Yuki nodded slightly.
"Yes," she answered simply. "If the patient just stays still… she won't get better quickly."
She fidgeted with the edge of her own shirt, a little hesitant, but continued nonetheless.
"On TV… they said you have to move. So your body can get strong again."
Her gaze lifted toward Kama.
There was still a trace of fear,
but now it was mixed with a small spark of determination.
"…I'll come with you."
Her voice was soft.
"…So… it's okay."
She paused for a moment, then added innocently,
"…Besides… there's a lot to see outside."
Her eyes brightened slightly once more.
"…Maybe Nee-san will be happier."
A brief silence.
Yuki stood up slowly. Then, hesitantly, she reached out her hand.
"…Do you want to?"
Kama didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze dropped to the small hand extended before her.
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Her expression remained as flat as usual, yet her eyes narrowed slightly—as if weighing something she didn't truly consider important.
"…Rehabilitation, huh…" she murmured softly.
Her tone sounded lazy.
"…Humans really do like making troublesome excuses for simple things."
Still—she didn't refuse.
Her gaze returned to Yuki.
She looked at the little girl, still standing with her hand outstretched, patiently waiting for an answer.
Another moment of silence.
"…If I refuse…" Kama continued softly,
"…you'd just keep insisting, right?"
Yuki didn't answer immediately.
But she didn't pull her hand back, and that alone was enough of an answer.
Kama let out a soft sigh.
"…Troublesome."
Finally, she raised her hand and touched Yuki's.
Her grip was light.
"…Alright."
Her tone remained casual.
"…I'll go along with your 'treatment.'"
She slowly rose from the sofa.
Her movements were graceful as always, as if carrying no burden at all.
Yet she didn't let go of Yuki's hand.
"…Don't blame me if this ends up boring," she added, glancing briefly at Yuki.
"…Because this is your idea."
Even so, she didn't release her hand.
A few moments later, the two of them stepped outside together.
***
Meanwhile, unaware of the game unfolding between Kama and Yuki, Kuro stood in a room near a window atop a building bathed in daylight.
In his hands, a telescope was aimed into the distance—specifically toward the Homurahara Academy area.
A cigarette rested between his lips.
White smoke slowly drifted upward, swirling briefly in the air… before disappearing without a trace.
"Hmm…" he murmured softly.
"Shirou Emiya's Command Spell is starting to become visible. Rin Tohsaka isn't at school today either."
He paused for a moment.
"Does that mean… the Grail War is about to begin?"
Slowly, Kuro lowered the telescope.
His red eyes with the tomoe—his Sharingan—were clearly visible, enhancing his vision.
But after a few seconds, the color faded.
His eyes returned to their normal black.
"But… when?" he continued quietly.
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
His mind worked quickly.
Over the past few days, he had actually wanted to ask the system about this.
However, he held back, as if he could already guess what kind of answer would be given.
More precisely, the excuse that would be used to avoid giving a definitive response.
Kuro exhaled.
"…Well, it doesn't matter," he finally said. "At least I tried."
He opened his eyes again.
"System," he said calmly. "How much longer until the Grail War begins?"
Ding!
A notification appeared.
[System detected: The Grail War will begin soon.]
[Additional information…]
[Master named Illyasviel von Einsbern has already summoned a Heroic Spirit.]
[Master named Bazett Fraga McRemitz will summon a Heroic Spirit tonight.]
[Master named Sakura Matou will summon a Heroic Spirit tonight.]
[Master named Atrum Galliasta will summon a Heroic Spirit in three days.]
[Master named Rin Tohsaka will summon a Heroic Spirit in seven days.]
[Magus named Shirou Emiya will become a Master in eight days.]
Kuro remained silent for a few seconds.
"…Not exactly the answer I wanted," he muttered flatly.
He rubbed his temple slowly.
"But… it's close enough."
His gaze returned to the view outside the window.
"…So the reference point isn't 'when the war begins'…"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…but rather 'when the Heroic Spirits appear'."
He exhaled slowly.
"Tonight and in two days, huh…"
His voice was low. Thinking.
"…That means I also have to plan for survival."
He lowered his hands.
His expression returned to its usual flatness.
"Just as I suspected… the system is stingy with direct answers."
A brief silence.
But this time—no complaints.
"…But it's enough."
His gaze sharpened.
"Information like this… is actually more useful."
Kuro slowly inhaled his cigarette, then exhaled the smoke into the air.
"Yeah… speaking of useful," he said flatly. "Hopefully tonight's check-in gives me something worthwhile… not like Hysteria Savant Syndrome."
He massaged his temple lightly.
"…Because of that, I've been a mess."
A brief pause.
"…Twice with Kama…" he murmured quietly. "With multiple rounds… the total wasn't exactly small."
He let out a small sigh.
Then he lowered his hands, pulled the cigarette from his lips, and stubbed it out.
Not long after, he retrieved another cigarette from the Gate of Babylon and lit it again.
Slowly, he inhaled, exhaling a thin stream of smoke into the air.
"Speaking of that…" he said flatly. "What is that 'succubus' goddess doing with Yuki? Hopefully, it's nothing strange."
A mix of curiosity—and a little concern—arose.
Kuro then used his contract as a Master to see through Kama's eyes.
His vision shifted.
From Kama's perspective, he saw herself walking in the park with Yuki.
"Hmm…" he murmured softly. "At least… nothing looks strange."
He continued to observe.
After a short while, the two stopped.
"What now…?"
Kama lowered her body, matching Yuki's height.
There, Yuki checked Kama's heartbeat again.
And—her reaction changed drastically.
Her expression tensed.
Her eyes widened.
Her expression was like someone who had just discovered something extremely serious.
"…Huh?"
Kuro furrowed his brow slightly.
Through that perspective, he saw Yuki suddenly panic.
Without saying much, the little girl grabbed Kama's hand and hurriedly pulled her back toward the house.
Kuro remained silent.
"…What exactly are they doing…?"
Before he could process it further—his phone rang.
The screen displayed the name: Yuki.
Kuro raised a thin eyebrow and picked up the phone.
"Yes?"
On the other end, a small voice trembled.
"…Oji-san…!"
Her tone was panicked.
Slightly out of breath.
"…Th-the… disease… it… it can't… be… cured…"
Kuro went silent.
His brow furrowed.
Yuki continued, still stammering, struggling to form words that were too complicated for her.
"…b-but… the doctor… the doctor will… t-try… their hardest…!"
"…a-and… do their best…!"
A brief silence.
"…Now… Doctor Yuki is going to o-operate… eh? Surgery!"
Click.
The call ended.
Kuro still held the phone.
Silent.
A few seconds passed.
"…Huh?"
His expression remained flat.
But it was clear: he was confused.
"…Operate? Surgery?"
He glanced at the phone screen for a moment.
Then slowly lowered it.
"…What exactly… are they playing at?"
Not long after, cold sweat began to form on Kuro's brow.
He slowly inhaled from his cigarette, then exhaled several times with long pauses between each puff.
Silent.
A moment later, he turned away from the window.
This time, his attention was no longer on observing the city—but on something far more troubling in his mind.
The game… that the two of them were playing.
***
Once he arrived home, Kuro immediately rushed to the living room.
The moment he arrived—he froze.
The scene before him… explained everything.
On the floor, Kama was lying down, her body covered with a white cloth like a patient on an operating table.
Next to her, a desk lamp was turned on, directed at Kama's body as a "surgical light."
Meanwhile, nearby, there was a small tray filled with various plastic tools—toy scissors, tweezers, and other doctor-like instruments.
And there stood Yuki, with a very serious expression.
"…Oji-san," she called.
Kuro remained silent for a few seconds, trying to process the situation.
"…So this… is an surgery, huh," he murmured softly.
He let out a small sigh.
Then he massaged his temples.
"All right…"
His voice was flat, as usual.
"…At least it's nothing dangerous."
Elsewhere, Kama glanced at Kuro, still in the "patient" position.
Her expression was neutral.
"…Welcome, Master-san."
Her tone was casual, as if nothing about the situation was unusual.
"…I'm being surgery on."
Kuro stared at her for a few seconds.
"…It shows," he replied briefly.
Yuki stepped a little closer.
Her face was still full of seriousness.
"…Uncle, help Doctor Yuki."
The request was spoken with a tone full of responsibility.
Kuro looked at her.
A brief silence.
Then he sighed.
"…All right."
Without much protest, he walked over and crouched beside the "surgery table."
Yuki immediately looked slightly relieved.
"Uncle, hold this," she said, handing him one of the plastic tools.
Kuro took it.
"…What's this for?"
"…To help with the surgery," came the simple answer.
Kuro just nodded slowly.
"…Understood."
And so the game began.
Yuki started "surgery" with full concentration, while Kuro assisted as instructed—handing her tools, directing the "lamp," and occasionally responding seriously as if it were a real medical procedure.
In the middle of it, Kuro glanced briefly at Yuki.
A thought crossed his mind.
"…Seems like… I need to start limiting the TV shows she watches."
His tone of thought was flat.
Yet it was clear enough.
Meanwhile, Kama, lying down, just stared at the ceiling.
Silent.
But—she didn't resist.
Even as the game went on for quite a while, she allowed everything to proceed.
As if—for now, she didn't mind being the "patient" in Yuki's little world.
___
Author's Note:
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