Tohsaka Rin said goodbye to Akatsuki after a brief chat with Luvia's butler. The time had come to meet up with Luvia and the others to retrieve the seventh class card.
"Hmm? Where's Illya?"
After arriving at the destination, Tohsaka Rin looked around. Confirming there was no sign of Illya, she looked at Miyu and Luvia and asked.
"It's fine, I can do it alone."
Miyu's slightly cold voice rang out. Before Tohsaka Rin could even ask, sapphire had already teleported everyone to the Mirror World.
The story goes back to one hour earlier.
Inside Miyu's room at Luvia's mansion, which was across from Illya's house.
"Miyu, is there something that must be said in your room? We could discuss the battle plan at the destination, and it would be more effective with Rin-san and Luvia-san there, wouldn't it?"
Despite her doubts, Illya was happy deep down. Miyu, who had been ignoring her all day, was now taking the initiative to find her. This joy prevented her from noticing the expression on Miyu's face.
"Illya, do you really have no intention of backing out of tonight's operation, no matter what?"
The smile on Illya's face froze. "What do you mean, Miyu?"
"Sister, come over here for a moment."
"Hmm? Does sapphire-chan want to bond with her big sister before the battle? Eek! My cute little sister!"
sapphire whispered a few words to ruby. ruby nodded and followed sapphire out of Miyu's room. Meanwhile, Miyu took a gem out of her pocket.
"How beautiful. Is that a gem Luvia gave you?" A hint of surprise flashed in Illya's eyes when she saw the gem in Miyu's hand. She then thought of Tohsaka Rin and Luvia, both experts in Jewel Sorcery. But why was Miyu, who didn't know Jewel Sorcery, carrying one?
"Yes, it's a gem," Miyu said calmly. "Bind."
As the incantation rang out, the gem in Miyu's hand turned into a rope and instantly bound Illya.
"Eh?"
"Wait! sapphire-chan?! What are you doing! This is too intense! I'm going to... mmph mmph..."
sapphire dragged ruby into Miyu's room.
"Miyu-sama, is this really okay?"
"People without resolve shouldn't get involved in the world of Magicians. Illya, you said in the park that 'collecting class cards is like a game,' right?" Miyu's cold gaze left Illya flustered. She never expected a casual remark to lead Miyu to do this. "So, Illya, just stay here until everything is over."
"Miyu! This is a crime!" Illya shouted, struggling.
Miyu remained unmoved and simply left with sapphire.
"Wait! Miyu!" Panic filled Illya's eyes as she looked at the knocked-out ruby. "Please! Let me go collect the class cards too! Why! Why did it turn out like this? Even I've been working hard to collect the class cards!"
Outside the door, Luvia frowned. Just as she was about to say something, Miyu spoke. "Luvia-oneesama, it's almost time to meet Rin-san."
"Eh, ah, yes." Luvia waved her hand to have her butler arrange a car. Internally, she was surprised by Miyu's decisiveness. For some reason, she had just seen the shadow of that True Ancestor who loomed over Fuyuki City in a mere child.
"ruby! ruby! Wake up!"
Lying on Miyu's bed, Illya's body was tightly bound by the rope transformed from the gem. "This is a blatant criminal act! Just you wait, Miyu!"
An unknown amount of time passed. Illya seemed to have given up struggling. For some reason, ruby remained lying beside her as if she would never wake up again.
"Have Miyu and the others already retrieved the Berserker class card? I've been protected by them again... No, there's no way they could be that fast."
"Dammit! How could I give up! Just you watch, I'm going even if you don't want me to!"
Illya wiggled her body to grab ruby in her palm. Then, exerting all her strength, she performed a kip-up and stood straight up.
"Miyu, wait for me!"
Creak—
The closed door was suddenly pushed open. Illya, thinking Miyu had returned, quickly looked up, only to find someone she never expected.
"Mama?! What are you doing here!" Illya exclaimed. She hadn't seen her mother for a long time. Ever since she could remember, her parents had been traveling all over the country, sometimes not seeing them for years.
Irisviel looked at the bound Illya with a smile. "Yoo-hoo, is Illya-chan playing with friends? But you shouldn't play such dangerous games." As she spoke, Irisviel knelt down and untied the ropes on Illya.
"Mama!"
"I'm back, Illya-chan. Being tied up in a mansion like this—could it be you were kidnapped?"
Irisviel pulled Illya into an embrace while picking up the ruby in Illya's hand. "Oh my, Illya-chan is still just a child."
"Is, is that so..."
Illya looked at the motionless ruby in her mother's hand and smiled bitterly in her heart. "Sorry! Mama, please go home and wait for a bit. I have something I must do tonight!"
Suddenly, Illya grabbed ruby and ran toward the door, but Irisviel caught her and pulled her back.
"Where is Illya-chan going in such a hurry? You shouldn't act rashly if you have doubts in your heart," Irisviel asked with a smile, though her hand gripping Illya didn't let go.
"Mama, I—I have to help my friend! Even if I haven't been much help to her, I can't just let her work hard alone!"
Irisviel smiled, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes. "I see. Illya-chan has become quite mature. It seems the suggestion from Akatsuki-san was correct."
Irisviel looked at her daughter with a smile. "Illya-chan, since you have this determination, Mama will support you."
With that, she let go.
"But you must promise Mama to protect yourself and not do anything dangerous." Irisviel looked at Illya seriously.
"I understand, Mama!" Illya nodded vigorously. "I'll be careful!"
After saying that, Illya picked up ruby again and ran out the door. Irisviel watched Illya's departing back, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. "Now then, time to go home and see my son and the maids."
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