Chapter 39: Only... This Once
A bright red skirt danced through the room as the blonde girl let out a "Waaa!" sound and collapsed face-first onto Sakura's soft bed.
"Curse it all! I was just one step away from winning!"
Nero waved her fists indignantly, leaving small indentations on the bedding.
"It is indeed a pity to be interrupted so suddenly. However, even if the fight had continued, are you truly certain you would have won?"
Sakura asked with a touch of curiosity. Although her knowledge of magecraft wasn't as extensive as Rin's, her innate talent was exceptional, so her judgment wasn't far off. Sakura was capable of analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the situation during Nero's battle with Scáthach.
However, her words didn't register with the willful Roman Tyrant, who instead began rolling back and forth on the bed like a sulking little girl.
"I don't care, I don't care... It's all the fault of that guy who interrupted our duel!"
"..."
Sakura watched this scene speechlessly, the image of the "Roman Emperor Nero" in her mind gradually crumbling. Still, she wondered... who exactly was the culprit behind that massive disturbance at the Mion River?
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"In the end, the winner would have naturally been me!"
In Rin's bedroom, the Queen of the Land of Shadows spoke as she stood by the window, savoring the moonlight.
"What a shame. If not for that unexpected incident..."
Rin, hugging her knees on the bed, let out a soft sigh. Given her competitive nature, she naturally felt regretful about such a result.
"Well, it can't be helped. It's the fault of whoever caused that situation."
As she spoke, a look of anticipation surged in Rin's eyes.
"Tomorrow after school, let's just have Sakura and Illya and the others come over together!"
"Hey now... Master, you intend to have those who are technically enemies come here?"
Scáthach was somewhat puzzled by Rin's train of thought. According to the information she had received upon her summoning, Masters were normally in a state of mutual hostility. However, it seemed this was an abnormal situation.
Moreover, if that young man was coming tomorrow as well...
"Actually, it makes me a bit expectant."
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Having just finished her bath, Saber walked into Shirou's room with practiced familiarity. Suddenly, she saw the youth lying on the bed with his hands folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling as if deep in thought.
"Shirou, are you not sleeping yet?" Saber asked curiously.
"I'm just thinking about tomorrow. After all, we have to go to Rin's house."
Despite his words, Shirou was actually thinking about how to interact with Ayako Mitsuzuri tomorrow. What happened last night was an accident, but after doing such a thing, he had surely been labeled a "pervert" by the girl. If he hadn't saved her just before that, their relationship would have likely plummeted.
'What should I do...'
While Shirou was preoccupied with these thoughts, Saber had already lain down right beside him. Whenever he thought of that mistake from earlier, he was filled with regret.
Turning his head to look at the girl lying next to him with her back turned, Shirou could feel her trust in him. Her blonde hair, scattered across the pillow, gave off a heart-refreshing fragrance—not the scent of any brand of shampoo.
Shirou reached out to stroke her hair; such a simple gesture wasn't enough to cause the girl any displeasure. However, the moment his hand crossed her shoulder to pull her into an embrace, Saber felt it immediately.
Her body tensed slightly. Shirou could practically feel her nervousness; he could imagine that if he made any further moves, sleep would be out of the question tonight.
However, at this moment, the favorability they had built up in the past played its part. A voice, faint as a mosquito's buzz, drifted from the girl who had her back to him:
"Only... this once, okay..."
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After the first night of the Holy Grail War passed, a calm second day finally arrived. The school clock pointed exactly to eight o'clock.
Just like yesterday, Shirou arrived at school together with Sakura. This was his third day accompanying her. Since the Holy Grail War usually took place at night, Shirou didn't mind coming to school with her. However, it would certainly be easier if the female students weren't quite so enthusiastic.
"Good morning! Orihara-kun!"
"Orihara-kun, do you like red or blue?"
"Orihara-kun, your eyes are so beautiful. Are you mixed-race by any chance?"
"Orihara-kun, did you come from abroad?"
"Orihara-kun, if you're going to join a club, please come to our Light Music Club!"
Ring-ring-ring-ring...
The sudden bell finally silenced the girls who were twittering around Shirou, and they reluctantly returned to their seats.
Shirou let out a helpless sigh. Completely ignoring the teacher walking into the classroom, he pulled out a copy of Japan Sinks and began reading with great interest. The teacher likewise completely ignored Shirou's behavior, acting as if he couldn't see him at all, and continued with the lecture.
Rin felt immense disdain for Shirou's blatant use of suggestion magecraft. After shooting a dissatisfied glare at Shirou's back, she began to study earnestly. As the head of the Tohsaka family, Rin demanded the best of herself in all aspects. She aimed to do things elegantly and methodically at all times.
Though, she had been violating her family rules quite frequently lately...
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Lunch break.
Sakura took Shirou to the school rooftop. Catching a glimpse of the bench near the wire fence out of the corner of his eye, Shirou raised an eyebrow.
"Want to sit?"
"No... regarding the matter of becoming a Master, I wanted to explain things to you, Shirou..." Sakura lowered her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of apology.
"There's no need for you to apologize to me, Sakura," Shirou told her. "I don't think much of participating in the Holy Grail War. As long as you are safe and sound, nothing else matters."
"Shirou..."
Sakura's eyes seemed to sparkle like starlight, filled with joy and an even more indescribable emotion. That sense of sweetness was almost overflowing—so much so that someone finally couldn't stand it anymore.
A glow of magical energy suddenly surged beside Sakura, and a girl in a red dress appeared, wielding a strangely shaped, deep-red greatsword.
"Do not get close to this man so easily, Master! He is dangerous!"
"Hey now, isn't that a bit rude to say?" Shirou frowned as he looked at Nero.
"Hmph! I can feel it, you know! That aura of yours that is in no way inferior to a Servant!"
With that declaration, Nero swung her sword and charged toward Shirou.
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