Shinji Matou's new little sister was named Sakura.
She was not Shinji's biological younger sister, but a girl adopted from another family.
The family giving away their daughter was the Tohsaka Family on the hilltop. The Tohsaka and Matou families seemed to be old family friends who had known each other for generations.
At that moment, Shinji Matou was kneeling outside the living room, peeking through the crack in the door at what was going on inside.
"Come look, Shirou… That's the Tohsaka Family's second daughter. She's going to be my little sister from now on!"
He tugged at the boy's sleeve, and Shirou, clearly annoyed, looked through the crack as well.
There were four people in the room.
Zouken Matou was sitting on the sofa.
Byakuya Matou stood respectfully behind him like a secretary.
Not long after moving in, Shirou had already realized that Byakuya Matou's status as head of the household was only for show. Zouken was the real master of the family.
"And the one sitting across from Zouken is…"
A middle-aged gentleman in fine clothes, with elegant manners and a neatly trimmed goatee, was speaking with Zouken.
"That's Tokiomi Tohsaka, the current head of the Tohsaka Family."
Shinji explained helpfully.
"And the one sitting next to him is Sakura Tohsaka… no, wait, she should be called Sakura Matou now!"
Hiding behind the door like a little sneak, the boy grinned foolishly from ear to ear.
Was having a little sister really something to be this happy about? Shirou was an orphan, so he did not really get it.
Although the fairies of "Britannia" could not reproduce, they still formed families.
Their bonds were not based on blood, but on duty. Morgan herself had been raised as a daughter by other fairies.
Looking at Shinji's beaming face, Shirou suddenly felt a little irritated and kicked him square in the backside.
"Ahh… ah!?"
Shinji stumbled forward, slammed the half-closed door open, and sprawled flat on the floor.
"Well then, I'll leave Sakura in your care…"
Tokiomi Tohsaka and Zouken Matou both stopped talking, and all four people in the room turned toward the doorway at once.
"Shinji! What are you doing there!"
Byakuya Matou's roar rang through the living room.
Scared out of his wits, Shinji Matou flailed on the floor as he tried to explain himself.
"N no, Dad… this, this was… Shirou, he…"
"This must be Shinji-kun. It has been a few years, and you've grown quite a bit."
Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled at the boy who had interrupted the meeting.
"Ah, yes, this is my unworthy son, Shinji Matou."
Byakuya Matou lowered his head apologetically. "His mother died young, so he has always been this mischievous. I am truly sorry."
"It's nothing. Children that age should be a little lively."
It was extremely subtle, but Shirou still caught the flash of contempt and disdain in Tokiomi Tohsaka's eyes when he looked at Shinji.
The gentleman stroked the girl's head beside him. "Sakura, go greet your future older brother."
"Yes."
Sakura Tohsaka, no, Sakura Matou hopped down from the sofa, walked over to Shinji, and bowed obediently.
"Big brother, I look forward to your care from now on."
"Oh, oh! Same here, Sakura-chan."
Shinji Matou lay on the floor grinning like an idiot.
He clearly had not realized that once Tokiomi left, his father was going to beat him black and blue.
Sakura Matou then turned to Shirou Amamiya at the side and bowed again.
"Big brother, I look forward to your care from now on."
No, no, no. I'm not your big brother.
Shirou thought to himself, If we went by actual age, I could practically be your grandfather.
Tokiomi Tohsaka also noticed the red-haired boy and asked curiously, "Old Man Zouken, who is this?"
"He's Shinji's friend. He's been staying here recently… a somewhat precocious and rather odd child."
Tokiomi Tohsaka did not dwell on Shirou for long and turned his attention back to the others.
"In that case, I'll leave Sakura in your care."
"Heh, leave it to me," Zouken Matou replied in a cheerful tone.
Tokiomi Tohsaka called his young daughter over again, knelt gracefully on one knee, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Sakura, from today onward, you are a member of the Matou family. You must listen to Grandpa, understood?"
"Yes, Father… Uncle Tohsaka."
Seeing Sakura Matou nod obediently, Tokiomi Tohsaka nodded in satisfaction.
"Maintain elegance at all times and in all places." This was the family creed passed down through generations of the Tohsaka Family.
Not yet seven years old, separated from her parents and sent into a stranger's home, and even so, Sakura neither cried nor protested. She quietly accepted everything.
Without a doubt, this was the result of his upbringing, and Tokiomi Tohsaka felt deeply proud of it.
"Well then, I will take my leave for today."
He gently patted Sakura Matou's head in farewell and turned toward the door.
As he passed by Shirou—
"Why did you send your daughter here, old man?" the red-haired boy suddenly asked.
"…What?"
Tokiomi Tohsaka stopped, his brows knitting slightly in displeasure.
"Hey, Shirou! Don't say stuff like that! Get back inside with me!"
Shinji Matou clung tightly to his leg, but no matter how hard he pulled, Shirou did not move at all.
Tokiomi Tohsaka paused, then answered with an elegant smile.
"I sent my daughter to the Matou family because I wish for her happiness in the future.
A child your age would not understand… the burdens of being a parent."
The Tohsaka Family was a long-standing Magus Family.
In the world of Magi, a family's greatest inheritance is neither wealth nor knowledge, but the Magic Crest.
The accumulated research and devotion of generations over centuries are all condensed into that small crest.
Yet only one child can inherit it.
Tokiomi Tohsaka had two daughters.
If one had been ordinary, it would have been manageable, but both possessed rare talent approaching the miraculous.
Only one could inherit the Tohsaka name.
Only one could be protected by it.
Those who possessed exceptional talent yet failed to inherit the family legacy would be taken by the Association under the pretense of "protection" and turned into specimens.
That was why Tokiomi Tohsaka sent his daughter to the Matou family, whose Magecraft had fallen into obscurity.
To receive the Matou family's protection and inherit their Magecraft was the greatest happiness this child could hope for.
Tokiomi Tohsaka did not expect a seven-year-old to understand such heavy reasoning.
"I don't know your situation, but if she's your own child, then you should be the one to protect her to the end. That's what being an adult means."
Shirou spoke with clear displeasure.
"Your daughter clearly doesn't want to be here."
"..."
Sakura Matou lifted her dull, listless eyes and looked at Shirou in surprise.
Perhaps feeling that he had been embarrassed in front of the Matou family, Tokiomi Tohsaka's expression turned slightly cold.
"Sakura, you do not wish to leave the Tohsaka Family?"
Sakura Matou hurriedly lowered her head.
"That's not the case, Uncle Tohsaka."