FATE: Target of Grand Master

"What else can we do? Apologize to the boss and get compensation."

Shirou sighed, as if he had expected this.

"It's alright, it's alright. Two bamboo swords aren't worth much, but an apology should still be sincere."

Xia Yan hadn't expected that Shirou's enhanced bamboo sword still wouldn't survive more than a few rounds of combat with the two women. However, he didn't blame them, but instead tried his best to soothe their emotions.

While the four were focused on their conversation, a large crowd had already gathered around them because of the sparring match between Musashi and Artoria.

Although both of their movements exceeded the scope of a typical kendo instructor's routine, the exciting duel still earned applause and cheers from those around them.

A muscular middle-aged man walked out of the crowd and said to the four people who were about to go find the kendo dojo owner, "I am the owner."

Xia Yan and his three companions immediately apologized to the boss and expressed their willingness to compensate him.

"Just two bamboo swords, not worth much."

The boss said with a smile, but a hint of shrewdness was revealed in his eyes.

"If you ladies really feel bad about it, how about we ask the two ladies who were just fighting to strike a cool pose in front of our shop so I can take a picture and use it as a little advertisement? Although I'm just a guy who gave up halfway through kendo, I can still tell that both of you ladies have reached the level of a grandmaster in swordsmanship."

Afterwards, the boss spent a full five minutes praising Musashi and Artoria. Although the duration was a bit exaggerated, the wording was very sincere, which made Musashi and Artoria feel a little embarrassed. In addition, since they had broken the bamboo sword first, the two of them reluctantly agreed to give up on the kendo dojo.

The extremely shrewd business owner even printed out four photos for Xia Yan and his companions after the two Servants finished taking the pictures, and said that all four of them would receive a 20% discount on all their future visits to the kendo dojo.

After accepting the photos, the four of them found a decent restaurant nearby and had lunch together.

During this time, Artoria inquired about Morgan's recent situation and nodded in satisfaction upon learning that Morgan was doing well and had not engaged in any scheming or trickery.

After lunch, Xia Yan and Musashi bid farewell to Shirou and Artoria and headed to the largest arcade in Fuyuki City.

"Huh? Isn't that Cú Chulainn?"

Following the direction Musashi pointed, Xia Yan saw Cú Chulainn being pulled by the arm by a woman with short, rose-red hair, looking like he wanted to leave but was being held back.

The woman had a beauty mark under her left eye, and although she was wearing the promotional uniform of an arcade worker, she acted as if she knew Cú Chulainn very well.

"Could it be that Cú Chulainn found a girlfriend here?"

Musashi immediately jogged over and struck Cú Chulainn on the back.

"Hey, Cú Chulainn, is this your new girlfriend?"

Cú Chulainn turned around and saw Musashi calling his name, so he had no choice but to resign himself to his fate and give up on running away.

"Ha! Cú Chulainn! I knew I hadn't mistaken you! Although you've changed a bit from the one I remember, you can't fool me!"

The woman with short, magenta hair stood with her hands on her hips, clearly displeased with Cú Chulainn's earlier response that she had mistaken him for someone else.

"Tsk." Cú Chulainn scratched his head and admitted helplessly, "Yes, yes, you're not mistaken, I am Cú Chulainn, but I am indeed no longer your Servant, Bazett."

"I called you back not to ask you to come back and become my servant."

Bazette lowered her head. Although she had taken the initiative to speak to Cú Chulainn, she didn't know what to say after he acknowledged her identity.

"Hey, Cú Chulainn, is this how you treat girls you know?"

Seeing Bazett with his head down and no presence, Musashi couldn't help but speak up in support.

"Musashi, this has nothing to do with you. You should hurry up and go on your date with Xia Yan."

Cú Chulainn clearly didn't want Musashi and Xia Yan behind him to get involved in this matter.

Xia Yan walked over at this moment and pulled Musashi away without saying a word.

"Let Cú Chulainn handle his own affairs."

Musashi had spoken to Cú Chulainn out of sympathy for Bazette, but she knew that as an uninformed outsider, she had no right to lecture him.

So the two bypassed Cú Chulainn and Bazette and headed into the arcade.

"What should we play first?"

Musashi was dazzled by the variety of amusement facilities.

"I heard you recently played Street Fighter 6 with Cú Chulainn. Want to play a couple of rounds with me?"

"OK."

The two sat down in front of the arcade machine and each chose a character.

"You chose Chun-Li; it really suits your personality."

"It's alright, the main problem is that there aren't any characters who use swords in this game."

"Then I'll choose her."

"Hehe, I knew you'd choose Mai Shiranui's new skin, Xia Yan. It really is beautiful."

"Then you'd better go easy on me."

"That won't do."

As the word "FIGHT" disappeared from the screen, the first game began.

Musashi, controlling Chun-Li, immediately unleashed a wave, but Xia Yan, controlling Mai Shiranui, precisely defended against it.

Mai Shiranui immediately retaliated with a fan attack, which Chun-Li dodged by leaping away. However, Mai Shiranui immediately executed a "Rising Dragon" kick, bringing Chun-Li down from mid-air.

Xia Yan controlled Mai Shiranui to dash forward, but at the last moment he pulled the joystick back slightly to dodge Chun-Li's "grab throw".

Xia Yan seized the opening that was exposed, and Mai Shiranui landed a "Light Kick" followed by "Green Rush" and a combo, pushing Chun-Li to the edge of the board.

Next came the "rock-paper-scissors" round between the two players. Xia Yan was lucky; Mai Shiranui landed two consecutive "throws" and then seized an opening in her opponent's defense, completing a "PERFECT KO" with a combo.

"Huh? Xia Yan, I didn't know you were this good!"

Musashi was amazed by Xia Yan's gaming skills.

"It's alright."

The two didn't even have time to talk before the second game started immediately.

Although Musashi, controlling Chun-Li, seized an opportunity and used a combo to take away a quarter of Mai Shiranui's health, Chun-Li was still firmly suppressed after being forced to the edge of the platform by Mai Shiranui.

As Chun-Li's health dwindled, Musashi attempted to "get back up," but Xia Yan blocked it.

"Musashi, did you know this game has an alternate name?"

"What's its nickname?"

"It's called 'If you don't hit the target, you'll die.'"

As they were talking, Xia Yan, controlling Mai Shiranui, killed Chun-Li, controlled by Musashi.

"Again!"

Musashi was somewhat unconvinced.

Unfortunately, Xia Yan won the next three games in a row, and most of the time, it was Xia Yan who was "spinning the top" unilaterally.

Xia Yan had intended to go easy on Musashi in the final round, but Musashi saw through his plan. At Musashi's insistence, Xia Yan had no choice but to hand Musashi another defeat with tears in his eyes.

Despite suffering four consecutive defeats, Musashi wasn't angry; he simply stretched as if resigned to his fate.

"Xia Yan, you're so strong, I can't beat you. Let's go play something else."

"it is good."

Xia Yan followed Musashi, preparing to hand over the choice to the other party.

The two then tried many games, such as "Initial D", "Gundam VS Gundam", "Taiko no Tatsujin" and various shooting games.

Musashi also fully appreciated Xia Yan's "strength" as a veteran anime fan.

Famous phrases like "86 went up the mountain" and "Do you dare to disobey me who has the power of Baye" were also said by Xia Yan in a very "chuunibyou" way while playing the game.

In competitive games, Musashi naturally lost more often than he won, but seeing Xia Yan's excited smile, Musashi was also very happy.

Realizing he had gotten a little too excited, Xia Yan immediately calmed down and asked Musashi with a smile what else he wanted to play.

"That's about enough, I'm a little tired. Xia Yan, could you catch me a Pikachu plushie over there?"

"no problem."

Upon receiving the mission, Xia Yan immediately set off and began a tough "battle" with the claw machine.

Musashi discovered that Xia Yan, who had performed exceptionally well in various games, was particularly bad at claw machines.

In Xia Yan's words, "This skill isn't something you can learn just by practicing."

Fortunately, before Xia Yan ran out of game coins, he finally managed to fish out the Pikachu plush that Musashi had specifically asked for.

Musashi happily hugged Xia Yan after receiving the plush toy, kissed him on the cheek, and then, while Xia Yan was still in a daze, took the lead and walked out of the arcade.