Part 133: Shooting / Girls United?

Music: Tender Scenery



"Yeah, I'll stay and watch if it's not going to be a bother, Fuji-Nee."


"All right. Well, I'm going to go teach, so you can relax here. Oh, you don't have to restrain yourself if you want to shoot. You're my student and you're better than most people."

""
…Yeah, she's not wrong.
I'm better than anyone when it comes to shooting arrows.

Even though I was away for a while, I'm sure I could get the same result I had when I used to come here.
But that's not because of my skill in archery.
I can hit the target like I do in my mind because of my everyday training in magic.

"That's not true, Fuji-Nee. I'm missing the 'endurance' part of accuracy, piercing strength, and endurance."


"What? Do you mean how you have to shoot more than 200 arrows a day and how everything else is just releasing the bow? You know boring things, Shirou."

"Hey, you should know this if you do archery.
At any rate, I can't shoot if my mind isn't into it. I'm not prepared at all, so I don't know if I'll even hit the target."



The endurance is good enough if you're training yourself. It's good to make a distinction, but it's also good to try to respect archery. It'll all be good if you just nod, so be honest once in a while."


Fuji-Nee disappears into the range.
Mitsuzuri comes in as if to take her place.



Oh, I bet Fujimura-Sensei scolded you, huh?"
"I guess so. She told me not to worry too much. Well, she's totally right."


"Oh, I see. I thought you quit because you didn't want to shoot anymore, but you still want to, huh? That's unexpected."

"It's unexpected? What? You thought I got bored with archery?"

"Yeah. You only missed the target once. You were freaking good ever since I joined the archery club. Your form was really beautiful and you looked like you didn't know how to miss.


I thought you weren't happy about hitting the target because you're so good. You can get into the mentality without the bow, so I was annoyed that the bow might just be hindering you."

""


"Oh, did I guess right? I bet I did. Shooting is the mentality of shooting your mind, right? The arrow is not shot at the target, but shot at the mind of the shooter trying to hit the target.
So you won't understand the mentality if you can't face yourself."



Kai: the unity of the self and the target.
Hanare: releasing the arrow which has become yourself, and the moment time stops.
Zanshin: the self that is shot to the target already knows "it will hit", and the action and the result become one to make the past and the future into a point.

It is only a way to train yourself according to set stages.
Yes.
Archery is similar to meditation in magic.


"Well, it's like preaching to the Buddha. Hitting the target is like a bonus in archery. Archery is more like a path to obtain the mentality. It's a path and not a technique.
But to put it another way, you can't reach that mentality without bow and arrow."


"…I thought that was the boring part for you. We shoot arrows and feel it when we hit the target. We know hitting the target is only a technique, but we can't tell if we succeeded unless the arrow hits the mark."



…Anyone can hit the target in archery. Disregarding bothersome things like the eight stages of shooting, anyone can hit the target if they pursue 'the technique to hit the target'.
But they are only making the arrow hit the target with technique. Real shooting hits no matter how bad the shooter may be."

I'm completely lost.

"I don't know. I go to the range so that I can hit the target."


"That's what I'm talking about. Isn't there a faster way than getting a bow and going into the range? First of all, the bow and arrow are unnecessary for you.
You missed a target once before, right? I went to see how surprised you'd look, but you were acting normally."

"I asked you why, and you said 'I missed because I imagined for it to miss'.
It didn't miss as a result, but you made it miss with your own will.
That's when I thought that you're always imagining the arrow striking the target before you release it."

"Hm? What are you saying? That's just basics, right? Don't you imagine the arrow hitting the target and release it accordingly?"


"Of course. People try different things wishing for a good result. But it's only in our imagination. We can't 'see' it like you do, Emiya.
It means you're one with nature. You've reached nothingness, to put it in martial arts terms."



"That's difficult. So, what did you want to tell me?"


"It's just that it's easy for you to turn transparent because you're unselfish. You should be more selfish and greedy. It's boring to become a master at such a young age, right? I won't tell you to be like Shinji, but why don't you have some fun once in a while?"

""
I'm at a loss for words.
I think that's not true, but I can't think of anything that's fun for me.


"See. That's why you're troubling Sakura so much. You have to know how to have fun now, or you won't be able to when you get old.
People call those kinds of people good-for-nothings, you know?"

"Man. has it become so bad that a classmate is worrying about when I get old? Why are you so worried about me?"
"Because you don't laugh, Emiya."
"Huh?"


"I'm talking about the training camp we had before. We were all laughing, but you didn't laugh even at my best jokes."
"…Hm. So…"



She declares as if smiling to a rival.

Music: Madder Red Town



"Oh, where's Shinji? I haven't seen him today."


"He's skipping the club. He might have a new girlfriend, as he's like this recently."

Well, he ... kind of... does...

Mitsuzuri says this as if it's nothing, and walks to the school building.



Holding the key in her hand, the archery club captain leaves.



"Goodbye, Sensei!"
"Don't tease Emiya, Tiger!"
We start going down the hill with those voices in the background.

We keep walking.





Sakura and Fuji-Nee are beside me, and Saber is following behind us.


"Hm? Why is that girl following us?"
…Then.
It seems she only realized it now.


"Hey, do you know her, Shirou?"
It's the second time today I've heard that question. Thanks to Mitsuzuri letting me practice, I'm able to answer without hesitation.
"Yeah. I brought her here, so it's natural for me to know her, right?"


"Y-Yeah… So what kind of a relationship do you have with her…?"


"Yeah. I never heard of Shirou having a foreign friend."

"No, she's not my friend, but an acquaintance of my father. I guess she's the daughter of a friend of my father."
"Kiritsugu-san? Then this girl came to visit Kiritsugu-san?"

"Yeah. She'll be staying at my place for a while, so please give her your best regards."

Music: Stop


""Huh?""

Sakura and Fuji-Nee give the same reaction at the same time.
Well, it's natural for them to be surprised.

Music: Gentle Everyday



"No. Saber's only staying for a short while. I'm only letting her stay here, like in a hotel. It's nothing to be surprised about, right?"



"Yeah, I know it's a strange name. I think she has some strange aspects, considering she's not used to Japan. …Oh, she might seem a bit blunt, but she's actually really kind. It'll help me out if you can be friends with her, Sakura."


"…………Okay. That's fine, but…"
Sakura looks away from me and looks at Fuji-Nee as if asking for help.


"Fujimura-Sensei. Will you permit Saber-san's stay?"


"Hmm. I can't approve of it as a teacher, but I can't just ignore someone who came depending on Kiritsugu-san. …She looks dependable, so I don't think anything will happen. Right, Shirou?"


Fuji-Nee glances at me and asks me an impolite question.

"O-Of course. She's my guest if she's my father's guest. I can't do anything impolite to her. First of all, she's like my sister."


"Hmm. How old is she? She looks younger than Sakura-chan."

"Huh? Um, I guess so."


""
She stares at my face.
Then, once we come to the bottom of the hill…



She suddenly gets me with a surprise attack.

"……!!! I-I don't know! I just met her too, so I can't answer a question like that!!"
…Ugh, my face is burning. I bet my face is all red right now.


"Hm. You're telling the truth, but it might be possible in the future, huh?"
…I don't know what she read off of me.
Fuji-Nee crosses her arms and grows quiet as if she's pondering something.

Music: Tender Scenery




"I guess it's fine. It'll be a good experience if we consider this as a homestay. This place has lots of empty rooms, you know?"

Fuji-Nee makes up her mind.
Sakura was silent the whole time, but…


"Okay. It's not something I can protest about."
…It seems she understood in the end.

"……"
So, it's dinnertime now.
I put extra effort into it, as a welcome party for Saber and as thanks for last night.



Music: Stop

"………"








…Ends without anyone saying anything.



I think today's tempura was really well made.
It was perfectly made, so they should've at least said something.

"…But they did finish all of it. What's up with 'more, please' (3 times) being the only thing that was said?"
……
Cleaning up after four people takes a bit of effort.
Actually… Could there be a meaning behind the fact that Sakura is not coming to help me tonight?

Music: Surrounded by Smiling Faces



Fuji-Nee looks at the clock while drinking her tea.
It's past nine o'clock.
They usually go home around this time.



"…Hello? Didn't you hear me, Fujimura-Sensei?"
I go to the living room and tap her head.
Then.



"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I won't be able to take Sakura-chan home for a while."

"Why? Do you have to do something?"


"Um. No, it's because I'll be staying here starting tonight."

Music: Stop

It's as if it's already decided.

Music: Gentle Everyday

"Excuse me?"


"How about you join us, Sakura-chan? I can contact your place if you want. It's more fun for all of us to be here, right?"







Wait.
Why is Sakura so enthusiastic?



"All right. We can use the tatami room in the back! There's enough futons for all of us! That's fine with you, right, Saber-chan?"
Is it just me or does it sound more like an order?



"Oh shit."

Saber's looking at me as if asking for help.



"…Sorry. I can't stop Fuji-Nee.
And it sounds like Fuji-Nee's using this proposal as an exchange.
She'll probably take back letting you stay here if I refuse. We'll end up sleeping in the streets if that happens."


"…That is a problem as well. The boundary field here is excellent. This location is a good base. You are well prepared here for any surprise attack."

"…I see. Then please just hang in there for that reason. We should be able to meet up quickly as long as we're here.
…Um, it's hard work to keep Fuji-Nee company, but just say you don't understand Japanese if she troubles you."



Come this way, Saber-chan. Shirou's a boy, so he can be by himself, right?"





Fuji-Nee pulls Saber to her.



It does start with 'h', and it is 5 letters, but 'hotel' is not it.