"Sister?" Hearing Artoria's words, Ian's expression became confused. "Rider, by 'sister' do you mean..."
"..." The girl was stunned for a moment, then realized that Ian currently couldn't understand what the word "sister" represented. For a moment, Artoria felt a hint of relief, but mostly heartache. The girl was relieved that Ian could still remember her name. This showed that even with the situation as it was, he still held a place for her in his heart. As for the heartache, it was for his lost memories. Yet... he had tried so hard to regain them.
However—though these thoughts raced through her mind, Artoria didn't voice them. Because she knew she wasn't there to trouble him, but to bring true liberation to her sister's unplaced emotions.
"Um—it's Teacher Vivian, the one you know. I... want to ask you to go see her."
"..."
[Artoria's request was somewhat overstepping.]
[After all—in this Holy Grail War, your Master is Tohsaka Sakura, not Vivian.]
[To go see her like this is, by all accounts, illogical.]
[But—you find that a feeling has never left your mind.]
[That Vivian is extremely important to you.]
[This is an existence that even Command Spells cannot erase; it's probably not an exaggeration to call it a mystery beyond magecraft.]
[You are somewhat hesitant.]
"Artoria," the man looked at the girl before him, his tone now filled with a hint of concern. "I don't want to deny your request... but you should at least tell me the reason why you're asking this, right? Is it truly that important for her to see me?"
"..." Artoria was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Mr. Ian, you are right—it is indeed very important." The girl's eyes flashed with images of her sister's recent state of life, and her expression became pained. "If... if my sister can't see you, I don't think she'll ever be able to recover."
"..." Ian didn't like this reason. If an ordinary person said this to him, the man probably wouldn't even acknowledge it. But—when the speaker became Artoria, everything changed. The girl's expression was so sorrowful, and her tone so full of expectation. This was definitely help that Artoria urgently needed. After all, she didn't need to risk starting a war by coming to Homurahara Academy to make such a request.
Just then, the closing remarks of the opening ceremony sounded over the school broadcast. Realizing that people might come in soon, Artoria knew she had to leave first.
"Um—Mr. Ian, you don't need to answer me right now. I... will come again tomorrow. Give me your answer then." Having said this, Artoria added to the little cat-girl. "Archer, your archery is truly excellent. If there's an opportunity... I hope to have a match with you."
"..." The cat-girl didn't directly answer Artoria but nodded instead. Everything returned to normal, and the dojo became quiet again. Ian and Atalanta stood there, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Um—" The little cat-girl clutched her Master's clothes, cautiously asking him. "Master, are you okay?"
"Oh... I'm fine," Ian forced a smile, then reached out and stroked Atalanta's head. "You don't need to worry about me."
"..." Although the sensation of being stroked on the head was indeed very comfortable, Atalanta's expression at this moment was quite complex.
"Then..."
"Master, will you do as she asked?"
"..." Faced with Atalanta's question, Ian didn't have a clear answer in his heart. He was very worried about Vivian. It was a feeling he couldn't explain, one that had never faded since the beginning.
"Atalanta... I don't know what to do." Ian very honestly expressed his current feelings. "Do you think I should go?"
"Eh?" Sensing that her Master seemed a little lost, Atalanta's tail stopped wagging and stood upright. This was how she looked when thinking seriously. For such a question, the little cat-girl indeed had her own unique perspective. She replied:
"If that's the case—I suggest Master should go; it would be better~"
"You think I should go?"
"Mm," Atalanta nodded, then took Ian's hand. "Because I think... when someone is thinking about whether or not to do something, it means their heart definitely wants to do it. It's like seeing a delicious apple on a tree; even if I know there might be all sorts of problems after picking it, I would still go and pick it without hesitation. After all—" The little cat-girl looked up at her Master. "Later troubles can be solved, but if you miss that apple, you might never encounter it again in your life. I believe... even if you're going to regret something, it should be because you did something, not because you didn't."
"..." "You have a point," Ian hugged Atalanta. "I understand. Then—Atalanta, if I really want to go, will you help me?"
"What are you saying... Master's wish is my wish!" The little cat-girl indulged in her affections in the man's embrace. "No matter what, I'm always on Master's side."
"..."
"Such a good girl."
[You made up your mind to go see Vivian.]
[But before that, you feel you might need to do something about Tohsaka Sakura.]
Late night. Inside Fujimura Taiga's rented residence.
Under the covers, the naked girl's lips parted slightly, exhaling a warm breath, looking very content.
"Mr. Ian~" Tohsaka Sakura looked at the man above her, her voice shy and alluring. "You were... amazing today. I'm a little worried my legs will be too weak to get out of bed tomorrow."
"Really?" The man looked at the girl below him, her face flushed with embarrassment, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He felt an endless debt to her at this moment—even though he hadn't even gone to see Vivian yet.
"Then—Sakura, do you dislike this?"
"Of course not," Tohsaka Sakura replied without hesitation, she willingly lifted her head and kissed the man's cheek. "I love Mr. Ian the most." Saying this, the girl's legs slowly wrapped around the man's waist.
"Mr. Ian. Please... transform me into someone who belongs only to you~"
"..." Ian didn't reply further, but instead diligently worked to give the girl repeated experiences akin to a first night. Amidst the cries like spring birdsong, the man's thoughts gradually grew muddled. He still thought of Vivian.
[The next day finally arrived.]
[It was the official start of classes at Homurahara Academy.]
[Tohsaka Sakura and Tohsaka Rin, like yesterday, went to study in the same class.]
[And as agreed, Atalanta "helped" you.]
Inside the Club. Many students were discussing amongst themselves.
"Hey! Did you hear? The old hag resigned!"
"Yeah... I can't believe she just left after working for over ten years."
"But her boyfriend didn't leave!"
"Boyfriend? What boyfriend?"
"Teacher Ian, of course... he's still at school!"
"Hiss... don't tell me they broke up? That old hag is so pitiful... only one boyfriend in ten years, and they broke up."
"Forget that for a moment, someone tell me—why are there so many archery targets today?"
"Yeah, right? Aren't we the Spear arts Club...?"
"Ahem." Atalanta, dressed warmly, cleared her throat, then adopted a very cold demeanor. This was actually her usual self—her adorable cat-girl appearance was reserved only for Ian. "Teacher Ian has something to attend to today, so I'll be subbing for one period. You can call me Teacher A."
"Teacher A, we're the Spear arts Club here—what are these targets for?"
"Sometimes you need to change things up," Atalanta said, drawing her bow and arrow, precisely hitting the bullseye in the distance. "And don't you want to learn this?"
"Wow—! So cool!"
[Atalanta solved the problem of teaching in the Kyudo Club for you.]
[You were able to leave Homurahara Academy with Artoria.]
On the way. Ian and Artoria walked side by side.
"Mr. Ian, thank you so much for coming." Artoria said, her eyes looking at him with unconcealed affection. "You truly... are still the same as before."
"Am I?" Ian smiled faintly. "I wish that were true. But... I don't think I can meet your expectations."
"That's not true," Artoria shook her head. "As long as you can come, that's enough."
"Perhaps." The atmosphere fell silent. After all, both Ian and Artoria were fundamentally opponents in the Holy Grail War. The two said no more and walked towards an apartment building. At the door of a certain room, Artoria stopped.
"Mr. Ian, please go in."
"..." The man looked at the girl beside him. "Artoria, aren't you coming with me?"
"No," Artoria shook her head. "This is your time. I... will just wait outside—otherwise, all my previous efforts would be wasted. I leave everything to you, Mr. Ian."
"..." The man nodded. "I understand."
[Before you is the apartment door.]
[Just by opening it, you can see Vivian.]
[And the moment you turn the doorknob and see the situation inside, you suddenly discover your innermost true feelings.]
[You don't want Vivian to live like this.]
[You have an answer—but its surface is covered in thorns.]
Inside the room. The curtains were drawn tightly, letting no light in. On the floor were overturned beer cans, looking like they hadn't been tidied up in days. And within the circle formed by these items on the tatami, a bedspread, rolled into a bundle, stood out glaringly. The thousand-year-old witch of Britain lay there in such decadence. Her beautiful long hair was a mess, and her whole person looked utterly disheveled.
But—for Vivian at this moment, none of it mattered. Effort; struggle; the more she pursued, the more she would hurt Ian. So let it end... let everything just end. Having lost her purpose, Vivian no longer wanted to think.
The alarm clock rang. The witch reached out from under the covers, grabbed it, and threw it to the corner of the room. She couldn't sleep at all, but she didn't want to get up either. The beer she used to fall asleep was gone, so she might as well just pass out. Vivian thought this, directly grabbed the covers, and pulled them over her head.
But just then—the sound of the doorknob turning came. Vivian was already used to this; she subconsciously replied: "Artoria... I'm really fine, you don't need to worry about me."
"It's me."
"..." Hearing this voice, Vivian froze, then abruptly sat up. Ian appeared there.
"Ian... why are you here?"
"Artoria asked me to come." The man clutched his forehead, swaying as he walked towards Vivian, looking quite strained. But when he sat beside the witch and spoke to her, he was still so gentle. "Vivian, why are you living so wretchedly?"
"..." Noticing that Ian's condition seemed a bit off, Vivian moved closer to him, causing the beer cans she brushed against to clink together with a clear sound, then roll away to various parts of the room.
"Ian, what's wrong with you?!"
"Nothing," the man forced a strained smile. "Just fighting against some magecraft."
"Magecraft?"
"Who cast magecraft on you?!" Vivian became anxious.
"That's not important." Ian, with trembling hands, gently smoothed her disheveled long hair. "Um—what I'm about to say... might be a bit strange, but I hope you can listen to me. Vivian. The time we've truly spent together might only be a few months. But... every time I see you, my heart feels a special tug. I didn't know what that meant before. But now, seeing you like this—I understand."
The effect of Tohsaka Sakura's Command Spell reached its maximum restriction at this moment. Ian felt countless thorns piercing his head, trying to deny his next words. It was a pain a hundred times worse than being pierced by a spear. But Ian forcibly endured it. His forehead drenched in sweat, he took the witch's hand and gently left a kiss on it.
"Vivian. I love you." The man said, his expression as gentle as that night thousands of years ago. He had forgotten many things, but he had never forgotten to love her.