Fate: Emiya the Host

Letting Mash carry him to the playground, they found Dog Bro, still with his last breath.

The playground had been blown up twice by Shirou already. Hard to believe he managed to hang on this long.

"Sorry, Caster," Getting down from Mash's back, Shirou gripped his hand and said heavily, "I knew that against Heracles, a spear user like you would die, but I still let it happen. What an incompetent Master I am."

"Don't say that," Facing his own exit, Cú Chulainn laughed freely, "I've always liked appearing as Lancer, honestly, though I guess my luck this time was a bit bad."

Fujimaru Ritsuka shed crocodile tears, "Caster, it's all my fault. If I'd come to heal you right away…"

"It was my mistake too," Olga Marie sighed.

"No, it's because I failed to protect everyone," Mash spoke with guilt.

"Come on," Cú Chulainn hadn't thought they'd all be this sentimental, so he said loudly, "Heroes are guys who could die anytime. I've long been ready for that."

"What's more, I don't belong to this era anyway, nothing much to regret."

"Master," he looked at Shirou, "working with you was fun. Hope there's a next time. Oh right, next time make sure I get summoned as Lancer, and then we'll have a good all-out fight."

"Based on your luck, I can't make that promise," Shirou sighed, "But I'll do my best."

"Then I can rest easy," Cú Chulainn accepted his own disappearance calmly.

[A/N: Actually, I originally planned for Dog Bro to fight Rider Darius III first before a perfect exit. But I couldn't resist playing the spinning thrust blue spearman meme. Can't help it, every time I see Dog Bro I end up like this, my apologies… Next time I'll still 'try not to laugh.']

With Caster gone, everyone's mood was downcast.

It was the first time facing the complicated feelings of someone they knew exiting.

Shirou understood. A few more encounters and they'd get used to it.

They continued recuperating in the school building.

Mainly Shirou. If he didn't rest, he worried he'd die of exhaustion.

In burning Fuyuki there was no food either. Otherwise Shirou could still bug the system with food, not end up now hungry and resting.

'So this is what not eating for a day feels like… Saber, I really get you now.'

"Senpai, are you really okay?", Fujimaru Ritsuka asked worriedly, "You can barely lift your arms."

"It's fine," Shirou moved a bit.

The pain was still within tolerance. With the system patching him up with healing magecraft, he could just about manage.

So he said, "Let me sleep for two hours."

His hand was grabbed by Ritsuka, who asked seriously, "You won't sleep and never wake up, right?"

Her forehead got poked by Shirou's other hand.

"Ow!", Ritsuka let go, covering her reddened forehead.

Shirou, with a scolding tone, "Don't curse people. I'm really just going to sleep."

"I got it."

Mash clenched her fist, her normally expressionless face showing determination, "I will protect Senpai without taking a single step back."

"…Thanks," Shirou felt awkward, "but you don't need to go that far. If something happens, just wake me up."

"No way!", Mash felt deeply guilty about her earlier failure, "Even if I die, I'll protect Senpai and Master!"

"Mash."

Ritsuka was moved.

Olga Marie impatiently cut in, "Are you done yet? Whatever you want to say, say it later. Let him rest first, okay?"

Since she said it, Ritsuka quieted down.

Shirou took the chance to close his eyes.

Just in case, he set up a system condition: if any anomaly was detected, wake him up instantly and switch into auto-battle mode.

He didn't want to risk being disoriented right after waking up.

And just like that, Shirou fell asleep in a second.

Ritsuka's eyes widened in awe, "Senpai, you fall asleep so fast."

"He must've used magecraft," Olga Marie guessed, then said, "Even if Shirou's asleep, we can't sit around."

"One Berserker already drove us into a corner. I can't imagine how strong King Arthur as Saber would be. So Mash, let's train."

"No problem, Director!", Mash answered with full spirit.

"I'm in too," Ritsuka raised her hand.

"Of course you're in."

Olga Marie put her hands on her hips, "You're Mash's Master. Building a bond with her is crucial."

"Besides, if Mash can unleash her Noble Phantasm, that guy won't have to suffer so much."

Mash apologized, "Sorry, I've been dragging everyone down."

"This isn't the time to say discouraging stuff," Olga Marie said bluntly, "If you really feel sorry, hurry up and learn how to use your Noble Phantasm."

"Mm, I'll do my best!", Mash nodded firmly.

"Um," Ritsuka cut in, "Senpai told me before, Noble Phantasms are instinctive. As long as Mash follows her heart, she can release her radiance."

Olga Marie sighed, "Easier said than done. What exactly does it mean to follow one's instinct?"

"I don't know," Ritsuka answered dryly, her ahoge drooping.

If she did, she wouldn't have just watched Mash get knocked flying.

"Don't be sad, Senpai," Mash comforted her, "This is my own issue, it's not your fault."

Olga Marie looked at them both, then suddenly said, "We can only try first."

"Eh?"

Both of their gazes went to Olga Marie.

She said seriously, "I'll attack Ritsuka, Mash, you protect her. That should come from your heart, right!?"

"Oh yeah!", They both thought it made sense.

So they went to the cratered playground.

But they overlooked one thing.

———

Five minutes later.

"Why."

Olga Marie collapsed to her knees, clutching her head, "Why doesn't my magecraft work on you?"

"Um…", Mash said awkwardly, "Seems like it's because of my Magic Resistance."

"Exactly," Olga Marie covered her face, "I should've realized. All knight-class Servants have high Magic Resistance. And judging from you, it's probably no less than B, right?"

"Sorry… I didn't know," Mash looked ashamed.

"Me neither…", Ritsuka lowered her head.

Olga Marie waved them off, "Forget it, it's my fault, too self-important. Seeing Shirou's performance, I actually thought I could shake a Servant myself."

"Director, it's not your fault," Ritsuka, afraid her confidence was hit, spoke up to comfort her.

"Of course it's not my fault," Olga Marie said angrily, "If anyone's to blame, it's that pervert!"

"Hey, I can hear you," Shirou's helpless voice came into their ears.

"Senpai!"

Ritsuka was surprised with joy, "You're awake."

"You don't want to rest a little longer?", Mash said, "It's only been half an hour."

"Close enough."

Actually, their sparring had been flagged by the system as abnormal activity, which woke Shirou up.

If he hadn't canceled auto-battle quickly enough, Mash would've had to face a cold, ruthless Shirou rivaling Black Assassin in brutality.

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