"Just call me Asuna. It's a nickname—my close friends all call me that. Since we've already fought together as comrades, there's no need to be so formal, right?" Asuna said with a smile.
"I know, Asuna. Then you can just call me Shirou." Youth readily agreed.
"Then please fulfill the Servant's wish now," Xiao Da flew out to remind them. If a Servant's wish was not fulfilled on time, it might very well punish them or retaliate.
"Huh? An exchange? I suppose that's fine." The girl froze for a moment, then agreed to the voice in her heart. Her aura changed at once. She seemed to transform from a girl with the potential to be a fine wife and mother into a big sister overflowing with motherly affection.
The Servant's name was Minamoto no Yorimitsu, and her class was Lancer. On a Southern Island that hosted a summer event in a certain parallel world, she served as the Shadow Discipline Committee Chair, maintaining order among all the swimsuit-clad girls. Her weapons were Dojigiri Yasutsuna and an Iron Yo-yo, fitting for a delinquent Big Sister.
Even if she temporarily set aside her motherly nature, once the battle ended and her body and mind relaxed, her true nature would still reveal itself—especially when she saw a child so pitiful that he made people want to cherish him.
"Oh my, I saw these eyes when I was alive. So it was you? I thought then that they were such strong eyes that they made my heart ache. If I ever found their owner, I would definitely shower him with love. Was this truly a fated meeting after all?"
Blushing, Minamoto no Yorimitsu looked at Youth with satisfaction. "That's wonderful. You've grown up properly."
"Um, Miss Minamoto, do you know me?" Shirou greeted Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Asuna, now under the Servant's control.
Come to think of it, when he had used his Magic Eye to project Ushiwakamaru's weapon, Hagoromo, some time ago, he had indeed seemed to exchange a glance with a female general of the Minamoto clan. So it had been Raikou.
She was such a gentle big sister, but why did the way she looked at him feel so strange?
"Cough, cough! Although I'm currently in Discipline Committee Mode, with my motherly instincts temporarily suppressed, this opportunity is too rare. I still have to say it! Shirou, is that all right?" Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who was controlling the body, took a deep breath. Her eyes gleamed as she stared straight at Youth and asked.
"Please, go ahead." Shirou felt as though that gaze contained a bewitching motherly love mixed with possessiveness. Why did it feel a little creepy?
"Youth! Would you come be my son?" Minamoto no Yorimitsu looked at Shirou lovingly, her voice so gentle it seemed as though water could be wrung from it.
Super Delicious Dinner
"Huh?" Shirou blanked out for a moment, feeling as if he had misheard. Looking at the girl with flaxen hair before him, he thought, You really do look like a perfect wife and mother, and your temperament is like a Yamato nadeshiko, but isn't this skipping too many generations?
"Would you come be my son?" Minamoto no Yorimitsu repeated with a smile. As expected of a battle-hardened General, she was indomitable and spoke cleanly, without dragging things out.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu watched Shirou with loving eyes and did not urge him to answer. She simply looked at him, infinitely tolerant. When one saw a talented and pitiable Youth, wasn't it only natural to want to bring him home and raise him?
"..." Shirou fell silent this time. How was he supposed to answer? Should he call her Mother Raikou, or Mother Asuna? No matter how badly things went, he was a man with a family. Hachiman's mother would cry.
"Starting with that is way too difficult," Xiao Da flew out and whispered into Minamoto no Yorimitsu's ear.
"Is that so... Then I'll restrain myself with just a head pat," Minamoto no Yorimitsu said reluctantly. As a Lancer, she possessed a strong sense of morality and barely managed to restrain her desires.
"Well, if it's just a head pat." Shirou agreed.
"Thank you. Please be sure to consider my earlier proposal." Even as Minamoto no Yorimitsu turned into fluorescent light, she did not forget to say it.
"Haha, please spare me from that." Shirou laughed awkwardly.
"Then next time, at least let me give you a lap pillow and clean your ears!" Minamoto no Yorimitsu still shouted at the very last moment before leaving.
As the Servant departed, the flaxen-haired girl lowered her head.
"Then I should head back too..." Shirou sensed the girl's embarrassment and spoke up.
The girl suddenly stretched out both hands and tightly grabbed Youth's shoulders.
"Wait! Shirou!"
"Asuna?" Shirou answered as he looked at the girl. Why was the strength in her hands so great? His bones seemed to be creaking. It was a little scary.
"Everything just now was because the Servant went out of control on her own, so pretend you never heard it. Don't tell anyone, and don't think about it yourself either, all right?" The girl spoke with a kindly smile, but for some reason, Shirou felt that the consequences would be terrifying if he refused.
"Got it!" Shirou agreed decisively.
"That's good. Then, do you need me to help fulfill the Servant's wish?" The girl released Youth and smiled gently.
If the Servant was Merlin, could it be dressing him as a girl to scam people online? Asuna's eyes lit up. She was actually rather interested in cute boys!
She began assessing Youth's face. It was quite handsome—no problem there. One glance showed that he worked out; he was solid and athletic, though his frame was not especially large. Loose-fitting clothes that made him look slimmer could hide that. His brows and eyes were a little too rugged. In a few years, he might become a strikingly masculine man with plenty of charm, but for now, makeup could completely make up for it.
Asuna pictured Shirouko in her mind and snapped her fingers. This could work!
Though he had no idea what the girl was thinking, it could not possibly be anything good. Shirou refused.
"No need. Merlin seems to be highly compatible with me. Just seeing memories of my daily life seems to have satisfied him."
Because it was a Possession Summon, many memories between the host and the Servant were shared. Shirou had thus learned what Saber had been like when she was innocent and young. Merlin could likewise see Shirou's past experiences through their connection, though Shirou had no idea why Merlin had watched them while kneeling.
"Is that so... Then next time..." Asuna said regretfully.
"There won't be a next time." Shirou answered decisively.
The streetlights came on. Before they knew it, the sun had already set, and the surroundings had darkened. Only the last trace of golden light remained in the sky, soon to be replaced by a pale white moon. A Black Shadow flew across the sky, seeming to be a lone bird. It somehow felt lonely.
It had already been past five when he was summoned over. After the battle, night was nearly upon them.
"It's getting dark. I'll walk you near your home," Shirou said.
"No need. I'll be home once I cross the street ahead. Well then, Shirou! See you at school tomorrow!" Asuna waved to Youth.
"Mm, see you." As Shirou spoke, fluorescent light shone from his body, and he entered the circle-shaped magic formation once more.
Night had fallen. The Service Club classroom was pitch-black and empty. The only visible light came from the buildings outside. Looking through the window, the school's athletic field was deserted; even the sports club members had left school. Shirou thought the girls had probably gone home too. It was already late, after all. Otherwise, their families would worry.
Youth stood alone in the empty classroom. Only the cool wind blew in through the window. The already desolate classroom somehow felt even colder. It was a strange chill that passed through his skin, entered through his pores, and pierced through his bones. It was as if it was not his body that felt cold, but his heart. Yet people always endured this kind of cold and gradually became stronger.
At that moment, the classroom door behind him was pushed open.
The black-haired girl at the front entered and turned on the lights. Looking at Youth in confusion, she asked, "Since you're back, why didn't you turn on the lights?"
"Shirou, what are you standing here for?" Yuihama asked as she looked over, carrying something in her hands.
"Shirou-senpai, welcome back." Mash followed behind and entered the room.
"Ah... I thought you had all gone home, so I didn't react for a moment. Ahaha." Shirou finally came back to himself and smiled.
It was incredible. The cool chill vanished the moment the girls opened the door. A warm current filled his heart, and even everything before his eyes seemed to become brighter.
"How could we just leave you behind and go home?!" Yuihama puffed out her cheeks and threw the bag in her hand at Youth's face.
Shirou caught the bag and felt that it was still a little warm. He asked in confusion.
"What's this?"
"We praised you for being smart earlier. Did you hit your head during the battle?" Yukino asked with a smile.
Yuihama shot Shirou a glance. "Hmph! It was getting later and later, and we thought it would be too pitiful if you came back from battle hungry, so we went to the convenience store together and bought you a boxed meal. But looking at you now, we might as well feed it to Sabre."
"Thanks. Now that you mention it, I really am hungry." Shirou lifted the clear plastic lid. It was a common convenience store boxed meal: white rice in the large compartment, one meat dish and two vegetable dishes. The meat was fried chicken, while the vegetables were cabbage and potatoes. Steam still rose from it, and his appetite was suddenly in full swing.
"Give it back if you're not going to eat it!" Yuihama stretched out her hand to snatch it back.
"Of course I'm eating it!" Shirou turned away to dodge her, split apart his chopsticks, picked up a piece of fried chicken, and put it into his mouth. A delighted expression immediately appeared on his face. Then he picked up vegetables and ate them with rice.
"This is... super delicious! Did some master chef switch careers and open a convenience store?"
"You're saying silly things again. It's just an ordinary convenience store boxed meal. Your cooking is far better than this." Yukino watched Youth with amusement. His foolish appearance made her want to mock him, yet somehow it also seemed a little cute.
"That may be true, but it really is delicious!" Shirou felt that he could not get enough, lowering his head and wolfing down the food.
It truly was ordinary: ordinary cabbage, ordinary fried chicken, rice that was a little hard, very little meat, and vegetables that were not particularly fresh. Yet for some reason, at that very moment, Youth thought it was delicious.
"Honestly, Shirou looks like he's enjoying it so much that I'm getting hungry too." Watching Youth eat with such relish, Yuihama swallowed.
"Yuihama, you already bought and ate a meat bun just now," Yukino reminded her.
"But I split it in half with Yukino and Mash. Hey, hey, why don't we eat this kind of boxed meal too before going home?" Yuihama said greedily.
"Didn't we agree that after eating the meat bun, we would go home and eat dinner?" Yukino rejected the idea.
"Ehh... But it really does look delicious. The chicken is golden, and it's fried so beautifully." Yuihama stared longingly at the piece of fried chicken in Shirou's chopsticks. Like a little dog begging for food, her round eyes were full of expectation, and she was practically about to drool.
"I'm not sharing with you." Shirou grinned mischievously, turned around, and began stuffing his mouth.
"You cheapskate! Give me one!" Yuihama puffed out her cheeks, jumped up, and pounced onto Youth's back.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Shirou felt the girl's body press against him—warm and soft—and he immediately choked.
"Eat more slowly. Yuihama, stop playing around too." Yukino pulled Yuihama down in exasperation and gently patted Youth's back.
"Here, Shirou-senpai, please have some tea." Mash hurriedly handed Youth a cup of tea.
"Cough, cough... Thanks." Shirou took the tea and gulped it down, finally catching his breath.
After that, Youth finished his boxed meal beneath the resentful gaze of the girl with the dumpling buns.
"Thanks for the meal." Shirou held his cup and took a sip of green tea. He felt completely content, body and soul.
Since it was already late, the four of them left the school together. Starlight fell over the boys and girls, while the streetlamps laid a carpet across the road for them. The wind gently pushed them onward.
"Then we'll talk about the details tomorrow."
"Well then, see you."
"See you, Shirou!"
Shirou waved, watched the girls enter the subway and leave, then headed home himself. It suddenly occurred to him that perhaps the boxed meal had tasted so delicious not because of the food itself, but because someone had been there to eat with him.
A Desperate Grinding Reward Event—I swear I will never yield to the forces of crossdressing!
Because it got featured on the app, the story was now entering a regular two-updates-a-day schedule. The reward event would be held on the premise of maintaining two daily updates.
① For every 100 blades donated (a ten-thousand reward), one extra chapter. When the first title-bearing big shot appears, there will be another extra chapter. The first Winner, Sage, or big shot to appear will each add one chapter;
② Starting from 1,000, every additional 500 recommendation votes will add one chapter;
③ Also, if the story can get on the rankings, there will be one extra chapter for each day it remains ranked. The new book monthly ticket ranking is worth trying for. (Update rankings excluded);
(Currently, the first Winner, Omnipotent Shirou Fan, has appeared, so I owe two extra chapters. If the first Alliance Leader appears, I'll immediately owe another eleven chapters.)
PS: As a newbie making my first trip to the moon, please go easy on me. If there are any unpleasant points, please point them out, and I'll fix them.
[I'll pay it all off by the end of the month. I can pay it off! How can I give up on this challenge just because I'm afraid of crossdressing?! Grind till I drop! Grind till I drop!]
Asuna Joins
At noon the next day, the boys and girls all gathered in the Service Club room.
"Come to think of it, Shirou-senpai, did yesterday's battle go smoothly?" Mash asked her senpai.
"Mm. The monster was troublesome, but the partner who called me over was super strong, so the battle went very smoothly." Shirou told the girls about his previous battle.
Asuna's Servant, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, had indeed been very strong. Yet it was not only the Servant who was powerful. While fighting the monster herself, Asuna had displayed battle awareness, calm decision-making, and decisiveness in action that surpassed ordinary people. That was how she had been able to bring out the Servant's power almost perfectly.
Perhaps even if the Servant Minamoto no Yorimitsu herself had been summoned here, she would not have been much stronger than in the Possession Summon state.
"That's amazing! Isn't that an incredibly powerful new partner? Is she a student from somewhere, or a working adult?" Mash asked excitedly. She had long hoped for a powerful partner like Saber or old man King Hassan.
"So I already invited Asuna over at noon today," Shirou said.
"Asuna?" The three girls raised their heads and looked at Youth in unison. Another girl from somewhere?
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Excuse me." The door opened, and a girl with flaxen hair and the aura of a fine wife and mother walked in.
"Come in! This is her—Asuna Yuuki. You've all heard of a classmate in our year, right?" Shirou introduced her to his companions with a smile.
"Yahallo~! Yuuki-san. I never expected you to be such an experienced player." Yuihama said in surprise.
"Yahallo! Yuihama, are all of you companions too?" Asuna asked in surprise when she saw so many girls.
"Yes. Though I dragged them into this at first, everyone has now decided to come help, so we're all companions! You know Yuihama, and this is..." Shirou began, preparing to introduce the companions one by one.
Asuna waved her hand and smiled. "There's no need. I know these girls too. Hello, Yukino and Mash. I'm Asuna Yuuki, and my game name is Asuna."
"Wait? Yuuki-san, you're that Asuna?" Yukino asked in surprise as well.
"Yes. What's wrong?" Asuna asked doubtfully.
"I previously asked you to provide me with information on the monsters in FGO," Yukino said.
"Ah! Then you're Mr. Aipan's Snow Cat!" Asuna suddenly understood. Looking at the cold-looking girl, she somehow felt much closer to her.
"Huh? Really? Then you're the Shining Group Leader! I'm Don't Run. Hehe, doesn't that make this such a coincidence?" Yuihama said as she affectionately hugged Asuna.
"It really does. Come to think of it, so many people in our group are from this school." Asuna said with astonishment and delight.
Before you continue