After the Fireworks Fade

BB-chan raised her long gun, closed her right eye, aimed, and fired!

"Ouch!?" The shopkeeper cried out in pain.

Huh!? What's going on?

"I'm so sorry, I was so focused on looking at your face, boss, that I missed. I really shouldn't have done that..." BB-chan said, cupping her face and trying to look cute.

The middle-aged man, whose forehead was red and dented by a plastic pellet, immediately changed his expression, revealing a somewhat lewd smile.

"Ahaha, I'm so sorry. Since you put it that way, Miss, I can't just leave without doing something. If you don't mind, these little trinkets are for you two. You're both so cute, they'll definitely look great on you." The vain uncle said with a smile.

"Thank you~!" BB-chan said proudly as she accepted the accessory.

"As expected of BB-chan, she even has such a tactic, and she actually managed to win a prize." Komachi said, hugging the purple-haired girl.

"But I still want that teddy bear." Komachi said, looking at the teddy bear on the shelf with a conflicted expression. Then she turned to look at the boy.

"Brother, you go! There are three more shots!"

"Okay, okay, I know," Shirou replied helplessly as he was pushed forward.

"Oh, so this time it's the little sister's brother taking the shot. Brother, be careful! Even if you hit the old man, he won't give you a prize."

"I don't need that," Shirou retorted.

Shirou slightly opened his Magic Eye and looked at the little bear.

Sure enough, behind the base of the shelf, there was a groove made of a small bamboo strip. The bamboo strip was glued to the shelf, and the hooks on the bamboo strip were braced against it. In this way, if force was applied from the front, it would basically not fall over. Trying to knock it down from the front was almost impossible.

So Shirou fired three bullets in quick succession. One bullet struck the side of the bear, making it sway. The second bullet tilted the swaying bear, and then he turned the gun around, locking onto the center of gravity where it was most likely to fall. The third bullet flew out, and like the last straw that broke the camel's back, the bear crushed the bamboo strips and fell off the shelf.

So, Komachi got the brown, fluffy bear, and excitedly held it up high, laughing.

"Shirou-senpai, how cunning! I want some too!" BB-chan protested, raising her hands.

"Didn't you get the gift through your charm?" Shirou said, looking at the purple-haired girl.

"This is this, and that is that! I want a present from you too, senpai!" BB ran up to the boy, grabbed Shirou's arm, and while acting cute, tugged at his collar and cuffs, pulling him to one side with all her might.

"I know, I know, stop pulling, or your yukata will be ripped off." Shirou tried to pull his arms away from the purple-haired girl, but she only hugged him tighter and tighter, and the force she used to pull on his collar increased, so he had no choice but to agree.

"Hehe, thank you~! I knew you were the best, senior!" BB-chan smiled contentedly after receiving the compliment, and took two steps back with her hands behind her back.

"Brother! It's not just BB-chan, everyone should try their best to get theirs too~!" The quick-witted Komachi raised her hand to remind everyone. After all, it hadn't been decided who her future sister-in-law would be, so it was really necessary to keep things fair.

"Yes, yes, let's have twenty more!" Shirou finally managed to calm the purple-haired girl down. Hearing his sister's suggestion, he took out his wallet, pulled out a few thousand-yen bills, and handed them to the shopkeeper.

"Heh heh heh, young man, aren't you going to buy some more? No matter how good your skills are, you can't win every time." The stall owner said with a smile. Although he didn't nail the goods to the shelf like other unscrupulous merchants, he had still made various traps.

Everything is designed to make the game seem simpler, but it is actually very difficult. Without seeing the placement patterns firsthand, knowing the tricks, and practicing a lot, it is impossible to beat the game unless you are blessed by the heavens.

Even the angle of the bamboo frame above was different. The shopkeeper couldn't believe that the young man in front of him could continue the miracle as before.

"Let's give it a try. I'm fairly confident in shooting games," Shirou readily agreed.

"Is that so? Then I'd like to see how many prizes you can take from me." The shopkeeper took the money, casually stuffed it into his waist pouch, and stepped aside to make room for Shirou to shoot.

Although he said he was moving aside, the distance wasn't far; his arm was still within the boy's field of vision. The older man himself stood there with his arms crossed, staring straight at Shirou, creating an invisible pressure.

Although it was unclear whether this was a strategy developed by the shopkeeper from running such a stall, or a show of force by the old man, Shirou didn't take these petty tricks to heart at all. In any case, he picked up the gun first and loaded the plastic ammunition onto it.

"Senior, please choose a plush toy suitable for my noble status, BB-chan."

Upon hearing this, Shirou carefully searched through the remaining items on the shelf.

Hmm... a lion, that's the kind of girl Artoria would like. Cats, dogs... there are girls who can find their own preferences in all of these. But BB-chan's requirements are a bit more difficult; will she end up with a pig or a fox?

Shirou locked onto his target and pulled the trigger...

Three more bullets were fired in quick succession, and this time, Shirou shot down a panda.

"Here, take this." Shirou handed the panda plush toy he had received to the silver-haired girl who had been eagerly watching him; he felt it suited her perfectly.

"Huh? For me? Thank you~!" Jeanne d'Arc smiled brightly, but then realized what she meant and pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "Actually, I didn't want this. Shirou said you wanted to give it to me, so I accepted it."

After that...

The girls here each hold a plush toy.

Artoria held the snacks in both hands, not stopping since the beginning. She ate while looking at the lion plush toy tucked between her arms, quite satisfied.

"Don't come again!!" the stall owner roared angrily. Although he had heard the boy's purpose from the beginning—to give each of his female companions a plush toy—wasn't he bringing way too many girls?

Afterwards, Shirou met up with the girls who were browsing the stalls nearby. Yuihama ran over carrying two large plastic bags of snacks, followed Yukino Yukinoshita with a helpless expression and Asuna with a smile. Shirou helped Yuihama roadside and then handed them the gifts he had given them.

Once everyone had arrived, they found an open space to sit down and watch the fireworks that launched precisely on time.

Chapter 303 After the Fireworks Bloom

Shooting stars rose from the sky, then emitted a blinding light, scattering into a cluster that transformed into a seven-colored flower of flames blooming in the air.

From a seed planted in the sky, absorbing nutrients from the air, it gradually grows and buds. At first, it is just a bright spot of light that blooms, changing shapes and swirling as it opens its huge petals. Seven-colored light replaces fragrance and spreads throughout the entire sky.

The light illuminated the earth and reflected on the lake in the park, making the water and sky blend into one, like two giant rainbow buds blooming in the night.

The blazing fireworks seemed to have lived a lifetime in an instant.

People created fireworks and then poured their emotions into them. Some say that fireworks fade quickly, life is short, and happy times and beautiful things always pass easily. Once they are gone, nothing can be brought back.

Some say that fireworks are made up of a bunch of inconspicuous things mixed together and piled up, but they burn themselves up, fly into the sky, and show the world their most beautiful moment, even if it's just for a moment.

People should be like fireworks, spending their lives pursuing their own unique moment of brilliance, living as heroes and dying as legendary figures.

Some extreme views suggest that even if one cannot achieve lasting fame, one should strive to be infamous for eternity.

Regardless, amidst the explosions and towering fireworks, people with similar experiences gazed at the same sky at that moment. No matter what choices you make, we are not truly alone.

The boys and girls sat on the grass next to the wooden chairs, some silent, some smiling, some shouting with surprise, looking up at the fireworks in the same sky.

The final firework soared higher than all the previous ones, its sound louder and its explosion brighter. Golden light swirled inwards before turning blue and continuing to bloom outwards.

This process repeated itself, changing colors again and again, until finally seven colors were gathered, creating a striking contrast with the white light and the darkness.

Yes, on this night, humanity planted a seed of rainbow in the sky.

Finally, the colorful fireworks went out, and the sky returned to tranquility. By the moonlight, one could see that the smoke high in the sky had begun to be carried upwards by the wind.

The crowd on the ground, like the grayish-white smoke shifting in the sky with the wind, began to move little by little, leaving the park.

Shirou and the girls packed their things and prepared to go home. They walked along a tree-lined path, emerging from a less crowded area, and suddenly everything became quiet.

Although it was a secluded path leading home, it was unusually quiet. Shirou took another step, and at that moment he felt a strange sensation, as if he had stepped into a small world.

"Everyone!" When he turned around, there was no one behind him.

"Shirou-kun, that's really going too far. We were traveling companions, but you haven't contacted me at all since we parted ways..." A Black Shadow emerged from the bushes.

Shirou carefully examined the girl in the shadows, noticing a familiar way she spoke, "... Kasumigaoka- senpai?"

"I already told you from the beginning, right? The one you're familiar with is Merlin's, isn't he?" Shirou said helplessly, spreading his hands. He looked at the senior who seemed a little strange, took two steps back, and prepared to retreat outside.

"Yes, at first, I, and the other kids probably felt the same way. After all, Merlin used your account, and the photos in it were yours. People he met online must have imagined Merlin as you are now. So at least half of them... and now Merlin doesn't care anymore, I love you in my heart."

"No, even so, I still refused. You can't force feelings," Shirou said.

"Yes, but it's okay. We just want to be with you. If we can't get love in return, then let's just take the liberty of spending our White Day gift in advance tonight. It's about time to settle all the scores with those girls from earlier," Utaha Kasumigaoka said with a smile.

"Wait! What's going on?" Before Shirou could get a reply, he found himself in a dense forest, a forest of this size that even a park wouldn't have. Did this mean he had entered another world?

"Welcome! To the world we've built together, Avalon's Cage."

Appearing here is a young girl in an ancient, gorgeous robe. Although her attire is similar to that of a Western dancer, it is excessively ornate, with a smooth silk dance skirt. Ruby and gold ornaments adorn her arms and neck, and gold anklets hang above her fair and delicate bare feet.

Her long, dark brown hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her black eyes gave off a pure and serene feeling. In Japanese terms, she was a literary young woman who combined intellect and sensuality. But this woman was holding a woodcutter's knife in her hand.

"Kasumigaoka- senpai?" Shirou asked, looking at the familiar-looking girl with a puzzled expression. At this moment, due to the possession and summoning, she had some Middle Eastern features in her profile.

"No, this is the Servant stage, Lord John! I'm so glad to finally meet you. This is our first meeting in this life, so let me introduce myself. I am Salome, Princess of Galilee."

"Salome? The stepdaughter of King Herod of Galilee before Christ?" Upon hearing this somewhat familiar name, Shirou gazed at the girl, his first thought naturally being of Princess Salome, who was famous throughout the world, and made his guess.

The girl opposite said, "No, I've only ever had one father. It's just that the woman remarried King Herod without my permission in order to maintain her power."

"What are you saying? John, come here, let me kiss your cheek again." Salome opened her arms and looked at the boy with an extremely affectionate gaze.

"I'm sorry, Miss Salome, both you and the girl you're possessing have mistaken me for someone else," Shirou said, backing away as he searched for an escape route.

"Ah, even in reincarnation, your character remains so noble. Why did you run away? I could scold you a little more. Lord John, wait for me, I won't hurt you." Salome followed behind, carrying a wood-chopping knife.

Salome is a figure mentioned in a biblical passage, and her story is widely known and passed down through generations.

The girl is Princess of a country within Palestine. Her grandfather, King Herod the Great, once saved the Great Hero Caesar on the battlefield, and was therefore granted the privilege of ruling over the entire former territory of Israel.

He was a very capable King and provided food relief to Greece, which was suffering from famine at the time, so he was elected as the president of the Olympic Games.

On the other hand, he was a cruel villain who attempted to kill Jesus as an infant and ordered the massacre of all children under the age of two in Bethlehem. More than a decade later, he died with the infamy of a tyrant. His territory was divided into three parts and given to his three sons.

The girl's father, Herod Philip, died young, so her mother remarried to Herod Antipas, the half-brother of her first husband, who was the king of Galilee and was known as King Herod the Younger.

King Herod defied the ethics of the time, divorcing his first wife for the sake of property and marrying his brother's wife. Later, he set his sights on Salome, a young and beautiful girl who was growing up.

As the young girl blossomed into womanhood, she possessed a unique charm. Her purity and kindness quickly attracted the attention of men both inside and outside the Imperial Palace, but she couldn't stand these vulgar men who were blinded by worldly desires.

John, a Christian at the time, openly condemned King Herod the Younger's incestuous behavior, but due to his reputation, King Herod and his new consort were unable to do anything about it for the time being.

Meanwhile, the young Salome fell in love with John, a man of integrity who was like a saint. She confessed her feelings to him, but was resolutely rejected by John devout believer.

Undeterred, Salome repeatedly expressed her feelings to John, hoping that her burning love would move this upright and kind man.

However, John was devoted to his faith and rejected the girl.

"Please don't be so cruel in rejecting me, even just a kiss would be enough, Lord John, please give me a kiss."

But John still refused; he couldn't do such a thing to a girl he didn't love.

Thus, the burning love turned into scorching hatred. Princess Salome donned a silk veil and danced the Dance of the Seven Veils for young King Herod, captivating him completely. At that moment, she begged the King for a kiss from John.

So King Herod Younger sent men to cut off John's head, which was then wrapped in precious gold silk brought from the far East and presented to Salome.

Salome cradled John's head, gently lowered her head, and placed a kiss on his lips...

The girl finally achieved her wish.

Finally, King Herod Younger fell from grace, and Salome could not escape the fate of persecuting saints; she was executed.

Yes, neither the Heroic Servant Salome nor the girl named Utaha Kasumigaoka, who possessed her, would personally harm the person she loved. She simply wanted to hold the head of the person she loved but could not have in her arms.

"Alright, come with me, John. Just swear you'll kiss me, or the others will come too, including some who want to kill you and preserve you in formaldehyde. If you stay by my side, everyone can be saved, even the girls who got involved with you, I can release them into the outside world."

"Sorry, senior! I have to go pick up my companions." Hearing the girl's words, he realized that the girls were also in this world, so he couldn't delay any longer and had to seize every moment to find them as soon as possible.

Shirou had just rushed out of the forest path when he saw another girl standing there.

This is a woman with long black hair and pointed ears like an elf. She is wearing Magecraft's black dress, with black and purple feathers forming a downy drape around her neck, and a long cloak hanging down to the ground.

Shirou vaguely remembered her; she was a girl in the same grade but a different class at school, and he had even received chocolate from her before. She seemed to be a wealthy young lady, and he had heard that she was somewhat spoiled and unreasonable.

The Servant she summoned was Semiramis, the empress of the ancient Assyrian Empire, a woman who would go to any lengths, even war, to obtain what she desired.

"Hey, Shirou, you gave all the chocolates you got to other women, didn't you? I knew from the start," the woman said in a gloomy voice, arms crossed.

"I can't possibly finish that much food by myself, and it's not good to waste food, so I wanted to put some effort into the return gift," Shirou said helplessly.

"I know, I forgive you," the girl nodded with a smile, but then, cupping her cheeks, she revealed a sinister smile and said, "However... I put more than ten thin needles in the chocolates I gave you."

"What!" Shirou exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.

That brings me back to Shirou's conversation with Artoria at home.

"Shirou, some of the chocolate is a little hard, it's getting stuck in my throat..."

"Hey? Hurry up, drink some milk to wash it down." That's what he said at the time.

"Mmm... glug glug, swallowed it!"

I didn't really think that much at the time, but now Shirou's face has turned deathly pale!

He remembered Artoria eating chocolate, but she just kept popping it into her mouth one after another without even looking at it. Did she even eat needles?

Her stomach is never full; it always digests food before she's even stuffed. The powerful gastric juices in her body can even melt metal...

How terrifying! Artoria... I feel she's more terrifying than the people in this environment in every sense. No, it's a good thing she didn't get hurt, thanks to her huge appetite.

"If I've done anything to make you resentful, you can tell me clearly, and we can settle it face to face. If I'm in the wrong, I'll make it up to you. But I can't allow anything to harm my family!" Shirou said, staring directly at the girl.

"Because! Because! They're just too much of an eyesore! I want to confess to you, Shirou, but you'd definitely reject me since you treat everyone the same, so it's not just me, everyone's holding back."