#Shiri Emiya

[pyropsychiccollector]

Shiro Harem: Holy Grail War... of Love 5/7

Ayako-chan won the poll, not really surprising. XD Down to just her, Illya, and Reines, it seemed like a no-brainer what you guys would want. Still, I try to have a democracy around here. (人◕ω◕)

Fate: Stay Night is all about branching timelines. As such, to cater to all seven members of this harem in a single worldline, we'll be looking at an AU separate from the canon ones, regardless of how similarly events may play out. Just a forewarning.

The Beginning

So, this one is pretty far removed from the Grail War, ironically enough. Still set in the same universe, it's just this member of the harem is…a civvie, to put it bluntly. No knowledge of magic, no tragedy in her family, nothing that truly sets her apart. Ayako Mitsuzuri is just…"normal".

Which isn't to say that's a terrible development. Out of all these girls that fall for Shiro, he frankly deserves someone that has no baggage and is closer to him in terms of mundanity. It's a bummer that canon never gave her a route like the other girls… A route where Shiro never got wrapped up in the Grail War. Though that could have turned out badly any number of ways… XD

This isn't a problem, however. Like all the other girls, the pieces are there for a relationship with Shiro. We just have to assemble them. (人◕ω◕)

Ayako has known Shiro for a while. Gone to the same school, been good enough friends, they were even in the archery club until Shiro got bored. Even after he left the club, they stayed friends; Ayako just wishes Shiro would come back because he was an inspiration and was a major boon to their reputation.

Shiro in turn respects Ayako for how hard she works and recognizes her as a big sister of the student body what with how she doesn't put up with crap and helps others. Of course he's Shiro, he's extremely formal and selfless. (人◕ω◕)

This… really frustrates Ayako as they go through high school and Shiro remains static and oblivious to stuff like romance. Not that Ayako is much better - she prefers putting it off, partly because that's just what she wants, and partly because her family is even more formal and traditional than her. Ayako even has to hide her love of video games from her family, that's how bad it is. (人◕ω◕) Moreover, Ayako feels more attracted to older guys because of the maturity angle. Too many of the guys at their school are flirty like Shinji or just don't have their lives in order…… Or they're too rigid like Issei. (人◕ω◕);; Point is, Ayako is "advanced" for her age, and everyone sees her as Big Sis anyway. Not even the people with the incest kink will touch her, which both relieves and frustrates Ayako to no end.

Doesn't stop her from making a wager with Rin to find a boyfriend first. But even with them "competing", both of them are rather laidback and unconcerned about love in general. Rin has her responsibilities, and Ayako has her own circumstances that lead her to procrastinate. (人◕ω◕) … Funny enough they both gravitate to the same guy. And both procrastinate on acting on their crushes. It's not like Shiro is even Ayako's preferred type, per se… But out of all the guys in their age group, he probably is the best off because he's so gung-ho about helping others and being responsible. He lacks the rigidness Issei has, which makes him approachable. …. Shiro is just very dense. Not a deal breaker , but it's something they have to work through. Assuming she can even get Shiro to consider her as more than "Big Sis". (人◕ω◕)

The Middle Act

As stated, Ayako has no stake in the Grail War, doesn't have the faintest idea magic is real. Doesn't know Shiro almost died… Shiro, Rin, and Sakura keep their schoolmates in the dark about the conflict pretty well.

That said… It doesn't mean Shiro was 100% head in the game 24/7 when it came to the Grail War. He still had a school life, even if Illya, Saber, and Sakura preferred him to be more focused on the war. But what can you do? He's Shiro Emiya, and he has a school life. And the fact he's bothered by so many things in the war, he broadcasts his worries and anxieties without meaning to. He's an open book, after all. (人◕ω◕)

It's vexing for Ayako that she can't get Shiro to open up about his problems, though. In this case he just can't talk about them. And it's not like him to keep mum. Ayako knows this isn't typical behavior for Shiro, knows this isn't right. Her solution? Drag him to the dojo and rope him back into the club whether he's chill with it or not. (人◕ω◕) It's not like she's asking him to be Shinji's whipping boy for all the club chores, or carry them through tournaments. Ayako merely wants that intimacy with Shiro rekindled. Shiro's really, really good at archery… And Ayako won't force him if he's dead set against coming back. … But she thinks this will be good for Shiro, give him something to do and have fun with. At least give it a chance. (人◕ω◕)

For Shiro's part… He does see archery as a means to help in the Grail War. He's not a fool. … Well, he IS… But not in ways he could imagine. (人◕ω◕) However… He doesn't want this club activity to be a means to an end, to keep his archery skills sharp. This is important to Mitsuzuri, he can see that. He just doesn't understand the why because he's so focused on Ayako and making her happy. Doesn't get that this is for his sake, his happiness. (人◕ω◕)

… Ayako doesn't let that slide. After several practices, she takes him to the side again and has a heart-to-heart. Expresses disappointment he's never thought about asking her out, never seen her as more than just a friend. Being the big dummy he is, Shiro remarks he's got Sakura and Illya to look after right now (again, keeping quiet about the war). Ayako doesn't take that well, at least when he brings up Sakura… And though he doesn't understand why, Shiro acts on his uneasiness at seeing Ayako disheartened and miserable. He comforts her and at least gets it across he's never given romance much thought. Sure, there's girls that he admires, that he loves, but for him it's never been about being with those girls. Because… He just doesn't have the time to think about such things, there's far too much to do in helping others. And even if he considered a relationship, what does he even bring to the table? Shiro has no love for himself, no confidence beyond his cooking and ability to fix stuff. He would have confidence in archery, too, but for him it's a hobby and little else. He's too absorbed in his dream of helping others and protecting and making Illya happy. (人◕ω◕)

Naturally, Ayako sees the problem from a far-off perspective. No knowledge of magic, she just assumes Shiro's a workaholic… Still more approachable than Issei, but he needs to relax. If he met her family, they'd get along way too well. Ayako doesn't appreciate that. (人◕ω◕) She sees the problem is that deeply entrenched selflessness, and asks about the girls most precious to him. The fact he names her, Rin, Sakura, Illya, and some family friend named Saber, it does throw the poor girl for a loop. But when asked to explain what he loves about them… She can see that it's genuine on his part. Shiro goes way beyond mere physical attraction in his reasons, and she's touched that this dummy has such a high opinion of her. (人◕ω◕)

It does make the way forward kinda hazy, though… Being the "Big Sis" she is, Ayako knows Rin and Sakura like Shiro, too. The fact he likes all of them is…strange, but not impossible to work through. They just have to sit down and talk it over. (人◕ω◕)

The Future

Ayako does, unfortunately, take a backseat when the war enters final stages… But after it's all wrapped up, she does make everyone sit down and chat about a relationship with Shiro. (人◕ω◕) … Doesn't go the way she expected with all of them agreeing to share Shiro. And she's not thrilled Rin dragged him off to London first thing after Graduation… But Ayako does help Sakura, Saber, and Illya with giving Shiro a home to return to. The magic stuff isn't completely kept from Ayako after a certain point, yet it's so different from her everyday life that she kindly asks to be only given details immediately relevant to their safety. Everything else is…way too above her pay grade. (人◕ω◕)

She's not the first to have kids with Shiro, or the last, but her role as "Big Sis" helps defuse most petty fights and gives the children in general a mother to look up to. … Because even Sakura has her moments of clinginess and jealousy. (人◕ω◕) Not to say Ayako never gets moody or jealous. … She's just one of the most mature of the harem, if not THE most mature. (人◕ω◕) Her family will never understand the polygamous relationship she wound up in, and that's fine. Most days she has to accept this is her life now, and she's pretty happy here.

… Other days she whines to Shiro about his taste in women and how much work they hafta do to corral everyone sooo often… But that's a take for another day. (人◕ω◕)

First post: https://www.tumblr.com/pyropsychiccollector/743914272095092736/shiro-harem-holy-grail-war-of-love-17?source=share

Second post: https://www.tumblr.com/pyropsychiccollector/743914300198027264/shiro-harem-holy-grail-war-of-love-27?source=share

Third post: https://www.tumblr.com/pyropsychiccollector/743914313492873216/shiro-harem-holy-grail-war-of-love-37?source=share

Fourth post: https://www.tumblr.com/pyropsychiccollector/743914325706768384/shiro-harem-holy-grail-war-of-love-47?source=share