Chapter 47: Day 10 ①

—Why are we training in the dojo this early in the morning, and just the two of us?

In the dojo, where traces of recent repairs were still visible, Shirou and I were sparring with bamboo swords (shinai) in both hands. About thirty minutes had passed since we started. Shirou was breathing heavily, and while my own breathing had quickened slightly, I still had plenty of strength to spare.

As I calmly observed Shirou for openings, I parried his attacks. He was focusing too much on his arms, and his footing seemed unstable, so I decided to ram him with my entire body.

Receiving a tackle from my much shorter and smaller frame, Shirou was sent flying, unable to react. Perhaps due to his poor stance, he slammed into the floor on his back.

"Guh—!?"

Shirou’s breath hitched for a moment. A pathetic sound leaked from his throat, reaching my ears.

Still, I was somewhat impressed that he didn't let go of the shinai in his right hand. Though, the one in his left hand had flown even further than he had.

He’s likely reached his limit. His concentration is wavering, and the frequency with which he drops his shinai is increasing.

"Shirou, let’s take a break. Pushing yourself too hard will only be counterproductive."

"Phew—! Haa... haa... Y-yeah. Haa... I understand. A... a break, then."

Shirou replied while sprawled out on the floor like a starfish, gasping for air. To be able to speak after hitting his back that hard... he’s a sturdy guy, I’ll give him that.

I sat down in the formal seiza position and placed my shinai beside me. From outside, I could hear the chirping of sparrows. Since it was so early, the only other sounds were our respective breaths.

Peeking outside, a white morning mist still hung in the air. Perhaps because it was an hour when few cars were on the road, the air felt so clear it was almost sharp against the skin.

Yesterday, after the battle with Lia, for some reason, I was the only one tasked with repairing the dojo. I didn't finish until Shirou came to call me for dinner.

The holes where Kanshou and Bakuya had pierced, the floorboards Lia had crushed when she delivered her final blow, the wall I had been sent crashing through—it was a disastrous sight that made me want to bury my head in my hands.

Come to think of it, it was the same on the first day I was summoned. Unlike Rin, I haven't mastered any convenient Magecraft like restoring broken objects to their original state. I had to fix it steadily with carpentry tools I pulled out of the shed.

Even though Rin said, "Since I have plenty of Prana, you can use it as you like," and even went so far as to say, "Since you're my Servant, try to win against that Lia summoned by that amateur!", I think she could have at least helped with the cleanup after making such demands.

...Wait, is it my fault because I lost? I think I fought much better than before, though. Regardless of the short duration of the battle, it felt like I was the one cornering her while fighting with twin swords. Well, after she started dodging everything in the second half, I was a mess. —Damn it.

After finishing the dojo repairs, we had some light conversation at night, but since we planned to move today, we went to bed early.

Since this body doesn't require much sleep to begin with, I woke up early as well. I headed to the living room thinking I’d have a drink and then do some Magecraft training, but Shirou was already there preparing breakfast. I saw him turn toward me and was about to say "Good morning," but I was interrupted.

"Alto, please! Teach me swordsmanship!"

Before the morning greeting, those were the words Shirou blurted out, bowing his head so low his forehead nearly touched the floor.

Since the condition of Shirou’s arm seems to have improved significantly, I have no objection, but... why start this early in the morning?

To be honest, I think it's a bit of a joke for an inexperienced person like me to teach swordsmanship, but since I’m the only one who can use twin swords, it can't be helped.

It's true that I said I’d be his practice partner, but back then, I didn't mean it in the sense that I’d teach him using twin swords. I don't particularly intend to fight with Kanshou and Bakuya from now on, but I suppose I can convince myself that we're just training together.

Looking around the room, the round clock on the wall pointed to six o'clock. It’s about time for Rin to wake up. I guess the next round will be the last.

"...Shirou, is your body alright?"

"Yeah, my back is fine now. My breathing has calmed down a lot too."

Hearing that, I gripped my shinai again and stood up. In front of me was Shirou, sitting up and gripping his shinai in his right hand.

"Then shall we resume? Here I come!"

"Whoa, wait a second... My shinai is still—!"

He desperately jumped back and picked up the discarded shinai with his left hand. As he scrambled, I closed the distance and swung at him.

Now, of course, what I’m holding is a shinai and not Kanshou and Bakuya, so the length and characteristics are different, and the experience cultivated in the blades themselves doesn't exist.

Because of that, I’m moving my body as if trying to recall yesterday's offensive and defensive maneuvers, but perhaps because our fundamental specs are different, Shirou's movements are slow. My movements are considerably inferior compared to yesterday, but even then, even when holding back, it’s more than enough to handle Shirou.

I had gained some idea of my flaws and bad habits during the match with Lia, but the opponent in front of me is, of course, also "me." When I spar with Shirou, the very points I thought I needed to improve are exactly the same as Shirou’s weaknesses.

—Looking at Kanshou and Bakuya, I recalled Shirou’s Projection from yesterday.

I noticed something when I saw what Shirou had projected. He is "Projecting my Kanshou and Bakuya as the originals."

...Well, Shirou can't project Kanshou and Bakuya without seeing my projection, but the problem lies elsewhere.

I am projecting based on the Kanshou and Bakuya used by Archer, but when I projected against Assassin the other day, the accuracy was only about seventy percent. Even now, while I’m trying to practice the projection theory I’ve learned, it doesn't reach ninety percent.

If that's the case, then Shirou’s Kanshou and Bakuya, which use a "fake" as a model for another "fake," will have their "limit of precision" significantly narrowed. Shirou’s Kanshou and Bakuya aren't much different from mine, but there’s too much of a gap in quality compared to Archer’s.

I surely cannot create something that rivals his, and Shirou cannot create something that rivals mine.

That is the nature of Projection. You are not allowed to surpass the original; you only try to get closer to the "real thing" within yourself, but you can never create the exact same thing.

This Magecraft, which creates a shadow of the real object, will always deteriorate in some way compared to the sword actually seen, no matter how exquisite it is.

That difference is something that will definitely occur, even if it’s so small that no one would notice.

In other words, since Shirou is basing his on the imperfect Kanshou and Bakuya I projected, he will never achieve more than ninety percent precision compared to Archer’s standard.

If he gains more experience in Projection than I have, he might surpass me with other swords. However, even if he were to possess such high-level Projection technique, he will never be able to create anything better than mine specifically regarding Kanshou and Bakuya.

With the current level of completion of Shirou’s Kanshou and Bakuya, I’m worried whether they could even withstand a single blow from a Servant. I hope he hasn't become conceited, thinking he’s gained the power to fight.

Perhaps because I was lost in thought, before I knew it, the shinai swung by Shirou was closing in on me.

Reflexively, I pivoted on my left foot and turned my body sideways. I struck down the shinai as it passed in front of me and, as an afterthought, struck Shirou’s head with the shinai in my left hand. The dry thwack that echoed felt comfortably satisfying to my ears.

"Ow—!"

"Shirou, I cannot approve of launching an attack that breaks your stance to that extent."

Shirou picked up his shinai while rubbing the top of his head with his left hand. Before he could finish, I sprinted forward.

"Your recovery is too slow... If you don't take your stance quickly, a follow-up attack is coming."

"Damn it!"

As I said that, I brought my shinai down on Shirou’s wide-open head. Shirou, who somehow managed to block it with the shinai in his left hand, swung up his right-hand shinai as if tracing my movements from yesterday.

Instead of blocking, I stepped back to dodge, and Shirou lunged forward as if seeing an opportunity.

—I literally went down yesterday using that exact same move.

The moment I stepped back, I kicked the floor and surged forward. Of course, the acceleration was quite leisurely compared to mine or Lia’s movements yesterday. However, it seemed to be enough for Shirou, as I knocked the shinai out of both his hands before he could react.

"Shirou, don't even think about attacking. First, defend against the opponent's attacks. Make that your top priority."

I took a breath and lowered my shinai. The familiar dry sound echoed in the dojo once more.

—To have the rare experience of pointing out to someone the very things that were once said to me... I might be the only person in the world to experience this.

I began tidying up the shinai. Watching Shirou collect the dropped ones, I felt a metaphorical slump in my shoulders.

The reason was that Shirou seemed to have been entirely focused on emulating my movements, and along with my footwork and body control, he had inherited my bad habits as well.

Honestly, it gives me a headache. I pointed out the flaws I’ve noticed in myself, and I attacked the openings created by them without mercy. Yet, no matter how many times I strike him, Shirou continues to strive to imitate my movements.

I’ve thought this before, but I don't know what Shirou is thinking. What on earth is his reasoning for mimicking my movements exactly? Against a human, he might be able to manage somewhat by using his physical abilities to mimic my movements from yesterday, but against a Servant with different strength and speed, he’s full of openings.

That’s why I told him before our match to "use my movements as a reference" and "get an image," but apparently, he doesn't understand. ...If he focused entirely on defense, he might be able to hold out for a few minutes.

As for Shirou himself, he was grimacing slightly as if his body ached from being struck, but he looked somewhat satisfied. As I watched the back of Shirou, who had recovered his energy overnight and was walking while rolling his shoulders, I let out a sigh he couldn't hear.

"Well, I'm going to scout the forest on the outskirts of town now. Is there anything else for now?"

"...Hm? 'Going'? Is there anyone who isn't going?"

In response to Rin’s question as she put on her coat, Shirou, who was also putting on his jacket, raised his voice in confusion. His steps from the living room toward the entrance stopped at those words, and Rin turned back toward Shirou with an expressionless face.

"What... are you coming along?"

"Of course. My body’s healed up, after all. Rin, were you planning on going with just Alto?"

"That's also a 'of course,' isn't it? Listen, no matter how much you say you can project those swords, you can't compete with a Servant in close-quarters combat. The reason I waited until your arm healed was to improve the chances of escape in case this house was attacked."

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to stick together rather than splitting up? On your end, if you consider a battle with Berserker, having Lia along would at least allow us to reach a stalemate."

"—Ah, right. Emiya-kun’s house only has a basic Bounded Field for alert purposes. So there’s no home-field advantage even if you stay here."

Looking up at the ceiling, Rin let out a sigh. It was a sigh accompanied by an exasperated face that said, "What an amateur."

"...Sigh. Personally, I wanted you to stay. Your personality doesn't seem suited for scouting."

"So?"

"Fine. If you want to come, be my guest. It's true that if we encounter Berserker, it would be a bit troublesome without Lia’s help."

Rin looked at Shirou with an "Oh well" expression. Deep in her eyes, there seemed to be a flicker of anxiety hidden somewhere.

I put on the cardigan I had borrowed and turned toward Shirou, just as Rin had.

"Shirou."

"Hm? What is it, Alto?"

If he's coming along, there's something I must tell him. After all, against Berserker, such a situation is highly likely to occur.

"—Please value your own life. Do not act on impulse. Absolutely refrain from charging at Berserker."

"...Yeah, I got it. But I couldn't possibly jump in front of a monster like that."

Shirou replied with a wry smile. "If that's the case, then fine," I replied succinctly, then turned on my heel to follow Rin before seeing his reaction.

For example, if Lia were about to be defeated, would Shirou remember these words in that moment?

Sacrificing oneself to save another—that action itself isn't wrong. If people heard about it in the news or through rumors, surely everyone would think, "What a wonderful person."

If I heard such a story, I’d be impressed and respect that person too. But that’s only if the person who did the saving also survived.

If Shirou jumps in to help and ends up dying in her place, then I will have failed to save Shirou. To me, looking on from the side, only the result of "Shirou being sacrificed and Lia being saved" would remain.

One cannot put a value on human life. Since I recognize myself as "Alto," Shirou is me, but he is not my "self." Even if our roots and thought patterns are the same, our thoughts are not always identical.

In that case, even if he is "Emiya Shirou," he is a human I should save.

Just as I once wished.

In this world, I am neither Emiya Shirou nor Saber.

As Archer, as Alto, as a Servant summoned to this world.

If everyone, including Shirou, could be happy—

—Just, just that is enough for me

We decided to head to the forest where the Einzbern castle is located by taxi.

Fortunately, the Emiya estate is famous for its appearance and the presence of the neighbors, the Fujimura-gumi. It seems giving the address and mentioning it was next to the Fujimura-gumi was enough for the driver to understand. He said he’d arrive in about ten minutes.

We decided to wait in front of the gate until the taxi arrived.

Our respective outfits were the same as when we headed to Ryuudou Temple the night before last. The only differences were that it was still morning and Shinji wasn't here.

Since we were heading into enemy territory, even if only for scouting, the conversation naturally dwindled. Shirou and Lia stood side by side, leaning against the wall next to the gate. Similarly, Rin and I stood side by side and waited for the taxi.

<—Say, Alto, did you notice it too?>

Rin's words suddenly echoed in my head.

Turning my head to the side, I saw Rin staring straight ahead with a serious face. When I looked back, she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

Judging from the fact that she spoke via Mental Link, it must be an important matter. Realizing this, I felt my shoulders tense.

Shirou looked over, perhaps wondering why I had suddenly turned around, so I waved my hand as if it were nothing. I returned my gaze forward, following Rin's lead.

<About what?>

<—About Shirou's actions, which seem to show absolutely no regard for his own self. When Shinji was about to be killed by Caster, when Kuzuki-sensei approached me—whenever someone else is about to be hurt, Shirou jumps in without a second thought for the consequences.>

<Yes. I’m sure that despite what he said earlier, if Lia were about to be defeated, he’d jump in front of even Berserker. ...Though, since it’s likely impulsive, I wonder how much effect my words from earlier will have...>

<—You're right. Whether it's Caster's magical orbs or Kuzuki-sensei's martial arts, if your help hadn't intervened back then, Shirou wouldn't be here now. To jump in after facing such certain death... You could explain it away as his sense of danger being numbed if it happened once, but he’s abnormal.>

Abnormal... I see. So to others, he appears abnormal—the human known as "Emiya Shirou."

—I don't understand that abnormality.

I can understand as an observer that a person isn't truly saved unless the one who saved them also survives.

However, I cannot understand why moving to save someone is considered abnormal. Putting myself in his shoes, I feel that if a person can be saved, they should be saved. Life and death are merely the results.

<—...Well, whatever. You've said what needs to be said, so all that’s left is to watch Emiya-kun so he doesn't do anything stupid. If he jumps in recklessly, it’ll be a lot of work to save him.>

A lot of work to save him...

I, in order to save... that's right. To make him easy to protect. Because if Shirou jumps out, he will surely die. It’s to keep him from dying.

—Why keep him from dying? So that everyone can be happy, is that the reason?

An unpleasant sensation, as if my very existence were being shaken. Something was stuck in my chest and wouldn't come out.

Was this unpleasantness born because it wouldn't come out? Or was it because it had come out—

I couldn't stop my teeth from chattering. My body began to tremble slightly. A sensation of being enveloped by something dark caused an unpleasant sweat to break out all over my body.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. My actions must look suspicious. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rin looking at me.

"Oh, there it is."

"Ah... that was surprisingly fast."

I heard Shirou and Rin's voices and looked up. A taxi slowly pulled up in front of the gate.

The stimulation from the outside world finally calmed my nerves. My body’s trembling had subsided before I knew it.