It didn't take long for him to find a furnished apartment available for rent.
Just a few minutes later, Arthur had already taken care of everything and entered the place with Sakura.
"From now on, we'll live here. This will be our home."
Arthur gently stroked Sakura's head as he spoke in a soft voice.
"Our home…?"
"Yes. You don't need to worry about anything. Now come in—I need to explain a few things to you."
"…Mm."
After organizing the essentials inside the apartment, Arthur sat down with Sakura and began explaining the Holy Grail War.
Of course, he explained it in a very simple way so she could understand everything.
As the former second daughter of the Tohsaka family, she already had some basic knowledge about magecraft… and about the Holy Grail War itself.
At the very least, she knew that the father who had abandoned her would participate in that war.
"Arthur… do you really have to fight? Fight against other Servants… and against my father?"
Arthur gave a faint smile.
"Even if I didn't want to fight, the other Servants and their Masters would eventually come after me. So fighting is inevitable."
He paused briefly, looking at Sakura.
"But don't worry. I will win."
His eyes softened.
"…I understand." Sakura nodded, her face lighting up with a shy but genuinely happy smile.
After glancing at the time, Arthur spoke casually:
"Sakura, do you want to go out with me? Let's walk around Fuyuki… and have dinner at a nice restaurant. What do you think?"
Hearing that, Sakura's eyes lit up.
A pure and happy smile appeared on her face as she immediately moved closer to Arthur.
---
About a week passed after Arthur was summoned.
The day after his summoning, he bought a house for himself and Sakura to live in.
While watching the news on television, Arthur ate his breakfast with a calm expression. At first glance, he seemed almost indifferent—but behind that composed gaze, his mind had already moved far beyond the present.
During the night, he had activated his Sha Naqba Imuru, observing the many possible futures of this world.
And what he saw… was far from pleasant.
He discovered that his fate in this world was somehow deeply intertwined with that of several girls, all around Sakura's age.
No matter what he did, he would inevitably meet them.
But that alone wasn't the problem.
The real issue…
Was the futures that awaited each of those girls.
In nearly every future he saw, he encountered them in deplorable situations.
Arthur lightly rested his chin on his hand, his eyes fixed on the television, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
"…Misaki City, the Asakami and Tohno families… I'll have to go there to deal with this." he muttered to himself.
"Going to Europe will be relatively simple…" he added.
Over the course of that week, using the information gathered through his abilities, he managed to identify those girls.
A girl with long silver hair and golden eyes.
A girl with pale skin, blood-red eyes carrying a melancholic gaze, and long dark-purple hair.
And two small red-haired twins.
"Are we going now…?" Sakura asked, lying with her head resting on his lap.
Arthur looked down at her, his expression softening.
"Yes, Sakura. If we don't find them now… they might go through something very bad in the future."
Sakura puffed her cheeks slightly.
"But then I'll have less time with you," she said, annoyed.
Arthur laughed, placing his hand on her head and gently stroking it, as if soothing something fragile.
"You shouldn't worry about that… I want you to get along with them."
"…Yes." she replied, her cheeks still puffed.
Arthur chuckled and squeezed her cheek, making her release the air.
"Could you be any cuter?" he laughed, patting her head.
---
A few hours later, Arthur departed with Sakura.
Misaki City, Tohno Mansion.
Even if every combat-capable member of the family had attacked him at once, they would have been no match for Arthur.
One by one, they were defeated with overwhelming ease.
Holding Sakura's hand, Arthur walked forward unhurriedly, his steady footsteps echoing through the hallway as he completely ignored the fallen bodies around him.
Finally, he stepped over the unconscious patriarch of the Tohno family and opened the door to the main room.
Inside, two girls watched him.
They were twins.
One had amber eyes, while the other had emerald-green eyes.
Both looked at him with curiosity—but no fear. Perhaps there was even relief in their eyes.
Arthur crouched down to their level and extended his hand.
"Do you want to come with me?"
"I know you understand what would have happened here… so I'm asking you to just… trust me this time."
The two girls exchanged a silent glance.
And then, as if reaching a mutual understanding…
They extended their hands.
Their small palms touched Arthur's.
It was a firm hand—but strangely… comforting.
---
Asakami Residence.
A girl carrying a backpack looked at Arthur and the three girls behind him with a hollow, melancholic gaze.
She tilted her head slightly in confusion upon seeing them.
Arthur smiled.
"Your name is Fujino Asakami, right? Do you want to come with me?"
His voice remained as gentle as ever.
"I have a way to cure your condition and ensure you never have to go through that again."
The girl's pupils shrank for a moment upon hearing his words.
And then, without hesitation, she walked toward him.
---
In a small church in Europe.
A girl with white hair and golden eyes was sweeping the floor with a bored expression, clearly irritated about something.
Probably about still being stuck there.
"Why is that old man taking so long…?" she muttered.
At that moment, the door opened, and the priest entered alongside Arthur.
Behind him were the four girls.
"Caren,"
the priest said calmly.
"From today onward, you'll be living with him."
"…What?" Caren fell silent for a few seconds.
Her eyes then shifted to Arthur.
She analyzed him for a moment.
Wow, he's pretty handsome, she thought.
But then her gaze moved to Sakura.
The twins.
Fujino.
Then she smiled at Arthur.
"Tell me, do you have some kind of thing for little girls, or are you a trafficker?"
Arthur's expression froze instantly.
The veins on his forehead visibly twitched.
"Listen here, you brat…"
He took a deep breath, clearly irritated.
"I have zero interest in a child like you. I prefer mature women."
"Oh?" Caren tilted her head, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"Interesting."
She tossed the broom aside, as if she had no attachment to the place.
"Then I'll go with you."
She stepped forward.
"This looks like it'll be more fun."
"…Ah, of course."
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Thanks for the overwhelming respect."
Caren casually waved at the priest.
"Goodbye, old man. Even though you're a miser who kept me out of school just to save money… I admit you took care of me."
"You really have no filter at all…"
Arthur sighed.
Then, without warning, he placed his hand on her head and lightly ruffled her hair.
"Learn how to speak properly to your elders."
"…Hmph."
She didn't resist—but she didn't complain either.
Arthur then looked at all of them.
Sakura had already moved closer to the other girls, still shy… but clearly trying to befriend them.
That made Arthur smile.
"Well…"
He shrugged.
"From now on… you are our family."
"Family…?" Caren raised an eyebrow.
"Where are we going now?"
Arthur turned toward the exit.
His steps were firm.
Without hesitation.
"Japan."
"What?!"
---
(End of Chapter)
A/N: Anyone familiar with Tsukihime, Kara no Kyoukai, and Fate will understand the reasoning behind my actions with these girls.