Chapter 7: Rain and Reverberations (Patreon)

Watching Shinji and Sakura's retreating backs, Shirou wanted to say something, but the words ultimately died in his throat.

The relationship between his friend and this sister he so often saw was... cold. They spoke very little. Their usual dynamic was one walking ahead, the other following behind with her head bowed. It had always been like this.

He had reminded Shinji before that he could afford to be a little warmer to his sister, but it seemed to have no effect. Shinji also didn't seem to want to talk about it.

It's probably because of complicated family reasons, Shirou thought. He'd lost count of how many times he'd heard Shinji mention seeing his father with other women, checking into hotels.

...

Late at night, a fine, dense rain fell without cease.

Seeing Shinji and Sakura standing under the school building's eaves, having stopped, Shirou, who had just walked up, kindly offered, "Since it's raining, do you want to stay at my place? I can't make takoyaki today, but I have plenty of spare rooms."

"Emiya, I..." Shinji's face suddenly morphed into one of exaggerated terror as he protectively covered his chest, half-joking, "It's... it's my first time! I'm not mentally prepared yet!"

"Knock it off," Shirou retorted, punching Shinji lightly on the shoulder. "The bus to your place stopped running ages ago. Your options are my place or sleeping here at school."

Shinji glanced at Sakura, who stood silently with her head bowed, thinking for a moment before replying, "Fine. After a full three seconds of consideration, I've prepared myself mentally. It was bound to happen sooner or later, anyway."

"I said stop joking around," Shirou said, the corner of his mouth twitching. But the next moment, Shinji leaned in close, his expression suddenly full of fake tenderness, and lifted Shirou's chin with a finger.

"I'm being serious, you know~"

"Can you really make these kinds of jokes so naturally in front of your own sister?" Shirou said, annoyed, batting Shinji's hand away. "Anyway, we need to hurry. I didn't expect to be at school this late, so I didn't bring an umbrella. We'll have to run back in the rain."

"Ah, right." As he said this, Shinji casually took off his jacket and tossed it onto Sakura's head.

Sakura started, blinking in surprise at her brother's action. But she quickly thought of something—this was probably just like the birthday gifts.

—It was all an act, just to avoid bad rumors getting out.

"Keep up with me and your brother," Shirou said, placing his own bag on his head.

"Is... is it really okay?" Sakura asked Shinji timidly. "Can I go..."

"Do what you want," Shinji replied indifferently, his eyes devoid of any emotion. He then put his bag over his head and stepped out into the rain.

"Emiya, I get the first shower!"

"Don't worry, my house has more than one bathroom. But even if it didn't, shouldn't you let the girl go first in this situation?" Shirou frowned.

But Shinji was already far ahead, clearly unable to hear. Shirou could only shrug helplessly and turn to Sakura.

"Let's go too."

After a long hesitation, as if steeling her resolve, Sakura followed Shirou out into the rain.

...

The Emiya Residence.

"I'm home!"

"Why are you announcing your arrival? This is my house," Shirou said irritably from beside him.

"Welcome back," Shinji turned and bowed deeply to Shirou.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?! At a time like this, you should say 'Sorry for the intrusion'! Repeat after me: Sorry-for-the-in-trusion!"

"Don't mention it, please come in," Shinji shook his head and gestured for Shirou to enter.

"You!!"

Soaking wet, Shirou lunged at Shinji, and the two of them started roughhousing right there in the entryway.

Watching Shinji laughing and roughhousing with Shirou on the genkan floor, a strange, indescribable feeling—or perhaps a sense of disparity—stirred in Sakura's heart.

To put it simply: Her brother was only ever this cold and distant with her...

Then there was the surname "Tohsaka" she had overheard at the clubroom door, and the mention of "another school." Combined with the condition of "[the person brother likes and confessed to]," certain latent seeds of negative emotion, already present within Sakura's heart, began to take root and sprout.

Of course, Shinji was completely unaware of this, foolishly believing that Sakura would inevitably develop feelings for Shirou someday.

The entry for Sakura in the Conquest Quest was, for the most part, in a state of being ignored.

Shinji didn't know that within Sakura, who had watched his striving figure countless times, a certain seed had long since quietly begun to grow. Whether it would bear good or bad fruit, no one could say yet.

...

"Ahhh, so good~"

In the bath, a towel on his head, Shinji let out a contented sigh with his eyes closed.

"Shinji, you're way too cold to your sister," Shirou's voice came from the other side of the divider.

"Emiya," Shinji opened his eyes, raising a finger and wagging it, though Shirou couldn't see. "That's the thirteenth time you've said that."

"You could at least listen once."

"Look, everyone has things they don't want to talk about, right? This is my thing I don't want to talk about."

"You're really something..."

Then, as if remembering something, Shinji asked casually, "By the way, where's Taiga-nee?"

"Fuji-nee's away at a training seminar."

"I see," Shinji mused, propping his chin on his hand. "So that's why you seized the opportunity while the place was empty to lure me here with ulterior motives."

"Rest assured, Shinji, my sexual orientation is perfectly normal."

"So you are planning to make a move on me?!"

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?"

...

In the living room, Shinji sat casually at the low table, slurping down udon while mumbling, "As expected, it's gotta be Emiya's cooking. I feel instantly revived."

"Thanks for the compliment," Shirou replied, handing a plate of tempura to Sakura. He then turned to the girl sitting quietly with her head bowed. "Sakura... is it okay if I call you that?"

"Yes," Sakura murmured softly, now bathed and dressed in some of Shirou's spare clothes. "Thank you."

"I wish you could be a bit more natural like your brother. You're too reserved. You know, your brother has never stood on ceremony with me."

"That's because the two of us are destined to live together, grow old togeth—"

Shirou casually stuffed a tempura shrimp from his own bowl into Shinji's mouth, cutting him off. "Just shut up."

Shinji chewed and swallowed the tempura in a few quick bites, then winked. "It's all part of the strategy, Emiya."

"All for one piece of tempura shrimp?"

"You must understand, in this world, only delicious food must not be betrayed!"

Shirou deadpanned, "Why does that sound familiar? Didn't you just say only 'cute' must not be betrayed?"

"Then it's only cute things and delicious food that must not be betrayed."

"Can't you have a little more principle?" Shirou asked, utterly exasperated.

"How should I put it?" Shinji propped his chin on his hand and looked up thoughtfully. "Principles... sometimes change. Like, if you eat your favorite food every single day, eventually you'll want to try something else for a change."

"That has nothing to do with principles! They're completely different things!"