"So, you were wandering aimlessly, just happened to come to my door, just happened to beat me, and you just happen to have a crush on me, so now you want to protect me, right?" Lin said, inviting Yuuji inside. After sitting down at home, she stood in front of Yuuji, glaring at him as she spoke.
Yuuji nodded silently, which made Rin feel even more desperate. An inexplicable boy had walked into her life, defeated her, and now suddenly declared that he wanted to protect her. She couldn't tell whether there was something wrong with her or if this boy was just crazy. How could she possibly trust what he was saying?
As Rin struggled with a headache from all these thoughts, Sousuke didn't give her any more time to think. He suddenly stood up, grabbed Rin's hand, and said, "Believe me. I am sincere."
Looking at Yuuji's straightforward "confession," even Lin, with all her pride, couldn't help but blush. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "W-Who would believe you, baka!"
Lin studied the young man carefully. Although this was the first time they had met, something about him seemed… credible.
Lin tilted her head, realizing she didn't even know the boy's name yet. "Hey, what's your name?"
Yuuji paused for a moment but decided to use the name he had adopted in this world.
"Call me Shiro. Shiro Wimiya."
"Shiro? What a strange name." Rin repeated the name softly, almost testing how it sounded on her tongue. Then she grabbed Yuuji's arm and demanded, "Shiro, why do you want to protect me?"
"Because you're necessary."
"I'm… necessary? What does that even mean?" Rin's brows furrowed. She had no idea why he would think she was "necessary."
"I don't know exactly. But I know that I have to."
Rin stared at Shiro, trying to find some hidden meaning in his expressionless face. She couldn't. There was nothing but that odd seriousness.
"Then, if you want me to believe what you're saying, do something for me," Rin said sharply.
"What is it?"
"Be my housekeeper. Take care of this house." Rin sighed, knowing she had no better option. To take care of her mother while practicing magic, she needed to save money. Hiring someone was out of the question—this boy was her only option.
"Sure," Shiro replied.
"Really?" Rin had expected him to refuse. She had only asked half-jokingly, but now that he agreed so casually, she felt slightly caught off guard.
"For the sake of dignity, it's fine." Shiro's voice was flat and calm.
"B-Baka," Lin muttered, her face turning red again.
———Time skip———
Five years later
"Rin, wake up." Shiro stood by her bed, dressed in his sharp black butler's uniform, his tone calm as always.
"Ugh… let me sleep for another five minutes," Rin mumbled. At this moment, the once prideful "red devil" lying in bed was nowhere to be seen—only a girl who had grown accustomed to depending on the boy who had stayed by her side.
"If you sleep any longer, you'll oversleep again." Shiro wasn't annoyed by her laziness. In fact, these moments of living together were fulfilling to him. Even if Rin was arrogant and spoiled, she was still… Rin.
"Okay, fine. You go prepare first, I'll be there in a minute," Rin grumbled.
After Shiro left the room, Rin slowly opened her eyes, checked that he was gone, then jumped out of bed, muttering under her breath, "As if I'd actually oversleep. Who do you think I do this for, idiot?"
After a quick change, Rin entered the hall. Shiro had already prepared breakfast, and sitting at the dining table was a familiar blonde-haired figure who greeted her cheerfully.
"Good morning, Rin!"
"Good morning, Teacher Fuji," Rin replied with a polite nod.
"Oh, Rin, good morning!" Fuji greeted her with her usual energy. Ever since Shiro had become Rin's housekeeper, Fuji had made it a habit to drop by often, turning their breakfasts into a kind of daily ritual.
The three of them sat down as always, eating and chatting about recent events. Shiro, as usual, remained quiet, eating in silence before cleaning up everything and then leaving for school alongside Rin.
Over time, the strange, inexplicable feeling Shiro had once held for Rin began to fade. What remained was the bond that had formed through years of caring for her. He didn't understand why his old feelings were fading, but he knew that staying by Rin's side was something he wanted—something he chose.
Rin glanced sideways at Shiro, who was quietly walking beside her. She couldn't help but recall how he had forced himself into her life years ago. The memory made her heart flutter with both happiness and irritation. This dense, expressionless boy… would he ever seriously express what he felt again?
When they arrived at the school gates, a familiar, irritating voice called out.
"Oh, Tohsaka, good morning! Seeing me first thing in the morning must make you happy, right?" Kaizatou Shinji smirked, his shamelessness on full display.
"Shinji, I am not interested in you at all. Please stay away from me," Rin snapped, clearly annoyed. She tried to brush past him.
"Why? Everyone knows you like this wooden block here, but he's too dull to notice. Why waste your time on him? Why don't you find someone who'll actually respond?" Shinji jeered, pointing at Shiro standing silently next to Rin.
Shinji, having dealt with Shiro before, knew that Shiro's only real role was as Rin's housekeeper. He didn't interfere with her friendships or relationships. As long as Shinji didn't cross any lines, Shiro wouldn't even bother with him.
"Brother, what are you doing? Don't bother Senpai," came a soft voice from behind them. A long-haired black-haired girl approached—it was Sakura.
"Sakura! You should talk some sense into your sister, or else someone might steal Shiro from you. Right? I mean, that's what you want, isn't it?" Shinji teased, smirking.
"Idiot brother! W-What are you talking about? How could I…" Sakura's face turned bright red as she stole a shy glance at Shiro, hoping to see even the smallest reaction from him.
But Shiro, as always, stood there, blank and expressionless. Disappointed, Sakura puffed her cheeks and snapped at Shinji. "You're cooking for yourself tonight, idiot brother! I'm not helping you!" With that, she stormed off toward the campus.
"No, wait! Sakura, I'm sorry!" Shinji panicked and chased after her, leaving Rin and Shiro standing there.
"It's still the same as before, Shiro," Rin muttered, watching the scene unfold.
Shiro merely nodded, as silent as ever.
Rin didn't pay too much attention to Sakura. After all, Shiro was practically a celebrity at school. With his cold, handsome looks, excellent academic performance, and athletic ability, he had earned the nickname of the "cold prince." Despite being distant, he was always willing to help others. When Rin asked why, Shiro would simply answer, "Because it's my dream."
After classes ended, Rin would return home to practice magic, while Shiro would wait for Sakura to accompany him to the market to buy ingredients for dinner. The shopkeepers often teased them, calling them a couple, which would make Sakura blush fiercely. She always hoped the expressionless boy would react somehow… but he never did. Disappointed, she would quietly part ways with him at the end of the day.
One evening, as Shiro walked down the street as usual, a voice suddenly reached him—one that sent a faint ripple through the calm surface of his heart.
"Your mission is coming."