Medea set the relocation destination at the martial arts hall. That is, the Emiya residence.
This had been arranged in advance.
Because of this, after Medea's disappearance, Shirou and Artoria rushed over without stopping.
Upon arriving at the Emiya residence, Tohsaka Rin, Sakura, and Bazett were all standing at the entrance.
They looked anxious.
"Senpai," Sakura looked at Shirou.
"Finally…", Tohsaka Rin hadn't even had time to breathe a sigh of relief before being startled by the Ahoge King next to him and pulling out a gem.
"Saber!"
"Don't go over there, Sakura!", Medusa de-materialized and held her weapon.
Bazett also made preparations for battle.
"Bringing Saber here, does that mean…", She didn't finish the rest of her sentence, but the meaning was obvious.
'Have you been turned by Manaka?'
"Caster is out."
While everyone was still digesting that information, he threw out another bombshell.
"Saber betrayed Manaka. She's now on our side."
"Eh?", Tohsaka Rin's brain froze a bit.
"I'll explain the details inside," Shirou briskly entered the yard, opened the door, and changed shoes.
"???", Tohsaka Rin was dumbfounded, "Wait, why are you so familiar with the place?"
"Didn't I come here before?", Shirou's face didn't change.
"Come on in," Like he was in his own house, Shirou actively prepared slippers for them.
The girls looked at him silently.
Shirou didn't think anything of it and called to Artoria, "Come on, Saber. Let's explain everything to them first."
"Mm, okay. Berserker," Seeing the familiar yard, Artoria momentarily spaced out.
Shirou's shout brought her back to her senses, and she walked over.
Watching Artoria change her shoes and step into the entryway with their own eyes, the girls' expressions were ⊙_⊙.
"Illya…", Just as he was about to ask where Illya was, he saw the girl standing not far from the entryway.
Long silver-white hair, crimson eyes, as beautiful as a spirit walking in the snow.
"Berserker," She walked over, calling out to the one most important to her, voice soft.
"You're awake," Shirou thought it was because too much mana had been drawn, causing her to wake in pain, so he said:, "Sorry…"
"Kneel down, Berserker," Illya beckoned to him.
"Now?", Shirou wanted to ask her to wait a moment, at least let the others come inside.
But Illya rose onto tiptoes, and worried about her body, he could only helplessly bend down.
"Are you hungry?", Shirou thought and figured that was the reason, "I'm sorry, Illya. I…"
With his mouth only half open, his hair was pressed down by a soft little hand, and then he was pulled into a warm embrace, "You cried, Berserker."
Illya gently stroked the red hair of the boy, "It's okay. I'm here."
"I… Illya…", Shirou was at a loss for words.
In the end, he reached out and tightly embraced the girl.
"...", Tohsaka Rin and the others silently watched this scene.
Artoria, who had followed Shirou here, was slightly dazed.
So, she had assumed that the boy was strong and didn't need anyone's comfort to move forward.
But how could she assert such a thing so unilaterally?
She… was truly an unqualified knight who didn't understand people's hearts.
After two minutes, Shirou's emotions calmed down.
Then he continued greedily enjoying the hug for another minute.
He pulled away from Illya's embrace, "Thank you, Illya. I'm much better now."
To express his gratitude, he specifically patted the girl's head to show that he was truly much better.
The girl who enjoyed being patted shook her head happily and said, "It should be me thanking Berserker instead."
'Even though… the true owner of this gentleness is just someone who shares my appearance, my name, and my mother but not my life.'
'But at least for now, Shirou is mine.'
Illya's small hand squeezed tightly and received a response from the boy.
That's right. Emotions might deceive her, but warmth wouldn't.
The girl whose hands were held now, was her. That's enough.
———
After about ten minutes, Shirou explained the course of events, "That's roughly it."
"So… it's come to this point?", Tohsaka Rin, the current head of the Tohsaka family and supervisor of Fuyuki's leyline network, at this moment had a serious expression, hands on her thighs clenched tight from kneeling.
"Onee-san…", Sakura was a little worried about her sister's current state.
"I'm fine, Sakura," Tohsaka Rin quickly composed herself, "Berserker."
She said to Shirou, "Though it's a bit thick-skinned of me, I hope you can hand Saber over to me. Is that okay?"
Manaka still had one Command Spell left.
Though it couldn't be easily used, just to be safe, it was best for a trusted person to form a contract.
Even if Artoria's high magic resistance could help her resist the constraint of one Command Spell.
"I've considered this," Shirou looked at Artoria, "But I hope Saber can make the choice herself."
Tohsaka Rin also knew that a forced melon is not sweet, so she asked directly, "Saber, would you be willing?"
That posture, was more sincere than a marriage proposal.
"Hmph! Don't forget me," Bazett spoke up, her gaze also falling on Artoria.
"Saber, would you form a contract with me?", Although Bazett wanted to say something persuasive and touching, her upright personality stopped her.
She could only stare at Artoria extremely seriously.
The meaning in her crimson eyes was like that of a wife waiting for her husband's return.
"This… Please let me think about it," Artoria was a bit troubled. She looked at Shirou, as if saying, 'What should I do?'
'Don't look at me. Saber, you can choose whoever you want,' Shirou gave her that kind of look.
It was unclear if the Ahoge King understood.
His waist was poked. Angrily, Illya glared at him.
Her soft lips came close to the boy's earlobe, "Berserker, you're so mean, holding my hand while flirting with other women."
"No, that's…", Shirou tried to explain.
"Then I'll form a Master-Servant contract with Berserker," It was obvious, the Ahoge King understood.
Her eyes were full of hope.
"Ho~", Tohsaka Rin looked on slyly and meaningfully, "With Berserker's Master…"
Stare—
Bazett said nothing, but seemed to say everything.
Sakura smiled sweetly, "Senpai, being two-faced is wrong."
Clink—
The chain slid.
Illya smiled adorably, "Sure~ Saber, if you want to contract with me."
"Uh, this…", Shirou didn't know how to refuse.
His main concern was Illya's mana.
"It's okay, Berserker. I'll establish a link with the Greater Grail," Illya smiled and comforted him.
"No way!"
Shirou rejected immediately, even firmly said, "Sorry, Saber, but could you please…"
'…form a contract with Rin?'
Shirou originally wanted to say that.
But Illya cut in, "This is necessary, Berserker."
The girl smiled, "As long as I restore the link with the Greater Grail, I can store souls. For you all, that's the final reliable battle defense."
"Absolutely not!", Shirou was resolute.
If Illya became the Lesser Grail, she would become a thorn in Manaka's side.
Shirou couldn't allow that to happen.
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