Alright, Shinji admitted it. Most of the expressions he had shown earlier were just an act.
However, his final burst of laughter was genuine because he had finally managed to say that line.
The Type-Moon universe is filled with many iconic phrases that have become more famous than the works themselves in the anime community. For example, Shirou Emiya's "People die when they are killed," or "I want to be a hero of justice," and other oddities like "vise, pump, and furnace."
But Shinji's most iconic quote is definitely "I could play with these legs for a year," referring to Rin Tohsaka's legs as she lay on the ground, while Shinji, acting like a thug, loomed over her.
Of course, aside from this one similarity, there was no other resemblance between the two situations.
Shinji in Fate/stay night was a scumbag who harbored inappropriate feelings for Rin. After his confession failed, he constantly sought revenge. When he finally got the chance, he gloated and triumphantly said that infamous line.
The current Shinji, however, while not exactly a good person, was not a scumbag. He hadn't confessed, nor was he seeking revenge. Rin had simply misunderstood, and Shinji—well, he was just playing along with her misunderstanding, teasing her. After all, isn't a tsundere meant to be teased? Especially when something she tries so hard to hide has been exposed.
Rin's reaction, however, was different this time.
To the scumbag Shinji, Rin would always respond with disdain, either trying to reason with him or simply sighing in frustration.
But to this Shinji, Rin was angry, hurt, disappointed, and filled with emotions she couldn't fully express.
"I misjudged you, Shinji Matou."
When Rin said these words, she no longer gritted her teeth or clenched her fists. Her face was no longer clouded with anger. She stopped struggling, dropped all resistance, and just looked at Shinji with a pale expression.
"I used to think that, while you were unpleasant, you weren't truly despicable. But I was wrong... I was so wrong... Forget it, do whatever you want. Consider this my punishment for being blind to your true character."
At the end of her speech, Rin closed her eyes, and tears shimmered at the corners.
Seeing Rin like this made Shinji panic. He had never seen Rin make such an expression in all the years he'd known her. Realizing he had gone a bit too far, he quickly reverted to his normal self and hurriedly moved away from her.
"Alright, alright, you're not blind. You didn't misjudge me—well, maybe your eyesight's a bit off. Open your eyes and take a good look at what's going on. What have I done to you? Your temper, seriously, you should try to work on that."
"Huh?"
Perhaps it was the sudden absence of the force restraining her, or maybe it was Shinji's familiar tone that brought a glimmer of hope to the helpless girl. Rin opened her eyes again.
That blue-haired guy was still there, but his expression wasn't as disgusting or detestable as before. He was pointing in another direction—to a man in a black jacket with golden hair, standing with his arms crossed, watching her with a mischievous grin.
"Ar... Archer!"
Rin sat up straight in alarm.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ha! Why shouldn't I be here?"
Gilgamesh's grin deepened.
"Think back carefully. You arrived here on Vimana."
"Uh…"
At that moment, Rin's hazy memory, dulled from unconsciousness, finally cleared up.
Right, I came here to fight the Edelfelt family. Servant versus Servant, Master versus Master, until I couldn't hold on and passed out.
So, it makes sense that he's here… Wait, no, something's wrong!
"You—you—you—you—you—you—you—you—you—you—you mean you've been here the whole time?!"
"Exactly. I've been here the entire time," Gilgamesh nodded without hesitation.
"Then why didn't you say anything? You just stood there watching while I... while I was being picked on by this guy!"
Rin was furious. The worse her previous mood had been, the angrier she was now.
"Because it was amusing. It brought me great joy!"
Gilgamesh said matter-of-factly.
"I find this little clown more and more endearing. Every time, he manages to amuse me so."
"Hah… Hah…"
Rin was so furious she couldn't speak, standing with her hands on her hips, panting like a bull seeing red.
Gilgamesh continued, "Besides, the clown did nothing but heal you. Everything else was your misunderstanding. No one else is to blame."
He spoke with such sound reasoning that even someone as sharp as Rin couldn't argue.
It was true—she had misunderstood in her panic. She had no strength, and her body ached from the battle. Her torn clothing was also due to the fight. The reason she couldn't see any wounds was because Shinji had healed her.
But still—
"Even if it was a misunderstanding, what about the things he said? How do you explain that?"
Gilgamesh laughed and said, "Think back carefully—did he say anything that wasn't true?"
"…"
Rin begrudgingly went over everything in her mind, and to her dismay, realized that nothing he said had been false.
They were alone, a boy and a girl, in the middle of nowhere, and something had indeed happened—he had healed her wounds.
There was no denying her attractiveness.
Her body had indeed changed—her injuries were gone.
They'd known each other for a long time, and he had healed her, so it wasn't unreasonable for him to tell Sakura. Sakura would probably be happy to hear that he had saved her.
She had benefited from the situation, while he had used up magical energy and nearly gotten drained—clearly, he had suffered more.
The only thing that seemed out of line was that last bit about her legs. Legs for a year? That was just too perverted, too hentai…
But then again, are my legs really that perfect? I mean, I do like them, but…
No, wait, what am I even thinking?! That's not the point!
Shinji, that jerk, must have done it on purpose. He deliberately said those things to mislead me, and then pulled that disgusting face to make me say all that!
Bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard!!!
She said what was on her mind.
"You did it on purpose, didn't you?!"
"Did what on purpose?"
Shinji feigned ignorance.
"You deliberately misled me! You deliberately acted that way to make me look like a fool!"
"Well, I did act on purpose, but the misunderstanding was on you. I just played along. I didn't expect your imagination to run so wild. You could make it big in the anime industry with that kind of creativity." Shinji stroked his chin, clicking his tongue in admiration.
"I agree. I can't wait to see Rin's work!"
Gilgamesh added, fanning the flames.
"You… you two!!! I'll let it slide this time."
Since she had been in the wrong to begin with, Rin couldn't vent her anger. She could only pound the ground in frustration and quickly change the subject.
"What was the outcome of the battle? Where are the Edelfelts?"