Please Play FGO With Me

"Hello, we're here to help. Isn't Iroha-chan here?"

"Ah, Iroha-chan is out at the convenience store right now buying some snacks," the vice president of the student council said.

"Is that so? Then I'll head out and bring her back," Shirou said, greeting the two girls before walking outside.

When he arrived at the convenience store, the girl was just coming out, struggling to carry a large, heavy bag in both hands.

"Ah! Senpai, you're here! Sorry to keep you waiting?" Iroha Isshiki said with a smile upon seeing the boy.

"Let me have it," Shirou said, extending his hand.

"Huh?" Iroha Isshiki looked at the hand Shirou was extending, blinked, and then took several steps back.

"Ah! Senpai! You really like me, don't you! I'm sorry! While I was a little moved, this level of kindness just isn't enough!" the girl said with a fearful expression, thinking, I'm not that kind of girl who's easily swayed, don't think you can win me over like this!

"What are you talking about? You said it was heavy and asked me to help you carry it!" Shirou retorted as he snatched the large bag from the girl's hands. It was indeed heavy; it was definitely too much for a slender girl. It was filled with snacks and drinks, apparently for the meeting later.

"Ah... Thank you, Shirou-senpai," Iroha seemed surprised by the sudden snatching of the bag. Her face flushed slightly when her hand was touched, and she said in a low voice.

"Oh..." Shirou replied. Even though he'd been rejected for the third time today, he could still make a sarcastic remark. But now that the girl had suddenly become so docile, he didn't know what to say.

Shirou and Iroha Isshiki returned to the conference room together. The girl then began introducing the members from the other school to Shirou, Yukino, and Yuihama. Once everyone had arrived, they started today's meeting.

"Today, let's brainstorm and speak freely without opposition!" the president of the business high school announced loudly as the host.

"Yes! Regarding the music performance, I think since there will be elderly people, we should definitely include some traditional instrument performances, like shamisen, erhu, or guzheng."

"I think there will be children, so inviting a few singers to perform the theme songs of popular children's anime, like Little Witch Miracuru, Meruru, or Madoka Magica, would surely be a big hit."

The opposing student council president spun his hands in the air as if thinking, pondered for a moment, and then smiled, counting, "Hmm, traditional instruments and anime theme songs, these are good suggestions. Let's note them down first!"

Seeing that the person who made the suggestion was approved, others seemed encouraged and, according to their interests, made their requests.

"Actually, I think jazz is indispensable for this kind of event, right? The school also has a jazz band."

"What about K-On!? The five-girl K-On! band, their cute musical style is very popular with girls these days."

"Then let's go all out and invite a symphony orchestra, how about that? Euphonium, trumpet, saxophone, various string instruments along with piano and violins, dozens of instruments blending together, that would be incredibly impactful! Let a nationally award-winning symphony orchestra bring the most comprehensive musical enjoyment to the elderly and children."

"But to get fired up, it's gotta be Rock!" someone shouted loudly, striking a pose they thought was very rock and roll.

"Everyone's suggestions are great! Let's register them all!" the student council president said, waving his hands and making the final decision.

No... It seems like they only used their hands and not their brains at all.

Shirou couldn't stand it any longer and raised his hand to speak, "Um! Please wait a moment. If we do all this, the performance time will be completely filled, and we don't have the budget to invite so many performers."

"Thank you for your reminder, student. But now is the time to gather opinions. Regarding the budget, we can figure out a solution together after everything is officially decided," the student council president said with a gentle smile, persuading him.

And so, for this event, the music program alone included traditional instruments, anime theme songs, jazz, K-On! pop music, a symphony orchestra, and a rock band... Is this the Bilibili New Year's Festival or something!

"Were the previous meetings like this?" Yukino quietly asked Iroha Isshiki.

"Yes..." Iroha Isshiki lowered her head dejectedly. If it continued like this, by the time the Christmas event started, this meeting might not even be finished. She still had final exams to study for, and she might really not have time to max out Santa Attila.

"Excuse me, high school students. The elementary school students who came to help are here," the activity center staff member said, knocking on the door.

"Alright, please let them in," the student council president welcomed the elementary school students. They had contacted the elementary school earlier, hoping to increase their influence, but now that the elementary school girls had arrived, they hadn't figured out what work to assign them at all.

Elementary school girls walked in one by one, looking down and cautiously observing the high school students inside. Although they came to help, they didn't know what they were supposed to do from their teacher upon arriving here.

But what they absolutely didn't expect was that the high school students present didn't know what they were supposed to do either...

Shirou and Yukino covered their faces in unison. The future was so difficult. Not only were the problems not solved, but the tasks that needed to be done were only increasing.

Chapter 40: Iroha's Rebellion

"So those elementary school students over there were also called by you?" Yukino asked Iroha, questioning her.

"Yes, the opposing student council president wanted the event to be more meaningful, so he asked me to contact the elementary school to have the students contribute to the event," Iroha weakly admitted.

"What do you want these elementary school students to do now?" Yukino asked.

"I'll go ask them now..." Iroha Isshiki said, about to run towards the business high school.

"Enough... Since they've pushed the task onto us, even if we ask them, we probably won't get a clear answer," Yukino said, covering her face. The situation here was even worse than she had imagined. The other side only talked about ideas but never acted, while the student council president here was clueless about everything.

"I'm sorry... Then what should I have them do?" Iroha asked, lowering her head after being reprimanded.

"You should be able to figure these things out. For now, prepare things that they can do and that will definitely be useful later," Yukino said.

Shirou stepped in to help, "Let's have the elementary school students help make streamers, origami stars, and other decorations, and also decorate the Christmas tree."

"Yes! I'll go talk to them right now!" Iroha Isshiki exclaimed, as if suddenly enlightened, and then practically ran towards the elementary school students.

The reason Yukino was so strict with Iroha was because she wanted her to become independent. The Service Club's motto was to teach a man to fish rather than give him a fish. Since she had agreed to help, she would unreservedly help Iroha adapt to the role of student council president as quickly as possible.

"If you're always so strict with her, she'll think you're a scary senior," Shirou said to the black-haired girl.

"Even if she's very similar to your sister, you can't spoil her like that. If you do everything for her, she'll never grow, you sister complex!" Yukino said, mockingly looking at the boy.

"..." Shirou was rendered speechless. When had she seen through him? Although the deliberately cute Iroha couldn't compare to Komachi's cuteness, he still treated her like a not-so-cute Komachi.

"I feel like... I'm being nagged by my parents at home," Iroha muttered from the side, pouting her lips.

By the time of the second meeting, there was still no progress. As soon as any objection was raised, it would be brushed aside with these excuses.

"But this way, our perspective becomes narrow. I believe we should all think of solutions together. Don't rush, let's work hard together."

"If we keep discussing like this, we'll never reach a conclusion, so please decide on what needs to be done first, and then we can consider the rest one by one!" Yukino suggested.

"That's right. Then, let's all think together and see if there's a more democratic approach," the student council president across from her agreed with a smile. He remained amiable, but it was clear this approach wouldn't lead to any results.

Ugh, 'effort,' 'figure it out,' 'think together,' 'democratic' – are they just spouting buzzwords like civil servants counting down to quitting time? Even a department head in a university student council would at least say, 'I'll have a few first-year juniors help you with this.'

"..." Shirou watched them, sighed, and thought how he really wished he had Red Saber's Incitement EX skill right about now. That way, he could make them obediently follow his ideas.

After that, they really did act like civil servants holding meetings filled with platitudes and leaving precisely on time, and went home.

"Students, could you please stay for a moment?" Shirou stepped forward and called out to a few people from the same school.

"Yes?"

"We can, I guess."

"Is there something you need?"

The other three student council members from International High School asked, confused.

"So, Iroha, what are your thoughts? You called us over to help, but it surely wasn't to turn this into the farce it is now, right?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked Iroha Isshiki with a smile.

"Yes! I will, I will! I'll definitely work hard to do a good job!" The girl nodded repeatedly, as if frightened by that icy smile. It seemed less like her own decision and more like she was forced into submission.

"Alright, alright, Iroha is still new to the position and doesn't understand many things," Yuihama smoothed things over, appeasing Yukino and telling her not to be so stern.

"Yuihama-senpai~!" Iroha Isshiki buried herself in Yuihama's embrace like a startled lamb, acting spoiled.

"Then, what's the student council's overall opinion?" Shirou asked.

"Huh? Ah... right." Iroha blinked in a daze before realizing Shirou was asking her as the student council president. She then turned to the vice president, secretary, and treasurer with a polite smile and asked, "Um... what does everyone think?"

"Hmm..." The three student council members exchanged glances and finally nodded in agreement.

"As for us..."

"If we want to do it seriously, there's nothing wrong with that."

Iroha then showed a half-shy, half-embarrassed smile and reported to Shirou, "That's roughly how it is."

Seeing the girl like this, Shirou thought, As expected... let alone older students from other schools treating her like a errand runner, even her own student council members don't seem to get along well with her yet. Although, with Iroha's social skills of acting cute and charming, plus her thick skin, she could probably break through these deadlocks.

But this girl is so open with me, practically a little devil, yet she seems quite timid around older people. That's probably why she didn't dare express her opinion too much here.

"So, to be honest, do you want to proceed according to their wishes, or do you want to get it done properly?" Shirou asked.

"I... I still hope we can decide quickly and then organize a decent event, instead of inviting a hodgepodge of amateurs. Plus, if it's resolved quickly, I can grind more during the FGO event," Iroha Isshiki said with a smile. It seemed that having made up her mind, the girl dropped her previously sweet and delicate, carefully maintained cute image.

"Hey, you just revealed your selfish motive."

"This is just you wanting things to be easier for yourself, isn't it?"

Shirou and Yuihama teased her, but it was indeed in character for the girl.

However, since the client had declared her resolve, the Service Club would naturally respond.

"I understand. Then, Shirou, please come over for dinner at my place tonight," Yukino Yukinoshita said.

"Eh? Eh?" Iroha Isshiki was taken aback. Did senpai just get that bold?

"Well, it looks like we'll be busy until late tonight," Shirou replied with a smile.

"Eh, eh?" Iroha Isshiki looked at Yukino, then at Shirou. Since when did you two become so casual about going to each other's places?

"Then I'll help pour tea tonight. Oh, and Yukino, can I stay over tonight?" Yuihama raised her hand and asked with a smile.

"Eh, eh!! What's going on?" Iroha Isshiki felt like her brain wasn't working anymore. Even Yuihama-senpai is like this. Are you three really this open-minded?

"Hey! Iroha, let's go," the boy walking ahead noticed the junior hadn't followed and turned back to urge her on.

"Eh, eh? Isn't that enough? I have to go too? I'm sorry! It's not that I haven't been tempted, but this way we won't be happy! So please let me go!" Iroha Isshiki waved her hands vigorously, shouting shrilly as if rejecting some approaching monster.

"What are you talking about? Didn't you say you wanted to end this farce? Then we need to work hard and prepare countermeasures tonight, don't we?" Shirou looked at his junior strangely. She's usually so sharp and witty, why is she acting so foolishly cute now?

Chapter 41 Iroha the Foodie Isshiki

The four of them arrived at a high-class apartment, took the elevator to the 15th floor, turned right, and arrived at Yukino Yukinoshita's residence.

"Since time is short, Shirou, I'll be counting on you for dinner tonight." Yukino tied her long hair into a ponytail with a hairband, then picked up a plain apron with an orange-red cat pattern printed on it and handed it to Shirou.

"Okay, leave it to me. Tonight, we'll have Chinese cuisine, which is convenient and delicious to make," Shirou replied, taking the apron and tying it around his waist.

"No! Why are you, Shirou-senpai, cooking here so casually?"

"Isn't it normal for classmates and club juniors to come over to help cook a meal together?" Shirou couldn't understand why both juniors were acting so dramatically.

Iroha Isshiki puffed out her cheeks and exclaimed, "It's not normal at all~! Why are classmates coming to my house to cook? Senpai, you should come to my house and cook for me every day!"

Iroha Isshiki felt like she had a generation gap with these people. They were only a year apart, but she couldn't understand their thought processes at all.

Even Yuihama-senpai, with whom she usually got along better, seemed to have been "poisoned." She was now sitting at the dining table, casually swinging her legs, happily anticipating dinner.

This is the insurmountable gap between a popular normie student council president and the Service Club, whom she only remembers when needed. Wait? In this situation, aren't I the normie?

"Are these ingredients sufficient?" Yukino was now just assisting Shirou. Although she was reluctant, this was indeed the most efficient choice.

The ingredients the girl took out from the refrigerator were chicken breast, green peppers, bok choy, and a large piece of bacon. Since there were four people this time, the portions needed to be larger.

Shirou glanced at the meat and vegetables, and instantly thought of suitable dishes for tonight's meal. He checked the seasonings in the cabinet and nodded, saying, "Yes, ginger, dried chili peppers, fried peanuts – the ingredients are all here. It's good!"

"I'm so excited, Iroha-chan! Shirou and Yukino's cooking is super delicious, especially Shirou's." Yuihama said with a smile, resting her chin on the table as she watched the boy in the apron busily preparing dinner, looking forward to it.

"Is that so... I guess I can't underestimate senpai either." Iroha narrowed her eyes, looking at the orange-red cat apron Shirou was wearing. It was clearly a size larger than Yukino-senpai's purple cat apron, and had obviously been bought specifically for the boy.

Yukino sliced open a green pepper with a small knife, then rinsed the inside under running water. Her ponytail swayed rhythmically with her movements.

Meanwhile, Shirou spread the chicken breast flat on the cutting board. The knife moved across the white meat, dicing it into neat, uniform cubes. He then seasoned it with potato starch and sauce.

After slicing ginger, chopping vegetables, and preparing dried chili and fried peanuts, he turned on the heat and hot oil. As smoke rose from the wok, he quickly added the spices and stir-fried them, then added the chicken.

He tossed the wok, flipping the meat to ensure it was fully heated and absorbed the rich sauce without compromising its tenderness, cooking it quickly.

"Amazing!" Iroha Isshiki exclaimed. She was actually quite confident in her own cooking skills, so she knew just how impressive the boy's culinary abilities were. Cooking books often stated how many spoonfuls of this ingredient, how much sugar, how much salt, and how many stirs or flips were needed. Some more professional books even specified exact timings and precise gram amounts for salt.

In reality, these detailed instructions were meant to help aspiring cooks replicate a chef's dish as closely as possible. For Western cuisine, this was indeed a good method.

However, Chinese cuisine was a completely different story. Ingredients were often measured by "a spoonful or two," relying more on intuition than precise calculation. Through countless hours of practice, skilled Chinese chefs developed an almost subconscious instinct for judging stir-frying times, heat control, and cooking techniques.

Beyond the freshness of ingredients and whether they were farm-raised, these crucial factors relied on the chef's understanding of cooking and their approach to preparing the dish, from the broad strokes of heat control down to the small details of how the meat was cut.

Before long, the main dish was ready. Next came stir-fried greens. With Shirou's skillful operation, dinner was quickly completed. Yukino had also finished serving the rice and placed the dishes on a tray, bringing them to the dining table.

When the spicy diced chicken, exuding color, aroma, and flavor, was served, Iroha's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Shirou-senpai's cooking is really this amazing? I thought he was just good at archery and a pushover!"

"Hey, you said all that out loud," Shirou warned.

But at this moment, the girl's attention was completely captivated by the food.

"Itadakimasu!" Iroha Isshiki picked up a small piece of diced chicken, accompanied by a peanut. It glistened under the light, looking crystal clear. The perfectly balanced spiciness brought out the meat's flavor to the fullest.