A clear blue sky and a sun floating in a cloudless sky.
I was standing on the street.
"... Huh?"
"Hey, Dumpty. Why are you standing there blankly?"
"Ah... Shinji. Sorry, I've been a bit dazed since morning."
The boy with purple seaweed-like hair who spoke to me, Matou Shinji. At the academy, he's quite popular and well-liked by the girls.
"Shinji, let's study together later!"
"Me too!"
Shinji was walking to school with some very pretty and well-built female students. I also headed to school.
"..."
On the academy building rooftop, there was a girl I hadn't seen before. Wearing red-designed clothes, she soon jumped off the rooftop.
"Huh...?"
But, she fell and then disappeared. A person fell, but no one in the schoolyard reacted. What's going on...?
Am I still dreaming? They say if you say you're dreaming in a dream, you're screwed.
I went to school and spent time attending classes. During break time, the girls asked Shinji various questions, and Hakuno sitting next to him looked tired.
I got up from my seat to get some water...
Crash!!!
"... What's that?"
"Whoa!?"
"This, I've been stabbed..."
A strong wind blew, shattering the windows. And shards of glass pierced some students... but everyone remained still as if nothing happened. The only ones who reacted were Shinji, who jumped up in surprise and crouched down, and Hakuno, who instantly stood up from his seat.
Outside the classroom, a student was crawling while bleeding, and Shinji and Hakuno panicked and moved.
"Hey! We have to run!"
Shinji shook the female student who had shown interest in him and spoke, but she just smiled like a doll with no reaction. First of all, what was her name...?
[Urgent announcement to Master candidates. The finalist has returned to the preliminary venue and begun slaughter. Master candidates, please evacuate immediately.]
Master candidates...? What's this broadcast?
Bang!!!
Soon, a madman shouting something and a girl in clown makeup appeared in the hallway, and countless spears rose from the classroom floor, piercing the students. But the students hung limply without any sign of pain.
Like dolls...
Clang!! Clang clang clang!!!
Suddenly, a man in blue tights and the madman started fighting, so I hurriedly left the classroom. I need to run...
Where should I go? Home...
No, why was I at the academy in the first place? Why was I in such a place? A Japanese academy... why?
"Ha, haha... hahaha! So that's it! The Holy Grail War is unusual even from the preliminaries! Hakuno, Dumpty. I've remembered. I'm going to the next stage first."
Shinji laughed and headed somewhere alone. Hakuno and I realized we were the only sane ones, and soon felt like the ground was giving way.
No, we're really falling. I felt a floating sensation and fell as my balance was lost. Hakuno ran toward me and reached out his hand...
"... Go."
I didn't reach out. Even if I grabbed him, we'd both die. Why is that... why have I become indifferent to death?
As if I've died before...
I'm not some saint who saves or rescues people. If anything, I'm the type who helps others superficially out of self-satisfaction, hypocrisy as a courtesy.
Even after falling, my body didn't hurt. Is this some kind of underground...?
Footsteps echoed, and looking ahead, two men appeared.
"Not on the list. Was there someone like you... Let's test you."
I don't know who they are, but they had the face and eyes of a murderer who kills people. It felt like looking at death row inmates, the eyes of a murderer who kills and gets photographed.
"Not even taking a stance? How boring."
Slice!!!
Something swung, and I received a large wound on my chest. When was I cut? Was it an afterimage? More importantly, am I dying...?
Thud...!
The two turned their backs and left as if a confirmation kill wasn't worth it. My pride is hurt... As a mere commoner, do I have to die in a random murder like this? In a situation I don't even understand...?
Drip... drip....
I don't want to die... I don't want to die meaninglessly like this, by those guys. I don't want to end like this, here.
Fwoosh, fwoosh....
"... Smell of burning?"
"This is... a Command Spell? Assassin... kill him now."
Thump!
A man in Chinese-style clothing charged forward, kicking off the ground. For some reason, the world seemed to slow down. Is it because I'm dying?
For some reason, I saw something in front of me. It might be a contract where a devil asks if I want to live, or a cliché plot from a mass-produced novel.
If I stay still, I'll die anyway. With that certainty, shouldn't I grab whatever it is, even if it's the devil's hand?
I painfully reached out and touched something visible in the air. Then, a brilliant light erupted.
Boom!!!!!
"... Wha, Assassin?"
The man who was charging at me exploded, scattering blood and entrails. Even in such a gory scene, since I'm dying, I didn't feel much.
"Really, what a state to reunite in, my steed."
"... Who, are you."
"Have you forgotten me? That doesn't matter. Even if you have forgotten, I remember."
I don't know who she is.
But why... I feel like I know her. A strange sense of déjà vu... who is it?
"What is that Servant..."
"How insolent. A mere insignificant human, how dare you stand before my steed and me with your head raised."
Crunch...!
Under an invisible pressure, the man in front knelt down. Sweating cold sweat, breathing heavily.
"You are, who...?"
"... Hmph, since you seem to have forgotten, I'll tell you. My steed, you were my man!"
"...."
Am I still dreaming? Ah damn, I'm going to have a wet dream. When will I wash and dry my underwear and pants...
[To think you'd try to gaslight in this situation.]
An unknown noise appeared from the air, and a woman with purple hair appeared.
"Senior is my man, no, I am Senior's woman, right? After all, I'm Senior's junior? Because I'm the junior's original?"
"... Hey, by any chance, have I been cast as the protagonist of The Truman Show?"
"Fufu, you're still the same. Even if you've lost your memory... Is this the stage? Don't worry. In the end, nothing can defeat you, Senior. Even if a savior comes."
They each reached out, grabbed my hands, and helped me up. My wounds... are gone...
I don't understand what's happening. But... why. I feel a deep sense of nostalgia.
"The master of the moon will be you, Senior. This BB guarantees it."
"Ah, with me here, it's only natural. I'll tidy up before calling the others."
I don't know what's going on, what's happening. But...
I feel it's not bad.