the more i read of fate/stay night the more baffled i get that shirou has a reputation of being dense romantically. the internal monologue acknowledges feelings of attraction a lot, and with sakura specifically it's clear shirou feels guilt for finding her attractive. early on, when sakura slips up and says something that hints at her romantic feelings for shirou, shirou panics and sort of reasons it away as a joke, but it really doesnt feel like it was thought of as one. i think it's a conscious shield in both in a "i don't deserve this" way and a "i don't want to make what we have weird for her sake" way.















