9 Archery Club

(Emiya Shirou POV)

When I first became friends with Shinji, I didn't expect this to happen. Actually I don't think he himself expected such things to happen seeing his well concealed dumbfounded expression.

Shinji and I became friends last year near the end of autumn because of a chance encounter. Shinji is a nice guy, he is a bit prideful yes but deep inside he is quite kind. He tries hard to conceal his good intentions in his actions but I can see through him quite easily. After all he is the one who helped me through my grief after my father died last winter in his own awkward way.

I also met his little sister Sakura-san, who seems to love her brother very much. She practically worships the ground he walks on, honestly I find it a bit weird but who am I to judge. Of course Shinji is quite overprotective of his sister as well so sometimes I feel that they are perfect siblings, very unlike me and Fuji-nee. Although I don't know why but Sakura-san hates me for some reason but she doesn't show it openly but I feel the hate sometimes.

Of course, I am not the person she hates the most because that title will go to the girl who is forcibly dragging me and Shinji to the Archery club. I'd say she has about two months to live before she dies based on the hate Sakura-san seems to emit towards her at times. This girl is also hated by Shinji's unofficial fanclub who Sakura-san seemingly leads now.

All jokes aside, this girl is Shinji and my mutual friend, Mitsuzuri Ayako. After the reshuffling of the classes that occurs every year, Shinji and I ended up in the same class so we started to hang out in the class. Mitsuzuri was seated next to Shinji according to the seating plan. So because of certain events and coincidences, we all ended up becoming friends.

A few minutes earlier, we were talking about what we were going to do after school during lunch.

"Shinji why don't you come at my place? It's been a while since you last came."

"Hmm I don't know about that, why don't we try that new Chinese restaurant in the shopping district?"

"Hey guys, don't tell me that you guys aren't in any clubs? I was certain you did sports seeing your body built like that."

At that last comment from Mitsuzuri, both me and Shinji ended up being a bit dumbfounded.

"Mitsuzuri we have been friends for about two weeks and you didn't notice?!"

"Don't tell me, that you are an airhead Ayako?"

"Hey don't stare at me like that! I have my own stuff to do. But you really aren't in any clubs huh. Why don't you guys join the Archery club like me?!"

"I don't know about that, Mitsuzuri."

"Don't drag me into this Ayako. I need my beauty sleep."

That last joking comment from Shinji seemingly sent Mitsuzuri over the edge that she ignored us completely.

"Alright it's decided! You guys are joining the Archery club, we lack members anyway."

"Wha-"

"The fu-"

She started dragging us then and there to the Archery dojo to get us the lay of the land in the club so to say. And now here we are.

"All jokes aside Ayako, I don't know almost anything about Japanese Archery."

"Me too Mitsuzuri, I only know about the eight stages in theory. Are you sure you really want us here?"

"Meh it'll work itself out. Clubs are meant to be for fun anyway you guys don't have to be so serious about this."

"You surprisingly make a good point. It's better to make a new hobby instead of being idle, wow Ayako you are surprisingly smart at some things."

"Hey what's that supposed to mean!"

"Exactly what it seems like."

Shinji and Mitsuzuri then proceed to bicker for a while I look around the dojo and pick up a wooden bow and look at the targets. After they calm down from their argument, I ask Mitsuzuri to demonstrate to us how to shoot the arrow. She seemed pretty good at it.

"Alright Ayako, Shirou and I will join Archery club just to beat you at your own art."

"Challenge accepted!"

Mitsuzuri seemed a bit pleased at that but I can tell from Shinji's expression that he will not rest until he leaves Ayako in the dust. He is a bit of a perfectionist in everything he does. I just shake my head at their antics but I think this might help my training too, and calm my mind so I will join as Shinji said.

Lunch break ends and we go back to the classes.

Time passes, and the classes end.

As soon as the classes ended, Mitsuzuri came to us and started dragging us to the archery dojo again. But this time a beautiful purple haired underclassman interrupts with a scary smile on her face.

"What are you doing to Nii-san, Mitsuzuri-senpai?"

"Oh, Matou! Why don't you come with us and join the Archery club?"

"Eh...?"

This time the underclassman looks questioningly at Shinji.

"Sakura, Ayako is taking us to the archery club to get us registered. Why don't you join too? It will probably be fun."

I can see a brief moment of hesitation passing through Sakura-san's eyes before the inevitable happened.

"As you wish, Nii-san."

Yep, Sakura-san has a pretty severe case of brother complex but if Shinji doesn't mind it who am I to judge.

And so all four of us head towards the dojo, and see 5 students there waiting all first-years.

"Are these all the other members, Mistuzuri?"

I ask her the situation.

"Yeah, I told you that we lacked members Emiya. There were two from third year and second year each but they all suddenly quit this year."

"I see, so you brought us here to rebuild the club huh?"

"Yeah that's pretty on point, Shinji."

"You surprise me Ayako, I always thought you were a muscle brain."

"I will let that slide for now Shinji, but I will definitely remember it and make you pay."

"Yeah yeah sure."

So just like that, we joined the Archery club.

====Chapter End====

Author's Note- This chapter was written in this way, just to show another perspective on things, this doesn't mean that Shirou is very central to the main plot of the story. It just means that he was a useful tool for the story. I tried to make good dialogue, I am not the best at it, but I tried to maintain their personality as well as I can.

Anyway, now on to the main point, why I wrote this note. Someone commented last chapter that Holy Grail War shouldn't happen because of loss of Matou crest (it was deleted for some reason) and to that I can only answer that that is incorrect info. Fate/Apocrypha wouldn't happen if that Crest was that important. The Grail works because of the Greater Grail that is present under the Ryuudou Temple so it doesn't need Matou Crest because Greater Grail already has that mechanism of Command Spells inside it that Matou developed in the beginning.

Also someone asked if Sakura will have black or brown like original or will she keep having her purple hair. And the answer to that is, she will keep her purple hair. It's a conscious choice by her that will be explained in the later chapters.

I feel like I am forgetting something but it's probably not that important.