Joy.

Wrath.

Sadness.

Doubt.

Astonished.

Fear.

Have the blues.

- These are the seven obstacles of archery.

However, for Emiya Shirou, none of this exists.

The red-haired boy pulled the bowstring little by little.

As the shape of the bamboo bow got closer to the full moon, his spiritual sea became calmer and calmer.

This is not the calm of a pool of stagnant water, but with a slight rhythm, as if the harmony of interaction with the outside world.

As his mind gradually entered the state, his eyes became brighter and brighter.

There are no distractions, thoughts are empty, and even the ups and downs of breathing are integrated into the frequencies of heaven and earth.

It's hard to imagine that he could so easily enter the realm of 'Heartless Shot', which is admired by the people of the archery.

You must know that it is a spiritual cultivation that requires decades of continuous understanding of the unity of heaven and man before you have the opportunity to achieve it.

Swish!

He let go.

"All hits!"

With the girl's crisp shout, Emiya Shirou put down the bamboo bow in his hand and exhaled the turbidity in his lungs.

At this time, looking at the target with five arrows in the red heart, the young man showed a smile that matched his age.

"Not bad, Emiya."

A beautiful girl with short brown hair walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

A second-year student at the private Ho Qunyuan Academy, Ayako Mikazu, who is the head of the archery department and the head of the archery department, had a hearty face like a boy, and said to the boy with a big grin: "Do you want to participate in the national archery competition with me as a representative of the academy?" ”

"Sorry ......"

Emiya Shirou turned his head sideways, and his smile was gentle.

The words directly expressed the refusal: "I practice archery just to train myself, and I don't have the idea of competing for fame and fortune." ”

"yes, that's a shame."

said this, but there was no trace of regret on Ayako's face.

After all, she has heard the same words from the other party no less than ten times in the past six months.

The daughter of the samurai family walked around the young man with small steps, and stared at him with brown pupils.

Unconsciously, Mika Ayako and Emiya Shirou were already very close: "So, can you tell me, how do you practice?" In three months, the qualifiers for the National Kyudo Championship will begin. Nishidaka's gang of bastards have always looked like no one has been in their eyes since they had the bow genius Fudo Gonzaburo who is known as the 'Son of God'. Some time ago, they shouted the slogan of 'dominating the country', and I don't want to lose to them......"

"Absolutely. However, I've never taught anyone, so I don't know how to describe it. ”

This request, Emiya Shirou readily agreed. He cupped his chin and thought for a moment: "For me, the arrow is shot before it is fired. If I think about it, it will hit, and if I think it doesn't hit, it won't hit. It's a natural feeling, and I can do it just by letting go of distractions. It's not so much a skill as an instinct. If you want to learn, you have to start from this aspect to stop all distractions. ”

“…… Like this? ”

After listening to his words, Mizuku Ayako realized.

She picked up the bamboo bow and followed the young man's instructions, holding her breath.

It stands to reason that this is just the basic etiquette of archery, but now she has a new understanding.

If you empty your mind and don't even think about it, the whole world is only left with the goal ahead......

Unconsciously, her eyes bloomed with a strange brilliance.

Collapse!

The bowstring sounded.

When the training bamboo arrow reappeared, its tail swayed violently and was nailed to the target.

Moreover, it is impartial, and it hits the middle of the heart, which is the best result of the Ten Rings.

"How? Beauty can't do it without learning martial arts. ”

With a smile on her face again, Mika Ayako held her hands and turned her head sideways, looking a little proud.

Her tone became boyish: "As long as you get the gist of it, I can do what you say." ”

'Very good, I didn't expect you to have such a talent......

Regarding the fact that Mika Ayako is the daughter of a samurai family and is proficient in all eighteen martial arts, Emiya Shirou has long known about it.

But he was still surprised that the other party could do this. With just a few words of guidance, he understands some of the mysteries of 'Heartless Shot', and even if Mika Ayako's archery is not yet mature, it is powerful enough. As long as she can maintain this mentality and practice every day, she may not have the opportunity to completely master this kyudo skill.

Whoa......

Just then, the wooden door of the driving range was pulled.

"Senior, do you need this?"

Shirou Emiya and Ayako Mitsu looked back at the same time, and a girl with long lilac hair was standing in the doorway.

She clasped her hands around her chest and hung two white towels.

"It's Sakura."

"It's Sakura!"

After seeing the person clearly, the two said in unison.

However, they speak the same words, but the tone of their voices is subtly different.

Sakura Makiri, a first-year student at the private Hogungahara Academy, a descendant of Shirou Emiya and Ayako Mizuka, is a well-known Yamato Nadeshiko-type beauty in the same grade and even in the entire school. She doesn't study alone, she also has an older brother named Shinji Makiri, who is also a member of the archery club. However, compared to the extremely popular Sakura Makiri, Shinji Makiri's reputation is not very good, and even his friends are only Emiya Shirou. He seems to be busy with things lately, and since last week, he has been taking leave through a female classmate he knows and has not come back to participate in the club activities of the archery club.

"I saw that the seniors practiced hard and the weather was relatively hot, so I took a towel to ...... without permission."

As she spoke, Sakura gradually approached the two.

Her voice was soft, low, but just audible: "Do you want to use it?" ”

"Ah, thanks, Sakura."

Mika Ayako was not polite, took the towel from her hand and wiped her neck.

She has been practicing for so long, she was fine when she was nervous before, but now that she is relaxed, she is already covered in sweat.

Although there is a guard Shirou of the opposite sex standing aside, it's just that she doesn't seem to care about it.

“…… Predecessor? ”

Sakura looked at Emiya Shirou with some doubts.

Compared to Mizuki Ayako, Emiya Shirou really doesn't look like he's worked hard.

There was no trace of sweating from fatigue on his body, and he looked very refreshed.

Even if the boy took the towel she handed him out of politeness, he didn't look like he wanted to use it.

"Interesting ......"

The bystander Qing, looking at Sakura's blurry eyes with a hint of concern, the girl couldn't help laughing.

"Emiya, you're really popular!"

Mitsuka Ayako patted him on the back and said in a joking tone: "However, sports are omnipotent, academic performance is excellent, and looks good, no matter what way you look at it, you are a good candidate for a boyfriend, even I am a little moved." ”

"Huh?"

Hearing her words, Sakura suddenly raised her head.

- Is it a delusion?

At this moment, Mika Ayako seemed to feel a chill.

When she looked closely, she could only see the clear eyes of Sakura Makiri, which looked extremely gentle.

"Ahhh......h

For some reason, Mika Ayako felt a little flustered.

Driven by this inexplicable feeling, she smiled awkwardly and subconsciously took two steps back: "Emiya, Sakura, if you have something, go first." I want to grasp the feeling just now and practice a little longer. Ah,Really.,Forget about that annoying guy in the middle of the road.,Recently, Rin also said that he had something to do.,Don't come to see me to practice.,I'm really bored...... I just made a little joke, so please don't take it personally. ”

"By the way, I heard that there are bad guys nearby, so be careful."

Emiya Shirou said to Mitsuya Ayako, "When you go home alone." Try not to go to the middle of nowhere. ”

"If there really is a bad person, then I will teach him a good lesson and then hand him over to the police......"

Mika Ayako rolled up her sleeves and said in a posture that didn't look like a girl at all, "He'll regret meeting me." ”

"That's good."

Also, Mika Ayako is an expert in martial arts, and the average bad guy really delivers food to her.

Thinking of this, the boy looked at the sunset outside and nodded to her.

It was almost half-past seven, and all his exercises were done, and it was time for him to leave.

In fact, for him, whether it is learning or kendo, it is not challenging at all, and it can only be regarded as a daily pastime. As early as a year ago, a teenager named Emiya Shirou had completed all of his regular studies at and below through self-study. The reason why he stayed at the private Ho Kuihara Academy was only because Emiya Kiritsugu was unwilling to let him go down the old path that he had figured out, and strongly advocated that 'young people should have their own youth'.

Dipping some water in the sink in the locker room, Emiya Shirou wiped back the hair on his forehead that had fallen from the wetness. As sagging hair can obscure the view, it can be detrimental in many cases. So, under the admonition of his adoptive father, although he did not comb his hair into a hedgehog head, he also developed the habit of straightening his hair anytime and anywhere.

"Sakura, are you going to my house for dinner?"

The boy who changed his bow uniform and walked out of the locker room asked Kirizakura.

Emiya Shirou invited this girl with no other meaning.

Since a few months ago, Sakura has often come to Emiya Shirou's house to help him do things for some reason.

"I'm sorry, senior, I have something at home today......"

Sakura's smile was still soft: "You go first, I'll go back by myself later." ”

"Then you should also pay attention to safety."

He nodded, indicating that he understood.

After saying goodbye to Mitsumi Ayako, Emiya Shirou did not delay, and walked out of the archery department alone and walked outside the campus.

The young man's steps were unhurried, and the distance between each step seemed to be precisely controlled by something.

His life is as precise as gears, and from childhood to adulthood, Emiya Shirou has always had strict requirements for himself.

At this rate, if nothing else, he will arrive home exactly in time for 8 o'clock.

Along the way, he soon came to a large mansion.

- Emiya House.

It is a typical samurai-style house that occupies a large area and even has a separate dojo.

It originally belonged to the Fujimura-gumi, the largest underworld organization in Fuyuki City, but was later purchased by Emiya Kiritsugu as a temporary base during the Holy Grail War, and now after the Holy Grail War, it also serves as his and Emiya's home.

"Young Master, are you back?"

As soon as he opened the entrance door, Emiya Shirou saw a woman with short hair and a cold expression.

Seeing Emiya Shirou coming in, she bowed slightly and said in a cold voice, "Dinner is ready, and the master is waiting for you." ”

"I see."

(PS: Joke to explain why some people always joke that Mika Ayako is a two-ceremony trumpet, because she herself is a character designed with reference to the two rituals.) Since she is a fellow 'Nuclear Bomb Sword Immortal', isn't it common sense that she can use nuclear bomb archery? The nuclear god chasing arrow has an overwhelming phase advantage over the gods, "As long as it is alive, even if it is a god, I will blow it up to you." With a good skill and the straight death demon eye inherited from Sister Shi (big mistake), he occupies a place in the Dongmu Demon Cave, where the strong hand is like a cloud and the folk customs are simple, ranking fifth among the four heavenly kings. ）