Kuoh Airport.
Within the modest yet prestigious town's airport terminals, the passengers from nearby and far-off destinations moved to and fro.
It was in one such terminal that passengers from Tokyo got off their flight, and two certain people got off their flight and headed out.
The teenager with black hair tied up in twin tails sighed as she stood on the belt, moving across the airport.
"I knew Kuoh airport didn't have that much movement, but who knew I'd have to take a connecting flight immediately after arriving here from the west? Not to mention how I've been forced to come back in just three years, no less."
From within her luggage, a certain object of power spoke up mischievously within its wielder's mind.
"You haven't been home for a while, right? How do you feel about it? Master~"
The girl picked up on the sarcasm when the object said 'Master', but let it go, knowing that it was the peculiar nature of the artifact given to her by her teacher.
"I don't particularly feel any way. This place hasn't been my home for a while now. Especially after a certain group bought out the rights to the town from my family."
"Although I am surprised you made it through customs without any issues."
Before the artifact could respond, however, a haughty voice rang out from behind the teenager, causing her eyes to narrow in annoyance while her expression darkened considerably.
"Ah~ what a humid, mismatched country. It lacks any shred of elegance."
"Just like a certain someone...Oh ho ho ho~"
The strange way of laughing made many of the passengers nearby very uncomfortable, but the girl with blond hair and an elegant blue dress ignored it, focusing completely on annoying her 'rival' and fellow student.
The Japanese teenager sighed and spoke out to her artifact, intending for her words to be heard by the blond girl.
"Ruby. I am amending my previous statement. I'm in a really rotten mood."
Turning around and glaring at her rival, the teenager practically spat out her words.
"Having come home with this idiot makes me want to vomit!!"
Instantly, the blond woman's expressions darkened as well.
"Pardon me, but I'm the one who wants to vomit. Besides, it's all your fault we were forced into this. Tohsaka."
Tohsaka Rin, student of the enigmatic magic organization called the Clock Tower, turned away from her rival.
"You are in no place to talk. Tube-curls."
"What did you say!?"
"What? You went deaf as well? Edelfelt?"
"Please stop fighting in public. Master."
The twin artifact of Tohsaka's, stored within Luvia Edelfelt's bag, spoke with an exasperated tone within her own master's mind and was promptly ignored.
The artifact called Ruby spoke up to its 'sister' while the two teenagers glared daggers at each other.
"These two really are an embarrassment, huh?"
"Have you two forgotten why you were sent to Kuoh in the first place?"
"Hmph! Really, he certainly forced a troublesome condition on us."
Luvia's muttering only annoyed Rin further as she spoke out while heading for the exit.
"Let's finish this quickly and go home, Ruby."
"Let's go, Sapphire."
The two women left the airport and headed straight for their accommodations, arranged by the Clock Tower.
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'Breath in'
I concentrated on the target. Memories of both this life and countless others flowing at once.
Right now, nothing else matters in the world.
'Breath out'
Right now, there is only me, the bow in my arms, the arrow notched and ready, and the target.
'Release'
The moment I let go, the arrow flew true and struck dead center. Its noise ringing out in the silent clearing.
Then, the usual applause poured in.
"Emiya-senpai! So cool!"
"That's that third bullseye in a row."
"It's a pity. If hehad participated in serious competitions, we might have been in the nationals by now."
The various members of the Archery club either whispered with awe or surrounded me with shining eyes. A spectacle I have gotten used to in the past few years.
After all, in my life, there are very few things that I take pride in, and Archery happens to be one of the things that I take pride in the most, alongside my cooking skills.
Another difference from many of my counterparts.
After the daily club activities were done, I changed out of the training clothes and headed out, only for a tiny missile to slam into me.
Of course, thanks to my magecraft training, which has been advancing steadily, leading to my inner reality manifesting within my body slowly but surely, it was the missile that was hurt, not me.
"Ow!"
Illya fell to the ground while holding her head in pain, making me sigh and pat her head gently.
"What have I told you about running into me like that?"
She pouted and looked down at the ground.
"You said not to. But I was just excited and couldn't help myself!"
Honestly, what am I going to do with this klutz?
....Then again, it is better for her to be a lively girl like this than the murderous homunculus from my memories.
This commotion did not go unnoticed, of course, as my fellow club members peeked out curiously, only to spot Illya and instantly surround my little sister, much to the girl's discomfort.
"Oh~ Illya-chan! Are you here for your precious Onii-chan?"
"Hehe~ so cute!"
"You sure are lucky~ Emiya-senpai to have such a loving little sister."
"I'm jealous!"
As the girls continued coddling and praising Illya, I spotted the way her flustered expressions slowly started to shift, becoming genuinely distressed.
Taking that as the cue, I stepped in and picked her up easily, making her latch onto me as a toddler latches onto a father.
.....That sounded really strange. Good thing I didn't say that out loud.
"Alright, enough of that. You girls should get to cleaning up and heading home after that."
"""Yes, President~"""
I sighed with exasperation at those teasing words before turning towards the woman with long black hair and black eyes.
".....I am not the president, Amano. You are."
Amano Yae, the president of the Archery club, gave me a teasing look.
"Eh~ but you are so assertive and stern~, shouldn't you be the president instead of me and boss us around? Just think about it! A whole club full of girls and you are the sole boss~"
".....You are beyond help, you know that, right?"
"Guilty as charged~"
I just shook my head at the girl's teasing and headed out while waving goodbye to the girls. Illya mimicked me and waved timidly from the crook of my neck, which only made the girls coo even more, frightening Illya even more.
Honestly, if it were not for my high-strung instincts that are always on edge when it comes to her, thanks to the many ways I saw her die in my dreams, I would have been teasing Illya for still being carried around by me like a child, despite being 13 years old this year.
It was only when we were out of the school building, and she saw the teasing looks from other students, that she finally let go and started walking on her own feet while I retrieved my bike and walked by her side, heading home.
"So, what were you doing at my club anyway? Don't you have your own club activity?"
"Oh! Fujimura-sensei said she was too busy to supervise, so club activities were suspended for the day. Since I had the free time, I thought I'd go home with you!"
I felt a frown form on my face.
"Fuji-nee is slacking off again?"
Illya shook her head.
"No. She really was busy. Nanaki, Tatsuko, and I secretly followed her to the staff room and saw the pile of paperwork she was working on."
...That's impossible. That tiger will never do work voluntarily-
"She was crying rivers while working through the pile while cursing someone."
.....That makes more sense.
"I see. In that case, want to ride the bike again?"
The dubious look she gave me showed how much she had been traumatized by my teasing.
"...Onii-chan. Are you planning something?"
I gave her a mock hurt look.
"Really? Why would I be planning something? It's just faster, you know?"
"....Fine. But if you deceive me again, I will hit you!"
'As if I am afraid of those tiny fists that barely register to my senses.'
Outwardly, I maintained a casual look and nodded, making her brighten up and promptly plop down on the carrier seat of the bike.
"Then let's go!!"
It was a good thing that I was facing forward, where Illya could not see my expressions.
Because I'm sure my grin would have traumatized her further.
I cranked open the valve within my mind, applying Reinforcement to my legs, and started peddling, hard.
Needless to say, by the time we got home five minutes later, I was once again subjected to tiny fists of doom to my back, which worked really well as a massage service.
Although it was a different matter entirely with Sella, who glared at me and started ranting about how irresponsible I was being as a sibling.
All in all, it wasa beautiful and fulfilling day.
Unfortunately, either Alaya heard my happy thoughts, or something else did.
Because my peace was shattered and my sleep forgotten, when I felt two powerful magical signatures clashing in the skies of Kuoh.
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Author Notes: Read 5 chapters ahead on Patreon: patreon.com/Ruijard1