Even after returning to the Emiya Family home, Tohsaka Rin was still fixated on that gem.
"Rin, that's enough," Archer reminded her, unable to watch any longer.
"But the quality of that gem was truly..." Tohsaka Rin spoke weakly. "It's a rare find in the world, absolutely peerless... If I could get my hands on it, I feel like I could..."
"Get your hands on it? Are you already plotting a robbery?" Emiya Shirou was greatly shocked. "Tohsaka-san... we just formed an alliance, didn't we?"
"A slip of the tongue, just a slip of the tongue," Tohsaka Rin looked away. "Ahem, let's talk business."
"I'll go find Kirei and have him issue a crusade quest. Emiya-kun, you go see how Sakura is doing now. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, no problem." Hearing this, Emiya Shirou looked at the residence opposite his own home and nodded with a heavy expression.
"Say, how can you be so honest?" Seeing this, Tohsaka Rin couldn't quite hold it together. She sighed and said, "Taking on such an obviously risky task without any hesitation—aren't you afraid I'm just making an excuse to send you to your death?"
"Tohsaka-san isn't that kind of person." Emiya Shirou reached up and scratched his head. "I trust you, and I don't think they'll necessarily make a move against me..."
"Shinji Matou just died right in front of you," Tohsaka Rin said, crossing her arms. "Don't be too naive. This is the Holy Grail War. Even if we win until the end, we'll eventually have to face each other with blades drawn."
"That's a matter for later," Emiya Shirou smiled brilliantly. "At least for now, I trust Tohsaka-san."
"You..." Seeing this, Tohsaka Rin felt as if her soul were being scorched by his radiant smile. She turned her head away, unconsciously reaching up to twirl her ponytail with her finger.
"Saber, you say something too," she changed the subject. "Don't let this guy stay so naive."
"In fact, I do not believe there is anything wrong with Shirou's way of thinking," Artoria shook her head. "You are indeed a trustworthy ally; you have already proven this with your actions. It is an indisputable fact."
"To plan how to betray a covenant before victory has even been won is not the Way of the Knight!"
She truly thought so. Participating in this Holy Grail War was much more pleasant than the last time. She didn't have to scheme against her Master, nor did she have to worry about being backstabbed. Aside from the Mana Supply being a bit problematic, she was very satisfied.
There is no pain without comparison.
"Wait, why are you also..." Tohsaka Rin was completely dumbfounded. "Forget it. Being summoned by this guy, I shouldn't have had high expectations for you."
"Two idiots for justice. Thank goodness Miss Firefly is honorable and upright," she sighed and said. "Otherwise, with just your personalities, you'd be destined to suffer a great loss in the Holy Grail War..."
"Also, remember to go buy some videos. We still need to find Miss Firefly's True Name, even if it's from TV shows. Argh! If only Archer wasn't so useless, it wouldn't be this much trouble!"
She shot a look of disdain at her Servant. "Can't you really remember? Archer!"
"I truly have no memory of her," Archer said, unable to defend himself. He was starting to doubt whether he actually knew this person.
If he didn't know her and it was just a psychological tactic, it didn't feel right. Her familiarity with him wasn't fake; she even knew his plans and used them to tease him. Besides, with her strength, she didn't need something like a sowing-discord tactic.
But if he did know her, he didn't have the slightest impression... or was it from some other Holy Grail War?
"Perhaps... we met in a situation similar to a Holy Grail War," he could only speculate. "So I don't have the corresponding memories. As for why she remembers... perhaps she wasn't a Servant at that time?"
"Hmph, to know a Servant so well," Tohsaka Rin scanned him up and down. "She couldn't be your former Master, could she?"
"Rin, if we're talking about 'former,' you're the one in front," Archer said righteously. "Since she's from the future, no matter how you look at it, she comes after!"
"Hiss, that makes sense," Tohsaka Rin nodded. "But if that's the case... then aren't you completely unreliable?"
"...I am a Servant after all," Archer said speechlessly. "I can at least take a few hits."
"Sigh, forget it, let's not talk about this," he said wearily. "Let's head out, Rin."
"Alright, we're going." Before leaving, Tohsaka Rin looked worriedly at the residence across the street. "Emiya-kun... check on Sakura for me, okay?"
"Yeah, I will," the latter nodded.
Tohsaka Rin sighed and left with Archer.
Emiya Shirou wanted to ask why she cared so much about Sakura, but looking at her lonely back, he couldn't find a way to ask.
In the end, he could only walk silently toward the opposite gate.
But before he could reach out to knock, a snowball hit him square in the face from above.
"What..." Emiya Shirou quickly wiped the snow off his face. In the next moment, another snowball flew toward him.
"You're... Miss Illya?" Emiya Shirou quickly reached out to block it.
"Why the gloomy face, Big Brother?" Illya hid the snowball she had just made behind her back and flashed a sweet smile at him. "Is something bothering you?"
"Me?" Emiya Shirou was a bit taken aback. "Yeah, I guess there is..."
He looked at the gate in front of him. What else could it be?
Illya... On the side, Artoria frowned deeply upon hearing that name.
She had always assumed this was a new Homunculus created by Einzbern, but that name she used to introduce herself last night...
Because a great enemy was before them, she hadn't had a chance to ask.
Fortunately, she had finally found an opportunity.
"Illya... you said your name is Illya, right?" Artoria asked, looking at her.
But Illya ignored her completely. "Say, Big Brother, let's go find a place to chat for a bit."
"Just the two of us."
"Sorry, Illya," Emiya Shirou hesitated for two seconds and then said, "I have things to do..."
"I'm Berserker's Master," Illya interrupted him, her smile still sweet. "Are you sure you won't come, Big Brother?"
"...Where to?" Emiya Shirou said helplessly.
"Hmm, I remember there's a small pavilion up ahead," Illya said, hopping down from the eaves and landing in front of him. "Let's go over there. Just us two."
"Saber, wait for me at home then," Emiya Shirou thought for a moment and then turned to tell Artoria, since the other girl clearly didn't want to deal with her.
"But, your safety..." Artoria wanted to say something, but on the other side, the gate had already opened.
"Yo, Artoria," Xia Yu easily called out her True Name and waved at her. "Long time no see. I haven't found a chance to catch up with you until now."
"Come on in. It's cold outside."
Seeing this, Artoria looked at Emiya Shirou, then helplessly chose to follow her in.
"Say, Big Brother, let's go," Illya said with a smile, skipping ahead. Emiya Shirou had no choice but to follow her.
With Sakura in their hands, he had to be obedient.
By rights, Illya should be older than him, shouldn't she? Xia Yu held Artoria's hand and watched from a distance. Tell me, how can she say 'Big Brother' to her own younger brother with a straight face...
"So, did Einzbern leave records about me?" Artoria didn't answer, but asked in return.
"Records? Perhaps," Xia Yu said noncommittally. "But they were probably all burned to a crisp by my sword."
"Can't I truly just know you?"
"But I do not know you," Artoria's expression was serious. "It is not just you; Archer's reaction did not seem like a lie, and he does not know you either. It is only you who claims to know us."
"Perhaps you do not know, but I can actually retain my memories..."
"Because you signed a contract with Alaya, you are currently maintained in a state between life and death," Xia Yu said casually as she led her toward the living room. "So you can keep your memories. The price is that you cannot perform Spiritualization, right?"
"..." Hearing this, Artoria began to feel uncertain.
To know her so well... she recalled Archer's speculation.
"So, you met us in our future, correct?"
"You've finally realized," Xia Yu smiled with relief. "Sella, tea! Bring the good tea!"
"Please," Sella immediately came over carrying a tray with freshly brewed black tea.
"A person from the future... that's cheating," Artoria frowned.
"As I thought, you're cuter like this," Xia Yu smiled. "The you who called herself the Lion King really made me break into a cold sweat."
"Lion King?!" Artoria frowned. "I have no such title."
"That's why I said she only called herself that," Xia Yu replied casually. "Her True Name is actually Goddess Rhongomyniad."
"Rhongomyniad?" Artoria froze. "Isn't that my lance?"
"She is one of your possibilities. Because Bedivere did not return the Holy Sword, you, who should have passed away, continued to exist in the form of holding the Holy Spear. The erosion of divinity transformed her into Goddess Rhongomyniad," Xia Yu smiled. "In the Sixth Singularity, she summoned the Knights of the Round Table to suppress the rebellion and established the Holy City, Camelot. She gave us quite a headache for a while."
"Goddess Rhongomyniad..." Artoria stood dazed on the spot, her mind unable to keep up.