Fate: Hammer Time

Chapter 42: Endless Meetings Part 2

At six o'clock in the morning, Shirou found himself sitting in one of the many cafeterias of the Clocktower. His appointment with Lady Barthomeloi and Lady Montmorency wouldn't be until eight, but he had slept enough, he had already memorised the reports Lady Montmorency had given him, and he was too high-strung to do anything productive, so he had ultimately decided to just have himself a long breakfast.

He'd bought six sandwiches with ham and mustard, a large pile of scrambled eggs, a plate full of bacon, ten pieces of toast with butter, a string of sausages, and a glass of orange juice. It should be enough to keep him busy for an hour or so, if he ate slowly.

And if he got bored again after that, there were plenty of desserts available for him to sample.

The cafeteria itself was empty, save for Shirou and a single employee, who, after selling Shirou his food with eyes wide as saucers, was now trying her very best to not look at him and to stay under his radar, fearing to test his mood.

It seemed he had indeed become rather famous, or perhaps infamous, among the general populace of the Magus Association. Shirou wasn't sure how to feel about that, but since it was probably an unavoidable consequence of his need to act heroic, he decided not to let it bother him.

As he was sitting there, alone with his food, with nothing pressing on his mind, Shirou realised how odd his weeks at the Clocktower had been.

He had achieved his main objective perfectly and almost without effort. He had Illya and her maids safely in his Vault, and the Einzbern none the wiser about what had happened. His original purpose for coming to London was fulfilled.

Everything else had gone completely off the rails though. He had planned to remain discrete and unnoticed, but that was a complete and total failure. He had wanted to learn a few things, especially about his strange affinity for blades, but he simply hadn't had the time for that. He had meant to go to the Clocktower for one summer and then leave again and never come back, but now that the Vice-Director herself had demanded he visit the Clocktower regularly, it would be almost impossible for him to get away cleanly from the institution.

It had been hectic from start to finish, from blowing up the engine of the Edelfelt's car and beating up a bunch of young, racist Magi, to storming a hide-out in Germany and conducting a purge alongside the Clocktower's dreaded Department of Policies.

It wasn't that he hadn't enjoyed himself, or that he considered it wasted time, certainly not. The recent events had just been completely unexpected, and they had swept him up like a current. Now he needed to keep swimming and not allow the current to drag him under.

Shirou slowly ate his sandwiches, savouring the taste, and he was just about to start on the scrambled eggs when two people entered the cafeteria. People he both recognised, though he had never seen them together before.

One of them was Eduardo di Stanza, one of Lord El-Melloi's students, whom Shirou had given a lesson on Curses some time ago, while the other was one of the Edelfelt who had been laughing at Lord El-Melloi on Shirou's very first day at the Clocktower, right before he blew up their engine.

Apparently, they knew each other quite well, if their linked arms were anything to go by.

It also seemed they had purposefully sought him out, for they showed no surprise at his presence and walked straight at him without pausing for a moment.

"Fujimaru." Di Stanza greeted him once he stood beside Shirou's table, the Edelfelt remaining slightly behind, though she'd now grabbed Di Stanza's hand after unlinking their arms. "It's been a while."

"Indeed, mister Di Stanza." Shirou replied, before pointing at the chairs on the other side of his table. "Please, have a seat, both of you."

"Much obliged." Di Stanza nodded, before pulling out a chair for the Edelfelt, only sitting down once she was completely settled.