavering light appeared deep within her Mystic Eyes.
"I came here to find my Master."
***
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