Chapter 267

At the Emiya residence, in the living room.

The small open kitchen had been divided into three sections for some reason, and a heated, tense, and intense cooking competition was underway! Competing were Shirou Emiya, Shirou Emiya, and Shirou Emiya. From their names, it was clear that their skills were evenly matched, making it difficult to determine a winner!

Each of them was showcasing their best culinary techniques. Even the normally cost-conscious Shirou Emiya had splurged on "premium" ingredients he wouldn't usually buy. The red-clad Shirou Emiya wore a constant smirk, his cutting motions calm and fluid, as if he had the victory in the bag.

Meanwhile, the younger-looking Shirou Emiya, with a streak of white hair, moved more gently, his slicing motions careful and delicate. For this Shirou Emiya, winning wasn't important; he was cooking for the little black-haired girl among the onlookers.

Shinji, carrying some ingredients, walked in and, after observing the scene in front of him in silence for a while, couldn't help but ask the onlookers, "Hey, what are those three doing?"

Seeing Shinji arrive late, Rin didn't bother to scold him for being the last to show up at the event he had organized. Instead, she sighed, placed one hand on her hip, and began to explain.

"Actually, just a moment ago..."

Half an hour earlier—

Around six in the evening.

Unable to endure the hungry stares of Saber, who had been holding a knife and fork and waiting impatiently for the banquet to start, Shirou finally suggested a small pre-dinner snack when he heard Saber's stomach growling.

"Saber, how about I make you something to eat first?"

Saber's hair antenna perked up, and her eyes sparkled!

However, as if remembering something, she quickly suppressed her desire, tightly gripping her knife and fork and looking away.

"No... no! The banquet hasn't started yet, and everyone hasn't arrived. Starting without them would be rude!"

She resolved to endure! To endure until the banquet began! Just a few more hours, and then she could eat and drink to her heart's content!

Shirou, seeing right through her thoughts, smiled and was about to agree when Saber's stomach growled again.

"Well, Saber, just a little something won't hurt. Everyone will understand, especially since it's you."

"Saber! What do you mean by that?" Saber, now annoyed, glared at Shirou as he prepared ingredients in the kitchen. "Why do you make it sound like I'm always hungry? Take that back! I don't agree!"

Because you do always look hungry...

Shirou silently complained in his heart but verbally conceded, "Okay, okay, I take it back. But I'm also a bit hungry, probably because I didn't eat much for lunch. Won't you join me?"

Saber's hair antenna stood up again, her face turning red as she mumbled, "Well... since you're hungry, I guess I can join you. I wouldn't want you to be accused of being impolite alone..."

Shirou sighed in relief, grateful that Saber was easy to understand, and began preparing a small pre-banquet meal for her.

Ten minutes later, just as Shirou finished and served two plates of snacks, the other guests began to arrive.

First to arrive were Rin, in a red T-shirt and black miniskirt, and a still irritable Archer, carrying some ingredients.

After Shirou welcomed them in, Rin noticed the food on the table and the happily eating Saber, and asked, "Emiya-kun, has the banquet started?"

"No, it's just that..."

Shirou smiled awkwardly, glancing at Saber who continued eating, "It's just that I was a bit hungry. Maybe because I didn't eat much at lunch."

"I see..."

Although Rin knew this wasn't the case, she decided to let it slide and sat at the table at Shirou's invitation.

Watching Saber eat, Rin thought about Archer standing silently with his arms crossed and eyes closed, looking as though someone owed him money. She suddenly realized she had rarely seen Archer eat.

"Come to think of it, Archer, I haven't seen you eat much."

"Don't be silly. Servants only need mana as sustenance."

Rin propped her chin on her hand and said casually, "But now that you have a physical body and the contract is broken, you should need human food to replenish mana, right?"

Archer didn't respond, only giving a dismissive snort. He couldn't help but think about the annoying man who forced him to take on a physical form. The very thought of Shinji irritated him.

That man was unbelievably infuriating! Forcing him into a physical form and blocking his return to the Throne of Heroes!

Listening to their conversation, Shirou, ever the good host, pointed to the snacks in front of him.

"Archer, would you like some? I'm not that hungry."

Archer responded with his usual scoff, and Shirou felt a bit irked. Archer seemed to enjoy negating everything about him, making them an ill match.

"Hey! That was really rude, Archer!" Rin slammed her hand on the table, looking serious.

"Sorry," Archer said, spreading his hands and shaking his head with a regretful tone. "Rin, you should learn to be less nice sometimes. Take a lesson from that selfish Shinji Matou."

"What do you mean?" Rin sensed a deeper meaning.

"Praising bad food as good only encourages complacency. It doesn't help anyone improve."

Shirou's face darkened, annoyed by the implied insult to his cooking. He stood up abruptly, "What did you say?!"

Before Archer could respond, Saber, who had been listening, could no longer stay silent. She banged the table and glared at Archer, "That's not true! Shirou's cooking is delicious! Archer, take back what you said, or I'll challenge you as a knight!"

Archer crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "Are you serious, Saber? Do you really find his cooking that good?"

"Of course!" Saber answered without hesitation, her fists clenched. "In my time, my people didn't have the chance to eat such food!"

"See? There's the reason," Archer shrugged, unconcerned. "Your taste buds are just at that level. That's why you find his cooking good, why you like fried chicken and vegetables."

"Don't insult fried chicken and vegetables!!"

Seeing Saber nearly lose control and summon her sword, Shirou quickly intervened, "Calm down, Saber! No fighting! And we're indoors; we can't afford repairs! If you fight, we'll be eating rice porridge every day!"

At this, Saber finally calmed down, reluctantly putting away her sword.