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Chapter 5: Close Call Following Day The scent of grilled fish and freshly steamed rice filled the air, mingling with the gentle clatter of

Chapter 5: Close Call

Following Day

The scent of grilled fish and freshly steamed rice filled the air, mingling with the gentle clatter of chopsticks and quiet conversation. Morning light filtered through the apartment window, casting a warm glow across the kitchen table where we all sat gathered once more.

Where the light came from was unknown to us since there was no outside really, or a sun. In fact, the only thing currently present in this dimension was this small apartment for the moment.

Tamamo, humming a cheerful tune, was carefully plating a second helping for Aoi while her tails swayed lazily behind her.

“I added a bit more mirin this time~ Tell me if it’s too sweet, okay?” she said, setting down the dish with a little flourish.

Aoi offered her a grateful smile. “Thank you, Caster-san. It smells lovely.”

“I’ll say,” I muttered as I took another bite of my own breakfast. “Feels strange to start the day so peacefully, knowing what’s ahead.”

Across from me, Kiara sipped her tea with a serene expression. “That peace is all the more reason to savor mornings like this. Before the chaos begins.”

I nodded slowly, then glanced toward the phone sitting on the table beside me. No new notifications as of yet. According to when I had made the purchases though, all upgrades and perks should become active sometime within the hour.

“All we can do now is wait,” I said quietly, folding my arms. “Once Bounty Tracker and our defenses become active, we’ll be able to confirm Sakura’s location and finalize our plan.”

Tamamo set down her chopsticks and looked at me with a small, worried frown. “And then we make our move?”

“Yes.” I met her gaze. “We can’t afford to delay too long. But we’ll do this carefully.”

She nodded, and the table fell into a brief silence, the weight of what was to come pressing lightly on all of us.

But for now, we had breakfast—and a brief moment of calm before the war demanded more of us.

An hour later, right on schedule, my phone vibrated. As we sat together in the small living room, I glanced at the screen—only to blink in surprise as the apartment around us suddenly expanded. The walls shifted outward, doubling the space in an instant with a smooth, seamless transition.

“That was…” Tamamo trailed off beside me, her eyes wide in astonishment. She tightened her grip on my arm, hugging it closer to her chest. “Scary. To think the beings who sent you here can alter reality so casually.”

“Even I don’t know much about the Company,” I admitted, still glancing around at the now-spacious apartment. “Only what I’ve already told you.”

Kiara, seated across from us, tilted her head and ran her fingers through her hair, drawing attention to the pair of cyan hairpins now resting there. “I feel like I got a little stronger too, Sieg-kun,” she said with a soft smile.

“You should,” I replied with a nod. “Now that you’ve advanced to Tier 5, those hairpins should respond much more efficiently.”

She closed her eyes briefly, as if feeling the change herself. A faint hum of spiritual energy shimmered around her for a moment, before fading.

Tamamo, still leaning against me, glanced up. “So what now, Sieg-kun?”

“We check the new perks,” I said, already reaching for my phone. “If everything’s active, it’s time to find Sakura.”

“Hmm.” Swiping over to the correct app, I brought up a digital map of Fuyuki City. Several red dots blinked across the screen, each one marking a target—people or entities I could capture to earn credits.

And there, moving slowly along a street, was a lone red dot labeled Sakura.

“Found her,” I said aloud, drawing everyone's attention—especially Aoi’s.

“Is she alone, Sieg-kun?” Tamamo asked softly, leaning closer to peek at the screen. Her chest pressed against my arm, and I felt my ears warm with a faint flush.

“Yes,” I confirmed, before glancing at Aoi. “Aoi-san, do you think she might be heading to school?”

Aoi shook her head with a pained expression. “I’m not sure, Sieg-san. After Tokiomi handed her over to the Matou, we weren’t allowed to speak of her again.”

“I see… then we’ll have to take a risk,” I muttered, eyes flicking back to the screen. “Right now, it’s our best chance. There’s no one near the school at the moment—Maiya and Kiritsugu are both clear on the other side of the city.”

Tamamo tilted her head curiously. “What about the other Masters and Servants?”

Her tone was innocent, intrigued—much like a cat discovering something new. I couldn’t blame her. This phone looked like an average device from 2030, but here in the '90s, it must’ve felt like something from a sci-fi movie.

“We’ll check that next,” I replied, fingers already moving.

Zooming out to get a full view of Fuyuki, I scanned the digital map, studying the blinking dots carefully before glancing at Tamamo.

“Hmm… aside from Saber, it looks like the only other Servant-Master pair not currently in the city is Lancer and his Master,” I murmured.

I shook my head and turned to her, my expression serious. “We shouldn’t waste any more time. Let’s go get Sakura while we still have the chance. If everything goes smoothly, we’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Tamamo nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It is the best opportunity. With the war meant to stay hidden from the general public, most battles are pushed to night. Still…” she frowned slightly, “I wish we had a way to disguise you better. It would be safer if we didn’t draw attention.”

I opened my mouth to respond, ready to push forward despite the risk—but then paused, a memory flickering to the front of my mind.

“Actually… that might be possible.” I pulled out my phone again, Tamamo tilting her head with a curious blink as I navigated through the interface.

After a moment, I found what I was looking for: Appearance Change—a perk that allowed for subtle, cosmetic modifications. Nothing drastic like changing my species or body type, but enough to mask my features.

What greeted me was a character creation screen based on the title. Under the watchful, intrigued eyes of Tamamo and Kiara, I adjusted the sliders and settings. A few tweaks here, a few there. When I was satisfied, I gave them a mischievous smile and hit Finish.

Tamamo blinked. “Whoa~ How did you do that, Sieg-kun?” she gasped, tail flicking behind her as she suddenly grabbed my cheeks and pulled me down to eye level. “I can’t sense any magic or mystery. It’s like you’re… naturally like this!”

My reply came out slightly muffled due to the cheek-squishing. “It’s a perk. Lets me change how I look as much as I want. Permanent, too—until I decide to change it again.”

She released me, still inspecting my face with sparkling curiosity.

I had removed any trace of my usual appearance—my stark white hair was now a natural black, my crimson eyes replaced with warm honey-brown. I trimmed my hair down to a more ordinary length and subtly altered my facial structure. Nothing about me stood out anymore. No one would recognize me.

It was a simple change.

But it made all the difference.

Tamamo slowly stepped back, still studying my new face with a small pout tugging at her lips.

“Hmph… I suppose this is good for stealth,” she muttered, tapping her chin with a clawed finger. Then she leaned in again with a teasing grin, eyes sparkling. “But just so you know, Sieg-kun~ I much prefer your original look. So striking. So bold. So—manly and handsome~!” she purred, winking before adding with a slight pout, “This version is a little too ‘boy-next-door’ for my tastes.”

I nodded, scratching the back of my head in confusion, not familiar with the term. “I’ll keep that in mind when I change back.”

“You better~” she sing-songed before taking her place beside me, tails swishing behind her as she reverted to a more focused expression.

With Kiara observing quietly from the couch and Aoi sitting nervously on the edge of her seat, I gave the phone one last glance. Sakura’s marker was still steadily moving—definitely heading toward the outskirts of the residential district. Likely on her way to school.

I rose from the couch and nodded toward Tamamo. “Alright. Let’s go bring her home.”

She stood beside me instantly, expression softening. “Right behind you, my husband~”

With the route mapped out and no hostile markers in the immediate area, we stepped through the front door—into the quiet morning streets of Fuyuki—on a mission that, while small on the surface, could change the course of this entire war.

=====

The morning air was cool as I moved quickly through the quiet streets, blending into the early city bustle with my altered appearance. Sakura’s marker was just ahead—walking slowly, like any ordinary student on her way to school. But I knew better.

Maybe it was due to my own experiences, but even without the visible signs of abuse or the dull haze that clung to her aura, I could feel it. The weight she carried. The emptiness.

Tamamo followed close behind in spirit form, invisible to the world but her presence warm and alert just behind my shoulder.

I saw her then. Violet hair, a reserved gait, an oversized schoolbag slung awkwardly over one shoulder.

Sakura Matou.

She walked with her head down, eyes fixed on the pavement. No energy. No presence. Just the ghost of a girl.

I closed the distance casually until I was just a step behind her. A quick glance around—no one nearby. This was it.

My arm wrapped gently but firmly around her waist, my other hand covering her mouth before she could cry out. “Shh… I’m not here to hurt you,” I whispered softly into her ear, careful to keep my tone gentle, almost reassuring. “You’re safe now. I promise.”

She stiffened like a coiled spring but didn’t struggle—not really. Maybe… some part of her didn’t mind being taken away from wherever she had to go.

Without wasting a second, I shifted her into a bridal carry and slipped into the nearest alley. Tamamo moved silently alongside me like a shadow. I pulled out my phone, quickly scanning for the nearest portal to our Pocket Dimension.

I couldn’t open portals just anywhere—they had to be in places of importance or where I felt safe.

‘Figures. The nearest ones are at the Tohsaka and Matou residences. Last places I want to go.’

We’d have to head for the park.

Just as I raised my head to move, I froze.

Across the street—barely thirty meters away—a golden shimmer flickered in my peripheral vision.

Gilgamesh.

Walking leisurely down the sidewalk with a bored expression, hands in his pockets, completely unconcerned with the world.

My heart slammed against my ribs. One wrong look. One flicker of attention.

I felt Tamamo tense behind me, and I readied myself for the worst.

But… he kept walking. Never even glanced our way.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. That confirmed it—Trace and Information Defense were working as intended.

I signaled Tamamo telepathically to keep moving.

A few tense minutes later, we reached the park without further incident. I spotted the portal—a faint shimmer invisible to mundane eyes—nestled between the trees. I stepped through quickly, Tamamo right behind me.

We were home.

I let my shoulders finally relax as I gently laid Sakura down on the couch. She didn’t resist. Didn’t speak. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, unfocused. The only reaction she gave was a slight shiver when I touched her.

Tamamo materialized fully beside me, her eyes fixed on the girl.

“She’s… empty,” she murmured, voice quiet and unreadable.

I nodded grimly. “That’s what we’re going to change.”

Pulling out my phone for a moment, I undid the changes to my appearance with a single press of a button. This time, it was much faster—my default form had already been configured.

The sudden shift caught Sakura’s attention. She stared at us quietly, her expression blank, eyes nearly devoid of light.

Putting on a smile I hoped was reassuring—though I still wasn’t entirely confident in the act, having little experience with smiling in either of my lives—I slowly knelt in front of her and introduced myself.

“Hello, Sakura. Sorry if I scared you back there,” I said softly, trying to sound as calm and non-threatening as possible. “My name is Sieg. And the lovely lady behind me is Caster… or Casko, if you prefer.”

“Fufufu~ Hello, little girl~!” Tamamo chimed in, reverting to her usual playful demeanor. “There’s no need to be afraid anymore. You’re in good hands with my handsome Master~!”

Sakura blinked at us, unmoving, staring in silence for a few moments. Then she finally spoke.

“…What do you want from me?” Her voice was quiet. Monotone. Flat.

I suppressed the grimace threatening to show and gently raised my hand—making sure she could see every motion—and lightly ran my fingers through her hair. She didn’t flinch, just looked more confused.

“As I said, I mean you no harm,” I told her. “In fact, I want to help you.”

Her eyes, barely visible behind her bangs, lifted to mine. “…Help me?” she repeated, her tone distant. As if the concept was foreign.

I nodded and pulled out the Company Stamp from my pocket, catching her attention. Her gaze lingered on it, curious.

“See this?” I said, showing her the stamp’s plain exterior before turning it around in my hand. “This is a very special tool. With it, I can completely restore someone’s body—remove impurities, heal wounds, even undo… damage caused by others.”

That caught her attention. For the first time, emotion flickered in her eyes—surprise, quickly masked by disbelief.

“…Are you a magus?” she asked, her expression unreadable.

I considered the question, then nodded. “Yes. One far more powerful than your grandfather… or your original father.”

That seemed to shake her. She went silent again, her eyes darting between me and Tamamo, who offered her a cheeky little wave.

“…Impossible,” Sakura muttered at last.

I shook my head, saddened by her response, but not surprised. Gently, I reached for her hand and placed the stamp in her palm.

“I know I can’t prove it to you right now,” I said softly, “but if you use this on yourself, then in three days… all those creatures inside you will be gone.”

She flinched at the mention of the worms. Her breathing hitched—but after a moment, she looked down at the stamp in her hand.

Then, slowly… she pressed it to the back of her hand.

Three seconds passed.

My symbol appeared, glowing faintly against her skin.

She blinked in surprise.

My smile grew wider. I reached out and patted her head. “Good job, Sakura. That took a lot of courage. I won’t let you down.”

She stared up at me again. Her eyes, still clouded with doubt and pain, held a flicker of something new. And when I didn’t stop petting her, she leaned into it ever so slightly—like she didn’t even realize she was doing it.

“Now, how about we get you something to eat? I bet you're hungry. There's also someone very special who's been waiting to see you.”

I stood, offering Sakura a hand, which she stared at for a second before slowly taking. She was still distant, quiet—but not resisting. Not shutting down.

A soft sound of footsteps echoed across the room.

Aoi stepped into view.

Sakura looked up—and her eyes widened, a flicker of something breaking through the haze.

“…Mother?” she said quietly, voice barely more than a breath.

Aoi’s expression wavered the moment she heard it. Tears welled up in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks silently as she stepped forward with careful, trembling grace. She knelt beside her daughter, smiling through the emotion on her face as she reached out and gently took Sakura’s hands in her own.

“I’m here, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice soft and steady despite the tears. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Sakura didn’t move. Her hands remained in Aoi’s, unresisting but still hesitant—like she wasn’t sure what was real anymore. Her lips parted slightly, but whatever words she might have had got lost somewhere in her throat.

Then, slowly, she leaned forward.

Aoi wrapped her in a tender embrace, holding her close, careful not to overwhelm her. Her silent tears continued, but she never let her voice waver, never let Sakura feel her pain—only her warmth.

Sakura didn’t cry. But she stayed there, clutching at her mother’s sleeves, face buried in her shoulder. Still and quiet, but no longer distant.

Tamamo lingered back for a moment, eyes soft, then silently slid up beside me and wrapped herself around my arm, letting out a quiet, contented hum.

And I let out a breath, one I hadn’t realized I was holding.

This was just the beginning—but a precious one.

Sakura wasn’t alone anymore.