I was sleep deprived. The sky was completely bright, but I couldn't stop yawning.
It was pretty late at night when I went to convince Saber, so it couldn't be helped that we ended up doing the deed after that. The final battle is scheduled for tonight, so I'll just take a nap.
After we were done, Saber and I had to rush to clean up the mess. We physically disposed of the futon, which was stained with various liquids (that was the only way), and I took Saber, whose legs were wobbly, to the bathroom to take a shower.
I threw the stained pajamas into the washing machine. By the time we were done with all that, the sky was already bright.
Anyway, everything was back to normal, we just needed to buy a new futon to replace the one we got rid of.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Saber and I walked into the living room together and greeted everyone.
I felt a sense of unease.
Why was everyone so distant? The only one who wasn't was Kirei-san. He, too, seemed confused by the strange atmosphere. And why did Waver look so sleepy?
"Hey, Waver. What's wrong, you look so tired."
Saber, on her part, headed towards Irisviel and the others. I decided to go over to Waver.
His eyes, barely open through narrowed lids, seemed to be accusing me. I wondered if I had done something.
"You, you know..."
"What is it?"
He looked like he had a lot to say, but he didn't say anything more. He had a face like he'd just chewed on ten bitter gourds. He looked a little older, Waver-kun. As I tilted my head in confusion, Rider sidled up and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Sho, you... you're quite the operator, aren't you? Hmm? Don't tell me you even managed to sway that rigid King of Knights."
"...Huh!?"
He said it in a low voice, unlike Rider. When he said that much, I understood. I couldn't help but understand.
"You... you heard us last night?"
"Loud and clear. Honestly, what the hell did you go there to do..."
"You don't understand anything, boy. When a man goes to a woman's room at night, that's what it means, isn't it? Whether he succeeds or not depends on the man's courage."
"So, the two of you couldn't sleep?"
"Nonsense. I don't care about something like that. But..."
"How could I sleep?! It's strange to be able to act normal after hearing that all night!"
"And so he begged me. That's why we went out into the city at night."
So that's why Waver was so sleepy. I felt sorry for him. I forgot that I hadn't taken any precautions at all. My house is basically soundproofed.
"So, what kind of words did you whisper? Confess everything without hiding a single thing."
"I'd rather not, please."
Even I am not so brazen as to talk about my private affairs to others.
"And it wasn't just you guys..."
"Huh?"
It wasn't just us? Don't tell me!
"Irisviel and the others?"
"...Yeah."
...Wow. It was a decadent night, wasn't it? And Kirei-san, whom I unconsciously excluded from the options, I'm sorry.
No, well, yeah. Given how things went yesterday, it's not surprising that it happened. It's not uncommon for people to do it before a final battle, right? Right?
Speaking of which, Maiya-san was there too, wasn't she? Did she step out? Or was it a threesome... Oh, I shouldn't go there.
"It doesn't matter if other people, you know, do that. Seriously! I don't care, but you should at least consider the people around you."
"I'm really sorry."
Waver was right about this.
"Don't worry about it, Sho. It just means the boy is still a kid. At night..."
"You idiot! Don't talk about that!"
It seemed they had some fun at night. This was a chance to turn the tables...
"Onii-chan."
That one word sent a chill down my spine.
"S-Sakura-chan."
I turned around, and there stood Sakura-chan, my Master. And she was radiating an incredibly bad mood. I knew without a word. This was a bad situation. One wrong move and she'd explode.
"Onii-chan, where were you yesterday?"
"Wh-Where...?"
"Why didn't you sleep with me yesterday? You weren't there, were you? You didn't come back to the futon, did you?"
It was late that day, and I thought there wouldn't be any attacks, so I had told Sakura-chan to go to sleep first. I also said I would sleep with her after the meeting was over.
I looked at Waver for help, but he naturally ignored me.
The one who dominated the room now was this little girl. Her overwhelming presence didn't allow for any back talk.
"The, the meeting went on for a long time..."
"That's a lie."
The lie that instantly came out of my mouth was flatly cut off.
"I came to see you, you know. I thought you were late, so I came to see you. But you weren't there. Why did you lie like that?"
Th-This is scary...!
"You were at Saber-san's place, weren't you?"
"Sa-Sakura, I was the one who kept him. I'm sorry. I had no idea you had such a promise."
Saber, whose name was mentioned, tried to help, perhaps to prevent the situation from escalating. However, it had the opposite effect on Sakura right now.
"You were so loud when Onii-chan was teasing you, is that the kind of person you are, Saber-san?"
At Sakura-chan's blunt words, Saber's face turned beet red, and her mouth opened and closed. I don't know if she knew that her voice was heard throughout the mansion, but this seemed to be causing serious mental damage to Saber in a different way.
Sakura-chan, who had knowledge of such things beyond her years due to the worms, was a strong opponent.
"Putting Onii-chan's p*nis in there..."
"Sho, please help me...!"
In the end, I had to get down on my knees and promise to take a nap with her to get her to forgive me.
---------
After the morning commotion, I was called in by Kiritsugu-san. Kiritsugu-san, who was sitting across from me, had his arms crossed and was deep in thought.
Even after I sat down, he remained silent for a while, and the conversation didn't start.
"So, what did you want to talk about?"
"It's about Archer's current Master, Kirei Kotomine."
"..."
He brought up a very delicate topic for Kiritsugu-san. The reason being,
"Are you sure you can handle Kirei, Kiritsugu-san?"
At the meeting during breakfast, Kiritsugu-san had offered to face Kirei himself. Even though I was in a state where I could fight, I thought a civil war would be too difficult for him.
"A Stand, you say. Indeed, with something like that, I wouldn't stand a chance."
"Then..."
"...I hear you can make others manifest a Stand ability."
"Don't tell me..."
"I want you to make me manifest a Stand ability."
He said something unbelievable.
"I have to warn you, it doesn't manifest in just anyone. If it doesn't manifest, you could die. Even so..."
"Even so. I have my pride. I can't keep running away and hope to go迎え to Ilya."
He looked me straight in the eye. When he said that much, it would be tactless for me to say anything more.
I took out the 'Arrow' and placed it on the tatami mat. It had been a while since I'd seen it, but it still seemed to be shrouded in an invisible power.
"If you are pierced by this Arrow, a Stand will manifest. When you have made up your mind, please use it."
"...Okay. I understand."
Saying only that, I left the room. It was up to Kiritsugu-san whether he used it or not. After seeing his resolve, I couldn't not help him.
Alright, next is... a nap with Sakura-chan. I was at my limit too, so I guess I'll take it easy until the final battle.
---------
"And why is Saber-san here?"
"Wh-Why indeed...?"
When I got into the futon, Saber visited as if on cue and naturally got into the futon. Sakura-chan's gaze was incredibly painful. It was at a level where it could drill a hole in me.
"Is there a problem?"
"Hmph! Isn't the problem with Saber-san?"
The two of them argued, with me in the middle. They were each holding one of my arms. They rubbed their bodies against me as if to claim me as their own, which was more than I could handle.
But I couldn't let anything happen in this situation. My sleepiness was at its limit, too...
---------
I woke up. The two of them were still sleeping. It was as if their commotion before sleeping was a lie. Both of them were sleeping peacefully, as if a weight had been lifted from them.
"I'm thirsty... Ah."
I saw something unpleasant outside the window.
"Is this a 'worm's' premonition? Honestly."
I quietly slipped out of the futon so as not to wake the two of them.
---------
Following the worms, I arrived at this place. The remains of the Matou mansion that I had blown away. I knew he was here.
An obstacle as great as Archer. A being that Sakura-chan must defeat.
"Hey! Where are you, Zouken!"
"Don't yell like that, you irregular. You'll bother the neighbors."
The worms gathered, and Zouken appeared. Berserker was with him, of course.
"What do you want? We're scheduled to fight Archer now. Make it quick."
I said something I didn't mean.
"Oh, is that so? Then I'm sorry for this. It seems you won't be able to participate in that battle."
Berserker took a step forward. That was enough. I took out the Gamer Driver and wrapped it around my waist.
I made a phone call. Waver answered.
"I'm about to start a fight with Berserker. If I'm not back in time, go ahead without me. There's no change to the plan."
"Huh? Wait, what are you saying---"
There was no way I could flake on a challenge that I had issued. Even if I chose to run away now, I might be interrupted at an unpredictable time. In terms of fighting power and grudges, it was best for me to fight.
"You will die. Today, here."
"What a boring joke, Zouken."
---------
Saber and Rider had gone to the dueling grounds. Sho never came back on time, so they had no choice but to come here as a pair.
Rider was on his proud chariot, and Saber, in her armor, had her Holy Sword thrust into the ground.
Right on time, he appeared.
His golden armor, which did not lose its brilliance even in the darkness of the night. It even seemed to shine more brilliantly than it did in the daytime. But the Servant wearing it had an even greater presence.
"So you've come..."
"Archer...!"
The fragments of his power they had seen many times were enough to make even Rider tense. The two of them let out a breath at the same time and relaxed.
Rider got off his chariot and walked forward. Saber glanced at him but said nothing and watched him go. Archer did the same.
"As I thought, you are the one who stands before me at the end."
"Haha! Of course. No matter what hero from ancient times, none can surpass this King of Conquerors, can they?"
"Don't get it twisted, mongrel. You merely followed my decision. Nothing more, nothing less."
The two of them exchanged light greetings. Archer's blood-red eyes narrowed, and Rider laughed heartily.
"So, the topic has changed, but... Archer, is there still some of that liquor left from back then?"
"What?"
Archer's eyebrows furrowed for a moment, but he understood instantly. The divine liquor from the Age of Gods that they had drunk during the Holy Grail Dialogue.
"As expected of one who calls himself a King of Usurpation. You have a sharp eye for human possessions."
Archer gave a wry smile and took out the set of sake cups he had used back then and poured the liquor. They clinked their cups in silence. It was as if knights were clashing their swords before a duel.
"I never thought Saber would submit to your army."
"Ah... about that. I was able to have an excellent negotiator as a friend. Oh! Right! One more person might join us during the fight, but..."
"Fine. One or two mongrels are not a concern before me."
Rider, a cunning man, managed to get Sho's mid-battle participation approved.
"Hmph. It seems you and I are opposites no matter how you look at it. That shallowness of yours, calling others your friends on a whim. My one true ally is only one, and I need no others."
"A lonely path of a king... Then I shall challenge that path with all my respect."
"Show your full extent, King of Conquerors. You are a villain worthy of my judgment."
It would have been fine up to that point. Rider was astonished by the words that followed.
"After I defeat you, I'll take that woman—Saber—for myself."
Rider was dumbfounded by the unexpected statement.
"What's wrong, Archer? Don't tell me, you've fallen for Saber?"
"Strong and beautiful. She is truly my kind of woman. It was a disgrace to be called to this pointless conflict, but I was fortunate to have met Saber."
At that line, Rider had to do his best to hold back his laughter. He imagined what would happen if Archer found out that Saber was already taken by another man.
"What's wrong, Rider?"
"No, nothing at all. Very well, the victor's word is absolute. I cannot possibly defy it."
He somehow managed to keep his composure and reply. Archer gave a suspicious look, but said nothing and turned his back, returning to his original position.
"What were you talking about?"
"Oh, nothing, just some idle chatter... That golden one, it seems he's fallen for you?"
"Huh? Archer, you say?"
Saber had never considered such a thing. In the first place, she wondered what they were talking about before the final battle.
"Well, you already have Sho, so... I don't think you'd be swayed by someone like that golden one..."
"Aaahhhhhh----!! Don't say anything more than that!"
Saber was flustered as if her mother had teased her about her first love.
"That's not it! Right now! It doesn't matter!"
"Alright, alright. I know you're worried about Sho, but don't get so flustered."
"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!"
Saber's lips trembled as she froze. Rider, instinctively knowing that she would pull out her Holy Sword if he teased her any more, decided to cut it short.
Saber, too, quickly calmed down and returned to her usual composure.
"Let's go, Saber."
"Yes."
Rider raised his sword.
"Assemble, my comrades! Tonight, we shall engrave our valiant figures into the strongest of legends!"
A torrent of magical energy surged forth. The surroundings were painted over. When the view cleared, the world had been transformed into an endless plain.
An enormous army was waiting behind them, and a thunderous cheer that shook the ground melted into the endlessly blue sky. Their morale was at an all-time high.
Rider, who was at the front, whipped his divine bull.
"AAAALaLaLaLaLaie!!"
The strongest army began its march.
--------------------------------------------
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