Under the evening sun, the red glow of the setting sun shone on Shirou, outlining his silhouette even more clearly.
This day, no one would ever forget.
No matter how many years passed, they would remember that once, there was a young boy, facing the setting sun, shedding his sweat.
On his face, there was no pain, no discouragement, and no joy of success. There was only the persistence of repeatedly challenging his limits, again and again.
At that moment, his entire being seemed to be burning, burning to the end, leaving behind only white ash.
———
"Onii-chan, what happened today? You didn't meet up with Miyu all day at school, and even when school ended and you went to do high jump, you didn't say a word to Miyu, making her wait for so long."
Pouting Miyu was super cute.
If possible, Shirou wanted to take a picture, but for now, comforting her was more important. Otherwise, little sister-chan would really be angry.
"Sorry, Miyu," Shirou reached out his sinful right hand and thoroughly messed up Miyu's head, "Onii-chan went to check out clubs today and made two new friends in class. It wouldn't be right to just leave them behind."
"As for the high jump, maybe I just wanted to see if it would help find a girlfriend?"
"Huh?", A question mark popped out above Miyu's head, "What does high jump have to do with finding a girlfriend?"
"Who knows," Shirou scratched his head, "Maybe your Onii-chan's brain is broken."
Miyu sighed, "Really, if Onii-chan's brain is broken, then Miyu will just have to take care of him."
"Really? Miyu is the best!",nShirou felt that even if the high jump didn't attract anyone, it was still worth it.
As long as he had Miyu, that was enough.
'I only want Miyu.'
Seeing her brother so happy, Miyu also smiled, "But Onii-chan finally made friends other than Ryudou-senpai. That's great."
"Yeah, they're both pretty cute," Shirou's mood today was fairly good.
"Cute?", Miyu's expression changed slightly, testing the waters, "Are they both girls?"
"Yes."
"Cuter than Miyu?"
"No way, Miyu is the cutest in the world," She was quite satisfied with this answer, but asked again, "Then does Onii-chan like one of them or both?"
"Of course I like both," Shirou smiled, "Because they're both really cute."
Miyu was shocked, "Onii-chan, that's not okay, right? Liking two and all."
"Of course not," Shirou smiled, "What I mean by 'like' is admiration, not the romantic kind of like. What are you thinking, Miyu?"
"You're the one!", Miyu's face turned red and she turned her head away, "Saying things that are easily misunderstood."
"Don't worry, Miyu, Onii-chan's favorite will always be you."
"Really?", Miyu clenched the hem of her skirt.
"Really," Shirou promised.
Miyu smiled happily, sneaking a glance at Shirou… and at his hand.
Today she didn't want to just cling to Onii-chan's arm, she wanted to hold his hand, what should she do?
Just as she was struggling with whether to go for it or not, Shirou asked, "Miyu, didn't you make a new friend today? Who was it?"
"Mm," Miyu snapped back to reality, temporarily giving up on the idea of holding hands, "Onii-chan probably doesn't know her. She's a foreigner, very pretty, looks like a doll, extremely cute."
"No matter how cute she is, in my eyes, Miyu is still the cutest."
"Thank you, Onii-chan," Miyu couldn't help but snuggle up to Shirou's arm.
'As expected, Onii-chan is the best.'
"But she really is cute, with silver-white hair and fair skin, just like the moon."
"Wait, silver-white hair?", Shirou suddenly stopped.
Miyu was confused, "Yeah, silver-white hair."
"Is her name Illya?"
"Eh, Onii-chan, you know her?", Miyu was surprised.
"No, not really."
Shirou continued walking while holding Miyu's hand.
Miyu didn't think much of it, assuming Shirou had just heard the name somewhere.
Because Illya really was very beautiful, innocent and cute, and had become popular the moment she entered their grade.
She continued, "Illya seems to have transferred to Chaldea Academy just today. She used to study abroad. I was just lucky to become her friend."
"I see…", Shirou didn't know what to say.
'If I am not mistaken…'
'Illya is the real child of Kiritsugu and Irisviel, unlike us who are adopted.'
"Also, Onii-chan, listen to this," Miyu stood on tiptoe and pulled Shirou to bend down so she could whisper.
Shirou obediently leaned in.
"I heard from a classmate that Illya's family is super rich. They run a big business overseas, and even her bodyguards are extraordinary. Apparently, one is over two meters tall and as strong as Hercules."
'As strong as Hercules?'
'He was literally modeled after Hercules.'
But since this world didn't have a Holy Grail War, saying he just looked like Heracles probably wasn't wrong.
Shirou nodded while thinking.
Once they passed the slope ahead, they'd be home.
Just then, the phone rang. Shirou took it out and saw it was a call from Kiritsugu.
He had a vague feeling this call must be related to Illya.
"Who's calling, Onii-chan?"
Faced with Miyu's question, Shirou answered, "Kiritsugu."
"Kiritsugu?", Miyu immediately quieted down.
Shirou swiped to answer, "Moshi moshi?"
["Mm, Shirou, can you hear me?"]
There were sounds of ocean wind and waves, it sounded like he was by the sea.
The calm voice of a middle-aged man unique to the East echoed through the phone.
"I can hear you, Kiritsugu."
Shirou held Miyu's hand with one hand, carried his bag with the other, and sandwiched the phone between his shoulder and ear.
["That's good."]
Emiya Kiritsugu fell silent after saying this, seemingly unsure of what to say next.
Shirou took the initiative and asked, "Is something wrong, Kiritsugu?"
["Actually, it's like this."]
Kiritsugu, also a decisive person, said directly, ["Before adopting you two, Irisviel and I had a child. She lives abroad. She's your older sister."]
"Sister?"
["Yes, is there a problem?"]
"No, not really… I just thought she'd be a younger sister," Shirou's tone was strange.
'Oh wow, she's actually an older sister.'
["Judging by looks alone, she could indeed be mistaken for a younger sister,"] Kiritsugu seemed to be chuckling, but only paused for a moment, ["So, Shirou… how should I say this…"]
Kiritsugu hesitated, ["I'm really sorry that after adopting you two, I didn't fulfill my responsibilities properly."]
"Not at all. If you hadn't adopted us, Miyu and I might've starved to death out there," Shirou was right. Back then, if not for Kiritsugu, he wouldn't be alive now. Even as a transmigrator.
["No, Shirou is an outstanding child. I trust that you wouldn't have."]
Not hearing resentment from the child, Kiritsugu sighed in relief and continued, ["Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor, Shirou. These past years, Illya has been alone abroad. We didn't have time to accompany her, and she's been lonely. So I want her to study in Fuyuki City and live with you."]
"I understand. You want me to take care of her, right?", Shirou smiled.
Kiritsugu had just said it like that, implying he wasn't ignoring them, he really didn't have time. Because Illya was also living alone.
["That's right."]
Shirou's understanding made Kiritsugu relax, and the long-standing distance between them melted away.
["Though Illya… oh, I almost forgot. Illya is your older sister, her full name is—"]
"Illyasviel von Einzbern," That line came from Shirou.
He smiled, "Same last name as Irisviel."
Kiritsugu was stunned, ["That's right, but how do you know that, Shirou?"]
"She introduced herself," Shirou replied.
Under the alluring moonlight, at the entrance of the Emiya residence, a silver-haired girl stood before them, lifted the hem of her skirt, her red eyes like rubies staring straight at Shirou, and gave a slight smile.
"Good evening, Shirou, Miyu. My name is Illyasviel von Einzbern. I'm your older sister."
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