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"After my adoptive mother left, Fuji-nee has always taken care of me... I don't have any other relatives, so she stepped up and became my guardian." Artoria's voice carried a quiet gratitude.
"I see," Yuto said with a nod, piecing it together. He paused, choosing his words carefully before advising her. "You should tell her not to visit the house for a while."
"Hmm? Why's that?" Artoria tilted her head, her emerald eyes blinking with confusion.
"During the Holy Grail War, this mansion could easily become a target for enemy servants," Yuto explained, his brow creasing slightly. "I'm confident I can protect you from any attack, but if someone else is here, that's not a guarantee."
Artoria frowned, clearly unsure. She didn't realize how low the Holy Grail War could sink; schemes and dirty tricks were its real pulse, not just honorable fights. "So, to be safe, it's better if she stays away for now," he added.
"Uh… that might be tricky," she mumbled, her face showing her hesitation. Fujimura Taiga wasn't the type to back off without a solid reason. That big-sister energy wasn't easily swayed.
Yuto caught the look in her eyes and guessed her thoughts. "If it comes to it, we could set up a magical workshop here. It'd drain some magical energy, but it's an option." He shrugged, not pushing the point further.
"Oh, by the way, Master," he said, shifting gears, "what's your wish?"
"My wish?" Artoria echoed, caught off guard.
"Yeah. If we win the Holy Grail War, what would you ask the Grail for?" Yuto's tone grew serious. "They call it an all-powerful wish-granter, maybe that's a stretch, but for most people, it can make almost anything happen. As your servant, I'd like to know what's on your mind."
"Do I have to answer that?" She puffed out her cheeks a little, almost pouting.
"I think a Master and servant should at least understand each other this much," Yuto pressed gently, standing his ground.
The blonde girl hesitated, then spoke. "Honestly, I haven't really thought about it. Even if I got the Grail, I wouldn't know what to wish for. If I had to pick… maybe to stop that tragedy from ten years ago from ever happening again."
"Got it," Yuto replied. It wasn't surprising. Even as an ordinary high school girl in this world, Artoria's sense of justice hadn't faded. That was just who she was.
Before they could dig deeper, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and smiled at the message from Fujimura Taiga: "Hello, Ria! Are you awake? I got a ton of udon from a friend. It's way too much for me. I'll bring some over!"
"Okay, Fuji-nee, I'm home. Come by!" Artoria typed back cheerfully.
Fujimura Taiga, was a lively city woman with a bright personality. She dressed maturely for her teaching job, but she was barely past twenty, just a few years out of university and now an English teacher at Homurahara Academy.
........
Last night, Artoria and Yuto had stumbled home around 2 or 3 a.m. The police had already been there, chalking up the mess to a "gas explosion"; Fuyuki City's go-to excuse and cleared out fast. Only then could the two slip back inside.
Since then, Yuto hadn't rested. He'd been digging into Artoria's adoptive mother, piecing together what Father Kotomine had spilled at the church about the Holy Grail War. Irisviel's family, the Einzberns, were one of the original three big names in magic, a secretive powerhouse, just like in the stories.
Those three families: Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern had built the whole Holy Grail War ritual. But here, the Matou clan was a shadow of its former self, scattered and barely showing up in Fuyuki. The Einzberns, meanwhile, were said to have been wiped out in the third war, some seventy years back at least, that's what Rin Tohsaka believed.
Rin had looked into Artoria too, after learning about her. Einzbern records described their kin as silver-haired with red eyes, their magic circuits top-notch. Artoria's golden hair didn't fit the mold. Rin had let an enemy slip right under her nose for too long, a careless mistake that added a new threat. If her late father, Tohsaka Tokiomi, knew, he'd probably just sigh. His daughter was sharp, but she had a knack for fumbling at the worst moments.
Yuto, though, found nothing useful at Artoria's place: no workshops, no mystic codes, nothing magic-related. It was like Irisviel was just a kind, normal woman. But the alchemy she'd taught Artoria and the magic circles she'd left behind told a different story. Her skills were real, and she might've even been a Master in the Fourth War ten years ago.
.......
An hour later, Taiga rolled up with the udon, then pushed her little electric scooter, ready to head out. "Haha, that's it for me! Don't forget to eat the udon, okay?" Her cheerful laugh rang out as the short-haired woman in casual clothes stretched lazily, giving Artoria a serious nod. "Good thing you were asleep when that gas explosion hit last night. But don't skip school tomorrow! Oh, and I'll send some guys from the group to fix your yard."
Known as the "Tiger of Fuyuki," Taiga was the daughter of a local yakuza boss. She hadn't taken over the family business, but her underlings still looked up to her. Fixing a yard? Easy. She'd just snap her fingers.
"Don't worry, Fuji-nee, I'll be at school tomorrow," Artoria said, clinging to her arm with a playful grin.
"Good, good. Glad you're okay," Taiga muttered, nudging her scooter toward the gate. She paused, glancing up at the roof with a thoughtful frown. Nothing. She scratched her head. 'Am I imagining things? Nah, who'd be up there watching? Silly me.' Helmet on, she gunned the engine and zoomed off.
Once she was out of sight, Artoria let out a breath. Cupping her hands, she called softly, "Archer, come down! Fuji-nee's gone."
With a quick flip, Yuto dropped from the roof, his Presence Concealment fading. He shot a wary look after Taiga. As a Demi-Servant with a real body, he couldn't go spirit-form like others. To avoid trouble, he'd hidden when she showed up. But her sharp senses had nearly caught him.
'That's the scary part of her being the author's favorite,' he thought. Word was, Taiga had EX-rank luck, strong enough to twist fate itself, even mess with parallel worlds. Crossing her was just bad news. Even Yuto wanted no part of that.
"Archer, Fuji-nee's got a keen eye," Artoria said.
"Yeah… Speaking of, Master, are you still going to school tomorrow?" Yuto's brow furrowed. "It's a risky time. Heading out like that isn't smart."
"But you're with me, right?" She tugged his arm, her voice teasing. "Hehe, forget about that, let's cook some udon together!"
"Wait, I'm talking about something serious—"
"Eating is serious too! How are we supposed to fight servants if we're hungry?" she shot back, her hands on her hips.
"You just ate breakfast. Enough for five people," Yuto said, exasperated.
"Hehe, that's not enough!" she declared, totally unfazed.
"Sigh….Fine, let's eat then." Yuto slipped on an apron.
.........
The next day, Yuto tagged along as Artoria headed to school. Watching the students bustle by in their uniforms, full of life, he felt an odd twinge. Not long ago, he'd been one of them.
"Hey, isn't that…?" At a nearby crossroad, Rin Tohsaka stood in her simple school uniform, a red jacket draped over it, clutching a small backpack like a proper lady. She glanced their way, sharp as ever.
'Archer and Artoria… they've got guts, coming to school now,' she thought.
"Rin, we're here too, aren't we?" Scathach, in spirit form beside her, fixed her blood-red eyes on Yuto, a spark of battle lust flickering in them. 'That Berserker got yanked back by his Master yesterday and ran off. Such a shame.'
"Good morning, Tohsaka-san!" Artoria chirped, her backpack bouncing as she flashed a bright smile.
"Morning…" Rin sighed, watching the girl close the gap without a hint of caution. 'Seriously, I could hit her with a spell this close. She's way too trusting.'
As the girls chatted, Yuto and Scathach also closed in. "Archer, you can't go spirit-form?" Scathach asked, eyeing him. "Using an Assassin's 'Presence Concealment' to walk around unnoticed… Are you really an Archer?"
Yuto spread his hands with a grin. "Lancer, who says an Archer can't use Presence Concealment?"
"Interesting. Hope you're ready because I'm itching to fight you," she said, her tone cold but eager.
"Hold on… looks like we've got company." Yuto paused, sensing a bold servant aura flaring above Homurahara Academy.
A green-haired guy with a spiky cut swooped down, riding a chariot pulled by horses. He shot them a cocky grin. "Hahaha! I felt servants down here! Come oot, ancient heroes, let's fight!" His voice boomed, but some trick kept it from reaching normal ears.
'Achilles, huh?' Yuto recognized him instantly from that wild green hair. Achilles, the Rider from Greek myth, famed for the Trojan War.
His heel held his immortality Noble Phantasm, Andreias Amarantos, but his speed, Dromeus Kometes, was tied to it too. Pierce it, and both would collapse. Achilles didn't seem to care that Yuto had him figured out. His chariot pulled by Poseidon's immortal horses, Xanthos and Balios, plus a stolen prize, Pedasos tore through battlefields with godly speed, piling on damage the faster it went. At top gear, it was a wrecking machine.
"Hey, you two! Up for a real fight?" Achilles called.
Since they have been challenged, no way Yuto and Scathach would back off now.
......….
On the school rooftop, the three squared off. Achilles, decked in heavy black armor with a flowing red scarf, radiated energy. "You nameless spirits, my Master sent me to take you on. Together or one-on-one, your call," he said, his eyes blazing with excitement.
"Not really into fighting guys," Yuto muttered, glancing at the fired-up Rider. 'What's the fun in that? Sparring with the cool, gorgeous Shishou beats it any day.'
"Interesting, Rider. You look like a solid fighter," Scathach said, twirling her spear toward Achilles. "Y—" She wanted to say more but Yuto cut in
"Lancer, just fighting's kinda dull. How about a bet?"
"Oh? What's the stakes, Archer?" Scathach's interest perked up. She'd always been curious about this odd Archer, and now he was challenging her, the queen of the Land of Shadows herself. A faint, playful smirk tugged at her lips.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. People who bet against me don't end up happy," she added, her voice smooth but edged.
"Let's find out," Yuto shot back. He pointed at Achilles. "Five minutes. I'll take his head. If I win, you owe me a date"
"Deal," Scathach said, her smile widening with battle lust. In all her years, no man had ever gambled his life for her like this.
"And if you lose?" she asked.
"I won't." Yuto turned, flashing a bright, confident grin, his voice brimming with certainty.
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