"Oh no! Oh no! I'm going to be late!"
Early in the morning, Tohsaka Rin was already making a racket.
However, waking up to realize she was about to be late was indeed enough to make a girl who was obsessed with maintaining her status as an honor student feel anxious.
But right now, she was completely pinned down by the soundly sleeping Jean and couldn't break free at all.
"Is it morning? Good morning, Rin. It's truly a beautiful day today."
He used a slightly deeper vocal tone and a warm, peaceful smile, brimming with boyfriend energy.
"Forget the 'good morning,' just let me go! I'm going to be late!"
Hearing this, Jean released his legs, which were in their habitual position, and allowed her head to be freed from his chest.
Watching Tohsaka Rin scrambling around while lying on the bed, he couldn't help but exclaim: "I really admire you. To think you'd still be thinking about going to school in a situation like this."
"As the manager of Fuyuki and the head of the Tohsaka Family, I must be outstanding in every aspect, and school is an important part of social evaluation. However, the main reason for going to school today is to ask for leave. During the Holy Grail War, if I'm at school during the day, it might implicate my classmates."
Jean lazily climbed out of bed, and while Tohsaka Rin was busy changing into her long socks, he patted her head.
"Not bad, not bad. As a Magician, yet still retaining the 'human' part of yourself, possessing both a sense of duty and compassion—it's worth encouraging."
"Alright, stop touching it, you're messing up my hair again." Having been praised by Jean while he patted her head, Tohsaka Rin said softly with a blushing face.
Perhaps for her, everything she did was for the sake of that praise she could never hear again. Compared to the Root or the Holy Grail, she cared more about being a competent head of the Tohsaka Family.
Then, Jean revealed a teasing smile and said: "But Rin, if I were you, I wouldn't be in such a rush. After all, this clock isn't accurate."
"Huh? Ah! I forgot to set the clock back last night! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
---
After they had plenty of time again, the two first ate a simple breakfast, then packed their things and went out together.
Jean changed into a set of casual winter clothes to avoid being too conspicuous, but even the plainest clothes had a different kind of beauty when worn by him.
This was not just due to his good looks, but also the change in temperament brought about by his strength and confidence.
"By the way, can't you turn into a spirit form?"
"Well, my summoning has a few minor issues, so I can't turn into a spirit form." Jean intentionally chose a way to explain it that would be misunderstood.
"Uh..."
As expected, Tohsaka Rin, mistakenly thinking it was her fault, fell silent. Immediately after, she suddenly realized that Jean was gone.
The sudden situation made her nervous, but the next instant, Jean appeared back in his original spot.
"Just a little trick to lower my presence. How was it? Not bad, right?"
This was the opposite, or perhaps the true usage, of the technique he had used in front of the Patriot: lowering his own presence so that ordinary people couldn't perceive him.
"So you really do have something like an Assassin after all."
---
Since Jean could walk into the school openly, Tohsaka Rin began her journey to school without any worries.
The school wasn't very far away; in fact, Fuyuki City itself wasn't very big, and soon the school gate appeared before Jean.
Looking at the youthful boys and girls before him, he couldn't help but exclaim: "Japanese high school students are truly lucky."
You have to know that in Jean's previous high school, he had to wake up at 5:00 AM every day and have morning self-study at 6:00 AM. It was nowhere near this leisurely.
Stepping through the main gate normally, entering the school normally, and arriving at the classroom normally. He didn't feel the aura of any Barrier at all.
It looks like, at the very least, Rider isn't at school today.
Missing the chance to meet one of the top beauties in the Nasuverse made Jean quite regretful. He had originally intended to rely on the fact that he wouldn't be petrified to go see Rider's true face.
But now, even whether Rider exists is in doubt. In fact, having experienced two worlds, Jean had somewhat gotten used to days where the original plot was almost useless.
Throughout the rest of the day, Jean stayed by Tohsaka Rin's side. Whether it was the completely magic-less Kuzuki Souichirou or the non-existent Emiya Shirou, Jean couldn't grasp the current situation.
At the same time, a faint, lingering trace of magic power drifting around the campus was also incredibly concerning.
So, after school, the two waited at the school for a long time until the sky turned dark and the entire campus was completely empty because club activities had been canceled due to frequent accidents. They then began to scout around.
But after a search, whether it was the teaching building or various facilities, they couldn't find the source of the magic power, so they had to gradually expand their range until they reached the playground, when suddenly:
"Sister, help, help me!"
"Sakura!!!"
Following Matou Sakura's cry for help, he saw a man wearing a blue bodysuit, holding a red spear, chasing her at a leisurely pace.
Relying on instinct, Tohsaka Rin pulled Sakura into her arms and turned sideways, using her shoulder to block the space between her and the blue Lancer.
"Oh my, oh my, I didn't expect a spoiler in this game of cat and mouse. Looking closely, isn't this another Servant? Miss, could you trouble yourself to hand this little girl over to me? My master seems to need her."
"That's impossible!" Tohsaka Rin replied categorically.
"Indeed, in broad daylight... er, under the bright moon, to actually engage in such deeds—can you even call yourself a knight with behavior like that! Even I, an Assassin, feel embarrassed for you!"
Jean activated Taunt; it was super effective.
"Since you put it that way, it means you're prepared, right? Then... die!"
The crimson spear arrived in an instant, thrusting toward Jean's location, but with a 'clang,' white wind was unsheathed, directly parrying the spear.
Then, taking advantage of the momentum, he delivered a side kick, sending the blue Lancer flying.
After both revealed a wild, crazy smile, their figures vanished at the same time, and then the collision of pure white and red-blue began.
The rapidly accelerating battle turned into a clash of afterimages; only the sound of countless weapons colliding represented the battle between the two.
'I can see it, I can hear it, I can react to it!'
This exhilarating feeling of fighting to the death was fully embodied at this moment.
A few minutes later, the two retreated and stood facing each other again.
"Miss, you look so quiet, but when you fight, you're as wild as a beast."
"Not at all, not at all. When it comes to being wild, I can't compare to you, the 'Hound of Culann,' can I?"
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