Chapter 2. The Emiya Family is on a Plane
The steady hum of the engines flowed through the cabin. The peaceful air was enough to make one feel like drifting off to sleep.
A mother was soothing her child of only a few years, an uncle with stubble was checking the newspaper, and a white-collar worker in business attire was scribbling something in a paper notebook with a pen.
It could be called a calm scene of passengers—one that would turn into an unforgettable hell if a Dead Apostle were mixed in.
However, on this plane specifically, even if such a Dead Apostle truly existed, no disaster would successfully break out.
Because five people were here.
For this plane, that was remarkably good news.
Dead Apostles? Bees? Such things—whether one pulled them into an Reality Marble, exiled them into an Imaginary Number attribute, or isolated them all with a net made of silver threads, it wouldn't matter much.
Though it would come at the cost of exposing the Mystery—to certain individuals sitting in a corner at the rear of the cabin, lacking in presence, this wasn't even a truly serious "shura path" compared to what they had experienced.
Without clearly thinking through these far-fetched hypotheses, and unaware of the secrets that had once occurred in airplane "locked rooms," Shirou simply cast his gaze toward the cloud layers outside the window.
Amidst the still-tranquil atmosphere.
"If you're tired, Shirou, you can lean on my shoulder, you know?"
Beside him, Rin, sitting closer to the window Shirou was looking out of, spoke half-jokingly.
Her eyes flickered with a hint of playfulness, making it look like she was teasing him beneath her smooth black hair.
"While I'd love to say, 'Then I won't stand on ceremony,' I think it's better for you to have a bit of reserve, Tohsaka."
Shirou only then realized he might have been a bit too relaxed; perhaps his thoughts had drifted back to his high school days, so much so that he didn't even notice he'd said something he shouldn't have.
"Tohsaka"?
Hearing this form of address, Rin wore an expression of utter disbelief:
"You... called me... Tohsaka??"
"—Sorry, sorry, Rin! I was thinking about things from the past, so it just slipped out subconsciously. I'm really sorry!"
Sensing a sudden chill, Shirou instantly changed his tune.
No, it was true. They had clearly transitioned to calling her "Rin," and now he suddenly went back to "Tohsaka"? What was with this bizarre negative regression?
It was entirely his own fault; Shirou had nothing to say for himself.
"Oh ho? You were thinking about that—the Fifth Holy Grail War?"
Noticing something, Rin suddenly flashed a little devil's smile.
"Is that not allowed?"
"Don't get grumpy. I understand, of course. After all, Lord El-Melloi II's investigation into the degree of destruction of the Greater Grail—to decide if dismantling is still necessary—has just concluded. Although it was a hassle having to make this trip because the documents were with Reines and she happened to be away from London, it's finally a relief to see these files, right?"
In this situation, it was only natural for thoughts to return to so many years ago.
Stroking the surface of her handbag with her fingertips, Rin conveyed this sentiment. Knowing he could never win against her, Shirou could only follow her lead and nod sheepishly.
"Yeah. Rin, next we..."
"We'll have some fun in the layover city, and then transfer."
An incredibly nimble young girl suddenly burst into the space between the seats.
Abruptly squeezing aside everything in her way, she pressed the advantage, sticking close to Shirou and leaving the warmth of her skin against him.
It was Illya's usual style to act as if nothing had happened, even with that look in her eyes beneath her string-like, snow-colored long hair.
Her original seat was supposed to be in the front row. This completely rendered the rock-paper-scissors game they played to decide seats meaningless.
"Hey, hey, Illya!"
Shirou hurriedly tried to move his legs.
Even Rin's eyes widened. But Illya didn't care at all.
Agreements are made to be broken—Illya proclaimed as much with her eyes!
Those naturally innocent eyes locked onto Shirou's with unnaturally fast speed.
"I want Shirou to hold me while we sit~"
Being spoiled?
Yes, she was definitely being spoiled.
"It's fine to just hold me like you're holding a younger sister, okay?"
Shirou felt a sense of dissonance that made the corner of his mouth twitch. During the Fifth Holy Grail War, Illya wasn't actually as young as she looked. Now, many years had passed since then.
There was likely a problem as deep as the Mariana Trench within that sentence.
However, Shirou couldn't refuse.
Because it was Illya's request, and because Illya was looking at him like this, he subconsciously scooped her up and placed her on his lap.
Just like how he would instinctively catch her when he saw an "Illya Flying Leap." Conditioned reflex actions were a terrible thing.
And, if there was another reason—it was because Illya had overcome the one-year curse.
Even now, Illya remained safe and sound. That was enough.
Feeling the warmth, Illya let out a jubilant cheer, her triumph so obvious that even Shirou noticed it.
Her provocative gaze was directed at Rin.
However, as if to shut Rin's mouth, Illya threw out a topic that Rin couldn't refuse.
With an atmosphere that shifted silently, the girl said to Shirou:
"Having fun in the layover city and then transferring—it's a deal. Hmm, is it called Snowfield? It's famous for its snowy scenery!"
He felt like this was different from what they had agreed upon before.
"But, if we head to Romania a day earlier, the client's business can be resolved a day sooner—"
"Ab-so-lute-ly not. Shirou needs to relax."
That was foul play. The tone in that moment wasn't that of a child at all.
"...I don't object."
Overwhelmed by her momentum, Shirou finally compromised after a long silence.
Then, a terrifying realization struck him.
Transfer times aren't something that can be decided on a whim. Flight tickets need to be booked in advance. Given that the tickets should have already been purchased, Illya was relentlessly wheedling him to slow down his pace without any hesitation.
Knowing that Sakura had volunteered to buy the tickets... no way, right?
"Sakura..."
With a somewhat resentful gaze, Shirou looked over at Sakura, who was in the right-side section of the three-row seating.
Their eyes met. The ever-considerate Sakura maintained her smile and averted her gaze.
"You guys actually get along really well, don't you?"
Shirou was at a loss for words, and then felt slightly embarrassed that he was being so cared for by everyone.
On the surface, it seemed Shirou was being too impatient. Charging ahead without considering his companions' fatigue.
But Shirou understood clearly that he was at the center of this. To put it bluntly, his important people had united to this extent in order to "monitor" him and keep him from pushing himself too hard.
The fact that he hadn't realized he was pushing himself was what he should be ashamed of. Thinking of this, Shirou instead let out a "haha" wry laugh.
That's right...
"What a happy ending. If only you could get off Shirou, Illya."
In the atmosphere that felt like it was about to smooth things over, only Rin, with a Cheshire Cat smile, tore through the beautiful illusion. There was no mirth in her smiling face.
"Rin, this should be considered my fault—"
"Mr. Head of the House?"
Recently, a new mode of smilingly replacing "Emiya-kun" with "Mr. Head of the House" seemed to be occasionally popular.
Also, threatening people is wrong.
"I won't back down! If you want to know why, sitting on Shirou's lap is a privilege of the 'younger sister' and 'child' elements!"
Illya shot back as if she were throwing a tantrum.
"Illya always claims to be the younger sister only when it's convenient for her."
"Illya, I can't let that sentence slide."
"Younger sister" and "child."
Fire flared up in the eyes of two people. This included the blonde Saber in the back seat, who had hardly spoken.
Having provoked too many enemies, Illya had brought about her own downfall.
Shirou, having been silenced, watched the development of a situation he truly found hard to keep up with. It was the same scene as always.
Passing through countless years on the path of blades and halberds, yet never being alone.
With such people watching over him, no matter what awaited him ahead, he wouldn't lose his way.
Traveling with trustworthy companions.
Therefore, he obtained a warmth that should have been rare.
Emiya Shirou was grateful from the bottom of his heart to these women who had never left his side since they met. So grateful that he wouldn't hesitate even if he had to give his life.
He would surely be incredibly happy to take the rest provided for him and play a little in Snowfield with them. Only...
"I have a bad feeling about this."
It wasn't a small incident like a Dead Apostle sneaking onto the plane.
It was something brand new, something different—
—An event as large as the Arctic Ocean, or even the entire world.
Even these five who could deal with a Dead Apostle couldn't predict the future. Thus, the plane headed toward Snowfield. That alone was the greatest miscalculation.
This was the countdown to the world changing.
(There's one more thing: when can I deactivate my spirit form?)
"Sorry, um, Rider. Since you don't have to pay for a ticket or prepare fake IDs as long as you stay in spirit form, please endure it until we get off the plane, okay?"
(...... Sakura, you actually know very well what I did the night before last, don't you.)
The whispers between Master and Servant should probably just be treated as a rare bit of idle amusement.