Chapter 43: Day 9 ⑥

In front of me stood Rin, trembling uncontrollably, and Lia, whose mouth was hanging open, agape like a fish.

I sat up, still straddling Shirou, and observed the two of them, who showed no signs of returning to their senses.

Now, I found myself in a bit of a predicament. To be honest, I had no idea why they were so distraught.

...Come to think of it, Lia mentioned earlier that I was "clinging" to Shirou, but what exactly was the problem with that?

Lia knows my true identity, so she knows that I am essentially just clinging to myself. If I were to cling to Rin or Lia, that would be a major issue, but the person I’m holding is me, isn't it? There shouldn't be any problem at all.

"What is the matter with you two?"

"...Eh? You ask what's the matter? I mean, surely you understand, right?"

Reacting to my words, Rin asked me while her eyes darted all over the place, her face still flushed bright red. She was mumbling, making her voice difficult to catch. Incidentally, Lia was also making a strange expression in response to my question.

"Umm, understand what exactly?"

"I—I mean... Listen, okay? You are a girl, and Shirou is a boy. For you to be, well... groping Shirou's body like that, it's only natural for us to wonder what on earth is going on!?"

Rin shouted, her face turning a deep crimson. Immediately after, perhaps feeling a wave of self-loathing for what she had just said, she sat down and held her head in her hands.

Groping? Why put it like that? I clearly told Rin that I was just checking the state of his muscle development; why did she have to use such a lewd expression?

I was the one doing the clinging, and Shirou was the one being clung to. Okay, I get that much. I suppose it might look a certain way depending on the observer. But since I was just hugging a sleeping Shirou, it wasn't making him uncomfortable, and since I wasn't exposing my own skin, there was no reason to panic.

Besides, according to what Saber once said, gender is practically irrelevant for a Servant. I don't quite feel that way myself, but since it's something Saber said, I assume it must be correct.

In short, if I hugged him, it might disturb Shirou’s peace of mind if he were awake. But Shirou is asleep, so it’s fine.

I already explained that I was examining the muscles on his body, and beyond that, we are Servants, so things like male and female shouldn't matter anyway.

...Yeah. Having thought it over, there doesn't seem to be any issue worth their frantic reaction.

"Nothing is happening, so it is fine. Furthermore, regarding the matter of male and female—when it comes to Shirou and me, there is no problem at all."

"Hah?! Why not?!"

"Alto, that is incorrect! It might be different with me or Rin, but between you and Shirou alone, it is dangerous!"

Rin's eyes widened as she raised her voice. Then, reacting to my words, Lia pressed closer to me.

W-why are both of them so desperate about this? Especially with Lia, since I don't understand the reason behind her statement, her sheer intensity is overwhelming. Even though I’m telling them it’s fine, why is Lia denying it so vehemently?

"W-wait a minute! Why is it 'not a problem' if Alto's partner is me or Lia?! ...W-well, I guess in general terms it might not be. But then, why is it only dangerous between Alto and Shirou?"

"Ah, no, there's no deep meaning... It's just that, between Alto and Shirou specifically, it's not good...!"

...It feels like the conversation is heading in an inconvenient direction.

Rin probably doesn't realize it, but I feel like Lia is implicitly pointing out that Shirou and I are the same person. I still have no idea why she would say something that risks exposing my true identity, though.

"R-more importantly. Rin, why did you kick me down?"

"...Could it be that Alto and Shirou are, well... in that kind of relationship? That's the only way 'no problem' would make sense. But I haven't seen any signs of that..."

"Rin?"

I tried to divert the conversation—or rather, return to the main point—but my question didn't seem to reach Rin, who was busy muttering something to herself.

Having no choice, I asked again. Finally noticing me, Rin looked at me with a serious expression.

"...Huh? Oh, right. Before, when I made Shirou swallow a Jewel, his condition improved when you touched him, right? I was wondering if the same thing might happen this time."

Come to think of it, I believe something like that did happen. —No, wait, even if that were the case, isn't kicking me down still wrong?

And you there, don't just easily think, "I see, as expected of Rin. She's thorough," and be impressed.

Pulling myself together, I looked down at Shirou lying beneath my waist.

However, while he seemed slightly more settled than when we returned yesterday, his complexion and breathing—reminiscent of someone with a high fever—had not returned to normal. His face was still red, and his breathing remained labored. Looking at his state, I didn't think he would be able to wake up at least through the morning.

"It seems... it's no use."

"So it appears."

"Umm, I would have appreciated a word before the kick, at the very least."

"Muu, I wonder if the effect won't manifest unless it's direct contact..."

Direct? Does that mean, like last time, she's going to roll up Shirou's clothes and have me touch his chest?

Setting aside the fact that my comment was completely ignored, I stood up and moved closer to them.

If I stayed straddling him forever, I’d eventually become a burden to Shirou, and I felt bad about having a conversation on top of a sick person.

"Rin. In that case, shouldn't we try the 'direct' method?"

"Really? Is it okay?"

"If there's a chance Shirou might recover, I don't see why we shouldn't try."

If simply touching him could cure him, we should do it. I don't think it's something she needs to go out of her way to ask me.

"I've got the person's permission! Lia, pin Alto down!"

"Yes!"

As soon as the command was given, Lia put me in a full nelson from behind.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"Fufufu, when I kicked you down, your reaction wasn't what I expected and I got flustered, but this time for sure!"

Wait, you kicked me down for that reason?!

When did Lia move behind me? Why is there a need to hold me down? And as a Servant, is it really okay for you to so obediently follow another Master's orders, Miss Lia?

Even though I tried to step back, I was held tight by Lia and couldn't even push off the ground. I couldn't exactly punch a girl, so I couldn't resist with all my strength.

As numerous questions floated and vanished in my mind, I looked at Rin with a sense of exasperation, only to see her peeling off Shirou's T-shirt with a smirk.

...Could it be?

Shirou, now bare-chested, was laid back down on the futon. Watching this, my face began to turn pale as a certain thought dawned on me.

"Alright, it's Alto's turn now~"

"Eek!"

Rin's eyes were shining suspiciously. Her slender fingers reached out. At their tip was the blouse I was wearing.

Beyond that—beyond the approaching Rin—was Shirou, lying there naked from the waist up.

The situation was far too close to the dream I had last night.

"Whoa! Lia, let go! No! Please, let go of me!"

"Umm, Rin. What should I... Alto is being quite..."

Lia, who was trying to restrain me as I struggled desperately like someone having a tantrum, looked toward Rin with a troubled face.

It seemed she had sensed that my level of distress was abnormal. I hadn't thought I could resist both Lia and Rin, but maybe this would work out after all—

"Don't let go. If this works, your Master's condition might improve."

"Understood."

...Well, I knew it would end up like this! I was almost certain of it.

My body was filled with a feeling akin to resignation. I didn't even feel like resisting anymore. ...No, this is undeniably giving up.

"Now then, let's unveil the goods~♪"

The ribbon was removed, and the front of my blouse was opened. Staring into space, I thought idly, (Rin acts like a creepy old man at times like this.)

"Wait, where's your bra?!"

"...I'm not wearing one."

I answered Rin's surprised question apathetically. I was no longer offering any resistance.

"What do you mean 'not wearing one'... I gave you some just in case, didn't I? Is that really okay for a girl?"

"Ah, I am not wearing one either."

Lia's voice came from directly behind me. Hm, now that she mentioned it, I did feel a soft sensation against my back...

"...Come to think of it, you two were raised in that kind of environment, weren't you? I was a fool for even asking."

It's certainly true that they make it harder to move, but they aren't so much in the way that I have to wear one... Since such idle thoughts were starting to mix in, I shook them off. If I said that out loud, Lia would probably flatten me, so I definitely won't—can't—say it.

"Well, fine. —I feel like this is ethically dangerous, but Shirou is asleep, so I guess it doesn't matter."

I really would have been happy if you had stopped right there.

"Rin, surely that's going a bit far..."

"As a woman, I believe this is a line that should not be crossed!"

At Lia's timidly raised voice, I immediately voiced my agreement.

"Uu... But if Shirou can't move, we can't even make plans for the future."

Even Rin flinched for a moment. But as expected, it didn't lead to her stopping. For me, once that argument was brought up, I couldn't refuse.

"Look, it's not like I'm doing this because I enjoy it, you know."

Ah, that's a lie. The corners of her mouth are twitching and curling up a bit.

"Now. Hug him like you did earlier. Just for this time, I'll even allow more than that depending on the situation."

"What do you mean by 'more than that'?"

"Never mind, never mind."

I was transported in front of Shirou by Lia, who apologized in a small voice.

It’s okay, Lia isn’t to blame. The one at fault is the Red Devil, so there's no need for Lia to apologize... or maybe there is a little.

Lowered to the ground, I was stumbling slightly when Rin gave me a light push from behind. Somehow, the blouse that was just draped over me was stripped away at the same time.

"Hebuh!"

Air leaked from my lungs at the impact of the fall. With a light wheeze, Shirou's breathing also stopped for a split second.

The same posture as before. The difference was that both our upper bodies were bare. The sensation of skin against skin was vivid.

Perhaps because of the bare skin, I felt as if the body that used to be mine belonged to a completely different person. On top of that, because Shirou's body was hot to the touch, it only added to the feeling.

...Since I was draped over Shirou, I couldn't see, but I was bare too. It was Saber's body. Between Shirou and me—specifically at the chest area—there was a "cushion," so to speak. I was feeling the sensation of it being pressed against Shirou's body in real-time, so there was no need to point it out.

No, this is bad. I mustn't think about it.

Empty mind. Remember the spirit of archery. Kill the ego. Overcome the self.

……………… It was impossible.

"..."

"..."

Since there was no reaction from the two of them, I tilted my head back to look up, and saw Rin and Lia, both turned bright red.

Seeing their faces made me realize exactly what kind of situation I was in, and blood rushed to my head as well. It felt as if my entire face had become a beating heart.

"T-this is too much for the eyes."

"Indeed! If we cover them so their skin can't be seen..."

With that, Lia threw the futon over us. It settled in a way that only Shirou's face and my head from the shoulders up were visible.

"Wait, Lia, this makes it look even more..."

"...Yes. That was careless of me."

What?! What does this make it look like?! What was careless?!

"F-finished!"

As she said that, Rin stripped the futon away, made me stand up, and busily helped me back into my blouse.

In the meantime, I watched blankly, letting Rin have her way, as Lia put the T-shirt back on Shirou.

"The destructive power was greater than I anticipated... It seems I underestimated the nature of sexuality between men and women a little."

"I, too, did not think that seeing someone with the same appearance as myself clinging to a man would be this embarrassing..."

Looking at Lia and Rin as they exchanged somewhat incomprehensible words of reflection with their faces still red, I recalled my own actions from yesterday and today.

How did things end up like this? But, even if I feel a sense of guilt, I don't think I've done anything wrong. ...Damn it.

"Rin, why did I have to do this?"

"L-look! Shirou is... well, somewhat? Better now!"

Mmu, it's true his condition might have improved slightly. Just a tiny bit.

"Ah, I wonder if it's that? Looking at the difference between this time and last time, the recovery might differ depending on whether the cause is external or internal."

"Ho. And what does that mean exactly, Rin?"

Lia and Rin were desperately trying to change the subject. Both of them started a discussion in rapid-fire speech.

Yet, they kept stealing glances over here out of the corners of their eyes. It made them look like children terrified of when they might get scolded.

...Well, what's done is done. And Shirou has improved at least a little.

I'll accept it for now.

"Please continue."

"Right. In short, last time, an external force was at work—making him swallow a Jewel. He recovered immediately then, didn't he? In contrast, this time, he was using an inefficient type of Magecraft that directly opposes the world, over and over again. I can't tell if Shirou's Magic Circuits are overheating or if he collapsed from some other factor, but either way, it's rooted in something internal. By the way, the Magecraft he used is called 'Gradation Air.' It's a craft that creates a pseudo-Ritual Catalyst based on Prana. Of course, since it's a pseudo-creation, its existence is fragile. On top of that, because it's woven from Prana, it vanishes quickly. It's an inconvenient Magecraft. I've never heard of an existing Magus who uses this as their primary tool."

"But, Rin. Shirou..."

The two of them, visibly relieved by my words, became absorbed in their conversation.

"Yes, Shirou's Projection Magecraft certainly had substance. He even held out against Kuzuki-sensei's strike, which had blown even Lia away. I'd seen his success rate with Reinforcement, so I wondered how much of a klutz this idiot was, but his Projection alone is top-tier. I never imagined Shirou was a practitioner of Gradation Air on a level exceeding even specialists. ...Though it is inefficient."

Perhaps because her own craft is Jewel Magecraft, she's been adding the word "inefficient" for a while now.

...Even at this stage, she has a look on her face that says, "I'd like to investigate what's going on inside his head once," so I wonder what would happen if she found out those projections were semi-permanent.

I exchanged eye contact with Lia. Lia also knows what kind of Magecraft mine is. She must have realized that, no matter what, Shirou is going to be interrogated from now on.

"Anyway, I've understood that he won't recover like he did before, so let's go to the living room. Staying here won't make Shirou any better."

"True."

"Understood."

Lia tucked the futon back around Shirou, whose breathing had settled somewhat, and stood up smoothly.

Seeing that, Rin left the room, and I, the last to leave, quietly closed the sliding door.