Rin Tohsaka strode onto the station platform, her sharp eyes scanning for any sign of her wayward Servant. She spotted Archer leaning casually against a pillar, his arms crossed as if nothing significant had just occurred. Typical. He could never be bothered to look the least bit urgent, even when it mattered.
"Finally," she said, walking up to him with a huff. "What took you so long? And what's with the commotion? Did something happen?"
Archer tilted his head slightly, his usual smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Oh, nothing much. Just had to save some idiot trying to die on the tracks. You know, the usual."
"What?!" Rin's eyes widened, her voice rising in disbelief. "Somebody tried to throw themselves in front of a train? Are they insane?"
Archer shrugged nonchalantly. "Pretty much."
Rin crossed her arms, her tone turning accusatory. "And you're just standing here like it's no big deal? Where's this 'idiot' now? Did they run off?"
Before Archer could answer, Rin's gaze shifted behind him—and froze.
Her expression turned from exasperation to outright shock as she recognised the figure standing awkwardly behind Archer, her hood partially hiding her face.
"E-Emiya-kun?!" Rin's voice cracked slightly, the sheer disbelief making her usually composed tone falter.
Shirō winced at the sharpness in her voice, scratching the back of her neck nervously. "Uh… hey, Tohsaka."
Rin blinked, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process what she was seeing. "What the hell were you doing on the tracks?!" she finally demanded, her voice a mix of anger and genuine concern.
"I was, uh…" Shirō glanced at Archer for help, but he simply raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "I was… trying to unlock my powers."
"By getting hit by a train?!" Rin's voice climbed an octave, and she looked ready to strangle Shirō on the spot.
"It wasn't like that!" Shirō protested, holding up her hands defensively. "I thought if I put myself in danger, my powers might activate! It worked before, kinda…"
"Kinda?!" Rin repeated, her face turning red as she advanced toward Shirō. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even hear yourself right now?!"
Archer snorted, clearly amused by the exchange. "Told you she was an idiot," he said, earning a glare from both girls.
Rin rounded on him next. "And you! Why didn't you stop her sooner? You're supposed to be watching her!"
"I did stop her," Archer replied smoothly. "That's why she's standing here and not a smear on the tracks."
"That's not the point!" Rin snapped, her frustration evident. "You're supposed to prevent things like this from happening in the first place!"
Archer shrugged, his smirk widening. "She didn't exactly announce her suicidal plan beforehand. Besides, I figured it'd be a good learning experience for her."
"A learning experience?" Rin looked like she was about to explode.
"Can we not make this a big deal?" Shirō interjected, trying to defuse the situation. "I'm fine, and I won't do it again. Lesson learned."
Rin turned back to Shirō, her expression softening slightly, though the anger in her eyes didn't fully fade. "You'd better not. Do you have any idea how reckless that was? If Archer hadn't been here—"
"I know, I know," Shirō interrupted, her voice quieter now. "I get it, Tohsaka. I messed up."
Rin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're hopeless, Emiya-kun. Absolutely hopeless."
Archer crossed his arms, watching the exchange with mild amusement. "Well, if nothing else, at least we know she's determined. Stupidly so, but determined."
Rin shot him another glare before turning back to Shirō. "From now on, you don't do anything without consulting me first. Got it?"
Shirō nodded quickly. "Got it."
"Good." Rin sighed again, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Now let's get out of here before you come up with another genius plan to get yourself killed."
As the three of them left the platform, Archer couldn't resist one last comment.
"You know," he said, glancing at Shirō, "if you wanted me to train you, you could've just asked. No need for all the theatrics."
Shirō groaned, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Rin, meanwhile, looked like she was seriously considering smacking both of them.