Well, after getting scolded for who knows how long, my body finally recovered enough for me to wake up.
Yet everything still hurts.
I looked at the summoning circle, and somehow, I actually managed to summon something.
... I did it! Take that, whoever said using ketchup was impossible. A fake magus actually pulled it off!
What did I summon? …Curry. Actual curry.
My magical energy kept it nice and hot, but there were no Servants, just curry.
Dragging myself to the kitchen, I grabbed a fork and ate it. It tasted great, but deep inside, I died a little.
To summon curry… emotionally, that hurts.
But then I noticed something. On my left arm, a faint mark had burned itself into the skin.
A Master's crest.
At least… I was a Master.
…I guess.
Well, I should probably go to school... Sigh. At least it was a good breakfast.
What time is it? Hmmm… the shadow's pointing this way, and it's winter, so…
The most logical time should be… eleven a.m.
Yeah, I'm late. Screw it, I'll just be absent.
Besides, I should recover my magical energy fast, since the Holy Grail War could start any day now.
Alright. First: set up a bounded field to recharge.
After meditating for a few hours, I managed to recover about 60% of my energy. Good enough.
Now, let's go out to eat!
…Oh right. I'm broke.
Plan B: invade Shirou's house and beg him to let me stay the night.
Well, technically there's Plan C: eat nothing but ketchup packs all day… but let's hope Shirou let's me stay.
---
Shirou's house was empty. Of course. Probably out working his part-time job.
Fine. Guess I'll go hunt him down.
I wandered the city, checking every place Shirou might be working.
By the time I realized, the sky had gone dark... Figures. Summoning curry probably cursed my luck for the day.
Well… whatever. Guess it's ketchup packs for dinner.
Wait.
My crest flared. Magical energy.
A Master was close.
If I searched too obviously, I'd give myself away, so I slipped through the crowd like nothing was wrong.
And then I saw him.
Shirou, standing on a bridge, staring toward the rooftop of a tall building.
And up there.
Twin tails.
…No doubt about it. Tohsaka Rin. Standing like Batman at the edge of the roof.
…Wait.... No.... No way… Dammit, she's a Master.
I'm truly unlucky.
Well… she wouldn't kill a classmate, right?... right…?
I should leave before other Masters sniff this place out.
"Hey, Shirou."
He blinked, finally pulling his gaze away from the rooftop.
"Ryouma? What are you doing here? You didn't even show up to school today."
Awww, he was concerned for me. At least someone cares… maybe I've lived a good life after all.
"Hey, Emiya… is it okay if I stay at your place tonight?"
"Huh?"
I blink at him. "Huh?"
His famous awkward chuckle while scratching his cheeks.
---
And that's how I ended up crashing at Shirou's place.
Of course, Taiga was here too… because where else would she be?
While Shirou was cooking, I got dragged into a "match" with her.
No point dragging it out, she won. She's a tiger after all.
Dinner was good as Shirou made it, and after Taiga finally left, he showed me to the guest room.
It's small, with just a bed, a window, and some furniture.
It still feels like a luxury hotel compared to my house.
Not that I hate my house… but constantly fighting off the bugs isn't exactly 'cozy living.'
I'll miss this after tonight, though. I can't just freeload off Shirou forever.
…Anyway, let's see what he's doing. He mentioned heading out to the shed.
Totally not suspicious at all. Definitely not something I would do.
Sigh. I'm complicated.
Through the shed window, I watched him try reinforcement magic on a steel pipe. And fail. Repeatedly.
I didn't laugh. (Okay, maybe a little.)
But now I know for sure, he's got magical energy.
I could help him. But if Shirou's a Master too…
…Yeah. Better to just sleep.
In the morning, I hear a kitchen knife cutting something. As I come out half sleepy.
"Good morning Shirou." To my surprise it was Sakura who was cooking.
"Ah, good morning Sakura." I politely nod.
Fujimura looks at me up and down. "Are you going to wear clothes or just gonna stand there flexing your muscles?"
Heading back into the guest room. hmmm. I do have a quite muscular body...
After getting dressed I talk with Shirou in private.
"Shirou do you believe in sorcerer's?" He opens his mouth to say something but he doesn't letting me continue.
My bet is that he knows.
"Shirou I saw you trying to modify. I can teach you how to get better. How about tonight? Sounds good?" My sly smile doesn't really look convincing I guess.
How bad can it be, he should go to work today since it's Saturday.
He nods which is really good for me because I can teach him how to get good gud.
I skipped breakfast politely in which Taiga immediately took my food.
As much as I wanted breakfast, I didn't need it. I already used a spell to trick my stomach into feeling full.
Not exactly satisfying… but good enough.
With that I leave the house early.
I guess I'll protect this idiot… even if he becomes my enemy... Damn it, why do I care so much about free meals?