Dammit no goal this week since I owe y'all like 3 already. Apologies. I was hella sick for almost this whole month, and I still am but it's a lot better. I'll try to pay my debt this week... and, I'll be forced to give more if y'all hit the goal even still... so...
Um, mercy?
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So far as being a magus went, Rin Tohsaka didn't think she particularly stood out compared to the rest of her peers.
Like most of them, she maintained a perfect image in the world outside, as an amiable yet firm and proper lady befitting her standing. She even went to high school, and had people that called her a 'friend', no matter how infuriating that was at times. Diligently, she strived to protect that image.
Like most of them, she took to researching and furthering her family's craft in the time not spent doing her duties as someone who was an upstanding member of society. As such, she spent many of her evenings in the Tohsaka home, in the workshop left behind by her father... when she wasn't otherwise pre-occupied…
However, this was not to say that she was an average magus at all. No, she was exceptionally talented. She knew this. She was proud of it. She had spared no effort in honing that talent either, and now, with the Holy Grail War looming overhead, she finally had the chance to show it to those who would deny it.
When she inevitably won, her family's name, which had lost some of its luster in the last war where her father fell, would finally regain its standing as well.
Yet, as she tied her hair and reached for her school bag, Rin couldn't help but groan. Things… had turned a degree more complicated all of a sudden the last week.
"Why does it have to be now? When that old priest's finally off my back too…" She sighed again.
The Tohsaka were the Overseers of Fuyuki, with her parents gone, that duty fell to her caretaker, his father's apprentice, Kirei Kotomine. Yes, she knew how absurd it was for a priest to be left in-charge of a magus' lands but it was what it was. But, now that she was at the age where she could smoothly take charge, the world had decided to trip over by all but kicking her in the knee.
The Mage's Association had sent over a message. Those people who had never even cared to send a greeting simply as courtesy had sent a message from nowhere on a random Thursday. The contents were simple. The contents made her want to rip her hair out.
A highly-dangerous magus, designated for sealing, had decided to head to Fuyuki after destroying the entrance of the Clock Tower, so she was to deal with the situation. They could've just written, 'Okay, so you're screwed, good luck!' And that would tell her all she needed to know.
They gave her nothing other than a name 'Henry Smith' and a possible intention of joining the war.
Now, she had a war to fight, and a rogue magus to deal with on top. A rogue magus, mind you, that MADE THE CLOCK TOWER BACK OFF AFTER KICKING THEM IN THE NUTS! WHAT WAS SHE EVEN SUPPOSED TO DO? FIGHT HIM?! WHAT THE HELL WAS EVEN THAT!?
She hadn't even summoned her servant yet!
Pursing her lips and clenching her fists, Rin slammed the door shut behind her. She took a long look at the clear blue sky before resigning herself to her fate. She pulled open one of the massive iron double doors that closed off her estate, stepped out, then began pushing it shut. When she turned around, someone was standing behind her.
She did not squeak. She certainly did not jump. She DEFINITELY did not try to punch the person.
"Hello neighbor." The youth waved his hand with a polite smile, one hand shoved in his pockets. "Whatcha up to?"
He was tall. He was… admittedly, good looking. With well-kept black hair streaked with white combed neatly to the back, and the high cheek bones and strong jaw typical of those westerners in the TVs she'd see sometimes. Rin took a quick look at his clothes, and realized he was somewhat well-off too. At least, that was what she assumed from the simple white dress shirt and the black pants… and the golden aviators.
No, nevermind, she knew he was a spoiled rich brat because of how close he stood to her.
Also wait-
"Neighbor?" Rin mumbled out.
"Yeah, I don't know why this is the house she insisted on but… eh, something about an old rivalry?"
English. A noticeable accent too. But, she understood him well enough.
He put a hand on his chin, gazing at the mansion a few houses away, across the street from hers. An old three-story brick manse with a dark brown paint that made it look wet in the sunlight, with a sloped roof of grey tiles and two chimneys blowing smoke, enclosed in a tall fence and hidden behind tall maple trees. She saw it often. She'd thought it was empty.
"What about the-"
He cut her off, "It's been in the family for a century apparently. Really shoves in your face how there's levels to how rich you can be… How typical… So, whatcha up to, neighbor?"
"I'm…" Suddenly, the realization struck her, "School! I'll be late for classes!"
"Geh." He reeled. Then, a mischievous smile crossed his lips, "Say, neighbor, you seem like a prim and proper student. The kind others admire."
She was. She was damn proud of it too with how hard she worked for it every day.
He smiled further.
Now, he hadn't really given her any cause for concern past some mild curiosity about someone so 'unique' looking but… she shivered at that smile.
"Seeing as I'm new. I need a guide. Could I tempt you to show me around as a native?"
"Find a guide." She deadpanned and tugged on her bag.
He held up a finger, "A million yen."
Rin froze.
N-Not that she was poor, but… but that much money… It made her head spin from the possibilities. It was all that damn priest's fault. He'd been stupid in managing her estate so she was left with amounts to make do with that weren't particularly… plentiful.
"W…Why?"
Still, Rin was a cautious girl. This was definitely suspicious. And she wasn't stupid-
"Two million."
Rin's eyes widened. She flipped around and counted on her fingers how much stuff she could buy with that money. And… And she was a perfect student-… so it wasn't that bad if she missed just one day, right?
"But you… you have to tell me why."
"My Professor is stingy about attending classes but I feel you can't beat practical experience if it actually pays at the same time." He explained with closed eyes and a friendly smile, "It's a matter of principle, see? At the end of the day, you can tell me if it was worth missing school. Oh, I'm not some weird pervert, promise~"
"That's exactly the kind of thing a pervert would say."
She looked him over again. Nothing. There was nothing out of the ordinary. As a magus, she could sense no mana from him either. That had been her first thought, after all. A foreigner appearing this close to the Holy Grail War raised alarms… that was why she looked at his hand before all else. There were no command seals there.
Then, there was the lack of defenses over his 'house'. Even the most unremarkable of magi used Bounded Fields over their places of living. Over his, there were none.
So he really was just a rich foreigner with a skewed common sense… or maybe even this was considered normal where he was from.
"No funny business?" She pulled her bag close.
He snorted, raising his hands in surrender, "None~, miss?"
"Tohsaka. Rin Tohsaka." She watched his reaction closely.
Anyone in Fuyuki there for the purpose of joining the Grail War would definitely know the name of the Founders of the entire ritual.
Yet, his expression didn't falter for even a second. He simply nodded and offered a hand, "Since I'll call you Rin, you can call me Hal in exchange."
"I-I didn't agree to that!" She blurted out embarrassedly at the sudden closeness.
Using someone's given name was a massive deal even among acquaintances. He was a total stranger!
He tilted his head, "Oh fine. Tohsaka, it is. You can still call me Hal though, since I'm such a nice person~"
He relented immediately. That was good. Otherwise, she wouldn't know what to do. The money was too good to pass up. Yet, she also had her own pride to maintain.
"A…Alright, Hal, where do you want to go?"
"Your school."
She pursed her lips. "You can keep the money."
"What a stingy employee. Fine~, I need a guide to the… Well, I don't know how to pronounce that." He fished around in his pockets and pulled out one of those smartphones she'd seen her classmates talking about animatedly the other day. On it, was written the address of the city's most expensive hotel.
"I'm supposed to meet a frien-… No, I'm not calling that oil baron wimp a friend. I'm supposed to meet someone there… and we can get acquainted as we get there. As neighbours, we should get along." He nodded wisely at his own words, eyes closed.
"Yes, but that's halfway across the city."
"Don't tell me you're afraid of a little walk. I thought that with those thighs you'd definitely have the stamina."
…What?
"What?"
"I said, with those thighs-"
"Stop looking at my thighs that way!" She pulled her skirt down, feeling ashamed. "You-… You pervert!"
"You put work into them. You should be proud of the recognition!"
"Why would I feel proud about a stranger perving on my legs?!"
"Cause I'm that stranger." He pointed a thumb at himself, flashing her a grin.
"You being handsome doesn't make it any less perverted!"
He put a hand behind his head, "So you think I'm handsome~?"
Rin froze. Then, she flushed.
"N-No! I mean-"
He pointed at her and laughed like a madman.
Rin Tohsaka… Rin Tohsaka wanted to throttle her new neighbor.
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