During breakfast, the table was unusually quiet.
Rin ate the delicious meat buns while glancing at Artoria sitting beside Shichen… then glancing again at Lily, who kept sneaking looks at Artoria.
They looked identical—like mirrors. Was there really any need to "sneak" a look?
Even as she thought that, Rin could tell something was off.
And it had started after Lily met Shichen's partner.
Was it because of that small, cute girl?
Rin's eyes drifted to Frieren, who looked half-asleep, squinting as she nibbled at her food.
She's ridiculously cute, Rin thought sincerely.
And those long, pointed ears… an elf. Rin hadn't expected elves to exist at all.
So Shichen's partner was an elf…
At that point, Rin couldn't even blame him. No man could refuse an elf—especially one that adorable.
She might look petite, but Rin knew her actual age was far older than hers—dozens of times over, even.
Still… she was small.
Does Shichen like petite girls?
He clearly doted on Illya and Sakura too…
But Rin was tall, with long legs—does that mean I'm doomed—WAIT, why am I even thinking that?!
Rin shook her head hard, trying to purge the nonsense, then asked Lily, "Lily… what's wrong with you?"
"I, um…" Lily looked at Rin, then couldn't help flicking her eyes toward Artoria again.
She didn't know how to explain it. Her chest felt weirdly tight.
This morning she'd opened a door and seen someone with her exact face—naked—lying beside Master. That image was burned into her mind.
She knew Artoria wasn't her… and yet, for some reason, her brain kept treating it like it was her.
Because they really were the same person—just from different points in time.
It felt—absurdly—like she had been the one lying there beside Master.
That strange sensation was impossible to put into words.
Lily wasn't clueless. She understood what that scene implied.
And the lingering, unmistakable scent in that room only confirmed it.
So… future "her" was also Master's partner.
For the last ten years, the future version of her had stayed by Master's side because of that.
If you had a body and lived in the modern world, dating was normal… but she still couldn't imagine herself dating.
And she definitely couldn't imagine seeing that kind of scene.
Just recalling it made Lily's heart race. Her face felt like it was on fire.
It wasn't "her," but it was also "her."
And if time kept moving forward… one day she, too, would end up with Master—sleeping in the same bed.
Even as a Servant, she couldn't stop the thought from forming.
Which meant… was Master her future partner?
The moment that idea landed, Lily couldn't even look at Shichen anymore. Her whole body felt weird.
"What's wrong?" Rin pressed.
"N-nothing…" Lily shook her head. Since Artoria still wouldn't look at her, Lily decided not to explain.
Artoria, for her part, truly couldn't bring herself to meet Lily's eyes. She was mortified.
Last night she'd been on guard. She'd planned to just… let it slide, pretend nothing happened, delay the inevitable.
And yet after only one night, it all got exposed.
She knew she shouldn't have stayed with Shichen—but it had been "her turn," and she'd given in.
With her current mindset, she shouldn't be shy about it… but she'd already tried to put her "old self" behind her.
Now she was just a normal girl.
And she didn't want her past self watching her love life unfold.
Most people would brag to their younger self, telling them how good life turned out.
But Artoria's situation was impossible—because her past self was literally standing right there.
So she could only bury her head like an ostrich.
Shichen didn't jump in. Honestly, he found their reactions kind of entertaining.
Meeting your past self while also being the same person… awkward or blissful, either way it was hard to process.
Only Heroic Spirits could end up in something this bizarre.
He hadn't expected it, but now that it was in front of him, his playful side came out.
Artoria was usually so serious. Letting her experience the full range of "normal girl emotions" wasn't a bad thing.
After breakfast, Shichen went to school with Rin. As for the situation at home—he decided to let them sort it out themselves.
Lily, after walking in on something that intense, didn't have the mental bandwidth to follow Shichen around today.
"Shichen—what's going on?" Rin asked again on the way, her curiosity refusing to die.
"Hmm… should I tell you?" Shichen teased.
"…I'm your Master!" Rin huffed.
"Oh, right. Then I guess I have to."
Shichen actually didn't mind indulging her.
"Basically, Lily saw Artoria and me in the same bed."
"Oh, so that's why she—wait." Rin froze mid-step. "You said… you and Artoria were in the same bed?"
"What, is there a problem?" Shichen shot back.
"Artoria… is your partner?"
"I didn't tell you?"
"You absolutely did not!"
"Then it's not too late to say it now." Shichen shrugged like it was nothing.
"Y-you…" Rin stammered. "How did you even… pull that off? She's King Arthur!"
"Even if she's King Arthur, she's still a girl." Shichen said smugly. "And I am pretty amazing."
"…You're really confident," Rin said, half impressed, half exasperated.
"I'm just being honest. Don't let my 'nice guy' act fool you—I'm strong, and I'm charming."
"I know you're strong. You literally hijacked a Servant summoning. But right now you feel… kind of unserious."
"Hey, I'm doing this for you," Shichen said with sudden faux sincerity.
"For me?"
"Yeah. I'm trying to help you drop the mental burden." Shichen spoke like an old mentor. "Look—are you still stressing about the Grail War?"
"I mean… maybe a little. Are you sure that's why?"
"Want me to act more serious?"
"…No. That would feel even weirder."
"Exactly. Just treat me like a friend your age. I'm only like this around my own people."
"My own people…" Rin echoed, flustered for reasons she didn't want to admit.
As they talked, they reached the school quickly. And, as expected, the sight of them arriving together drew everyone's attention.
"Isn't that… Tohsaka and the new PE teacher?"
"It's them… they came together?"
"They're laughing and talking!"
"That was fast…"
"Was Tohsaka the one who made the first move?"
"Probably. She's been pretty direct with him at school."
"So she's serious… guess we don't have a chance."
"The new teacher is so handsome… but no one can compete with Tohsaka…"
"Looks like people are misunderstanding us," Shichen murmured to Rin after hearing the whispers.
"Let them," Rin replied flatly—though internally she was panicking.
"Honestly, that's so like you," Shichen said, sounding delighted. "You're calm as ever. I'm happy about it."
"Happy?" Rin blinked.
"Because they think you and I are a couple."
"Shichen—!" Rin's heart kicked hard.
"Heh. You're gorgeous, Rin. Any normal guy would like you."
"Stop teasing me!" Rin snapped, flustered.
"I'm not teasing. I'm just stating facts."
"I… I don't believe you." Rin muttered. "Aren't you into petite girls?"
"Huh?" Shichen's expression went sharp. "Where'd you hear that?"
"I didn't. But Frieren and Artoria are both petite, aren't they?" Rin shot back.
"That's just coincidence. For the record, I'm not into 'little girls.'"
"W-what? I didn't even say you were—wait, are you admitting—?" Rin narrowed her eyes.
"I'm admitting nothing," Shichen said firmly.
"Ohhh, I see." Rin nodded like she'd solved a mystery. "So you are into petite girls."
"…."
"So you were lying when you said you liked me…" Rin grumbled.
"I wasn't lying—and I'm really not into 'little girls.' Besides, Irisviel isn't petite."
"So you like petite girls most, but you also like other pretty girls too."
"bro, what kind of conclusion is that—"
"I'm a girl, not 'bro.'"
"Rin… I think we have a serious misunderstanding here."
"I think we're just getting to know you better." Rin said, utterly unmoved.
"…Fine." Shichen sighed. "Even if I were into petite girls, you'd still fit my tastes."
"Huh? You mean—?" Rin's eyes lit up.
"Because your chest isn't exactly 'petite'—"
"...…"
~~~
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