Chapter 119: Siblings

After Ikki Kurogane took Ms. Oriki to the infirmary, the classroom erupted into chaos. Students sitting together discussed Ms. Oriki's recent announcement, passionately sharing their opinions with their deskmates. For Shirou, who had become the center of the class from the moment he enrolled, his surroundings were livelier than ever before.

"Ms. Oriki is really pitiful, having to spit out so much blood every day."

"Just thinking about it is terrifying!"

"But what are everyone's thoughts on participating in the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?"

"I probably won't participate. My strength is too low, after all."

"What about you, Emiya-kun?"

"Me?" Hearing the question directed at him, Shirou thought for a moment and said, "I haven't decided yet. For me, participating or not makes no difference."

"Anyway, among Student Knights, I'm invincible."

"But if I do participate, my goal is definitely the Seven Stars Sword King. After all, I don't like the feeling of losing." Though invincible, he couldn't be careless. Didn't the last person to claim invincibility get sealed away?

"You're really confident, Emiya-kun."

"Is this the lingering aura of a strong person?"

"Indeed, Emiya-kun is very strong!" Hearing Shirou's confident declaration, the surrounding female students praised him loudly. As a result, Shirou distinctly felt the malicious gazes from some of the male students around him. But that was all. Unlike Ikki Kurogane, Shirou entered Hagun Academy as a C-rank Knight. In an academy where the vast majority of students were D-rank and E-rank, Shirou himself stood at the pinnacle.

The previous year's top student was C-rank Knight Shizuya Kirihara, after all. This year, due to the monstrous abilities of Stella Vermillion and Shizuku Kurogane, Shirou, as a C-rank Knight, didn't have much of a presence. But even so, he wasn't someone a few small fries could provoke. In the original story, the reason those people provoked Ikki Kurogane was entirely because he carried the title of F-rank Magic Knight. Unable to catch up to stronger individuals, they could only vent their frustrations on weaker ones to prove their own existence. And then they hit a wall. Ikki Kurogane's strength and his ranking were completely different matters. For these people who judged based on rank, a C-rank Knight like Shirou was probably someone they would never dare to mess with.

Just like that, amidst the students' discussions, Ikki Kurogane returned to the classroom with the teacher's instructions.

"The teacher said you can leave early. Today's homeroom time is over."

"Oh, long live Ms. Oriki!" Indeed, for students, early dismissal was always the best reward.

"Emiya-kun, want to go out and stroll around together?"

"Yeah, our school is pretty big."

"Let's have lunch together!" Upon hearing about early dismissal, the girls around Shirou immediately started inviting him.

"Sorry, sorry, I have something to do today, next time for sure!" With that, Shirou braced himself on the desk and leaped, jumping out of the group of girls.

"Let's go, Ikki!" he said, pulling Ikki Kurogane towards the door. Only a group of girls remained, gazing at Shirou's retreating back and continually sighing.

"So cool!"

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…

"Ah, good thing I ran fast, otherwise I would have been completely swarmed by them."

"But you looked like you were enjoying it!"

"No way, you saw wrong!" Walking down the school corridor with Ikki Kurogane, the two of them continuously chatted back and forth.

"So, what are your plans next, Ikki?"

"Me? I'm planning to look for my sister. She also came to Hagun Academy this year."

"Your sister? Is she cute?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you for the compliment, big brother!" Just as Shirou and Ikki Kurogane were discussing Ikki's sister, a clear voice came from the side, attracting both their gazes.

"Shizuku!?" Looking at the white-haired girl who appeared before him, Ikki Kurogane's eyes widened in surprise. Ikki Kurogane never expected that after only four years, Shizuku Kurogane had grown so beautiful.

"Brother, I really missed you!" Looking at the familiar face she hadn't seen in four years, Shizuku Kurogane immediately leaned in, cupping Ikki Kurogane's face. Then, under the gaze of many surrounding students, the two kissed.

"Shizuku! What are you doing, Shizuku!" Hearing another excited shout from nearby, Shirou, who was eagerly eating popcorn, put down his student handbook which was recording, and turned to look. He saw a red-haired girl with twin pigtails screaming, her face flushed.

Stella Vermillion. Shirou recognized the girl's identity at a glance. But how did she know Shizuku Kurogane? Were they roommates? That was certainly possible. After all, they were the top student and second-ranked student this year. In the absence of Ikki Kurogane, it would be normal for the first and second-ranked new students to live together.

It seemed Shizuku Kurogane heard Stella's cry. Ikki Kurogane, who had finally recovered from his daze, quickly pushed Shizuku Kurogane away.

"Shizuku! You, what did you just do?"

"Nothing, just a simple kiss."

"I know! Of course, I know it was a kiss! That's why I'm so shocked! I'm asking why you did that!?"

"There's nothing to be confused about. Kissing is an act of affection. It's like the bond between lovers, which can form arbitrarily. However, emotions between men and women are shallow and fragile. Siblings, as flesh and blood, have a bond as strong as steel."

"If men and women can kiss, then siblings naturally can too. There's no reason to prohibit siblings from kissing. In other countries, kissing is just a simple greeting."

"Huh, is that so?"

"That's a load of rubbish!" Shirou and Stella, who were observing, couldn't help but retort. However, one did it internally, and the other said it directly.

"Tsk!" Seeing Stella ruin her moment with her brother, Shizuku Kurogane looked displeased at her roommate, who had been standing behind her.

"Stella-kun, could you please not interrupt our sibling interaction?"

"But, didn't you say he's your real brother?"

"So what? What does that have to do with you!" Hearing Shizuku Kurogane's harsh words, Stella felt greatly wronged. She had only meant to prevent Shizuku from making such a mistake. Could it be that Japan's customs had become so open?

Looking at Stella, who was biting her lower lip and looked wronged, Shizuku Kurogane faced Ikki Kurogane again with a victorious expression. Then, she reached out her hands again and wrapped them around Ikki Kurogane's neck.

"Brother, do you know how much I've missed you these past four years?" Feeling Shizuku Kurogane's intensity, Ikki Kurogane was completely unable to move. And so, in full view of everyone, their lips met once again.

"Hiss, a second kiss, that's exciting, isn't it?"

Shirou, who had once again taken out his student handbook to record, quickly noticed that he wasn't the only one filming. A girl with peach-gold hair and glasses was also continuously filming. However, her equipment was much better than his. Shirou remembered that she was his classmate, apparently named Kagami Kusakabe?

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