FGO Academy: The Holy Grail Is Buried in the Schoolyard
The Holy Grail—buried in the schoolyard. The girl—a transfer student who's been searching for him. The pattern on his hand—a Command Spell he can't erase.
Fujimaru Tatsuka was just an ordinary high schooler who wanted to go home and forget his weeding duties. But when his trowel strikes something solid in a forgotten corner of St. Regalia Academy's back garden, he unearths a golden cup—and a fate he never asked for. Now his right hand bears a strange glowing mark, his desk mysteriously tidies i
FGO Academy: The Holy Grail Is Buried in the Schoolyard - Transfer Student Mash, a Declaration to Protect, and the Golden Cafeteria
Morning light spilled into the classroom. At a desk by the window, Fujimaru Tatsuka sat staring at the back of his right hand. Beneath his glove, the golden pattern hidden there was faintly warm again this morning. Three days had passed since he'd picked up the Holy Grail, and strange things kept happening—the bread at the school store had all become his favorites, his desk had been tidied without him touching it.
"...It's just my imagination. Yeah, just my imagination."
Tatsuka muttered quietly and pulled his glove back on.
The chatter in the classroom suddenly fell quiet. The homeroom teacher standing at the podium opened his mouth with a cheerful smile.
"Today I've got a transfer student to introduce."
A stir ran through the room again. A transfer student. And at this time of year, no less. Tatsuka casually lifted his head.
A girl walked in from the classroom entrance. A pale sakura-pink short bob. A small braid on the side. Large, faintly violet eyes looking straight ahead. She was petite, and her uniform skirt swayed softly.
(Cute...)
That was Tatsuka's honest thought.
The girl stood before the podium and straightened her back. A little shyly, but in a clear voice, she spoke.
"I'm Mash Kyrielight. I'll be in your class from today on."
She gave a polite bow. A murmur of admiration escaped her classmates.
"She's gentle and cute." "Like a doll."
Voices like that drifted around. Tatsuka felt the same.
Mash raised her head. Her gaze went straight to Tatsuka.
"There's a reason I came to this academy."
The classroom went quiet again.
"I came here to protect Fujimaru Tatsuka."
The room froze dead silent. Every eye turned to Tatsuka at once.
"...Huh? Me?"
Tatsuka couldn't believe his ears.
"Yes. Fujimaru Tatsuka."
Mash stared at him with a serious look. There wasn't a trace of a joke on her face.
"W-wait a second. Huh? Why? Why me?"
Tatsuka started to rise in a panic. His classmates began to buzz.
"Whoa, the transfer student's confessing on day one!"
"Tatsuka, what'd you do?!"
"Seriously? On the first day?!"
The classroom erupted. The boys grinned; the girls watched Mash with keen interest.
"I felt the power of the Holy Grail, and it led me here."
Mash continued, paying the commotion no mind.
"If I'm not by Tatsuka's side, I can't be myself."
At those words, the air in the room shifted again. This time, the chatter stopped in an instant.
(If I'm not by his side, I can't be myself...?)
Tatsuka repeated Mash's words in his head.
"Uh... Mash? For now, your seat's over there. It's empty."
Tatsuka pointed at the empty seat by the window, looking dumbfounded.
His classmates nearly fell out of their chairs.
"No, no, no, that's not the point!"
"Tatsuka, why're you just brushing it off?!"
"Are you dense?! Are you actually dense?!"
Mash glanced at the seat he indicated, then looked back at him.
"Thank you. I'm happy to be next to you, Tatsuka."
Mash smiled. Her sakura-colored hair swayed softly.
(Ah, she smiled.)
Tatsuka found himself captivated for a moment.
"...Wait, that was the seat next to me?!"
He snapped back to himself and shouted. Laughter broke out across the room.
"You just noticed?!"
"You're way too slow!"
Mash took the seat beside Tatsuka. She set down her bag and sat up straight. There was something oddly graceful about the way she moved.
"Tatsuka. I look forward to being with you."
"Oh, yeah. Same here...?"
Tatsuka still hadn't caught up with the situation.
(The power of the Holy Grail... she said. So this girl's connected to that Grail too?)
The back of his right hand grew warm. Tatsuka pressed the pattern gently through his glove.
(No way. Because of that Grail, a girl this cute transfers in...?)
Tatsuka glanced at Mash beside him. She had her textbook open, watching the blackboard with a serious face. Every so often her eyes drifted toward him.
(...For now, I'll ask her about it after school.)
That was his decision.
After school.
The bell rang, and the classmates filed out one after another. Tatsuka stood with his bag in hand.
"Tatsuka."
A voice came from behind him. He turned to find Mash standing there, hands folded in front of her, her expression serious.
"Could you spare a little time?"
"Oh, yeah. I wanted to talk too."
The two stayed in the classroom. Sunset poured through the windows, dyeing the room orange.
"Tatsuka. Would you show me the back of your right hand?"
"Huh? Oh, this?"
Tatsuka pulled off his glove. The golden pattern caught the sunset and glimmered.
Mash cupped his hand in both of hers and stared at it.
"...So it really is the Holy Grail."
Mash murmured softly.
"The Holy Grail—you mean that golden cup, right? Do you know something about it, Mash?"
"Yes. But the details... I still can't tell you."
Mash's brows drooped apologetically.
"You can't tell me?"
"I'm sorry. Given my position, there are limits to what I can say."
"I see. Well, I won't force it out of you."
Tatsuka said it with a smile.
"...You're kind, Tatsuka."
"Huh? I'm just normal."
"No. You really are kind."
Still holding his hand, Mash looked up into his eyes.
"But I won't leave you alone."
"...Huh?"
"I will protect you. From the power of the Grail, and from those who would take it."
Mash's voice was quiet, but strong.
"Those who would take it...?"
Tatsuka furrowed his brow.
"The Holy Grail is one of the Seven Great Relics. Organizations all over the world covet its power."
"...That's dangerous talk."
Tatsuka sighed.
"But it's all right. I will protect you, no matter what."
Mash squeezed his hand tight.
At that warmth, Tatsuka felt something deep in his chest grow warm.
(What is this feeling?)
Mash's serious profile, lit by the sunset, was beautiful.
"...Thank you, Mash."
Tatsuka said it honestly.
Mash blinked in surprise for a moment, then her face went bright red.
"Y-you're welcome...! Mukyu..."
Mash pressed her own cheeks as if to hide her embarrassment.
"Mukyu?"
"N-nothing at all!"
Mash hurriedly let go of his hand.
(What was that? She's cute.)
Tatsuka couldn't help but laugh.
"Anyway, let's head home. Before it gets dark."
"Yes!"
The two left the classroom.
That night.
The moon hung over the sky of Hoshigaoka City. The school building of St. Regalia Academy stood silent.
—And then.
Golden light began to leak from the first-floor cafeteria.
At first it was faint. Then it grew steadily stronger. Light spilled from the cafeteria windows out into the hallway.
"W-what the—?!"
A security guard on night patrol stopped in his tracks before the cafeteria.
"The cafeteria's glowing... Whoa!"
The guard shielded his eyes from the blinding brightness.
The golden light swirled through the cafeteria like a living thing.
Eventually, the light slowly faded.
A sweet scent drifted through the cafeteria.
The next morning.
Tatsuka was climbing Negai Slope as usual.
(I wonder what's for lunch today.)
He found himself thinking it without meaning to. Truth be told, he was looking forward to today's lunch. He didn't know why. He just had a craving for it since morning.
"Hey, Tatsuka! You hear?!"
At the school gate, a male classmate came running up.
"Today's lunch is insane, apparently!"
"Insane? What is?"
"I guess the whole menu's been changed!"
"The menu?"
Tatsuka tilted his head.
A crowd had gathered in front of the cafeteria, "The Golden Spoon."
"What the hell is this...?!"
"No way!"
"Who came up with this?!"
Tatsuka pushed through the crowd and looked at the menu board.
—Today's Lunch.
Hamburger steak. Omurice. Curry. Karaage.
Tatsuka couldn't believe his eyes.
"...It's all my favorites."
His voice was trembling.
"These are your favorites?!"
"So that means you did this, Tatsuka?!"
"N-no! I didn't do anything!"
Tatsuka denied it in a panic.
From inside the cafeteria came an angry shout.
"What the hell?! Why's the whole menu changed?!"
Chef Tadokoro, the head cook, was shouting, his face bright red. Fifty-five years old, a former hotel chef. His skill was real, but his temper was short.
"Who's the one who rewrote the menu?! Own up!"
Tadokoro was flailing a ladle around, furious.
"Um, Tadokoro. It wasn't me. Really."
Tatsuka spoke up timidly.
"Tatsuka! Was it you?!"
"No! I didn't do anything!"
"Then why's the whole menu your favorites?!"
"That's what I can't figure out!"
Tatsuka clutched his head.
(Again. It's the Grail again.)
The back of his right hand was faintly hot.
"...Hey, isn't the floor glowing?"
Someone said it.
Every eye turned to the cafeteria floor.
Golden powder had collected on the floor. Fine gold particles glittered in the morning light.
"What is this..."
"Gold powder?"
A student crouched and touched the golden powder.
"It smells sweet..."
"Sweet?"
"Kind of like candy or something."
The students whispered among themselves.
Tatsuka went pale.
(My fault again...?)
"Tatsuka."
A quiet voice came from behind him.
He turned. Mash was standing there.
"Mash..."
"The Holy Grail is causing a wish-manifestation."
Mash stared at the golden powder, her face clouding.
"Wish-manifestation...?"
"It's a phenomenon where the Grail reflects its owner's wishes into reality. It's small, but it's definitely happening."
"My wish...? But I never wished for the lunch menu to change!"
"The Grail grants unconscious wishes too."
Mash's voice was serious.
"Unconscious..."
Tatsuka was at a loss for words.
"Tatsuka. This morning, didn't you think about lunch?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I wondered what was for lunch..."
"That's what reached the Grail."
"That's all it took...?"
"The Grail senses its owner's wishes with extreme sensitivity. Especially someone like you, Tatsuka, with such a strong connection—all the more so."
Mash gazed softly at the back of his right hand.
"At this rate, the whole academy is in danger."
"The whole academy..."
For the first time, Tatsuka truly felt the Grail might be something dangerous.
"Tatsuka. To tell you the details, I need permission. But I'll do everything I can."
Mash took his hand.
"I will protect you. Without fail."
Mash's hand was warm.
"...Mash."
Tatsuka squeezed her hand back.
"Thanks. But I want to handle my own problems myself. I figure I've got to face the Grail properly too."
"Tatsuka..."
"So let's figure this out together. If there's something I can do, I'll do it."
At his words, Mash's face lit up.
"Yes! Let's do our best together!"
Mash's smile, in the morning light, was beautiful.
(All right. I've got to get it together.)
Tatsuka resolved it in his heart.
Just then.
"Hey, you little nobodies."
From the far end of the hallway came an arrogant voice he recognized.
Tatsuka turned.
A man in a golden uniform was walking down the hall. Golden, spiky hair. Red eyes. Vertically slit pupils. Tall—over six feet. Countless jeweled rings on his fingers. A golden aura poured off his whole body.
"Gilgamesh..."
Tatsuka murmured.
Gilgamesh stood before him and smirked.
"You. I'll add you to my treasury."
"Huh?"
Tatsuka had no idea what he meant.
"I'm telling you to become mine, Grail and all."
Gilgamesh looked at the back of Tatsuka's right hand and licked his lips.
"The Grail... you know about it too?"
"Of course. A treasure of that caliber belongs in my treasury. Be grateful, nobody."
"Who're you calling a nobody?!"
Tatsuka shot back without thinking.
"Tatsuka doesn't belong to anyone!"
Mash stepped in front of him. On her left hand, a pale sakura-colored shield-shaped crest surfaced.
"I will protect Tatsuka!"
Mash raised her shield.
"You little nobody."
Gilgamesh sneered.
"That the likes of you would bare your fangs at me. How amusing."
"I'll make Tatsuka mine, Grail and all. I permit no objections."
"I don't get it at all!"
Tatsuka shouted.
"For starters, how do you even know about my Grail?! And what's this treasury?!"
"The king's treasury requires no explanation."
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