Shirou Emiya — Doesn't Want to Work Overtime!

"Eek! That tickles!"

Shirou flinched—someone had poked him in the side.

He turned and looked down. A young girl in a brightly colored kimono stood beside him, looking no older than ten. One hand held a skewer of candied hawthorn, while the other, like a wind-up toy, kept jabbing a finger at his waist.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Shirou twisted away, dodging the persistent pokes and staring at her in confusion.

"You looked kind of bored. Why not take me on a walk?"

The girl took a playful bite of her tánghúlu, clutching at the hem of Shirou's sleeve with the innocent stubbornness of a child.

Crouching to her level, Shirou finally got a good look at her.

Her black hair gleamed like silk, falling naturally down both sides of her face. Bright green eyes, rosy cheeks, and a narrow, delicate chin gave her the look of a porcelain doll.

Shirou was sure—once she grew up, she'd be breathtaking. In Yoshiwara, they'd say she was destined to become an oiran, one of the district's highest-ranking courtesans.

But right now, she was barely tall enough to reach his waist. Her arms were thin, bony. Her cheekbones jutted slightly, and her ten fingers looked like brittle stalks of dry bamboo.

She was frighteningly skinny—so light it was as if the breeze could carry her away.

When Shirou placed a hand gently on her arm, he noticed faint bruises under the skin—old wounds, clearly left by abuse.

He quickly tucked away the grim expression that flickered across his face, replacing it with a warm smile.

"Sure. What should I call you?"

"I'm Asakusa Kaori! I heard the older girls call you Shirou—is it okay if I call you that too?"

"Kaori, huh?" Shirou stood and took her frail little hand. "Alright, Kaori it is. Which house are you from? How'd you find time to sneak out today?"

"Rika-nee has a big oiran dōchū procession today, so everyone at Tokijiro House is super busy. I slipped out while they weren't paying attention!"

She took another bite of her candied hawthorn, cheeks puffing up as she huffed in frustration.

"If only the oiran I serve were as kind as Rika-nee. Mine gets mad over the littlest things and takes it out on me!"

"Those bruises… they're from her, aren't they?"

"Of course they are!" Kaori puffed up even more. "She doesn't have to be as nice as Rika-nee, but could she at least not trash the room every time she's in a bad mood? I spend hours cleaning it, and it still ends with her being upset and me getting hit."

She chomped fiercely on her candy, pouring her grievances into the poor hawthorn balls.

"How someone with a personality like that became an oiran is beyond me! I don't know how the customers stand her!"

She stomped the ground, furious all over again.

"Don't the madams do anything? I thought most of them around here were decent people. They wouldn't allow this kind of treatment, would they?"

"Even the madam's scared of her—"

Kaori's sentence cut off suddenly. Her small nose twitched, as if catching a scent Shirou hadn't noticed.

She went silent, grabbed his hand, and tugged him in a completely different direction.

"What is it?"

Shirou let himself be pulled along. He could've easily stopped her—she didn't even come close to budging his weight. But he couldn't just wrench his hand away from a child. So he followed, bewildered.

"Shirou! I want that!"

Kaori's eyes lit up like stars as they reached their destination. She pointed eagerly toward a nearby stall, her entire body radiating excitement.

The glow from her face was so intense Shirou had to squint.

"Shirou, hurry up! Buy it for me!"

Unable to resist her energy, Shirou followed her to the vendor. Not that he wouldn't have bought it for her anyway.

"Three skewers of takoyaki, please."

"Well if it isn't you again, Shirou! What, no greeting before showing up, huh? Come on, try a bite—tell me how it tastes!"

The takoyaki stall owner beamed, slapping Shirou on the back as he busied himself at the grill.

"I only asked for three skewers. Why're you giving me five?"

Shirou looked down in mild confusion as the man handed him more than he ordered. He pulled out his coin pouch, ready to pay for all five.

"Nah, it's fine! You helped me out so much the other day—I still haven't properly thanked you. Just take 'em. One for you, and the rest for the little miss here."

"I insist. I'll pay for five."

Without another word, Shirou placed the money on the counter, picked up the takoyaki, and walked away.

"That boy…"

The shopkeeper let out a sigh and pocketed the cash with a wry grin.

"Mmmph! So good! Mmm—I've wanted to try this forever, and now I finally can!"

Kaori chomped down on the balls of hot, gooey octopus like a starving wolf. Her cheeks bulged comically, but her eyes sparkled with joy.

"Slow down! You'll choke!"

Shirou gently patted her back, coaxing her to ease up.

"But it's so good!"

She kept chewing, then paused suddenly—her eyes turning toward Shirou with admiration.

"But it's still not as good as your cooking."

Kaori nodded seriously, holding up her skewer and—through great effort—raised her thumb in approval.

Shirou sweat dropped.

"You're not going to get in trouble for sneaking out like this?"

He asked cautiously.

"I'll get smacked around a bit, but I'm used to it. Eating something this delicious? Worth it!"

She flashed a grin and pointed down the street.

"Quick, quick—there's still plenty of time! I wanna try every food stall before that old hag catches me!"

Having scarfed down her takoyaki in record time, she once again tugged Shirou toward the next stall.

"I'll stop by and check on things."

Shirou knew the owners and madams around the district well. He'd helped them more than once, and often cooked for their gatherings or celebrations. His connections in the hanamachi were solid.

Mostly because his job and lodgings were right next door—it was hard not to get familiar with the locals.

"You certainly seem to have a lot to say about me."

A cold voice slithered down Kaori's spine like a knife.

She froze in place, rigid as a board. Sweat beaded across her brow.

"What is it?"

Shirou noticed her sudden stillness and tilted his head in confusion.

Kaori glanced behind them.

No one there.

She let out a breath, smiling weakly at Shirou.

"It's nothing. Just deciding what to eat next."

Neither of them noticed the pale pink strand of silk that had slithered silently from beneath the cobblestones—now pressed softly against the back of Kaori's neck.