Chapter 208: Iroha Isshiki the Samurai
Shirou was pushed along by Iroha Isshiki, who was leaning her head against his back and pressing her hands against his rear shoulders.
"By the way, Shirou-senpai, did you keep in touch with Yuigahama-senpai, Yukinoshita-senpai, and the others while you were abroad for the exchange program?" Iroha Isshiki whispered to the boy.
"Mhm, I kept in touch," Shirou replied truthfully.
During the three weeks he was away, he maintained contact with his Service Club companions from time to time. After all, communication was so convenient, and when necessary, there was Da Vinci, the FGO system sprite, who would occasionally drop by. For her, who could traverse the network world, the distance between Europe and Asia was negligible.
He somewhat understood the situation of the battles there, and he felt a little guilty about sending the girls into combat.
However, he wasn't overly worried, as they were all very strong. The girls had mastered the tricks of combat: Asuna, an expert with top-tier combat sense, served as the close-range damage dealer; having Mash there meant they had absolute defense.
The calm Yukinoshita Yukino acted as the strategist, laying out safe and effective tactics. And Yuigahama, who was skilled at reading people and was kind-hearted, could always detect her companions' emotional changes, mediating conflicts and livening the mood at the right times, helping everyone relax during tense moments.
As far as the team was concerned, it was as perfect as it could be. Dealing with ordinary magical creatures shouldn't be too difficult.
He remembered a photo Yuigahama had sent him earlier of the girls in swimsuits. It seemed that even though it was still cold by the Okinawa coast, they went to the hotel's swimming pool to enjoy their trip.
Yukinoshita looked somewhat reluctant, being held tightly on both sides by the two girls. Although she tried to maintain her usual poker face as an ice-cold beauty, her slightly flushed cheeks lessened her intimidating presence.
Yuigahama held the girl with one hand and flashed a V-sign with the other hand in front of her eye, smiling mischievously and winking one eye.
The other girl hugging Yukinoshita's arm was the image of a good wife and loving mother, Asuna. Her flaxen hair was now tied into a braid, and she wore a blue bikini, giving a gentle and inclusive smile that made her seem more mature and intellectual.
Mash wore a pink bikini that closely matched her hair, which suited her well. Despite being a junior, her figure was quite outstanding. She was blushing, looking slightly excited as she hugged her senpais for the photo.
Seeing those photos, he felt completely at ease.
While he was contemplating this, the voice behind him seemed to have dropped into a lower pitch.
"Eh... Senpai never actively contacted me, but he contacted the senpais..."
The pushing stopped. Shirou turned his head and looked at the girl, who was pouting, clearly annoyed.
"I was only gone for three weeks during the break, and if you had any trouble, Isshiki, you could have just told me. I wouldn't have refused to help," Shirou said to his junior.
"Hmph! Shirou-senpai, you just wait! In this lifetime, I'm definitely going to tire you out with requests and not let you rest, okay!" Iroha Isshiki said angrily, pulling down the lower lid of one eye to make a face, then turned and ran away.
"Honestly," Shirou watched helplessly as the girl ran into the conference room, then slowly walked in after her.
Quite a few students had already arrived in the conference room. Inside, Shirou saw the Ping Pong kid and the Go expert who had competed in China, as well as the Light Music Club senpais from Britain.
"Hi, Shirou."
"Oh, how did the table tennis competition go?"
"..." The boy immediately turned away.
The student next to him, who played Go, patted his shoulder, and the two walked off with their arms around each other. Even if he lost, there was a scholarship. Even if he lost everything. He was whitewashed at the beginning, but all his subsequent matches ended with him being given a handicap point. He had tried hard, at least.
"Sorry..." Shirou apologized internally. He honestly thought the boy might have achieved some results after playing against so many schools.
In fact, after this lesson, the school had already decided to hire more professional players as coaches.
"We're looking forward to your big success in the Cooking Club when the semester starts!" The girls crowded around, giving him a thumbs-up.
"No, Senpais, I'm not in the Cooking Club," Shirou waved his hand. Their premise was fundamentally wrong.
"Eh, eh?!"
"Hmph!" At that moment, a future Cooking Club member walked by.
The proud blonde girl, Erina, walked toward the area where the junior high students were gathered and sat down. However, after this semester ended, in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloomed, she would also enroll in the International High School branch of this Chiba school, along with Komachi.
There were a few new European faces, seemingly exchange students visiting like the little girl, and he wondered if any of them might be transferring students, like Mashiro.
Just then, the Chiba Principal, the Junior High Principal, and the Head Teacher arrived. Hiratsuka-sensei and the teachers leading the teams from several countries were there, seemingly chatting about their respective experiences. Some also discussed the results of the exchange activities.
The Chiba Principal was the first to take the stage to speak.
"First of all, welcome back to school, everyone. After three weeks of travel, I believe you have all witnessed many new things. Perhaps you can't feel much right now, but as long as you practice diligently and experience life properly, these experiences will eventually become your valuable assets..."
"...Here, I must commend the students who went to Paris and Bristol. They engaged in cultural exchanges centered around cuisine, earning high praise from the schools there. Especially in Paris, the students followed the guidance of the school faculty and organized various activities, bringing joy to people who were feeling down because of the epidemic. Well done! Outstanding! Truly worthy students of our school!"
"Bristol in Britain, Paris in France? Do we have students who are very good at cooking?"
"In France, there was a culinary prodigy in the Paris team—the daughter of the Nakiri Group."
"British cuisine? Hmm... Their TV dramas are good."
"It was very delicious! Shirou-kun's cooking in Britain was super delicious," the clueless girl who knew the truth ran out and said.
"Eh? Shirou, do you mean that Shirou?" A third-year girl asked in surprise.
"Yes, yes. Listen to me..." The girl enthusiastically promoted the boy.
In fact, many teachers, hearing the Principal's words, looked at Shirou in unison.
Erina glanced at Shirou, then turned her head with a sniff, seemingly indicating that she would not accept such incorrect flattery.
Some of the more observant students had noticed this, such as Iroha Isshiki, whose big, round eyes blinked.
"Shirou-senpai is really good at cooking, but my brother is also amazing, especially with vegetable dishes. They're so delicious, they don't lose to any hotel."
And Eriri...
"Did he help people everywhere, even in Paris? Shirou, you benevolent fool," the blonde twin-tailed girl glanced at the boy.
And Kirino...
The round-faced girl with bright brown hair turned her large, round eyes to the boy and pouted, whispering.
"Is that little sister-complex protagonist actually an incredible guy?"
"Shirou Onii-chan?" The little black-haired, brown-skinned girl next to her heard the girl's words and blinked curiously.
After the speeches by the various leaders, the main event finally arrived: the distribution of bonuses.
"What is this...?" Shirou was handed a thick envelope, noticeably thicker than everyone else's.
"This is your deserved bonus. Not only did you leave a good impression on the branch schools in various countries, but the media even reported what you did in Paris. And I heard that the painting prodigy, Shiina Mashiro, came to our school because of you?" The Principal lowered his voice specifically for the last sentence.
Before the boy could reply, he burst out laughing, repeatedly patting the boy's shoulder.
"Hahahaha! I hope you continue to strive next year and achieve even better results," the Principal said, looking at the boy with high expectations.
"Haha... Thank you, Principal. Although you probably misunderstood something, I will do my best." Shirou accepted the bonus. Although he didn't spend much money, he would probably only find it insufficient when he needed it. In any case, his savings had increased.
.
.
.
As soon as Shirou returned home, he found no one there. Mashiro hadn't returned from her meeting with the manga editor, and Artoria had accompanied her to a nearby cafe.
Komachi was out playing. Since she had already decided on which high school she would attend, she no longer felt the urgency of a graduating student. Japan has three seasonal holidays, but to accommodate foreign examinees, the school year officially begins in spring. Komachi still had a long time to enjoy her freedom.
He changed out of his school uniform in his room, and suddenly felt very sleepy. His eyelids were heavy and ready to close. He sat on the bed and immediately lay down.
"It's still early... I have time to sleep for a couple of hours and still get up to make dinner..."
Thinking this, Shirou closed his eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep. A light suddenly appeared in his subconscious mind, eventually forming the shape of a gate. Shirou's soul was sucked directly into a gate of light, arriving in a world between dream and reality.
"Where is this place?"
"A dream?"
Here, he was dressed in the high-shouldered kimono robes of an ancient samurai, with an exquisite katana sheathed at his waist, and straw sandals tied on his feet. He looked somewhat like the Assassin from the same era that guarded the Gate he had seen before.
Shirou tried to draw the katana. Although it wasn't a Noble Phantasm, it was very sharp and a rare, good sword.
The boy's face was reflected in the silver, glossy blade. He seemed to have matured by over ten years, and even his hair had turned the orange-red color of his previous life. Although he had a baby face, the change wasn't too drastic, but his physical age had clearly changed.
This body, though not that of a Heroic Spirit, was in its prime.
Shirou tried to move his body. Indeed, this body was well-trained and much stronger than his current one.
Shirou was standing on a small hill, with a high cliff behind it. Looking down the slope, he could see a castle in the distance.
Under these circumstances, Shirou decided to walk into the town. The town, neither too big nor too small, had a decent population but was also a mixed bag of people.
"Samurai, would you like to buy something to eat?" an old woman selling snacks on the street asked.
"No, I don't have much money right now..." Shirou reached into the inner pocket of his long sleeve and unexpectedly pulled out a small bag of money. He then changed his mind and said, "Then please give me some dango and sakuramochi. Tea, too, please."
"Certainly," the old woman said, smiling and bustling around the stove inside.
So, Shirou put the sakuramochi into his pouch, drank a cup of tea, and ate the dango while walking on the main road.
Just then, a vividly colored figure ran toward him. A pink-haired samurai girl was being chased.
Shirou immediately recognized this Servant recorded by Chaldea and incorporated into the FGO system: the pink-haired samurai girl. What was strange was why a person with her superb skill and supreme sword technique was running away?
Although records indicated that this great swordsman was indeed not the type to fuss over details; she would use whatever worked to win, be it a sword, a wooden stick, or even a boat oar. And if she couldn't win, she would turn and run.
At this moment, the girl opposite also noticed the boy. A flash of delight appeared in her eyes, and she frantically waved the hand holding her phone, shouting sweetly.
"Shirou... Shirou-senpai! Quick, save me!"
It was then that Shirou noticed the anomaly of this Servant: the cell phone in her hand, and that overly sweet, delicate tone.
"Huh? Are you... Isshiki?" Shirou asked, looking at the pink-haired swordsman skeptically.
She didn't have the slightest sharp killing intent on her, instead appearing soft and adorable, like a girl acting spoiled. Upon closer inspection, her appearance was also slightly more youthful.
The girl, wearing a glamorous purple kimono, held a katana in her hand and had a shorter blade tucked into her waist.
"It's me! Senpai, but now is not the time for talking! Run! Lots of enemies are chasing me from behind!"
"Eh? What exactly happened?" Shirou asked.
"I don't know either! When I first got here, I told the Princess of Himeji Castle to make me a beautiful outfit, but I borrowed a lot of ōban (large gold coins) and koban (small gold coins), and then the debt collectors came after me! They were all yelling at me, saying all sorts of nasty things."
"I was so angry I beat them up, and then they chased after me with their katanas."
"Shirou-senpai, this is a dream, right? So, someone as reliable as you must have a solution in my dream. So please save me quickly." Iroha Isshiki hugged the boy's shoulder, acting spoiled. Because the girl thought this was a dream, and that this body wasn't hers, she was much more brazen than usual.
"Stop! Stop! If she's a girl, she's wearing nothing under a kimono!" Shirou shouted loudly.
"Iyaa, Senpai, you're so perverted, talking about wearing nothing. What does it matter? It's a dream; I won't lose a piece of flesh..." Isshiki smiled and patted the boy's shoulder, then felt her own clothes and suddenly fell silent.
"..." Isshiki lowered her head, dropped her hands from the boy, and silently increased the distance between them.
"Um... Isshiki... Iroha-chan?" Shirou asked awkwardly, looking at the girl.
"..." Isshiki looked up, her entire face turning bright red. She flailed her arms and shouted. "This body isn't mine either! Even if it looks similar, it's not mine! If Senpai dares to take responsibility, then bring it on! I'm not shy at all! Bring it on! I'll cling to you for life!"
"No, Isshiki, you're talking nonsense," Shirou said, looking at Iroha Isshiki, who seemed to be in a state of Pseudo-Summoning (Possession).
"Waaahh! What did I just say?! Forget it! Senpai! Forget it!" Isshiki yelled, covering her face.
"Don't move! You damned woman who won't repay her debt! Don't run!" A group of people was chasing them from behind. One of them, a burly man with a bushy beard holding a katana, was leading the charge.
"Waaah, they caught up! Shirou-senpai, let's run!" Iroha Isshiki's expression changed, and she frantically grabbed the boy's hand, running forward again.
"Running away like this isn't a solution!" Shirou shouted as he ran, looking at the pursuers behind them. They were all red-faced, genuinely angry samurai, wielding long swords like vengeful spirits.
"What are you saying, Shirou-senpai! If we get caught, we're done for! Hurry up and go!" Iroha Isshiki pulled Shirou to run further inside.
"Enough is enough! Just running away will solve it!" Shirou sped up, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to run ahead.
"Oh my, sister here is finally getting a chance to run hand-in-hand with a handsome young man like this. Even if it's a dream, it feels quite nice," the woman said, letting Shirou pull her away, covering her face with one hand and smiling sweetly.
"Huh? Isshiki? Why does your state seem unstable?" Shirou turned around strangely, feeling like the girl he was holding had suddenly become a different person.
"Oh, you're terrible. You're pulling me and still calling me the wrong name. Remember this time, I'm Musashi~!" The woman said, touching Shirou's face with her finger.
"Musashi? Did your consciousness switch?" Shirou asked in surprise.
"What are you talking about, Shirou-senpai! Don't stop, run! Those guys are super annoying! Even in a dream, I don't want to be caught by them," Iroha Isshiki said, looking at Shirou strangely.
"Ugh, I totally don't get it." Shirou grabbed Iroha Isshiki and charged up the hill with all his might.
The two fled from the bustling streets all the way to the forested mountain area. Along the way, they passed large official residences and heard the calls of small vendors along the
roads. The further they went from the city center, the poorer the living conditions became, with people's clothes being worn and heavily mended.
Judging by the architecture and the way the surrounding people were dressed, this seemed to be ancient Japan.
If this was Musashi's era, could it be the late Sengoku period?
Now, being chased so relentlessly, the two ran back to the mountain where Shirou had first appeared. They kept running upwards, finally getting cornered at the edge of a cliff.
"Still running! I never thought you'd borrow money from us and then run, and now you have an accomplice!" said a medium-height, slightly portly man dressed like a small merchant with a towel wrapped around his head.
"If you can't pay it back, then hand over your weapons first. Use your beauty to perform street shows or even sell yourself! Just go out on the streets and find a way to earn the money back for us! Yahoo!" a rōnin (masterless samurai) shouted, brandishing his ōdachi (large sword).
"Eh, complimenting my beauty and all..." The woman awkwardly touched the back of her head. However, Iroha Isshiki quickly switched back, waving her hands repeatedly. "No! No! I told you, you have the wrong person."
"Don't come any closer! If you take another step forward, I'll jump off this cliff, and you'll never get the money I owe you back!" Iroha Isshiki threatened.
"Hey, Miss, is it really appropriate for you, a talented great swordsman, to do something like that?" a bald, middle-aged man stroked his beard and asked.
"Exactly! Musashi-chan~! Let me beat you up instead! It's fine if you repay the money a couple of days later, ha ha ha!" the rōnin laughed heartily.
"I said! I'm not Shinmen Musashi Gen-shin, nor am I Niten Dōshi!" Iroha Isshiki waved her hands.
"Hahahaha!" The samurai who had caught up burst into laughter as if they had heard a funny joke.
"We know that, of course. How could a woman like you be the Sword Saint Musashi? But you weren't saying that earlier," the bald, middle-aged man said amusingly.
"Then why are you still chasing me?" Iroha Isshiki yelled in frustration.
"But you are the one who borrowed the money from us! You claimed to be Musashi, and your Niten Ichi-ryū sword skill is the real deal. The only thing you lack compared to the real Musashi is that you haven't reached the 'Void' state yet," the bald, bearded man said.
"That's why we lent you the money! We lent it to you because we found you interesting!" the merchant said.
"If you don't have money, sell yourself in the pleasure quarters. For a strong woman like you, some important figure would pay a fortune for your first night. It's a great idea! If a woman was willing to pay to sleep with me, I'd be willing to sell myself out every day," the large rōnin said with a strange laugh.
"How could I do something like that! I'm not one of those college girls who wear high school uniforms and work part-time at night! I only act spoiled and give 'fanservice' in front of the person I care about!" Iroha Isshiki shouted in a fit of pique.
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