The morning sun slipped through the gaps in the curtains, casting fragmented light upon the floor.
Just before the alarm clock on the bedside table was about to ring, Aozaki Rin, who had been resting in bed, seemed to be awakened by his internal body clock and promptly reached out to turn it off.
As his consciousness gradually returned, several paper cranes decorated with eye patterns, which had been placed near his pillow, began to float as if drawn by some unseen force. They drifted around the room and pushed the wheelchair from the corner over to his bed.
Rin calmly sat up, took the prosthetic Mystic Codes from the wheelchair, and attached them to his legs. After ensuring that the Magic Circuits in his body were functioning normally, he got out of bed and began to walk like any other person.
This was, more or less, the beginning of his every day.
Similarly, after living in Fuyuki City for nearly three months, he had grown accustomed to his new home.
Relying on the outline of the external environment formed in his mind through the calculations of his paper cranes and Magic Circuits, Aozaki Rin finished washing up and headed towards the dining room.
As expected, even before he got close, the rich aroma of cooked food, accompanied by the sizzling sound of frying, was already wafting down the hallway.
"Good morning, Father, Sister."
As usual, Sajou Hiroki was in the dining room holding a newspaper, his face impassive. It seemed less like he was reading and more like he was deep in thought, his gaze slightly adrift. It wasn't until the young man's voice sounded that he gave a slight nod in response.
In the kitchen, Sajou Manaka, wearing a Western-style dress and a pure white apron, heard the young man's greeting. While keeping an eye on the skillet, she turned her head and smiled.
"Good morning, Rei. Breakfast is almost ready. Why don't you have a seat for a moment?"
"Okay."
Aozaki Rin nodded and sat down at the dining table.
Come to think of it, in the past, his adoptive father had always prepared the family's three daily meals. He wasn't sure when, but at some point, his adoptive sister had taken over this duty. Rin recalled that the situation at home had changed to this shortly after he and the girl started sleeping in separate rooms.
However, he couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but Rin felt that the atmosphere this morning was a bit strange. But dwelling on this indescribable feeling didn't seem to have much point. Besides, at that moment, Sajou Manaka emerged from the kitchen carrying the prepared breakfast, pulling him from his thoughts.
The breakfast was a rather ordinary combination of Japanese and Western styles. The taste was not much different from usual, though there were faint signs of improvement.
As always, Aozaki Rin ate every last bite of the food, praising Sajou Manaka's cooking skills, which brought a satisfied smile to the girl's face. Beside them, Sajou Hiroki drank his coffee alone.
—Peaceful and unchanging. This was the daily routine of the Sajou family.
The young man had thought that today would be the same as any other, and that afterward, he would simply go to the family's "botanical garden" to practice his magecraft.
But suddenly, as if he had prepared himself, Sajou Hiroki—prompted by a look from his daughter who was smiling at Rin—let out a helpless sigh in his heart. He gave an abrupt cough and asked in a feigned, perplexed tone.
"...Speaking of which, what's that 'pattern' on the back of your hand, Manaka?"
"Eh? 'Pattern'? What 'pattern'?"
Sajou Manaka blinked blankly, as if she didn't understand what her father was talking about. It was only when she followed his gaze to the back of her left hand that she saw three crimson marks, resembling an angel spreading its wings. Surprise filled her lovely face.
"I don't know either... I don't think it was there yesterday. When did it appear?"
The girl's voice was filled with obvious confusion, as if she truly had no idea why it was there.
Listening to their conversation, Aozaki Rin was momentarily stunned, then asked with a hint of concern.
"Did something happen, Sister?"
"It's nothing, I just seem to have run into something strange..."
Sajou Manaka shook her head with a light laugh, as if enjoying the young man's concern. At the same time, Sajou Hiroki, sitting opposite her, spoke as if he had just remembered something, his tone stiff with feigned realization.
"This crest, and the fact that we're in Fuyuki City... Don't tell me you've been drawn into the Holy Grail War, Manaka?"
"The Holy Grail War?"
Aozaki Rin blinked, confused, unable to comprehend the term. The magecraft knowledge he had studied did not include this subject.
However, he was familiar with the term "Holy Grail." But the word "War" that followed gave him a very bad feeling.
"To put it simply, it's a ritual where a total of seven magi each summon a Servant and compete against each other until a final victor emerges. That victor will obtain the Holy Grail, which can grant any wish."
"Although I'd heard rumors that a ritual like this was held in Fuyuki, I never imagined we'd run into it right after moving here..."
As if delivering the performance of a lifetime, Sajou Hiroki's brow furrowed with a rare weariness after reciting the long line. But he had no choice. His daughter had begged him to cooperate in this little play. After all, he knew that if she had proposed participating in the Holy Grail War on her own, his adoptive son would never have agreed.
As expected, just as the man's voice fell, Aozaki Rin's brow tightened in a deep frown. He said worriedly.
"Doesn't that mean this is an incredibly dangerous ritual..."
Although he didn't quite believe that anything could grant any wish, Rin understood that under the allure of such an object, some people would stop at nothing, and even a small misstep could bring fatal danger to the participants.
"This ritual is far too unsafe. Since you were drawn into it by accident, let's just withdraw, Sister."
However, in response to Rin's suggestion, Sajou Manaka did not agree. Instead, she hesitated, biting her lip, and replied in a pleading tone.
"But didn't Father say that the final victor of this ritual gets a chance to make a wish... I want to try, just for a little bit."
"But is something like that really possible... Do you have a wish you want to fulfill, Sister?"
Not quite understanding why his adoptive sister would want to participate when she had only been dragged into it, Aozaki Rin could only guess it had to do with her wish. But after so many years together, he truly didn't know what kind of "obsessive" desire his sister might have. Usually, aside from her concern for him, she seemed rather indifferent to everything else.
"Yes, I do. And it's a very important and very secret wish."
Sajou Manaka patted the young man's head and smiled, tilting her head slightly. She knew his resolve was already wavering. The first step of her plan was complete.
"That's why I want to give it a try. If it really doesn't work out, we can always withdraw then."
Aozaki Rin's brow was furrowed with worry. He asked with concern.
"Are you sure you'll be okay, Sister?"
"Don't worry. No matter what, your big sister is a genius when it comes to magecraft. I at least have a small chance of winning."
Signaling the young man not to worry, a gentle smile graced the corners of Sajou Manaka's eyes.
But after a moment of silence, Aozaki Rin muttered to himself.
"No, it's still too dangerous."
"If you absolutely must participate, Sister, then let me assist you. An extra person means extra security. I will definitely protect you until we can withdraw safely."
Aozaki Rin said seriously, taking one of the girl's hands in both of his, as if making a solemn vow.
Seeing the young man's earnest expression as he chose to protect her because of her willfulness, Sajou Manaka, who had just been casually patting his head to comfort him, felt her heart inexplicably race at the warmth spreading from her hand.
She averted her gaze slightly, tucking a strand of golden hair behind her ear. A few seconds later, as if she had readjusted herself to the position of the "one in control," she smiled gently.
"In that case, I'll be counting on you, Rei. But isn't it a bit pessimistic to aim for withdrawal from the very beginning? Hehe..."
The girl's soft laughter and the young man's earnest words echoed in the dining room. Watching this scene unfold, Sajou Hiroki, who seemed to have sensed something, felt an inexplicable wave of exhaustion.
-------
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