The sun dipped low in the sky as the afternoon gave way to evening, casting long shadows across the quiet streets of Fuyuki City. Shirou walked along the familiar path toward his home, his body still sore from the morning's training session. The wooden practice sword in his bag felt heavier than usual, its weight a constant reminder of how much further he had to go.
He exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the unseasonably cool air. The streets were quiet—eerily so. He hadn't seen a single car or pedestrian in the last ten minutes, and the silence set his nerves on edge.
"Strange," Shirou muttered to himself.
As he approached the intersection near his house, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking his path.
"Good evening, Emiya," said Rin Tohsaka, her voice calm and measured.
Shirou froze, his eyes widening. "Rin?" he said, blinking in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Rin crossed her arms, her emerald eyes sharp as they scanned him. "I should be asking you the same thing," she said. "But I already know the answer, don't I?"
Shirou's brow furrowed, his confusion deepening. "What are you talking about?"
Rin sighed, her expression equal parts amused and exasperated. "Don't play dumb, Emiya. You summoned a Servant, didn't you?"
Shirou stiffened, his mind racing. "How do you—"
"I've been watching you," Rin said bluntly, cutting him off. "You're not exactly subtle, you know. That little stunt you pulled with Lancer earlier made it pretty obvious."
Shirou's fists clenched at his sides. "You're a Master too, aren't you?"
Rin smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Took you long enough to figure it out," she said. "Yes, I'm a Master. And judging by the way you're flailing around, you're in way over your head."
Shirou bristled at her words, a mix of embarrassment and frustration bubbling to the surface. "I didn't ask for this," he said sharply. "But I'm doing the best I can."
Rin's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Your best isn't going to cut it," she said, her tone cold. "This isn't a game, Emiya. The Holy Grail War is brutal. If you keep relying on luck and instinct, you're going to get yourself—and your Servant—killed."
Shirou's chest tightened at her words, but before he could respond, Saber appeared beside him. Her sudden materialization sent a ripple of energy through the air, her armored form glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Master," Saber said, her tone sharp. "Who is this?"
Rin arched an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Saber. "Ah, so this is your Servant," she said, her voice laced with curiosity. "A Saber, no less. Impressive."
Saber's eyes narrowed. "You are a Master," she said, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "State your intentions."
"I'm not here to fight," Rin said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Not yet, anyway. I'm just here to have a little chat with Emiya."
Saber didn't relax, her gaze remaining fixed on Rin. "Be cautious, Master," she said. "She may not attack now, but she is still an enemy."
Shirou nodded, though he kept his eyes on Rin. "What do you want from me?" he asked.
Rin tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I want to know why someone like you is in this war," she said. "You're not a trained mage. You don't have the backing of a powerful family. And yet, you managed to summon a Saber-class Servant, the strongest of the seven classes. How?"
Shirou frowned. "I don't know," he admitted. "I didn't even mean to summon Saber. It just... happened."
Rin's eyes narrowed. "That's not how summoning works," she said. "Even if it was an accident, there has to be something about you—something that connected you to her."
Saber glanced at Shirou, her expression thoughtful. "It is true that the Grail often chooses Masters based on their compatibility with the Servant they summon," she said. "But even I do not fully understand why I was called to you, Master."
Rin crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on Shirou. "You said something during your fight with Lancer," she said. "Something about feeling like your body knew what to do. What did you mean by that?"
Shirou hesitated, his brow furrowing. He thought back to the fight, to the way his body had moved without conscious thought. It had felt... natural, instinctive, as though the movements were etched into him.
"I don't know," he said finally. "It's like... I've fought before, but I don't remember it. It just happens."
Rin's expression darkened. "That's not normal," she said. "You're not just some amateur who stumbled into this war, Emiya. There's something else going on here."
Shirou's fists clenched at his sides. "I'm telling you the truth," he said, his voice tense. "I don't know why this is happening to me, but I'm trying to figure it out."
Rin studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing. "You're either the luckiest idiot I've ever met, or there's more to you than even you realize," she said finally.
Archer materialized beside Rin, his crimson coat fluttering faintly in the breeze. His gaze swept over Shirou and Saber, his expression unreadable.
"This is a waste of time, Rin," Archer said, his tone clipped. "He's clearly out of his depth."
"Maybe," Rin replied, her gaze still fixed on Shirou. "But I think there's more to him than meets the eye."
Archer snorted softly. "If you say so."
Saber's eyes narrowed at Archer, her hand tightening on her sword. "Do not underestimate my Master," she said sharply.
Archer raised an eyebrow, his smirk faint. "I don't underestimate anyone," he said. "But facts are facts. The boy has no idea what he's doing."
Shirou's frustration boiled over. "I'll figure it out," he snapped. "I don't need your help—or your judgment."
Archer chuckled, his tone mocking. "We'll see how long that attitude lasts."
Rin sighed, stepping between them. "That's enough, Archer," she said. She turned back to Shirou, her expression serious. "For what it's worth, I hope you survive, Emiya. But if you keep stumbling around like this, you're going to get yourself killed."
With that, she turned and walked away, Archer following close behind.
As the shadows swallowed them, Shirou stood in silence, his fists clenched at his sides. Saber stepped closer, her voice calm but firm.
"Do not let their words shake you, Master," she said. "Your resolve is what matters."
Shirou nodded slowly, though doubt lingered in his mind. "I'll figure it out," he said quietly. "I have to."
Far in the distance, Rin paused briefly, glancing over her shoulder.
"Don't disappoint me, Emiya," she murmured.