Chapter Eight

Rin was not a happy tsundere right now. Internally, she cursed Shirou for influencing her enough to refer to herself like that sometimes, but that was not the point right now.

She was running from a physical manifestation of a hero from the past, that was trying to skewer her with his spear. But she had to admit, jumping off the roof was not the best decision she had made.

Thankfully Archer was there to catch her, or she would wake up sore in the morning from that fall if she woke up tomorrow at all by the way things were going.

As she ran forward into the field, using the boost Archer proved by throwing her forward to get away from her assailant.

Hearing something piercing the ground behind her, she assumed that the blue-haired man missed her again and concentrated on running faster.

What she didn't expect was the explosion that blew her off her feet.

Hearing steel grind against steel, she turned to look at the source of the sound from her lying position on the ground where she landed after being blown away from the earlier blast, only for her eyes to widen.

"Emiya-Kun?!"

The said redhead was currently holding a katana without a handle, his hand wrapped in red cloth that was secured by a strand around his chest, and black, baggy pants with sandals.

What was he doing here?! How was he even here?!

The katana rested idly at his side as he stared down the blue-clad servant in front of him, with his back to her like she didn't just call out to him.

Archer, a white-haired man clad in red materialized in front of her, his body coiled and ready to last out if necessary to protect her.

"Was it you that shot that thing? I thought he was the Archer of this war."

Lancer asked as he rested his weapon on his shoulder, smirking arrogantly.

Shirou didn't answer as he stood in a small crater that she assumed was made when he landed, instead, the answer came from the side in the form of two spiraling projectiles, with one landing in front of Lancer and one behind.

She could see his red eyes widen as the two "arrows" cracked and exploded.

Lancer jumped up, getting clear of the explosions, narrowly avoiding them as he did.

Looking to the side, Rin could see a figure holding what she assumed to be a bow in their hand.

A flash of blue, and something was heading toward Lancer as he was still in the air, the man in response swung his spear, hitting the projectile, trying to bat it to the side but it blew up much like the two before.

"He doesn't learn, does he?"

Shirou remarked, bringing her attention back to him. Rin just stared wide-eyed at what was happening in front of her, Shirou was a magus? Since when?!

She spared a glance at Archer who now held a black shortsword in hand, staring at Shirou intensely.

Lancer was blasted into the school building, breaking the fence he slammed into it, it didn't take long for him to walk to the edge again, with a few scratch marks and dusty clothing, but he was ultimately fine.

"This is getting annoying, you bastard!"

Twirling his spear around, he tightened the hold around it and hurled it forward, in the direction the explosions came from. Rin turned around to the figure again, brows furrowing.

The said figure jumped, landing on the roof in front as they send another valley of projectiles forward in retaliation.

Lancer just extended a hand and the red spear flew into his hand, leaving a red streak behind in the air.

Seemingly learning the lesson, he jumped off the roof, avoiding the projectiles coming his way, this time, however, instead of exploding, they just pierced the concrete of the school and remained there.

Shirou shifted in front of her and dashed forward, heading towards the blue-clad servant, engaging him in combat as soon as he landed on the ground.

Lancer blocked the initial slash but was caught off guard as the redhead shifted his body to spin the opposite way, pivoting on his heel and delivering a good hit to his side with his leg.

Lancer grunted at the blow, backing off from the engagement as he slid on the floor.

Archer shifted, taking a step to cover her from something, and looking in that direction, he spotted... Shirou?

Two of them?

"What?"

She murmured in disbelief. He was wearing a black top, revealing his bare hands to the shoulders, it was form-fitting, hugging his developed muscles, slightly baggy pants to leave his movements unrestricted, black, fingerless gloves, and steel-tipped boots.

What was happening?

With one final push, Shirou landed in school territory, eyeing the fight between the other Shirou and Lancer.

He lifted his hand, a blue ball of prana appearing right above his palm and a second later, it formed the shape of a greatsword, as he grabbed it by his fingertips, it transformed into a swirling shape as it was hoisted on the string of the bow.

The thing actually creaked as he drew it and released the sword right at the other Shirou.

As if seeing it coming, he tilted his head to the side, allowing it to pass by it harmlessly as he backed off as another explosion rang out, enveloping Lancer.

"I'm getting really tired of this!"

Lancer yelled out, slashing his spear through the smoke, dissipating it as he glared at the two.

"... Why am I seeing double?"

Yeah, she was thinking the same right now.

Clicking his tongue, he jumped back, and when far enough, he turned around and... Ran?

"... Wussy."

Shirou mumbled, getting a snort from the other as the bow disappeared from his hand and turned to her, who was staring at him wide eyed.

"Hey, Tsun Tsun!"

Archer snorted.