15 Chapter 14: The Day After

Despite there being a newcomer at the Emiya Estate, the morning went pretty much the same as it always did. The main difference is that an air of reflectance was present at the breakfast table. After the excitement of Rider joining them wore off, Illya revealed the true nature of the 8th Campione. After examining the circumstances of the other events the 8th was involved in, the group other than Illya and Rider came to a realization.

"We might have overdone it yesterday," Rin slowly admitted.

"Not might, Nee-san, we did overdo it," Sakura responded.

Shirou was deep in thought until he spoke, "Illya, any chance you could get him here without the mage noticing? We did overdo it with Kusanagi Godou, but if anything we understated it with the mage. Godou appears to be the type who can take an apology without interpreting it as an admission of weakness, but the mage would have it go directly to her ego."

Illya nodded, "I'll need a concealment talisman, but it shouldn't be an issue."

Shirou responded immediately, "done."

After the others agreed on a plan, Rider spoke up, "if there is nothing else important, I have a day-to-day name for myself."

The others focused onto her, "well then, tell us."

Rider straightened herself and told them the name she came up with, "Adalinda Matou."

Shirou thought briefly and said, "I can sell that name being real. Welcome to the Emiya Estate, Miss Matou."

Illya went to school the same she always did. When she met Yuri Mariya, she told her about what had happened with Godou and Nyx, minus the part about Rider. For Rider, she told Yuri the made-up background for her and the day-to-day name. Yuri thought that it seemed random for a family member to pop up from nowhere, but Illya told her not to worry. Then Illya explained her plan to get Godou back to the Emiya Estate without Erica so a proper conversation and apology could be had.

"Are you sure this plan will work?" questioned Yuri.

"As long as you are prompt, it should work. They won't remain at their desks all day and if we beat them to school, we won't have to wait for them to," answered Illya, a devilish smile on her face.

"But dealing directly with a Campione that isn't your brother, what if I..." Yuri started to protest when Illya placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and cut her off, "Godou is still the same boy we saw every time he picked up Shizuka. He is not Voban."

Yuri nodded but still looked scared. Illya wrapped her arms around her and calmly spoke to her, "the worst that happens is that we need to try to contact him again. Have faith in yourself. You are no longer the frightened little girl in front of that old wolf. You can do this."

Yuri cheered up, slapped herself on her cheeks and pumped herself up, "alright, let's do this."

Upon arrival at school, they discovered that neither Godou or Erica were present and were able to discretely hide notes in both their desks.

They then sat at their own desks and went about the day like nothing was wrong. Erica found her note first and during one of the breaks between classes walk past Illya and whispered, "I'll be there." Godou, on the other hand, only found his note just before school ended and waited for Erica to leave before reading it.

"Meet me just outside the Emiya Estate immediately after school. Yesterday was rushed by the presence of the Gorgonian and its master. The 5th wishes to meet with you without the bad influence of the Diavolo Rosso interfering. He gives his word that unless you attack him first, he will not attack you. Failure to comply without a 100% valid reason will result in him needing to intrude into your own life."

As much as Godou wanted to not comply, he understood why another meeting was needed. The previous meeting amounted to little more than Shirou taking the Gorgonian and telling him to stay out of the situation. What would happen from now on had to be discussed between the two of them.

Godou also wanted to know why he referred to Erica as his bad influence. It could be that she would greatly influence the negotiations. The way it was written suggested that she wouldn't be present, but how could they be sure.

It wasn't until he saw Erica and Illya exit the room together that he understood how the writer could be sure that Erica would be occupied. He doubted that Erica would be able to resist being called out after what was said yesterday.

Godou headed to the place he followed Illya to the day before. He hoped it was the "Emiya Estate" because if it wasn't he didn't know how to find it.

When he arrived at the front gate, he was greeted by the sight of the longtime and almost inseparable companion of Illya, Yuri Mariya.

"You wouldn't happen to be the one who wrote the note are you?" questioned Godou, hoping he'ed only have deal Erica and Illya inside his own classroom. His hopes were dashed when Yuri nodded and spoke the words "follow me."

Godou glumly followed Yuri into the estate, wondering about what his future held. Upon coming up to the door where the discussion was held yesterday, Yuri knocked on the door, "it's Yuri Mariya and I've brought Godou Kusanagi."

The response followed almost immediately, "come in."

Opening the door, Godou was greeted by the sight of a feast with all of the companions of the 8th, minus Illya of course, and Shirou himself enjoying it. There was also a new member he didn't recognize present.

Shirou spoke, "feel free to enjoy yourself. Unlike last time, we can take as long as we need. Before I forget, I apologize for the way we treated you yesterday. We thought that the two of you were jointly the cause of the events you have experienced, rather than you being an unwilling participant in the events you have been involved in."