Precious to him, huh? It was the first time Shinji was so open about anything, at least as far Shirou could remember. The other boy always criticized him for being easily exploitable, always offering to assist to his own detriment, and letting others use him – but Emiya couldn’t remember a single word of endearment. And Shirou knew that Shinji liked Tohsaka – Mitsuzuri also had told him that the other girl had turned Shinji down a few days ago, when everything began, so despite that situation he would still care enough for Rin to come out of his way to offer a partnership.
❝ I’m glad we managed to avoid fighting, I wouldn’t want to kill you either. ❞ could he even kill his childhood friend and Sakura’s brother? That was a question that Shirou would never want to find the answer for.
The Grail changed everything – and yet somehow despite how important everything had been, it was almost like nothing have ever happened. The Ryudou temple’s repairs are underway, the gas leaks around town had stopped and the killing also ceased and the routine have settled back in, as if the events have long vanished from everyone’s memories without a trace. Individuals like Shinji and himself, however, knew the truth, and that it could happen some time again. Shirou had started checking into Kiritsugu’s journals for more details about what had happened ten years ago, yet couldn’t bring himself to start reading the notes – he is unsure if he is going to like what he is going to read. Certain things might be best left forgotten.
❝ Wait, talking to cats and dogs while losing the bones of your arm for a day? ❞ it took him a few seconds to register, and a few more to parrot Shinji’s words. And then something about…legs? ❝ That’s right, I was going to ask if there was any collateral effects from the lesser Grail. ❞ it might not be his business to inquire, but he was worried about his friend ❝ Tohsaka had hypostasized that Gilgamesh used Illya’s heart to force your magic circuits open, but neither of us could tell what was going on. How are you feeling? Is there anything you need? ❞ the boy knew he wasn’t a magus and couldn’t do a lot for his friend, but he would try his very best to assist Shinji.
❛ are they really bad collateral effects if they’re cool? who doesn’t want to live the domestic horror life? if i just want to melt into the floor, i can do that. pretty useful, huh- ❜ it’s agony, though, but he wont’ have shirou worry like that. it’s not his burden to carry; god only knew shirou carried enough. shinji, however, had been taught to endure hell from the start. so, this wasn’t so bad. he’d keep telling himself that until it was true ( even if it would never be )
❛ well, tohsaka is right about that. the forcing the magic circuits open. but, it’s my own damn fault for closing them in the first place. ❜
❛ it’s nothing to worry about, though. after all of that, i did get my wish. that’s what matters, i think. and now that all of that is over, i can keep moving forward. we all can. ❜ he reigned over his manor as a king of an empty kingdom; there was nothing to worry about from his grandfather, who he’d been eager to dispose of- and sakura would be ok. if shinji had to say, he’d say everything was going just as he’d wanted it to go. mostly, at least. he hadn’t planned on becoming a grail, or ever having magecraft again, but... it worked out.
victory of this sort was such a lonely thing!
❛ shirou, what on earth would you be able to do for me? this isn’t your problem. it would do you well to not take other people’s baggage on. that sort of behavior is what made people just take advantage of you. people really are disappointing, aren’t they? so, keep yourself safe for once, will you? ❜
