"Shichen-nii— you're back already? This time you came back so fast~"
The moment Shichen stepped into the café, Chisato Nishikigi launched herself at him like a missile. She wasn't shy at all—arms looped around his neck, legs clamped firmly around his waist.
Shichen slipped one hand around her lower back so she wouldn't fall. "Nothing big this time. Of course I'm back quick."
"Oh? So you didn't bring home any new girls this time? Hm… doesn't look like it~"
Chisato's eyes flicked to the people filing in behind them. Four unfamiliar faces—two of them looked a lot like Irisviel, which had to be the "two maids" he'd mentioned: Sella and Leysritt.
That left the other two…
Chisato studied Jeanne and Rin Tohsaka, her bright eyes blinking with playful curiosity. Both were obviously beautiful, and even though they were still standing at the door taking in the room, Chisato could already feel how distinct they were.
One had twin-tails, long legs, and a "born noble" aura that practically radiated off her.
The other was a blond beauty with an almost sacred presence—and her gaze was unbelievably gentle.
…Wait.
Something felt off.
Jeanne was looking at her like she really knew her.
"Um…?"
"Chisato. Long time no see." Jeanne smiled softly.
"Huh?" Chisato froze, then looked down at Shichen. "Shichen? Did you tell her about us?"
"No," Shichen said, still pressed comfortably against Chisato. He shook his head. "I haven't even had the chance."
"Mmm~ Then who is she…?" Chisato didn't even care that Shichen was enjoying the moment—she just stared at Jeanne, puzzled.
"I'm Jeanne," Jeanne said warmly. "You can call me… Onee-sama."
"Onee-sama?"
"There are things I can't explain yet," Jeanne said in that maddeningly cryptic way, "but we've known each other for a long time."
"…Okay. I get it." Chisato grinned and answered without hesitation. "Onee-sama."
She was certain this was her first time meeting Jeanne—but for some reason, her heart accepted the word sister like it had always belonged there.
"Mm. And where's Takina?" Jeanne asked.
If she knew Chisato, then she probably knew Takina Inoue too. Those two were inseparable.
"Takina hasn't come downstairs yet—"
"I'm here."
A clear, calm voice cut in. Takina, in her blue uniform, walked over.
"Takina, long time no see," Jeanne said, waving.
"You are…?" Takina frowned slightly, studying Jeanne.
"Takina, her name is Jeanne—she's our Onee-sama~" Chisato supplied cheerfully.
"Onee-sama…?" Takina blinked, then looked to Shichen with a silent question.
"…Probably, yeah," Shichen answered, sounding oddly uncertain.
He didn't want to declare it too confidently. Until Est and Betty confirmed it, he didn't want to rule out the possibility that Jeanne was just boldly claiming the title.
"'Probably'?" Jeanne huffed and smacked his shoulder—lightly, like she didn't have much force behind it. "You seriously think I'm making it up? I'm telling the truth."
"You've got no proof," Shichen shot back.
"You want proof? Then call Est and Betty over."
It was morning—no customers. Everyone was around.
"Shichen, want me to go get them?" Chisato offered.
"No need." Shichen glanced toward the stairs. "They're already coming."
"Huh?"
Thump-thump-thump—quick footsteps. Two small figures sprinted in.
"Onee-sama!"
"Onee-sama."
One blonde, one silver-haired—both ran straight to Jeanne and hugged her legs from either side.
"Betty. Est. Long time no see." Jeanne crouched and pulled them into her arms, her smile turning genuinely warm.
"Onee-sama, you finally came back. I've been waiting forever," Betty complained in a sweet, pouty voice.
"I'm sorry," Jeanne said immediately, soothing her. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting."
"Hmph. It's fine." Betty lifted her chin proudly. "I can wait."
"That's impressive," Jeanne praised, stroking her blond hair.
"Hehe."
Jeanne really got Betty—she knew exactly how much Betty loved being praised.
Then Jeanne turned to Est. "Est, did you miss me?"
"I did." Est nodded.
"And has Shichen been treating you well?" Jeanne asked.
Takina and Chisato both stiffened at Est's answer.
"If he doesn't tease me, I'm unhappy." Est's face stayed serious, but the tone was unmistakably sulky.
"…Right." Jeanne glanced at Shichen with a look that said you know what that means, and Shichen could only grimace.
"You know what she means," he muttered.
"Of course I do." Jeanne smiled—then gave Shichen a sideways look like she was judging him. "But wow. So you're timid now?"
"Timid?! I'm a good man!" Shichen protested.
"That's just another word for timid."
"Excuse me? I've absolutely—" Shichen blurted out too fast, then immediately regretted it.
Chisato's eyes went wide. "Shichen—so you have been flirting with Est?! She's so young-looking!"
Takina's expression turned… complicated. Even Artoria couldn't help but sigh, looking helpless.
And from somewhere nearby, Illya's voice rang out, scandalized: "Dad! You've teased Est before?! Then why haven't you teased me—?!"
Shichen instantly lost the will to argue.
He should've known—once he admitted anything out loud, it would spiral.
Shichen shot Jeanne a wounded look. "You called me timid five seconds ago. And now look what happened."
"Perfectly normal," Jeanne said with a serene smile. "Timid is one thing. Confident is another."
"…I can't even refute that."
Jeanne wasn't wrong. Having courage didn't automatically make your choices wise.
Shichen sighed, then decided to bulldoze through on sheer shamelessness. If anyone wanted to call him a "pervert," fine. He could live with that.
"Anyway," Takina said quickly, mercifully changing the subject, "so… Jeanne really is our Onee-sama?"
"Takina," Jeanne said gently, "don't be so formal. Try 'Onee-sama Jeanne.'"
"…Onee-sama Jeanne?" Takina tested it.
Jeanne nodded, satisfied. "Good."
Takina pressed her lips together. It was strange—yet somehow, it rolled off her tongue like she'd said it a hundred times before.
And in Shichen's world, nothing being "strange" anymore was basically normal.
"Oh—right." Jeanne turned and gestured toward the quiet girl who'd been standing there the whole time. "You two haven't met Rin yet. She's Rin Tohsaka—Sakura's older sister. Her real older sister."
"Um—h-hi." Rin snapped back to attention and bowed a little awkwardly. "I'm Rin Tohsaka, but you can just call me Rin."
She'd been in shock this whole time.
Those two girls—Est and Betty—were obviously also Shichen's women, and both were stunning. And from what she'd overheard…
There were more. A lot more.
And she got her answer quickly.
At breakfast, everyone gathered, and Rin's eyes nearly spun out of her head as she took in the different groups clustered around the tables.
All girls. Every single one beautiful. Every single one with a presence that felt… almost like a Servant's.
Rin was a magus—she could tell at a glance that none of these girls were ordinary.
But that wasn't even the main issue.
All of them… were Shichen's women?
She was genuinely rattled.
And the craziest part?
They were harmonious. Like real family. Like close sisters.
Was that even possible?
Rin's worldview started to crumble on the spot. For a second she wondered if she'd made a terrible mistake by coming here.
But then everyone started greeting her—warmly, naturally, pulling her in like she belonged. One by one, they treated her like a new sister without hesitation.
No matter how out of place she felt, their openness and warmth slowly melted her tension.
Rin ended up sitting with Irisviel and the others. They explained things—who everyone was, what they'd been through, why they were here.
Most of them were kind, good-hearted girls. Earnest, bright, easy to love.
Even Rin—who was also a girl—could understand, now, why Shichen couldn't bear to let them go.
These girls… were the kind of people you couldn't help but cherish.