Don't use Type-Moon references in Oregairu!

"You dare to be so bold. Luckily it's you; if anyone else had touched it, they'd probably have become my forging material." A figure dressed in red, wielding an iron hammer, was intently forging a sword in his hand. The clanging sound that had woken Fujimaru Ritsuka came from this very spot.

It's Senji Muramasa! — Fujimaru Ritsuka knew him all too well.

He seemed to have finished forging it. He held the back of the blade with his right hand and gripped the hilt with his left, carefully examining the finish. He wasn't entirely satisfied, but he nodded nonetheless. Then, he flicked the blade and said, "Catch!"

The katana was moving extremely fast, as swift as lightning, but Fujimaru Ritsuka seemed to have faced similar situations countless times before. She met the momentum by gently tapping the back of the blade upwards, and gripped the hilt tightly in the midst of the spin.

"Very well!" Senji Muramasa stood up, casually drew a sword, and placed it on his shoulder. "Kid, since you dared to joke about acknowledging a cheap father, then let me show you what fatherly love is all about! Come on, let me let you experience a swordsmith's fighting style firsthand!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but speak up: "Ah, um, old man, weren't you going to teach me how to use your Noble Phantasm [Mugen Kenshin] step by step?"

Senji Muramasa's youthful face twitched, and he said in a condescending tone, "With your skills, you think you can learn my secret techniques? Wait until you can defeat me!"

"Ah, you're a Heroic Spirit now, it's not right for you to bully a junior like me like this!"

"Don't worry, I'll suppress the physical material... Goodness!" Senji Muramasa spun around to dodge the sword that shot from behind, a forced smile on his face. "Not bad, you've long since mastered the technique of using [Flame] to forge and project weapons, but you're still too green."

"Hahaha...just kidding, old man!" Fujimaru Ritsuka, as a tactical mastermind (referring to his imagination), certainly wouldn't give up on a sneak attack! Now, it's time to apply the advanced psychological warfare technique: [playing innocent]!

"Questions and answers are useless! Take this!"

"You said it would be one strike, but so many are flying at me! Old man, you have no sportsmanship!!!"

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Fujimaru Ritsuka woke up in his large bed, his heart pounding. He touched his still-pounding heart, checking for any wounds, then, puzzled, put down his pajamas: "Didn't that bastard say dying in a Servant's dream would cause harm or even death? I knew that old guy was ruthless! Even after admitting defeat, he still stabbed me in the heart! I thought some alien god had descended and hired me as a tool. Thank goodness. Everything is under my control!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka stretched lazily, feeling mentally exhausted but physically in good condition. Thanks to Senji Muramasa's training, she felt her inherited abilities had greatly improved, and she had unlocked another skill: [Modern Inauspiciousness].

"But this thing is pretty useless... It's one thing to be a god on FGO's special attack day, but where are we going to find some king here to unleash a special attack?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka stroked her chin, annoyed that she had randomly gotten a useless skill—it would have been better to build a stronghold! At least that would have strengthened everyone's defenses and been somewhat useful.

Uh, wait a minute! Fujimaru Ritsuka thought for a moment: Mammon, wouldn't you say he's a king?

Fujimaru Ritsuka wins big!

16. Yui wants... (Two images will drop)

Sitting in his seat, Fujimaru Ritsuka let his mind wander, his thoughts drifting aimlessly. Mainly, there wasn't much to listen to in this class, as he was already very familiar with Japanese history.

However, having thoroughly studied the "Acting" manual, he maintained a serious demeanor, preventing his teacher from noticing anything amiss. Unfortunately, some people can't even manage to appear diligent.

"Yui Yuigahama! What are you daydreaming about! Stand up and tell me, who is the Second Shogun? What are his deeds? If you can't answer, stand up and wake up!"

The Japanese history teacher was a rigid, Mediterranean man who particularly liked to scold students. Most students didn't dare to misbehave in his class and pretended to listen attentively.

Sure enough, someone got caught. Fujimaru Ritsuka looked over sympathetically; the pink dumpling looked completely bewildered, as if it had just come to its senses.

Yui Yuigahama's grades in Japanese history weren't good. No, in fact, her grades in many subjects were poor, making her considered a slow learner even in Soubu High School, a school with a high college entrance rate. Her classmates knew this, some were waiting to see her make a fool of herself, while some close friends had expressions that said, "This is bad."

Fujimaru Ritsuka thought that Yui would probably stand up speechlessly now and then avoid being punished by acting cute.

But it's okay, beauty is a weapon too!

"The second Shogun was Sakanoue Tamuramaro. Although he was called the second, he was actually the first Shogun in reality..." Yui Yuigahama's opening remarks disappointed the onlookers. However, as she continued to speak, everyone revealed a subtle expression: When did Yui Yuigahama secretly start studying?

"...His greatest achievement was killing Ōtakemaru and thwarting the Fourth Demon King's attempt to corrupt Japan!" The class suddenly fell silent, then burst into laughter.

Yui Yuigahama made an "Eh eh eh" sound, staring blankly at her classmates who were laughing, completely unable to understand their sense of humor.

The Japanese history teacher gestured for Yuihama to sit down, coughed a few times, and almost laughed out loud: "Not bad, Yuihama is indeed a diligent student, but... read fewer novels, and don't take the fictional accounts in 'The Three Generations of Tamura' as historical fact."

Fujimaru Ritsuka swallowed hard and stole a glance at her.

Hmm, this expression doesn't look like someone who's been reading a novel and is confused; it looks more like someone who can't believe what they're seeing.

Yui Yuigahama sat down, but this was just the beginning.

It has been said that the only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity learns nothing from history. For example, daydreaming in class will get you caught by the teacher; reckless behavior will lead to your death; and hotel records are easily discovered by your wife.

So Yui Yuigahama was pulled up again.

In math class, the teacher read from the textbook in a monotone tone, making the already dreadful subject sound like a lullaby.

However, he also likes to randomly call on people to answer questions, and occasionally he will give them a few questions that are beyond the scope of the curriculum. When the other person can't solve them, he will look heartbroken.

Thus, Yui Yuigahama, who had been distracted, was called out again for the second time.

This time, the math teacher was particularly harsh because she hadn't been paying attention in class. She gave her a calculus problem that would make even Hachiman Hikigaya dizzy.

Mr. Hachiman, who can only score 9 points on tests, once said, "I don't even know the end of the universe, how would I know what a recursive sequence is? Calculus? Aba aba?"

But this time, Yui Yuigahama showed no mercy, leaving no chance for anyone to laugh at her.

The woman didn't even need time to think; she simply picked up the chalk, stood in front of the blackboard for a moment, paused for a second, and then began to write rapidly.

Her solution filled half the blackboard with dense writing. She solved an advanced exam question for a prestigious university in one go, and after finishing, she walked back to her seat with a flourish, without even waiting for the teacher to confirm the result.

The students in the class gasped in shock, successfully lowering the temperature in the spring of April.

After that, Yui Yuigahama continued her undefeated legend. She was called on to answer questions several times for not paying attention in class, but she easily overcame the teachers' difficult questions. Yui Yuigahama was on fire!

Fujimaru Ritsuka's hair almost stood up and twisted into a question mark. Wataru Watari, you lied to me again.

But he turned to look at the reactions of his classmates, especially the shocked look in the eyes of the blonde Miura Yumiko—Fujimaru Ritsuka was very familiar with it; it was the look of a slacker who thought a smart girl had failed the test, only to find out that she got a 90.

We agreed to be lazy and slackers together, so why are you secretly working on it?

Tsk, it seems Wataru Watari is fine, the problem is Yui Yuigahama.

The lunch break bell rang unexpectedly. He leaned over and whispered to Hachiman Hikigaya, "By the way, are you really sure Yui-hama-san...?"

Hikigaya Hachiman was a little uncertain: "Should we look at someone with new eyes after three days of separation?"

As they were whispering to each other, a gasp of surprise from the other side caught their attention.

"Wow, Yui, your bento box is so lavish! Your mom is so nice to you today." Yui Yui's current circle of friends exclaimed in unison.

Yui Yuigahama opened the bento box filled with exquisite dishes, smiled a little embarrassedly, but said proudly, "No, I've been learning to cook recently, and my skills have improved really fast. These are all bento boxes I prepared myself."

Hachiman Hikigaya craned his neck and took a closer look: golden tamagoyaki, tempting tempura, perfectly fried croquettes, and tender green okra made up an exquisite and tempting bento box.

He immediately retracted his previous statement: "No, there's definitely something wrong. That Yuigahama Yui is the kind of person who can turn even the simplest cookie into poison!"

Recalling the cookies from before, Hachiman's face turned pale. Fujimaru Ritsuka patted him on the shoulder: "Never mind, let's go to the cafeteria and buy something to eat."

Miura glanced at the two as they walked out of the classroom and couldn't help but complain, "That new guy, Fujimaru, looks pretty handsome. How come he's hanging out with that gloomy guy, Hachiman?"

Yui Yuigahama picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and mumbled, "Haha, it seems like Fujimaru is planning to join Yukinoshita and the club that's always shutting down."

"Yukino Yukinoshita, huh? Tsk..." Miura Yumiko irritably tugged at her drill-like curls, tapping her right foot impatiently on the floor.

She suddenly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, Yui-chan, why are you behaving so well today?"

"Eh!" Yui Yuigahama shrank back like a startled animal and stammered, "Oh, Yumiko, it's just that the midterms are coming up soon, so I was just reviewing my lessons."

She lowered her eyes: Ah, after visiting the shrine, my mind suddenly became incredibly sharp... I bet people would think I'm an idiot if I said that.

17. Interlude

"You mean that kitchen demon, the master of terrible cooking, Yui Yuigahama, made a lavish bento?" Yukino Yukinoshita raised her voice, as incredulous as a Conan fan who had just seen Makoto Kyogoku and Ran Mouri dating. "She can't even tell the difference between sugar and salt, and she can make things explode in the microwave. How can she cook?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka calmly retorted, "I always feel like you've smuggled in some malicious ulterior motives."

Yukino Yukinoshita closed the paperback, tapped her fingers on the table, and said seriously, "We should consider the possibility that Yui Yuigahama might make a deal with the devil to make up for her regrets."

"I already told you, can you please stop making such malicious assumptions?! Couldn't she have awakened like you guys?!" Fujimaru Ritsuka sighed, rubbing her forehead.

"Why would a proper Heroic Spirit awaken the ability to cook first?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka was speechless for a moment, then waved her hand wearily: "Anyway, I have some guesses about Yuigahama Yui's situation now. But it seems that she doesn't have any magic power yet, so let's wait and see."

The other two nodded in agreement. Indeed, if someone truly awakened the power of a Heroic Spirit, they would likely experience magical reactions like they did, subconsciously sensing something special about the other person. Since Yui Yuigahama hadn't fully awakened yet, they could put her aside and prioritize dealing with the cave.

After discussing the preparations for the evening, Fujimaru Ritsuka mainly instructed the two on how to conceal themselves: "First, it's best to wear a fully enclosed helmet, mask, or something similar, like I did last time. Be careful not to leave any hair at the scene, to avoid being tracked down. Second, don't choose clothes from obscure brands; it's best to buy the kind that's readily available everywhere. Finally, it's best to wear gloves to reduce the possibility of leaving fingerprints. Oh, and choose a pair of shoes that are a size too big; if they're uncomfortable, wear several layers of thick socks underneath."

Yukino gave Fujimaru Ritsuka the look she'd given a prospective criminal: "Are you sure this isn't just preparation for a bank robbery?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka clicked her tongue: "Bank robbers are nowhere near as professional as us! Think about it, most robbers these days are just a bunch of desperate guys. Do they even know anything about criminal investigation? At most, they can only do some route planning or something. With criminal investigation technology so advanced these days, they can lock down those small fry in no time. They're not even worth comparing with me when it comes to those high-profile heists."

"Don't get too proud, old lady!" Yukino Yukinoshita wiped her face. "It seems that summoning too many Heroic Spirits in Chaldea isn't good either. Fujimaru Ritsuka has probably learned too many bad habits now."

Fujimaru Ritsuka was completely unaware that the professor and his troublemakers had once again been falsely accused. After repeatedly emphasizing the preparatory measures, he finally set the meeting place and time—not worried about the surrounding surveillance having any impact, after all, everyone was a superhuman with the power of Heroic Spirits, and such a thing was not worth mentioning.

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Around 3 p.m., school ended on time, and Fujimaru Ritsuka packed her things and headed out.

"Fujimaru-kun, are you busy this afternoon? A few of us were just discussing going to karaoke after school." A girl from our class whom we didn't recognize approached us and extended an invitation in a suggestive manner.

Fujimaru Ritsuka refused without hesitation, her tone feigning gentleness: "I'm sorry, I might have to go now."

"Oh, let's go together. You can also invite Hachiman to come along." The girl was a little unhappy, but she still persisted.

Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't stop moving at all. She glanced to the side and saw that Hikigaya Hachiman had already slipped away. She cursed him for being disloyal and her smile turned cold. She directly refused: "Heh, Persona 5 just came out. I'm in a hurry to go back and play the game. KTV is not as fun as games. I'm not stupid."

Watching him walk away without looking back, the girl stomped her foot in anger, gritting her teeth and muttering under her breath, "That guy! Ugh, I hope you stay straight forever and never have a girlfriend."

Fujimaru Ritsuka ignored the girl's subtle movements behind him, quickly hurried out of the school gate, and merged into the flow of members of the Homecoming Club. After a while, he boarded the train bound for Chiba Port.

Chiba Prefecture, while located within the Tokyo metropolitan area, is generally not as bustling as major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. The subway system within the prefecture is not extensive; its operation in only a few of the more prosperous areas is largely due to Narita Airport. Within the city, only a few places like the city hall are easily accessible by subway, yet it provides convenient connections to Tokyo's transportation network. This, I suppose, reflects a certain demand.

The city's transportation mainly relies on trams and public buses, and the headquarters of the Tojo Clan is located near Chiba Port.

It wasn't rush hour, and the train only had a few students and some elderly people. The elderly sat scattered around, some chatting quietly about everyday matters. A few high school students, however, sat together; teenagers this age tend to stick together. Fujimaru Ritsuka listened to them talk about school life and celebrity gossip, and a wave of emotion washed over him: "Isn't this pretty much what I imagined 17 years ago? They're enjoying their high school life happily, while I'm out fighting, arm wrestling with yakuza." Life is tough, Fujimaru sighed.

But it's alright, at least it's not like that blank future where only a few dozen people remain on Earth, and even the hope of ultimate victory is extremely slim. Being able to drink soda and beat others up these days is already a pretty good life.

Having achieved her goal, Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped off the tram. In the distance, Chiba Port was dotted with fishing boats and merchant ships, and near the port stood a large building—the headquarters of the Tojo Clan. Gazing at the building, Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled: "Tonight, Fujimaru joins the hunt."

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Time passed silently, and by six o'clock in the Northern Hemisphere, a few stars were already visible. The moon appeared on the distant horizon, while the sun lingered in the west, reluctant to set. In front of the building in Chiba Port, five men in suits stood on guard, glancing nervously at their watches every now and then.

"They're here!" one of them whispered to his companions, and the group of people in front of the gate gasped.

Three hooded men dressed in black sped towards them at a speed comparable to that of a car.

The leader stopped abruptly, his shoes scraping against the ground with a painful screech. He slightly raised his head, his face covered by a gas mask under his hood, revealing only a pair of cold, blue eyes.