Please Play FGO With Me

Once the floodgates of her mind opened, thanks to the delicious food or perhaps the overwhelming shock, Iroha Isshiki began speaking without any reservations, completely forgetting she was the lowest on the totem pole here. She hadn't exactly prepared to treat Shirou-senpai as a senior, though.

"This is so good! The slightly spicy chicken with the gravy is perfect with rice. If I keep eating like this, I'll get a tummy! It's all your fault! Hey!" Yuihama tasted the food, her face lighting up with a look of blissful satisfaction, before playfully punching the boy with her small fist.

"No, even if you get a tummy, you can't blame me, right?" Shirou retorted after being hit. These girls never showed any gratitude for him cooking for them. He wondered if the idea that men who are good at cooking are popular was just a lie concocted by lazy women who didn't want to cook.

Iroha, lost in the joy of the food, became unrestrained and blurted out her true feelings.

"Mmm, it's delicious, I feel so healed. Stern Yukino-senpai today was just like my dad, she's terrifying when she's angry."

"Pfft..." Shirou almost choked on his laugh.

"..." The black-haired girl shot him a warning glance.

"Here, eat more if it's good," Shirou thought he was a genius, suppressing his laughter as he put a piece of chicken into Iroha's bowl as a reward.

"Mmm, thank you. Shirou-senpai, you're giving me food, you're just like my mom." Completely lost in the culinary delight, Iroha expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

"..." Shirou dejectedly picked the meat he had put in Iroha's bowl back into his own.

"Pfft... haha..." This time, it was Yukino's turn to cover her mouth and laugh, her body shaking as she tried to stifle her giggles.

"I'm starting to understand why dozens of girls teamed up to make Iroha-chan look bad," Yuihama said thoughtfully from the side.

After that, the young men and women began their preparations, discussing strategies for negotiating with the business high school the next day.

The following afternoon, during a meeting in the conference room. Shirou, carrying a stack of documents, walked directly to the seat of the opposing student council president.

Bang!

The thick pile of documents made the table in front of the other person shake.

He offered a friendly smile as the other person looked at him in surprise.

Chapter 42: Refusing to Talk the Talk

"Um... what are these?" the student council president asked with a dry laugh.

"Ah, these are the proposals based on the preliminary plan you provided yesterday, as well as all the ideas mentioned before. I've organized them and created a plan based on the budget. These are all options that involve making compromises. Please discuss them and choose one," Shirou said with a smile.

"Hahaha, but we might have more ideas later, so let's not rush. Let's brainstorm together and find a solution," the student council president said, waving his hands.

"No, even if you have new ideas, the budget is already insufficient. Please read these preliminary plans first before bringing up new opinions," Yukino said, refusing to back down.

"We can find a way to solve the budget issue together, that's why we're here today," the student council president continued with his worn-out line.

Shirou then turned to the student council executive from the business high school sitting next to him and praised him, "By the way, you! Do you remember what you said yesterday when you proposed jazz music? Your understanding of jazz was truly brilliant."

"Ahaha, thank you." The man scratched his head, flattered. He had said that, but he usually listened to jazz to seem cool, so he brought it up. He probably said something casually at the time. Thinking this, the man readily accepted Shirou's praise.

"No, what did you say about jazz? If I recall correctly, I mentioned it when I was talking about rock music?" another man sitting nearby said.

"I don't remember, but if it's about the K-On! band, I know a lot," another man said.

"Ah, speaking of which, the comments I heard were about rock and K-On!. I didn't say anything about jazz. I misremembered just now. I'm sorry, there are too many suggestions right now, and I can't keep track of them all. So, it's probably time to wrap things up, right?" Shirou said with a smile.

"Ah... yeah, you're right," the man who had proposed jazz music agreed with an awkward smile.

"You're right, I can't remember a lot of things either," the rock music fan said, clearly tired of this endless meeting game.

Everyone knew deep down that this approach wouldn't work. However, in the beginning, everyone was so harmonious and nobody objected, so they spoke freely and made decisions. Now, no one could bring themselves to negate the decisions they had all made together.

At this moment, Yukino glanced at the student council president from their own school, who was standing by the outer door.

Being glared at, Iroha immediately stood up and declared, "Yes! I also think this would be better!"

"We propose a slight reduction. This is already written in the project proposals. If we're going to have a band, then we should give up the symphony orchestra. If we're going to have the symphony orchestra, then other music programs must also be cut. We need to use the budget reasonably."

"Since everyone agrees, shall we proceed like this?" Shirou looked at the opposing student council president and asked.

"Then let's choose the satisfactory plans and decide what to add and what to remove. Are there any other questions?" Yukino asked.

"Ah... no, I understand," the student council president said, nodding under their friendly gazes. For some reason, he felt completely inferior to these two. Everything they said made perfect sense, and he couldn't refute it.

After all, everyone else had agreed. He was supposed to be the host of the meeting, simply accepting suggestions and summarizing them. The reason it had turned out this way was the lack of a strong decision-maker; instead, everyone offered their own ideas, and they all harmoniously agreed.

At first, he thought that under this atmosphere of unity, any problem could be solved. By the time he realized the issue, it was too late. Although he was the one chairing the meeting, he hadn't made the final decision. Even if this event failed, it would be due to everyone's shared mistakes. But if someone were to speak up, it would turn into one person against everyone, so no one would do that.

So now, it was as if they had wanted to hold a pet exhibition but ended up with a zoo. Perhaps the current situation was the best outcome...

After reaching an agreement with the business high school, the meeting finally got back on track. The members of the opposing student council, who were not satisfied with just having elementary school students, wanted to propose including kindergartners as well. This proposal was finally vetoed by Shirou and Yukino working together.

"Senpai and senpai are amazing!" Iroha Isshiki exclaimed in admiration.

She didn't know how to face the student council president of the business high school, who seemed like a child just mimicking adult talk in front of these two.

"I don't really understand what Shirou and Yukino are talking about, but don't worry, it'll be fine if you leave it to them," Yuihama said with a proud smile upon hearing Iroha's exclamation.

"Hmm..." Iroha Isshiki observed the young man and woman, but seeing how well they worked together, she felt a pang of resentment.

The girl silently watched the boy and the student council president engage in conversation, pushing the latter back step by step until he was forced to compromise.

In this regard, Shirou had actually cheated. With Mystic Eyes that could analyze even divine artifacts, analyzing these things was incredibly simple for him.

"Hmm... Am I also like a child being lectured by their parents in Senpai's eyes?"

The thought made the girl a little dejected, but she quickly cheered up, shaking her head forcefully.

Iroha Isshiki decided to resist. Even if they were her senpai, she was the student council president. Even if she had known Shirou-senpai for less time than them, it didn't mean she had to back down!

Iroha Isshiki yearned for change. She wanted to defeat her strict father with her own strength… no! She wanted to earn Shirou-senpai's approval! But she still really wanted to defeat him!

That's right! While Shirou-senpai is a perfect beauty, only the student council president is the strongest!!!

That's right! Old Man Munehisa's sword is perfect, but only Niten Ichi-ryū, which pursues 'zero (emptiness)', is the strongest!!!

Unbeknownst to the young girl, she had resonated with a certain Heroic Spirit. A golden frame of a silver-pink haired woman in the FGO system on her phone flashed from gray to bright.

Little Da, who was ahead, seemed to sense something and slipped into Iroha Isshiki's phone. He saw a Heroic Spirit appear that matched the girl. Although the compatibility was still at 10%, if she grew over time, she would surely shine brightly. Perhaps this was a sign of hope.

"Found a new partner! Shirou…" Little Da shouted happily, wishing he could notify his companions.

Just then, a muffled thud was heard from outside the conference room!

Shirou turned his head towards the outside. He felt the surrounding air stagnate, his breathing becoming heavy. The world seemed to have been torn open, and something dangerous was about to emerge. This time was different; the feeling of the otherworldly space was more sinister than ever before.

Chapter 43: Black Mud Heroic Spirit Holy Grail

Shirou exchanged glances with Yukino and Yuihama and rushed out.

The moment an otherworldly monster invasion was detected, the World Consciousness's defense mechanism activated an otherworldly space protective wall, shielding the real world within a barrier.

A humanoid figure made of giant stones, over ten meters tall, like a towering pagoda. This was a Guardian of the Ruins magnified several times. Due to mutation, its entire body was composed of diamonds. It now raised its right foot high and stomped down on the wall of the otherworldly space.

This caused the real world to emit a muffled thunderous sound.

Behind the Guardian of the Ruins, there was a large cavity connecting the otherworldly space to this place. Swarms of winged blade insects flew out from within.

"Bellerophon!"

A comet, a black comet dragging a long tail, descended from the sky. A man riding a black pegasus in the dark light continuously used his Noble Phantasm, impacting the defense mechanism of the world's otherworldly space. The protective barrier began to crack under the repeated impacts of the black comet.

The real world, on the inner wall of the otherworldly space, vibrated again.

"Ah! An earthquake?" The elementary school students inside screamed.

"This is bad! There are many children here," Yukino exclaimed in shock.

"Leave it to me!"

Shirou performed a possession summon, Merlin possessed him, and he unleashed his illusion magic at maximum output, imagining a peaceful, ordinary daily life, then transforming the space into this image. The houses where the children were were covered within this space, and the children inside were given suggestions to calm down, relax, and not go outside. They only felt that everything was the same as usual and could no longer sense the vibrations outside.

"Huh? It's not shaking anymore? Was it my imagination? That's weird. You all felt the vibration just now, right?" the girl who had screamed earlier asked, confused.

"Mmm… it seemed like it, but maybe not?" The girls looked at each other, all uncertain.

"It seems it was just our imagination. Let's continue."

"Okay."

And so, the elementary school girls continued with their work.

Under the effect of the illusion magic, people nearby relaxed and continued their own affairs inside their homes.

Just then.

BOOM!!! The black comet finally broke through the barrier. A man with black skin, riding a black pegasus, floated in the real world, glared forward, and let out an angry roar.

"Shirou! Be careful, this Heroic Spirit is too abnormal," Little Da shouted, flying out of the phone.

Shirou opened his Mystic Eyes and observed the black Heroic Spirit.

The opponent was a hero from Greece, a son of Zeus, a man beloved by the gods. He was not the type known for his bravery like Heracles or Achilles, but achieved the feat of slaying the rampaging, immortal Gorgon and saving all beings by using numerous Noble Phantasms bestowed by the gods.

However, such a Heroic Spirit at this moment, having been tainted by the black mud, had only hatred left in his eyes. In his hand, he held the Noble Phantasm 'Bellerophon (Modified)'.

His body had been corrupted into Chaotic Evil. After being eroded by the black mud, the Heroic Spirit's abilities had been transformed to some extent. Coupled with the amplification of the Holy Grail, the reins, which were originally just to enhance the abilities of his mount, the pegasus, had now become a Noble Phantasm capable of summoning and commanding large numbers of monsters.

"Hah!" Yuihama rushed out and shouted. She immediately performed a possession summon, transforming into Suzuka Gozen, and leaped to strike the black Heroic Spirit from behind.

"Hmph!" The black pegasus was incredibly fast and dodged the girl's attack, disappearing into the hole in the barrier.

"Did it escape?" Yuihama, who had landed, frowned with her sword in hand.

"Oh no! They're coming out! The monsters are all coming to the real world! There are hundreds of magic power readings! One of them has immense magic power!" Little Da shouted in panic, as red dots continuously appeared on the phone screen.

"What?" Shirou exclaimed.

With a boom, a giant foot made of diamond kicked open the already cracked barrier that the comet had broken, and a diamond giant tens of meters tall emerged, officially appearing in the real world.

This was the first time a monster had appeared in a populated area.

At this moment, the world's second defense mechanism secretly activated. The world, which originally rejected any mystery, changed the instant monsters invaded the real world. It became easier for all humans and Heroic Spirits to establish a connection.

Under the command of the black Heroic Spirit Perseus, swarms of winged blade insects poured out from the cracks in the otherworldly space, heading towards the houses.

"No way!" Yukino, who had been guarding the entrance, pulled out her phone, preparing to summon Ushiwakamaru to fight. No matter what, she would never let the children inside get hurt!

"I absolutely cannot let the children get hurt!" A voice echoed from the void into Yukino's heart.

At this moment, another character responded, their golden frame flashing with light.

"I understand!" Yukino tapped it without hesitation.

This time, it wasn't the girl summoning a Heroic Spirit for possession. Instead, a Heroic Spirit in Chaldea had sensed through the system that children were in danger. Their wish aligned with the girl's wish, and they sincerely lent all their strength to the girl.

Possession Summon

Compatibility: 100%

Archer-class Heroic Spirit: Atalanta

A cool girl with cat-like beast ears appeared within a pillar of light. She wore a green dress, her tail peeking out from beneath it, and stood resolutely, gazing forward with pride.

Yukino performed a backflip, leaping high onto the building's balcony. She looked down at the swarm of flying insects below, not even considering them monsters. From the moment of her perfect compatibility, when Atalanta entrusted all her power to her, it was no longer a simple matter of summoning a Heroic Spirit. It seemed that as the souls of human and Heroic Spirit merged, something had been sublimated. At this moment, the girl felt she had reached the divine age, possessing the peak strength of the Greek hero Atalanta.

"Shirou!" Yukino shouted, raising her bow and drawing it to a full circle in the sky.

"I know!" Shirou immediately understood her intent. He raised his magic staff, applying as much reinforcement as possible to her, followed by his own unique reinforcement magic, which he had improved to Rank B after gaining Merlin's experience!

"As long as I am here, I will not let any monster pass!" Yukino raised the Bow of Heaven, a gift from the goddess Artemis. The Noble Phantasm had already been charged to 300% the moment the Heroic Spirit possessed her. A streak of light shot into the sky—Phoibos Catastrophe.

The girl prayed to Apollo, the sun god, and Artemis, the moon goddess. A rain of a hundred arrows of light descended from the heavens, piercing all the winged blade insects. The remaining light arrows all struck the diamond ruin guardian's head. Its massive body was repeatedly struck by the falling light arrows.

"It's not over yet!" Yukino shouted, drawing the Bow of Heaven to its limit. The arrow's power surged to Rank A in an instant, and she aimed at the giant's head, firing repeatedly!

The arrows shot out exploded like missiles, boom, boom, boom!

The diamond giant's head shattered under the combined assault from the sky and the front, swallowed by the arrows of light, and disappeared into black dust.

"That was amazing, Yukino!" Yuihama exclaimed in admiration.

"Well done, Yukino." Seeing that the monster threatening the world had finally been eliminated, Shirou looked at the black-haired girl and praised her.

"Die!!!"

Without any warning, the dark Heroic Spirit that had previously infiltrated the black hole entered the alternate dimension. The dark man, clad in a strange cloak, suddenly appeared behind Shirou, wielding a sword resembling a scythe and slashing towards Shirou's neck.

"Hah! Indra's Thunderbolt!!!"

The Vajra, crackling with arcs of electricity, transformed into a thunderous bolt and struck the dark Perseus, sending him flying.