Fate/Suburbia External

S3 Chapter 4: The Bookstore

While the finest winter day of Unisberg was at its height, in the downtown area two servants decided to meet up for an outing. With the viral video of Jalter and Artoria Alter going around, people made an effort to stay away from the Eastern part of the city and thus the West became livelier in the afternoon.

"Mou." MHXA let's out a little sigh before sipping her Sunbucks double pump caramel vanilla frappuccino.

"MHXA. S-sorry if I'm late," Ortlinde, dressed in a white hoodie with golden lace, and a skirt over leggings comes shuffling over. Her small purse bounced around from her rigid running.

"It wasn't much of a bother, ready to go?" MHXA asks as she kicks off the wall she was leaning on and approaches the Valkyries.

"Yes. It would be a shame if we missed out on anything," Ortlinde says now walking beside MHXA.

The two girls walk down the sidewalk from their rendezvous and join the masses of people enjoying their time outside.

"I... I wonder if they'll still have that copy of 'Vampires, Werewolves and Teen Pregnancy' from last week," Ortlinde initiates conversation.

"Mhm."

MHXA affirms pulling up a touch display before them and pulling up the stock of the bookstore they were visiting.

"There are six copies left and we are 2 minutes away from arrival," MHXA responds.

"That's good..." Ortlinde says in relief.

"The other two didn't want to come?"

"My sisters? Thrúd and Hildr thought it might cause too much attention if we all left. We kinda keep this hobby to ourselves at the moment."

"Oh. Well, we are here," MHXA says, opening the door.

Upon entering the two are filled with the smell of freshly printed books, ink and hazelnut incense.

"Welcome," says the desk lady, Murasaki Shikibu, the great poet and writer herself was there.

In fact it was one of the myriad of reasons the two girls had chosen to visit this store in particular. Having only been open for only a month, it has gotten great reviews, was Heroic Spirit owned and had a complimentary self-serve coffee and donut bar. The store had an attraction for just about everyone. Among the people who would frequently visit aside from book goers were single men pining for Murasaki and her two rather heavily stacked tomes.

MHXA and Ortlinde approach the clerk.

"Hello Miss, can you tell us where your copy of Vampires, Werewolves and Teen Pregnancy is?" Ortlinde asks in a lowly voice.

MHXA is looking around the store for anything of interest.

"Oh, yes there should be a handful on the furthest right wall from here and two cases to the right."

"Understood, thank you. Um, if... if you want to go to Valhalla please let me know!" Ortlinde blurts out before shuffling along.

"Hehe, why thank you for the offer, enjoy your time here," Murasaki says with a smile.

MHXA silently throws up a peace sign before following Ortlinde to the location they've been directed to.

Upon reaching the shelf, all the copies of the book were gone. This gravely bums out Ortlinde, MHXA gently pats her back.

"There are still other books here... see they have The Starving Festival, Magical Boy and the Alchemist Stone... so on so forth," MHXA says in an attempt to cheer up the Valkyrie, but her monotone, and passive voice did not lend any favors.