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After scrubbing off the cold sweat and repeatedly warning Arthur not to go out, Natsukawa Tora headed to school.
The body's original owner had been a second-year in the senior division of Homurahara Academy, the private school in Fuyuki City. After transmigrating, Natsukawa Tora naturally inherited that identity. At first the language barrier caused plenty of blunders, and some students still bring them up for a laugh, but by now he can manage a normal school life.
"Normal" only in talking with classmates. Academics... math and English are fine, physics and biology are okay, but Japanese class is hopeless; he can only doze off.
Wearing the dowdy uniform and carrying a briefcase-style schoolbag, Natsukawa Tora walked the usual route to school.
It was nearly nine o'clock; even with Japan's late start he was already late. Since tardiness was inevitable, he didn't rush.
"First period today is Japanese, I think... I'll skip it."
Japanese class was the one he dreaded; the balding, bespectacled teacher seemed to have it in for him ever since he'd nodded off once. He really couldn't understand the material—what could he do?
Besides—
"I don't even know if I'll stay alive."
Leaning on the railing of Fuyuki Bridge, he peeled off the glove hiding the Command Seals and sighed at the red crest on the back of his hand.
The Holy Grail War is merciless; once you take part, getting out unscathed is nearly impossible. Add that he's arguably the weakest Master, and when the fight begins all he can do is cling to life. Winning the Grail? He hasn't even considered it.
"Come to think of it, it's weird... why was I chosen?"
Not just anyone can participate. The Grail selects Masters whose hearts hold a wish strong enough that they want it granted—even a subconscious desire—so long as the wish is intense enough to catch the Grail's attention.
Conversely, people without such wishes, no matter their talent or rank as magi, are given low priority.
Natsukawa Tora is clearly the latter. He has no wish to be granted; what he wants is pure fantasy, daydreaming. He can't believe the Grail picked him for that.
If so, the reason is simple—pure dumb luck.
"You are the seventh Master, Natsukawa Tora?"
Suddenly a voice reached his ears. He spun around—and his legs nearly gave out.
Before him stood a young man with short brown hair and brown eyes, a cross pendant at his chest, brown boots on his feet. His gaze and expression were utterly devoid of emotion, like a walking corpse.
The Executioner. The False Priest—Kirei Kotomine.
Swallowing, Natsukawa took a deep breath and nodded. "I am. And you are...?"
"I work for the Church. Kirei Kotomine. May I have a moment of your time?"
"Uh... the Church is doing door-to-door sales now?"
*Act normal, stay calm, don't let him suspect*—Natsukawa repeated the mantra to himself. At this point Kotomine hasn't had his "pleasure" switch flipped by Gilgamesh; as long as he behaves normally, the risk is low.
Slightly puzzled by the boy's nerves, Kotomine continued, "You've noticed the mark on your hand, haven't you?"
"Mark... oh, you mean this?"
He raised his fully-manifested Command Seals.
"This thing's a mark? Doesn't hurt at all. I thought it was a prank; no matter how I scrubbed, it wouldn't come off."
"The Church can explain that mark. Please come with me."
"The Church... sure, but could we make it after four p.m.? I have to get to school—as you can see, I'm a student."
Yes, a student who'd just decided to skip first period.
Kotomine replied, "No need to worry. The Church will excuse you for the morning. We'll only need about an hour, then arrange a car to take you to school."
"Well..."
Wow, full-service treatment.
But think it through: the War hasn't started yet, and besides Arthur no other Servant has been summoned; the Church has no reason to move against him. They're only here to brief the ordinary participant about the Holy Grail War.
A "Beginner's Tutorial," so to speak.
On a five-star safety scale, this trip rated about four.
*(Use a Command Seal to call Arthur... no, overkill, unnecessary. The only real snag is that the Church and Tohsaka are in cahoots; since they've found me, Tokiomi Tohsaka might already have me on his radar.)*
If so, he'd have to act even more carefully from now on.
With a sigh he said, "All right, lead the way, Mr. Kotomine."
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Meanwhile, at the Tohsaka residence, Tokiomi Tohsaka received the Church's report on Natsukawa Tora.
"The seventh Master—not a magus, just an ordinary person, a simple stroke of luck?"
Reading it, Tokiomi felt only disdain and contempt.
"Victory in this Holy Grail War is already in the bag for the Tohsaka."
All seven participants were now accounted for, and more than half of them Tokiomi looked down upon.
The declining Matou Family, the heretic mage hired by Einzbern, the lucky commoner, the still-ungraduated student from Clock Tower—none posed any threat, especially with the Church on his side.
From the start, the only participant and rival he truly acknowledged was Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.
"The long-cherished wish of the Tohsaka—no, of all magi—will be fulfilled in my generation."
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