When Kiritsugu returned with a sleeping Illya in his arms, he coincidentally ran into Saber and Irisviel erging from the courtyard together.
Judging from their cheerful conversation, tonight's dinner, which felt like playing house, must have left a deep impression on them.
But I...
Kiritsugu's eyes darkened. As Irisviel's surprised gaze t his, he gently handed Illya to her and spoke.
"Iri, co to the hall in a bit. I have sothing to tell you."
***
A mont later.
Kiritsugu sat slumped on a bench in the courtyard, gripping his hair as if he were a jobless alcoholic who had just been diagnosed with cancer.
When he told Irisviel about Illya's situation, she was indeed angry.
But not at Sakatsuki—she was angry at Kiritsugu.
She was angry at his hesitation.
She was angry at the re possibility of a future decision he might make.
To her, the world at large and their beloved daughter Illya weren't even comparable.
"Even though I will eventually cease to exist, I still hope you can realize your ideal, to create a world where no one has to weep as you do. When that day cos, you can stand tall and embrace Illya as an ordinary father. But if Illya is gone, who else will be there to accompany you through the rest of your life?"
"Wouldn't that kind of future leave you empty, Kiritsugu?"
Speaking with such intensity—it was clear that Irisviel was truly angry this ti. Kiritsugu lit a cigarette. The cheap tobacco he had picked up from a convenience store on the way back gave him a strange sense of detachnt.
This was the first ti they had ever fought as a married couple.
But compared to eight years ago, Irisviel had indeed matured in spirit.
And ?
Am I still the sa person I once was?
Like tonight—despite knowing that so many Masters and Servants were gathered at the castle, he still chose to leave the heart of the storm with Illya, willingly giving up a perfect opportunity for assassination.
Would the cold-blooded magus killer of the past have made such a decision?
Unable to find an answer, Kiritsugu could only tilt his head back and watch as the cigarette smoke drifted into the sky, swirling and dissipating.
***
The Next Morning.
When Rin opened her eyes, she was surprised to find herself lying on an unfamiliar, soft bed.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she suddenly realized that soone was sleeping beside her.
"Ahh!"
She yelped, scrambling away and pressing herself against the wall, staring in alarm as the figure next to her sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning, Onee-chan~"
"...Sakura?"
Rin was montarily dazed, as if she had been transported back several years, to a ti before Sakura had been sent to the Matou family.
But her sister's purple eyes and long violet hair reminded her that ti never turned back.
Wait, wait, wait—this isn't the issue right now! The real question is—why am I here?
Frowning, Rin struggled to recall last night's events.
She had left ho, snuck into Uncle Kariya's house, then everything went black... and now she was here.
Wait, I left ho...?
Before she could even wonder why she had blacked out, panic overtook her.
I've been gone the entire night!
Oh no, oh no, oh no—Mom is definitely going to find out!
"Don't worry, I already talked to Mom."
Sakura said gently, seeing Rin's thoughts written all over her face.
"She only threatened to spank you really hard, nothing else."
"...How is that 'nothing else'?!"
Rin pouted, already picturing her grim fate.
At that mont, footsteps approached the door, followed by a gentle knock.
"Ladies, breakfast is ready. Co down and eat."
"Okay, Onii-san!"
Rin saw Sakura's eyes light up. The sleepiness that had clung to her monts ago vanished as she jumped out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and dashed toward the door—only to double back, grabbing Rin's hand.
"Eh? What's the rush, Sakura?"
"If we don't hurry, breakfast will get cold! And cold food isn't tasty, Onee-chan!"
"But—but I haven't put my shoes on yet!"
***
After washing up, they sat down for breakfast.
At first, Rin tried to maintain her dignified air, saying sothing about not eating other people's food. But after Sakura coaxed her into trying a bite, she imdiately surrendered.
Under Sakatsuki's amused gaze, Rin's cheeks turned red, and she reluctantly picked up her chopsticks.
anwhile, Sakatsuki, who hadn't slept all night, did not eat with them. Instead, he sat in the corner, thodically conjuring and discarding weapons into a void, like a man taking out the trash. Every now and then, he projected Crimson Rose of Exorcism and Yellow Rose of Mortality, sending them into the void as well.
In between, he glanced over at the two girls enjoying their al. The exhaustion from his all-nighter eased slightly.
Though, because of the tiline situation, he could only look at the two Tohsaka girls—he couldn't 'eat' them.
"Onii-san, what are you doing? Co eat breakfast."
Sakura called out, waving her chopsticks playfully.
Sakatsuki smiled and declined.
"I've already eaten."
An obvious lie.
He stood up, ruffling Sakura's hair.
"I'll be heading out for a while. Take care of yourself and your sister."
"Mm!"
"I've prepared food in the fridge. Just heat it up, but be careful not to burn yourself."
"Mm!"
"Sakura is such a good girl. Also, I've set up a displacent spell outside—if you or Rin step out of the boundary, you'll be teleported straight to a holding cell."
"Have a safe trip, Onii-san!"
"Hmph!"
Rin turned her head away, acting tsundere as she refused to look at him.
Sakatsuki didn't say anything else, only smiling as he bid them farewell. He grabbed so juice from the kitchen, stored away so prepped als in his void, and walked out the door.
***
The sun was bright, birds chirped on the branches.
Sakatsuki sipped his cool juice, letting his aura radiate out, completely unrestrained—just like Lancer on the first night of the war.
No Master or Servant would ignore such an obvious provocation. However, in broad daylight, they were bound by the rules and wouldn't act.
He wandered through the ruins near the Hyatt Hotel. By noon, he erged with several sealed bags, storing them in his void before narrowing his eyes toward a certain direction.
"Well then, ti to pay a visit to the Church..."
He murmured.
Casually strolling to the Church, he entered empty-handed.
By the ti he walked out again, the sun had yet to set, but the moon was already faintly visible in the sky.
Nightfall was approaching.
***
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