"Let's skip training today." "You were hurt pretty badly." "my injuries pose no problem." "Shirou." "Are you all right?" "I'm okay." "do not hesitate to speak up." "Sure." "559)}#11 A Visitor Approaches Lightly" "That's a relief..." "The pain is gone." "I guess." "I think I'll make breakfast as thanks." "Shirou?" "Kuzuki-sensei has called in sick today." "Seriously?" "Kuzuki-sensei did?" "Isn't it supposed to snow today?" "Sweet!" "Study hall!" "everyone... this is your World History class let's have an English pop quiz!" "No quizzes!" "Tyrant!" "Taiga!" "Shut up!" "it'll just turn into playtime!" "So graciously accept your teacher's kindness!" "School has now ended." "Students are not permitted to remain on campus after school hours." "Please leave immediately." "Should I be worried?" "it feels heavier." "I forgot to talk to Tohsaka." "I doubt there were any major developments." "Sorry I'm home late." "I'll have lunch ready in a minute." "Shirou?" "That's the first time I've ever broken a dish." "Sorry." "I'll clean it up right away." "Don't worry about it." "Just sit at the table." "Shirou." "It's all right." "I will clean it up." "Maybe I am tired..." "Thanks." "Coming!" "T-Tohsaka?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm here because you stood me up at our regular check-in." "Stood you up?" "I admit that I forgot to meet you..." "But did we agree on regular check-ins?" "Sorry!" "I apologize for forgetting." "I should check in with you regularly." "Let's use this opportunity to hold our meeting here today." "we were just about to have lunch!" "That's perfect." "I haven't had lunch yet so I'll join you." "not so fast!" "our only option against Caster is to resort to using force." "I believe so." "There is a powerful barrier against spiritual beings erected around that mountain." "The front gate is the only way in." "Caster will be waiting." "I suppose... why are you sitting so far away?" "Because you poached my usual place!" "the question is how we'll corner Caster." "she might take out all of Ryuudou Temple." "that is something Caster could do." "don't say scary stuff like that so casually!" "Are you saying that Caster will self-destruct if we corner her?" "yes." "I believe she would." "You two are totally in sync... it's this late already?" "I guess we should wrap things up." "I need to get dinner started." "Emiya-kun?" "Why are you staring at me?" "I was just..." "I get it... so I don't bother you there but inside your own home you revert to your natural instincts." "so it's a perfectly ordinary reaction." "isn't it?" "Saber is a girl." "Fujimura-sensei and Sakura are always coming over." "I shouldn't be any different." "okay?" "when we've yet to settle on a strategy?" "is it not?" "I see no issue with her staying here." "too... fine." "But Fuji-nee..." "Fujimura-sensei will probably show up later so you'll have to persuade her yourself." "I know." "so don't worry about that." "Don't blame me if this blows up in your face." "I'm home!" "Welcome back." "it's cold!" "I think it's gonna snow!" "you're making a hot pot!" "That's my Shirou!" "You're freezing!" "I bet you're awake now!" "Be careful!" "I'm working over a fire here!" "hurry!" "Hot pot!" "Hot pot!" "Hot pot!" "get off me!" "Fujimura-sensei." "it's Tohsaka-san!" "It's unusual to run into you at Shirou's place..." "Hang on." "What are you doing at Shirou's place?" "!" "Tohsaka-san!" "What are you doing here at this hour?" "This is thoughtless of you!" "What am I doing here?" "I'm being treated to dinner at Emiya-kun's place." "I think it's far more thoughtless don't you?" "I-I'm the household chaperone!" "I was left in charge by Emiya-kun's father so we're practically family!" "I see." "Emiya-kun and I will be studying for a test so don't mind us." "Ouch..." "Emiya-kun!" "What's the meaning of this?" "don't push yourself to do so." "What you call Emiya-kun is none of my concern." "did you hear about this from Sakura-chan?" "Who knows?" "anything that Matou-san told me must be treated as confidential." "But I hope it's exactly as you think." "and match." "I'll leave these here." "thanks." "Shall I do the dishes?" "It won't be fair if I do nothing in return for dinner." "just owe me one." "is Emiya-kun always this clumsy?" "he's never broken a dish." "I bet he's self-conscious because you're here... naturally." "Emiya-kun... so go get some rest." "I'm fine." "so go drink some tea." "Are you sure you shouldn't help?" "she's gonna hate you." "you idiot?" "I didn't invite her over!" "I don't really care if Tohsaka hates me." "Huh?" "Where's Tohsaka?" "I believe she went out into the courtyard." "The courtyard?" "Tohsaka?" "I like your Bounded Field." "you can sense human emotion in this one." "Care to join me?" "What?" "I was just curious." "This house is unique." "It occurred to me that maybe you're better off the way you are." "you mean?" "but maybe that's exactly it." "I don't know what Emiya Kiritsugu was like as a mage but this compound is incredibly natural." "it's quite open." "It's like you're welcome to come and go freely." "It isn't like that at your house?" "it isn't." "it doesn't let you leave." "but it isn't something I can change." "I like it the way it is." "I was probably chosen as the heir because my personality is this way." "Was it hard for you?" "Training to be a mage?" "but I never found it hard." "learning new things was fun." "Didn't I just tell you?" "That's how I'm wired." "it's misplaced." "Okay." "Then why are you at school?" "isn't it sort of pointless?" "but it's not pointless." "It's fun to be a student." "I'm a hedonist." "Succeeding my father is my duty but I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it." "Even the reason for my partnership with you is because you're interesting." "I see." "I'm glad you're having fun." "Thanks." "right?" "Why aren't you saying anything?" "I just..." "Emiya-kun." "Because I might have completely misunderstood you." "I guess I never thought of mage training as fun." "Even magic itself." "I was happy." "I might be able to help someone someday... just like Kiritsugu." "That's why I studied magic." "that's my reason." "you didn't study magic for yourself?" "though?" "Because it makes me happy to be useful to others." "not having fun!" "what I'm asking is if you personally enjoy it." "I don't care about others" "I'm asking if there's anything about magic that you consider fun!" "It's hard to say if I personally enjoy it..." "I sort of feel like I don't deserve more wishes..." "Hey!" "Give me a straight answer!" "Well..." "I guess I don't." "I'm so angry!" "So basically but never focusing on yourself!" "hey—" "Shut up!" "No backtalk!" "but I never imagined you were this alike!" "Tohsaka..." "Why are you so angry?" "I'm angry because you don't get why I'm angry!" "All right." "That settles it." "I'll make you admit defeat!" "You're going to go back to chasing me around?" "I am!" "I'll give you a taste of something special I've been saving!" "Tohsaka!" "right?" "I'll walk you." "Tohsaka!" "Tohsaka"!" "what are you wearing?" "I spoke to Archer and had him bring me an overnight bag." "so it's fine." "I'll use the guest room on the right." "Trace on." "Tracing fundamental structure." "Strengthening component materials." "More magic training tonight?" "Kiritsugu taught me to never miss a day." "But I guess that was the only thing I really learned from him." "Only that?" "He taught you nothing of the wisdom or behavior expected of mages?" "No..." "After all the guy who was supposed to teach me wasn't really like a mage himself." "He was a poor excuse for an adult." "enjoy it to the fullest and then he'd play around like a kid." "didn't you?" "I looked up to him." "He was carefree and nothing like a mage" "Kiritsugu was a true magic-user." "Shirou..." "What is wrong with your left side?" "Saber?" "Yes." "It's just a little numb." "It isn't slowing me down at all." "Then the cause is..." "I think it's a reaction to the projection magic I did last night." "Is most of your body still numb?" "Archer..." "That's hardly surprising." "Archer?" "I thought we had a non-aggression pact." "Stop right there." "you must be prepared for the consequences." "Saber." "He doesn't want to fight." "But he..." "It's okay." "Archer?" "you didn't drop by to say hello." "and it really is true." "right?" "I might be of some assistance." "You're fortunate." "I expected to see necrosis but something that was closed has been opened." "Something that was closed has been opened?" "Circuits you were meant to use from the beginning had grown dormant from neglect." "The numbness is only temporary." "By suddenly flooding circuits you never used with mana at full power you sent them into a state of shock." "This means that the circuits have returned to an active state." "That should do it." "You'll recover in a few days." "When you can move properly again you should be a better mage than before." "Archer." "I went through something similar." "I lost the use of one arm." "Wait." "What?" "I want to ask you something." "Let your ideals drag you to your death." "What did you mean by that?" "It seems self-explanatory." "There's nothing to add." "Then what the hell are you fighting for?" "That's obvious." "My reason for fighting is simply for myself." "Just for yourself?" "That's right." "If your desire is to fulfill the ideal of not hurting anyone then do as you wish." "But only if that desire is truly yours." "If you fight of your own free will any resulting crime or punishment is of your own making." "Accepting them is a part of that ideal." "But if that desire was borrowed from another the ideals you uphold are mere fantasies." "There must be a reason for fighting." "But that reason must never be an ideal." "you can only save ideals." "That doesn't entail helping others." "A reason to fight is the desire to save something." "Emiya Shirou?" "But salvation by the hands of another is not salvation." "Such salvation is like money." "it passes into another's hands." "It's true that you can probably achieve your wish to save others." "But there's no hope of saving yourself in doing so." "still clinging to ideals that are not your own." "That is why your ideals are meaningless." "Nothing comes of helping others." "you can save neither others nor yourself." "A lie of a life." "You're wrong..." "That isn't true." "You don't have to go to such extremes to help others!" "You truly are a foolish child!" "do you?" "I promised myself that I'd fight to stop people like you!" "1)}Next Time The Final Decision" "Shirou!"