Chapter 31: After the Nightmare (Patreon)

After standing silently in place for a long time, Shinji finally moved.

He reached up, scratched his head, showed a somewhat helpless expression, and muttered under his breath.

"Really now, talking about 'inheritance' so grandly... when it's clearly just a mess."

Then, he let out a soft sigh, turned sideways to look at Sakura—who, although she hadn't fully grasped the situation, had been listening quietly all along—and gave an awkward laugh.

"Sakura, although it might indeed be a bit late... you should know that heroes, this kind of existence, they always arrive fashionably late."

Looking at Shinji's awkward smile, and recalling Zōken's earlier words—"Your jealousy towards Sakura, your obsession with the path of magecraft, that twisted self-esteem... it was all an act!"—as well as her brother's initial statement, "This is just power accumulated bit by bit in secret over ten years, fundamentally different from magecraft," and even Shirou's mention of her brother stealing his pudding...

The act of deliberately giving her his barely-touched leftovers and desserts as if throwing away garbage, to her who could only eat poisoned food for three meals a day... the late-night snack times that belonged to just the two of them... the gifts that never missed a birthday or holiday...

The alienation, jealousy, and disgust she had believed in were all just disguises. Her brother had been protecting her in his own way all along.

As she thought this, the image of that proud, cool little boy standing in front of her resurfaced in her mind.

'Sakura, just wait. You just need to obediently listen to me. Once I learn those amazing things, I'll definitely have your back!'

Although she still didn't fully understand everything, the fact that this brother had always cared for her was now clear. That childish promise she had once dismissed... had actually been true...

Looking at the dazed Sakura, Shinji scratched his cheek with his index finger, his smile turning a bit awkward.

"Although I also think it's ridiculously late... but didn't you at least gain a future where you can breathe and live freely? So..."

Before Shinji could finish, Sakura, with silent tears instantly gushing forth, threw herself against him.

Shinji silently recited a short sutra in his mind to clear distracting thoughts. It was quite effective.

"Nii-san—!"

This was the loudest "Nii-san" Shinji could remember Sakura ever uttering since she was old enough to remember.

A cry filled with heartache, grievance, gratitude, pain, and all sorts of complex emotions.

"There, there," Shinji's expression gradually softened as he reached out and gently ruffled Sakura's hair. "You don't have to suppress your emotions anymore, Sakura."

Feeling the warm hand on her head and the solid, warm chest in front of her, looking up at her brother's gentle face and eyes full of heartache, Sakura's long-suppressed emotions finally completely lost control.

In the end, she wept loudly, her sobs echoing through the room.

So I wasn't as completely alone as I thought I was...

Rider, who had roughly understood some of the situation from the earlier conversation, simply stood quietly to the side, not making a sound, patiently waiting for her Master to release emotions that had been suppressed for who knows how long.

...

On the sofa, Sakura, her face streaked with tears, clung tightly to Shinji's arm. Her head hadn't left his shoulder since earlier, as if afraid of losing the most important thing.

After nearly half an hour of reading documents, Shinji finally couldn't hold back and spoke: "Um, Sakura, why don't you go wash up and put some clothes on first?"

Sakura shook her head, still holding Shinji's arm tightly, and seemed to grip it even tighter.

Letting out a soft sigh, Shinji put down the documents in his hand and reached out to pinch Sakura's cheek. "Does it hurt?"

Sakura shook her head again, simultaneously using all her strength to hold Shinji's arm... showing no intention of letting go.

Seeing Sakura like this, Shinji broke out in a mental sweat: ...I just wanted to tell you this isn't a dream. You shaking your head leaves me no way to continue the conversation! Forcing it would be too awkward!

"Be good. There are still many things to handle next," Shinji continued softly. "With Grandfather gone, there's a vacancy in managing the magic field. We also have to find a way to deal with the Mage's Association's investigation. A bunch of troubles will be knocking on our door soon. We need to deal with them quickly while we have the chance."

Sakura still showed no reaction, just shaking her head.

"Master, there is also the upcoming Holy Grail War. We need to prepare early as well."

Rider, who had been waiting to the side, also spoke up. But the response she received was identical to the one Sakura gave Shinji—just a shake of the head.

After a moment of silence, Rider spoke again: "Master, do you not have a wish you want the Holy Grail to fulfill?"

This time, Sakura finally made a sound.

"My wish..." Sakura lifted her head to glance at Shinji, her voice gentle, "...if this isn't a dream, it has already been fulfilled."

Rider: ...Then should I just go back?

Seeing Rider fall silent, Shinji smiled wryly and once again reached out to ruffle Sakura's hair.

"It's not a dream. You should know your brother never dreams. The eleven-year nightmare is over, Sakura. Also, you really should rest now. Although all the Crest Worms inside you have been cleared out, the burden they placed on your body over eleven years won't recover completely in a short time. Furthermore, since a Servant has been summoned, the Holy Grail War is inevitable. But your brother will try his best to keep you from getting involved in the Grail War."

"What did you mean earlier by 'Master's function as the Holy Grail'?" Rider asked.

"The answer to that question can't be told to you for now. But you can rest assured, that issue is basically resolved."

"Will you participate in the Holy Grail War?" Rider asked the crucial question.

Shinji gently shook his head: "Like Sakura, I have no wish I want the Holy Grail to fulfill."

"You don't deny the possibility of participation?"

"Mhm, that's the case for now. After all, there are quite a few acquaintances among the participants this time. I might get dragged in or something, so it's not completely impossible that I'll participate."

In Rider's eyes, Shinji's gaze was clear and sincere, not seeming like a lie. Apart from his eyes constantly fixed on her chest, there wasn't any major issue.

"Don't misunderstand. It's my habit to observe a person's breathing from the rise and fall of their chest, to predict their next move from each breath. I definitely don't have any strange thoughts."

Rider fell silent once more. Although Shinji's words sounded impressive and even somewhat cool, she felt something was a bit off.

"As long as you pose no threat to my Master, I will not take action against you. Moreover, I do not believe I am your match."

"Hahaha..." Shinji suddenly laughed for no apparent reason. "You've probably misunderstood, Rider. I'm not as formidable as you imagine. I just borrowed a bit of power from the future earlier."

"Power from the future?"

"Mhm," Shinji clenched his fist. "The heights I will reach someday in the future. I borrowed that power for a moment. Of course, it was time-limited. I've already returned it."

"Borrowing power from the future, even for an instant, must come with an unimaginable price. What price did you pay?"

Shinji didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at Rider with a smile and changed the subject: "You know, Rider, when a woman starts becoming more and more curious about a man, that's when she gradually falls into the greatest crisis for a woman..."