Shirou knelt on the ground, staring at Shinji before him. Blood covered Shinji's chest, and his breath was faint as a thread. Shirou's mind was nearly blank.
Shinji, meanwhile, gazed gently at Shirou, who was gritting his teeth hard, and gave a miserable smile.
"W-Wait! Shinji, I'll... I'll get you to a hospital right away! You'll be fine!"
Seeing Shirou panic, Shinji smiled faintly and spoke in a weak voice.
"N-No need. I know my own condition better than anyone. You know it too, right? There's no saving me... So at least let me say a few things before the end..."
Looking at Shinji before him, Shirou's nose stung.
That was right. Just as Shinji had said, having his heart pierced by such a strange weapon meant that he truly was already...
"L-Listen, Emiya. I'm leaving Sakura to you..."
"Okay..."
Shirou desperately suppressed the tears in his voice and nodded heavily. To him, Sakura had long since become a true little sister—family.
"That's good..." Shinji looked somewhat relieved, his voice growing softer and softer. "Also, now that it's come to the end, there's something I've always said to you in a joking tone. At a time like this, I hope you can at least understand..."
"What is it?"
"I... l-like..."
Shinji did not continue, but the tenderness in his eyes as he stared straight at Shirou made Shirou understand something.
"I know this feeling could never lead anywhere, so I always... But at the very end, it's okay to say it, right?"
Though Shirou was stunned to learn such a thing, the grief of losing a friend was even stronger. After all, one should respect the dying.
So Shirou's response was—forcing a smile!
"Ah, that's fine. No matter what you say, I'll remember it properly. We're friends, after all."
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