Chapter 163: Firm in His Belief
"You..."
Hearing his unexpected answer, Yu Ji froze on the spot.
"Don't misunderstand, Yu Ji-senpai, what I'm saying here is not romantic love between a man and a woman. I may be a bit shallow, but I don't just want to simply win you over."
"I just, as someone with empathy, want to try to love those who need help, those who are feeling lonely."
Eikou shifted on the bed to a more comfortable posture, relaxing his stiff neck.
"Yu Ji-senpai, you're neither human nor a god, you're just a long-lived race adrift among mankind. To you, love is something both distant and precious. And when you finally managed to have Xiang Yu as your lover, the other side departed before you. That was a very heavy and cruel blow to you."
"And now, you're once again facing the immense danger of being assimilated by the Singularity..."
"So... uh, how do I put it..."
Eikou scratched his hair, suddenly not knowing how to continue.
"In short... I don't intend to seek love from you, nor do I want to replace Xiang Yu's place in your heart."
"But, 'I will never turn a blind eye when others are suffering the most; if someone loses everything, then I will be by that person's side, loving them unconditionally, at least accompanying them through the hardest time,' that's what I believe."
Yu Ji fell silent, then with a guarded tone pointed out: "You think you're some kind of psychologist? This is nothing more than false kindness to satisfy yourself."
"Haha, that's true, because I do have a bit of a personality that likes to sacrifice for others,"
Eikou laughed,
"Anyway, it's just like a certain Dragon Witch, even if you girls want to kick me away, not intending to rely on me, I will still rush in time and again to help. I help others not to please anyone, but simply to realize my own self-worth!"
"..."
On the other end of the phone, the girl sank into a silence full of inner conflict.
Truthfully, Eikou wasn't very certain himself, because now the other was merely a character being manipulated by the Singularity.
Perhaps she didn't even clearly remember what she had been through, about Sesshouin and Xiang Yu, as well as the situation of this Singularity — how much she remembered was truly doubtful.
It was precisely because of this uncertainty that she refused to cooperate.
"In short,"
Eikou said seriously,
"Senpai, please join this Holy Grail War under the title of my girlfriend!"
"I don't seek any love from you, your body, your affection, I don't care about any of that! I only fight to uphold my belief, I only hope you can fight alongside me, I need your help, and I will always be by your side to overcome this difficult and sorrowful time!"
Yu Ji fell into a long silence, as if she never expected him to give such an answer.
Time passed like that for a while,
She looked a little flustered, using her book to cover half of her face,
"Clearly you're a handsome guy, but your intelligence doesn't match your looks at all, doing things that bring no return — what good does it do for you?"
"Because my heart also has to be handsome, right!" Eikou said with a smile.
"...do as you wish then."
Yu Ji covered her face with the book, but the tips of her ears showing were slightly red, she seemed very heated.
"If it can make you shut up, then I'll participate."
[The affection of Yu Ji towards you has increased.]
[Current affection towards you: 83%]
Eikou was astonished, it had risen so much in an instant.
Sincerity truly was an eternal trump card, or was this girl in fact just as easily persuaded as Jeanne Alter?
[You sense her shy yet tense trust, along with an even subtler emotion,]
[On Yu Ji, you perceive some unique traits.]
[You have learned a new skill, 「Presence Concealment E」]
[At this very moment, you seem to feel another trust responding to you, granting you support.]
[That person has voluntarily imparted to you a new skill, 「Tactical Body B」]
[You vaguely feel that you understand who has imparted this skill to you, but you are not clear on how exactly they did it.]
[But you indeed feel that warm yet resolute support.]
"... Thank you."
[In short, you have successfully persuaded Yu Ji to participate in the Holy Grail War of Love tomorrow.]
[After half a month, finally the intentions of the two of you have found some resonance.]
[Thus, you sink into a deep sleep, awaiting tomorrow's opening battle...]
...
The clock hands slowly turned, and the calendar shifted to the next square.
[The time has reached May 15.]
[This is the last day to save Yu Ji, and also the opening day of the Holy Grail War of Love.]
[That morning, you walk with heavy but firm steps to the office of Principal Da Vinci, reporting the events of the past days, especially what happened last night.]
[It is clear that Sherlock Holmes and Da Vinci are extremely worried for you, Da Vinci even advised you not to participate in this Holy Grail War, but you still resolve to step in, embracing the mindset of either success or perishing in order to claim the championship!]
[You must stay steadfast in your belief.]
[Thus, with the permission of Principal Da Vinci, you carry out Rayshift alone.]
...
Romance Prison Singularity, Tsukumihara Academy.
When Eikou was rayshifted in, what met his eyes was a familiar school campus.
It was not the campus of Chaldea Academy, but the old campus of a certain Moon Holy Grail War.
Decorated in a style overflowing with the atmosphere of youth and nostalgia, clean, neat, and orderly. Amidst the scattering cherry blossoms was the laughter and chatter of students, all wearing coffee-colored suits as school uniforms, as if each one was clad in a Mystic Code of Tsukumihara.
Just one glance and it was clear this was the work of Sesshouin Kiara.
The moment he stepped into this Singularity, Eikou immediately felt the atmosphere of love and youth, and at the same time felt himself being bound tightly by an invisible chain.
Clearly, just like the other Servants, he had been bound by the core rules of this Singularity.
"How is it, Mr. Mochizuki?"
At once, contact was made with Chaldea Academy, Holmes' projection was transmitted.
"Mr. Mochizuki, can you hear us clearly?" he asked.
"Not clearly, not clearly."
"I do enjoy your sense of humor, but it would be better to be serious for now." Holmes said, "How do you feel at the moment?"
"There's a sensation of being tightly bound, as if it's telling me that once I step into this Singularity I shouldn't dream of leaving easily… If I had to give an example, it's exactly like the feeling I had when I stepped into Morgan's house."
He thought while analyzing:
"If I stay here too long, I'm afraid I'll also be assimilated into a component of this Singularity…"
"…Alright, I roughly understand what you mean."
Holmes nodded.
"Miss Da Vinci here has already scouted the route for you. In the school auditorium there are many Spirit Origin responses, that should be the place where the Holy Grail War will take place. And Yu Ji's Spirit Origin reaction is already very close to you. No, it should be said… right before your eyes."
Smack!
Suddenly, someone struck Eikou's head hard.
He turned around to look.
What met his eyes was a literary girl, with braided hair, holding a book, exuding a gloomy and indifferent air, with beautiful crimson eyes.
The other party had her hands behind her back, outwardly pretending as if nothing had happened, yet radiating a reserved air of not daring to touch.
"I've been waiting for you here for a long time, I even thought you weren't coming anymore, human."
Yu Ji spoke coldly.
"Then shall we go?"
"Let's go."
[You and Yu Ji step into the school auditorium together, deciding to stand side by side and participate in this Holy Grail War reserved for couples.]