Is This Fate? Did We Buy the Wrong Disc?

Looking at it this way, it wasn't all a bad thing that the old man passed away early.

"Eiji was pushing himself too hard," Zouken recalled. "I kept telling him to rest, but he just wouldn't listen."

"They probably didn't protect themselves properly," Shinji analyzed Shinji. "Special attention to protection is needed on tokusatsu sets. The harmful substances from chemical explosions are quite damaging to the human body. Otherwise, Grandpa, look at all the Tsuburaya family members who work on sets; none of them live long lives. On the contrary, it's the few good-for-nothing descendants who stay away from sets who live quite a long time."

"Cough cough."

Kazuo Tsuburaya at the next table choked on his words upon hearing this.

Shinji gave him a disdainful look. "Can't you even drink water properly?"

[You might as well just give me your ID number.]

Kazuo Tsuburaya dared not speak out against his anger and could only look at him with a pitiful expression.

The good-for-nothing descendants who stay away from film sets—isn't that him?

Shinji raised an eyebrow and slowly said, "Those two guys Masahiro Tsuburaya and Hidemitsu Tsuburaya, really disgrace the Tsuburaya name, don't they?"

"I thought..."

What do you think?

There's nothing there.

Kazuo Tsuburaya obediently shut up; he realized that Shinji was trying to put him in a bad light.

But what else could he do? He couldn't exactly punch Shinji, could he?

Fortunately, the Doggy, who had just been revived, eased the awkward atmosphere.

"Master! I heard everything!"

Cú Chulainn jumped up and down, pointing at Shinji and saying, "So that's why you always hide so far away during explosion scenes!!"

Shinji replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, isn't it human instinct to stay away from danger?"

"Then why are we in direct contact with the explosion?!"

"What does it matter? Your lungs won't get sick anyway."

Shinji genuinely thought so; the more he used these Heroic Spirit, the more he felt they were incredibly cost-effective.

Even Shinji was afraid that he would play too hard and ruin them.

"Master!"

Cú Chulainn let out a mournful cry.

Thanks to the Doggy's interruptions, the wrap party finally ended in a cheerful atmosphere.

The crew of <Super 8> has finally reached the moment of disbandment.

Most members, including Shinji, will take a vacation, but Hiroshi Nagano, as an idol, doesn't have a vacation and can only catch up with his team to continue V6's anniversary tour.

After all, Johnny & Associates's Entertainment isn't a charity. At this crucial time for groups to make money, even working 996 (9am-9pm, 6 days a week) is a luxury for idols.

Compared to poor Hiroshi Nagano, Shinji, who works for himself, is much better off.

After filming <Super 8>, he first went to Hokkaido alone for a good vacation, and also enjoyed the gentleness of the landlady of the hot spring hotel.

After refueling, Shinji returned to Fuyuki City to officially begin post-production on <Super 8>.

However, by this time, it was already autumn of 2005, Shinji's final installment of the FSN trilogy, Heaven's Feel, was finally released.

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On September 25, 2005, a group of people who stayed up late were active on the streets of Akiha, which should have been deserted.

"There are quite a few people here. Is this the influence of Fate?"

Shibamatsu, who was in the queue, stomped his slightly numb legs.

In Shibamatsu's memory, such scenes of queuing overnight only occurred when popular games or new consoles were released. He never expected that such a situation would occur when a movie or TV series was released.

Generally speaking, releasing products ahead of a specified release date is considered a serious breach of contract, and stores that do so may even have their release privileges revoked.

Therefore, most stores will obediently start stocking up on the release date to avoid violating regulations.

However, this is Akiha, a hub for all kinds of entertainment products, including games, consoles, models, comics, home appliances, and audio-visual products.

In this market where businesses have highly overlapping operations and competition among them is fierce, even releasing your product a few hours later than others can result in losing business.

To ensure their sales volume, starting sales at midnight is a common practice among Akiha stores that skirts the rules.

However, queuing overnight just to experience a product you like a few hours earlier than others is something that only die-hard fans can understand.

It can only be said that in Akiha, one shopkeeper dares to buy at midnight, and the other dares to sell at midnight.

However, it is indeed quite rare for products like DVDs to require an overnight stay.

After all, audiences have already watched popular movies or TV series as soon as they become available.

Even the most hardcore fans wouldn't be anxious for a few hours over a work they've already seen.

As for those works that were prepared to take the OV route from the beginning, they are basically works with little popularity and no fans waiting in line.

Only someone Shinji Matou, who doesn't play by the rules, would choose to release FSN as an OV (Online Video) format.

But Fate is Fate after all, and no matter what release model it takes, there will never be a shortage of hardcore fans who are willing to die for it.

Shibamatsu didn't think he was too late, but there was still a long queue ahead of him that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

Moreover, not only were there quite a few people queuing, but not far from the queue, there were also several people holding cameras or video cameras.

Shibamatsu immediately guessed their media affiliation based on the logos on their clothing.

"I guess that's typical of Fate? But why not just go for a theatrical release?" Shibamatsu complained from the group. "With Fate's influence, even an R-rated would probably have a lot of fans willing to pay, right?"

"I mean, did that damn Director choose this time slot just so we could be out in the cold wind all night?"

Those standing behind Shibamatsu speculated maliciously, "I heard that Director has a really twisted sense of humor."

"Probably... no way... probably..."

Shibamatsu's tone was very uncertain.

He was, after all, in the Magecraft world, and had heard more rumors about Shinji Matou than outsiders.

It is said that when this big shot was studying at the Clock Tower, he got into a jealous fight with someone and bribed a teacher to force his competitor to fail several courses.

This forced the other party to cram in extra lessons, ultimately leading to their defeat.

Of course, Shibamatsu himself has reservations about this rumor. After all, according to the two big sisters in his group, Shinji Matou has always been fair and square in his pursuit of women, letting them throw themselves at him.

"Tsk, the more I think about it, the more envious I get."

Shibamatsu clicked his tongue in annoyance, took out his phone, and posted a message in the Shinji Matou fan group.

[I'm queuing up in Akiha now.]

Shibamatsu wrote this.

A bunch of replies appeared quickly.

Red-haired Blue: [Oh! Going to buy HF, huh? I want to go too!! Seriously, why did Grandpa have to make me stay today of all days!!!!!!!!!(╬◣д◢)]

Alice in Wonderland: [Aoko, stop playing on your phone! If Aozaki Public sees you, we're all doomed. Also, Shibamatsu, remember to buy five copies. I've already told the shopkeeper.]

Akainu Osomatsu: [5 copies?]

Alice in Wonderland: [One copy will be opened and read at the club tonight, one is for the club's collection, one is mine, one is Aoko's, and one is for my own collection.]

Red-haired Blue: [As expected of Miss Kuzunoha, so thoughtful!! (*￣3￣)╭?]

Alice in Wonderland: [Aoko! Go learn Magecraft!!]

Red-haired Blue: [Understood...]

Aoko reluctantly put her phone back in her pocket, letting out a disgruntled snort.

Looks like I'll have to block my phone for the next couple of days.

As Aoko went downstairs, she kept muttering to herself, "That girl Azu will definitely give me spoilers, I have to be careful around her."

Upon reaching the first floor Aoko took a deep breath to calm her agitated emotions before entering her room with the air of a sheltered young lady.

"Grandpa, I'm here. What are we going to learn tonight?"

Sitting on the sofa, Aozaki Public looked up and said, "Aoko, you're here. Tonight we're not studying, we're going to watch something. Here, help Grandpa set this up."

Aozaki Public was holding was the first volume of the HF DVD, which wouldn't be officially released for another few hours.

Aoko: "???"

What exactly is going on?

Carnival Commemorative Outfit. jpg

Chapter 139 Is this Fate? Did we buy the wrong discs?

Aoko's expression was no less than if her grandfather had pulled out a pistol and shouted, "Aoko, this is much more effective than Magecraft!"

Grandpa... what is this?

Aoko pointed to what Aozaki Public was holding and asked in as calm a tone as possible.

"This? This is a movie DVD," Aozaki Public replied calmly.

Of course I know!

Despite the inner turmoil, Aoko dared not show it outwardly.

"Grandpa, I'm asking what kind of DVD this is?"

"Hmm... Fate/stay night Heaven's Feel, that's the stuff that bastard from the Matou Family came up with."

Aozaki Public glanced at the DVD cover and read the title without a trace of emotion.

"... The Matou Family... is it Shinji Matou?"

Aoko knew that her persona in front of her grandfather was that of a well-behaved girl who knew nothing about Fate, so she had to pretend that she knew nothing.

This was not an easy task for Aoko. She was well aware of her tendency to speak her mind, so she had to carefully consider every word she said about Fate.

So far, Aoko's disguise has been successful, and Aozaki Public has not noticed any flaws.

"It's that Shinji Matou," Aozaki Public replied, his tone full of disdain. "Someone told me that he misinterpreted Magecraft in his film, insulting previous Magecraft, and even made a ridiculous plot like a modern Magecraft using Reality Marble!"

At this point, a flash of anger appeared in Aozaki Public's eyes. "How could a modern Magecraft possibly use Reality Marble! They're not some fairy pampered by the world!"

"Not some clever trick to achieve the effect of Reality Marble, but a genuine Reality Marble! If there really is a modern Magecraft in this world who can use Reality Marble, let him step forward! I'll immediately become his apprentice!!"

The "cleverness" that Aozaki Public mentioned refers to Kiritsugu Emiya's [Time Alter].

The ability to cut off time within a specific space from the "flow of time" in the outside world, as understood from the definition of Reality Marble, can indeed be classified as a Reality Marble.

However, the Reality Marble achieved through this clever trick is quite different from standard Reality Marble like those in Unlimited Blade Works and Ionioi Hetairoi, which can erode the real world.

At least in the minds of Magecraft who pursue True Magic, only Reality Marble like those in [Unlimited Blade Works] are true Reality Marble.

Although Shinji considers this argument to be utter nonsense, it is very popular among the Aristocratic Faction and conservatives, for the simple reason that no one else can use it.

That's why Aozaki Public was so certain that Shinji Matou was messing around, and why he said he wanted to become Shirou's apprentice.

However, the confident Aozaki Public failed to notice that his granddaughter's expression had become very strange.

Grandpa, don't make promises you can't keep...

Fortunately, it's just the two of them at home now, otherwise Aoko can't imagine how excited her sister would be after hearing what Grandpa said.

According to Touko, although Shinji Matou this process, Shirou Emiya actually activated his Reality Marble.

However, Aoko couldn't say this aloud, since she couldn't explain how she knew about it.

[Thankfully, I was the only one who overheard this. I hope Grandpa won't gossip about it when he sees Shinji Matou and my sister in the future.]

Aoko secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She awkwardly sat down next to Aozaki Public and asked, "Grandpa, where did you get this DVD? Didn't you used to look down on these kinds of commoners' stuff?"

"Because someone keeps nagging me to give that bastard from the Matou Family a piece of their mind," Aozaki Public said irritably. "I told them I needed evidence, so they sent this over."

Despite his deep disdain for Shinji Matou, Aozaki Public, a rigid and strict old scholar, adhered to the principle that criticism should not be made indiscriminately, and obtained the FSN DVD.

[Grandpa, if you were as rigorous in your approach to Magecraft, my sister wouldn't have run away.]