The Killer

"Yeah, it's a simple trick, only a fool would fall for it!"

A key was tossed over, landing on the ground with a crisp clatter. Then, a girl wearing a gray kimono with a red jacket over it walked in. Looking at this world, there was only one person who dressed like this: Ryougi Shiki.

"Speaking of which, Shirou, is this guy some kind of older brother to you?"

Just as that certain savior with blonde hair said, while Shiki wasn't blonde, she always spoke her mind and followed through. So, she cut straight to the chase.

"No, he's not, and I don't have one!" Shirou denied it so quickly, "If I had such a weak older brother, I'd just go find a tofu and smash my head against it at the vegetable market."

Just as Shirou said, everyone in the Emiya Family was a combatant. Setting aside the two named Emiya, Fujino possessed the Mystic Eyes of Distortion with astonishing destructive power. Kirie's dual existence, if handled well, was a trump card no less powerful than "Song of Delusional Love," and Shirou was guiding her development in that direction. Although Illya wasn't that Magical Girl from the parallel world, as a super-excellent artificial human, her alchemy was incredible. In the original timeline, she was chasing Devil Muscle Rin all over the place. Sella and Lizelotte were specially manufactured models with strength measured in tons. And finally, there was the godlike Natalia...

Indeed, Enjou-kun, you should just leave the group!

Being spoken to like that by Shirou, Enjou Tomoe retorted with some displeasure, "Hey, you! Who are you calling weak? I've killed people!"

"Oh, so what?" x2 Perhaps to ordinary people, the word "killed" might scare a few. But the people in front of Enjou Tomoe were Shiki and Shirou.

Shiki had recently killed Shiramizu Rio, and as for Shirou, let alone killing people, his soul had been turned into a void.

The reactions of the two made Enjou Tomoe feel like neither of them believed him, so he continued to shout, "What are you two looking at? Seriously, I really killed someone, just now! The internal organs are churning in my stomach, and blood is splattered everywhere!"

To this, Shiki responded, "Oh."

Shirou said, "Your method of killing is too sloppy. True killing should be a one-hit kill! Like this—"

Mid-sentence, Shirou made a move that shocked the other two: he reached into his eye socket and, with a slight effort, gouged out his own eye!

"Shirou!"

With Shiki and Enjou Tomoe's jaws dropping in disbelief, the eyeball Shirou had gouged out regrew, and the eyeball in his hand was crushed, turning into glittering fragments.

"Your offer is tempting, but as the saying goes, 'entrusted with a task, fulfill it with loyalty.' You'd better die."

"Apologies, everyone, but I'll be returning your lives to the divine!"

"Present your heads!"

"Hello, and... goodbye!"

"Only those prepared to be killed have the right to wield a sword. I welcome you to kill me too, but only if you can survive!"

"Everything ends now."

Scenes and sequences of killing flashed before Shiki and Enjou Tomoe like a movie – beheadings, heart extractions, but all of them were one-hit kills.

What ordinary people might not even witness in a lifetime, Shirou did with effortless ease. It was killing, but it was purposeful killing.

Gag—Such a bloody scene was too much for Enjou Tomoe to bear. He immediately bent over and retched.

"See? If we're talking about killing, I've done it too, and much more than you!" Shirou provocatively jutted his chin at Enjou Tomoe.

"What kind of people are these!" Enjou Tomoe covered his head in resignation. "Forget it, whatever. Just find me a secluded place to hide, somewhere no one can possibly find me!"

"There is no such place. This is a city, a gathering place for humans."

"Yeah, if we have to hide you, it can only be at your own home!"

Shirou and Shiki's synchronized words drove Enjou Tomoe even more insane. "You two idiots! I can't go back. Are you expecting me to hide at your place?"

Shirou and Shiki simultaneously turned their heads, exchanged a glance, and then said in unison, "Sure, you can pick either of us!"

— — — — — Divider — — — — —

Emiya Residence.

"I'm saying, Shiki, that guy who looks just like me, I can understand that. But why do you need to be at my place too, when you have a home?" Shirou said helplessly to Shiki. And Enjou-kun, why would you choose my place as a male, instead of a beautiful girl? Don't tell me you like men!

"It's on the way, and convenient. Plus, your place is much bigger than mine, so I'll trouble you, Shirou," Shiki replied with a smile in her eyes.

"Sigh—" Shirou sighed and then looked out the window... This was the first floor!

Through the kitchen window, Shirou glanced at the clock. Three counts later, a scream came from the guest room, Enjou Tomoe's.

If Shirou's guess was correct, he was having another nightmare. Strictly speaking, it wasn't really a dream. Two identical individuals would have a certain synchronicity.

For example, Red Archer could synchronize his combat experience with young Shirou in his dreams, secretly giving the latter an advantage. Otherwise, even if he conjured Unlimited Blade Works, the wealthy golden Gilgamesh could unleash a hundred and eighty Wang Cai to deal with young Shirou.

"What's wrong, doppelganger brother? Having that nightmare again?" Shirou pushed open the guest room door and swaggered in, holding a bowl. "Here, drink some porridge. It'll help a lot."

Enjou Tomoe's breathing was a bit ragged, and he was slightly out of breath. After all, being killed again wasn't a pleasant experience.

"Yeah, that dream again. I don't know why, but I've been having the same dream lately," Enjou Tomoe paused, then looked up at Shirou. "And at the same time, too."

"Perhaps it's not a dream," Shirou sat opposite Enjou Tomoe. "Have you heard of parallel worlds? According to this theory, there's always a certain synchronicity between two identical individuals. For example, someone who clearly doesn't like ramen might buy a lot of it, only to regret it when they get home. In this timeline, you successfully counter-killed, but perhaps in other timelines, you didn't."

"Hey, Shirou," Enjou Tomoe asked listlessly, whether he had heard Shirou's words or not was unclear.

"Huh? What?"

"Um, I wanted to ask you, since you've killed so many people, what are your thoughts or perspectives when you're killing?"

It would be a lie to say I don't have any, but if you want to hear them, I don't mind telling you. It will be a long story.