Tonight's Dinner

"Hey, you don't have to be this stingy, do you? Kagami was always very generous with Mikiya," Touko muttered, drawing Shirou's displeasure.

"That's because Mikiya is different from you. He's the kind of person who puts people at ease. Besides, who do you think got Mikiya into this situation?"

"Looks like I'm doomed to be treated to a meal. Hey, kid, remember to make plenty. I'm definitely going to eat my money's worth!"

As one of Japan's famous big eaters, Touko was undoubtedly a foodie. When Shirou told Mikiya that he would be responsible for the latter's three meals a day, the first thing Touko thought of was Shirou's cooking.

Put simply, Shirou's cooking skills were on the same level as Touko's dollmaking skills. There was absolutely no exaggeration in that statement.

"Even Ms. Touko says so... Is Shirou's cooking really that good?" Though he knew Shirou's standards when it came to food, Mikiya found it hard to imagine what Shirou looked like while cooking, having never seen it himself.

"Let me correct you: this isn't a matter of whether it's good or not. If this kid cooks personally, then you can put your mind completely at ease. In all of Kanbiko City, this kid's cooking is top-class," Touko said to Mikiya.

"Huh? He's that amazing? Really?"

"Absolutely. Truer than money."

With Touko putting it that way, Mikiya had no choice but to believe her. For a moment, he suddenly felt, Whoa, one of my friends is actually a cooking god!

"If that's the case, then I'll be in your care this month," Mikiya said solemnly to Shirou.

"No, it's nothing. Just think of it as me doing it because I feel like it," Shirou said indifferently.

This kid was as awkward as ever! Touko thought. Having stayed with the Emiya Family for half a year, she had come to understand some of Shirou's personality through their interactions. For example, in front of strangers, Shirou was always impeccably polite, but around acquaintances, he would sooner write his name backward than be even slightly courteous. That was why he was called Emiya Dirt-Dog!

Then there was the fact that he was capable of handling every household chore. In that regard, Shirou and Touko were quite compatible. After all, Touko knew absolutely nothing about housekeeping.

Finally, there was Shirou's awkwardly good-natured personality. Awkward was just awkward; it was not the kind of tsundere trait where someone's words said one thing while their actions said another. Shirou was usually very straightforward about what he wanted. If he could get it, he accepted it; otherwise, he gave up and considered other methods. So being a tsundere was impossible. Absolutely impossible in this lifetime.

"Ah, sorry, sorry, I'm late." Though she said that, the owner of the voice did not look apologetic in the slightest.

Dressed in a gray kimono with a red jacket over it, the newcomer was Garan no Dou's new employee, Ryougi Shiki, who had recently learned how to use the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

"To be precise, the employees at Touko's underground office start work at eight sharp, and it's only seven fifty-five now. So you're not late yet, Shiki." Shirou drained the coffee in his hand in one gulp before speaking.

"Is that so? Looks like I'm pretty lucky!" As she spoke, Shiki raised the handbag in her hand and said to Shirou, "Hey, Emiya, do you know what's in here?"

"What is it?" Shirou asked reflexively.

"Probably some kind of sword. Shiki is a fifth-dan kendo expert, and she was even the captain of her high school's kendo club," Mikiya guessed.

"Bingo. Mikiya got it right, but what's in here isn't an ordinary sword. Have you heard of Kanetsune, Emiya?" Shiki said.

Kuji Kanetsune. This was not that three-star experience craft essence from the game with no stats whatsoever. In this world, it was one of a kind. After centuries of accumulation, it was unquestionably the nemesis of all Barrier Masters in the world of mystery.

"Kanetsune? Kuji Kanetsune?"

"That's right, that one." Shiki gave a sly smile. "So? Want to open it and have a look?"

Seeing Shiki looking like a child eager to show off a new toy to her companions, Touko immediately smelled danger. She hurriedly stopped her. "Hey! Don't open it here! The barrier will be cut apart in an instant!"

"Tch! So stingy!" Shiki muttered quietly a couple of times, then said nothing more.

"Oh, right, Shiki. A few of us are planning to have dinner at that kid's place tonight. You should come too!" Touko said, pointing at Shirou in retaliation.

"Hey, Aozaki, I'm pretty sure I invited Mikiya tonight. This has nothing to do with you!"

"What's the difference? Cooking for four is the same as cooking for six. Anyway, I'm leaving it all to you, kid!" Touko said with a smile.

"Honestly, I can never say no to you!"

Hearing Shirou say that, the smile on Touko's face deepened. She knew that whenever Shirou said this, it meant he had agreed. "Mwahaha! Hey, Shiki, Mikiya, looks like we're in for a treat tonight too!"

"Hey, hey! Enough already, you bastard!"

The Emiya Family's house in Kanbiko City had not actually been bought by Kiritsugu. It had been Natalia's base during her long mercenary career; she was both Kiritsugu's teacher and adoptive mother.

Since renting was such a hassle, and Natalia had never lacked money to begin with, she simply bought it on a whim. After Natalia left, the house had remained vacant until three years ago, when Kiritsugu came to Kanbiko City in search of Touko Aozaki and put it back into use. Over the past month, it had served as a place for Shirou, Fujino, and the recently moved-in Kirie to stay.

Because he would be hosting Mikiya and the others for dinner that evening, Shirou had informed Fujino and Kirie in advance, asking them to go to the supermarket to buy fresh ingredients before meeting up beneath Garan no Dou. Shirou's cooking might be excellent, but better ingredients were still needed to make better dishes.

In front of the house, Shirou and the others ran into more members of the Emiya Family—

"Shirou~"

Illya's soft, sweet, adorable voice reached Shirou's ears from far away. Looking in its direction, he saw the petite Illya cheerfully waving at him.

Touko had only fixed the structural flaws in Illya's body as a homunculus; she had done nothing at all about her growth rate. It was not as though Kiritsugu had never considered correcting that as well. After all, growing at half the rate of an ordinary person was ridiculously unfair. But Touko said that adjusting it would affect Illya's lifespan, so Kiritsugu could only endure Illya's painfully slow growth.

The current head of the Emiya Family, Kiritsugu Emiya, had come with Illya. Having given up being a mercenary, Kiritsugu had gone into business, reselling daily necessities such as vegetables and fruit. But it had to be said that Kiritsugu had absolutely no talent for it, and his income was not particularly good. In the end, he simply handed the business over to the Fujiki Group and stayed home to keep his daughter company.

A complete failure at business—that described him perfectly.

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