Chapter 16: Chapter 16
[Dear Grandson, don't rush. Everything will come in due time.]
Shut up! Isn't it all your fault?!
"I told you, Matou-kun, you can't deny the possibility."
"Mizuji-san," Shinji propped his chin, looking serious, "I just suddenly realized that if a high school boy doesn't experience at least one romance, it would be a failure."
"Is this another one of your whims?"
"Anyway, I've decided!" Shinji clenched his fist with determination and announced his plan.
"—From now on, I'll confess to the first girl who comes along! No matter who it is!"
"Your whims are too..." Mizuji's mouth twitched, but then she noticed something, "Oh! Here comes a girl, Matou-kun!"
"Leave it to me!" Shinji gave Mizuji a thumbs up, took a deep breath, and turned around, starting to speak as he did, "Even though I don't know your name, please believe this is fate! So please go out w—"
Before he could finish, Shinji realized the girl in front of him looked familiar, especially with those distinctive twin-tails.
Sensing trouble, Shinji quickly turned back around, cleared his throat, and said, "Well, it seems practicing confessions in the hallway is a bit inappropriate, don't you think, Mizuji-san?"
"Huh? Practice? Since when was this practice?" Mizuji, acting as if she didn't catch Shinji's hint, questioned in confusion, "Matou-kun, didn't you just say you'd confess to the first girl who came up behind you?"
"Mizuji, are you doing this on purpose?"
"No, I'm just stating the facts."
"Matou... Shinji!!"
Hearing Rin's voice growl from behind him, Shinji instantly regretted his actions.
Why her? Out of everyone, why her?!
Seeing Shinji clutching his stomach and lying on the floor, Mizuji squatted down, asking kindly, "Are you alright, Matou-kun?"
"Ah, I'm mostly okay." Shinji trembled as he answered, holding his stomach.
"Seems like the rumor is true."
"Rumor? What rumor?" Shinji asked as he got up.
Mizuji stood up as well and looked at the annoyed Rin walking away, "The most popular boy in school confessed to the most popular girl back in middle school."
"Hmm?" Shinji was puzzled, "So who are the most popular boy and girl?"
"Really? You don't know?" Mizuji's eye twitched.
"Know? Me?" Shinji pointed at himself in confusion, "Is it me?"
"You seriously don't know?"
"Well, I haven't been to school much. It's odd, though."
"Odd that you're popular despite not coming to school often?"
"No, it's odd that Rin—who I call the 'over-the-hill twin-tails'—is the most popular girl."
"I think I understand why Rin doesn't like you."
"Hey, what does 'over-the-hill twin-tails' mean? Can you explain, Matou-kun?"
Hearing the question from behind, Shinji instinctively answered, "Isn't it obvious? The charm of twin-tails only lasts until you're about ten! After that, it's not cute anymore! Mizuji, why are you glaring at me? Am I wrong?"
"Well, I need to go to the club now. I'll inform the president and the teacher about your resignation."
With that, Mizuji left. At the same time, Shinji finally realized who had asked the question.
Turning around, Shinji saw Rin smiling with narrowed eyes, with several stress lines appearing on her forehead and under her eyes.
This is really bad.
And thus, the infamous pair of "enemies" in Homurahara Academy was officially formed, becoming a long-lasting topic of conversation.
As time passed, three months flew by. With the end of autumn, Shirou's injuries had completely healed.
The cool, refreshing autumn weather gradually gave way to the cold of early winter. One chilly morning, Shirou arrived at the school gate, where he saw Shinji wearing a brown wool coat over his school uniform, lost in thought.
"Shinji, I want to talk about Sakura..."
"Emiya." Shinji cut Shirou off without turning around, murmuring softly.
"Hmm? What's up?"
"The autumn school uniforms for the girls," Shinji turned his head slightly, looking serious, "the skirts are still too long! Shorten them by twenty centimeters and they'd be perfect!"
Seeing Shinji's serious expression, Shirou sighed and complained, "How can you say that with such a serious face? Were you thinking about this the whole time?"
"Don't you think I'm right, Emiya?!"
"No, absolutely not! And why do you always involve me in these conversations?"
"As men, you all secretly agree with me! Especially the boys in this school who are in their hormonal teenage years!"
"You have a twisted idea of what it means to be a man!"
"Aren't they all secretly harboring pink, fluffy dreams?"
"No, they aren't!"
"Hey, you! Do you want a girlfriend and a sweet high school life?"
The boy Shinji suddenly addressed blushed and stammered.
"See, Emiya? Proof!" Shinji said, putting an arm around the boy's shoulder. "Everyone feels this way, but they're too shy to admit it!"
"I told you, no! And why are you talking about this at the school gate? Because of you, people think I'm weird too!"
"Emiya, it's just human nature! When will you accept your true self?! Stop lying to yourself, Emiya!"
"Shut up already—!!" Shirou yelled, frustrated.
"Shouting at the school gate so early in the morning, Emiya, Matou!"
Seeing Issei approaching, Shirou sighed and greeted him, "Morning, Issei. Shinji was just saying some strange—"
Before Shirou could finish, Shinji stepped forward, looking at Issei seriously, "Issei, I have a suggestion for the school uniforms."
"Oh?"
"No matter if it's summer or autumn uniforms, don't you think the skirts for the girls are too long?"
"Really?" Issei adjusted his glasses and then pulled out a ruler from behind his back, "Did you forget all your temple training?!"
"You brought the ruler?!"
"Especially for you!"
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