The First Art of Winning Hearts: The Root of All Evil—Kindness! (Please Support the New Book!)

As evening gradually fell, Shinji had just finished feeding her and was about to speak when Bazett beat him to it.

"My bodily functions have recovered somewhat, but I lost too much blood. It will still take some time before I fully recover."

"I see." Shinji responded softly. "Then there's nothing to be done. Since I have no magical energy, I can't help you with that."

"It's fine." Bazett seemed to have regained her usual aloofness.

"Want more?" Shinji pointed at the rice cooker beside him.

"Mm..."

Bazett's face reddened slightly again. Being gently fed by a handsome young man was indeed somewhat embarrassing for a woman—even Sister Bazett was no exception.

Practice made perfect. When Shinji applied medicine and wrapped Bazett's bandages for the second time, his technique had become much more practiced. At the very least, he did not accidentally touch any places that were dangerous in a certain sense.

It was truly because he had gotten better at it, absolutely not because Bazett was awake this time.

Even so, after the medicine had been applied and she had gotten dressed, Bazett's entire face was still crimson.

Even though there was not the slightest improper thought in Shinji's face or eyes, Bazett still could not bring herself to look him in the eye for the time being.

Patter, patter...

Upon hearing the rain outside the window, Shinji suddenly thought of something.

Could today be...

"Sister Bazett, I'm heading out for a moment."

"It's dangerous outside." Still faintly flushed, Bazett instinctively tried to stop him. "Even if the Holy Grail War has not officially begun, on a night like this, if an ordinary person is outside..."

"It's fine. I'm only going to the convenience store. Besides, didn't I say so? I may not be a mage, but I do have a tiny little trick or two."

"Then... be careful."

In the end, Bazett said something she did not even know why she had said.

"Okay. See you later, Sister Bazett."

Within a forest outside Ryuudou Temple, the concealed Shinji looked at the faint bloodstains on the ground, nearly washed away by the rain, without much thought.

From the bloodstains, he could tell that Caster—Medea—had already been rescued by Souichirou Kuzuki.

Shinji felt only a slight regret at having failed to steal her away first.

In truth, Shinji did not really need Caster. Setting other reasons aside, their personalities alone meant that getting along would certainly not be easy.

Cold-blooded, cruel, unscrupulous, and skilled in every sort of scheme—she was a genuinely ruthless person. Shinji did not need that; he already had enough schemes of his own.

The thought had merely crossed his mind that having one more... no, two more Servants might make things easier.

Of course, Shinji was not so conceited as to think that he could definitely subdue Medea. Had he really beaten Kuzuki to the punch, Medea's temperament might well have caused all sorts of trouble. That would not suit his original intention of operating secretly and covertly during the Holy Grail War...

That was how Shinji convinced himself.

Fuck! Kuzuki!

After cursing inwardly, Shinji raised his head and looked at the bug clinging to the trunk of a tree.

Since he had concealed himself, Shinji was not worried about the bug discovering him.

That bug alone showed just how godlike Bug Grandpa's omniscient viewpoint was.

That was why Shinji was always so cautious in his usual actions, doing his best to hide himself, afraid that one mistake would expose him and ruin everything.

Let's go back, Shinji sighed inwardly, curling his lip.

After all, there was nothing he could do by staying here.

What, was he supposed to remain and eavesdrop outside Ryuudou Temple?

At that thought, Shinji suddenly hesitated.

That did seem like a gentlemanly choice...

Late at night, when Shinji returned to Twin Mansion, he saw Bazett before even going upstairs. Draped in a coat, she leaned against the stairway on the second floor with an indifferent expression.

Could Sister Bazett... be worried about me?

That thought suddenly flashed through Shinji's mind.

As Shinji slowly climbed the stairs, he asked, "Sister Bazett, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing. I just heard a noise, so I came out to take a look."

As she spoke, Bazett braced herself against the wall with her right hand and turned around with a limp. Yet the moment she took a step, her unsteady legs nearly made her fall. Fortunately, Shinji quickly caught and steadied her.

"Be careful."

"Mm... mm."

January 26th.

After three days of Shinji's care and her own recovery, Bazett was now able to carry out some simple activities. At the very least, she could handle things like going to the bathroom by herself.

That morning, watching Bazett eat breakfast at the dining table, her movements still somewhat slow, Shinji smiled. "Looks like you're starting to understand the deliciousness of food little by little, Sister Bazett."

"Will you... come again today?"

"Yeah, as long as nothing comes up, I'll be back."

Bazett fell silent. Or perhaps she simply did not know how to answer.

"What is it?" Shinji asked.

"No, nothing."

Bazett shook her head, though a strange feeling stirred within her.

After only a few days together, this handsome older boy, an ordinary person yet exceptionally dependable, seemed to have touched some part of her heart that lay within a blind spot of her own knowledge...

"Oh, right. Even though you can move around for now, it's best not to go outside. Staying here is safer."

"I... I understand."

"I put lunch in the refrigerator. Just take it out and heat it up when you want to eat."

"Mm."

After breakfast, Shinji said farewell to Bazett, who stood in the yard with an oddly complicated expression, doing her best not to look at him.

"H-have... have a safe trip."

Perhaps because it was her first time saying something like that, Bazett was clearly unaccustomed to it, and her voice was pitifully quiet.

"Yeah, I'm off."

Shinji, who had just been about to pull open the yard gate, stopped and turned around with a smile as he replied.

Seeing Shinji's smiling face, Bazett silently turned away again, her face somehow growing slightly hot.

Over the next two days, aside from dropping off food, medicine, and disinfecting supplies when no one was around, Shinji rarely visited Bazett.

After all, the time was drawing near. Shinji needed to make some preparations in advance, and thus failed to notice the subtle changes in Bazett's attitude.

January 28th.

Morning, outside the gates of Hohzuki Academy.

Sakura, whom he had rarely seen lately because he had seldom gone home, lowered her head at the school gate and softly, timidly called out to stop Shinji, who was ignoring her as he prepared to enter the school.

"Brother, Grandpa said he wants you to go back today."

"Mm, got it." After casually responding, Shinji walked past Sakura and entered the school gates without looking back, his attitude so cold that it was as though he had not noticed Sakura at all.

Only after Shinji had gone far away did Sakura turn to look at his tall back, which seemed enormous compared to her. Her eyes held several complicated emotions that even she herself could not clearly explain.

Especially when Shinji smiled and warmly greeted the classmates he knew, the gloom in Sakura's eyes deepened further.

How did Brother manage it?

Even though darkness had always existed within his heart, he could still stand in the light that I could never truly touch...