Chapter 11

"Emiya, you..."

"As you can see, I got hurt while working," Shirou said with a bitter smile.

"So?"

Shirou lowered his head. "Shinji! Please join the archery club and compete for me! I don't want to drag the club down because of me."

Seeing Shirou like this, Shinji's mouth twitched, and he looked at him as if to say, "Are you kidding me?" After a long silence, he finally organized his thoughts and spoke.

"Emiya, to be honest, I'm really happy that someone who always helps others is asking for help. But... Even if I had the time, I've never practiced archery!"

"Shinji! You can definitely do it! Remember when we went hiking and you threw sticks at birds with perfect accuracy? You can absolutely do it!" Shirou's eyes were earnest and sincere.

"It's completely different!" Shinji retorted loudly, then sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Emiya, it's weird for someone like me, who has never touched a bow, to say this, but aren't you underestimating archery?"

"Indeed, it suddenly feels like that, Emiya."

Sitting beside Shirou was a girl around sixteen or seventeen, with a beautiful appearance that drew attention even without excessive makeup. She had shoulder-length, refreshing short hair, and her eyes and hair were both brown. She wore light blue denim shorts and a pink top, leaning her cheek on her hand as she looked at Shirou.

Her name was Mizuji Ayako, a newcomer to the archery club and its future president and captain.

"That's not what I meant," Shirou quickly defended and turned back to Shinji. "Shinji is different from others. If it's him, he can do it."

"What do you know about me?" Shinji retorted, waving his hand dismissively and showing a very casual expression. "Anyway, no way. I have a lot of things to do."

"Matou-kun..."

Sitting next to Shinji, near the corridor, was a boy with short purple hair and round glasses, dressed neatly in casual clothes with a scholarly air. He pushed up his glasses and spoke in a mature and steady voice, surprisingly so.

"I want to talk to you about your absenteeism last term and how you've been skipping classes for a week right after the new term started..."

Before the boy with glasses, Ryuudou Issei, could finish, Shinji interrupted angrily, "Hey, Emiya, did you really learn to use such despicable tactics? Having Issei, who thinks he has dirt on me, come to persuade me? Do you think I'll yield to this? No way! I have so much dirt on me that it's countless, just like those hidden erotic books, I don't care at all!"

Shirou explained, "No, you misunderstood, Shinji. I just ran into Issei on the way."

"Exactly! It has nothing to do with Emiya!" Issei, fiercely protective, took over the conversation and then glanced at Shinji. "Matou, bringing contraband like erotic books to school is a complete violation of the school rules. Do you know the consequences?"

"Suspension for reflection." Shinji stood up and bowed deeply to Issei. "Thank you, Issei."

"Don't you have any remorse or reflection?"

"Hmph," Shinji crossed his arms and chuckled lightly, looking indifferent. "Sorry, not at all! You know, erotic books are a necessity for teenagers, just like water is essential for life! They are a vital source of mental nourishment for teenagers. Is it a crime for humans to drink water?"

Seeing Shinji's self-righteous expression, even the calm and composed Issei couldn't help but retort, "That's completely different! Do you need to go back to the temple for more training?"

"Can I sneak in some erotic books?"

"Enough already!!"

"Hahaha..." Suddenly, Mizuji, who had been quietly watching the two, burst into laughter, clutching her stomach with tears streaming down her face. "Emiya, this guy is too funny, even funnier than you said. If he joins the archery club, it will be so interesting."

"And who might this be?" Shinji asked.

"Can't you remember your classmates?" Shirou retorted.

"Hello, I'm Mizuji Ayako, your classmate. Matou Shinji-kun."

"I see." Shinji nodded, then propped his chin on his hand, looking thoughtfully at Mizuji's outstretched hand. "So, you want an autograph? I can, but I didn't bring a pen. How about next time?"

Mizuji's expression darkened, but she quickly smiled warmly, looked at Shirou, and said, "Emiya-kun, you must get this person to join the archery club. I'm really interested in him."

"Mizuji, I've told you, Shinji loves to joke. If you take it too seriously, it will never end."

"Really," Shinji said, spreading his hands with an exasperated look, "Girls nowadays are too bold, saying they're interested in a guy they've just met. Even I would be embarrassed. Anyway, Ryougi-san, I'll think about it. Please be patient until I give you an official answer."

"Um... Emiya-kun, can I punch him? I mean, he didn't even remember a single character of my name."

"Well, even if you say that..." Shirou just smiled awkwardly.

At this point, Shinji finally got serious, shrugged his shoulders, and continued casually, "Anyway, I'm not interested in things I'm not interested in. Also, unlike you, Emiya, I'm not someone who goes all out to help anyone in need. I'm just a rather selfish commoner."