Tohsaka Rin's room.
At this moment, Rin was fast asleep in bed, her messy long hair scattered across the pillow. A corner of the quilt had been kicked up, exposing Rin's fair belly to the air. Feeling a chill in her sleep, Rin subconsciously covered her belly with her small hands.
Rin's door was quietly opened, and Sakura cautiously peeked her head into the room. Seeing Rin fast asleep, she then pushed the door open and walked in, carefully locking it behind her. She came to the side of the sleeping Rin's bed and stared at her without moving, her face resting in her hands.
"Even while sleeping, Sister is so cute..."
Just then, the sound of someone turning the doorknob came from the door. The person outside seemed to realize the door was locked and clicked their tongue in frustration.
Hearing the sound, Sakura couldn't help but frown, seemingly knowing who it was. Sure enough, after a short while, the lock on the door was twisted; the newcomer was Asagami Fujino.
After twisting the lock open with her Mystic Eyes, Fujino gently pushed the door open and entered Rin's room. Her eyes lit up when she saw Rin sleeping, but they immediately darkened when she noticed Sakura was also there.
Five years have passed since the Kara no Kyoukai incident, and it is now July 2003. During these five years as Rin's disciple, Fujino has become deeply infatuated with Rin, often clashing with Sakura over her. Sakura similarly dislikes this disciple Rin took in five years ago; seeing Fujino constantly pestering Rin, Sakura even feels that Fujino intends to steal her sister away.
Watching Fujino forcibly break the lock and disturb her 'time' with her sister, Sakura first took a step across to block Fujino's view of Rin, then spoke to Fujino in an angry, low whisper.
"Fujino, what are you doing in my sister's room so early in the morning? You even broke the door lock."
Fujino looked at the annoyed Sakura with a mocking smile. A Magic Circle lit up in her hand as she gripped the doorknob; as the magecraft took effect, the lock was repaired. Then Fujino walked past Sakura, pushing her aside, and stared excitedly at Rin.
"Did I break the lock?"
"Asagami Fujino! Close your eyes! I won't let you look at my sister!"
Seeing Fujino still staring at Rin, Sakura became a bit frantic. She grabbed Fujino's clothes and pulled back hard, trying to drive her out of Rin's room. Fujino, caught off guard by the sudden pull, lost her balance. At the moment she was falling toward the floor, Fujino reached out and grabbed Sakura's hand, pulling hard as well. This caused Sakura to lose her balance too, and so Sakura and Fujino fell to the ground together, rolling into a heap.
Rin was startled awake by the sound of Sakura and Fujino falling. She sat up and looked toward the source of the noise.
At this moment, Sakura and Fujino, who were on the floor pinching each other's faces, awkwardly let go of each other. They shared an embarrassed look and a smile, then turned their heads toward Rin on the bed.
"Good morning, Sister! Master!"
Rin, who had returned home late last night after a hurried trip to find catalysts, watched her sister and disciple tangled on the floor with a twitching eye. She turned her head stiffly, then lay back down on the bed, pulling the covers over her head and muttering to herself.
"I must still be dreaming. Yes, I'm not awake yet. Fujino and Sakura couldn't possibly be like this..."
Sakura and Fujino let go of each other and climbed up from the floor, looking awkwardly at Rin, who was playing turtle under the blankets.
Sakura, who had relied on Rin since childhood, was seen by everyone as a bit timid, always the 'good girl next door'—gentle, kind, cute, and reliable in a pinch. These were all Sakura's labels, but Fujino knew they were all a facade; when it came to Rin, Sakura was incredibly assertive.
Since becoming Rin's disciple, Fujino had always presented herself as a lady—polite, gentle, and strong. But Sakura knew exactly how manipulative and obsessive Fujino was regarding Rin. During their years together, Sakura had caught Fujino hiding Rin's personal belongings multiple times. Not only that, Fujino was hostile toward anyone close to Rin and tried everything to ruin their image in Rin's eyes.
Rin's absence for several months searching for catalysts had driven the long-deprived Sakura and Fujino to take risks, accidentally revealing their other sides in front of Rin.
Sakura and Fujino looked at Rin, who was still hiding under the covers, huffed at each other, and left Rin's room together, hoping Rin really would treat what just happened as a dream.
At 10:30 AM, Rin got up with bleary eyes. She pulled open the curtains, felt the warm sunlight outside, and stretched lazily.
Rin took her time washing up and combing her hair. By the time she was finished, it was already 11:40. Following the scent of food, Rin walked to the kitchen door and saw Sakura and Fujino happily preparing lunch under Tohsaka Aoi's guidance. She nodded.
"I knew it. How could Sakura and Fujino be fighting in my room? It really was a dream!"
In the kitchen, Sakura and Fujino, who were helping Tohsaka Aoi prepare lunch, also noticed Rin's arrival. They were nervous, anxiously waiting for Rin's 'judgment,' but when they heard her dismiss the morning's events as a dream, they finally relaxed.
Aoi, who was stir-frying, finally noticed Rin. She also missed her daughter dearly after not seeing her for months. She gave Fujino an apologetic look and then handed the spatula to her.
"Please, Fujino, help me out for a moment."
Fujino took the spatula obediently and smiled at Tohsaka Aoi.
"Auntie, go spend some time with Master. She must have missed you after several months. Leave things here to Sakura and me, right Sakura?"
Sakura, who originally wanted to go see Rin with her mother, could only nod reluctantly at Fujino's words, going along with her excuse.
Taking off her apron, Tohsaka Aoi went to the kitchen door, took Rin's hand, and led her toward the hall while asking about her recent activities.
Rin looked at Tohsaka Aoi, who was chattering in her ear, and a happy smile appeared on her face. Seeing the few wrinkles that had grown on Aoi, she realized she had been with this family for nearly 17 years. The young and gentle mother from her childhood was now starting to age.
Rin made a silent resolution in her heart: 'Once the Holy Grail War is handled, I must take over as the head of the family and move everyone to England. That way, we'll never be separated from our family again. I'll just leave the Fuyuki City leylines to Touko.'
In the hall, Touko and Tohsaka Tokiomi were discussing recent news from the magecraft world. Seeing Tohsaka Aoi leading Rin into the hall, Touko and Tohsaka Tokiomi stopped their conversation and turned to look at Rin together.
"Rin, when did you get back?"
"Father, I rushed back to Fuyuki City yesterday after receiving the message Touko sent me. I arrived home around 3:00 AM."
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