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Shirou watched the orphaned children running around cheerfully in the shabby room. Some were chasing a ragged cloth ball, others were tugging at a nearly broken wooden doll. Their laughter echoed, simple yet warm. The sight made Shirou let out a small sigh, then he turned to Syr, who was standing beside him, smiling softly at the children.
"So..." Shirou finally spoke up with a half-inquisitive tone, "You skipped work just to accompany them?"
Syr turned to him, her bluish-grey eyes sparkling mischievously yet full of affection. She clasped her hands behind her back, swaying gently from side to side.
"Yeees~~," she answered in a long, coquettish tone. "I've come to this orphanage a few times, but usually after work. This is the first time I dared to come during work hours. It's more fun this way, right?"
Shirou rubbed the back of his neck, unsure whether to scold her or just smile along. He finally sighed. "Well then... You stay here. I'll go back to the restaurant alone and make up an excuse to Mama Mia. At least you won't get scolded."
Hearing that, Syr immediately pouted, then quickly approached and patted Shirou's shoulder. "Ehhh, don't be like that!" she protested half-coquettishly, "You'll be the one who gets yelled at badly, you know. I can't bear it if you become the victim because I skipped work."
Shirou raised an eyebrow, ready to answer, but Syr leaned in first with her characteristic sly smile. "How about we both skip until evening? Then we go back together to the Hostess of Fertility. That way, even if Mama Mia gets angry, we get scolded together. More fun, right?"
Shirou fell silent for a moment. Syr's logic sounded ridiculous, of course—who deliberately asks someone else to share punishment? But as he glanced at Syr's face, beaming with expectation, accompanied by the sound of the orphans' laughter in the background, Shirou ultimately couldn't refuse.
"...Alright," he said with a resigned smile.
Syr immediately let out a small cheer, "Yattaaa!" raising both hands in the air, making the children look at her curiously before joining in the cheer without knowing what was being celebrated. Shirou could only shake his head slowly, but in his heart, he felt something different about today—light, warm, and far from the burden of work.
Somewhat stiffly, Shirou joined in the children's games. He stood rigidly in the yard, trying to understand the unclear rules: a cloth ball was thrown, a child suddenly made him the target, and another ran circles around Shirou, giggling. Unlike Syr, who deftly weaved between the children, laughing loudly while being chased, easily hugging or carrying them, Shirou looked awkward but tried to keep up with the rhythm.
"Big bro Shirou, catch this if you can!" shouted a small child, throwing the cloth ball towards his face.
"Eh—oi!" Shirou hurriedly caught the ball reflexively, almost falling backward from the surprise. The children burst into loud laughter, amused by his panicked expression.
As he played, Shirou began to recognize the faces of the children swarming around him. There was Rye, the oldest boy with short brown hair, his gaze seeming the most mature among the others. He was like an older brother to all the children here, always keeping his friends in line so they wouldn't be too mischievous towards Shirou.
Then there was Fina, a chienthrope girl with shoulder-length blonde hair and animal ears that twitched cutely now and then. She was the most talkative, constantly teasing Shirou. "So slow, big bro Shirou! Even I could escape a hundred times!"
Roux, a calm elf girl with blonde hair, sat slightly apart, hugging her shabby wooden doll. Her serene face reminded Shirou of Ryuu, though this smaller version was much more innocent. Occasionally, her gaze lingered on Shirou with curiosity, as if assessing whether he could be trusted.
And finally Ossian, a small pallum boy with neck-length brown hair, his body tiny but his movements the fastest. He was the most mischievous, constantly trying to tie Shirou's legs with a rope to make him fall.
"Hhh... you guys... are really... so active," Shirou mumbled, catching his breath, half tired, half amused.
Syr, who was sitting on the side watching, just chuckled. "Fufu~ turns out you're quite suited to be a childminder, Shirou. See, they're getting even more attached to you."
Shirou let out a long sigh, trying to maintain his dignity, though the cloth ball hit him squarely on the head again. "If this is what you call liking me... I have my doubts."
While Shirou was still trying to stand straight after almost being knocked over by the swarm of children, Rye, the oldest, looked at him curiously.
"Big bro Shirou... you're the one who taught Big Sis Syr how to cook, right?" he asked innocently, his voice making all the other kids fall silent, waiting for the answer.
Shirou nodded. "Yes, if Syr's food is tasty now, it's partly because I taught her."
"Ohhh!" the children exclaimed in unison before stepping forward one by one to approach Shirou.
"Thank you, Big Bro Shirou!" Rye bowed seriously like a boy who knew his manners.
"Yeah, her food before... tasted really weird," Ossian blurted out innocently.
"Right! Sometimes too salty, sometimes too sweet!" Fina added, grimacing as if still remembering the trauma to her taste buds.
"Ehhh! I wasn't that bad!" Syr protested, her face flushing. She stood up, placing her hands on her hips, trying to look fierce.
However, the children just looked at her with an 'okay, sure, we believe you' expression and nodded in unison, making her pout even more.
Shirou covered his mouth, amused, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Heh..."
"You're so mean," Syr muttered, sulking. But then her eyes sparkled mischievously, and she turned to the kids.
"Hey, did you know? Big brother Shirou isn't just good at cooking, you know. He's a member of the Loki Familia! The famous one!" she said dramatically, as if telling a hero's story.
"EHHH!?" All the children immediately stopped moving and turned to Shirou simultaneously. Their eyes sparkled as if they were seeing a hero from a fairy tale standing before them.
"Really!? You're really a member of the Loki Familia!?" Rye stepped forward first, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and disbelief.
"I-I saw them during the expedition parade yesterday!" Fina added in a loud voice.
"Wow... so you're friends with Lady Aiz!? The Sword Princess!?" Ossian jumped up and down with joy, almost bumping into Shirou's leg.
Shirou took half a step back, slightly overwhelmed by their enthusiastic attention. "Yes, I... am indeed a member of the Loki Familia," he answered, this time unable to stop a cold sweat seeing their innocent faces shining with excitement.
"Waaahhh!!" All the children immediately swarmed Shirou, tugging at his sleeves, asking this and that, like "Have you ever seen a Monster Rex!?" "Do you train with Lady Aiz!?" "Can you defeat a Minotaur by yourself!?" leaving Shirou almost no room to breathe.
Syr stood behind them, laughing, satisfied that she had successfully diverted attention from herself.
After laughing her fill, Syr clapped her hands once. Clap! The sound made the kids immediately turn to her. Putting on an air of a pretend-serious caregiver, she arranged the children to sit neatly cross-legged on the floor. Syr also sat down among them, her chin resting on her palms, her eyes sparkling temptingly.
"Tell us a story, Big bro Shirou~," she said in a teasing tone.
The children chimed in unison, "Yeees! Tell us, tell us!"
Shirou could only let out a long sigh. Why did I become a storyteller at an orphanage... he thought. He pondered for a moment, then began to speak in a calm voice.
"I... am actually just a supporter. Not someone on the front lines."
That sentence made some of the children pout. "Heeeeeh~?! Really, just that?" Rye leaned forward, clearly dissatisfied.
Shirou looked at them, then thought to himself, I can't say too much about myself.
Keeping his tone even, Shirou continued, "I'm usually in the back, helping with my bow. But from there, I can clearly see the incredible strength of the Loki Familia members."
The children began to focus again. Ossian, with round, excited eyes, immediately raised his hand. "Then, tell us about Captain Finn! I'm his biggest fan!"
Shirou felt he understood the Pallum boy's enthusiasm. He then told a long story—how Finn, despite his small stature, could devise brilliant strategies that saved many people, how his sharp instincts and agility with his spear made him truly worthy of being called an ideal leader. Ossian listened with shining eyes.
After that, the stories flowed to other members. About Aiz, who was swift as the wind, Riveria with her majestic and fearsome magic, Bete, who was always rough but undeniably strong, to Gareth, who was mighty and sturdy like a living fortress.
The children listened with full admiration, small cheers, and exclamations of "waaaah" often heard whenever Shirou mentioned amazing details. Meanwhile, Syr just smiled contentedly, watching Shirou, who had finally been unwittingly drawn into the role of a hero storyteller for these orphaned children.
Before they knew it, the sunlight began to fade, signaling the arrival of evening. Soft footsteps were heard from the entrance to the orphanage hall, followed by the warm call of a woman.
"Children~ come on, it's evening. Time for a bath before dinner!"
The children who had been sitting around Shirou let out soft grunts, some whining because they still wanted to hear stories. However, upon seeing the figure of the woman—her black hair neatly tied up, wearing a simple cream-colored dress—they didn't dare argue. One by one, they got up and walked out, though clearly reluctant.
The woman smiled kindly, then approached Syr and Shirou. "Sorry about them. Once they start playing, it's hard to make them stop."
Syr just shrugged casually. "It's normal, Mrs. Maria. They're always that energetic whenever I come."
"Mrs. Maria?" Shirou asked politely.
The woman nodded gently. "Yes, my name is Maria. I've been taking care of this orphanage for a long time."
Shirou bowed his head slightly. "Emiya Shirou. Nice to meet you."
Maria returned his smile, then looked at Shirou with a thoughtful gaze. "Earlier, it seemed you were telling the children about adventures?"
Shirou nodded without hesitation. "Yes... they asked for stories about the Loki Familia, so I..."
Maria took a small breath, her expression still soft but her eyes slightly shadowed. "If I may, please reduce such stories next time. They do enjoy hearing heroic tales, but..."
Shirou was a bit confused. "Why?"
Maria looked out at the orphanage yard, as if searching for words. "Their parents... most of them were adventurers. Many never returned from the Dungeon. Even some children old enough to leave the orphanage chose to become adventurers, and..." She paused for a moment, her voice lowering. "...their fate was the same. Not all heroic stories have happy endings."
Thump.
Shirou felt a pressure in his chest. Instantly, guilt crept into his mind. That's true... I was telling stories as if they were just fun adventures. But I know full well how dangerous the Dungeon is. How thin the line between life and death is.
He clenched his fists on his lap, his lips pressed tightly together. "I... understand. I'm sorry, Mrs. Maria."
The woman shook her head lightly. "It's alright. They still enjoyed hearing it, I just worry they idolize that world too much without understanding the risks."
Syr, standing next to Shirou, noticed the change in the young man's expression, realizing how seriously he was taking Maria's words. Shirou just stared at the floor for a moment, pondering the woman's words, before nodding slowly.
Shirou, who had been thinking about Maria's words, finally mustered the courage to speak. "Mrs. Maria... this orphanage... does it accept donations?" he asked carefully, his voice soft but full of sincerity.
The woman was silent for a moment before giving a small smile. "Thank you for your intention, Shirou. But this orphanage is doing fine. Many kind gods and goddesses help us. Food, clothing, even occasional building repairs are taken care of."
But Shirou didn't back down immediately. He looked at Maria with a determined glint in his eyes. "But... I have some extra fortune. At least let me help a little. I can't sit still after hearing that story earlier."
His tone sounded almost desperate to be able to do something. His body leaned forward slightly, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Maria was taken aback.
"...You..." She shook her head slowly, her face a mix of confusion and admiration. "This is the first time I've seen someone pleading... just to be able to help."
Syr, standing beside him, smiled faintly, her eyes narrowing as if hiding something. But behind that smile, in the depths of her being as the goddess Freya, she let her gaze trace Shirou's soul.
Interesting... she mused inwardly. A soul full of rust, cracked here and there by the burden of guilt, yet still shining with a light of kindness. A kindness born not from pure selflessness, but from unending regret... Is it fragile, or is it perhaps more beautiful than an innocent, pure soul?
Maria finally let out a soft sigh, surrendering to Shirou's determination. "Alright... then, I will accept your intention. But it's not just this orphanage that needs help."
Shirou straightened up, looking at her attentively. "What do you mean?"
"Around here, there are also many in hardship. An old folks' home for elderly parents who no longer have family, small houses for widows whose husbands fell in the Dungeon, and simple dwellings for those with disabilities. Everyone in this neighborhood... is always struggling to survive."
Shirou felt his chest grow heavier, as if each of Maria's words added weight to his shoulders. Yet he also felt more resolute. "In that case... please show me the way, Mrs. Maria."
The woman smiled warmly this time, full of sincerity. "Come, follow me."
They walked out of the church, their steps simple yet carrying great meaning. In front of the yard, Maria raised her hand and pointed towards several simple buildings lined up around the area. Their wooden walls were starting to rot, their roofs patched, yet they stood firm as shelters for those with no other choice.
"Over there," Maria explained softly. "If you truly wish to donate, it's better to channel some to them as well. Every bit of help, no matter how small, will mean a lot."
Shirou looked at the buildings with deep eyes. He clenched his fists tightly, then nodded firmly. "Okay. I will do it."
Syr and Shirou finally said their goodbyes to Mrs. Maria. The woman bowed her head gratefully, while the children, now bathed, waved from the door. "Don't forget to come again, Big bro Shirou! Big Sis Syr!" Rye shouted, jumping up and down. Shirou just waved back awkwardly.
Leaving the area of the wooden church, Syr glanced sideways. "So... do you want to donate now, Shirou?" she asked, swinging a small pouch at her own waist.
Shirou rummaged through the pockets of his green uniform. Jingle~ jingle~ Only copper coins made a sound, not much. With an awkward face, he said, "It seems... I need to go back to Twilight Manor first. Get some Valis there."
Syr held back her laughter as she patted his shoulder. "Hey now~ don't rush. Accompany me to the restaurant first. Remember, your task today was to catch me skipping work," she said in a playful yet demanding tone. Shirou sighed, but finally nodded. "Alright, I'll come along first."
They stepped out onto the winding streets of Daedalus Street. The evening sunlight filtered through the gaps between rickety buildings, making their shadows stretch long on the cobbled road. Syr occasionally glanced at Shirou's face, then started a conversation in a teasing tone. "But Shirou... you're still a novice adventurer. It's dangerous if you run out of money like that. What if you need to buy potions or equipment later?"
Shirou shook his head casually. "No problem. At the Loki Familia, my supplies are still plentiful. So even if my money runs low, I won't run out of basic gear."
He looked down slightly, his voice lowering. "...Besides, I was an orphan too."
Instantly, his thoughts drifted back to the night of the Fuyuki fire—flames, screams, the smell of burning steel. His fists clenched tightly. If only I could have been faster, stronger back then... he whispered inwardly, blaming himself as usual.
Syr paused for a moment, looking at Shirou's face from the side. Within herself as Freya, she saw the rust growing denser, enveloping Shirou's soul—the guilt that never faded. Yet precisely because of that, its luster became even clearer to her, emitting something she couldn't ignore.
Without a word, Syr reached out. Her soft fingers slipped into Shirou's red hair, stroking it gently. In a motherly tone, she rarely showed anyone, she said, "I'm proud of you, Shirou. Even though you carry those wounds, you keep moving forward. That's not easy... and I know how strong you are."
Shirou jolted. The touch was warm, piercing through the emotional walls he had built. The rust in his heart, which had been thickening, seemed to stop corroding. For a moment, the world felt lighter.
His face flushed. Hurriedly, Shirou removed Syr's hand from his head. "D-don't do that... It's embarrassing," he said, scratching his cheek, trying to hide his fluster.
Syr just chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling meaningfully. "Fufu~ you are too innocent, Shirou."
They continued on their way, their shadows walking side by side towards the Hostess of Fertility.