[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/VuJRTXX.png[/img]
[i][sub]That Morning[/sub]
Fuyuki Bridge[/i]
[sup]_________________________________[/sup][/center]The girl's energy was... surprising, to say the least! Still, it was a little infectious too. Zoe, huh? The Great Chosen One? She certainly didn't seem like a bad person. Jigen found himself smiling along with her as she continued with her spiel. He'd paid close attention to everything Saber had told him about the nature of the Grail War, how at the end only one pair would be able to claim the wish once everything was over, so the thought of an alliance was a bit strange to the boy. Even if it was useful in the short term, eventually they'd have to betray each other, right?

Jigen's smile softened a little as Zoe went on. She was genuinely enthusiastic and seemed to have a passion for life in general. She was nice - Jigen found himself liking the foreigner. Still, despite her best wishes...

[b]"Um, Zoe right?"[/b] the student gave her a bright eyed look and clasped her hands in his own. [b]"You seem like a nice person! But, I won't accept your offer."[/b]

True, the brazen offer of an alliance could have been many things: an advantage that would protect him, a trap that would kill him. A ruse to betray him or possibly the best chance he had to survive. 

However, Jigen didn't think of any of that.

[b]"If we worked together, eventually we'd have to fight anyway, right? I wouldn't want to fight a friend."[/b]

He smiled wide. [b]"Instead, let's compete as rivals. You told me your name, so I'll tell you mine - I'm Saito! I'll trust you, a chosen hero, to fight fairly, okay? Nice to meet you!"[/b]

With a quick shake of her hands, Jigen bid her farewell and continued across the bridge into Miyama. Maybe refusing her was a dumb thing to do, but he didn't feel any regret in that moment. Instead, he thought about the other things she said. That the "Hercules" was an impostor, and that she had a Greek servant of her own. Were they still people that Saber would know, or was that presumptuous? All Ancient Greeks knowing each other...

[b]"I am getting kind of hungry, maybe I should have let her buy us lunch... oh well! I'll pick us up something on the way back!"[/b]

...

True to his word, Jigen had picked up a pair of yakisoba meals and a few onigiri from the Lawson nearby his family's apartment on the way back from Miyama. Apparently servants didn't really need to eat, but that didn't mean they [i]couldn't[/i]. The pair's trip was mostly successful in that they'd been able to pick up a few pairs of sweats that could fit Saber and Jigen was able to bluff as to why he needed them in the first place. He'd apologized to all his teachers and was assigned extra cleaning duty, but it didn't bother him at all - there were more important things going on!

The day had wore on quickly and by the time they made it back to Jigen's home, the place was empty. Not unusual, and in fact it was a minor blessing. No need to explain why there was a big muscular man tagging along. Jigen led them both into his room, carrying an extra futon from the hall closet. Similar to eating, servants apparently didn't need sleep either, but he'd feel weird if he didn't at least offer.

[b]"Well, welcome to my house Saber. It's not much, maybe we can work on a base of some kind tomorrow, but for now I hope it works. Make yourself at home! Since most of the fighting is at night, I'm gonna try and look up some stuff to help us. Um, you don't mind if I look you up too, right...?"[/b]

Well, that was his plan anyway, but staying up all night and summoning a servant was pretty tiring. After a while, Jigen fell asleep at his computer.

[center][i][sub]Present Night[/sub]
Shinto Town[/i]
[sup]_________________________________[/sup][/center][b]"Okay! I'm up and ready!"[/b]

Jigen did a few stretches in the modest room, something he wasn't really used to doing but he figured it might help. His impromptu nap had re-energized him, but man was it gonna be bad for his sleep schedule. Outside of the window, two brilliant lights shone. One was a bright firework, the other a clear message. Both were across the river. The bridge they'd taken yesterday was a route Jigen was very familiar with, getting to either location shouldn't be too hard.

[b]"On the Miyama side? It shouldn't take us too long... looks like one is over the park and the other..."[/b] Jigen leaned close to his window, squinting. [b]"A bit further, maybe the mountain or... Aw man, I really hope that's not my school."[/b]

He turned to his partner.

[b]"Wanna check it out?"[/b]
[right][sub]Past: [@Crusader Lord]
Present: [@Breo][/sub][/right]