When the phone rang, Tokiomi cast an apologetic glance at Kayneth and Sola, still maintaining the elegant composure that defined him. With measured steps, he moved away to answer the call, but the moment he brought the phone to his ear, that composure began to crumble at the anxious voice of Aoi on the other end of the line.
{"Tokiomi, Rin isn't home. The teachers said she missed classes all day. I asked her classmates, and they said she mentioned going to rescue her kidnapped friends, including one of her close friends."}
"What?! Rin, she—"
Upon hearing the rest, Tokiomi's expression changed drastically.
His eyes tightened, and his breathing faltered for a brief instant.
In a single flash of reasoning, he connected everything: Rin's classmate had been kidnapped by Caster and his Master… and Rin, reckless and prideful as always, had surely boarded a train back to Fuyuki on her own.
Alone, without support, without any form of protection, and without understanding the true horror she was facing.
The moment Caster discovered her whereabouts, Rin, in her current state, would stand no chance of escaping.
Tokiomi, who saw Rin as the future of the Tohsaka family… as his ideal successor…
Would never allow such a thing to happen.
His control slipped, and for a brief second, he shouted.
The sound echoed through the courtyard, completely shattering the refined atmosphere that had once dominated the place.
Everyone present turned to look at him.
What could drive a man like Tokiomi Tohsaka—known for his cold elegance and absolute self-control—to react in such a manner?
"My apologies."
When he returned, his expression had already been reconstructed… but not completely. There was too much rigidity, too much tension in his eyes.
"My daughter has returned to Fuyuki and is searching for Caster's whereabouts due to certain matters. Time is running out. I hope you can depart immediately and rescue my daughter before Caster captures her. I would be extremely grateful."
Then, Tokiomi bowed perfectly at a ninety-degree angle before the three Servants.
With no way to conceal the situation from the Servants who were about to attack Caster, Tokiomi had no choice but to gamble.
Even with Assassin and Archer at his side—
He did not dare to fully trust them.
Not when it concerned Rin.
That was why Rider and Lancer had also become his last hopes.
If they were Servants like Assassin, he would never trust them.
"Hmph~ Tokiomi… are you giving me orders?"
Gilgamesh swirled the wine in his cup, watching the liquid dance as if it were more interesting than the situation itself. His half-lidded eyes then fell upon Tokiomi—cold, assessing… almost bored.
"I am desperate, King of Heroes."
The response came without hesitation.
But his right hand was clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.
Gilgamesh's reaction only intensified his tension.
"Try to show a little more sensitivity, Goldie." Arthur's voice cut through the atmosphere lightly.
"You damn bastard…" Gilgamesh's anger flared instantly.
His eyes gleamed with irritation.
But Arthur remained completely unfazed.
"Don't look at me like that. I know exactly what you're thinking."
He tilted his head slightly, as if observing a troublesome child.
That was exactly what irritated Gilgamesh.
Suppressing his rising anger, Gilgamesh's gaze briefly slid toward the Command Seals on Tokiomi's hand.
An unpleasant reminder of a limitation he despised.
"Tch."
He scoffed.
"Let's take a walk to kill some boredom."
But then, a slow, arrogant smile formed.
"How about this—"
His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
"Lancer. Rider. Since we've had a drink… how about a little competition to see who can capture Tokiomi's daughter first?"
There was an almost childish tone to it, twisted by pure arrogance.
"Since it's a competition… there should be a reward, right?" Iskandar raised an eyebrow, intrigued. In an instant, he had already changed clothes, as if preparing to begin a military campaign.
At that moment, Tokiomi spoke, seizing the opportunity desperately:
"How about I transfer a Command Seal to the winner myself?"
"No objections," Arthur replied immediately, without hesitation.
As if it were merely another variable in a larger calculation.
But unlike Iskandar, he showed no interest in the reward.
"Then—"
Tokiomi handed over three identical maps.
Four coastal areas were marked with red circles.
Possible bases of Caster.
Locations identified with the help of Assassin.
With three Servants, the chances increased considerably.
And considering the absurd mobility of Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm, he could cover multiple points in a short time.
But before any strategy could even be discussed, Arthur had already moved.
"Iri. Artoria. Let's go."
And without even looking back, he departed as if the outcome had already been decided.
"That guy…"
Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes.
This time, he wasn't angry—but he clearly felt provoked.
"Acting as if he's already won…"
Without wasting time, he opened the Gates of Babylon, and Vimana appeared with imposing grandeur.
"Let's see… how far that composure of yours goes."
He vanished into the sky in an instant.
"Well..."
Iskandar scratched his head, letting out a low chuckle.
"That escalated way too fast."
He looked at Waver.
Then, without any warning, grabbed him with one hand.
"Hold on tight, boy!"
He summoned his chariot and set off.
---xXx---
Let's go back a little in time.
"All the victims were children."
"Hey, Rin, have you heard?"
"There was no body in Seiichi's coffin."
"Probably because the way they died was too horrific; I heard their bodies were mutilated."
"That incident happened in Fuyuki, right?"
"Yeah."
…
"Something terrible happened! Rin, it seems Kotone has been kidnapped too! She didn't come home all night—what should we do?!"
Shortly after the death of a classmate, Rin Tohsaka received a call from a girl close to her, saying that her best friend had also disappeared.
Upon hearing the news, Rin didn't hesitate—she immediately headed to Kotone's house:
"Um, this is Rin Tohsaka. I'm in the same class as Kotone…"
{"The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep."}
Before she could finish, the automated message cut her off.
"Kotone…"
The image of her deceased classmate surfaced in her mind.
But Rin Tohsaka was not the type of girl to back down.
Unwilling to stand still, unwilling to rely on adults, and without even considering asking for help, she made her decision and immediately boarded a train back to Fuyuki alone.
Her father was busy with the Holy Grail War.
She didn't want to trouble him.
With that firm resolve, Rin began her own journey.
She carried only the essentials:
A pre-marked map.
A few gems for spells.
And a pocket watch.
A gift from her father.
"This is called a magic needle."
Tokiomi's words echoed in her mind.
"It doesn't react under normal circumstances… but if there are traces of magic nearby, the hand will begin to move from zero."
"When it completes a full rotation and passes twelve… it means you've found something you cannot face."
"Then run."
Rin tightened her grip on the watch hanging from her neck.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward once more.
Back in the city of Fuyuki.
The cold night wind cut against her skin.
Her breath turned into white mist.
She adjusted the collar of her blouse as her eyes scanned the map, illuminated by the artificial lights of the platform.
Without hesitation, she moved forward.
Her objective was clear.
The coast of Fuyuki.
The place where the disappearances were most frequent.
(End of Chapter)