"Where's Emiya? It's almost his turn to go up," A girl with short shoulder-length brown hair asked.

She had a beautiful face and delicate features, needing no extra adornment to catch others' eyes. Her shoulder-length hair was neat and brisk, the brown strands glowing softly in the sunlight, perfectly matching her equally brown eyes.

She wore a kyudo uniform, consisting of a black long skirt and a white inner layer, giving off a dignified, heroic air, like an untouchable flower on a high peak.

Mitsuzuri Ayako, a second-year student at Homurahara Academy, captain and head of the archery club.

From the moment she entered the school, she was recognized by the students of Homurahara Academy as a beauty of both appearance and presence. With a frank and bold personality, she was popular among both boys and girls alike.

The "Emiya" she was referring to was the club's ace archer, whose skills were exceptional enough to win prizes at the national, even international level.

Homurahara Academy was celebrating its founding anniversary, and the opening ceremony of the sports festival was about to begin. Emiya Shirou, as the representative of the archery club, was to ignite the ceremonial bonfire with an arrow.

However, just as the ceremony was about to start, when Shirou should have been ready to go on stage, he still hadn't shown up.

"Captain, Emiya-senpai should be in the club's lounge," A member spoke up.

Ayako nodded, "Got it. I'll go find him."

She left the venue and headed for the archery club's lounge.

———

Walking down the campus's tree-lined path, Ayako arrived at the lounge door.

She pushed the door open gently and found the room dimly lit, only the bathroom light was on, with the sound of running water inside.

Meanwhile, inside the lounge, Emiya splashed his face with cold water, raised his head, and looked at himself in the mirror.

Emiya Shirou, a student of Homurahara Academy High School.

As a child, he was an orphan, taken in by Kiritsugu Emiya and adopted to inherit the Emiya family.

An ordinary person, who had never been exposed to magecraft. Just an ordinary high school student, without any special abilities.

Even so, he was still the club's ace, his archery skills unrivaled.

Ayako lightly knocked on the bathroom door, "Emiya, are you there? The opening ceremony is about to start!"

The sound of running water stopped. Through the frosted glass, a man's silhouette could be seen faintly. He seemed to be at the sink facing the door, washing his face.

Ayako hesitated, then finally reached out and pushed the door open. She stepped into the bathroom and saw Shirou standing at the sink, both hands braced on the counter, head lowered, watching the water flow through his fingers.

For a moment, Ayako froze.

Shirou happened to raise his head. Through the mirror, Ayako saw his face.

His features and face shape were no different than usual, yet his calm expression carried an indescribable sense of indifference.

It was only then Ayako noticed that his facial lines were unexpectedly sharp, like a sculpture chiseled from stone.

His damp red hair clung to his forehead, droplets sliding down his cheek and falling into the sink with faint splashes.

Hearing movement behind him, Shirou turned slightly. Through the mirror, Ayako's gaze met a pair of golden eyes.

Ayako stood rooted to the spot, suddenly dizzy at the sight before her.

The familiar archery club lounge vanished, replaced by a boundless wasteland.

She looked up. The dark red sky was filled with countless blades, streams of dazzling sword-light weaving together like rainbows across the heavens.

A colossal figure stood on the plain, stretching from the horizon all the way up to infinite heights. Behind him loomed seven layers of heavenly wheels, golden streams pouring down from them like raindrops scattering upon the earth.

Ayako's gaze was drawn to two massive orbs hanging in the sky ahead. Suspended like sun and moon, their inner layers radiated gold and silver light, while the outer ring was pure white. Looking closer, those were eyes, their pupils flowing endlessly with incantations.

Those eyes were as distant as stars at the edge of the sky, yet as near as if right before her. Ayako's sense of time blurred under their gaze, she couldn't tell how long she had stood there. Perhaps just a moment. Perhaps a century.

The eyes shifted slightly, looking her way.

And then—

Ayako stood under the shade of trees, dazed for an instant. She remembered, the sports festival was about to begin, and she was going to find Emiya.

Crossing campus, Ayako arrived at the archery club lounge door.

She stepped inside. The lounge was empty. She walked toward the lit bathroom.

"Emiya, are you there? The opening ceremony's about to start!", Ayako knocked at the bathroom door.

No response. She hesitated, about to push the door open.

But at that moment, the door opened.

"Mm, I know, Captain," Emiya stepped out.

Ayako rolled up her sleeve, glanced at her watch, then said, "It's almost time. Let's go."

Shirou nodded, picked up the bow and arrows beside him, and headed outside.

The two left the lounge together, walking briskly in step toward the venue.

Shirou, walking in front, focused straight ahead, while Ayako quietly couldn't resist stealing a glance at him.

"What is it?", Shirou suddenly turned, asking.

Their gazes met in midair, and at that instant of contact, Ayako instinctively looked twice into his amber eyes.

"It's nothing...", she replied, but in her heart she murmured, 'I never noticed before, Emiya's eyes are really beautiful.'

———

By the time Shirou and Ayako hurried to the field, the opening ceremony was already in preparation.

The field was crowded, students neatly lined up in their places. Shirou and Ayako quickly found the archery club's spot, and not long after, the principal finally arrived, a little late.

The principal's speech was short, not taking up much time, and soon the stage was handed to the students.

The dance club's cute girls performed, followed by the light music club, the drama club's manzai, and the karate club's brick-breaking demonstration.

Finally, the grand finale, Shirou Emiya, representing the archery club, ignited the bonfire with an arrow.

Shooting the arrow into the bonfire was a ritual of exorcism and welcoming harvest. The flame ignited by the fire arrow symbolized light, purity, and the continuation of life.

Shirou stood at the center of the field, his posture upright, gaze sharp as a hawk, locked firmly on the target ahead.

He slowly drew the bow. The friction of fingertips against bowstring gave off a faint sound. As the draw widened, power coursed through his shoulders and arms, the curve of the bowstring tightening more and more.

When the string reached its limit, his body leaned slightly, strength gathered to its peak. Then, with a crisp release, his right hand let go. The arrow shot forward at great speed.

The flaming arrow traced a dazzling arc in the air, flying straight toward the bonfire. It struck, and the fire roared to life, blazing bright.

"Since fire is lit, let it cleanse filth and shine upon the four directions," Shirou murmured softly.

The words fell, yet the world remained silent. In the vast grounds, only firelight and shadows swayed, the crackling of the bonfire the only sound. Nothing else changed.

That was natural, he was just an "ordinary person," with no power to make words into reality.

He only hoped for Fuyuki City's future to be peaceful and prosperous. Nothing more.

After a short silence, thunderous applause erupted around him.

Thus ended the sports festival opening ceremony. Students drifted off in groups.

Shirou lowered his bow, the flames flickering in the wind, casting a warm glow across his face.

Just as he was about to leave, a boy stepped out of the crowd, waving at him.

"Isssei," Shirou smiled gently, greeting him.

The boy wore the standard school uniform, short purple hair, round rimless glasses, and looked a little delicate. His air was cultured and calm, giving a sense of reliability.

Ryuudou Issei, president of Homurahara Academy's student council, and son of the Ryuudou Temple's head priest.

He and Shirou were classmates. They met in first year and quickly became close friends.

"Shirou, that shot just now was beautiful," Issei walked to his side, his tone filled with genuine admiration.

Shirou smiled, "It was nothing. The bonfire's huge. It's not hard to hit. Mitsuzuri-senpai could've done it too. She just let me take the chance."

Last year's opening ceremony, the bonfire-lighting had been done by Mitsuzuri Ayako.

"Glad I didn't mess up, at least," Shirou said humbly.

Issei shook his head slightly, a trace of doubt in his eyes, "No, Mitsuzuri-senpai's archery is precise, but yours... it really felt different. I can't explain what exactly..."

He frowned, as if trying hard to recall that moment, but couldn't grasp the subtle difference.

Shirou gently patted his shoulder, "What about you? What events are you doing?"

"For me, running of course. I signed up for the 1000m, 5000m, and the relay" Issei answered without hesitation.

Living at Ryuudou Temple far from the city, the daily two-hour trip back and forth had long trained his endurance and strength. Like a monk practicing on the mountain, his legs were quick and sturdy.

"And you, Emiya?", Issei asked.

"Archery, long jump, and high jump," Shirou replied.

"Ah, that's right. I remember now, you're good at high jump too, not just archery."

———

With his strong legs, Issei easily took first place in both the 1000m and 5000m runs. In the relay, as the first runner, he opened up a huge lead from the start.

The others tried their best to catch up, but the advantage Issei built was unshakable. In the end, their class won the relay championship.

On the other side, Shirou, being the archery club's ace and even stronger than Captain Ayako, made the archery competition a complete certainty.

Then, thanks to his physique and technique beyond his peers, he also won first place in both high jump and long jump.

For some reason though, the long jump event had an unusually large audience.

"Shirou, you're amazing," On the way home, Moriyama Nanami walked cheerfully beside him, her smile bright, her voice full of sincere admiration, "It's thanks to you that our class won first place in the school with such a big lead."

Shirou turned his head to look at the girl, his classmate. She had long pink hair, fluttering lightly in the breeze, with a pure, radiant smile on her face. Her figure was tall and well-built, even in simple sportswear her curves were evident.

Moriyama Nanami. A classmate of Shirou and Issei. In both looks and figure, she was top tier, one of the most popular girls in school.

And yet, just looking at her pale, delicate arms, it was hard to imagine her strength. So great it even impressed Shirou.

He had never noticed before, but now thinking carefully, her raw power seemed even greater than Ottar's or Gareth's, those without divine blessing.

In another world, with such talent, she would undoubtedly be a treasure fought over by the gods.

"Shirou, thank you for walking me home," She stopped before a house, speaking softly.

"It's no problem. It was on the way."

"Um, Shirou... would you like to come in for a cup of tea?", She hesitated briefly, then gathered courage, inviting him hopefully.

"No, thank you. I appreciate it though," Shirou replied politely.

The girl lowered her head slightly, "Alright, then... see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Moriyama."

After parting with her, Shirou had nothing else to do and went straight home.

———

The Emiya residence wasn't some grand Japanese-style courtyard estate, nor a European castle-like mansion. Just an ordinary family house.

In that small home, Shirou lived together with Illya, Sella, and Leysritt.

Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel von Einzbern, as the parents, were often abroad on business, rarely returning to Japan.

Sella was the head maid of the Einzbern family, also Illya's governess and caretaker, the household's guardian when Irisviel was absent.

Leysritt, also a maid of the Einzberns, was the complete opposite of diligent Sella, never doing any maid duties at all, spending her days lounging at home watching TV and snacking.

And then, Illyasviel von Einzbern.

Not related by blood, but Shirou's beloved little sister.

Shirou stood at his front door, key in hand, eyes fixed on the familiar wooden frame. The afterglow of sunset fell upon him, stretching his shadow long behind him.

He stood there for a long while, then finally took a deep breath, slid the key into the lock, and gently turned it.

With a soft click, the door unlocked, slowly opening.

[T/N: Chapter by chapter, we are nearing the end.]

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