Bright sunlight streamed through the window, spilling across Shirou's bedroom.
Bathed in warmth, he slowly opened his eyes.
"...It's been a long time since I slept this comfortably."
Since arriving in Orario, his days had been spent pushing himself relentlessly. Training, fighting, recovering, then repeating it all over again. Early mornings. Late nights.
Even his old habit of sleeping in had disappeared without him noticing.
Back then-back when he was still just Shirou-sleeping until he woke naturally had been normal.
Now, it felt distant.
Sitting up, he moved to the window and looked outside.
The courtyard, usually quiet and half-empty, was filled with activity.
Adventurers passed back and forth. Voices overlapped. Laughter echoed.
"As expected... after everyone returned from the expedition, Twilight Manor became lively again."
Watching the Familia members move about, Shirou let out a small chuckle.
He liked this atmosphere.
Lively. Warm.
Alive.
"Hey! Shirou! Over here!"
Hearing his name, he looked down.
Tiona was waving both arms energetically. Beside her stood Ais, Tione, and Lefiya.
Shirou smiled and raised a hand in response.
"Come down!"
Seeing that he had noticed her, Tiona shouted even louder.
"I knew it."
After last night's party, he had already gotten a rough sense of their personalities.
If he didn't go down on his own, they would definitely come upstairs to drag him out.
Since he was going down anyway, Shirou nodded, turned away from the window, and went to wash up.
After tidying himself, he changed into casual clothes and headed downstairs.
The moment he appeared, Tiona's eyes lit up.
"Good morning, everyone."
He greeted the three who had been training.
"Ais. Tiona. Tione."
Then he turned to the side, smiling gently at the elf standing nearby.
"Good morning, Lefiya."
"Ah-! G-good morning, Emiya-san!"
Startled by his greeting, Lefiya spun around and replied hastily.
"Don't be so nervous," Shirou said calmly. "We're comrades. Just relax."
He knew Lefiya was shy at this stage, but he hadn't expected her to tense up this much just from a greeting.
"S-sorry!"
Lefiya lowered her head immediately, as if she wanted to bury it into the ground.
Shirou felt helpless.
Before he could say anything else, the sparring trio stopped and gathered around.
"Lefiya, Shirou's part of our Familia," Tiona said cheerfully. "Being that stiff won't do you any good!"
Watching Tiona casually throw an arm around his shoulder while calling him "Shirou" again and again, then glancing at Lefiya, who was still visibly flustered despite the encouragement-
Shirou came to a simple conclusion.
People really couldn't be compared.
"Don't be afraid, Lefiya," Ais said softly. "Everyone will protect you."
She gently patted Lefiya's head.
Lefiya froze.
Her eyes sparkled instantly.
...As expected.
Only Ais could pull that off.
Truly you, Lefiya. The golden-haired elf.
"Speaking of which," Tiona said, shifting topics, "since we finally got back today, why don't we take it easy?"
"Equipment maintenance first," Tione added naturally. "Then we'll go shopping in town."
She looked at Shirou.
"How about it? Want to come?"
"Equipment maintenance... and shopping?"
Honestly, Shirou hadn't explored Orario much.
But that didn't mean he wanted to go shopping with four women.
Shopping with women was exhausting enough.
And aside from Lefiya, all of them were top-tier adventurers.
In short-
He really didn't want to go.
Unfortunately, he didn't have a choice.
Before he could answer, the Amazon sisters rested their arms on his shoulders, one on each side. At the same time, Ais quietly tugged at his sleeve.
Shirou immediately understood.
Refusal was not an option.
"...Of course," he said, giving in. "I'd be happy to."
On the bustling streets of Orario, Shirou walked at the very back of the group and let out a long sigh.
Looking down at the shopping bags in his hands, only one thought came to mind.
Just as expected.
Heh. Women.
That said, the weight didn't bother him much anymore.
What bothered him were the glances.
"Look, it's him."
"That's the new Loki Familia member, right?"
"The legendary archer whose attacks rival magic swords!"
With his LV.2 perception, Shirou heard everything clearly.
It had only happened yesterday.
So how did everyone on the street already know?
Are the people of Orario really this idle?
Sigh.
Life is hard.
Meow meow sighs.
"Are those looks bothering you that much?"
At some point, the four walking ahead had slowed down and fallen back beside him.
Hearing Tiona's question, Shirou's expression was full of resignation.
"I'm really not used to being the center of everyone's attention."
"That just means you still need to adapt," Tione said.
She patted his shoulder repeatedly, smiling.
"As long as you have strength, as long as you're strong, people will talk about you. You'll get used to it eventually."
Shirou looked around at the gazes still lingering on him and sighed.
"I really don't want to get used to this kind of life."
"Ah-"
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
Shirou looked down.
A fried potato ball was being held up in front of him.
He followed the hand.
It was Ais.
"...?"
Seeing his confusion, Ais spoke calmly.
"Red bean cream-filled fried potato ball."
"You won't be unhappy after eating it."
"...Eat."
As the food was offered closer to his mouth, a strange pressure washed over Shirou.
He glanced around.
The surrounding onlookers, who had been gossiping just moments ago, had all gone silent.
Their eyes glowed red.
The strongest resentment came from directly behind Ais.
From Lefiya.
"Hurry up and eat, newcomer-kun!" Tiona said loudly. "This is your seniors' comfort!"
...Those two Amazon sisters were absolutely fanning the flames.
Hey.
Hey, hey, hey.
Ais offered this on her own. This has nothing to do with me.
Is it really okay to threaten me like this?
But then again-
He responded well to kindness.
Not coercion.
Ignoring the hostile gazes, Shirou calmly took a bite of the fried potato ball.
...Delicious.
Unexpectedly so.
He hadn't thought something this small could taste this good.
After swallowing, he smiled.
"It's really good. Thank you for the comfort, Ais."
"It's nothing," Ais replied simply. "We're comrades."
Then she looked at him.
"But there's something I want to ask."
Shirou already had a rough idea of what it would be.
"...Go ahead."
"Why are you so strong?"
Strong?
Hearing the word, Shirou's thoughts drifted back.
To that world.
To that war.
Am I strong?
Then why did Sakura die?
Am I strong?
Then why couldn't I protect Miyu?
Am I strong?
Then why am I still here, chasing even greater strength?
Because-
I'm still weak.
"I'm not strong."
By this world's leveling standards, his growth was indeed fast.
But compared to his goal-
He was still very far away.
Ais clearly wanted to argue, but before she could, Shirou spoke again.
"If there's anything about me that could be called 'strong'..."
He paused.
"...It's probably my conviction."
"The conviction to achieve what I must achieve."
"Even if it means becoming an enemy of the world."
His gaze didn't waver.
"That," Shirou said quietly, "is my true strength."
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter