Bright sunlight streamed through the window into Shirou's bedroom. Feeling the warmth emanating from the sun, Shirou slowly woke from his sleep.
"It's been so long since I've slept this comfortably!"
Since arriving in Orario, Shirou had been striving daily to enhance his strength, often rising early and sleeping late. This had even changed his habit of sleeping in, a habit he had during his time as Shirou. Sleeping until he naturally woke up, like now, seemed like a distant memory.
Sitting up from the bed, he walked to the window and looked out. The usually somewhat empty courtyard was now bustling with activity.
"As expected, after everyone returned from the expedition, Twilight Manor instantly became lively."
Watching the Familia members moving about in the courtyard, Shirou couldn't help but chuckle. He truly enjoyed this lively atmosphere.
"Hey! Shirou! Look over here!"
Hearing someone call his name, Shirou looked over. It was Tiona calling out to him. And by her side stood Ais, Tione, and Lefiya.
Shirou smiled and waved back at them.
"Come down!"
Seeing that Shirou had noticed her greeting, Tiona continued to shout loudly.
"I knew they'd be looking for me!"
After last night's party, Shirou had become familiar with them and had a rough idea of their personalities. If he didn't go down, they'd probably come up themselves to escort him down shortly! Thinking that he was going to go down anyway, Shirou nodded at them and then went to wash up.
After tidying himself, Shirou, dressed in casual clothes, soon appeared before the four.
"Good morning, everyone! Ais, Tiona, Tione!"
He greeted the three who were training, then walked to the side and smiled at Lefiya, who was also watching them train, saying,
"Good morning, Lefiya!"
"Ah! Good morning, Emiya-san!"
A somewhat shy Lefiya, hearing Shirou's greeting, quickly turned around and replied.
"Don't be so nervous, Lefiya. We're all comrades; just be natural."
Although he knew that Lefiya was easily shy and timid at this time, he didn't expect her to be so shy even when greeting a somewhat unfamiliar comrade.
"Sorry!"
Looking at Lefiya bowing her head, as if trying to bury it in the ground, Shirou felt utterly helpless.
"Lefiya, Shirou is a comrade of our Familia! Getting so tense won't do you any good, you know!"
Seeing Shirou approach, the three who were sparring also stopped their movements and gathered around.
Look at that, what a natural. Watching Tiona, who had her arm on his shoulder and called him 'Shirou' repeatedly, then looking at Lefiya, who was still somewhat shy despite everyone's encouragement, Shirou could only conclude that people just couldn't be compared.
"Don't be afraid, Lefiya. Everyone will protect you."
Watching Ais gently caress Lefiya's head, and Lefiya's eyes sparkling under Ais's touch. As expected, only Ais can do it. Truly you, the golden-colored elf, Lefiya!
"Speaking of which, since you've finally returned today, why don't you rest more?"
"Of course, to maintain our equipment! And then we'll go shopping in town. How about it, want to come?"
Tiona, hands on her hips, asked with a grin.
"Equipment maintenance and shopping?"
Honestly, although Shirou hadn't really explored Orario much, that didn't stop him from not wanting to shop with these four women. Shopping with women was already tiring, and these few were all top-tier adventurers. Oh, except Lefiya!
In short, Shirou was very reluctant, but there was no way out. Looking at the two sisters resting their arms on his shoulders and Ais pulling at his sleeve, Shirou knew these women weren't giving him any option to refuse.
"Of course, I'd be glad to!"
On the bustling street, Shirou sighed, walking at the very back of the group.
Looking at the shopping bags in his hand, he could only think, just as I expected.
Heh, women!
But these were minor issues. After all, he wasn't bothered by this much weight now.
What concerned him more were the strange glances from the surroundings.
"Look, it's him!"
"Is that the legendary Loki Familia newcomer?"
"The legendary archer with attacks comparable to magic swords!"
Thanks to his LV.2 abilities, Shirou was well aware of the discussions around him.
It only happened yesterday, how is it that everyone on the street knows about it today?
Are the people of Orario that idle?
Sigh!
Life is hard, meow meow sighs!
"Are the discussions around you that troubling?"
At some point, the quartet who were walking ahead had fallen back to Shirou's side.
Hearing Tiona's question, Shirou's face was full of helplessness.
"This position, being the center of people's discussions, I'm really not used to it!"
"That means you still need to adapt!"
Tione, who had moved to Shirou's side, continuously patted his shoulder, comforting him with a smile:
"As long as you have strength, as long as you're strong, you're destined to be the subject of people's conversations. You'll get used to it later!"
Listening to their persuasion and looking at the surrounding gazes, Shirou sighed and said,
"I really don't want to get used to this kind of life!"
"Ah~!"
Looking at the fried pOttarto ball offered to him, Shirou looked at its owner, Ais, with a puzzled expression.
As if sensing Shirou's confusion, Ais calmly stated,
"Red bean cream-filled fried pOttarto ball. You won't be unhappy after eating it!"
"Eat."
Looking at the fried pOttarto ball offered to his mouth, Shirou felt a surge of resentment enveloping him.
He saw that the surrounding onlookers, who had been gossiping, had all gone dark, staring at him with glowing red eyes.
And the strongest resentment came from behind Ais, from Lefiya's position.
"Hurry and eat, newcomer-kun! This is your seniors' comfort!"
Ah, those two idiotic Amazon sisters are still fanning the flames.
Hey, hey, hey!
What are you guys doing? Ais offered this on her own; it has nothing to do with me!
Is it really okay for you to threaten me like this?
But then again, I respond well to kindness, not coercion!
Ignoring the threatening gazes of the crowd, Shirou calmly took a bite of the fried pOttarto ball offered to him.
Delicious!
Truly delicious!
He never thought such a small fried pOttarto ball could be so tasty!
Swallowing the pOttarto ball in his mouth, Shirou grinned and said,
"It's very tasty, thank you for the comfort, Ais!"
"It's nothing. We're comrades."
"But I have one question I want to ask you!"
Hearing Ais's words, Shirou could roughly guess what she wanted to ask.
"Why are you so strong!"
"Strong?"
Hearing Ais's question, Shirou's memory involuntarily drifted back to that world, that war.
Am I strong?
Then why did Sakura die?
Am I strong?
Then why couldn't I protect Miyu's life?
Am I strong?
Then why am I here pursuing greater strength?
Because I'm still very weak!
"I'm not strong!"
Although by this world's levelling standards, I've indeed progressed very quickly.
But compared to my goal, I'm still very far!
Hearing Shirou's answer, Ais immediately intended to retort, but before she could speak, Shirou's voice came again.
"If there's anything about me that could be called 'strong,' I think it's probably my conviction!"
"That conviction to achieve something, even if it means becoming an enemy of the world!"
"That is my true strength!"
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter