I elected to ignore the glare that came from Ise and the incredulous and amused expressions from Saji and the crimson-haired duo as I nodded in reply. Kano looked back at the boy with a raised eyebrow. "You got guts kid, and stupidity to match."
"Hey!"
"Kano-san." I interrupted them for a moment as a question appeared in my head. "Why are you and Kawako-san here? Isn't there anyone running the store today?"
"Oh, we are taking a break for the day." Kano cleared my thoughts and concerns with a wave of his hand. "We barely had a chance to relax for the past few years, and considering how well our business went since you joined us, I think we could afford some down-time for a while."
"In that case you could have called me, I would have prepared a tour or something if needed."
"Oh don't worry, Shirou-kun." I turned to find Kawako exit the hall with the girls following her with a fair bit of distance between them and some sporting a twitching eye every time they glanced at the old woman. "We wanted to surprise you a little, though this was not what I had in mind for a tour." She added while glancing at the girls who paled at her expression.
"Surprise me?" I looked at them feeling a bit confused. "Why?"
"What's with that look?" Kano raised an eyebrow. "This is a family meeting day right? So we came along as a substitute for your parents if you don't mind us old folks."
...
I did not know how to feel at that statement. Ever since Dad died, everything related to parent-teacher meetings seemed blurred out. I did not feel too much during my years in school. I did remember the first year since Kiritsugu's death, when we had one session in the school and I looked at all the parents gathered in the area.
Soul-crushing sadness.
I did not remembered much after that, I only got the general idea when I found myself back home leaning on Fuji-nee's legs with tears down my face, while Raiga and a few of his men who associated with Dad were by the porch, smoking with somber expressions. After that, Raiga did attend at least two events needing parental substitutes before I told him he need not do so. At least the gesture was nice.
And this elderly couple wanted to do the same for me?
"Shirou?" My memories were interrupted by Kano who looked at me with a concerned expression. "You looked a little teary-eyed there."
"Ah, it's nothing." I blinked quickly to remove any tears from my eyes. "Thank you for coming, you should not have to do that though."
"No problem kid." Kano ruffled my hair a little with that big toothy smile before turning to the others. "So then, who should we ask for help in this tour?"
"Oh, me! Me!" Meguri raised her hand eagerly with excited eyes.
"Okay then, lead the way little lady." Kano chuckled as they started to move down the hallway. "In return, allow me to tell you some of the stories I have on Shirou here during the time he was working with us."
Oh no, I was now experiencing the normal proceedings of parent-teacher meetings.
Embarrassing stories of your past. Or in this case, the screw-ups of my job.
Crap.
"Er, Shirou Emiya?" My soul was saved from crushing regrets by, ironically enough, the young crimson-haired devil who was looking at me with a puzzled expression. "You look like you are experiencing the worst days of your life."
"That is one way of putting it." I shook my head a little. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Actually, I was hoping for a private talk with you." Sirzechs gestured with an arm to a nearby corridor. "May we go there for a moment?"
I was a little hesitant to his request, but a glance at the others told me that would be out of my hands, as Sona and Rias started to herd the others away, their expressions saying that they would not interfere with the leader's desire for a private chat. With a mental sigh, I gestured with a nod for him to start moving down the hallway.
"So, what do you think of the academy so far?" The devil started off with that type of question as he looked out of the window to view the proceedings.
"Fine, granted this is quite a different academy setting that I was used to." I said as I noted the lack of people around the area. Granted the rune I used to get people to stop crowding the corridors was effective, but something told me this was partially due to the devil next to me.
"Well, it must be quite a treat for you, being in a school that used to only admit girls only not too long ago." Sirzechs wiggled his eyebrows with a teasing smile. I merely shrugged as I continued to check the area if I needed to fight him.
"I am not really that interested in that type of thing. I am only attending due to the current system that needs me to be in the academy. And I need to repay the bill for the hospital." I gave that answer as we walked.
"But I would think you could just leave right?" The devil raised an eyebrow as he raised the point.
"I could, but that tends to leave a few trails that I don't need. Memory wipes, digital trails, hospital records. Those things could be done easily but someone who knows what to look for would be able to know what is hidden and more importantly who I am." I drew upon my experience to give a possible explanation.
"Well, you seemed to have thought it out."
"I try." I sighed a little before glancing at him. "So what's the real issue you want to get to?"
"Direct. I like that." Sirzechs nodded before continuing. "I received word from Rias and Sona that other groups around the country saw your fight with Kokabiel. It was apparently broadcasted to them by some unknown third party who was monitoring you guys. That was backed by Galilei who told us about the informant who mentioned the possibility of a compatible user for the Excalibur Shards."
My eyes narrowed at that bit of information. That actually answered some questions but raised a few more, like who was the one watching our fight at that time? Did this person wanted me to be there so that the shards would react? Would my presence invoke any plans?
Was the one involved related to the earlier intruder that smelled like a Dead Apostle?
"In any case, the fact of the matter is everyone knows about Kokabiel's death and more importantly, you. The magician who popped out of nowhere and went against one of the higher angels with a brand-new Excalibur." Sirzechs continued talking while waving a hand. "I don't think I have ever seen the information network flooded with so much requests in finding out who you are. Not even the match with Raizer was this intense."
"That bad huh?"
"Oh it can go both ways." He paused before saying a serious tone. "I won't lie, the situation is very volatile to say the least. There are people who goes against lower level devils and angels, and then we have people like you who somehow went against one of the first-born angels and completely eradicated him. This is unprecedented after all these years, and considering you did so in such a flashy manner, everyone wants to know who you are and more importantly, which side are you on?"
"Is that your concern as well?" I turned to him with a hard look. "Is that why your maid has been watching me all this time?"
"Whatever do you mean?" It was only through great training that I was able to tell that behind that almost genuine feeling of confusion, there was a hint of wariness and something else that gave him away. Time to give him a reminder.
"Your maid gave me a house-call after Raiser's match, and basically tried to turn me into a Popsicle." I said as I prepared a trigger in my mind in the event I needed it. "Then after the fight with Kokabiel, she has been keeping an eye on me from a distance, even more so when Rias is around."
"…"
...
A/N : The Story Needs More Power Stones ;)
PS : if we can reach 400 Stones by the end of the week, I will throw you an extra chapter
...
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