Chapter 7:

After the intense performance, Anran finally had a moment to catch his breath. He changed back into his usual attire. As he walked out of the mall, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen. The caller ID read: Yuer. A small smile tugged at his lips as he answered.

"Hello, Yuer. What's up?" Anran greeted warmly, his tone softening.

A cheerful, familiar voice chirped through the line.

"Brother Ran! When are you coming home? Yuer misses you! Grandpa and Grandma do too!"

Hearing her voice stirred a wave of nostalgia within him. It had been a long time since he'd last heard her like this—bright and full of life. Anran couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. It had been too long since he'd been home.

"Is my little sister really missing her big brother that much?" he teased gently. "Don't worry, I'll be back. Just be a little patient, okay?"

"Really? Yay!" An Yuer's excitement was almost tangible through the phone, and it brought a genuine smile to Anran's face.

As he made his way to the bus stop, Anran's thoughts wandered back to the past. He and Yuer had been living with their grandparents for as long as he could remember. The memories of that rainy night still haunted him—how could they not?

It was Lunar New Year, a time when families came together to celebrate. They had been on the way back to their parents' hometown, the roads busy and the sky weeping. Then it happened—a blinding flash, the ear-splitting crash of metal, and the sudden jolt that left them disoriented.

He could still see it—the way his parents, in a last desperate act, pushed him and Yuer out of the car before the fire engulfed it. Anran could do nothing but hold his two-year-old sister close, trembling as the flames roared and the fuel tank finally exploded. A ten-year-old boy with no power to change the inevitable.

After the accident, their grandparents took them in without a second thought. Anran had always been grateful for that. Perhaps that's why he had buried himself in his studies, desperate to repay their kindness, to make their sacrifices mean something. But in doing so, he had neglected what mattered most—family.

Even when his grandparents passed away while he was busy doing work...., he couldn't help but regret not spending more time with them. He could still remember Yuer's tearful words, etched painfully into his heart.

"Grandpa and Grandma just wanted to spend time with us... together."

A faint voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Brother? Are you still there? Hello! Moooo!" Yuer's playful tone broke through his brooding.

Anran blinked, refocusing on the present.

"Ah, sorry! I was just thinking about something." He quickly apologized, his tone lighter.

"Hmph!" Yuer made a small, pouting sound.

Anran couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't be mad! Tell you what—I'll buy you anything you want when I get back. How's that?"

"Really? You promise?" Her excitement bubbled through the phone, and Anran could practically see her beaming.

"Of course! Anything for my little sister."

He could hear Yuer's happy laughter, and it was like a balm to his weary soul. Anran's steps felt lighter as he continued walking to the bus stop.

As Anran approached the bus stop, he could still hear the hum of the mall not far behind him. He took a seat on the nearby bench, letting out a slow breath. Just as he settled down, his phone buzzed again. Seeing Yuer’s name on the screen, he picked up with a soft smile.

"Hey, Yuer. What is it?" Anran asked gently.

"Brother Ran, when will you call Yuer again?" Yuer’s voice was bright, but before he could reply, she added with an innocent curiosity, "And... when will you bring me a new sister?"

Anran almost choked on air. "Cough! W-Why are you asking that?"

"Grandpa said that when Brother went to university, Yuer would get a new big sister!" Yuer said cheerfully, completely oblivious to the storm she had just unleashed.

"Ah... it’s... um... complicated, Yuer." Anran stammered, running a hand through his hair.

"So, no new big sister?" Yuer’s voice sounded heartbreakingly disappointed.

Anran couldn't bear to let her down. "Of course, there will be! Your new big sister is... uh... on the way!" he said, forcing a laugh.

A squeal of delight came from the other end. "Really?! Grandpa! Grandma! Brother got Yuer new big sister!" Yuer’s voice carried, and Anran heard the unmistakable sounds of his grandparents reacting in the background.

"What?! Ran has a girlfriend?!" his grandpa exclaimed.

"Our little Ran finally found someone?!" his grandma added.

Before Anran could correct the misunderstanding, his grandpa’s voice boomed through the phone.

"Little Ran! Is it true? You finally found a girlfriend?"

Anran could feel a headache forming. There was no easy way out of this one. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to answer.

"Yes... that’s right."

His grandpa let out a hearty laugh. "Good! Don’t forget to bring her home. Your grandma and I want to meet the lucky girl who caught your eye."

"Haha..." Anran gave a nervous laugh, feeling sweat trickle down his back.

His grandma chimed in, her tone filled with warmth. "Take care of yourself, Little Ran. We can’t wait to meet her!"

"Ah... sure thing," Anran replied, his tone a mixture of anxiety and resignation.

Yuer’s voice popped back on the line. "Bye-bye, Brother! Don’t forget to bring her, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah... I won’t forget." Anran hung up, still dazed.

He sat down on the bench, his hands covering his face. The world around him seemed to blur as the realization set in. He’d dug himself into a pit so deep it might as well be a grave.

"I screwed up..." Anran muttered, staring at the pavement. His posture slumped, head hanging low—the classic "Shinji chair meme" pose.

He let out a long, weary sigh.

"Future me... please don’t disappoint them..."

The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows around him. Anran could only sit and contemplate his newfound predicament.

--------------------------

Anran pushed open the door to his dorm room, the familiar scent of musty books and instant noodles greeting him. Before he could take a step inside, a voice cut through the air.

"Yo, Anran! You finally back!" Jin Hao called out, lounging on the lower bunk.

Too drained to reply, Anran trudged past him without a word, climbing up to his bed. Jin Hao froze in place, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"H-Hey! Did you just ignore me?" Jin Hao gasped, dramatically clutching his chest and sinking to the floor, mimicking a tragic fall with nonexistent tears streaming down his face.

Just as he was about to launch into another exaggerated display of hurt feelings, he paused and sniffed the air. "Hey, Anran... do you smell that? There’s this sweet scent... kinda like perfume."

Jin Hao craned his neck, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he looked up at Anran, who was sprawled on the upper bunk. Realization hit Jin Hao like a bolt of lightning.

"Wait... don’t tell me..."

Anran’s heart skipped a beat. Did he figure it out?

"You... did you go to a bar without telling me?!" Jin Hao exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger. "I can smell a girl’s perfume on you! Don’t tell me you were out flirting since morning! And here I thought being single was your whole badass creed!"

Anran sighed, not bothering to respond. Instead, he took one of the dango he had bought earlier, held it menacingly, and aimed it at Jin Hao.

"Wait, wait! I’m kidding! No need to get violent!" Jin Hao quickly raised his hands in surrender.

"Good," Anran muttered before biting into the dango.

Jin Hao pouted, scratching his head. "You know, Leng and Lin already went home for the weekend, so it’s just the two of us. How about a game?"

Anran glanced down from the bunk, curiosity piqued. "What game?"

"Tekken!" Jin Hao declared, his eyes lighting up.

A smirk spread across Anran’s face. "Are you challenging me?"

Jin Hao grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Hell yeah! I’ll beat you!"

"Bet." Anran swung down from his bunk, landing lightly on his feet.

Jin Hao dramatically leaned back, mimicking a certain iconic villain. "Oh? You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you come closer?"

Anran scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You wannabe Dio. The only thing similar is your ridiculous yellow hair."

"Guh! Don’t bring my hair into this!" Jin Hao barked back, pretending to be wounded. "I’ll kick your ass in Tekken!"

"Bet."

The two of them squeezed into the narrow space in front of the laptop, sitting side by side on the lower bunk. Jin Hao booted up the game, and the familiar character selection screen appeared. The banter continued as they prepared to face off, each determined to claim victory.

"I swear if you spam grabs again, I’m gonna—"

"Only if you stop spamming low kicks first!"

The dorm filled with the sounds of fierce button mashing. As the matches went on, laughter and playful insults filled the room, the earlier tension melting away like snow in the sun.

---------------

The night air was crisp and cool, a soft breeze rustling through the trees as Anran wandered through the quiet park near his dorm. The sky stretched vast and endless above him, a canopy of stars framing the moon's ethereal glow. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, lost in thought.

Looking up at the moon, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of optimism. "Hey, system," he muttered. "I feel lucky tonight... Let’s use that character card."

He closed his eyes, offering a quick, silent prayer.

[Character card has been used...]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Artoria Pendragon from TYPE-MOON!]

Anran slowly opened his eyes, blinking in disbelief. "King... I got the King!" His incredulous laugh echoed through the deserted park, and a couple of passing students eyed him warily, hastily retreating as though witnessing one of the campus's infamous ghost stories come to life.

Ignoring the stares, Anran adjusted his glasses and glanced at the system panel floating before him.

"System, open the shop."

A holographic screen popped up.

[Shop - Time until reset: 3:10:43]

[Points: 3200]

Restoring Beam (1-time use) x1 - 200 points

Character Replacement x1 - 1500 points

'Used' pen x1 - 2 points

Bloody used idol knife x1 - 7 points

Haste boost potion (10 minutes) x1 - 50 points

Anran scanned the list, a frown creasing his forehead. "Huh, no character cards on sale...." His eyes shifted to the Character Replacement option. After a moment's contemplation, he shrugged. "Screw it, let’s do it."

[Character Replacement x1 for 1500 points. Confirm?]

Anran hit confirm without hesitation.

[Item has been purchased.]

A bold idea took root in his mind, and he glanced around to find a more secluded spot. Moving deeper into the park, he found a clearing tucked away from prying eyes.

"Alright... Let’s see what happens."

A soft, golden light enveloped the area. As the light faded, a figure stood before him.

It was a young girl in her early to mid-teens, shorter than him, with a slender and petite physique. Her skin was soft and fair, and her striking green eyes gleamed with an unspoken resolve. Her golden hair seemed to shimmer under the moonlight, as if dusted with sunlight itself. She wore ornate, shining armor over an old-fashioned blue dress, her presence regal and composed.

Anran circled around her, observing every detail with a mix of awe and curiosity. "She really looks like the King..." he whispered. Gently, he reached out to poke her cheek, but there was no reaction.

"Hey, system, why isn’t she reacting?"

[Because the host has not set any programs yet.]

"Programs?" Anran groaned, rubbing his temples. "Sounds like a hassle... Can’t you just do it for me?"

[System assistance is limited to programming after the host sets the initial parameters.]

"Fine, fine..." he mumbled. "Let’s make this simple."

A few moments passed, and the girl, now more animated, took a step forward. She drove the tip of her sword into the ground with a practiced, noble grace, her emerald eyes focused solely on him.

"I ask of you," she said, her voice steady and solemn. "Are you my Master?"

Anran’s breath hitched. Seeing Artoria Pendragon standing before him, speaking those iconic words, felt surreal. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

"Yes," he replied, his tone softer than intended. "I am your Master."

Artoria’s then lowered her head in acknowledgment.

"Then, I swear my loyalty to you. As long as you hold the command seal, I shall be by your side."

Anran stared at Artoria, who stood calmly before him, her piercing green eyes reflecting the moonlight. Her expression remained stoic, almost indifferent, as if awaiting a command. Anran hesitated, unsure of how to address her.

"What should I even call her?" he thought. "Artoria? Saber? Lia? Hmm... Let’s just try something simple."

He cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Ahem... Saber."

Artoria turned her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Yes, Master?"

Her response was so formal and poised that it almost threw him off. He scratched the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed. "Uh... do you want to eat something?"

"No," she replied immediately. "As a Servant, I do not require sustenance to survive."

Anran blinked. "Right... that makes sense."

He tried a few more questions, each one met with the same polite but robotic responses. The more he spoke to her, the more it felt like he was interacting with a program—just one that looked incredibly lifelike.

"Saber, what’s your favorite food?"

"As a Servant, my preferences do not affect my duty."

Anran sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "She really is just following the program I set up. She’s only acting the way I scripted her to."

His thoughts wandered back to the countless light novels and manga he’d read. In some stories, if a character like this started developing independent thoughts, it would mean she had become truly real. But right now, Artoria was nothing more than a reflection of the settings he had configured.

"Maybe if I leave her be for a while, she’ll evolve... or something."

Deciding to take a different approach, Anran addressed the system. "Hey, system, separate Artoria’s character card from the character replacement."

[Invalid command. Once used, the Character Replacement cannot be separated. Does the host wish to store the character?]

Anran froze. "Wait... I can’t take it back?!" He bit his lip, realizing the mistake. "Damn it... I should have tested it on myself first! Does that mean I can’t cosplay as Artoria anymore?"

He shook his head . "Yeah... store her for now."

[Character has been stored.]

As Artoria’s form vanished, dissolving into particles of light, Anran leaned against a nearby bench, letting out a heavy sigh. 

He glanced up at the night sky, the moon still hanging high, as if silently judging his impulsive choices.

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(A/n: Looks like you guys got lucky—there was only a 50/50 chance I'd post today, and it happened! Now go roll gacha and spend thousands of currency on that character banner!)