When a Servant says, "Master, come home with me," what is the proper reaction for a Master to have?
Rin Tohsaka had never experienced anything like this before. She'd never seen any records about it either, so she was completely stunned.
Her mind was still a mess, and she honestly felt like she had to be dreaming.
Surely it was because she didn't want to become enemies with Shichen-nii that she'd dreamed up something this absurd.
And as for "dreams can hurt," well—obviously that was real too!
Shichen, meanwhile, had no idea what kind of mental hurricane was happening in Rin's head. He simply took her straight back to the big villa.
It was already late. If he didn't go back soon, Illya and the others would start worrying.
And since Rin was his Master now, taking her with him was perfectly reasonable—no problems at all.
Becoming a Servant didn't feel that different, honestly. The only real change was that he sensed a new kind of restraint… like someone could issue him an order at any time.
That had to be because of Command Spells. After all, Command Spells could forcibly command a Servant.
But that was a minor issue. He could simply refuse.
He wasn't a "proper" Heroic Spirit anyway.
"We're here."
After a space-warp straight to the villa entrance, Shichen saw Rin still spacing out and gave her a reminder.
"Huh?" Rin's eyes finally focused, and only then did she realize she'd somehow left her home without even noticing.
"Where is this…?"
"My house," Shichen said like it was obvious. "Didn't I tell you to come home with me?"
"Shichen-nii's house…"
A Servant having a modern house was practically the biggest joke of the century… except Rin couldn't laugh.
She stared at the villa. Compared to her place, this was on a whole different level—huge grounds, a single-story building, but it had the swagger of a rich landowner's estate.
"Come on in. I'm going to introduce you to someone," Shichen said as he headed inside.
"Introduce me? To who?" Rin hurried after him.
"Someone you've wanted to meet. But don't be surprised," he said, turning back with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
Shichen didn't explain. He just kept walking.
Rin followed, curiosity growing by the second.
Someone she wanted to meet?
Hadn't she already met him?
When Shichen reached the main room, Rin heard lively voices inside—mostly women.
Before she could even take in what was happening, Shichen opened the door and—
A snow-white, petite figure sprinted out and launched herself straight into his arms.
"Dad! You're finally back!"
"Sorry," Shichen said warmly, holding Illya and rubbing the back of her head. "I kept you waiting."
"It's okay. As long as you're fine, Dad." Illya shook her head, smiling sweetly.
It was a heartwarming scene—father and daughter, gentle and affectionate.
Rin, however, froze.
Dad?!
Shichen-nii has a daughter?!
"Hmm? Who's this woman?" Illya finally noticed Rin.
"Don't tell me she's Dad's new girlfriend."
"…What do you mean new girlfriend? Where did you even learn that phrase?" Shichen shot back.
"Isn't she?" Illya puffed out her cheeks and challenged him.
"Of course not!" Shichen denied immediately.
"Really? Well… it's only a matter of time, right?" Illya huffed. "I know you best, Dad."
"…" Shichen had no comeback.
Then Illya narrowed her eyes at Rin.
"Wait—this woman… she looks kind of like Sakura."
"Sakura? You mean Sakura?" Rin snapped to attention and stepped toward Illya.
"Do you mean Tohsaka Sakura? Or Matou Sakura?"
"Neither. It's Shi Sakura."
"Shi… Sakura?" Rin's breath caught. She looked at Shichen.
That surname—same as his. And he'd said there was someone she wanted to meet.
Besides Shichen, there really was only one person she'd desperately wanted to see… but that person had vanished completely for ten years. No trace at all.
"Come in," Shichen said, still holding Illya as he walked inside.
Rin rushed after him.
"Onii-chan."
At the entryway stood a girl who looked incredibly polite, waiting as if she'd been expecting them.
And the moment Rin saw her, she went completely blank.
That face—unchanged from ten years ago—haunting her dreams all this time.
It was her little sister.
"Sakura… is that you?" Rin approached shakily, unable to believe her eyes.
"S-Sis?! Why are you here?" Toki Sakura was just as stunned.
"IT'S REALLY YOU!"
Rin couldn't hold it in anymore. She threw her arms around Sakura.
She'd finally found her sister. She still had family. Sakura was safe—exactly the same as before…
…Wait.
Something was wrong.
Rin pulled back and studied her closely.
She looked identical to her sister—but like the sister from ten years ago.
Ten years had passed. How could Sakura not have changed at all?
"Are you really Sakura?" Rin blurted out.
"Um…" Sakura didn't know what she was supposed to say, so she looked to Shichen for help.
And that glance made Rin's thoughts spiral even harder.
This girl looked exactly like ten-years-ago Sakura, her name was Toki Sakura, and she had Shichen's surname…
Don't tell me she's Shichen's daughter?
And if she was Sakura's daughter…
No—wait—
"Sakura, what's your mom's name?" Rin demanded.
"Mom? Sis, you—"
Thunk!
Shichen chopped Rin on the head with a sharp flick.
"Idiot. Where is your brain going?"
"Ow! That hurts!" Rin clutched her head and glared at him. "Shichen-nii, why did you hit me?!"
"Why do you think?" Shichen snapped. "You were imagining she's my kid with your sister, weren't you?"
"How did you know?!"
"Because your face is an open book." Shichen sighed. "Use your head—how is that even possible? Sakura is how old now? If she had a kid that old, when would she have given birth?"
"Sakura looks like… seven or eight…" Rin's eyes widened in horror. "Don't tell me Sakura had a baby at ten?!"
"Have a baby your head!" Shichen chopped her again.
"Ow—Shichen-nii, be gentler!"
"You're the one whose brain is full of seawater."
"But—"
"Stop overthinking. Sakura is your sister."
"R-Really?" Rin looked at Sakura, trembling.
"Yes, Sis. It's me." Sakura finally nodded.
"It really is you… Thank goodness… thank goodness you're okay!"
Rin hugged her again, tears spilling out.
"Sis…" Sakura hugged her back and smiled softly.
She didn't hate Rin. In a mage family, what happened to them was almost inevitable—it wasn't Rin's fault.
And because of everything, she'd met Shichen. Misfortune and fortune tangled together—and she was grateful.
"Time to make dumplings," Shichen said, still holding Illya, smiling at the scene.
"Dad, what's 'making dumplings'?" Illya asked.
"It's the kind of food you eat when everyone's together," Shichen said. "But Leysritt and the others probably don't know how. I'll go teach them. You two can have some time alone."
"I'm going with Dad! I want to learn too!"
"Alright."
Shichen took Illya to teach Leysritt how to wrap dumplings, while Sakura and Rin stayed by the entryway and caught up.
Everything that had happened over the years needed to be said—slowly, properly.
Though Sakura hadn't actually experienced that many years herself.
Leysritt learned quickly. Shichen barely had to demonstrate before she got it.
So he went back to the living room.
At that point, Irisviel and Artoria had also come out.
"That Sakura… what's her situation?" Irisviel asked, clearly having noticed.
"Her sister," Shichen answered simply.
"I see…" Irisviel nodded.
From the living room, they could still hear Rin's confession—her worries, her guilt, her loneliness… everything she'd been carrying alone.
She must have been mentally strong. Most people would've cracked under that weight.
After she'd finally poured it all out, Rin seemed calmer.
Sakura led her into the living room.
"Onii-chan."
"Mm."
Shichen ruffled Sakura's hair, then turned to Rin with a teasing smile.
"You cried your eyes out. If people at school saw you like that, they'd never believe it."
"Shichen-nii, you bully me," Rin complained, suddenly very soft and very girly.
"…That's bullying now?"
"Yes!" Rin pouted. "You never told me anything! I didn't have any time to mentally prepare!"
"What's there to prepare for?"
"I don't care! Shichen-nii, aren't you my Servant? You don't think about your Master at all!"
"Servant?" Artoria's eyes snapped to the keyword. "Shichen, what's going on?"
"It's exactly what she said," Shichen replied. "I'm her Servant now. She's my Master."
"That's impossible. Shichen, you're not a Heroic Spirit—"
"Becoming a 'Heroic Spirit' is easy," Shichen cut in casually.
"…" Artoria had nothing left to say.
~~~
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