Watching Kariya Matou's departing back, Tohsaka Aoi sighed softly.
At that moment, Kanjuro's casual and magnetic voice rang in her ear:
"With such a man who loves you by your side, why do you treat him with such cold indifference?" Kanjuro had walked up to her at some unknown point.
Tohsaka Aoi's body stiffened, and she said coldly, "What does that have to do with you? What do you want with me?"
"Don't be so cold to me, Aoi." Kanjuro chuckled and, without giving her a choice, reached out and pulled her slender waist into his arms.
Tohsaka Aoi reflexively struggled, the characteristic fresh and elegant fragrance of a young girl wafting into Kanjuro's nose.
Kanjuro's hand seemed to carry an electric current, ignoring her resistance as it nimbly slipped under her skirt.
"You bastard! Kanjuro, what exactly do you want?!" Tohsaka Aoi was both shocked and enraged. Although Kanjuro's body cleverly blocked the view of passersby, she was still afraid that this ambiguous action would be seen by others.
"What do I want?" Kanjuro lowered his head, his nose almost touching hers, his tone full of teasing. "How do I remember... that night... a certain little wildcat who said one thing but meant another, actually enjoyed it very much later?"
"You...!" Tohsaka Aoi was overwhelmed with shame and anger. She looked up to meet his gaze, and her beautiful eyes instantly welled up with tears. Her pitiful appearance was enough to soften any normal man's heart.
However, Kanjuro clearly did not fall into the category of "normal men."
His eyes held only playfulness and conquest. "What exactly do you want?" Tohsaka Aoi's voice was tearful.
"There are some things I want to ask you." Kanjuro finally loosened his grip slightly, but his arm was still wrapped around her waist with an undeniable force. "You, come with me."
"...Okay." Tohsaka Aoi bit her lower lip, not daring to disobey. She knew how terrifying this man was.
The two walked side by side on the sun-drenched street, their shadows stretching long. It seemed harmonious, yet an invisible sense of oppression permeated the air.
"Holy Grail War, do you know about it?" Kanjuro asked straightforwardly.
"It's said to be... related to conflicts between Magicians?" Tohsaka Aoi replied somewhat uncertainly, not understanding why he asked this.
Kanjuro leaned close to her ear, his voice low and alluring: "Then... do you want to marry Tohsaka Tokiomi?"
"I..." Tohsaka Aoi struggled intensely internally. Marriage was a family mission, but she had no feelings for that unfamiliar genius Magician, and she feared her secret being discovered even more.
"You hesitated?" Kanjuro accurately caught her wavering. "It seems that deep down, you're not entirely willing."
"It's not like that!" Tohsaka Aoi trembled and quickly argued, "This is a family mission... I, I can't refuse."
"Hmm, I understand what you mean." Kanjuro nodded, but his tone suddenly shifted. "However, from now on, you're coming with me to the Tohsaka Family Mansion."
"Why?" Tohsaka Aoi was completely stunned, unable to comprehend Kanjuro's sudden decision.
Kanjuro stopped, reached out, and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
He smiled wickedly and licked her lips, sending a shiver through her.
"You are a woman I have marked. How can I allow you to marry someone else?" His tone carried an undeniable possessiveness.
Tohsaka Aoi was stunned, feeling the fatal attraction emanating from Kanjuro. Looking at his demonic handsome face and those wicked eyes that seemed to suck in souls, she was momentarily lost in a trance.
"You... you care about me?" She asked this almost subconsciously.
"Care about you?" Kanjuro scoffed, his gaze cold and cruel. "No, I don't care. But what I do care about is that my things, even if I don't want them, are not for others to touch. If you become another man's woman, it would be a very disgraceful thing for me."
Of course, what he cared about more deeply was to use this opportunity to intervene in the mysterious Holy Grail War and firmly control those women with special identities who were involved in it... one by one.
"By me... taking you to the Tohsaka Family?" Tohsaka Aoi asked in a low voice, with a hint of imperceptible hesitation.
"Take me to see what kind of person that Tohsaka Tokiomi is." Kanjuro's fingers idly played with Tohsaka Aoi's soft hair, his tone calm but undeniable. "Just say I'm your friend."
"Okay." Tohsaka Aoi obediently agreed. Although she was filled with fear of Kanjuro deep down, she clearly knew she had no right to refuse, and she understood what terrible consequences defying this man would bring.
The Tohsaka Mansion, a luxurious and ancient-style villa.
As the youngest current head of the Tohsaka Family, Tohsaka Tokiomi, dressed in a well-tailored burgundy Magician's suit, sat elegantly in a comfortable armchair, savoring a cup of coffee. The afternoon sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful light and shadow on the carpet.
Faint footsteps came from outside the door, followed by the soft sound of it opening.
Tohsaka Tokiomi did not immediately look up. He knew today was the day he was scheduled to meet his fiancée, Tohsaka Aoi. He had a rather good impression of Tohsaka Aoi – beautiful, gentle, and very much to his aesthetic taste. More importantly, the Magician bloodline inherited by the zenjou Family was the true attractive value of this marriage alliance for him.
However, his keen hearing caught two sets of footsteps that were not entirely synchronized.
He looked up, his deep gaze passing over Tohsaka Aoi and landing on the handsome stranger beside her.
"And who is this?" Tohsaka Tokiomi's tone maintained his usual composure and politeness. He had basic trust in his fiancée and had always adhered to etiquette before marriage, never overstepping any boundaries.
"This is my friend, Kanjuro." Tohsaka Aoi quickly introduced him, her voice slightly stiff from nervousness. "I... I wanted to introduce him to you." She lowered her eyes slightly, seemingly a bit embarrassed.
Tohsaka Tokiomi narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing Kanjuro. The man before him possessed an unforgettable handsome face, yet exuded an ethereal, detached aura. "A China bloodline?" He keenly sensed a certain origin and asked directly.
"Yes, I am from China." Kanjuro admitted frankly, with no intention of hiding it. "I've always been curious about the mysterious Magician world, and Aoi happens to be a good friend of mine from school, so I asked her to bring me to visit, hoping to witness your distinguished presence."
"I see, please have a seat." Tohsaka Tokiomi gestured with his hand, but his gaze never left Kanjuro. The reason he paid extra attention to this uninvited guest was not because of his appearance or his relationship with Tohsaka Aoi, but rather from a deeper perception—around Kanjuro, there lingered a faint, extremely subtle "aura."
It was not the usual fluctuation of a Magician's mana, but a more ancient, profound power, carrying an unknown and an indescribable terrifying quality, like a silent abyss, prompting vigilance.
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