Please Play FGO With Me

On the cross-shaped shield on the screen, twelve orbs of light rose. At the same time, a golden magic circle appeared, and seven-colored orbs spun rapidly, emitting countless crackling lightning bolts that seemed ready to leap out of the screen. The bright light faded, revealing a golden card depicting a long-bearded old man holding a book in one hand and a staff in the other...

Just then, the ground shook violently, and the tables, chairs, and windows creaked.

"Earthquake! Komachi!" Shirou quickly came out of the kitchen.

"Brother!" Komachi, with tears in her eyes, ran over and threw herself into her brother's arms.

"It's okay, it's okay. Look, Komachi, the earthquake has stopped," Shirou said, hugging his sister and patting her head to comfort her.

The ground only trembled for a moment before returning to calm. The earthquake wasn't strong, and nothing in the house was damaged.

"Brother... I wasn't scared of the earthquake," Komachi said, shaking her head from side to side. She butted her head against Shirou's chest like a drill, rubbing against him forcefully.

"Wait... then why was that?" Shirou asked, holding down his sister's head as she tried to create fire by friction.

"Komachi messed up her ten-pull! She didn't even see a four-star Heroic Spirit!" Komachi said aggrievedly.

"What? Then just draw again? The probability in these kinds of games is usually very low, like one percent or two percent," Shirou said as a matter of course.

"Brother! You don't understand at all! You don't understand the romance of players wanting to meet their favorite Heroic Spirits! Don't give your opinions if you're an outsider!" Komachi said angrily, butting her head against her brother's chest again.

"Stop! I'm not an outsider anymore. I actually downloaded this game too," Shirou said, pulling out his phone and lighting up the screen to hand it to his sister.

"Oh, oh! Brother, are you finally willing to play with Komachi?" Komachi's eyes lit up with joy. In fact, she had invited her brother countless times before, but he had always seemed hesitant, and she hadn't wanted to push him too hard. Now that she could finally grind with her brother, she was naturally very happy.

However, when she saw what was on the screen, her expression changed. She stared at her brother with the same look she would give a class enemy.

"What's wrong? Why the face like you've seen a sea leopard?" Shirou asked, confused.

"Brother! What did you just do? Did you use up a year's worth of luck here?" Komachi grabbed Shirou's collar excitedly and pressed him for an answer.

"What's going on?" Shirou turned his phone over and saw a golden card. Inside was a handsome man with white hair, a white robe, purple eyes, and a slightly flirtatious smile. He held a black staff in his hand. The card read "Caster" at the bottom.

"Ah! I just tried summoning once. Hmm! Five stars! Is this very strong?" Shirou asked his sister doubtfully.

He thought, If the strength of Heroic Spirits is determined by stars, then Saber, the King of Heroes, and the Berserker Heracles, who was as strong as a monster, and the Lancer Child of Light Cú Chulainn who chased him, should all be five-star.

"Is it strong? You ask if it's strong?" Komachi lowered her head, gripping Shirou's collar tighter. She said in a pained voice.

"Brother... I thought we would always be close siblings, but I didn't expect you to betray Komachi! You went to Europe! You traitor! From today on, Komachi is cutting ties with you!"

"Traitor? Isn't that a bit too much? Let me see, this character is... the Magus of Flowers, the King of the Arthurian legends..." Shirou clicked on the card to check its information, and couldn't help but recall the dignified and handsome blonde girl who had appeared before him under the moonlight.

"Brother, give me your phone," Komachi said, extending her hand with an unfriendly tone. If she saw Saber Lily or Archer Lily, she would make her brother create a new account. Although she really wanted to enjoy grinding with her brother, this was Japan, and Europeans were not needed here!

"Here," Shirou handed over the phone without hesitation.

Komachi, with a stern face, flipped through the cards on the phone and suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha, brother, what's with this account? It's hilarious! You're over level one hundred, and if you hadn't drawn Merlin, this account wouldn't have even drawn a single four-star! Teacher Qiao even ate a Holy Grail."

"Well, this is an account a junior gave me. I don't really understand how to play it yet," Shirou said. Could it be that Mash's luck was actually very bad?

"It's okay! It's okay! Let Komachi help you with all her might. First, let's add each other as friends. In this game, as long as you know how to cling to strong players, you can pretty much play it. No matter what, Komachi and brother are family! You scored very high just now!" Komachi's gloom disappeared, and she said with a cheerful laugh. FGO family, any player with worse luck than oneself is a good person.

"Is that so?" Shirou thought in confusion why his sister suddenly had the expression of seeing a newcomer to the tribe.

Chapter 04: FGO Friend Group

Komachi opened the chat group on her phone and sent a message.

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "Everyone! This is my friend's account: 'Not auyama', please add them as a friend, just treat it as helping out a newbie."

Sparkling Rapier User: "Welcome, newcomer."

All Sisters in the World Come From My Treasure Hoard: "Hahaha, since it's Aoi-chan's friend, it's my sister!"

Mr. Aipan's Snow Cat: "Got it, already added."

Sabre Don't Run Wild!: "Not auyama? What kind of kid is that? I'm really curious."

"This way, brother can play games with cute girls every day. That's great! Komachi is so amazing!" Komachi praised herself with a laugh.

"No! I heard that nowadays online, people who say 'nya', 'wan', 'chan', and generally speak with verbal tics are often just fat uncles pretending to be girls. Komachi, you have to be careful not to be deceived," Shirou said, waving his hands, not forgetting to remind her.

"Brother, you're as nagging as an old man! Hurry up and log in, I'll add you to the group," Komachi urged.

"So, I just need to join the group, right?" Shirou typed in his account and logged into the chat software. His username displayed: 'Emiya'.

A new message popped up on the software: Yuuki Aoi-chan (Komachi) invites you to join the chat group 'Please Play FGO With Me'.

He clicked 'Confirm'.

"Dinner is ready. I'll go back to the kitchen and stir-fry some vegetables, then we can prepare to eat," Shirou announced.

"I know! For now, Komachi will help brother clear dungeons!" Komachi said, holding two phones and smiling.

"No, I meant for you to help with the cooking. Never mind..." Shirou decided to give up on his sister, who was too engrossed in mobile games, and returned to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

At this moment, on the gas stove, one side had a steaming eggplant pot, and the other had a large pot simmering over low heat, with a small stew pot being steamed inside. Besides his and Komachi's portions, there were also portions for their parents, who often worked overtime and came home late, making it exactly four servings.

They had all eaten out today, but a bowl of easily digestible hot soup after returning home would be very nice. After all, besides cooking, he didn't have many other strengths, so he would think of ways to comfort his parents, who lived the life of corporate slaves.

Shirou put on his Tai Chi patterned oven mitts and took off the finished eggplant pot. He replaced it with a wok, picked up a knife, and skillfully shredded the cabbage. When smoke rose from the pot, he poured in olive oil, fried the minced garlic until fragrant, added the shredded cabbage and stir-fried it, sprinkled in seasoning, and plated it. Dinner was complete.

Since it was just the two of them eating, they weren't too particular, so they didn't use separate plates. Instead, everything was put into one large bowl. The eggplant pot was also scooped into a large bowl with a spoon.

After all, he and Komachi had even shared a pair of chopsticks to eat before, so picking food from the same plate was not a problem at all. In fact, Komachi felt that eating like this as a family was more lively, like the thrill of snatching meat that her brother had just picked up and putting it in her mouth, which was irresistible.

When Shirou placed the food on the tray and brought it to the dining table, the aroma immediately filled the entire room. The enticing golden-yellow eggplant and tofu were glossy, and the red chili peppers and green and white chopped scallions added beautiful color to the dish.

This was a meal prepared by the young man after carefully considering the nutritional balance. Compared to Western dishes that focused on meat, he preferred Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

For adults, a lighter diet might be better for maintaining their physique and health. However, for a young person in their growth period, eating more protein-rich, blood-nourishing, and calcium-fortifying dishes for a week would be more suitable for their body. Moreover, being able to chew on flavorful, aromatic meat dishes was also a form of enjoyment.

"Komachi, come eat," Shirou called out. If she didn't come, then the point of cooking would be lost.

There were two types of cooks: those who cooked for themselves, and those who cooked for others. Shirou was the latter.

And there were also two types of people who cooked for others. Those who sought praise, like highly skilled restaurant chefs; and those who sought smiles, like family members who knew the preferences of the diners by heart. Shirou was still the latter.

"I'm here! As expected of you, big brother. With just this talent, you wouldn't have to worry about not finding a girlfriend, so it's strange that you're still single!" Komachi praised.

"Thank you for your concern. Also, it's rude to play on your phone while eating," Shirou reminded her.

The young man couldn't help but think of the black-haired, twin-tailed girl he was engaged to in his past life, and the purple-haired junior who had always waited for him in Touko.

"I know, but before we eat, let me take a picture to show off. Your cooking is really good, big brother! Not only is it fragrant and delicious, but it also looks great!" Komachi said with a smile as she ran over. She was quite enthusiastic when it came to mealtime.

"It's nothing special, it's just the basics of Chinese cuisine, focusing on color, aroma, and taste," Shirou said, picking up a spoon and filling a bowl with rice, pressing it down firmly.

Komachi took out her pink phone, took pictures of the dishes on the table, and then pressed send.

Immediately, the sound of incoming messages rang out from the chat group. Shirou took out his phone and looked.

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "This is my big brother's loving cooking!"

UMR: "Oh oh! Aoi-chan, that's great! Actually, my big brother is also very good at cooking!"

Dancing While Doing Laundry: "My big brother too. He always brings food to my door."

Angel Who Saves the World With Pay-to-Win: "Damn it, as long as I have games! Food is enough with cup noodles, chips, and cola."

Goal is the Demon Top Student: "It looks really delicious. I want to learn some Chinese cooking too. And you, the one above, your living situation is too bad. Remember to come to school tomorrow!"

Strongest, Most Evil, Super Invincible: "Wahaha, that splash of red is nice. I, the great demon Satania, like it!"

Emiya: "Thank you for the compliment."

Sakura Sheep: "Waaah! Big brother himself appeared!"

All Sisters in the World Come From My Treasure Hoard: "Tsk! So it's a guy! So enviable! I wish I had a cute little sister like Aoi-chan!"

Sabre Don't Run Wild!: "Ah, so Aoi-chan's friend refers to her big brother. Does the game name have anything to do with eggplants? Snow Cat? Are you there? Did Snow Cat go to study already?"

Sakura Sheep: "Big brother is good at cooking, is he a professional chef? Can I ask him for cooking tips?"

Goal is the Demon Top Student: "Really! Can I learn too?"

Emiya: Of course. Although I only cook at home, I'm somewhat confident in Western and Chinese cuisine. I can answer any questions you have.

Sakura Sheep: "Big brother is so amazing, and so considerate! Not a professional? Could he be a university student? Which school?"

Goal is the Demon Top Student: "Thank you, big brother. I'll ask you for advice if I have problems in the future."

Sparkling Rapier User: "I'm also a bit confident in my cooking, but not as well-rounded as Emiya-kun. We should exchange ideas sometime."

Emiya: "Alright. As a new player, please give me your guidance as well."

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "Mhm, mhm. My brother is not only good at cooking, but also skilled at all other housework, and he's good-looking too. Everyone, please get along with him."

All Sisters in the World Come From My Treasure Hoard: "I really want to trade my useless big brother for a little sister. So envious. Aoi-chan, who has a brother complex, is so cute!."

UMR: "My big brother is already an office worker. He works overtime a lot and doesn't play with me."

Sakura Sheep: "Eh, is it really that good? Aoi-chan, aren't you just a brother-con?"

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "Of course not! Brother-cons are those who want to marry their brothers, right! Don't compare me to them. Rather than liking him as a brother-con, I love my brother! Not like, but love! I've always been trying hard to help my brother find a girlfriend, so if anyone is interested, please feel free to contact him privately and use him to your heart's content."

Emiya: "Little sister, I'm touched, but do you realize you just said something more embarrassing than a brother-con?"

In reality, Shirou was kicked under the table by his sister, who had her head bowed.

All Sisters in the World Come From My Treasure Hoard: "Ahem... Speaking of which, has everyone considered attending an offline meetup? Since everyone lives in the Tokyo metropolitan area, perhaps you live surprisingly close, or might even be acquaintances."

Dancing While Doing Laundry: "I probably can't. I don't usually meet people..."

Sparkling Rapier User: "It's fine not to meet. We're all having fun chatting here anyway."

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "The group admin is right! Happiness is the most important thing!"

Sabre Don't Run Wild!: "Exactly. Isn't it great to chat while grinding games together?"

Angel Who Saves the World With Pay-to-Win: "Exactly. Going out is too much trouble. If people could just fly out of the screen, then meeting up would be fine."

All Sisters in the World Come From My Treasure Hoard: "That's true. If fate allows, we'll definitely have a chance to meet. But Aoi-chan, please consider my suggestion a little bit too."

Yuuki Aoi-chan: "I'll pass. But you can call my brother out anytime. Well then, that's all for now. I'm going to have dinner!"

Sakura Sheep: "Okay, goodbye big brother, goodbye Aoi-chan."

Goal is the Demon Top Student: "Then I'll log off for today too. Goodbye, big brother, goodbye everyone."

Komachi put down her phone, a cute smile on her face as she teased her brother, "Hmph hmph, that's nice. You've already started chatting with cute girls so quickly. This way, Komachi and Mom won't have to worry about you so much."

"No, while there are good kids out there, most of it is just online lore. In reality, they might not even be human," Shirou replied teasingly.

Chapter 05: Shirou's New Dream

"Honestly, though, that lack of dreams really suits you, big brother. To ensure your happiness, I guess I'll have to try even harder," Komachi cheered herself on. Then, she quickly grabbed her chopsticks, beat Shirou to it, and took a piece of tofu from his bowl, eating it with a satisfied smile.

"Hey... I did have dreams, you know." Shirou looked at his sister, chopsticks empty, and spoke indignantly. However, seeing her smile made it impossible for him to stay angry.

"Delicious! So delicious I want to eat your cooking forever, big brother! You scored really high on Komachi's scale just now!" Komachi said with a hearty laugh.

"Mhm, this eggplant is indeed good," Shirou commented, tasting his own creation. He felt his satisfaction with today's cooking was about eighty points. With Komachi's words, that satisfaction score shot up to two hundred.

As for his sister's request?

It's okay. If it's for Komachi, I'm willing to keep cooking for you not just this lifetime, but the next and the one after that.

He thought this, but he'd never say it out loud, fearing it would be considered creepy.

"Big brother, even if you don't say it, Komachi can guess! How creepy~!" Komachi rolled her eyes at her brother in mock disgust. Even while eating, she couldn't stop giggling, looking very happy.

That night, under Komachi's guidance, Shirou learned how to play FGO. It's all about grinding, then resting, right?

While supervising his sister's homework, the two played in the living room all night until it was time to go to their rooms to sleep.

The next day, as the sun began to rise, a young man was in the Hachiman family's courtyard, practicing with a wooden sword.

The young man had neat, short, black hair and was quite handsome. However, his demeanor gave him a distinguished, standout aura.

What was most striking were his deep, expressive eyes. He was usually quiet, but when speaking to anyone, he would meet their gaze directly and confidently.

His sincere and upright eyes held a mysterious depth, tinged with a weary concern. They were the kind of eyes that easily sparked a woman's curiosity, like a gem hidden within rough stone, hinting at its brilliance, waiting to be polished.

At first glance, he seemed somewhat reserved and ordinary. Only after interacting with him more would one discover his understated strengths. The more one got to know him, the more captivated they became. Before they knew it, this fascination would deepen with time, eventually becoming an obsession from which they could no longer escape, much like a fine wine that only improves with age.

Though the young man himself was largely unaware of this particular quality.