"Tomorrow night is the deadline..."
Tohsaka Rin hugged her arms, her eyes lifeless.
"But... but..."
She had scoured through all the books in her home, but couldn't find any way to separate the Holy Grail Shard from Sakura's body.
Perhaps... only death could...
In that case, did she have to carry out her duty as the Manager of the Spiritual Land?
She buried her head deeply into her arms, unwilling to let anyone see her at her most vulnerable.
"The only thing I gained on my end was learning from Illya that Miss Firefly wouldn't be bound by Command Spells at all," Emiya Shirou's entire face slumped. "But..."
"It overlaps with our information, right?" Fujimaru Ritsuka sighed upon hearing this.
After listening to her, Emiya Shirou weakly lowered his head.
Was he really unable to do anything at all?
"We're out of options, everyone," Furina threw her hands up. "Except for Mash, all the Servants sitting here could be controlled at any moment... Honestly, if we want to save that young girl, there's only one path left."
"What path?" Hearing this, Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin raised their heads simultaneously, looking over with burning gazes.
"Depends on her conscience," Xia Yu spread her hands. "As long as she still has a conscience, everything will end perfectly."
"...You might as well have said nothing," Tohsaka Rin slumped back onto the table.
"Speaking of which, aren't you afraid of being held accountable by the Mages' Association?" Xia Yu looked at her, tilting her head. "This is a doomsday-level disaster, you know. You haven't reported it up the chain yet, have you?"
"Although I know you're doing it to save your sister's life..."
Hearing this, a figure in the next room trembled slightly.
"But, once this gets out, the Tohsaka Family will truly have to go down with Fuyuki City."
"I know," Tohsaka Rin raised her head and said coldly. "The matters between us sisters are none of an outsider's concern."
"Sakura... I've already wronged her enough... I absolutely cannot watch her be killed by the Mages' Association!"
"Even if the consequence is the destruction of the world?" Xia Yu asked, tilting her head.
"...Yes, I'm just a selfish jerk like that. Are you satisfied?" Tohsaka Rin said with a cold glare.
"Then, it's time for me to go as well," Xia Yu threw her hands up upon hearing this. "I'm going back to the Great Hollow beneath Mount Enzou to continue my research. Sigh, finishing the research on the Greater Grail System in just a few days is still too much of a stretch. To save time, I didn't even bring Caster out with me..."
"Tomorrow night is the deadline," hearing this, a glimmer of hope rekindled in Tohsaka Rin's eyes. "Can Caster..."
"No, don't even think about it," Xia Yu shook her head without hesitation. "I told you, there's only one way to save your sister: bet that her conscience is still intact."
"And what I've been doing from the very beginning is to ensure something else entirely."
She looked around and said, "That is, if she accidentally slips up, plays with fire and gets burned, and becomes infected by All the World's Evil, then I will immediately initiate a summoning using the Greater Grail System."
"I believe that under those circumstances, the scale of it won't be any smaller than the incident in South America. Tsk, dragging all the Grand Class down here might just give us a glimmer of hope."
"Simply put, my existence is just an insurance policy. Don't expect me to defy the heavens and change fate, everyone," she shrugged helplessly. "I'm just an ordinary person; I don't have the kind of power she does to do whatever she pleases."
"Oh right, in tomorrow's battle, anyone can die, except for Saber," Xia Yu looked at Artoria. "The Star-Forged Holy Sword in your hands was born to counter threats like this. No matter what, you must survive until the end, otherwise we won't be able to find a second Holy Sword Wielder."
"If things really take a turn for the absolute worst, we can only rely on the Grand Servants—who may or may not descend—and the Holy Sword in your hands, Artoria."
After saying that, she turned and left the Emiya Family home.
"Betting on someone else's conscience..." Hearing this, Tohsaka Rin lowered her head. "Heh..."
"Rin," just then, Archer, who had been silent all along, spoke up. "I... might have a way on my end. Although it can't save her, it can at least boost your combat power, so you won't collapse at the first strike in front of that person."
"What way?" Tohsaka Rin raised her head again.
"The ancestor of the Tohsaka Family, Nagato Tohsaka, was a disciple of Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, so you must have inherited the blueprints for that Jeweled Sword Zelretch," Archer said with a solemn expression. "My Projection Magecraft... might be able to help you obtain the legendary 'Jeweled Sword Zelretch'."
"...Although it will only be an imitation, even a fake has its uses."
"The Jeweled Sword Zelretch that can draw Magical Energy from a Parallel World, allowing oneself to constantly be in a state of infinite Magical Energy?" Hearing this, Tohsaka Rin's eyes lit up. "Even if it's a fake and can't be maintained permanently, just having it temporarily would be great!"
"It just so happens that I still have all those Gems she gave me... Tsk, Archer," she suddenly realized something and glared at Archer with an unkind look. "It seems like you've been hiding a lot of things!"
"I just remembered," Archer said without changing his expression.
"Forget it, I don't have time to bicker with you," Tohsaka Rin stared at him for a few seconds before standing up resolutely. "Emiya-kun, I need to go back and prepare. I'll leave Sakura to you."
"Take good care of her."
After saying that, she also turned and left the Emiya Family home.
Only Emiya Shirou and Artoria were left in the living room now.
"Shirou," looking at the silent Emiya Shirou, Artoria spoke up. "Tomorrow's battle..."
"Yeah, just do your best, Artoria," Emiya Shirou raised his head and forced a smile. "I'm sorry, I can't be of any help."
"My Magical Energy is still so low; I'm dragging you down."
"It doesn't matter if your Magical Energy is low, Shirou," hearing this, Artoria couldn't help but think of Emiya Kiritsugu and sighed. "As long as your character is fine."
Compared to the awkwardness of coordinating with Emiya Kiritsugu, Emiya Shirou was a much better person. At the very least, their opinions wouldn't clash.
"Thank you, Saber," hearing this, Emiya Shirou felt a warmth in his heart. He stood up and said, "I'm going to check on Sakura. Saber, you should get some rest."
"Tomorrow is the final battle, after all."
After saying that, he walked out of the living room and headed straight to Sakura's bedroom door.
But just as he raised his hand to pull the door open, he was suddenly hugged from behind.
"Senpai..." Matou Sakura's voice trembled slightly.
"Sakura?!" Emiya Shirou's mind went blank for a moment. "You're still not asleep?"
"Senpai... I'm so scared," Matou Sakura said, trembling. "I had a nightmare..."
"What nightmare?" Emiya Shirou forced a smile. He pulled away the arms hugging him, gently held her warm hands, and turned around to face her. "Don't worry, I'm here."
"In the dream, I became a very, very bad person," she said, her head lowered. "I wanted to kill people, I wanted to destroy, I wanted to ruin this world..."
"It's okay, Sakura," Emiya Shirou said gently. "I'll keep an eye on you."
"Senpai..." Matou Sakura kept her head down and said, "I've always been a bad girl... When I first came to your house, Grandfather forced me to come in order to spy on..."
"I don't care," Emiya Shirou held her hands tightly.
"I've been lying to you all along!"
"I don't care!"
"I'm no longer..."
"I don't care!" Emiya Shirou suddenly reached out and hugged Sakura. "I don't care about any of that, Sakura."
"I only care about you," a glimmer of tears flashed in his eyes. "From now on, Emiya Shirou will only be your Hero."
"Senpai..." Hearing this, Matou Sakura couldn't hold back anymore. She reached out, pushed him into the room, and kicked the door shut.
The next day, early morning.
"You..." Illya looked suspiciously at Matou Sakura, who was sitting across from her. "Why does it feel like you've become a completely different person?"
"Just your imagination, right?" Matou Sakura answered with a smile. "I've always been me."
"Tsk, that smile on your face is really gross," Illya frowned, then slammed her hand on the table as if she just realized something. "When it comes down to it, why are you showing up at my house at a time like this!"
"Yeah, I wonder why..." Matou Sakura looked at Xia Yu.
"Illya, let me teach you a lesson," Xia Yu patted Illya's head with a smile. "Never offend the cook, no matter who else you offend."
"The cook? Her?" Illya's eyes widened at this.
"Yes, this is the little chef I scouted for the house," Xia Yu patted Matou Sakura's shoulder seriously and said, "Don't worry, she's very capable."
"So, does that mean Leysritt is out of a job?" Illya turned to look at her in dissatisfaction.
"I've had enough Western food," Xia Yu shrugged. "For now at least, let Sakura be the head chef. Once we return to the Einzbern estate, you can eat Leysritt's cooking for as long as you want."
"Return..." Hearing this, Illya fell silent for two seconds. "What are you still pretending for? Return... I never had any chance to return..."
"You do, Illya, you do," Xia Yu interrupted her, speaking earnestly. "Not just returning; after tonight is over, you will be truly free. You can go wherever you want."
"Whether it's returning to inherit the Einzbern family or staying here to live with your younger brother, Emiya Shirou, you can do whatever you choose."
"What younger brother?" Illya said stubbornly.
"Heh, I wonder who's been constantly sticking by his side these past two days," Xia Yu said with a sidelong glance.
Upon hearing this, Illya's small face instantly flushed red.
As for Matou Sakura across from her, it was unknown what she was thinking, but she also blushed at the same time.
"Alright, just think of it as testing your future sister-in-law," Xia Yu patted her shoulder with a smile. "Just accept this little chef for now."
"What sister-in-law!" Illya expressed that she wasn't familiar with her at all.
"Sister-in-law or whatever..." Matou Sakura also muttered quietly, becoming visibly shy.
"Tsk," hearing this, Illya looked at her. She wanted to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.
"Hmph, eat it if you want," she tossed her head, stood up, and walked straight towards the door. "I'm not eating it!"
"Alright then, I won't save any breakfast for you," Xia Yu called out behind her.
Illya's back stiffened for a moment, then she became even more puffed up with anger, walking straight out the door without looking back.
"Still has the temper of a child," Xia Yu shook her head at this sight and said, "Now, it's your turn."
She looked at Matou Sakura.
"Not bad, Sakura, making such a decisive move," Xia Yu teased. "That guy Emiya Shirou... is truly blessed."
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Matou Sakura practically buried her head into her chest.
"Alright, let's pretend you don't understand," saying this, Xia Yu rhythmically tapped her fingers on the table. "Now, onto business. Last night at the park, you woke up, didn't you."
"...Yes," Matou Sakura's voice dropped even lower.
"So, you heard everything?"
"Mhm, I heard it all."
"Well then, what are your thoughts on the fact that you don't have long to live?" Xia Yu asked, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at her.
"...Miss Firefly," Matou Sakura's voice trembled. "It doesn't matter how you use me, but at least... at least spare Senpai and my sister..."
"I thought you had turned to the dark side and were going to fight me to the bitter end," Xia Yu shook her head.
It made sense. In the original plot, the reason Matou Sakura turned dark was due to a series of consecutive blows, compounded by her past misfortunes and the erosion from All the World's Evil.
"I don't have that kind of ability," hearing this, Matou Sakura grew even more despondent, clutching her chest. "This thing... has been constantly urging me to stay away from you."
"It's very afraid of you."
"Then why didn't you run?"
"...Senpai is still in this city," Matou Sakura was on the verge of tears. "If the world is destroyed... where could he possibly escape to?"
"I don't blame you, Miss Firefly. It's not your fault; you weren't the one who put that thing inside my body. It's just... before I die, could you promise me one request?"
"Kill it completely! I won't allow the world Senpai lives in to be destroyed!"
"Seriously, do you think I'm some huge villain?" Hearing this, Xia Yu reached across the table and directly pulled the crying young girl into a hug. "You're going to live. I guarantee it."
"...You don't need to comfort me," Matou Sakura sobbed. "Even my sister has no way..."
"How old is Tohsaka Rin anyway?" Xia Yu rolled her eyes at her and said, "You really have a bit too little faith in me."
"Now, answer my question. Do you want to die?"
"I don't want to die!" Hearing this, Matou Sakura cried out loudly amidst her sobs, "Even though... even though I finally managed to take a step further with Senpai and confirm our feelings, finally managed to ease the tension with my sister, finally managed to confirm that my sister still loves me... finally managed to escape the past..."
"With a brand new life right before my eyes... Miss Firefly, I really don't want to die!"
Hearing this, Xia Yu gently pinched her chin and lifted her head up.
"Call me Sister."
"Mhm, Sister Firefly," hot tears continued to fall from Sakura's eyes. "I don't want to die!"