To love a sword

Chapter 17: Purpose

Beta read by Paragon of Awesomeness and Shigiya

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-Sainan-

Stretching out over the vast expanse of the grassy field, the sun was hanging low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the surroundings — Emiya released a breath of fresh air as he let himself enjoy the scenery. He wore a clean white t-shirt, the sleeves having a small blue, white and yellow symbolized logo of his brother’s favorite football team, running shorts, and a pair of cleats that were a stark contrast to the otherwise casual attire he wore regularly. The young man adjusted the straps of his cleats, his gaze fixed on the younger brown haired boy in the distance, Rito who stood on the opposite side of the field, juggling a football with breathtaking skill.

He couldn't help but be impressed by the display. The ball appeared to dance effortlessly atop Rito's feet, seemingly gravity with each controlled touch. With a final flourish, Rito let the ball drop and turned to face his older brother.

Emiya grinned, finishing his warm-up routine. "Impressive as always, Rito."

Rito's face flushed with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Thanks, Nii-san. Though it's really not much to be honest. Are you ready?"

"Always." 

With that, Rito charged forward, the ball never leaving his side. His steps were precise, his movements fluid. Emiya braced himself for the challenge, knowing that his brother's skills had grown immensely since their last match. The boy would always become like a completely different entity whenever playing the sport; all of that clumsiness and nervousness getting thrown out of the window — replaced with a calculated and focused expression and a seamless rhythm to his movements he never displayed anywhere else. 

The intense match between the two siblings began. Rito dribbled with uncanny precision, his feet seemingly connected to the ball by an invisible thread. He zigzagged through the grass, making sharp turns and sudden feints that left Emiya momentarily further bewildered by the number of complex dribbles his brother performed with each rapid step. Trying to fool his opponent’s eyes and mind without even looking at the ball, sharp golden brown eyes mirroring his darting at every turn, searching for any possible weakness within his defense. 

Not wanting to leave his brother without a challenge, Emiya's drive kicked in, and he attempted to steal the ball from Rito, but it was like trying to catch a fleeting shadow. Rito's speed was astounding, and his ball control was masterful. He effortlessly maneuvered past his older brother's outstretched leg and continued his advance. The redhead moved again, getting closer to Rito and not giving him any room as the latter shot the ball in the air in an arch that had it land behind him whilst rushing past from a small gap Emiya left for him on purpose. 

Bam! 

With a single kick, the ball soared through the air until it landed inside the goal and was caught by the net. "Hah… Hah… that's 1:0 for me." Rito said, just getting started as he jumped in place with a smile at his victory. 

Emiya went over and passed the ball to his brother at the center, "Yup, nicely done." And with that, round two started. As the match intensified, the brothers exchanged words between gasping breaths. "Don't expect to fool me with that move again, it'll be harder next time." 

Rito, his face beaming with excitement, replied with a cheeky grin, "I know, but I'll do it again regardless."

"You little brat," Emiya scoffed at first before showing a small grin of his own. He redoubled his efforts, attempting to intercept Rito's every move. But the brown haired boy's skills had evolved into something extraordinary. He executed a series of feints, leaving Emiya momentarily rooted to the spot unless he was willing to use his Magecraft, but that would’ve been cheating. With a burst of speed, Rito surged past him, the ball seemingly glued to his feet.