[IC][Story][Arc 1] Arrivals

[robkelk]

Appartements Mont-Royal Sud‎‎, Montreal, QC, Canada
December 23, 2016


The girls had enjoyed lunch - or, at least, they had enjoyed the food; the situation they were in still left them worried.

They had also seen Kazari to the train station so that she could return to Ottawa. (She had refused to explain why she was in Montreal that day, except to say that there had been something going on at her home apartment that she really didn't want to be close to in case her presence affected things.) After they had seen her off, they had exchanged their Japanese money for Canadian currency at the bank in the station, using Rin's account to do so, making sure that they had some change for the bus that would get them partway to Rin's home.

Now, the four students from Ryouou and their impromptu guide were walking along Park Avenue.

"Could somebody explain to me why the sun is setting in the north?"

Konata turned to Kagami. "We're in a different world. You shouldn't expect things to be the same as they were back home."

rin laughed. "There's a simpler answer, Hiiragi-san. The St. Lawrence River flows roughly east-northeast for the most part, draining the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean, but there's a bend in the river around Montreal Island where the river flows almost directly north. Montrealers call downriver 'east', despite a compass calling the same direction 'north'. It's a local shibboleth."

"What's a shibboleth?"

Before Miyuki could explain the concept to Tsukasa, Rin announced, "We're here."

"Nice place," Konata commented.

"It's convenient," Rin replied as she opened the building's front door. "And before you ask, we're only using two floors of the building so far. Terry-ōya-san was wondering why we had seven floors for so few people; I think your arrival answers at least part of that question."

"Indeed," replied a man who was waiting for them. "I'm the apartment manager here, Terry Chambly. I'm pleased to meet you." The four newcomers introduced themselves in turn. "I assume you'd rather share apartments with somebody you know than have to live alone, so I asked Archer-san to get futons out of storage and put them in two of the apartments on the third floor."

"Thank you for your kindness," Miyuki replied with a slight bow, the other three bowing a heartbeat later.

"We're living together, right, big sis?" Tsukasa asked Kagami worriedly. She wasn't ready to live on her own yet.

Her twin sister nodded. "We're going to have to. If I let you live with Konata, neither of you would get your homework done."

"And you and Miyuki would starve to death, because neither of you know how to cook," Konata added.

Kagami glared at Konata, and continued crossly, "And if you lived with Miyuki, I'd never get my homework done because a certain homework copier would be asking to copy it all the time."

"Fine, fine, I'll make sure Miyuki doesn't starve," Konata grumbled, not willing to let Kagami know just how correct her assumption was. "Assuming I can find a part-time job that'll let me attend school and leave time for me to cook. The food and rent here isn't free, I'm sure."

Terry shook his head as he said, "We won't let you starve or go without a place to stay or clothes to wear, as long as you're attending classes. We have resources that we can draw upon."

"Free room and board, and clothes, and manga?" Konata asked happily.

"Not the manga," replied Terry quickly. "That, you have to earn money to buy for yourself." Before Konata could ask about other things that might be included, Terry added, "We'll shop for furniture tomorrow. And we'll buy you computers good enough for school work, but not for gaming. Oh, I should show you around. My office is over there." He pointed down the hall at a door marked "Bureau du propriétaire". "If you need any help, don't be afraid to ask. This is our dining room," he added while opening a double-door marked "Salle à manger".

The girls walked in to see what looked like a small bistro-style restaurant. Fourteen of the places had already been set for the evening meal, leaving over half of the room's tables without so much as a tablecloth. While the girls looked around, Terry walked over to the kitchen door and said, "Shiro-kun! Four more for supper!"

The question "We have guests?" came through the doorway, accompanied by the sound of water filling a pot.

"We have new tenants," Terry replied.

The sounds from the kitchen stopped, and a moment later Shirou poked his head out. "Hello! I'm Shirou Emiya," he said politely. Then he noticed how attractive the four young women were, and continued with more feeling, "I'm happy to make your acquaintance."

Still standing behind the newcomers, Rin cleared her throat meaningfully.

Shirou went back to being polite. "I could use some help in the kitchen. I don't suppose any of you know how to make agedashi dōfu?"

Before Konata could answer that, yes, she knew how to fry tofu, Tsukasa said, "I can do that! And if I help with the cooking, it'll repay your kindness for taking us in."

Kagami turned to Terry. "I think we've lost my sister for a while - when she decides she wants to cook, she doesn't stop until the meal's ready. If you don't mind her helping out, I'll sign the paperwork for both of us to move in." Then she turned to Rin and quietly added, "And you don't have anything to worry about from my sister."

Terry smiled at that. "Well, Hiiragi-san, you may as well help Shirou-kun, then."

Tsukasa walked into the kitchen while the others headed for the manager's office. As they left the dining room, they heard Tsukasa say, "Nobody else uses this kitchen? And you don't use it every day? Does that mean I can use it? I'm in heaven..."