"I almost jumped—my gems nearly hit the floor." Shichen put the gemstones away and, in the same motion, wrapped his arms around Tohsaka Rin.
She'd already thrown herself at him—no way he was letting a free hug go to waste.
"—The gems!" Rin panicked and looked down at the ground.
"Relax. I already put them away. Nothing's going to happen." Shichen smiled and soothed her. He'd known Rin would love them.
"Thank goodness…" Rin, still holding onto him, finally let out a breath.
"So? Do you like this compensation?" Shichen lowered his head, smiling at her.
"I do… You do know what I like, huh, Shichen?" Rin's lips curled up.
"Of course I know you."
"Oh yeah? If you 'know me,' why were you mocking me?"
"I told you that wasn't mocking—personally, I actually like sm—mmph!"
Before he could finish, Rin slapped a hand over his mouth, her face blazing red.
"Even if you like it, you're not allowed to say it! To me, it's still an insult."
"Okay, okay. I promise I won't say that again." Shichen shook his head, pried her hand away, and swore it.
"Really?" Rin stared straight into his eyes, suspicious.
"Really." Shichen's gaze was sincere.
"…Fine." Rin finally—reluctantly—believed him and looked away.
But the moment she looked away, she realized something was very, very wrong.
Wait. Why are we still hugging?!
"Shichen…" Her voice went stiff.
"Yeah?"
"Could you… let go of me?" she asked quietly.
"Hm?" Shichen chuckled. "Nope."
"Huh?" Rin looked up, completely stunned.
In a normal situation, shouldn't he agree? His refusal made her brain short-circuit.
"You were the one who jumped into my arms. Why would I let go?" Shichen shot back with a grin.
"B-but…" Rin's mind went blank. His arm around her was very obvious.
"If you've got the guts, break free yourself," Shichen said shamelessly.
"I…"
Rin was about to struggle, but Shichen's arms tightened—pulling them chest-to-chest.
She froze.
If she fought back now, wouldn't that just expose her weakness?
Shichen felt her stiffen and couldn't help laughing to himself.
A pure, inexperienced girl really was something else. That awkward, shy sincerity—absolutely addictive.
But honestly… she really was small.
Too bad Rin wasn't clinging to him like a sloth—then he could've experienced those long legs firsthand.
He'd have chances later.
"You're not moving? Then I'm just gonna keep hugging you," Shichen said.
"Shichen… you're being a creep…" Rin mumbled, head lowered, not daring to look at him.
Her face was completely crimson, even her ears glowing red—bright and sweet like ripe fruit.
"You're the one who seduced me," Shichen accused shamelessly.
"I was just… too excited…"
"Oh? So when you get excited, you just throw yourself into someone's arms?"
"No way!" Rin snapped her head up and denied it.
"I just… because it's you, Shichen…"
"Why does it being me make it okay?"
"Because you're my lifesaver…"
"Just that?"
"W-what else do you want it to be…?" Rin lowered her head again, offering him only the top of her hair.
"What do you think?" Shichen asked.
"I… I don't know…"
"Playing dumb?" Shichen hugged her even tighter, pressing them close.
"Mm…" Rin stiffened again.
"Look up," Shichen ordered.
"Huh?" Rin blinked, then—against her better judgment—lifted her head.
She met Shichen's gaze: hot, intense, almost burning.
"Shichen…" Her heart clenched.
He didn't answer. He just lowered his head, slowly closing in.
"Shichen…!" Rin panicked, not knowing what to do—then, as if possessed, she shut her eyes.
But the contact she expected never came.
Instead, she felt a touch on her forehead.
Rin opened her eyes in confusion—only to see Shichen wearing a teasing grin.
"You're seriously that easy."
"Ugh… I—" Rin was furious and mortified, but she had no way to argue back.
"Shichen, you jerk!"
"I'm not being a creep," Shichen protested.
"Y-you kissed my forehead…" Rin pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling weirdly conflicted.
She'd thought he was going to kiss her for real—turns out he was just messing with her, like she was a kid.
And now he's suddenly being all gentlemanly?!
"I'm your Servant. A forehead kiss is how we 'bond,' got it?" Shichen said with a straight face.
"Since when is that bonding?!"
"It's affection. A Servant admiring their Master—like a senpai appreciating a kouhai."
"Shichen, you're full of nonsense…" Rin pouted.
"I'm telling the truth."
"No, I don't believe you! Let go already! Class is about to start!" Rin shoved at his chest and started to wriggle free.
Shichen finally let go.
"Now I get why you have so many partners," Rin muttered as she turned her back to fix her clothes. "You must've sweet-talked all of them."
"Don't talk nonsense. We're mutually in love," Shichen corrected.
"With that many partners and you're still calling it 'mutual'?" Rin shot back.
"Then call it… 'multi-mutual.'"
"Pfft—your skin is way too thick!"
"If you don't have thick skin, how do you end up with the people you like?"
"Then I— …Forget it."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"Nothing! I'm going to class!" Rin bolted toward the door.
At the doorway, she stopped, turned around, and looked back—her face bright and pretty.
"Don't forget my gems."
"Relax. They're all yours."
"Good." Rin nodded. "I'll barely forgive you for being a creep."
"You're the one who jumped into my arms."
"Hmph."
With a little huff, Rin turned and left.
Shichen watched her disappear without chasing after her. He stayed on the rooftop, looking up at the clear blue sky.
White clouds, blue heavens—this world's sky really was beautiful.
And his mood was great.
After lingering for a bit, Shichen didn't go back downstairs. He just used spatial movement to return home.
He'd skipped lunch and was hungry.
Rin hadn't eaten either, but with her small frame, missing one meal wouldn't kill her.
Besides, her long, proud legs didn't need extra food—just maintenance.
"Dad~"
Right as Shichen started eating the food Sella and Leysritt had made, Illya came over to cause trouble, plopping down on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Illya, I'm still eating."
"It's fine—eat slowly. I can feed you too~"
"If you feed me, we won't be done until next week."
Even so, Shichen didn't stop her—he kept eating.
Sella and Leysritt's cooking was amazing. He loved it. At this point, the two of them could basically run his café.
"Onii-chan, you're back already?" Sakura came over too.
Shichen was gentler with Sakura. He smiled and said, "I didn't eat lunch, and I don't have classes this afternoon."
"I see." Sakura stepped behind him and started massaging his shoulders.
Her hands weren't very strong, but it still felt good.
"You two came to see me for something, didn't you?" Shichen glanced at them while he ate.
"Dad, how could you assume that?" Illya protested indignantly.
"Just answer me—yes or no. Like I don't know you."
"…Okay, yes," Illya admitted immediately.
"So what is it?"
"Dad…" Illya looked at Sakura, and they exchanged a glance—both of them serious now.
"Sakura and I… want to summon Servants too."
"Hm?" Shichen paused mid-chew and looked at her.
"Why do you want to summon a Servant?"
"Doesn't the Holy Grail War only really begin after everyone summons?" Illya said.
"That's true, but there's no rush."
"But Sakura and I want to see which heroes we're compatible with."
"Is that it?" Shichen looked at Sakura.
"Yeah…" Sakura nodded, then withdrew one hand and pressed it to her chest.
"And… I don't know why, but I feel like I have to summon someone."
"What do you mean?" Shichen's brow furrowed.
"I don't know… It's like… someone needs me to summon them."
"Someone needs you to summon them…" Shichen murmured.
Sakura was originally supposed to summon Medusa, but there was no reason Medusa would "need" Sakura specifically.
Unless… the one who's been waiting isn't for him—it's for the Servant Sakura summons?
[Is that it?] Shichen asked "her" silently.
As expected, there was no reply.
But that lack of response only made him more certain.
"Alright." Shichen nodded. "Let me finish eating, and then I'll summon with you."
"Really? Yay! Dad, you're the best! Mwah~" Illya kissed his cheek excitedly.
Sakura leaned in from the other side and gave him a quick kiss too.
~~~
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