Once Deviant Thoughts Begin to Sprout, They Do Not Easily Fade

"This boy is somewhat like the person you once were, Kirie."

Gilgamesh casually tossed the documents aside and glanced up at Kirie.

"In what way?"

"No, it would be more accurate to say he is different."

Gilgamesh shook his head again, the faint, indifferent, contemptuous smile on his lips making it seem as though nothing in this world could ever catch his eye.

"At the very least, this mortal boy has genuinely taken an interest in everything he has done. It is merely that those interests quickly faded. That is different from the person you once were."

"There is no difference." With his back turned, Kirie replied flatly, "Even with such a minor distinction, the boy remains confused. After experiencing so many things he once found interesting, he still has not found anything capable of holding his interest."

"That is why it is such a pity. A fellow like him actually has no talent for magecraft. Even I wish to lend him a hand. Surely it would become very interesting afterward, and bring me a great deal of amusement. Yet it is still a pity that he is not even a Master."

"Though he is not a Master, is there not one extra Servant?" Kirie turned around and spoke calmly, his indifferent gaze fixed on Gilgamesh.

Seeing Kirie like this, Gilgamesh suddenly laughed.

"Hahaha... Ah, indeed. Then it shall depend on my mood. If things become too boring, it is not as though I cannot personally enter the fray and play with you lot. I simply worry that this boy may not bring me the amusement I expect. Among mongrels whose personalities align so well with mine, this boy is the first."

Kirie did not respond, but he understood what Gilgamesh meant. They were both people who acted entirely as they pleased while always remaining within their own principles.

Whenever Gilgamesh encountered an unknown being or concept, he would become interested in it like a child. Yet once he grew tired of it, or decided he had thoroughly studied it, he would discard it like a child as well.

This was no different from Shinji's habit of becoming interested in something, swiftly accomplishing one thing after another—or reaching heights—that ordinary yet talented people would need an extremely long time to achieve, then abandoning it without the slightest attachment.

It was also because of this that Gilgamesh had developed a tiny bit of interest in Shinji.

"I did not expect Matou to withdraw early from this Holy Grail War, and to withdraw completely at that. There is no trace of a Servant at the Matou Family estate, which means Matou has completely abandoned this one... No, all Holy Grail Wars from now on.

"Yet I received information from the Holy Church that Rider has already been summoned and manifested. That means a mage I have not observed summoned Rider and hid away with her. What an unexpected development..."

In Miyama Town, separated from Shinto by only a river and a bridge, Tohsaka Rin—one of those already confirmed to be participating in the Holy Grail War—lay sprawled across her bedroom bed, hugging a pillow with a complicated expression. The isolated Western-style mansion on the mountain was covered in moss.

Rin had also been among the first to learn of Zouken Matou's death.

The source had been a voicemail Shinji left the previous night.

Rin was indeed happy that Sakura could finally become an ordinary person, but alongside that happiness were complicated feelings—or rather, a sense of regret.

"Ah! Idiot! Why didn't you discuss something like this with anyone before deciding?!"

Rin was frustrated and furious.

Although the expression Sakura had worn when Rin saw her from afar during the day had already made Rin understand that Sakura agreed with this matter—leaving the path of magecraft—she still felt inexplicably irritated.

While she was relieved that her younger sister no longer had to face magecraft and could live freely, she also felt the slightest sense of loss, as well as... complicated feelings toward a certain someone.

Did that guy really hate magecraft that much?

Was I also someone he hated?

Yes, the sort of worry a young girl would have.

Have I really escaped the nightmare that has plagued me all this time?

In less than two days, Sakura had asked herself that question in her heart time and time again.

Am I truly in reality?

Is this really not a dream that would shatter at the slightest touch?

Was it really true that the person I had admired for so many years endured for ten years and ultimately saved me completely?

Come to think of it, why had she never noticed? Behind those seemingly cold actions had been her brother's concern and care for her.

That morning, after getting up as usual, she looked out the window and saw an unfamiliar monk waiting outside the door. Only then did she feel the slightest sense of reality.

It was not until her brother appeared in mourning clothes that she felt even more reassured.

Her brother had handled every matter well and thoroughly. He was so mature that they seemed to belong to entirely different age groups, despite being only one year apart.

He had protected her in secret for ten years, and she had never known...

Late at night.

"I'm home."

Shinji's voice pulled Sakura from her thoughts as she sat in the reception room.

"Welcome home, Brother." Sakura hurried over, still carrying a trace of nervousness, afraid that her brother would return to his former attitude the next moment.

"You look a little strange. What's wrong?" Shinji asked as he changed into slippers. "By the way, didn't you go to Emiya's place today?"

"I contacted Senpai. I won't be going to Senpai's house so often anymore." As she spoke, Sakura affectionately hooked her arm around Shinji's once more.

"Huh? Why?"

Shinji was puzzled. What was going on with his sister? She had finally gained her freedom, so shouldn't she take this chance to pursue happiness or something...

"Grandfather has already..." Sakura hesitated, her gaze complicated. Then she revealed a hint of relief. "Besides, my original reason for going to Senpai's house has already been completely fulfilled. It was fulfilled even more wonderfully than I imagined."

"Huh?" Shinji did not understand.

"No, it's nothing." A faint, unnatural flush appeared on Sakura's face. She simply could not bring herself to say that she had always admired her brother.

However, in the next moment, Sakura suddenly sensed something and sniffed the air.

The smell of disinfectant, the smell of cooking, and... the scent of a woman.

"Brother, go take a bath first." Sakura looked up, her eyes curving into a smiling expression.

"Okay..."

The moment Shinji disappeared into the hallway, Sakura's expression swiftly sank into shadow.

A woman's intuition was terrifying. The instant Sakura noticed a woman's scent on her brother, she became certain.

It was a woman she had never seen before!

Shinji could never have imagined that even if she could not become the Lesser Grail, his sister would gradually develop the traits of a second personality—a scheming Yandere—because of certain things.

...Didn't spending ten years to save me mean that Brother cared about me the most?

Such a voice suddenly rang out in Sakura's mind, but she quickly shook her head, trying to cast the thought away.

But...

Once deviant thoughts began to sprout, even if only a tiny bit, they would not disappear so easily...