Chapter 22: Christmas Eve, 2003 (Patreon)

December 24th, 2003.

Another annual Christmas Eve.

Emiya Residence.

At the low table in the living room, just like every year, Taiga, cosplaying as Santa, had drunk herself to a bleary-eyed state and was slumped over the table, drowsy.

"Fuji-nee, if you're going to sleep, go home. You'll catch a cold sleeping here."

Shirou walked over with a blanket, his face full of helplessness.

"I told you not to drink so much. This person simply doesn't listen to advice."

"I am not drunk!"

"Saying that while reeking of alcohol has no persuasiveness at all!"

"Shirou, you said I stink... How dare you!"

"Don't lunge at me!"

Watching the chaotic scene between Shirou and Taiga, Sakura, who had been sitting quietly at the table the whole time, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh from the heart.

...

Looking at Taiga, now asleep on the floor covered with a blanket, Shirou gave Sakura a somewhat apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Sakura, that you had to see this side of Fuji-nee."

"It's nothing," Sakura shook her head. "It feels completely different from my home. I... quite like it."

Hearing this, Shirou scratched his head, his smile turning a bit awkward. "Well, you know, family situations aren't really something outsiders should pry into, but Sakura, your and Shinji's family situa..."

Before he could finish, Shirou noticed a flicker of complex emotion in Sakura's eyes and quickly changed his subject. "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to."

Sakura shook her head but said nothing, her gaze falling on the small white bear plushie on the table—sent from Tokyo.

"But at least for Christmas and birthday presents, Shinji never forgets, does he?" Shirou continued. "Maybe Shinji just has trouble showing his true feelings in front of his little sister."

Sakura still didn't respond.

Seeing that Sakura wasn't in the mood to continue the conversation, Shirou changed the topic. "Speaking of which, what is Shinji doing now..."

His words were cut short by the news broadcast on the TV.

'The mysterious singer Shinji, who won the Best New Artist award and garnered countless fans with just one album released two months ago, suddenly announced during the press conference for his second album that he is rejecting all awards. He explicitly stated that all the songs on his album were plagiarized, and finally announced his retirement from the music industry.'

'The news immediately sparked outcry and discussion among countless fans.'

'However, regarding the plagiarism, Shinji did not specify whom he had plagiarized, and to this day, no one has come forward to accuse him.'

'Strangely enough, some fans have specifically compared Shinji's melodies and lyrics and found no evidence of plagiarism or borrowing.'

'This matter has been fermenting for a month now. The truth behind Shinji's claims of plagiarism remains unknown.'

'Furthermore, the masked Shinji's final statement, when asked by a reporter about his future plans—'I'm thinking of trying to become Shinichi next'—has also left countless fans baffled.'

Watching the footage on TV of the mysterious singer "Shinji" wearing a tanuki mask at the press conference, Shirou could only shake his head in resignation.

"Probably just another one of his fleeting whims that's run its course. But honestly, that guy is something else. Even his passing interests can reach such heights."

"Yes... Nii-san is truly amazing," Sakura agreed softly, her head still lowered.

"But if they're reporting it on TV now, that press conference was a month ago. Shouldn't Shinji be back by now?"

Sakura shook her head.

"Did he find a new interest already? Shinichi... what is that?"

"I don't know."

As she spoke, Sakura's eyes returned to the TV, just as the next news story began.

'The locked-room murder case that occurred in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, at 5:10 PM today has been solved, and the perpetrator has been arrested by the police.'

'It is said that the one who assisted the police in solving the case was a high school student only seventeen years old.'

'Furthermore, according to internal police sources, this is the eighth case this month that this high school student has helped solve.'

"Um," Shirou looked at Sakura, venturing a guess, "This might be me overthinking it, but this high school detective... could it be..."

"It's probably Nii-san..."

Shirou: ...Is there anything my friend can't do?

"Ahhh~" Shirou leaned back, supporting himself with his hands on the floor, and let out a long sigh towards the ceiling. "Shinji really is a jack-of-all-trades genius. To be honest, I've never seen him fail at anything."

A sudden memory surfaced in Sakura's mind: a small figure, silhouetted against the setting sun, gritting his teeth as he was swept away by the rushing river, over and over again. She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Pride, focus, effort, refusing to admit defeat, never giving up...

These were all things her brother possessed, things she herself wished she had.

"There's still this piece of cake left. Hope it doesn't go bad."

Saying this, Shirou stood up, picked up the remaining cake from the table, and walked slowly to the refrigerator in the kitchen.

"If only Shinji were here. At least it wouldn't go to waste."

"Nii-san... he dislikes sweets."

"Huh?" Shirou, who had just placed the cake in the fridge, sounded puzzled. "I never heard Shinji mention that."

"Perhaps it wasn't something worth mentioning."

"Really," Shirou closed the refrigerator door with a helpless expression. "That guy actually fought me for a pudding before. To think he dislikes sweets... Shinji really is a strange one."

Sakura didn't pay much mind to Shirou's story about Shinji stealing his pudding, assuming her brother was just teasing his friend.

...

11:00 PM, Shinto Station, Fuyuki City.

Shinji, having just stepped out of the station dragging his suitcase, looked at the goose feather-like snow, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath of the all-too-familiar cold air.

But before he could sigh and think finally, I'm back, he suddenly spotted someone standing less than ten meters away, staring at him wide-eyed, wearing earphones and holding a CD player, her face a mask of disbelief.

Rin.

As the saying goes, enemies often cross paths!

You really can't trust supplementary material, Shinji tsukkomi-ed inwardly. Didn't it say Tohsaka Rin can't handle machines?

What Shinji didn't know was how long it had taken Rin, or how many times she'd asked the shop clerk, just to barely learn the simple basics of operating this most straightforward CD player. She still didn't know how to skip tracks.

"It's only been a few months. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Shinji said irritably. But before he could take a step, Rin stopped him.

"Stay right there!!"

"You're being weird."

"Just don't come any closer!"

"Even though our relationship isn't great, your attitude is surprisingly annoying." Shinji's expression remained flat.

Cr-Crap! Panic surged through Rin. Why was she so flustered? Probably because the CD playing in her player was... his CD.

If this guy found out she had bought his CD, he would absolutely mock her relentlessly!

Thinking this, Rin silently took a few more steps back.

"A-Anyway, let's just pretend we never saw each other today!"

Seeing Rin's flushed face as she uttered this, Shinji remained silent for a long moment before finally letting out a soft sigh and turning away.

"Whatever you say. I'm too tired from the long train ride to argue with you." He waved a hand without looking back. "Bye. And... Merry Christmas."

Huh? He's just leaving? Rin was taken aback. She stood there dazed for a while before finally turning her face away and muttering a very reluctant, almost inaudible reply...

"Yeah... Merry Christmas..."