Despite his mind being in complete chaos, Issei chose to ask the question that confused him most first.
Of course, he was not foolish enough to blindly believe everything Shuten Douji said. What Shuten Douji said was one matter; whether he believed her was another.
"I can't tell you, Issei. Right now, we're enemies."
Shirou Emiya deliberately said so.
Fighting here would absolutely be the worst possible option. For one, it would endanger the lives of the students at the school. For another, it might expose their secret.
No matter where, he had to draw Issei and that Servant somewhere else first!
Even if he could not lure them away, they could not fight here. This was absolutely an unexpected situation.
"Saber, we're leaving!"
Shirou Emiya wiped the blood from his forehead. He felt somewhat weak, but he still forced himself to call out to Anno.
Anno said nothing. He simply picked up the unconscious female student, glanced at Issei Ryuudou, and swiftly followed Shirou out.
"Wait—Emiya!"
Issei Ryuudou had clearly not expected them to retreat so decisively. Without hesitation, he immediately chased after them.
Shuten Douji glanced at the wound on her right hand, then at Issei Ryuudou's back. The tip of her tongue lightly brushed across her canine tooth.
So... should she chase after them?
Though her various abilities restrained Servants who excelled in close combat, if it was Saber...
The other party's presence gave Shuten Douji an "extremely dangerous" feeling.
"He's right. You may have been friends before, but because of the Holy Grail War, you've now become opponents fighting each other for the Grail, haven't you?"
"If you recklessly chase after them like this, getting killed would not be anything unexpected."
Shuten Douji stared at Issei Ryuudou's back, her tone somewhat... inexplicable?
Issei Ryuudou truly stopped.