Hey. I'm me, right?
"What do you mean? Of course you are."
Don't lie to me. I don't exist.
"You feel. You think. You see. Therefore you exist."
All of those are pointless. I can't do anything.
"You're human. You make mistakes."
I'm a doll. I sit, imobile, unable to function properly.
"Ability is not what makes a human."
Well then, what does?
"That's for you to decide."
But you're me. I am you.
"Yes. I am."
So tell me. You should know if you are me.
"I can't."
Why?
"Because I don't know. I would be lying if I told you I knew."
I'm fine with lies.
"You're a fool."
Then so are you.
"Yes I am. But I have accepted the fact."
That's impossible.
"No it isn't. I am you...I am your memories."
But I have no memories.
"You do. Remember, Shirou. Remember the old you."
I don't want to. I'm just fine as a doll.
"That's not true. You want to protect her. I know that better than anyone."
There's no point. I failed to protect her so many times, even as she used me like a tool. Wouldn't it be more pathetic to fail as a capable human than as a dysfunctional doll?
"Well, wouldn't it be even more pathetic to fail and not fix your mistakes?"
I have no means to fix my mistakes.
"You possess the Essence. That is enough. As I told you before, you are powerful."
But every time I use that power, I just hurt people.
"That's because you don't trust yourself. You're scared you'll hurt someone, so you do. Remember, your emotions control your power."
So what should I do?
"You're missing something, Shirou. You may have hurt her, but she's alive. All along, you never failed."
But there's still a chance I could do worse!
"Would you have rather she died?! Huh?"
N-no, of course not…
"Then what are you so afraid of? She'll definitely die if you do nothing."
She'll die if I do nothing?
"Yes, Shirou. I've seen it many times. She's died right in front of me, many times."
I...I'm still too weak.
"Shirou. I am you, so I would know. You are not weak. You're even stronger than I was when I was in control."
Stop lying! How much have I actually done since I was saved by her?
"It's not about what you have done. It's about what you can do."
What I can do?
"You continue to look towards the past, when the largest battle you'll ever fight is about to begin."
What else can I do except look towards the past? If what she says is true, she can just send me back to the beginning.
"Then that just means you'll have to make sure to fight even harder."
"I understand now," Shirou said out loud, "I'm sorry it took so long."
Haha...Thank you, Shirou.
He looked up at the grey sky.
"Well, I'll be leaving you now, Shirou. Good luck."
For the first time ever, Shirou gave a genuine, grateful smile.
Staring up at the sky, true tears streamed down his face.
He was completely, utterly, totally alone. But not lonely.
A sense of independence and responsibility washed over Shirou as he wiped away his tears.
Alright. I should get moving now.
A grimace formed on his face.
I'll do it all.
"By myself."