Chapter 347

"I'm so sorry, Ilya. Today is our deadline, and we stayed up all night but still couldn't finish it. There's really no way around it. Anyway, next time it's our turn, I'll have to do the scanning by myself. I'll have to trouble you this time. I'm so sorry."

And so, Ilya was left alone to start cleaning on the first day of the new semester.

Watching her classmates leave in groups of three or five downstairs, Ilya sighed, then picked up a broom and began sweeping alone. Her wrist movements were nimble and free, and her silver hair swayed gently in the sunlight streaming in from the snowy day.

After sweeping, she picked up a damp, wrung-out handkerchief to clean the blackboard and all the desks in the classroom. When she got to the desk of the new student behind her, she was attracted by something in the desk drawer. In that instant, the girl's big eyes widened and she tilted her head.

This thing looks so much like Musashi DVD...

Upon hearing this, Ilya first looked up at the empty classroom, then thought that Ivia had been called away by Caren after Chapter Two and hadn't returned by the end of the school day, so she guessed that Ivia had probably already left.

So she took a deep breath and carefully reached in to take the thing out.

"It really is..."

Sure enough, it really was the DVD of the anime "True Magic Girl Bushido Musashi" that Ilya had in mind.

I never imagined that this new classmate would be both a Buddhist and an otaku like me who loves Magical Girl anime... It's really hard to believe...

"But bringing him into the classroom so openly, is he planning to proselytize? That's really something—"

"No, I haven't seen it, and that thing is yours."

"Woo-wah woo-wah woo-wah--"

The sudden sound startled Ilya. She already felt like she was a thief, and being caught like this would probably get her reported to the Teacher... When she looked towards the source of the sound, she saw that it was Ivia, the person she had 'stolen' from, standing at the classroom door.

Well, perhaps it was the Magical Girl DVD she had just acquired that gave Ilya a subtle feeling that "this person must be an otaku like me," which caused her worries to dissipate quite a bit.

She gave a subtle look and shook the animation DVD.

"This is yours, Ivia, right? I didn't expect you to be watching it too--"

"This fell out of your bag this morning after you bumped into me."

After Ivia finished speaking, Ilya was practically petrified. She remembered that last night, to avoid Sella waking up to find the TV hot, she had been watching one episode and then immediately turning it off, waiting for it to cool down before continuing. In the end, she was just too sleepy, so she put it in her bag and went back to sleep...

Wait a minute, if I say that, my homebody nature will be exposed! And it's with someone I don't even know, someone I just met! What am I going to do? If word gets out, how am I going to live my school life...?

The thought of some terrifying Future sent a shiver down Ilya's spine.

"Um, actually, I can also be a Buddhist..."

"I don't care whether you believe me or not, as long as it's returned to its rightful owner."

For a moment, Ilya blinked blankly.

What... does this mean? Is this a threat? No, I can't just sit here and wait to die. I have to find a reason to explain the origin of this DVD... Sorry, Musashi, this is the adult world, Ilya. This is all I can do...

"Actually, this is from my cousin. When she came during the New Year holiday, she... she accidentally put it in her schoolbag..."

Ilya spoke in a stuttering voice, her shoulders trembling as if she had committed Original Sin.

"Actually, I haven't watched much of it, and it's absolutely terrible..."

"Really? I don't think so."

These seemingly heartless words made Ilya grit her teeth.

It seems the only option left is to deny everything and turn the tables; if all else fails, they'll just have to take each other down with them, plunging their future school lives into utter despair...

I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, I'm sorry, Sella, I'm sorry, Musashi, I'm sorry, brother, and all the ancestors of the Einzbern Family. May God bless Ilya with a successful victory!

Today, it is Ilya who has been disrespectful!

Ilya tried to pounce on Ivia and force the DVD onto him, but Ivia, who had already seen through her plan, turned around and the girl bumped into a rusty railing.

"It hurts so much..."

Ilya, who had instinctively slid to the ground, looked up at her new classmate with trembling eyes, as if she had suffered countless hardships.

"Kill me or do whatever you want, but Ilya has very good friends. They will never abandon me just because I watched some anime, forcing me to eat in the toilet and have my desk carved with words. Absolutely not! Taiga- Teacher wouldn't abandon me like that. Besides, I have Sella, Leysritt, my brother..."

"I just feel that this Magical Girl anime would be suitable for you."

Instantly, Ilya's entire neck turned bright red, and then she ran off towards home.

Damn it, what does that mean? Does it mean I'm only fit to watch cartoons for kids? That's so infuriating!

Of course, not long after returning home, Ilya obediently continued watching True Magic Girl Bushido Musashi with great interest.

Chapter 387 The Strange Student in the Back Seat

Ilya was abruptly awakened from a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

It feels good to wake up refreshed, but the room is probably still dark.

While still half asleep, I peeked my head out from under the covers. Even though the doors and windows were closed, a little light still shone in from outside. It was almost Sun. I glanced at the True Magic Girl Bushido Musashi- style alarm clock on my bedside table.

It's only a little past six in the morning.

Yes, it's about an hour earlier than usual.

What should I do now? This bed is so cozy...

Ilya thought to herself as she shrank back into bed.

It seems too early to get up now, but if I go back to sleep, I might almost be late again like yesterday, and then I won't be able to go to school with my brother and the Tatsuko...

Therefore, after hesitating for a moment, Ilya gently climbed out of bed, softly lifted the curtains, revealing a world that seemed to be still asleep, and then unlocked the window.

Only half a window was opened, and the dim morning air filled the room, while the cold, damp air brushed against Ilya's still sleepy face and flowed into the room.

Looking down from the second-floor window, the trees in the courtyard, the rooftops next door, the trees in the distance, and the telephone poles were all shrouded in mist, still shrouded in a faint light from the sky, and seemed 'obviously sleepy'.

Of course, this was just an excuse for Ilya to go back to sleep. In fact, she was thinking, "Oh well, I might as well take another nap. There's still plenty of time." At the same time, she pounced on the still warm bed.

For a fleeting moment, however, Ilya suddenly shuddered, whether from the wind or from thinking about what might happen at school that day—

His hobby was used by the new transfer student as a means to fit in with the group, and was ridiculed and mocked. As a result, Suzuka and Tatsuko could not eat lunch with him because of other people's opinions. As a result, he could only eat in the toilet and would occasionally carve some embarrassing words on the table.

This kind of life doesn't just continue until elementary school graduation, but also into junior high, High School, and even up to university. People will treat them with comments like, "I never would have guessed this person would watch that kind of stuff," "I can't believe it, it's disgusting," and "We can't become like that."

Ah, my life is over. From now on, it's all bleak and colorless.

No, from another perspective, maybe the Crowd won't believe his story. After all, I'm a student who studied for four years, and the reputation I've built up over the years...

The thought that she had never received a love letter made Ilya sigh; this didn't seem right.

Regardless, the anxious thoughts and the cold air had already completely banished Ilya's sleepiness, so she quietly walked down the stairs in her pajamas, through the first-floor hallway and living room, and brushed her teeth in front of the Restroom, looking at her haggard face. Then she heard a woman's voice coming from the kitchen.

"Hmm? It's Ilya? You're up so early today? Even earlier than Shirou."

Good morning, Sella.

Sella, the Homunculus from the Einzbern Family.

Since Kiritsugu and Irisviel are often away from home, Sella essentially acts as Ilya Emiya.

"But breakfast isn't ready yet, so we can't give it to Ilya for now."

While making breakfast, Sella called out to Ilya, who had just finished washing up, "I'll call you if you get cold. Why don't you go back to your room and rest until then?"

Sella said nothing was done yet, but Ilya smelled the familiar aroma of miso soup wafting towards her.

"Hmm... but I'm up now."

Ilya packed her schoolbag, promising to continue answering only questions related to school.

"I finally got up this early, I don't want to go back to bed..."

"How about we continue watching that Magical Girl you watched last night? I heard from Leysritt yesterday that you seem to have a few episodes left to watch?"

Sella suggested.

This made Ilya nod vigorously, almost instinctively.

Anyway, this might be quite good!

And so, after watching Bushido Musashi for a while, Ilya waited for Shirou and Leysritt to wake up. Finally, at the exact same time as always, they finished their breakfast and cleaned up the dishes together.

"Um, Sella, Leysritt, I'm going to school."

"Oh."

Be careful on the road!

Now, Ilya is wearing her school uniform, carrying a bronze backpack, and standing at the door with her older brother.

"Ilya, did you go to the wrong place?"

After stepping outside, Emiya called out to Ilya as she walked in the other direction.

"No, brother, I have something to do, so I need to go this way."

"Really? Be careful."

Hearing his younger sister's answer, Emiya smiled and then headed towards the High School.

After all, there are indeed two routes from their home to the Elementary School Division, and the one Ilya is currently taking is definitely closer. She used to take this route just so she could get to school with her friends in the mornings... Emiya understood this and was quite relieved, since everyone in Fuyuki knew Ilya anyway.

Indeed, although Irisviel and Kiritsugu weren't often in Fuyuki, thanks to their efforts before they left and Sella's efforts over the years, most of the people living nearby knew Ilya and her brother Emiya to some extent.

Therefore.

The lady at the breakfast shop said, "You're coming this way again today, just like yesterday. That's rare. Are you afraid of being late, Ilya?"

"Good morning, no, no... and thank you for breakfast yesterday."

"Good morning!"

The elderly woman at the flower shop said.

Good morning, I'm leaving!

Good morning, hurry up and get to school.

"That's what the older woman at the Coffee Shop said."

After waving to these people, Ilya continued walking towards the school.

Actually, the street Ilya was walking on was a bit more secluded than the streets she was used to walking on. That word was quite appropriate, because it was a forest located next to a river that could be described as a camping spot with just a little filter. However, this was probably also the reason why there was a Small Park nearby.

"Being in the park so early in the morning, they must be doing something shady..."

Before Ilya reached the Small Park where she had bumped into Ivia the day before, she stopped and carefully surveyed her surroundings for anything unusual. The girl's eyes revealed a determined look.

She already knew that Ivia was Caren's Teacher, but according to Sella, Caren didn't live around here. So why would Ivia, as her brother Teacher, be in a park so far from home so early in the morning?

It's impossible that they came out for a run first thing in the morning, right? And it's impossible that they didn't even break a sweat.

Furthermore, the fact that Teacher. Caren called him in for an entire class period indicates that something is wrong! And it's a big problem, possibly hidden in this park...

Holding the thought that 'you have something on me, so I need to have something on you too, so we can keep each other in check,' Ilya pressed her body tightly against the wall and walked along it step by step, afraid of making a sound and being discovered.

However, when Ilya reached the corner and peeked out to look at everything in the park, she was surprised to find—

It really was just a Small Park there, with no trace of people except for the usual amusement facilities.

"... So yesterday morning was really just an accident? Just like when you're jogging in the morning?"

Ilya, who had thought she might gain something, suddenly felt a little sad, because it seemed she had no chance of finding anything against the new transfer student.

Don't panic, Ilya. Maybe, maybe no one will believe you. After all, there are people who believe in you and will be there for you... there will be, there definitely will be!

Then, Ilya arrived at school and tiptoed into her classroom. The moment she saw Ivia behind her seat, she first lowered her head, then took a deep breath and walked towards her seat.

Since class hadn't started yet, the children in the classroom were making a lot of noise, chatting with friends, discussing their plans after class, or talking about the TV shows they watched yesterday.

These conversations reached Ilya's ears, and because she was very worried about being exposed, they sounded somewhat irritating.

Perhaps because she was too concerned about what would happen to her in the future, Ilya inexplicably felt that the atmosphere today was more intense...

It's so noisy, can you please be a little quieter?

"Hey, Ilya, I still haven't seen you today."

As soon as she sat down, Ilya was surrounded by the familiar Tatsuko and the others.

"Could it be that you were going to be late again, so you took another route? After all, it looks like you stayed up all night."

"Are you expecting another classic hit-and-run scene?"

From her friend's conversation, Ilya could clearly tell that her story hadn't been publicized, which immediately made the girl happy.

Ah, my life isn't over yet! That's wonderful!