The student council meeting room was currently dimly lit with only one light illuminating the speaker. Around him were only four people, bringing the membership to five people.

"After combing through every possible adult we can have join us on the trip... I ended up with only one choice remaining..." Issei, the speaker begins, his eyes covered completely by the light reflecting on his glasses giving the illusion that his eyes are glowing.

"So I took that choice... and you know who it is?"

"Y-you're making me nervous... w-who accepted?" came the timid voice of a certain purple seaweed-haired individual.

"Kirei Kotomine!" Issei shouts in an over-the-top manner, jumpscaring his peers. He then begins shivering as he says, "By the Bodhisattvas... the man's voice gave me all sorts of bad vibes! If it were up to me, I'd soon become the best of friends with the damned vixen before I would even consider going near that man."

The door to the meeting room suddenly opens as Rin's head popped in, asking, "Is that Kotomine slander I hear?"

Issei in response exclaims, "Agh! The vixen!"

The rest of the people inside however had a far more calm reaction.

"Yo, Tohsaka-san./ What are you doing here Tohsaka?/ What's up Tohsaka-senpai?/ Good afternoon Tohsaka-sempai."

Unperturbed by Issei's reaction, the Tohsaka family head then enters the room enters.

"And to answer your question, Matou Shinji, I was passing by and heard someone scream the damned priest's voice so angrily that I could relate so I checked it out only to see you weirdos hanging out here. So what are you five up to?"

Shirou then explains, "Actually... Issei here was actually just about going to get there."

Issei however pushes up his glasses and adamantly says, "Not until she's gone..."

Shinji, finally annoyed, shouts, "just get on with it! I don't care if you have a weird hate-boner for Tohsaka! We have to get home soon since we need to take a call from Fuji-nee dammit! Whatever Yuji did to the router yesterday fudged up our connection yesterday so we promised to call now instead."

Seeing how most of the people shared that same sentiment save for Tohsaka, who just seems caught off-guard by Shinji's outburst, and Yuji who seems more ready to defend himself about the fudging up part, Issei relented.

"Fine... so as I was saying, I contacted everyone who I think could join us... but eventually was forced to settle with Kotomine Kirei since no one else could at the date you guys were hoping for... however."

He then lays a stack of papers which have the school logo, most likely the letter of consent.

"He said to bring at least 10 people to make it worth his while."

This gains a collective groan from everyone present save for Tohsaka who had a confused expression.

After the explanation, she then steps up and asks, "So what IS this about?"

Issei tries to turn her down once more only to lag behind Yuji who says, "Oh, it's Sakura-chan's birthday retreat," making his bespectacled friend freak out once more.

"WhatareyoudoingItadori?!"

Rin's eyes widen hearing this for the shortest of moments only to walk towards Issei's stack of papers before grabbing one much to the student council president's chagrin.

Issei proceeds to try and appeal to the others, saying, "Surely you all feel the same as me right? We can't let this witch in on this. She'll ruin things for sure."

However, the response he got was either mild disagreement or indifference.

"Nah, I'm sure it'll be fine," was Yuji's non-chalant response.

"Many of my friends are going to that Romeo and Juliet play so my choices are limited so might as well, right?" Shinji speaks out, much too lazy.

"We wouldn't want just ANY student to join Sakura's secret birthday right? I think it should just be people she can consider friends who should join," was Shirou's considerate answer.

And finally the birthday girl herself timidly mirroring everyone else's thoughts. "I-if Shinji-nii, Yuji-nii and Sempai are all ok with it... I'm fine with it."

Issei groans but groans even harder after seeing Rin's smug mug.

"Ugh, don't say I didn't warn ya."

With a sigh of defeat, Issei accepts Rin's signed paper and tells everyone, "I believe that is all. Since most of you here still have something to do, I think our thing we're all done for now. Meeting adjourned."

All six people in the room then left. However, Shirou then breaks off from Yuji, Sakura and Shinji, saying, "I'll catch up with you guys in a bit. I just promised miss Kazuta I'd arrange her papers."

Yuji waves Shirou off, saying, "Just don't be late, buddy," before leaving alongside his cousins-turned-siblings

Later that afternoon, Shirou could be seen filing away the cabinets while his purple-haired English teacher, Kazuta Madeline, or Maddie for short, was preparing to leave alongside a homeroom teacher with a constant stern expression, Soichirou Kuzuki.

"Again, I cannot thank you enough for helping with this Emiya-kun." She says as she places the last of her lesson plans in her bag.

Shirou, being the helpful guy he is, merely brushes this off her words, saying, "Of course. I promised to didn't I? Besides, with how busy you two were with helping prepare for the English play, I think getting to drink with your friends tonight is well earned."

"Let's go now Ichi-kun~"

Shirou then rolls his eyes, saying, "Save the nicknaming after the alcohol you two, you have only a whole night to yourselves and another two months of extra work or so, so make the most outta it," teasing his teachers to which the Ms. Kazuta pouted at.

However, as the two left, Ms. Kazuta stops by the door one more time, telling Shirou, "Say, are you sure you don't want to join the play? You and that Sakura girl you're dating would make a great Romeo and Juliet."

Shirou flinches as his ears turn red. "W-What!? We're not dating at all! We just like to hang out is all!"

The purple-haired teacher lets out a smug, "fufufufu," as she leaves knowing she's avenged herself from Emiya's tease earlier. But instead of making it all about revenge, she then genuinely offers, "but seriously, there's still a week and the offer still stands. Think about it okay?"

Shirou nods, still red in the face prompting the teacher to finally leave.

The hours pass as Shirou diligently continues to arrange the locker that seemed to have been hastily shoved in. As he did so, he muttered in denial at the words of his teacher.

Eventually while sorting through the various things inside, Shirou stumbles upon three books. A translator from Greek to English, a book on modern English slangs and a translation book on English to Japanese.

To this, he merely shrugs, chalking it up to the fact that to the one time Ms. Kazuta explained her purple hair being a rare occurrence even among Greek-Japanese like her. While it seemed nonsensical, the way she spoke made it seem so believable... as if it was like one of those television hypnoses. Besides... Shinji and Sakura have purple hair, and Yuji even has pink. Who was he to judge?

Well her business is hers so Shirou supposed he shouldn't intrude on it.

Meanwhile, with Yuji and his siblings, they managed to finally connect with their last remaining legal guardian, Fujimura Taiga.

"Hi, hiiii! You guys finally did it!" Taiga exclaims cheerfully through the other side, her hair no longer a pony tail as it used to, instead now being more akin to Sakura now if she had her hair fully down save for the small braid at the back. She was wearing what seemed to be official Kendo tournament clothes minus the padded armor and helmet.

"Nee-chan!" The three collectively exclaimed in excitement. After all, they only ever had two nights or so every half-a-year to communicate, so why wouldn't they?

"Mou! Why didn't you guys call sooner?! I was waiting all night last night!"

Shinji then glares at Yuji who then goes to defend himself. "Hey! I told you already! Racoons, man!"

"We haven't had raccoons in ages here Yuji!"

Sakura chuckles nervously as she looks the two bicker.

"Well, as long we finally get to call each other, I'm happy." Taiga spoke with such a happy tone, the two boys on the verge of wrestling couldn't help but stop.

After fixing himself up, Yuji went first to ask, "So how was it Nee-chan? Are the big league swordsmen really as tough as they were shown on tv?"

Taiga chuckles at Yuji's child-like excitement before telling them, "Hoo boy, they're no joke, that's for sure. Even lost to a guy nicknamed "The Ogre." Scary stuff lemme tell ya. But I managed to barely eke out a victory in our rematch."

Yuji cheers, shouting, "Yooo! I saw that match! It was awesome! You two made me doubt even MY strength! And I'm plenty strong!"

"Nope! That was all skill on my end." Taiga boasts about her achievement. "After all! The rematch was the fight i realized it takes a hunter to beat a predator."

Shinji then goes ahead and asks, "So how's your living condition been Nee-chan? Have you been eating well? Sleeping well?" He then leers at Taiga, accusing her, "did you go back to drinking again?"

In response, she then flexes her arm, shouting, "I'm in tip top shape! I can't afford to let loose with such deadly competition after all," before turning sheepish as she admits, "well except that one time..."

However, she quickly defends herself, saying, "B-but that was because I met an old friend from abroad! Then the ogre barged in congratulating me with my win and the next thing I knew, all three of us were blackout drunk! But that was special circumstances!"

It was Sakura's turn this time as she asks, "So anyways nee-chan, when can you return? It's been 3 years now and we're really missing you already..."

With a proud huff, Taiga proclaims, "boy do I have good news then! I only have to win in three more matches and I'd officially be Japan's grand champion! So around 3 more months? After that, I can finally return home!"

After her boast, she then begins looking around before asking, "say... where's Shirou-kun?"

Shinji huffs while rolling his eyes. "Mr. Hero of Justice is still currently justicing heroically at school. You know how he is."

Taiga merely laughs this off, saying, "Ah, classic Shirou, always helping others in need. Shame he couldn't join us."

"That's Shirou for you I guess." Yuji chuckles. "I may help out of the kindness of my heart but he helps out of an obsessive creed."

A fist then hits both boys in the shoulder as Sakura pouts and says, "We do not tolerate slander to our roommate in this household. Shirou-kun's dream is a good dream."

"Our roommate... or your boyfriend?" Yuji teases making Sakura beat her fists down on the pink-haired boy. "Nii-saaaan! You know we're just friiieeends!"

"She's right! I would never allow it!" Shinji declares while crossing his arms.

This brings Taiga great amusement but her laughter was cut short when someone in a business suit approached her from the side before whispering something to her.

"Well, I have to go soon. Send my regards to Shirou-kun. Bye bye." She bids farewell.

"Bye, Nee-chan." The three said, bidding their farewells.

After the call ended, Yuji then looks to the clock before saying, "You know... this is awfully late even for Shirou... where could he possibly be at a time like this?"

Meanwhile, back at school, Shirou groans before plopping down on his back after finishing his task. "Goodness... how messy can a small office space be? I'd prefer it if I had to clean the entire archery dojo instead."

Then... he heard something off in the distance. The sound akin to two heavy pieces of metal slamming into each other.

He was currently at the 3 floor office... so he surmises from the direction of the sound and the elevation of the sound that it was emanating from the soccer field area.

Lifting himself up, he then walks over to one of the desks where the PE teacher's binoculars were before heading down off to a terrace where he could look out from to find out what's going on.

It couldn't possibly be construction workers right? It'd wake up and cause a disturbance in the nearby area. Unless it was an emergency... maybe those gas leaks the news kept talking about? If so, then he'd have to warn the nearby houses about the possible danger.

And so he walks over to a balcony facing the soccer field to take a look.

Meanwhile in the soccer field, something truly unusual was happening. Two men were locked in combat at speeds that can only be deemed supernatural, one, a man in blue spandex wielding a terrifying blood-red spear, and the other, wearing a red coat, wielding a pair of Chinese Dao, one predominantly white, the other black. Behind the two was a familiar face in the form of Rin Tohsaka, who was observing the battle as a general observes the battlefield.

"Why do you insist on dragging me here, Archer?" The man in blue speaks out as he deflects one of the red man's swords.

"What can I say, Lancer? Us bow men like our open spaces. It gives us LEE WAY!" The tan man in red replies following his previous slash with another.

"You could've died then and there you know? If it weren't for your master's well timed spell, I could've finished the chant and stabbed you straight in the heart." Lancer boasts as he spins his spears rapidly to try and slash at the man in red.

"And yet she did and I'm still here." Archer replies smugly as he manages to parry the rain of blows with his own swords. He then jumps back while firing a swarm of arrows at the man who casually shrugs them off with his spear.

"Protection against arrows. Ain't that a bitch?" Lancer says shrugging at the ineffectiveness of the attack.

"Archer, we need to retreat. Our ambush failed." Rin tells the red bow man telepathically.

"Understood. I'll try and reason with him. Get ready to come up with a plan C." Archer replies while staring his enemy down in their brief respite.

Archer then begins talking. "Say, Lancer, I thought you said you were under orders to scram if your red stick doesn't work. So why don'tcha scram then?"

In response to this, the man in blue smirks as an ominous red flame surrounds his spear. "Funny you should say that... my master told me it didn't count since I wasn't even able to say it's name. And this time, your master's tricks won't work."

Hearing this, the man in red puts on a smug expression as he braces himself. Inwardly, he was panicking. He did not expect the man to have a skill specifically designed to counter his combat style and subsequent plan.

"I will pierce your heart!" The man in blue declares boldly as his muscles rip and his red predator-like eyes dilate.

"GAE B-" however the attack was halted when the sound of something falling into metal roofing off in the distance resounded.

Both fighters look to that direction as Rin gaped her mouth in horror.

"We'll continue this in our third match, Archer. First, we get rid of the interloper." Lancer says before vanishing into motes of blue light, going ghost as it were.

Rin nearly shrieks as she says, "Archer! Come on!" She proceeds to run as fast as she could after Archer.

Meanwhile, Shirou could now be seen running across the hallway. "Stupid sweaty hands, stupid pizza grease-covered binoculars!"

As he rounds the corner, a felt a sharp pain erupt from his back and into his chest, cutting through his heart and left lung. As he falls down on the floor bleeding, he hears the words, "nothing personal kid," muffled shortly before his face met the floor.

As Shirou falls with a muffled thud, Lancer scratches his head in annoyance. "Man, I really don't like this kind of thing... but rules of secrecy must be kept."

He sighs before slinging his spear on his shoulder. "Don't hold too big of a grudge when we meet back in hell, alright kid?" He then proceeds to vanish away in blue particles once more, leaving Shirou to bleed out.

As he begins to weaken and drown from his own blood, he couldn't help but think it can't end like this... not yet...

As he continued to lose consciousness further, he begins flashing back to the things that drive him forward. He still hasn't yet smiled as Kiritsugu had on that fateful night, he still hasn't done anything he can be proud of yet like what Yuji kept preaching about and... the most vivid image was Sakura's smile.

He never got to join Sakura's birthday retreat ghost hunt thing... what a truly terrible person he was.

But just as he was about to fully lose consciousness, he proceeds to hear the muffled voice of a girl cry out his name which managed to snap him awake just a little longer. "Emiya! Emiya!"

Who could that be... the blood loss was making it difficult to recall... despite the numbness of his body, he vaguely felt his body be turned to face the ceiling... and... just as his vision fully darkened, he manages to catch a glimpse of a red gem that dangled above his face. Then... everything went black.

Meanwhile, back at the Emiya house, the three siblings were now sitting at the dinner table, not really eating. All three of them were worriedly looking at the clock with Shinji tapping his foot anxiously.

When the clock struck twelve, it was as if they were all activated all at once as Shinji complains, "Emiya's never been this late... sure he's been out till 11:30... but never this late..."

Sakura curls up as she says, "Shinji-nii is right... Sempai's never been this late before... I'm worried..."

Seeing how the other two were acting, Yuji decides to act. "Alright then... why don't you two call him. I'll be back alright?"

"But Yuji-nii, it's very late already. The news said that random killings have been happening across town already... we don't want you to put yourself in needless danger."

Instead of complying, Yuji merely flashes Sakura a smile as he says, "I'll be fine. I'm faster than even olympic athletes. If any trouble comes up, I'll just run alright? And I'll get Shirou back, this I promise. I'll just check all his favorite stops."

With that, he zooms off, running faster than even some car models in this time period.

While his gut-feeling told him to run straight to the school, he surmises that he needs to check out the closer places Shirou frequents. That way he can do a full search. Luckily for him, Shirou Emiya isn't the type to go out much, if at all. So in Miyama, there really is only one place he WOULD go, his workplace at the Copenhagen pub.

Not wanting to take too long, he decides use the less travelled roads, resulting in a mostly lonely trip. Mostly.

Arriving at a nearby bus-station, he takes a small break to not completely exhaust himself, and as he does he spots a little girl with white hair wearing a purple coat.

"Hey kid..." he panted. "You lost or something?"

Rather than turn to him, she merely flashes a smile at him, saying, "You should really hurry and get big brother. Wouldn't want him in an accident now would we?"

"Yeah... yeah you're r- wait! What?!" After Yuji looked back up... she vanished. "Man... I suddenly wish Sakura was here with me..."

But he had no time to dwell on that. He proceeds to bike to the pub before opening it's ever open doors in a panic, prompting the various patrons to look at him.

"Eh? You're Emiya's friend right? Yujin if I recall. What are you doing here? And before you ask, no, you may not drink alcohol yet, you're still one year short."

Yuji shakes his head before regaining his breath. "Have... any of you... seen where Shirou went..."

"Uh... no? He didn't come here? I just assumed he finally decided to take a break for once," the presumed owner of the establishment says while scratching her head.

"Alright... thank you Oto-  er... Neko-san that means he's somehow still at school..." Yuji groans out before planning to go only to be stopped by an unexpected slurred, "wait!", from his purple-haired English teacher, who along with a certain rigid-faced homeroom teacher, were originally drinking quietly off to the side.

"Heh? Kazuta-sensei?"

"You said Shirou's hasn't come home yet right? And... is possibly still at school, right?" She manages to say with as much coherence as a person who drank mug after mug of alcoholic beverages could get.

Yuji nods to which the teacher sighed before groaning while massaging her forehead. "This... is my fault..." she says frustrated. "I asked him if he could sort my messy office space..."

Seeing this, Soichirou proceeds to offer Yuji an idea. "Please, allow me to drive you to the school, Itadori-kun. We will pick him up and return you two home."

"Oi... Ichi-kun..." Kazuta-sensei begins. "I saw you drink as many bottles as I did... Wouldn't it be dangerous if you go as well?"

"No, you're just hallucinating. I only drank one shot."

"... Oh..." came Maddie's realization.

A bit later, the three of them began to ride towards the school with Yuji on the backseat and the two on the front. As they rode, the purple-haired teacher sobers up somewhat and asks Yuji, "say... Itadori-kun... why are you clad in a really dark aura all the time?"

Yuji is confused by these words and voices out this confusion in a succinct, "What... do you mean?"

Processing this, Maddie realizes her error and begins fidgeting for an answer only for Soichirou to go for the save.

"What Maddie-san means is that... she's... psychically sensitive and... she feels bad juju from you. Were you possibly cursed or something?"

"Y-yeah that..."

Yuji then grabs his own chin before going into a thoughtful pose. He flashes back to that day... that day of fire... flashing back to the searing pain... the bugs... flames... He then looks back up and earnestly replies, "I think so." The dead look in his eyes as he said that made the two adults wisely shut up for the rest of the trip. 

A short while later, the three arrive at the school entrance where Soichirou parked the car.

However, as they neared the building, the three froze in shock. Looking at the top of Homurahara... they watched in fear and alarm as a whole slew of horrific, deformed beast could be seen scaling the walls of their school, all with semi-insectoid features.

While the two adults remained silent, Yuji voiced his thoughts out, echoing the sentiments of the two others. "What the hell is this?!"