The sketch of Shirou embracing Ryuu has been completed please check it out at https://www.patreon.com/Rayish
Shirou and Ryuu began walking back toward the Hostess of Fertility, their footsteps light on the cobblestone path. The night breeze blew softly, carrying the distinct scent of winter flowers in bloom. Shirou could feel the gentle fragrance mingling with something he knew well—a divine touch that could only come from Syr. She must be in a good mood, Shirou thought with a small smile.
However, as they approached the restaurant, the sound of soft laughter and familiar chatter could be heard from inside. Shirou and Ryuu exchanged glances before entering. When the door opened, the scene inside was quite surprising to Shirou. Syr and Lefiya were sitting at one of the tables, engrossed in conversation while enjoying warm dishes as if they had been friends for a long time. The cozy atmosphere was slightly disrupted when Shirou heard his name being mentioned.
"Shirou is really thoughtful," Lefiya said sweetly, her cheeks slightly flushed. She seemed to be reminiscing about something sweet.
Syr smiled in agreement, adding in a soft but teasing tone, "Indeed, I even learned to cook because of him. Shirou was so patient in teaching me even though I was terrible at first. Now look, I've become quite skilled, haven't I?"
Lefiya, not wanting to be outdone, immediately chimed in enthusiastically. "Oh, I also often cook breakfast with Shirou every morning for the Loki Familia! He's so kind." Her smile widened as if showing a bit of pride.
Seeing Lefiya so excited, Syr teased, "You're really cute. But Shirou often comes here, and we usually spend time together in the kitchen. So, I think I have more time with him."
"Well, I also—" Lefiya opened her mouth, about to retort, but suddenly a soft cough was heard from behind them. Ahem.
Lefiya quickly turned her head. Upon seeing who was standing behind her, her face turned as red as a ripe tomato. "Shi-Shirou! Y-you're back already…" she stammered nervously, her soft voice almost a whisper.
On the other hand, Syr remained seated calmly, her smile not diminishing in the slightest. Instead, she looked at Shirou and Ryuu with a teasing gaze. "Oh? Are you two done being lovey-dovey outside?" she asked in a cheerful tone, clearly trying to provoke a reaction.
Ryuu, who was usually calm, immediately flinched. Her face panicked, and she quickly denied, "We weren't doing anything like that! We were just... just talking for a bit!" she said defensively, trying to maintain her composure but failing completely.
Shirou, equally flustered, nodded quickly. "Right. We were just discussing a few things. Nothing more."
Syr chuckled softly, enjoying their flustered reactions. "Alright, alright," she said, standing up. "Come on, join us. The food is still warm."
Ryuu looked hesitant. She glanced toward the kitchen with a worried expression. "But... is it okay? What if Mama Mia gets mad?" she asked cautiously.
Syr waved her hand casually as if it were no big deal. "Don't worry. The restaurant is quiet right now. She won't mind something small like this."
Seeing Syr's confidence, Ryuu finally relented. Shirou just shook his head slowly. They sat down, ready to enjoy dinner together in a warmer atmosphere, even though it had started with an awkward incident.
Various dishes were neatly arranged on the table, and their aromas were mouthwatering. There was a bowl of warm pumpkin soup with a bright orange hue, garnished with fresh parsley. A plate of crispy toasted bread fresh from the oven was placed beside it, with butter slowly melting on its surface. A fresh green salad with cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and lemon dressing complemented the meal. Not to mention, there was a small bowl of creamy pasta with tender chicken pieces sprinkled with fragrant herbs that tempted anyone.
Syr looked at her creations with pride. "So, how is it? Isn't my cooking getting better?" she asked with a wide smile. "I think I can even surpass you now, Shirou, as my former cooking teacher."
Shirou took a slow sip of the soup. "Mmm, this is amazing, Syr," he praised sincerely. "I have to admit, your cooking has improved a lot. It's... rich, yet light on the palate."
Hearing that, Lefiya immediately turned to him with enthusiasm. "Then, Shirou, we can't lose! For the next breakfast, we should add more variety to the menu. How about we try something more creative for the Loki Familia?" she said with sparkling eyes.
Ryuu, who was sipping her soup, paused to ponder. At this table, I'm the only one who's not a cook, huh? she thought, glancing at the three people in front of her who seemed so enthusiastic about discussing food.
Syr smiled faintly, then turned to Shirou. "By the way, why haven't you come here for the past week? I've been feeling lonely in the kitchen without your help. It's just been me and Mama Mia busy here."
Ryuu narrowed her eyes, giving Syr a meaningful look. "Hmm, really lonely, huh?" she murmured in a flat tone. She knew Syr's true intention—it wasn't just about loneliness, but also about getting Shirou back to lighten her workload.
Shirou scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. "I joined an expedition to the early floors with the Loki Familia," he answered without revealing too many details. Of course, he couldn't say that the expedition was to Knossos on Daedalus Street, not the Dungeon as usual.
Hearing that, Syr put down her spoon and looked at Shirou with concern. "An expedition? You didn't get hurt, did you? Do you need time to recover?" she asked softly, but her eyes showed deep sincerity.
Shirou fell silent for a moment. What should I say? I know Syr is actually a goddess. I can't lie to her. He tried to formulate an answer that wouldn't make Syr more worried.
However, before Shirou could speak, Lefiya, with her innocent demeanor, interrupted. "Shirou pushed himself too hard during the last expedition. He even passed out!"
Ryuu immediately turned, startled by that. "Passed out?" she asked, her eyebrows raised high. She knew how strong Shirou was and found it hard to imagine him losing consciousness. How dangerous was the Loki Familia's expedition that Shirou, with his extraordinary strength, could pass out? Ryuu thought, her curiosity and concern mixing in silence.
Syr looked at Shirou with a gaze full of attention, her eyes clearly showing worry. "Are you sure you've fully recovered, Shirou?" she asked softly, sweeping her gaze over Shirou's face for any signs of fatigue or hidden injuries.
Shirou smiled, then raised both hands to show that he was fine. "See? I'm completely healthy. There's nothing to worry about," he said in a reassuring tone, shaking his arms as proof.
Syr let out a relieved sigh, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank goodness," she said in a low voice. However, it didn't take long for her to look at Shirou again with a pleading expression. "But if you've been recovered for a while, why didn't you come here sooner? Are you bored of us?" she asked, her eyes glistening as if begging for a satisfying answer.
"Guh..." Shirou flinched at the question, almost choking on the sudden intensity. "That's not it!" he said quickly, waving his hands. "Actually, I've been busy with... a project after the expedition," he added awkwardly.
Ryuu, who had been listening quietly, turned to Shirou. "A project? What kind of project?" she asked with a cold, curious tone.
Before Shirou could answer, Lefiya, who was enjoying her meal, immediately cut in. "Shirou's been learning to forge, and I've been helping him," she said proudly, as if not wanting to miss the chance to show off her involvement.
"Woah!" Syr clapped her hands lightly with a sweet, surprised expression. In her heart, she felt that forging was a much safer choice for Shirou. He wasn't talented in magic, his physical abilities were average, and he was still level 1. Forging might truly suit him.
After stopping her clapping, Syr leaned forward slightly. "So, what have you been forging, Shirou?" she asked with full curiosity.
Lefiya, who looked excited, almost answered quickly, "We made a—" But she paused when she saw Shirou blinking slowly at her, signaling her not to reveal the secret. Catching the hint, Lefiya immediately changed her tone and continued more casually, "I mean, we forged a bow."
Ryuu frowned, feeling puzzled. A bow? she thought to herself. She remembered how skilled Shirou was with a blunt sword during their training sessions. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked directly, "You... can use a bow? I mean, are you proficient in it?"
Shirou looked at Ryuu with a confident smile. "Archery is my most mastered skill," he answered briefly, but his tone was full of conviction.
Ryuu was stunned to hear that. If Shirou's archery skills surpassed his swordsmanship, how incredible was he really? Just how powerful is Shirou on the battlefield as an archer? Ryuu thought, unable to imagine his true prowess.
Meanwhile, Syr was thinking something different. Ah, archery really suits Shirou. He's a supporter and better suited for that than fighting on the front lines, she thought calmly. She then said with a smile, "That's a great choice, Shirou. Archery must be really helpful, especially for a supporter like you."
As she enjoyed the last spoonful of her soup, Ryuu looked at Shirou and Lefiya, who seemed very focused on their food. "By the way," Ryuu began, setting her spoon down slowly. "You two seem really busy with your forging project. Have you been keeping up with the news outside?"
Lefiya looked up curiously, then shook her head slowly. "What news? Did we miss something important?" she asked with a curious tone. Shirou nodded in agreement, leaning back in his chair as he looked at Ryuu, waiting for an explanation.
Ryuu wiped her mouth with a napkin before starting to explain. "The Freya Familia raided the Ishtar Familia's headquarters," she said seriously. "Even worse, Goddess Ishtar herself was defeated by Goddess Freya... from Ishtar's own tower. And that caused Goddess Ishtar to be forced to return to Tenkai."
Shirou and Lefiya exchanged glances without saying a word. Their looks conveyed a shared understanding. Ishtar was involved with Evilus, so this could be considered good news, they thought simultaneously, though unspoken.
"So..." Shirou finally spoke after a few seconds of silence. "Goddess Ishtar seems to be an evil goddess, huh? Then Goddess Freya could be said to have upheld justice by defeating her."
Ryuu raised an eyebrow, clearly disagreeing with Shirou's conclusion. "I wouldn't say Goddess Ishtar is evil," she said, her voice flat but firm. "I don't agree with her lifestyle and how she ran her prostitution business in her territory. But that doesn't make her evil. She's just... different."
However, before Ryuu could continue, a soft laugh was heard from across the table. Syr laughed heartily, even seeming to hold herself back from being too loud. "Upholding justice? Freya?" she said in a mocking tone. "Listen, Shirou, Goddess Freya is no different from Ishtar. They're both... shameless bitches. You're right, Ryuu, this isn't about good or evil. They're just fighting over men."
Shirou looked at Syr with wide eyes, while Ryuu stared at the usually friendly waitress with a confused and slightly worried expression. Is this really Syr? they thought almost simultaneously. They had never heard Syr speak ill of anyone, let alone a goddess.
However, Syr just chuckled softly again, as if unfazed by the silence around the table. Deep down, she remembered clearly how she—as Goddess Freya—had destroyed Ishtar. All of this just because she tried to steal Bell from me, she thought coldly. But she quickly took a deep breath, calming herself. But I'm not Goddess Freya right now. I'm Syr, a simple waitress at the Hostess of Fertility.
Meanwhile, Ryuu cleared her throat softly, trying to ease the sudden tension. "Syr," she said quietly, a hint of worry in her voice. "You should be more careful with your words. If the Freya Familia hears that, you could get into big trouble."
Shirou nodded in agreement. "Right, Syr. Your words earlier... might have been too harsh. It's better to be careful."
However, Syr just smiled faintly, returning to her usual friendly demeanor. "Don't worry," she said lightly. "No one will hear it except us. Besides, it's just a little table talk, right?" She shrugged, then casually picked up her soup again, leaving Ryuu and Shirou still stunned by the side of Syr they had just seen.
The atmosphere at the dining table fell silent after Syr's sharp remark. Despite that, Lefiya, Syr, and Shirou continued eating. However, the lingering tension made them chew in silence, without the light conversation from before. Even Lefiya's small laugh to lighten the mood sounded awkward.
Once the plates were nearly empty, Syr was the first to rise, gathering some of the dirty utensils in her hands. "I'll clean these," she said in a calm tone, though her expression showed a trace of tension. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked to the kitchen. Her quick movements seemed like an attempt to escape their gazes.
Seeing this, Shirou felt something was bothering Syr. Reflexively, he stood up and took the remaining dirty plates from the table. "I'll help," he said briefly before following her to the kitchen, leaving Lefiya and Ryuu at the table.
Ryuu watched Shirou disappear behind the kitchen door and let out a relieved sigh. Good, Shirou can handle this, she thought. She knew well that if Syr needed comfort, Shirou was the best person for the job. After all, Ryuu herself still felt unsure how to restore the atmosphere after what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Lefiya, who was confused by the sudden change in mood, followed Ryuu to the counter. She patted her small pocket, looking at Ryuu hesitantly. "How much do I owe for the meal, Ryuu?" she asked softly, wanting to make sure they didn't leave any unpaid bills.
Ryuu shook her head slowly with a small smile. "You don't need to pay anything," she said, her soft voice slightly comforting Lefiya. "Anyone who eats with Shirou here is always considered free. It's kind of... compensation for his help at the Hostess of Fertility."
Lefiya's eyes widened, and then she nodded in understanding. "Oh, so that's why Shirou invited me to eat here," she murmured, now feeling more aware of Shirou's habits. Though the earlier tension had been palpable, Ryuu's explanation brought back some comfort to Lefiya.