---
"Found you!" Rin Tohsaka hurried over and began untying Kotone.
At that moment, Circe, playing Medea, leapt out with exaggerated theatrics. "Wha—Who are you?! Let go of my prey!"
Rin jumped in fright and called to Haruka Kasugano, "What do we do?!"
Without a second thought, Haruka Kasugano lunged at Circe, risking himself to restrain her. He shouted over his shoulder, "Rin, get them out of here, now!"
"But you..." Rin began to cry.
She hadn't expected Haruka Kasugano to be such a man of principle, willing to put himself in danger for others. In that moment, a new feeling began to grow in the young girl's heart.
---
"Stop standing there! Move, now!" Haruka Kasugano urged.
Rin's face was set with determination as she pulled Kotone and the other children out of the underground bar.
But she didn't run away completely—she turned back to save Haruka Kasugano.
By the time Haruka Kasugano had just released Circe, he saw Rin coming back and leapt backward.
"Whoa! That was one heavy kick!" he shouted.
Circe blinked, confused. *When did I kick you?*
Rin rushed in, seeing Haruka Kasugano pushed back, and in her panic, threw her jewel at Circe.
Bang—
The jewel exploded on impact.
"Well done, Rin! The villain's down!" Haruka Kasugano called out.
Though he was praising Rin, it was also a subtle warning to Circe.
"Ah—" Circe understood immediately and fell back dramatically.
"I'm defeated~!"
Rin quickly grabbed Haruka Kasugano, and together they ran out.
After reuniting with the other children outside, the group began sprinting through the night-lit city.
They ran for a long while before finally stopping.
Rin wiped the sweat from her forehead, her cheeks flushed as she looked at the panting Haruka Kasugano beside her.
Once he caught his breath, Haruka Kasugano straightened and called to the children, "Are you all okay?"
The children, just released from hypnosis, had no idea what had just happened—they only knew Rin and Haruka Kasugano had saved them.
"We're fine! Thank you, teacher!" they shouted.
Rin, still blushing, turned to Haruka Kasugano. "Teacher… thank you… and I'm sorry for what I did before…"
"It's nothing. This is what a teacher should do," Haruka Kasugano said shamelessly.
Though awkward, in Rin's eyes, it showed his strong sense of responsibility.
Her large eyes shone as she took in the image of Haruka Kasugano, battered yet determined.
Haruka Kasugano then handed Kotone and the children over to the arriving police.
He turned to say goodbye to Rin.
Originally, Rin planned to leave on her own. As a mage, she shouldn't reveal too much of herself and should cut ties with Haruka Kasugano and the children to protect them.
But as soon as she turned, a figure exuding dark magical energy appeared before her.
It was Kotomine Kirei, but Rin didn't recognize him immediately; his hood and obscured face hid his identity.
"Ah!!" Rin screamed, thinking the magician had come for revenge.
Kirei didn't bother explaining—he intended to knock her out and take her home.
"Help—" Rin called out in the last second before dizziness overtook her.
"Let go of the girl! I'll handle this—"
"Teacher… save me…"
And then Rin fainted.
Seeing Rin collapse, Haruka Kasugano stopped pretending; he slammed on the brakes and also feigned unconsciousness.
"Huh???" Kirei, still planning to take Rin away, was stunned.
"I haven't even knocked you out yet… how did you faint yourself? Was it the magical backlash from when I hit Rin? Or… were you scared by your own reflection?"
Just as Kirei stood there confused, Circe, manifesting fully as Medea, attacked him.
Haruka Kasugano had feigned unconsciousness so Kirei wouldn't suspect he was Caster's master.
He definitely didn't want Rin taken away.
"Caster???" Kirei exclaimed in shock.
"Want to start fighting here?"
Kirei glanced at Rin and Haruka Kasugano on the ground. *We can't battle here; I need to lure Caster away.*
He summoned Berserker and retreated a kilometer, drawing Circe along.
Finally, in a deserted area, Kirei prepared to battle Circe—but Circe vanished as a spirit.
"What the…?" Kirei was baffled.
Even Berserker Lancelot standing nearby was confused.
They couldn't understand what Caster intended.
Resigned, Kirei returned to check on Rin.
From a distance, he saw Haruka Kasugano and Rin awake, supporting each other as they left.
"*Forget it… Rin just called that man 'teacher.' Leaving her with him should be safe enough,*" Kirei thought.
And he left.
---
"Stop running off! That was dangerous just now!" Haruka Kasugano pretended to scold Rin.
"Sorry… Teacher…" Rin said, pouting.
Having just fainted, Rin had no idea what had happened.
She only knew Haruka Kasugano had saved her again.
To reassure him, she didn't leave alone, letting him fulfill his role as a teacher and personally escort her home.
Along the way, Rin remained obedient.
Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep, leaning against Haruka Kasugano.
For some reason, she felt safe and secure with him.
Seeing her asleep, Haruka Kasugano revealed an uncontainable smile.
The plan was just beginning.
Although Kirei had caused some trouble earlier, as long as Rin was under his control, Haruka Kasugano had enormous room to maneuver.
He arrived at Fuyuki City Central Park, placing Rin on a bench under a pavilion.
Now it was a matter of waiting.
---
That night, Aoi Tohsaka checked on Rin before going to bed—only to find she wasn't home.
Panicked, she searched frantically and then drove through Fuyuki City, looking for her.
"Rin, where are you???" Aoi cried.
After searching many places, she finally arrived at the park.
Some instinct told her Rin might be here.
She parked and rushed into the park.
Sure enough, little Rin was sleeping soundly on a pavilion bench.
Aoi checked on her and found her unharmed.
At that moment, a man appeared behind her.
Her instinct screamed again.
" Kotomine… is that you?"
She assumed only Kirei would bring Rin here. After all, this was a place she and Kirei had played since childhood—a place of happy memories with Rin and Sakura.
The one who would place Rin here must be her childhood friend—and devoted admirer—Kirei!
But as the man came closer, Aoi's expression changed to shock.
"Madam~! Good evening, nice to see you again~!" Haruka Kasugano greeted playfully.
"You! Haruka Kasugano! You bastard!" Aoi exploded.
"How can you talk like that? Do you realize how dangerous it was for a little girl to be out alone tonight? Do you know what I went through to get her back?" Haruka Kasugano chided.
"Is this how you say thanks? Oh, Madam, you really are…"
---
Haruka Kasugano's rapid words left Aoi speechless.
No matter their past grievances, no matter how much she disliked him, tonight he had indeed brought Rin home safely.
She had no reason to scold him.
"Sorry, I was impulsive… thank you for bringing Rin back!" Aoi said, eyes closed, teeth gritted.
Haruka Kasugano approached, lifting her smooth, slender chin. "Madam, gratitude should come with some sincerity, right?"
"You—bastard! You don't mean… you want me to fulfill that last promise tonight, do you?" Aoi's face turned crimson, anger mingled with embarrassment.
"Why, do you want to drag things out romantically and slowly?" Haruka Kasugano teased.
Those words struck a chord deep within Aoi.
She no longer wanted to drag this out—she wanted to end it.
"Fine! No problem! We'll settle this now! And tomorrow, you'll obediently go with me to the hospital to sign the papers!" Aoi stood firmly, resolute.
"Of course, I always keep my word!" Haruka Kasugano said with a smile.
Aoi took two steps toward her car. "Go to whichever hotel you like!"
But Haruka Kasugano suddenly grabbed her hand.
Her hand, delicate and soft like a young girl's, showed no signs of needing to do housework despite her being a wealthy married woman.
"What are you—let go!" Aoi struggled.
Her strength was weak; she couldn't break free.
"Madam, while Rin is still asleep, we should finish quickly. Heading to a hotel wastes too much time!" Haruka Kasugano teased.
Aoi's eyes widened. "Not a hotel… then where?"
At that, Haruka Kasugano's lips curled into an incredulous smile.
He raised his other hand, thumb up, and pointed to the woods behind him.
---