After returning everyone to the Fuyuki Shop with Phal, Shirou finished arranging everything and then left.
Recently, he had been late for dinner quite often. Although no one said much about it, Shirou still felt a bit embarrassed.
So after explaining things to everyone and coordinating with Rhodes Island's treatment schedule and shifts, he reminded Phal and Rope to let the children go out less for the time being.
As for everything else, they would stay in touch through the phone group chat.
With technological advancement, many things no longer required face-to-face discussion.
Shirou, who still came from the era of flip phones could not help but sigh at that.
"…But if I want to go check things out, this outfit is not suitable."
Riding his bicycle along Lungmen's streets, Shirou kept thinking about what Phal had told him at the office.
Although it was unlikely that the children would get involved with Rope, Phal and Jaye looking after things. But Shirou still felt uneasy.
So he decided to do a bit of investigation himself. It was not the first time he had done something like this.
Back during the Holy Grail War, he often went out at night to gather information.
However, if he was going to investigate the slums, he would need to change his clothes.
Right now, he was wearing simple clothes with a light hooded jacket. Whenever he went in and out of certain areas he would usually pull the hood up.
He did not want Penguin Logistics to get involved in this matter.
Likewise, he did not want Penguin Logistics' affairs to affect the Fuyuki Shop.
As for his shroud, he usually kept it in his backpack. Wearing a scarf in such hot weather would be far too conspicuous.
At present, aside from this outfit the only other thing he had for going out was his Penguin Logistics uniform jacket.
If he wanted to go deeper into the slums, he would probably need another set of clothes.
But there was no need to buy one.
After spending so much time with the people from Penguin Logistics, Shirou had watched plenty of movies and read enough novels.
Anything that was purchased would leave a trace.
But the projected items were different. They came from his own hands and if necessary, he could simply make them disappear without leaving any trace.
It was perfect for this kind of task.
Of course, if he wanted to project something, he would still need a reference.
"As for clothes… I remember that guy projected something before."
Coincidentally, Shirou remembered a red coat it was something Archer had once projected.
With a few adjustments to the size and adding a hood, it should be enough.
As for weapons, there was no need to worry. The only concern was how dangerous the slums of Lungmen would be at night.
Everything was ready. Now he just needed to wait for nightfall.
For now, feeding everyone at Penguin Logistics came first.
Picking up the pace, Shirou pedaled his bicycle quickly back toward the dorm.
Since he had returned earlier than usual today, the dorm was empty.
He had cleaned it before leaving in the morning so it was still quite tidy.
After preparing the ingredients he bought from the market, Shirou began cooking for the day.
Considering that he had been going back and forth to the Fuyuki Shop recently, he had not updated his repertoire in a while nor had he made any extra desserts.
That was why he came back early today, he wanted to make some desserts.
After some consideration, he decided to make something like a milk jelly dessert.
However, this time he did not have condensed milk so he used the black tea bags that Sora had given him some time ago.
It was during a previous conversation about birthdays that Shirou realized his birthday was in April.
By the time they talked about it, it had only just passed.
That meant Shirou had officially turned eighteen.
Although according to the identification documents provided by the Boss, he was technically twenty-one.
Since it was a bit sudden and Shirou himself had not planned anything, the members of Penguin Logistics did not organize a belated birthday party. However, they said they would definitely throw him a big one next year.
Still, gifts were unavoidable. Under Shirou's request not to spend too much, everyone picked something from their own rooms to give him.
Sora gave him a pack of black tea bags she had received earlier from a junior at her company. Ever since Shirou arrived, she had better tea to drink so the pack had remained unopened. If she had not gone looking for it specifically, she might not have found it.
Originally, she wanted to give something else but Shirou said this was fine and placed it in the kitchen cabinet.
As for Exusiai, she gave him a recipe for apple pie. Shirou accepted it but he had no intention of actually making it.
He did not want to bake apple pies every day and that task could stay with Exusiai.
Croissant's gift was simple. She had plenty of small miscellaneous items.
She picked out something with "commemorative value" and gave it to Shirou.
However, if Shirou remembered correctly, it was one of Croissant's long-unsold items.
It did not have much real value but was priced quite high so it had never sold.
Now it ended up in Shirou's hands, currently sitting in the living room as decoration.
Texas gave him… a sheathed combat dagger.
It looked quite sharp. The moment Shirou saw it, he realized it was something Texas used to carry.
Not as a primary weapon but something hidden on her person to be drawn in critical moments.
She had not used it for a while and with her current change in tactics, it would only gather dust.
So she said it would be better to place it together with Shirou's projected weapons.
After all, as Shirou practiced projection more frequently, the table was already filled with weapons of all sizes. He even bought a rack to store some of the more important swords.
As for Texas's dagger, he did not place it together with the projections but instead kept it in the inner compartment of his backpack.
Though he probably would not need it. If necessary he could just project one.
So it was more for peace of mind.
"Just making tea jelly feels a bit plain… maybe add coffee jelly as well?"
Looking at the pot where the tea bags were steeping, Shirou felt it was not enough.
Sora, Exusiai and Croissant probably would not mind but Texas would likely prefer coffee.
After checking, he found the instant coffee packets Texas often drank and prepared another small pot.
Dissolve it, mix it with gelatin dissolved in water, stir well and then pour into containers and refrigerate.
Sugar and flavor could be adjusted to personal taste along the way.
It was… quite lazy but very convenient.
After placing both the tea jelly and coffee jelly into the refrigerator, Shirou began preparing dinner.
"Haha, I can smell it…it is the scent of sugar!"
Just as Shirou was handling ingredients, Exusiai rushed into the kitchen and shouted.
She came rushing in because she smelled something sweet and also because she wanted to grab a cold drink from the fridge.
Opening the fridge, Exusiai immediately noticed the tea jelly and coffee jelly placed in several containers on the lower shelf.
With her wide experience in desserts, she recognized what they were at a glance.
Just as she reached out to touch them, Shirou, standing nearby, said:
"Dessert is for after the meal."
His tone sounded as if he were warning a disobedient child.
Startled, Exusiai quickly withdrew her hand, grabbed the soda she originally wanted and shut the fridge door.
For some reason, she felt like Shirou was gradually evolving from a "mom" into a full-on nagging housewife.
Give her back the kind Shirou from before!
…Oh, wait. He had been assimilated by Penguin Logistics? Then never mind.
Exusiai immediately figured that it was probably because she and Croissant were too mischievous, causing Shirou to evolve in the wrong direction.
At this rate, she felt like one day Shirou would use his projection ability to pull out a stick and chase them around.
That was a future she definitely did not want.
"?"
Watching Exusiai walk out holding her drink with a frightened expression, Shirou was confused.
He had not paid attention and ended up using the same tone he used with children. Maybe Exusiai did not like that?
Now he understood, he would use this method the next time she caused trouble.
Though he was not sure if it would work on Croissant.
Thinking about that, Shirou continued preparing the ingredients and put them into the pot.
Before long, today's dinner was served on the Penguin Logistics dining table.
For some reason, however, the way everyone looked at him felt a bit… strange.
"What is it? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Shirou asked innocently.
"Ahem, nothing, nothing."
Hearing his question, Croissant coughed awkwardly and replied.
The others nodded as well.
The reason they had been giving him those odd looks was because they had just been quietly discussing the new topic Exusiai brought up—
Shirou gradually turning into a nagging housewife.
As well-behaved ones Sora and Texas naturally had no issues with this and Croissant had not felt it much either.
But the topic itself was quite interesting so even though they did not think it was a problem, they still went along with Exusiai and discussed it.
After all, conversations did not need deep understanding, being interesting was enough.
Which led to the situation just now, where the first image that came to their minds when looking at Shirou was him holding a spatula and scolding people.
It was a bit strange… but somehow also quite fitting.
"Let us eat. It has been a long day."
Texas quickly changed the subject, while also pushing those thoughts out of her mind.
At this rate, she felt like one day she might accidentally call him "Mom."
Looking at what happened to the last person who called him "Mama Emiya"...stuffing a spicy savory pie among a bunch of apple pies, she almost cried after taking a bite.
She did not want to end up eating strange-flavored Pocky or dinner.
Shirou knew exactly what she feared.
Those things that made people from Siracusa both angry and afraid.
"That is true. Things are about to get busy so we should quickly replenish our energy."
Following Texas's lead Sora sighed.
"Hm? Are we going on a long-distance job?"
Hearing Sora, Shirou thought there might be a long-distance assignment coming up. If so, he would need to inform the shop.
"Probably not. It should be Sora's own matter."
As the main delivery person, Exusiai thought about it. There had been no such information recently so it was likely something related to Sora herself.
Considering the timing… it was probably related to her idol work.
"That is right. I will have rehearsals for a while. If there are long-distance jobs, I will not be able to join and I might not even be able to return to the dorm… just thinking about it makes me sad."
As she spoke Sora looked at the food in front of her and began to feel down.
Thinking about the healthy meals arranged by her company meant to maintain her figure and health, she felt conflicted.
Before, she could endure it. But now…
She wondered if she could ask Shirou to prepare extra lunchboxes for her.
Though it was just a thought. It would be too troublesome for him and he might not even be allowed into the rehearsal venue.
"I see. If you had not mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten that you also have an idol job."
Listening to Exusiai and Sora, Shirou finally remembered Sora's idol identity.
It was not his fault for forgetting, Sora showed up at the dorm almost every day, after all.
"Hehe, my workload was lighter before. But now it is about to get busy. The event will last quite a while."
Sora explained briefly.
"It is fine. We will go visit you often so do not worry!"
Croissant patted Sora's shoulder. They had done the same in the past whenever Sora got busy.
"Exactly, do not worry too much."
Exusiai added.
"But Shirou… might not be able to get in."
After finishing her meal, Texas finally joined the discussion.
Previously, the agency allowed them in because they were Sora's friends.
But with Shirou, it might not be the same.
After all, the biggest concern for idols was rumors. The agency would definitely try to avoid such situations.
If it was outside their control, that was one thing. But under their watch, they would definitely be strict.
"I see. Then it cannot be helped. As long as you all can go, that is fine. I will prepare some special lunchboxes for you to bring along and eat together."
At first, Shirou did not quite understand but once he thought about the complexities of being an idol, he got it.
"Nice!"
Hearing about special lunchboxes, Croissant clenched her fist excitedly.
If "Mama Emiya" said they were special, then they would definitely be different from the usual dishes.
In game terms, that would be like a limited six-star…only available during special periods.
However, compared to Croissant's excitement, Sora's expression carried a hint of conflict.
It felt a bit like they were excluding Shirou, even though he himself did not seem to mind.
Still, she could not help but feel a little uncomfortable about it.