Waver looked down at the dozens of cigar butts in the ashtray beside him, then turned to look at the night sky outside the window and sighed.
"Why haven't Rin and Zelretch come out yet?"
Late at night, Rin lay on the soft, large bed, her whole body aching, while Da Vinci's complaints kept ringing in her ears.
"Rin, I'm so miserable! The equipment explosion blew away a third of the workshop. I hadn't even finished cleaning up when Touko caught me and nagged me all afternoon. I just finished tidying everything. Rin, you have to compensate me!"
"Fine, fine. Tomorrow I'll mail you Britain's most famous dish as compensation!"
Back in Japan, the soot-covered Da Vinci heard that Rin would bring her a gift and happily used the contract to share her joy with Rin. But what Da Vinci didn't know was that British cuisine was world-famous in modern times as "dark cuisine," and the gift the little devil Rin prepared for her was the notorious "Stargazy Pie."
After finishing her conversation with Da Vinci, Rin looked at the night outside and couldn't fall asleep. Recalling Zelretch's guidance during the day and thinking about the pile of new research topics and the upcoming Holy Grail War, she irritably picked up a magecraft tome from the nightstand.
"Sister, is Master asleep?" x2
Rin, who had just picked up the book, heard the voices from outside and put the book down, speaking toward the door.
"Sakura, Fujino, I'm still awake. Is something the matter? Come on in."
"Okay, Sister," "Okay, Master," they both replied.
Rin watched as Sakura, in her pure white pajamas, and Fujino, in her purple pajamas, walked into the room side-by-side. She tossed back the covers, went to the tea table, and added tea leaves and water to the teapot. A small Magic Circle appeared in her hand, and moments later, steam and the fragrance of tea wafted from the pot.
Rin turned to Sakura and Fujino.
"Don't just stand there. Come and sit, Sakura, Fujino."
Rin poured a cup of tea for both Sakura and Fujino before slowly sitting down herself. Seeing the hesitant looks on their faces, she asked:
"Sakura, Fujino, is something the matter? Just say it; we're family."
Hearing Rin's words, Fujino spoke first.
"I'm sorry, Master. It's all my fault that you were so badly injured during the day."
"I'm sorry, Sister!"
Rin looked at Sakura and Fujino, who were hanging their heads in dejection. With a smile, she walked over and placed a hand on each of their shoulders to comfort them.
"It's alright. Sakura, Fujino, this isn't your fault. If anything, I should blame myself for being too weak and making my sister and disciple worry about me."
"Sister! How can you blame yourself?"
"Master! Exactly, how can you blame yourself?"
"Alright, Sakura, Fujino. From now on, let's none of us blame ourselves. Besides, we won, so let's be happy, okay?"
"Yes!" they both replied.
Watching Sakura and Fujino regain their smiles, Rin returned to her seat and began chatting with them.
As the clock on the wall hit midnight, Rin stood up and said to Sakura and Fujino:
"Alright, it's twelve o'clock. Tonight's tea party ends here. You should go back to sleep."
Fujino nodded and stood up to leave as instructed, but Sakura spoke up with a hint of hesitation.
"Sister, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Rin was taken aback. She looked at Sakura and, after a moment's hesitation, nodded.
"Alright, but only for today, Sakura."
Beside them, Fujino gave Sakura a jealous look and then turned an eager gaze toward Rin.
"Uh! You too, Fujino? Fine, you stay as well. But let's get this straight: no moving around in bed. You two must follow the rules..."
Late at night, an excited Sakura and Fujino lay on either side of the fast-asleep Rin. They gazed at Rin's delicate, cute profile and smelled the fragrance radiating from her body. The two girls spoke to themselves:
"Sister, Sakura loves you the most!"
"Master, you are my goddess!"
Atop the distant Big Ben, a blonde, blue-eyed girl in a sky-blue dress had a strange light in her eyes. Looking toward the El-Melloi Faction's estate, she laughed with a crazed expression.
"Haha, haha, haha! Tohsaka Rin, Rin-chan, I look forward to meeting you! My 'Prince Charming'!"
The next morning, Rin was in the guest hall, pondering Zelretch's guidance.
Waver walked in with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
Rin glanced at Waver in surprise and asked curiously:
"Waver, why do you look like a panda?"
Waver's face contorted slightly as he ranted inwardly, 'Who do you think's fault it is? You all went out and no one notified me, leaving me standing there alone all night.'
"It's nothing, I just didn't rest well last night. By the way, Rin, do you still not plan to see Marisbury Animusphere?"
"Hmph, dealing with those guys... wouldn't a proactive visit just be handing over the initiative? I'm in London now, so there's no rush. I'd rather he come looking for me."
"Then, Rin, do you have time today to give a lecture to the students in my Modern Magecraft Classroom?"
Rin turned to Waver thoughtfully.
"Kayneth sent you, didn't he? Don't deny it. Let me guess: I just fought Lorelei to a draw yesterday and was officially taken in as a disciple by Zelretch, and then I immediately show up to teach in your Department of Modern Magecraft. Hmm, is this an attempt to strengthen the perception among Clock Tower Magi of my relationship with you all? Also, you mentioned Marisbury Animusphere just now—is Kayneth afraid I'll be recruited?"
Waver said nothing. He silently pulled out a cigar and a cigar cutter, looking at Rin without a word.
Rin waved her hand, indicating he shouldn't mind her. Seeing Waver light the cigar and start puffing away, she continued:
"Don't worry, Waver. Unless Marisbury Animusphere hands the entire Astronomy Department over to me, I, Tohsaka Rin, will always remain under the El-Melloi Faction."
At that moment, Reines, who had been eavesdropping outside, pushed the door open and entered.
"Is that so? Then thank you very much, Miss Tohsaka Rin. My brother will be very happy to hear that."
"Oh! Reines, good morning. No need to call me Tohsaka Rin; just call me Rin like Waver does. Are you coming along today?"
"Good morning, Rin. I still need to practice hard to inherit the family crest, so I'm afraid I can't go with you."
"What a pity. Then, Reines, I'll have to ask you to look after my sister and disciple."
"Of course! Rin, making guests feel at home is my duty as the El-Melloi heir."
Hearing Reines emphasize the word 'heir,' Rin walked to the door with a smile and turned back to her.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Reines. There's no way your brother would hand the El-Melloi Faction over to an outsider like me. Let's not have such uncomfortable conversations in the future. I'll leave Sakura and Fujino to you. Let's go, Waver."
After Rin and Waver left, Reines, standing in place, muttered softly:
"That's hard to say. If you were to marry one of my relatives, my brother might actually hand El-Melloi over to you..."
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