Chapter 284

Three days. A full three days!

Except for going to the bathroom, taking a bath, and sleeping, Shinji could constantly feel Saber's gaze fixed on him during the remaining time.

On the third Monday of July.

At five in the morning.

Upon waking up and feeling the familiar gaze coming from beside him, Shinji opened his eyes expressionlessly.

A small figure, kneeling properly on a cushion by the bed, immediately greeted him with the respect due to a Servant as soon as she saw him get up.

"Good morning, Shinji."

Forcing a smile, Shinji nodded slightly in response. He then dressed in his workout clothes under Saber-chan's unrelenting gaze.

Even when leaving the house, Saber-chan's gaze never wavered. It was only when Shinji finally left the house completely that he felt that gaze disappear.

Ever since he warned Saber that night, she hadn't mentioned wanting his help again, but her gaze had never ceased!

Shinji ran all the way to Ryuudou Temple, had breakfast with Issei, and was then kicked out by him.

For the entire morning, Shinji avoided going home, making it clear that he wasn't good at dealing with Saber's persistent, stubborn type.

Being stared at every moment was unbearable. Gilgamesh's reckless suggestion had turned Saber serious.

"Big brother, you look troubled."

Speak of the devil, Shinji thought, spotting Gil in summer clothes with hands in his pockets. He stared at Gil just as Saber had stared at him.

Noticing Shinji's accusing and almost resentful gaze, Gil shrugged and defended himself, "Don't look at me like that. I didn't say anything wrong. If there's a way to fulfill Saber's wish and change her country's fate, it might just be you."

"I already said it's impossible. Don't any of you listen?"

Shinji sighed heavily and muttered under his breath, "Why do you all have such impossibly high expectations of me? That kind of thing no one in the universe can do, so why think I can? Alexander…"

"Because…"

Gil walked past him, whispering, "You don't belong to this universe, big brother…"

Watching Gil walk away, Shinji lowered his head and sighed again. It seemed he really had to find a way to get Saber to calm down; otherwise, he'd be tortured by her gaze for a long time.

Creak—

Just then, the front gate of the house opened, and Saber-chan looked at Shinji standing by the gate, seriously saying, "Shinji, it's almost lunchtime. Please come inside."

Saber-chan's relentless gaze was back, and Shinji surrendered at that moment. With his head bowed under Saber-chan's constant gaze, he silently stepped through the gate.

…

After lunch, Shinji was the first to speak up.

"Saber, could you give me a break today? At least let me enjoy this holiday peacefully?"

"Holiday?" Saber-chan was puzzled.

"It's Marine Day, Saber-chan," Sakura explained with a smile. "Marine Day is to show gratitude for the blessings from the ocean. There are festivals at the beach, and there will be fireworks in the evening."

"I see," Saber-chan nodded, but then her thoughts turned to her lost country, and she clenched her small fists, looking distressed. "This country has a holiday to thank the sea, but my country never enjoyed the blessings of the sea…"

"Wasn't Britain surrounded by the sea too?" Sakura looked confused.

Saber-chan nodded. "Yes, but the sea in my homeland was fierce and stormy, like the manes of a thousand wild horses, or if you stand on the cape and look at the long coastline veiled in sea mist. For the people at the borders, the sea was dangerous and terrifying."

"I see…"

Sakura nodded, understanding Saber-chan's feelings, having seen similar scenes in disaster movies, even though she had only seen such massive waves on screen.

"Yes, the sea is dangerous."

Rider, rarely showing no hostility towards Saber-chan, quietly added.

In Rider's mind, the "heroes" who constantly came from the sea to challenge her during her lifetime were as dangerous as the fierce waves of Saber's homeland.

Seeing the distress on Saber-chan's face, Shinji stood up after a moment of silence.

"Saber, let's talk after the festival."

Hearing Shinji, Saber-chan was momentarily stunned, then looked at him with barely concealed joy.

"Shinji, are you…"

"Don't misunderstand, and don't get your hopes up. I really can't do what you're thinking. My abilities are limited."

Shinji, carrying his lunch tray, walked out the door, speaking casually without looking back. He paused at the doorway and added, "At least not now."

As he walked out, Saber-chan realized the implication of his final words.

Not now didn't mean never!

Seeing Saber-chan's face light up with hope again, Sakura and Rider exchanged a resigned smile.

Their brother/Master showed a soft side at times.

Rider quietly asked, "Changing history essentially means destroying it and rewriting human history. Are you really prepared for that, Saber?"

Saber-chan didn't answer. Perhaps she wasn't prepared for that yet. She had just found a glimmer of hope.

As long as there was hope, she would do her best to seize it.

…

In the evening, at the Fuyuki Beach.

Tonight, the beach was brightly lit, like a festival.

Various food stalls lined the shore, creating a special coastline, with people from Fuyuki coming and going.

Many people even wore yukata to enhance the festive atmosphere.

For example, Sakura, Rider, and Saber-chan.

For Shinji, this so-called festival was like a fair from his previous life.

Holding a plate of heavily seasoned stir-fried noodles, Shinji watched the fireworks in the sky, inwardly mocking how an environmentally conscious holiday like Marine Day had turned into this.

Having such a holiday was ironic, given that while they were showing gratitude here, dolphins were suffering elsewhere.

It was probably a specialty of this nation to say one thing and do another.

"Shinji…"

Hearing Shirou's voice brought Shinji back to reality. Seeing Shirou in a gray yukata, Shinji shook his head.

"Did you really take today as a festival, Emiya?"

"No…"

Shirou scratched his head awkwardly, then looked at Ilya and Saber, who were also in yukata, and continued, "Fuji-nee mentioned it during dinner, and everyone wanted to try it, so…"

"I see…"

"By the way, Shinji, have you seen Miyu and the others? I heard they were coming too, but I couldn't find them."

"I saw them earlier. They seemed to be heading towards the beach."

Shinji nodded, then patted Shirou's shoulder, reminding him, "But I think it's best not to disturb them. That little girl's wish is to see the sea with her brother."

"Really?" Ilya was surprised.

"Yeah, as far as I know."

"I see. In that case, we shouldn't disturb them," Shirou said thoughtfully, then turned his attention to Saber-chan and Saber, who were staring at each other.

Saber-chan, holding a takoyaki in her hands with sauce still on her mouth, stood by Shinji's side, while the larger Saber stood beside Shirou, empty-handed and with raised eyebrows.

Shirou had heard from Shinji about Saber-chan, but seeing the miniaturized Saber in person gave him mixed feelings.

As for Shinji, he remained calm, knowing that while the two were technically the same person, they were different.

Their experiences shaped their thoughts, making them different people. As long as they didn't start fighting, there would be no problem. Shinji convinced himself with this reasoning.

"Another me, I've found hope to change Britain's tragic fate and prolong its existence! Your task is complete, so you can disappear!"

Saber-chan's first words made Shinji nearly choke. How could she say that? If you can't talk properly, just keep quiet!

"What did you say?"

Saber raised an eyebrow, showing hints of anger. Why was the alternate version of herself so arrogant? Just because she followed an equally arrogant Master?

"I said I found hope, so your mission is over," Saber-chan repeated.

"Don't talk nonsense. If you're me, you should know that's impossible! Now, like me, you're just looking for closure!"

Saber-chan, with a serious expression and a soft yet clear voice, responded, "That's why I found the hope you couldn't. And with that Master, you'll never find true hope."

"What did you say?!" Saber was genuinely angry. The alternate version of herself wasn't just boasting; she insulted her Master. Who could tolerate that?

Seeing the two Sabers about to clash, Shirou quickly restrained the larger Saber. Even one Saber was difficult enough; if they fought, the festival would turn into a bloodbath!