For the past few days, she had indeed been avoiding Emiya.
It wasn’t because she disliked him; on the contrary, it was because of guilt.
Whenever she saw Shirou, that damned dream would involuntarily surface in her mind.
In the dream, that Shinji with a temperament completely different from Shirou, that cold kiss, and that phrase that clung to her like a bone-deep curse: “I like you very much.”
This feeling made her feel like a traitor.
She had clearly established such a deep bond with Shirou during the Holy Grail War, and clearly held a certain vague affection for the young man before her in her heart, yet her body and subconscious were reliving the touch of another scumbag.
This sense of mental infidelity made Rin, who had a tendency toward perfectionism, unable to look Shirou in the eye.
“Sorry.”
Rin turned her head away abruptly.
“I have something to do tonight.”
“Eh?
Do you have plans?”
Shirou was a bit surprised, but he still expressed understanding.
“No, it’s not a date!”
Rin subconsciously retorted loudly, then immediately realized she had overreacted, her cheeks quickly flushing red.
“I—I’m just not feeling well.
My Magic Crest has been having some rejection reactions lately; it’s probably because the weather is too cold.
I want to go back and rest early.”
This was a very lame excuse.
How could a Magic Crest rejection reaction be triggered by cold weather?
But Shirou believed her.
Or rather, he gently chose to believe her.
“Is that so?
Then you really need to take care of yourself.”
Shirou lowered his eyes in disappointment, but quickly looked up again, revealing a smile.
“Then let’s do it next time.
When New Year’s comes, you must come, okay?”
“Mm.”
Rin responded vaguely, not daring to look at Shirou’s face again.
“I’m leaving now.
You have fun too.”
After saying this, she rushed out of the school building as if fleeing.
The cold wind hit her face, blowing her twin tails wildly.
Rin ran out of the school gate and didn’t stop until she couldn’t see anyone.
She looked back at the school building.
“Idiot Shirou…”
She cursed under her breath, not knowing if she was cursing Emiya, or that bastard Shinji who was far away in Tokyo and still disrupting her life even after disappearing.
“If I catch you using some strange magic to curse me…
I will definitely not forgive you!”
Later, at the Emiya Residence.
“Senpai, my sister…”
Sakura was cutting vegetables in the kitchen and poked her head out when she heard the commotion from the entrance.
“Ah, Tohsaka said she wasn’t feeling well, so she won’t be coming today.”
Shirou changed his shoes, walked into the kitchen, and took the kitchen knife from Sakura’s hand.
“I’ll handle the rest.
Sakura, go take a break.”
“Not feeling well?”
Sakura was slightly taken aback.
When she saw her sister at school today, she clearly felt that her energy was a bit over the top, even a bit neurotic.
“Mm.
Maybe she’s just too tired lately.”
Shirou skillfully prepared the ingredients.
“By the way, Sakura, do you know if Tohsaka has run into any trouble lately?
She seems to always be absent-minded.”
“I’m not really sure either…”
Sakura shook her head.
She looked at the simmering broth in the pot, a flash of thoughtfulness in her purple eyes.
Tokyo, Roppongi.
This was a top-tier kaiseki restaurant hidden among the skyscrapers, RyuGin.
There was no main hall in the restaurant; it consisted entirely of highly private dining rooms.
Looking out from the window, one could see the dazzling lights of Tokyo Tower in the distance, reflecting the red and green Christmas decorations on the streets.
Shinji sat in the main seat.
Today, he was wearing a black turtleneck cashmere sweater with a dark gray casual suit jacket over it.
He looked a bit less sharp than he did in the business world, and more like the lazy, noble young master.
“Boss, your heart rate is a bit fast.”
Sirius stood in the shadows of the corner, still holding the monitoring terminal, her voice indifferent.
“Please be aware that your current physical condition is not suitable for high-intensity emotional games.”
“Sirius, you really know how to ruin the mood.”
Was she jealous?
Shinji didn’t say it out loud, instead gently placing his wine glass on the table.
“This is called anticipation, understand?
Anticipation.”
He looked at his watch.
Six fifty-five.
“Five more minutes.”
The corners of Shinji’s mouth curled up slightly.
He had already imagined the scene to come: that always high-and-mighty lawyer Eri Kisaki, in order to avoid waiting for that potential confrontation, would have to arrive on time.
Then, in this intimate dining room, catalyzed by alcohol and fine food, she would slowly shed that layer of hard armor.
However, the fantasy was completely shattered in the next second.
“Wow!
Is this the legendary RyuGin?
Amazing!
It’s really that super hard-to-book place!”
“Hey, Conan, your voice is too loud…”
“What does it matter, Ran!
Since that rich, handsome guy is treating us, of course we have to take a good look around!
Ouch, Uncle, don’t push me!”
“Shut up!
I want to see what that pretty boy who dares to seduce Eri looks like…”
A noisy commotion came from the hallway; even through the shoji doors with excellent soundproofing, it could be heard clearly.
The smile on Shinji’s lips froze.
Sirius silently looked up, pushed up her glasses, and a barely perceptible trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.
“Boss, it seems your anticipation has overloaded.”
“Clack!”
The door was slid open.
The beautiful figure Shinji had expected—Eri Kisaki alone, looking annoyed yet helpless—did not appear.
Instead, it was a massive, bustling group.
Walking at the very front was Eri Kisaki, looking embarrassed, her cheeks flushed so red they were almost bleeding.
She had specially dressed up today, wearing a dark blue velvet long dress that made her skin look as white as snow, but at this moment, that elegance was completely ruined by the chaos behind her.
Closely following her was Ran Mouri, wearing a white down jacket, looking at Shinji with an apologetic expression.
Behind her was a girl with short hair and a headband, Suzuki Sonoko.
She was currently staring wide-eyed, scanning Shinji up and down like a searchlight.
There was also a middle-aged man with a small mustache, Kogoro Mouri.
And, that death-god elementary schooler wearing black-rimmed glasses and a small blue suit, Conan Edogawa.
The originally planned candlelight dinner instantly turned into a family gathering scene.
“Um, Mr.
Matou.”
Eri Kisaki took a deep breath, trying to maintain her crumbling rationality and composure.
She turned to the side, then said through gritted teeth:
“I am truly sorry.
Due to some, force majeure, I had to bring my family along as well.”
She emphasized the words “force majeure,” casting a fierce glare at Kogoro Mouri, who was peeking around.
Actually, the cause of the matter was very simple.
Originally, today was a Christmas reconciliation operation specially planned by Ran to bring her separated parents together.
But Eri Kisaki said she had plans.
Under Ran’s questioning, plus the instigation of that big-mouthed Suzuki Sonoko, and Kogoro Mouri flying into a jealous rage the moment he heard his wife was going to eat with another man…
in the end, it turned into this situation of everyone mobilizing to catch an affair and mooch a meal.
Shinji looked at the room full of people, especially when he saw the bespectacled elementary schooler, his eye twitched uncontrollably.
He had a strong premonition: this dinner tonight was probably going to go wrong.
But after all, he was Shinji, the man who dared to shout about being young and vigorous in front of hundreds of people.
After a brief moment of shock, he quickly adjusted his expression.
That shocked face instantly switched to a gentle, elegant smile, as if all of this was within his expectations.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”