Chapter 17
I Pledge to the Grass
Kara did not land gently.
She descended.
There's a difference.
The porch railing rattled slightly as she touched down.
Barbara stepped off the truck a second later, adjusting her glasses.
Barbara Gordon gave Jake a look that was half evaluation, half amused tolerance.
Jake was holding a crate of freshly harvested vegetables.
Mew floated beside him, glowing faintly green.
Kara crossed her arms.
"So."
Jake blinked.
"So?"
"You were at a summoning."
"I was observing."
Barbara tilted her head.
"Observing eldritch incursions?"
Jake gestured vaguely.
"There were candles."
Kara narrowed her eyes.
"I heard."
"Oh?"
"Raven texted someone who texted someone who texted someone."
Jake nodded slowly.
"Efficient network."
Barbara smiled faintly.
"We evacuated like normal people."
Kara added quickly, "Yes. Totally normal. Didn't lift a single collapsing beam."
Jake watched her carefully.
"…Of course not."
Secret identity maintained.
Very subtle.
The Harvest
Mew chimed proudly.
"Mew!"
The field behind Jake shimmered.
Rows of grass-type growth swayed in neat, vibrant lines.
Jake wiped dirt from his hands.
"Grass Pledge is kind of ridiculous."
The move had been experimental.
He'd read about it in the registration guide.
But combined with Mew's absurd stats—
The soil had responded like it was grateful.
The first harvest was early.
Healthy.
Abundant.
Almost luminous.
Barbara stepped closer to inspect a tomato.
"It's… perfect."
Jake grinned.
"Baby's first agricultural miracle."
Kara uncrossed her arms.
Her expression softened slightly.
"You did this?"
"Mew helped."
Mew puffed proudly.
Kara looked at the field again.
Then at him.
"…You're using it to build something."
Jake nodded.
"I told you. Estate management."
She huffed lightly.
"Idiot."
He smiled faintly.
"You weren't worried?"
"Not at all."
She looked away slightly too fast.
Barbara hid a smirk.
Unexpected Guests
A car rolled up the dirt road.
Out stepped a familiar redhead and a black-haired girl arguing mid-sentence.
Rin Tohsaka pointed aggressively.
"This is your fault!"
Beside her, Sakura Matou sighed gently.
"You overcharged the catalyst."
From the driver's side stepped Shirou Emiya looking extremely tired.
"I said I was sorry."
Rin whirled around.
"You nearly destabilized the leyline!"
Jake raised a hand cautiously.
"…Fresh produce?"
Silence.
All three turned toward the field.
Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
"It's beautiful."
Rin blinked.
"…That yield density is impossible."
Mew hovered smugly.
Shirou inhaled slowly.
"…Can I cook here?"
Jake pointed toward the farmhouse.
"Kitchen's operational."
Rin immediately grabbed Shirou's sleeve.
"You're cooking. As penance."
Sakura nodded gently.
"Yes, senpai."
Shirou sighed with the resignation of a man who had accepted his fate in multiple timelines.
Peter, Not That One
Another figure jogged up the road.
Peter Parker waved sheepishly.
"Hey! I heard there was fresh produce?"
Jake blinked.
"You move fast."
Peter shrugged.
"Spider— I mean, I live nearby."
Barbara's eyebrow lifted slightly.
Kara looked suspicious for half a second.
Peter coughed.
"Just checking in!"
Jake nodded.
"Want to help?"
Peter stared at the field.
Then at the tools.
Then at Jake.
"…Sure."
Farm Mode
Within the hour—
The chaos of the school felt far away.
Shirou chopped vegetables with professional efficiency.
Rin criticized spice ratios.
Sakura adjusted seasoning gently.
Barbara catalogued yields on a tablet.
Peter attempted to lift a hay bale and underestimated rural density.
Jake showed him proper leverage technique.
Kara stood in the field.
Arms folded.
Watching.
Mew floated above the crops, maintaining subtle growth stimulation.
Grass shimmered faintly where it passed.
Jake wiped sweat from his brow.
"This is good."
Peter nodded.
"…Yeah. It is."
In the distance—
A faint explosion echoed from the city.
Nobody moved.
Rin tasted the sauce.
"Acceptable."
Shirou exhaled in relief.
Sakura smiled softly.
Kara finally stepped forward and picked up a basket.
Without comment.
Jake noticed.
Didn't say anything.
Barbara did.
She smiled faintly.
Evening Light
As the sun lowered—
The farm looked less abandoned.
Less broken.
Alive.
Kara approached Jake while the others carried crates inside.
"You don't have powers," she said quietly.
"Nope."
"You could've gotten hurt."
"Yep."
She hesitated.
Then softer—
"I'm glad you didn't."
Jake smiled slightly.
"I pledged to the grass."
She rolled her eyes.
"That's not how that works."
Mew floated between them.
"Mew."
Jake looked at the field.
At the mansion in the distance.
At the people laughing inside.
"No world-ending threats today," he said.
Kara glanced at him.
"Tomorrow?"
"Probably."
She smirked faintly.
"Idiot."
But this time—
She didn't sound annoyed.
She sounded relieved.
Final Beat
Inside the kitchen—
Rin was lecturing Shirou about summoning safety protocols.
Sakura hummed softly while plating.
Peter was being taught how to cut onions properly.
Barbara was already drafting expansion ideas.
And Mew—
Hovered above the table.
Glowing faintly green.
Grass Pledge complete.
First harvest secured.
Jake leaned against the doorway.
For the first time since arriving—
This didn't feel like survival.
It felt like building.
And somewhere in the city—
Crime resumed on schedule.
But here—
The grass had answered.
End Chapter 17.