No more pain.
For Matou Sakura, these were words of incomparable temptation. During the period when she first arrived at the Matou Family and still harbored hope in her heart, she had fantasized countless times that perhaps her parents had indeed abandoned her, but that omnipotent sister she had always admired would absolutely never abandon her. To Matou Sakura, she was the most important person.
Before coming to the Matou Family, Tohsaka Rin had given her own hair ribbon to Matou Sakura. This was the only parting gift Matou Sakura had received. In the terrifying Matou household, she had fantasized more than once that her sister would save her like a hero, taking her away from the Matou Family.
That was why she wore Tohsaka Rin's hair ribbon on her head like a precious treasure; even in a certain future route where she fell into darkness, she still never took that hair ribbon off.
"The Tohsaka Family and the Matou Family, as ancient allies, have a non-aggression pact. Sakura, now that you have gone to the Matou Family, you must cut off all contact with Rin. This may be difficult for you, but I hope you do not forget that you were once a daughter of the Tohsaka Family."
Confronted by Akatsuki's words, the words Tohsaka Tokiomi had spoken echoed in Matou Sakura's mind. She desperately suppressed the fluttering in her heart, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her skirt.
Matou Sakura lowered her head, not daring to look at Akatsuki.
Even though she was already deep within a vortex of despair, and even though she knew that accepting Akatsuki's invitation wouldn't lead to treatment worse than what she had now, Matou Sakura was still suppressing her inner heart. What bound Matou Sakura were the requirements from her former parents and the shackles of Matou Zouken.
And now Matou Zouken was dead, leaving only the requirements from her parents.
Seeing that Matou Sakura had no reaction for a long time, Akatsuki smiled. She knew she had to give Matou Sakura some strong medicine.
"Matou Zouken is dead, which means the Matou Family now belongs to me. Since you don't intend to become something that belongs to me, then congratulations, you are free."
Every word from Akatsuki was like a sharp steel blade, piercing Matou Sakura's heart, causing the emotions that were clearly about to be unsealed to be tossed back and forth.
"However, freedom comes with a price. Sakura, you've been abandoned again. The Matou Family doesn't need you anymore either."
Akatsuki spoke softly to Matou Sakura, her voice calm and elegant, yet carrying a hint of lament and temptation.
"Of course, even if you returned to the Tohsaka Family, Tohsaka Tokiomi would probably only feel troubled. He would just send you to another magus family. The feeling of being pushed around isn't pleasant."
"Sakura, you never had any room for choice from the start. You only have, and can only choose, me!"
Akatsuki lifted Matou Sakura's chin once more, but this time Matou Sakura did not resist. Akatsuki also stepped forward a few paces, emerging from the darkness into the moonlight, where Matou Sakura finally saw Akatsuki's face clearly.
Akatsuki smiled, and then, without any sense of guilt, she spoke words to the still-tender young girl that sounded like those of a perverted scumbag.
"There is no need to think or worry. From now on, you only need to follow my will. Akatsuki needs Matou Sakura—you only need to remember this one point. I wish to become your everything."
"Your meaning is to exist for my sake, and you can only belong to me."
Immediately, a sensation of weightlessness came over her. By the time Matou Sakura snapped back to her senses, she was already in the air above the Matou estate.
Akatsuki reached out her hand and pressed down toward the Matou estate. In the next moment, the entire Matou estate was directly destroyed. Accompanied by a massive roar, the Matou Family home that had stood in Fuyuki City for hundreds of years was now completely demolished.
While Matou Sakura was in shock, a Chinese-style ancient residence far surpassing the Matou estate rose from the ground. Akatsuki, modeling it after the style of the Ye Family ancestral home in her memories, used Marble Phantasm to recreate this ancient residence.
"Little Sakura."
Hearing Akatsuki call her, Matou Sakura immediately looked at Akatsuki.
Akatsuki reached out and stroked Matou Sakura's cheek, following it until she touched the hair ribbon Tohsaka Rin had given her. After thinking for a moment, Akatsuki withdrew her hand; after all, this was the only gift Tohsaka Rin had left for Matou Sakura, and destroying it felt a bit like doing Rin a disservice.
So, Akatsuki turned her hand over, and magical energy gathered in her palm. The power of Phantasm took root in Akatsuki's palm, and a blooming cherry blossom appeared out of thin air in her hand.
To be honest, Matou Sakura perfectly met Akatsuki's expectations. After Ye Keer died, she had no interest in looking for a suitable candidate, which was why that interest had been shelved.
"When you see this flower, it is as if I am seeing you."
Akatsuki's hand passed through Matou Sakura's hair, pinning that cherry blossom onto the hair ribbon Tohsaka Rin had given her. When Akatsuki withdrew her hand, the cherry blossom suddenly crumbled on its own, its many stars transforming into a hair ribbon that tied itself around Matou Sakura's hair.
Matou Sakura subconsciously picked up the hanging end of the ribbon. It felt incredibly delicate to the touch, like the finest silk. On the end of the ribbon, short words were inscribed—Akatsuki.
In the next moment, tears filled Matou Sakura's eyes. Her voice carried a hint of a sob, yet she tried hard to look at Akatsuki with a smile.
"Receiving something important from an important person—this is already the second time."
Her closed-off heart was gradually opening. Akatsuki reached out her hand toward Matou Sakura. Unlike before, this time Matou Sakura proactively grasped Akatsuki's hand.
Matou Sakura placed her small, soft, boneless hand—one that could be entirely enveloped by Akatsuki's—into Akatsuki's palm.
For Tohsaka Rin, who was more mature than others her age, Akatsuki's words would likely have been hard-pressed to move her heart, because she possessed everything and naturally had no need to seek out such ethereal promises.
However, for Matou Sakura, who had been abandoned, abused, was unable to return to a normal life, had no place to belong, and had nothing and could do nothing, it was completely different.
What does such a young girl desire most?
—To be needed.
Whether it was a good person or a bad person, a human or a Dead Apostle, as long as they could move her heart during Matou Sakura's most vulnerable and desperate moment and give her a reason to keep living, then even if what lay ahead was a boundless hell, Matou Sakura would still follow Akatsuki regardless of the cost.
Matou Sakura lifted her eyes to gaze at Akatsuki under the bright moonlight. At this moment, only Akatsuki existed in her eyes. Her long-held endurance, pain, and suppressed emotions turned into teardrops welcoming a new life, falling away along with her meaningless past memories.
"Lord Akatsuki."
Under the moonlight, the girl's ethereal voice rang out. She had already made up her mind; even if she returned to the Tohsaka Family, she would only be sent to another magus family again, and the Akatsuki before her who chose her was undoubtedly her best choice.
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