Chapter 17: Karma and Asteroids (Patreon)

In the end, Shinji was caught by Issei.

This should have been nearly impossible, as Issei was the model student who would never run in the halls or on school grounds.

That such a model student managed to catch him was thanks to the “assistance” of a certain English teacher and a certain twin-tailed girl who just happened to stick her leg out right into Shinji’s escape route.

Watching Shinji face-plant on the ground beside her, clutching his nose in pain, the twin-tailed girl—Rin Tohsaka—covered her mouth with a look of feigned surprise.

"My, my, Matou-kun, how careless of you. The school rules clearly state not to run and cause a disturbance in the halls."

"You—!" Shinji turned his head, glaring at her through gritted teeth.

"You really shouldn’t do that anymore. You could get hurt."

"Got you!" came the voice of Taiga, accompanied by rapidly approaching footsteps.

Rin turned and greeted the approaching teacher politely. "Good morning, Fujimura-sensei."

"Ah, Tohsaka-san. Good morning."

"Matou, this is your karma." Issei walked forward slowly, a wooden discipline rod in hand, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Tch." Shinji clicked his tongue and slowly got to his feet. "Makes me agree with the ancients more and more. ‘Of women and small men, none are hard to raise’ indeed."

"Matou, I originally intended to punish you with the discipline rod. However, I did not expect you to utter words showing such sudden enlightenment. Therefore, the corporal punishment is canceled."

With that, Issei held his right hand upright in front of his chest, closed his eyes, and softly chanted a Buddhist sutra. Shinji, mimicking him, also closed his eyes and muttered a prayer.

Watching the two of them, two prominent, throbbing red veins appeared on Rin’s forehead. Any satisfaction she’d felt from her successful revenge instantly evaporated.

"Just you wait!" she spat, before turning on her heel and marching into the school building.

"Shinji, so it was that Tohsaka after all?"

"Huh? What was?" Shinji looked at Shirou, confused.

"The girl you confessed to in middle school."

"What?!" Issei exclaimed, his expression grave. "Matou! So you were that boy who confessed to her at the school gate on the first day of middle school?!"

"What, Issei, you’re only finding out now?" Shirou said, exasperated.

"It seems today’s discipline rod punishment cannot be avoided after all, Matou! After receiving your strikes, you will copy sutras one hundred times!"

"Are you serious?" Shinji was dumbfounded.

"Of course! Getting involved with a vixen like that will ruin your life!"

"So you know Tohsaka-san, Matou-kun?" Taiga asked, looking surprised.

"Nope. Didn’t know her at all before high school," Shinji shrugged.

"Really? But you confessed to her in middle school. Why would you confess to someone you didn’t know?"

Seeing Taiga’s curiosity, Shinji sighed lightly. "Sensei, you’re unexpectedly gossipy, aren’t you? Anyway, homeroom’s about to start. You’ll be late if you don’t hurry."

"Ah! Crap!" Realizing the time, Taiga immediately dashed toward the school building, calling back over her shoulder, "You boys hurry up too! Don’t be late!"

Watching Taiga’s hurried retreat, the three boys exchanged a look and shared a simultaneous, wry smile.

Afternoon, dismissal time.

Shirou, who should have been heading to the archery club after school, didn’t go straight there. Instead, he intercepted Shinji, who was yawning and about to leave with his bag.

"Shinji, I want to talk to you about Sakura—"

"Emiya," Shinji leaned in close, cutting him off. "You’re the type who wants everyone around you to be happy, right?"

"Huh? W-well... I guess so."

"Mm, that’s good." Shinji’s eyes curved into a smile.

"Eh? You..."

"Unlike you, Emiya, I’m actually a pretty vulgar and selfish person. I don’t have that pure, selfless heart you do. I’m just... an ordinary guy. Anyway, see you, Emiya."

After saying these confusing words, Shinji turned to leave. Shirou stood there, bewildered, only snapping out of it after a long moment.

"Wait, Shinji..."

But Shinji didn’t answer, merely raising a hand to wave behind him as he walked away without looking back.

After finishing club activities and returning home, Shirou repeated Shinji’s words to Sakura.

"Maybe it’s because... Nii-san... also has things he isn’t good at," Sakura whispered softly, her head bowed, her expression complex.

"Huh? Shinji? There are things he isn’t good at? But he’s perfect at everything."

Shirou was surprised.

"Yes..." Sakura nodded faintly. "Something he’s very, very... not good at."

"I see. I don’t really understand, but knowing Shinji, he’d never give up easily on anything."

Sakura didn’t answer. She didn’t say that the thing she was referring to was something her brother could never achieve, no matter how hard he tried—magecraft.

"Speaking of which, what has Shinji been up to lately?" Shirou asked, remembering something.

"It seems he’s been very interested in astronomy for the past month. He bought a telescope and books on the subject. When I was taking out the trash, I even found some star charts he’d drawn."

"Another whim, huh..."

"But... the day before yesterday, it seems he threw... moved everything out. Probably sold it off as second-hand goods."

"Such a short-lived interest."

[News Report: The previous night, three previously undiscovered asteroids posted anonymously on a forum by a user have been confirmed by the National Astronomical Observatory. They are indeed three asteroids that have never been internationally discovered but are real. Due to technical limitations and the user’s deliberate concealment of their identity, the anonymous poster could not be identified. The IP address could only be roughly traced to the Miyami district of Fuyuki City...]

Watching the news report on TV, Shirou smiled wryly and looked at Sakura. "Sakura, could this be...?"

"It’s probably Nii-san’s doing."

"I’m completely defeated." Shirou hung his head with a heavy sigh. "Is Shinji a monster?"

Swoosh—

"Shirou, have you heard?" Taiga burst through the door, unable to contain herself. "They say someone discovered three asteroids all at once, and they’re from the Miyami district!"

"Ah, we just found out. And... it’s probably someone you know, Fuji-nee."

"Really? I know them?"

"Yeah. It’s probably Shinji. Sakura said he was researching something like that recently."

"Matou-kun? Huh?" Taiga was astonished. "Then why didn’t he claim credit? The discoverer gets to name the asteroids!"

"Probably because... Shinji’s already lost interest in the topic," Shirou shrugged.

Taiga: ...