The setting sun cast a dim light on the road as a young girl kept running, her long twin-tailed black hair waving with her momentum.
Her long-sleeve crimson top dazzled in the dim sunlight, complementing her pleated black skirt. Her thigh-high black stockings added a stylish contrast to her appearance— her brown loafers pounding against the cemented road as she kept running.
She stopped, skedding on the road just before a huge wooden door— leading to a much old classic Japanese house.
Sliding the door, she entered. But instead of going inside, she headed towards the storage that was situated on a corner of this huge property— as if she knew the person she had been searching for, had to be there.
And he was.
As she opened the door of the storage, there sat a person— around the same age as her— observing a magnificent blade with golden and blue hilt, still unleashing a thin white smoke.
"Tohsaka?" he said, looking confusedly at the girl who was panting, "What a surprise! I didn't expected you to come to see me after this long time. Is everything alright?"
Saying that, he went back to focus on the blade he was still observing. For some reasons, his attitude was a little different than what Rin had anticipated.
"Excuse me?" she shouted, as if annoyed by his words, "You're the one who never bothered to even contact me. I know it was my fault to argue with you when you dropped out of the Mages' Association. But still, you could've at least text me."
"Sorry about that." Replied Shirou Emiya, knocking his index finger onto the magnificent blade, "I got kinda busy all of a sudden."
"Busy into what? Forging blades? Even though it's not necessary anymore…" just when she intended to continue, her gaze shifted on the blade he was holding.
At first, she didn't notice it. But now that she had her eyes on it, it felt familiar— as if she had seen it before.
Yes. She had witnessed Shirou's battle during the previous 'Holy Grail' war and had seen the blade he wielded back then.
The blade— however— he was holding now, wasn't the same as he used in the past. It was different, yet not entirely unfamiliar to Rin. She recognised the blade— or at least, had a clear idea of whom it might be.
"Hey Shirou?" she wondered, out of her curiosity, "That blade, isn't it Ex—"
"No it's not."
Shirou, by the way, denied before she could even finish. And it confirmed her suspicion.
The blade he was holding, dematerialized into the air— as though shiny particles swarming around Shirou's arm.
"It's not even close to it." He continued, "No matter how many times I try. I'm not even close to replicate her Noble Phantasm. And this blade…" The blade appeared again, "is nothing but another failure within my arsenal."
Rin was taken aback by his words. It was— first of all, a surprise that Shirou was still practising Mage Craft even though he had dropped out of the Mages' Association— which Rin still continued, by the way.
But what was even more surprising was that he was trying to replicate a Noble Phantasm— not forging any ordinary blades like he used to— but a Sacred Sword…
The Excalibur.
Saber's Noble Phantasm.
The king of the knight— Artoria Pendragon's Noble Phantasm.
"But why in the world would you attempt something like that?" Rin couldn't help but to ask, and it was valid, "Tell me Emiya, why…."
"Drop it, Tohsaka." Shirou replied, his voice distressed and low, "It doesn't matter anymore. Nor does it concern you anyway."
"Argh!!!!" Rin exhaled annoyingly, "There we go again. What's your problem Emiya. Can you not at least let me know? Or do you not think me as a friend anymore?"
"It's not like that."
"Then why did you fight with me last time. And after that you vanished. No calls. No texts. Nothing. And now that I'm here to deliver an important news, you're avoiding me again."
"Important News?"
Only that part snatched Shirou's attention as he looked curiously at Rin.
"What kind of news," His eyebrows twitched, "Is it about my drop out or anything else?"
"I'll tell you." Rin replied, "But promise me you'll explain everything I want to know."
"Hmm" knowing no way to decline her, he nodded. And Rin started exploring the news on him.
"As it seems, another Holy Grail War is set to occur pretty soon."
She showed her hands— showed the Command Seal that has appeared once again. Though the pattern was same as before, it radiated a thin dark aura around it.