บท 289: C289
"Hey, Shirou, come check this out! Look at the massive rack on the female protagonist in this manga!" Issei eagerly attempted to show him an explicit manga.
Shirou: "..."
As he glanced at Issei's excited expression, he couldn't help but but sigh. It had only been a few years since they last saw each other, yet he couldn't believe how much Issei had changed.
Recalling the Issei he knew before he left, Shirou couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Back then, Issei was straightforward and had no interest in such things. He possessed a serious and solemn personality. But now, upon his return, he discovered that Issei had transformed...
Into a pervert!
He had no idea what had happened, but he noticed a few boys from the class wearing sympathetic and odd smiles while gradually getting closer to Issei. Meanwhile, the girls directed disdainful gazes at Issei and Shirou, their expressions resembling that of looking at maggots.
While he wasn't particularly bothered by how others perceived him, this sensation was particularly unpleasant!
Since his return, Shirou had reunited with his old circle of friends. However, he couldn't help but notice the significant changes that had taken place. Issei had undergone a remarkable transformation, and Shinji was no longer in Fuyuki City. Rumor had it that Shinji had gone to study in Britain.
While the Tohsaka family estate remained, it seemed that the residents had relocated elsewhere, making it impossible for Shirou to catch up with Tokiomi.
On the other hand, the Emiya family continued to reside in the Shinto town of Fuyuki City.
Fuyuki City had changed a lot since his last visit, both in its places and its people. Take Issei, for instance. He never would've thought that this guy could turn out to be so perverted and obscene.
And then there was Kiritsugu. He had transformed into a well-known playwright, novelist, and scriptwriter, receiving fan letters on a daily basis.
But it made sense, considering his own experiences could provide him with the material he needed to craft those scripts.
Shirou glanced at Issei, who persistently attempted to show him an adult manga, and remarked, "Hey, Issei, it's time for class."
"Uh... Fine," Issei responded with a hint of reluctance, reluctantly closing the manga. His comrades nearby, engaged in conversation while sneakily stealing glances, couldn't help but inwardly sigh.
"I'll catch up with you guys during lunch break," Issei stated, already making his exit.
The girls cast disdainful glances at Shirou, while the boys kept a safe distance, not daring to get too close. Among the comrades who shared similar interests, there were knowing smiles whenever Issei brought in adult manga to show. However, they hesitated to approach Shirou or engage in more discussions.
After all, societal norms could be quite intimidating. Not everyone possessed the ability to calmly endure the scrutinizing gazes of others.
After a while, the class rep collected the assignments, and then the teacher finally showed up to start the class.
Around noon, Issei hurriedly made his way over to Shirou's desk, ready to share his wisdom on "gentlemanly" matters.
Shirou, somewhat speechless, asked, "Hey, why are you suddenly so obsessed on this stuff? Does your dad approve of it?"
"Believe it or not, I've never been caught by my dad reading this stuff," Issei boasted with a hint of pride.
"But how do you manage to get away with it?"
Issei chuckled, ready to divulge his secret. "Well, I always hide in the master's room, and I stash the books under his bed. My dad never suspects a thing."
Shirou couldn't help but voice his concern, "And the master doesn't react at all?"
Issei waved off the concern, responding with a hint of amusement, "Nah, you're being absurd. The master is always deep in meditation. Unless I pull off something outrageous like planting poisonous mushrooms on his lotus platform, just like you did when we were kids, he won't bat an eye."
He was genuinely puzzled and asked, "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I've tested it out myself."
"And what happened?" Shirou asked curiously.
"I was treated like a punching bag and got beaten up real bad..."
Shirou couldn't help but silently applaud Issei's talent for attracting trouble. It reminded him of his own knack for finding trouble back in the day!
"By the way, I brought some cream-filled bread. Want some?"
"No thanks, Sakura made me a lunchbox." Shirou pulled out a pink lunchbox from his backpack.
"Having a little sister must be great!" Issei said with a hint of envy in his voice.
Shirou smiled but remained silent, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.
To be honest, he still felt a certain disconnect and discomfort with the people and things of this era. Maybe Issei thought bonding over adult manga would bridge that gap, but Shirou didn't find it necessary. He had always been adaptable to different situations and environments.
"Ding-ling-ling—"
The sound of a loud bell echoed across the campus, signaling the end of classes. Instantly, the air was filled with a bustling commotion. Students streamed out of different buildings, engaged in lively conversations and laughter as they made their way toward the school gate.
Some students who were involved in various clubs, lingered behind to indulge in club activities with their friends.
Shirou, a member of the Go-Home Club, exited the classroom and leisurely strolled toward the school gate.
Sakura stood patiently at the gate, awaiting Shirou's arrival.
"Brother," Sakura called out as she spotted Shirou approaching.
Shirou acknowledged her with a nod, and together they set off to collect their younger sister from the nearby elementary school.
Homurahara Academy was a unique combination of several schools within Shinto town. However, the elementary, middle, and high school sections were not housed on a single area but instead had their own separate areas.
Walking side by side, Sakura clutched her school bag and moved closer to Shirou, exuding an air of dependence as they made their way.
Taking the lead in their conversation, she asked, "Brother, how was school today?"
"It was fine," Shirou responded. He then cast a helpless glance at Sakura and added, "Sakura, it's been over a year. I've already adjusted to modern life. There's no need to worry about me like this."
"Uh... I see," she replied softly, her gaze shifting downward.
The two of them didn't talk much, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward.
However, Sakura couldn't help but feel a tinge of frustration. She wasn't the type of girl who possessed an effortlessly cheerful demeanor or the ability to initiate conversations easily. If she were, it would have made communicating with her brother a lot easier.
As they reached the elementary school, the sound of Ritsuka's teacher giving homework instructions echoed from inside the classroom. Shirou and Sakura waited patiently outside the classroom door.
Unexpectedly, playful noises emerged from the hallway.
"Illya, I've got you now! Prepare yourself... hehehe!"
"Please, Tatsuko, don't... don't do that!"
The two girls continued their playful chase, running and giggling through the corridor until they unexpectedly collided with Shirou near the staircase.
The impact caused both girls to stagger backward, but Shirou, displaying quick reflexes, swiftly caught them by their shoulders.
"Um..." The girl, both familiar and unfamiliar, with snow-like white hair wore a lingering expression of fear. She quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you... Huh? Fujimaru senpai?"
He advised, "You shouldn't run and play in the hallway."
"Oh... Oh... I'm sorry, Fujimaru senpai," Illya quickly apologized.
Shirou's gaze shifted to the blonde girl with a bun hairstyle who stood beside Illya. She appeared to be the carefree and spirited type.
However, as soon as she noticed Shirou looking at her, she became startled, her eyes welling up with tears. She swiftly apologized, "Ah... I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
"Tatsuko, you're so foolish. I told you not to run and play in the hallway!"
"Yeah, I said the same thing." A few more girls made their way down the corridor, evidently Illya's friends.
"I'll be heading off, Fujimaru senpai," Illya said with a smile.
"Do you want me to accompany you home?" Shirou offered.
"No need, Dad is waiting outside!" Illya waved farewell to Shirou, and together with her group of friends, they playfully exited the classroom building.
Shirou watched Illya's figure as she departed.
"What's the matter, brother? Why are you staring at Uncle Emiya's child?" Sakura asked curiously, her gaze also following Illya's figure.
"Oh, it's nothing," he replied, shaking his head and averting his gaze.
On the other side, Illya couldn't help but glance back at Shirou, her expression brimming with curiosity. She had always found Fujimaru senpai to be rather peculiar.
How should she put it?
Their families, the Fujimarus and the Emiyas, were quite familiar with each other. Illya had grown up with Sakura by her side. Moreover, Sakura had borrowed a beautiful and ornate scabbard from Illya's house.
However, one day, a big brother suddenly emerged in the Fujimaru family whom Illya didn't recognize. Rumor had it that he was the long-lost child of the Fujimaru family.
Regardless of whether it was her dad or her mom, both of them seemed to hold a deep respect for this big brother.
However, Illya couldn't shake the feeling that this brother was somewhat intimidating.
It wasn't like he had done anything terrible or anything. It's just... he had this commanding presence, you know? He seemed so imposing and hard to approach. The way he carried himself made it feel like she was standing in front of someone important.
Illya couldn't help but hesitate to get too close to this big brother-like figure. But oddly enough, there was a nagging feeling that she had seen him somewhere before. It was as if there was another voice inside her, whispering that he was actually approachable and not to be feared.
Still, Illya always kept a cautious distance.
Because, honestly, she was finding it pretty difficult to deal with him.
"Illya, snap out of it! Let's go teach that silly Tatsuko a lesson together!"
"Forget about it. Tatsuko's already in tears."
"Well, isn't that normal for her to cry?"
"Hmph! This isn't just crying, it's the tears of a hero growing stronger!"
"Silly girl..."
Laughter from the girls echoed down the hallway.
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