"Naah, I'd win."
Across the field, Utahime cracked her knuckles.
"Alright."
She stepped forward onto the dirt arena.
"If you're so confident…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Come prove it."
Emiya sighed softly.
How should I go about this…?
He looked toward the training ground, then at Utahime Iori standing across from him.
Hmm…
Her confidence is almost admirable…
Emiya scratched his cheek slightly.
Honestly, I don't have much confidence in beating most people here.
His gaze briefly drifted toward Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, then to Atsuya Kusakabe and even Mei Mei.
But against her…
A faint grin appeared on his face.
I'm about two hundred percent confident I can win.
Well…
A little aura farming wouldn't hurt.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
Heheh.
Then he started walking forward.
The two stopped a few meters apart.
Utahime glared at him angrily.
"What?"
"Although you're not the one whom I wanted to teach a lesson…"
She pointed at him.
"But you're still annoying."
"So don't blame me if you get hurt."
Emiya looked at her with a blank expression.
😑 What did I do?
From the side, Kusakabe lazily raised his hand.
"Alright."
"Enough talking."
Atsuya Kusakabe dropped his hand.
"Start."
From the side, Gojo cupped his hands around his mouth.
"EMIYA-KUN!"
"DON'T EMBARRASS ME!"
"YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE FIRST YEARS!"
The words had barely left his mouth—
When Utahime Iori moved.
She lunged forward.
Her feet kicked up dust as she closed the distance in an instant, her fist shooting straight toward Emiya's face with surprising speed.
But—
Emiya didn't move.
From the sidelines, Suguru Geto's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…He's not reacting?"
Utahime's fist came closer.
Just before it connected—
A wall appeard between them.
Thud.
Her eyes widened.
But she didn't stop.
Utahime Iori instantly stepped sideways, circling around the wall to attack Emiya's flank.
Her fist shot forward again—
But another wall appeared out of thin air.
Thud.
Her punch struck solid stone again.
Utahime clicked her tongue and moved again.
She dashed past the barrier, cutting sharply toward Emiya's back.
Her arm swung forward—
Thud.
A third wall materialized behind him.
Her knuckles crashed against it.
Dust scattered.
Utahime immediately pushed off the ground and changed direction again.
Left.
Right.
She sprinted across his side and threw another punch—
Thud.
Another wall appeared.
Each time she attacked—
Another barrier formed instantly in the exact spot her strike would land.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Finally, Utahime Iori jumped backward, creating distance. Dust scattered under her feet as she landed.
She flexed her fingers slightly.
Her knuckles stung from repeatedly smashing into solid barriers.
Her eyes narrowed at Emiya.
"I have to admit, you have some skills."
"But…are you only going to block?"
Across the field, Emiya tilted his head slightly.
"…Well."
"You're right."
"I should probably attack too."
But when he spoke—
His voice sounded different.
Heavier.
Not like his usual tone at all.
From the sidelines, Suguru Geto noticed it immediately.
"…Did his voice just change?"
Emiya slowly pulled his right hand out of his pocket and lifted his hand upward.
Then—
He crossed his fingers.
The gesture looked oddly familiar.
Almost like the hand sign Adult Gojo used for his domain.
Emiya quickly spoke quietly.
So quietly that no one around them heard it.
"…Deploy."
Then his voice dropped.
"ARISE."
Then the air behind Emiya distorted.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten—
Twenty figures appeared behind him.
Archers.
Each holding a drawn bow, arrows already aimed.
Then the air around Utahime Iori suddenly distorted.
Twenty barbarian warriors, massive swords resting on their shoulders.
And finally—
Eight towering giants formed a ring around Utahime, their enormous bodies casting long shadows over the battlefield.
Utahime stood surrounded.
The training field had gone completely silent.
From the sidelines, Suguru Geto narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…That many constructs?"
Beside him, Mei Mei smiled faintly.
"My, how overwhelming."
Back in the center of the field—
Utahime slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers.
She looked at the barbarians.
Then the giants.
Then the archers aiming arrows directly at her.
Finally, her gaze landed on Emiya.
He was standing calmly a few meters away, hands relaxed at his sides.
Utahime's shoulders trembled slightly.
Her fists tightened.
Then loosened.
Her eyes began to glisten.
A small tear gathered at the corner of her eye.
"…This is so unfair…"
She sniffed slightly, trying to hold it in.
But the situation was just too overwhelming.
With tears welling in her eyes, she raised one hand weakly.
"…I surrender."
Then from the sidelines—
"HAHAHAHA!"
Gojo burst out laughing.
"You surrendered already?!"
Utahime's face instantly turned red.
"SHUT UP!" she snapped, pointing angrily at him, tears streaming down her face.
"You guys are such bullies!"
Then she turned around and ran off the field.
"Mei-san!"
She rushed straight toward Mei Mei, burying her face in her bosom like a wronged child.
"These guys are bullying me!"
Mei Mei looked down at her, blinking once before letting out a amused chuckle.
"My, my…don't cry."
Gojo still laughing shamelessly.
"Hahaha—Come on, Utahime!"
"You surrendered in like thirty seconds!"
Across the field, the summoned warriors began to dissolve.
Then Emiya walked over calmly, hands back in his pockets.
It looks like I may have overdone it a little.
He paused, glancing toward Satoru Gojo, who was still laughing without a shred of shame.
…Naah, it's Satoru fault.