Everything changed on the night Aoko Aozaki graduated from middle school.
When she returned home, her grandfather said in his usual calm, matter-of-fact tone:
"Your older sister has gone on a trip. Starting today, you are the heir to the Aozaki family."
The girl had known since she was very young that the Aozaki family was an ancient Magus Family, but to be honest, she had never imagined that this duty would fall to her.
Magecraft could only be passed down to one blood relative, and in the Aozaki family's case, her older sister was supposed to inherit their grandfather's legacy.
Becoming the next Magician had been decided long ago, and Aoko had never really minded.
She had made ordinary plans for her life and her future.
Of course, romance was included in those plans too.
Aoko Aozaki had always been a little different from other people, and her view of romance was just as unconventional.
She saw "herself" and "others" as completely separate, so things like loving someone or being loved felt far out of reach to her.
So to the girl, as long as her own feelings were certain, she did not need the other person to return them.
Though she felt a little bad for her older sister, Aoko at the time had been imagining a future full of freedom.
But before she could enjoy that for long, a tremendous change was already waiting for her.
Before then, Aoko had never imagined she would end up in the world of Magecraft.
She had certainly never imagined that, even after becoming an apprentice Magus, high school life would still be part of her days.
Well, her new life was not so bad.
A lot had happened since then, bringing her all the way to the present.
Being an apprentice Magus left her at a loss sometimes, but by the time she noticed, she had already started her second year of high school.
Would her life continue smoothly from here on?
It was then that a boy claiming to be "from the future" burst into Aoko Aozaki's peaceful life.
He saved Aoko from danger twice.
Although he looked younger than Aoko, as someone from the future, he knew her very well.
Not only that, even the mission he carried seemed closely connected to "the Aoko of the future."
Faced with something like that, a girl in the middle of adolescence naturally misunderstood.
The girl who usually kept saying, "I'm not interested in that kind of thing!" became impossible to stop once she became aware of it.
Lately, just seeing Shirou's face made her heart race for no reason.
When she returned to the mansion and saw him waiting for her at the entrance, her body and mind, worn out after the day, felt soothed.
When she was hungry and went to the kitchen, only to find him wearing an apron, she had almost lost control several times and hugged him from behind.
By the time she finally realized she had developed romantic feelings for a boy younger than herself, Aoko was so embarrassed she wanted to bury herself in a hole, and she spent quite a while doubting herself afterward.
Could I have some kind of weird kink?
No... no, that's not it. It's not like I fell for Shirou because of his age or his looks. In the first place, this kid has nothing to do with the words "beautiful boy"! He has such a childish face, but everything he says and does is so old-fashioned. Worst of all, he can be sharp-tongued without even noticing it, which makes me wonder if Shirou's true nature might actually be really devious... Wait! Why am I admitting that I like Shirou!?!?
Aoko, her face flushed red, stole a glance at Shirou. The moment he returned her gaze with a gentle smile, the girl felt as if something had pierced straight through her heart.
Now there was no denying it... ugh...
She had been drawn to him.
She had developed a vague, inescapable affection.
Since she had already stepped into the world of Magecraft, surely it did not matter if he looked younger than her!
After all, she was the kind of fool who would not turn back until she ran straight into a wall.
In the end, Aoko did not take long to get over her inner conflict.
The girl who was freer than anyone decided to face her feelings honestly.
...
"Aoko..."
After their lips parted, Shirou looked in surprise at the chestnut-haired girl he was holding tightly.
The warmth lingering on his lips told him that the kiss just now had not been some hallucination brought on by soaking too long in the hot spring.
Even through the drifting mist, he could clearly see the faint blush on Aoko's cheeks.
She avoided Shirou's gaze and murmured in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"That was... to repay you for saving me twice."
Hearing that, Shirou's expression grew complicated.
"Hah..."
Aoko could not help sighing at her own weakness.
But she could not help it. Telling a boy younger than herself about her feelings was simply too difficult.
The girl steadied her breathing, pushed Shirou out of her arms, and stood up.
"Well... how should I put it? Forget what I said."
Aoko stretched, looking completely refreshed as she said it.
"Huh?"
"That... kiss just now... wasn't because I wanted to repay you."
The girl denied what she herself had said only a few seconds earlier.
"Anyway, the mood just kind of got to me, and it ended up like that... W-what's with that reaction?"
Shirou stared at her without even blinking, making Aoko so embarrassed that she started stumbling over her words.
Normally, being stared at so intently should have felt unpleasant. But Aoko did not dislike it at all.
I really do like him, Aoko thought.
"Shirou, do you hate me?"
"Of course not."
"I knew you'd say that."
Aoko smiled happily, then suppressed her slightly quickening heartbeat and asked,
"Then... do you like me?"
"I don't know," Shirou answered honestly.
"What kind of answer is that? That's awful!" Aoko shouted angrily.
"No... it was just so sudden that I didn't have time to think. I'll take my time and think it over later."
"You don't have to."
Aoko said it with an expression that looked almost relieved.
I see... So I really did misunderstand.
Shirou isn't my future lover after all.
Though I had already vaguely suspected as much.
The reason Shirou is so kind to me is because that is simply the kind of person he is.
If anyone else were in trouble, Shirou would step forward without hesitation too.
I was the one who took it the wrong way... Damn it, now I like him even more!
"Aoko."
Just as Shirou was about to say something, Aoko cut him off.
"I wasn't expecting an answer from you anyway.
So Shirou, you don't need to feel pressured."
That was Aoko's view of love.
As long as her own feelings were certain, she did not need the other person to return them.
"Don't worry. I won't ask Shirou to take our relationship any further, and I won't ask you to date me."
Thinking she had said something very cool and carefree, Aoko turned her back to Shirou.
"Ah~~ It's gotten a little cold. I'm going to soak a while longer!"
With that, the girl in the bikini jumped into the hot spring, sending up a huge splash.
"Once everything is over, I'll give you my answer."
Muttering that, the boy also returned to the hot spring. As he sank into the hot water, he lifted his head and looked up at the night sky.
The starry sky was so beautiful it seemed like a dream, leaving Shirou utterly spellbound.
...
The following afternoon, Shirou and Aoko took the bus back to Misaki.
The hot spring trip must have done a good job of helping them unwind, because the mood on the way back was light and cheerful.
Even the kiss from last night had not made things awkward between them.
"By the way, Shirou, what did you bring back for Alice? She's been watching the house by herself for so long. If the gift isn't to her liking, she might sulk."
Shirou showed her the Japanese sweets he had bought before leaving the inn.
They were traditional Japanese confections, but apparently they also went well with black tea.
"Come to think of it, Aoko, how did you know I was bringing Alice a souvenir?"
Shirou's casual question left Aoko frozen.
"Uh..."
I was listening in while you were talking to Alice. There was no way she could say that out loud.
"N-no, well... because you're just the kind of person who brings back local souvenirs when you travel, Shirou. Haha!"
Aoko brushed it off with a random excuse, and Shirou did not think too deeply about it. He accepted her explanation.
The two of them walked in silence for a while.
"Shirou, about last night..."
"Don't worry. I'll keep quiet and won't tell Alice."
Shirou gave his assurance with a serious expression.
Aoko frowned slightly. "?"
That was not what she had meant to say. Why did he need to hide it from Alice?
As Shirou saw it, Aoko was a girl with a strong sense of pride.
If her housemate found out about what happened last night, she would definitely feel horribly embarrassed.
"Mm... I mean, it's not like it matters if Alice finds out..." Aoko said, turning her face away.
Shirou shook his head and stated firmly, "No, no, no. Alice absolutely cannot know about this."
In his mind, he could already see Alice covering her mouth, her expression full of mockery.
"Aoko, I heard you attacked a twelve-year-old boy at a hot spring inn. Would you mind telling me the details of how you became a sex offender?"
Seeing Shirou's refusal written all over his face, Aoko pouted.
"Come to think of it, when you first met Alice, you called her 'Alice' right away."
Alice was not like Aoko, who had an older sister with the same Aozaki surname.
You two shouldn't be that close, right? Aoko thought. Why didn't he call her Kuonji?
Shirou tilted his head and thought for a moment.
Before the time jump, he had always spoken politely to Alice, but after arriving in 1989, he did not do it every time anymore.
Maybe it was because Alice had become younger.
Or maybe it was because of what Alice had done to Shirou the night before they left for the time travel.
"Does it really matter what I call her...? Aoko, are you angry?"
"I'm not angry."
The girl's dark brows drew together slightly as she answered with a cold expression.
The two arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Just as Aoko was about to head up the mountain path as usual, Shirou caught her by the wrist.
"What is it?"
"Wait. Something feels wrong."
Aoko obediently stopped where she was and waited, while Shirou looked toward the Western-style mansion at the top of the mountain. A sudden ominous feeling rose in his chest.
The Barrier was intact, but...
"Ah, Aoko! You're finally back!"
Just then, a gentle female voice called out.
Shirou turned and saw an unexpected person running toward them.
Aoko also let out a surprised voice. "Idiot Ritsuka?"
It was Ritsuka Suse, the beautiful older woman whose apartment Shirou had gone to clean before.
And she was not alone. A man and a woman were standing not far away.
Shirou recognized the woman. It was Sister Yuika.
He did not know the man, but Shirou guessed he must be the Father of the Aida Church.
Draped in a black coat and giving off an intimidating presence, he reminded Shirou of a sword that had been tempered through countless trials.
This Father... he might even be stronger than Risei Kotomine.
"I've been looking for you forever... Huh, Shirou-chan?"
Ritsuka Suse noticed Shirou beside Aoko and called his name.
"Good afternoon, Ritsuka-nee."
Shirou greeted her politely, making Aoko ask in curiosity, "You two know each other?"
"Yeah. Shirou... you said you'd found a place to stay... Don't tell me you've been living with Aoko and Alice this whole time?"
Shirou nodded.
This unexpected development clearly put Aoko in a bad mood.
She crossed her arms and asked impatiently, "What is going on here? Shirou, what's your relationship with idiot Ritsuka?"
Ritsuka answered first. "Our relationship? Let's see... Shirou comes to my place every week to help with chores, and while he's there, he cooks for me too~"
"Huh?"
Aoko's brows knitted together. "Why is Shirou going to your place to clean and cook for you?
If you live alone, then clean up your own apartment. This is exactly why you still can't get married..."
"Waaah... That's so mean, Aoko. When you were little, you clearly said you loved me most and wanted to become Ritsuka-nee-san's bride when you grew up..."
"I never said anything like that!"
Aoko loudly shot her down while sneaking a glance at Shirou.
After she was done teasing Aoko, Ritsuka Suse explained how she and Shirou had met.
"What, so that's all it was... If that's the case, you should've said so earlier. You made me worry for nothing."
Aoko let out a relieved sigh.
Ritsuka Suse leaned in with a smile and asked, "Worried about what? That I'd steal Shirou-chan away from you?"
"Idiot Ritsuka!"
Aoko's cheeks flushed red, and she chased after her, pretending she was going to hit her.
They really are close, Shirou thought. No wonder Touko had gone so far as to spend an entire week setting traps outside Ritsuka Suse's house back then.
Aoko was the kind of girl who would solve her own problems and never ask anyone else for help. But if she did ask Ritsuka-nee, then Ritsuka would definitely help her and get involved in the sisters' duel.
"Sorry... shouldn't we get to the point?"
Shirou spoke to the two of them as they were still messing around.
"Oh, right, right. Sorry." Ritsuka Suse's smile faded.
Shirou got straight to the point. "What happened?"
Judging by the situation, Ritsuka Suse had been waiting here for Aoko all day.
And, even Yuika Suse and the Father from the Aida Church had come. This was clearly not a small matter.
Please don't let anything have happened to Alice.
Shirou let out a white puff of breath and looked anxiously toward the mountaintop.