Fate DxD

Chapter 81

After a hard day's walking, we're all at the table, eating together, and today we're eating a lot more than before.

"Sorry I couldn't help you prepare dinner, Akeno-senpai, Asia-san." I apologize, helping myself again.

There's meat, which Kiba hunted this afternoon, and there's fish, which Akeno caught with Asia.

"No problem Senji-san, you came home late with President, we wouldn't have forced you to cook too." Asia tells me.

"It's true, you were both completely exhausted when you came in... and then it allowed us to have a little girl talk, fufufu..." Akeno chuckles, making me raise an eyebrow.

(What could they possibly have said to each other? I hope Asia doesn't have anything strange on me...)

"Please Akeno-senpai! Don't say it so strangely!" Asia blushed with embarrassment.

"Here Emiya-kun, there's some more if you want." Kiba hands me a bowl of rice.

"Ah, thank you Kiba-san." I take it and waste no time in emptying the bowl quickly.

Everyone is focused on dinner, being completely exhausted from the training we've been undergoing since we've been here. Even we've begun to get used to the excessive pace.

The meal lasts a long time, taking the opportunity to rest and enjoy it to the full. When hunger stops and there's nothing left on the table, we all sigh with satisfaction.

"I must say it was very good, thank you for this meal." I cut the silence.

"Ara ara, being complimented by a fine cook, you're going to make me blush Senji-kun." Akeno smiled as she placed her hand on her cheek.

"Thank you Senji-san, I've put into practice everything you taught me..." Asia says to me shyly.

"I did indeed notice." I nod.

"Well, now speaking of something else, Senji. In these four days of training, what do you think?" Rias asks me.

"...I'm so weak without my magic circuits..." I reply, somewhat bothered.

"I wouldn't put it that way." Rias corrects me. "I honestly think that if you were to fight us at full strength, you'd win against Kiba and Koneko, maybe even Akeno and myself. Yet we have a lot of fighting experience ourselves. At first, I thought you and Asia had none. That's the case for Asia, but not for you, you surprise me day by day. If I'm training you without your main source of power, it's because you're the bearer of Boosted Gear, and the same goes for you, Asia, with your Twilight Healing. You can't be ignored, even the enemy knows that. That's why I'm pushing you to your limits, so that when the going gets tough, you'll at least be able to run away even when you're out of strength."

"I understand, but running away isn't really what I do." I retort, which surprises her, then a smile spreads across her face, as if she already knew.

"I have no doubt Senji, but a retreat can also be part of a strategy. Retiring to form a new formation is also a professional way of fighting. There are many ways to win a match like that. However, running away with your back to an opponent is hard to do. If it's an enemy with roughly the same strength, it's pretty easy. But showing your back to an enemy much stronger than you is basically asking him to kill you. So being able to flee in the face of a powerful enemy will also be part of your strength. So I have to teach Asia how to flee, and you Senji, I have to get it into your head that it's a valid action, while training you to fight more effectively of course." She said, smiling.

"Okay... I don't mind trying to understand." I cross my arms, ready to open my mind.

"Yes." Asia answers seriously.