The door slammed open.
"BREAKFAAAAAST!"
Shirō flinched as Fuji-Nee practically exploded into the room, arms raised as if she were announcing a world war. The sheer force of her voice rattled the windows.
"Shirō, I demand breakfast!" she declared with the confidence of a true freeloader.
Rin, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly choked. "Fujiwara-sensei?! What the hell are you doing here?"
Fuji-Nee paused, eyes narrowing at Rin as if she'd only just noticed her existence. "Eh? Tohsaka-san? What are you doing here?"
Archer, invisible in his astral form, watched the scene unfold, casually chewing on a piece of bread.
Rin crossed her arms, staring at the older woman with a suspicious look. "No, really, Fujiwara-sensei, what are you doing here? What was that about breakfast? Don't you make your own breakfast? Or are you just some kind of freeloading parasite?"
Fuji-Nee scoffed, puffing up like an offended housecat. "Of course not! I was totally here to check up on Emiya's cousin! Right, Saber-chan?"
Shirō, who was already at the stove preparing food, glanced back, smiling innocently. "Of course."
Rin narrowed her eyes.
Fuji-Nee beamed. "See? Saber-chan understands! But, uh…" She glanced between Shirō and Rin again, her face darkening with suspicion. "What are you doing here at Emiya Shirō's house? Aren't you a freeloader, Tohsaka-san?"
Rin recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "Excuse me?!"
Shirō, to her credit, kept her focus on the food.
Rin regained her composure, sitting up straight with a very smug smirk. "Saber is indebted to me for life."
Fuji-Nee blinked. "Oh?"
"Indeed," Rin continued, flicking a strand of hair behind her shoulder. "I saved her life."
Fuji-Nee squinted. "Oh? How, pray tell?"
Rin's smirk twitched. "None of your business, sensei."
A long, painfully awkward silence followed.
The only sounds in the room were the faint sizzle of food on the stove and Archer's muffled chewing in the background.
Eventually, Shirō placed breakfast on the table, her cooking as immaculate as ever—golden tamagoyaki, steaming miso soup, freshly made rice, and crispy grilled fish.
Despite the tension, neither Rin nor Fuji-Nee were the type to refuse good food.
So they ate.
And stared at each other.
And ate.
And stared.
By the time the plates were cleared, Fujiwara Taiga stood up, brushing off her clothes.
"Well," she said, stretching, "this was fun!" She clapped a hand on Shirō's shoulder. "As always, Saber-chan, your cooking is divine. Don't ever get married, so I can keep eating here for free!"
"That's a terrible thing to say," Shirō muttered.
"Eh, whatever! Thanks for the meal!" Fuji-Nee shot Rin one last side-eye before strutting toward the door. "Tohsaka-san, I see you."
Rin rolled her eyes. "Congratulations, sensei. You have functional eyesight."
Fuji-Nee smirked. "Later!" And just like that, she was gone.
Shirō sighed, rubbing her temples.
Rin exhaled deeply, sipping her tea. "Your guardian is absolutely insane."
"You get used to it," Shirō muttered.
Archer materialized, arms crossed, still chewing on his bread. "Honestly, Saber, I almost feel sorry for you."
Shirō shot him a deadpan look. "You're still eating?"
"Of course." He smirked. "Your cooking is divine, after all."