Chapter 21: Spring Term (Patreon)

Take a break for a while, Shinji thought to himself.

The system, unusually, didn't pop up to urge him to refine his reiryoku or refresh his daily tasks, as if intentionally letting Shinji relax for a period.

The day after the funeral ended, Shinji packed his bags.

Leaving behind a note saying he wanted to travel for a few days, he left the Matou residence and left Fuyuki.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was April.

The school season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Early morning, Shinji, who had only returned from his travels a few days ago, opened his eyes and climbed out of a bed littered with various documents and materials.

"Yawn~~~" He stretched hugely while letting out a big yawn.

After putting on the neatly folded school uniform placed by his bedside and finishing his washing up, Shinji pushed open the dining room door to see Sakura busy setting the table.

"Nii-san, breakfast is ready."

"Not going to Emiya's place today?" Shinji asked flatly.

"Nii-san just came back, so I..."

She really is a good little sister, Shinji complimented her inwardly.

Pulling out a chair and sitting at the table, Shinji subtly observed his sister, whose expression was clearly different from before.

The biggest difference was probably the light and spirit returned to her eyes.

The protagonist is truly something else, Shinji thought. In just a few months, he can completely change a girl whose life was basically one of despair. Is this the power of the protagonist's halo? No, perhaps it's the power of love.

Having decided as early as last Christmas to view this world as a real world and turn off the "Favorability System," Shinji would never have guessed that the light in Sakura's eyes was largely related to himself...

Hearing from a certain justice-oriented ally about her often-absent brother's activities at school, things she couldn't otherwise know... hearing some amusing anecdotes about her brother's daily life...

"We can clean up later. It's better not to be late on the first day of school."

Having finished breakfast, Shinji stood up and said this quite casually.

Although Shinji's eyes were as indifferent as usual, hearing such words still brought a clear flash of joy to Sakura's face.

Going to and from school with her brother... it seemed like such a long time ago—back when they were both in middle school, there had been a few such occasions.

"Yes," Sakura replied with a smile.

...

At the Homurahara Academy gate, where cherry blossoms continuously drifted down in the wind, Shinji and Rin, who happened to meet, immediately launched into mutual sarcastic remarks upon seeing each other. It was very harmonious.

"Really, I thought something good might happen on the first day of the new school year. Seems there's nothing at all. Otherwise, I wouldn't have run into such a jinx first thing in the morning."

"Indeed," Rin shrugged lightly, speaking in a slightly regretful tone. "It's exactly as Matou-kun said."

"It seems Tohsaka-san has gained a very clear understanding of her own position."

"No, no, what I meant just now was that my encounter this early morning is exactly, without the slightest difference, as Matou-kun described."

"Are you looking for a fight first thing in the morning?"

"You're the one who started it."

Watching the two of them, already at each other's throats the moment they met, gnashing their teeth and hostile, Sakura quickly spoke up: "Good morning, Toh... Tohsaka-senpai. I'm a first-year student—Matou Sakura."

Watching the two of them pretending to meet for the first time in public and introducing themselves, Shinji sighed inwardly.

...This spectacle is truly pathetic.

"Yo, Shinji. Morning."

Turning around, Shinji saw the newly arrived Shirou and raised a hand in greeting. "Morning, Emiya."

"Good morning, Senpai," Sakura greeted softly.

"Good morning, Sakura. And Tohsaka, morning."

"Matou, perfect timing. The student council wants a report from you regarding your absenteeism rate for the new semester."

Seeing the approaching Issei, Shinji clicked his tongue. "What student council? Aren't you the student council president now that the new semester has started? And what's this about an absenteeism report? Why am I the only one who has to do that?"

"Do you even have to ask? It's because your absenteeism rate is absurdly high!"

"Emiya! Emiya! Come help recruit members!"

Ayako's voice carried from quite a distance.

Seeing her waving and running over, Shirou raised his hand in response. "Ah, I'll be there to help in a bit."

"Matou's here too! Come on, join us!" Ayako, now up close, winked at Shinji.

Shinji looked up, his expression completely uninterested. "No way. I'm not a member of the archery club."

"You used to be, right?"

"So it's just 'used to be.' I'm not interested anymore."

"Actually, in a way, you haven't officially left the club yet. After all, you never submitted the withdrawal form."

"I don't care about that!"

"Speaking of which," Ayako suddenly noticed something, looking at Sakura who was chatting with Rin nearby, she asked Shinji, "Who's that girl?"

"Shinji's little sister," Shirou answered for Shinji, who had no intention of replying.

"Ah!" Ayako's eyes lit up. She dashed forward and, before Sakura could react, grabbed her hands eagerly.

"Tell me, are you interested in kyudo? Your brother was a real natural genius at it! Since you're his sister, you must be good too, right?"

"Um... well, no..."

Before Sakura could finish, Ayako pressed on: "I almost forgot, what's your name?"

"...My name is Sakura."

"Sakura, huh... Mhm mhm mhm!" Ayako nodded with great satisfaction, leaning in a few centimeters closer. "Then join our archery club! Or... have you already decided on another club?"

"It's not that..."

"Then it's settled!"

Watching Ayako's behavior, Issei adjusted his glasses and sighed softly. "Really, her approach is too forceful."

Shirou smiled wryly beside him.

It was then that Shinji noticed something—Rin, who was trying to sneak away quietly, and Taiga, who was running over with a camera.

"Hey." Shinji took two steps towards Rin, calling out softly.

"What? Want to continue our argument from earlier?"

"How about a temporary truce for now?" Shinji shrugged slightly.

"Hah?" Rin sounded surprised. "That doesn't sound like something you'd say."

Beside them, Taiga, holding a camera, called out to Shinji, "Matou-kun, you're the only one missing! Ah! And Tohsaka-san is here too! Come on, everyone together!"

"Eh? I don't need to..."

Before Rin could finish, Shinji grabbed the hem of her uniform and pulled her forward.

"What are you doing? Wait..."

"Just be quiet," Shinji said without looking back.

"You... let go of me!" Rin's face was slightly flushed, but Shinji showed no intention of releasing her.

In the end, Rin was pulled along by Shinji and subtly slotted into the space between Sakura and Ayako.

Really, this guy just loves making decisions for others on his own, Rin grumbled inwardly.

"Thank you, Sensei," Taiga, standing behind the six students, smiled at the man she had asked for help—a stern, meticulous-looking man in a suit and silver-rimmed glasses, Soichiro Kuzuki.

"Fuji-nee, you're a teacher too, you know?" Shirou couldn't help but say.

...

In the end, a group photo with seven heads was successfully taken.

From left to right: Shinji, with his hands in his pockets and shoulders shrugged trying to look cool, but whose ear was pulled at the last moment by Taiga from behind, causing him to yelp in pain; Issei, whose eyes weren't fully on the camera, seemingly glancing subtly towards Shirou; Shirou, frowning and about to turn his head to say something to Taiga; Sakura, looking sideways at Taiga and Shinji with a hand over her mouth in surprise; Rin, arms crossed pretending not to care at all; Ayako, grinning widely at the camera.

And finally, Taiga, standing behind them, looking furious for some reason Shinji had said, pulling on Shinji's ear.

The moment was frozen in time.

...

"Let me make this clear beforehand, I'm not thanking you or anything."

On the rooftop, Rin had her arms crossed, her expression tsundere.

Hearing this, Shinji's eye twitched uncontrollably. He remained silent for a long time before speaking.

"So, you dragged me out of my classroom in the middle of my nap, in front of everyone, without a word and so forcefully, just to tell me that?"

"Yes."

Shinji fell silent again.

A long time later...

"If you want to pick a fight, could you just say so directly?