The curtain rises

"Ring ring-- Ring ring--"

The piercing alarm clock's sound was amplified in the empty bedroom, echoing like the deafening chimes of Clock Tower, violently dragging her from her beautiful dream.

"Ugh, so annoying—stop it, shut up, I'll sleep for another ten minutes."

The Tohsaka Family's alarm clock is set 30 minutes in advance, a deliberate choice by Rin to give them extra time.

"It's okay, there's still plenty of time. You can sleep for another half hour."

The alarm clock was gently turned off, and then the person tucked the blanket back in and carefully went out.

"Oh, okay..."

Completely dominated by sleepiness, without any thought, she instinctively mumbled a few syllables. Then, just as Rin was about to drift back into her alluring dream, a jolt of electricity swept through her brain—

Who was that just now!?

I'm the only one living in this house!

Rin sprang out of bed with a jolt, the blanket slipping off her body. The biting winter cold finally woke her up completely, and only then did she remember that her best friend and assistant had stayed there the day before.

"Jizi... you're up so early."

Feeling sleepy, Rin didn't want to lie down anymore. She checked her watch, made sure she had plenty of time, and then slowly got up, dressed, washed up, and went downstairs to the living room.

"Are you up already? I thought Rin would sleep a little longer."

A black-haired girl dressed in the uniform of the Huiqunyuan Academy distributed plates on the table like a maid, then deftly poured black tea into two cups. Seeing Rin enter, she smiled and greeted her, then naturally pulled out a chair in front of her and gestured for Rin to sit down.

"Well, I can't sleep anyway," Rin replied casually, gracefully sitting down in a chair, pulling out her teacup, and using the steaming black tea to dispel the chill from her body. "Jizi, you should sit down too."

"Okay, sure."

Jizi sat down opposite Rin and ate her food in small bites.

"By the way, Jizi, do you usually get up this early?" (The novel website does not skip words.)

"Yeah, I'm used to it. I have to do morning exercises, and when it's my turn to be on duty, I'm also responsible for everyone's breakfast and Fuji-nee's lunchbox."

"Sigh, that must be tiring. Actually, you could have slept in a little longer here."

"Hehe, just thinking about seeing Rin's adorable sleeping face makes the blankets lose their appeal."

"You..."

Sharing a meal together at the table and having a casual conversation—it seemed like a long time had passed since Rin had last experienced something like this.

When I was studying abroad, every second was precious, and eating was just a matter of maintaining my vitality. I had no time to enjoy life. As for before that, because of Tokiomi's almost obsessive requirements for etiquette, the atmosphere at my family's dining table was always very rigid. I only remember a few moments when I was very young, before Sakura and I were old enough to understand, when we had a family meal together and laughed together.

There was also a girl a year younger than me at the time. She was quiet and always followed behind me. She would look at me with an expression of admiration whenever I did anything.

"That's amazing!"

"Oh, that's great!"

"Truly worthy of it."

"Sakura..." I'm afraid we'll never hear that word again. Although the two are now acquainted, their identities are no longer those of the Tohsaka Family Head and the heir to the Matou.

"Cold?"

Since Chang didn't respond, Jizi called out softly.

"Ah, no." Rin Tohsaka, snapping out of her Jizi. She had actually confused her with Sakura just now. Honestly, their personalities were completely different.

After breakfast, Jizi was in charge of clearing away the plates, while Rin double-checked the summoning circle in the Basement. Although it was still early, the two of them decided to go straight to school.

Let's just enjoy the last moments of our campus life.

Because they had left home much earlier, there were still no pedestrians on the streets. The winter sun lazily awakened the entire city. Rin was stimulated by the chill that rushed towards her and exhaled a breath of white air.

Come on~

A scarf was wrapped around Rin's neck. Jizi gently straightened Rin's collar with her hands, then wrapped the scarf around her several more times, draping the hem over her shoulder.

"How does it look to me?"

"Ah, it's very warm." Rin paused for a moment before nodding. Not being an expert in this craft, Rin couldn't discern the materials used, but she was certain it was high-quality. The workmanship and craftsmanship weren't particularly skillful, but they contained the maker's heartfelt intentions. "But what about you? Aren't you cold?"

"Judging by the red color, this must be for Rin's special traits," Jizi replied with a bright smile. "I exercise regularly, this level is no problem at all."

"Oh, thank you."

Rin was a little embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it, it's something I wanted to do."

"I feel happier just doing something for Rin"—that's the message conveyed by the smile on Jizi's face. Why would she be willing to do this for anyone else? Rin had wanted to ask this question several times over the past two years, but each time the words caught in her throat.

What Rin really wanted to ask was, why could she accept Jizi's help so readily—which, in a way, could be considered selfless—when she should be more independent? Why did she allow this person into her world?

Perhaps Jizi is also wondering why she would think of doing something for Lin? (Novel website has many words)

"Seriously, I was thinking about that."

Rin scoffed at the foolish idea.

"Let's go, Jizi."

"Um."

Also because it was still very early, the school was unusually quiet.

"Oh dear, we're here too early."

"Isn't it nice? It feels like it's just Rin and me left in the whole world. Hehe~"

"That would be terrible!"

"Really? I think it's perfect!"

Although she trusts Jizi very much, Rin sometimes feels that Ji Zi's thoughts are a bit dangerous.

Jizi seemed about to say something again, but was interrupted by approaching footsteps, accompanied by a clear female voice:

"Yo, Tohsaka, it's rare to see you here so early—oh? Emiya, you're here too."

"Ah, Mitsuzuri, good morning!"

After recognizing the person, Rin casually waved as a greeting.

Mitsuzuri student Misaki.

Jizi bowed slightly in greeting. Except for a few people, she always maintained an appropriate yet subtly distant manner of etiquette when facing others.

"Did you come so early today for a date?" (The novel website doesn't skip words.)

"No, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"Well, since that's the case, why don't you come visit our club?"

"Sure, there's nothing else to do anyway— Jizi?"

"I agree, but let me make this clear: don't expect me to convince Shirou to rejoin the club."

"Haha, you figured it out? In that case, why don't we change our target? Do you want to join us?"

Both members of the Emiya family have some connection with the archery club. Shirou was once the ace there, known for saying, "If he misses, it's only because he didn't want to hit." As for Jizi, because the club's instructor is Taiga, she often has to show up as the top disciple of the Fujimura Style of swordsmanship—basically, she does odd jobs.

"Please excuse my refusal. I am more skilled with melee weapons than with Props. Don't assume that everyone with the surname Emiya is good at archery."

That's a real shame.

Despite saying this, Ayako Mitsuzuri showed no disappointment. She waved her hand and led the other two towards the archery club.

"Drink it!"

With a sharp shout, the arrow flew straight off the bowstring, and a fraction of a second later, the sound of it hitting the target could be heard from the other side.

"A perfect score! That's amazing, Mitsuzuri!"

"No, your older brother can do it even better."

Ayako looks quite dashing and handsome in her archery uniform; she could even be mistaken for a pretty boy.

"Tohsaka, why don't you give it a try?" (The novel website doesn't skip words.)

"Never mind, I'll just watch from here. Anyway, I know absolutely nothing about how to draw a bow."

"It's always like this. Because you were always watching from outside, I always thought you were interested—but since it's not because of archery, could it be because of someone?"

"Just kidding! I was only waiting for Jizi; your advisor really likes to boss her around."

Rin blushed slightly as she said those words, a blush that wouldn't be noticeable to anyone who didn't know her very well. Jizi, listening nearby, simply smiled. In her heart, while Rin sometimes came here to wait, more often than not, it was to see someone else.

"Good morning, Captain, and also Tohsaka -senpai and Jizi."

As if on cue, the archery club door opened, and a purple-haired girl walked in and bowed politely to everyone present. She was one of the few girls in the Jizi, and a strong contender for the role of sister-in-law— Sakura Matou.

Moreover, in Jizi ways, Sakura and Rin seem to have some connection. However, when the two are together, they deliberately avoid each other's gaze and secretly observe each other's actions.

"Yes, good morning, Matou. How did that go?"

"Sorry, Emiya- senpai still doesn't want to rejoin the club."

"Ah~ Even Sakura can't be persuaded? It seems there's really no hope."

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be of any help."

"Don't worry about it. After all, it's her will, and we can't force her to change it."

Rin listened to their conversation for a while, then grabbed her bag and turned around, saying:

"Then we'll be going now, Jizi?"

"That..."

"Um?"

"I'm sorry, since Sakura is here, Shirou must be at school too. For various reasons, it's not convenient for me to meet him right now, so I'll just stay here for the time being."

"Really--"

"Hahaha, Tohsaka- senpai, if we don't hurry, we'll be late! Let's meet at the cafeteria for lunch, hahaha~"

Rin was half-pushed, half-shoved out of the archery club by Jizi. The moment her foot stepped out the door, the sliding door slammed shut. From behind the door, she could faintly hear words like, "Mitsuzuri, let me help you mop the floor. It's been so long since I did it, hahaha, I really miss it."

"Sigh, should I have a serious talk with Emiya- kun?"

Rin, who had made up her mind, was delayed by Shinji's harassment on the way. By the time she got rid of him, it was almost time for class, so she had to abandon her original plan.

The Tohsaka Residence at night.

"Yang? Jizi?"

"No problem, the Familiar has already delivered the letter to the Church —but Rin, you..."

"I'm fine. I'll give him a 30% advantage for now, but I'll make him pay in the end anyway."

At Rin's behest, Jizi just sent a Magecraft letter via her Familiar to the Fuyuki Church, informing the observers that the Tohsaka Family has once again become involved in the Holy Grail War. Theoretically, the letter should have been sent by Magecraft in person, but the Tohsaka Family and the Church, or rather, the current head of the Fuyuki Church, Kirei Kotomine, have some unpleasant memories with them.

"Rin, but--"

"Stop talking!" Rin forcefully interrupted Jizi, changing the subject, "Then let's check one last time— Magic Circle, OK; Gems, OK; relics, OK; ten minutes left, what if we lose them?"

"As long as Rin doesn't chant the spell later..."

"Perhaps I wouldn't make that kind of mistake."

"Oh ho ho?"

It's said to be a curse passed down through the Tohsaka Family's bloodline, or perhaps Noble Phantasm passed down through generations of the Tohsaka Clan —it always fails at crucial moments! Kiko, who has known Rin for over two Jizi, probably doesn't realize this.

So, just to be on the safe side, even though Rin had warned her that in case of a mishap, she still bent down again to carefully examine the Magic Circle.

Well, the materials used to draw the Magic Circle were obtained by Rin from the Clock Tower. Although the blood was thin, it did indeed contain the bloodline of Phantasmal Species. A sufficient number of Gems were arranged around it according to the Mystic Code passed down in the Tohsaka Family. In the center of the Magic Circle was the tattered Mask that Rin Tohsaka treasured like a secret treasure.

It seems like everything is fine now?

But why did she still have a sense of unease? Jizi looked at the Mask and felt that if she really summoned what it held, nothing good would happen.

At the same time, she had another feeling: this ritual might summon a powerful Srvant, but probably not the one Rin originally wanted.

Everything seems so perfect, so why do I have this premonition?

"Well, whatever, things will work themselves out—if the SRvant doesn't perform well, I'll make up for it."

Jizi nodded, dismissing the distracting thoughts in her mind. How could a mere human Magecraft dare to claim he had the ability to replace Srvant? Jizi didn't know where this confidence came from, but she didn't delve into it.

"We've arrived. Recite the incantation, Rin."

"Yes, my long-cherished wish is finally about to come true!"

Rin held her two most precious Gems in each palm. As the clock struck two in the morning, she channeled all her magic power and clearly recited the summoning incantation.

P. S. 1. Adapted from the first half of the prologue, with selective additions and deletions of some content.

P. S. 2. It's not that I don't want to revise those chapters, it's just that I don't revise them according to their standards. Anyway, I don't revise them at all, so for the content that has been blocked, you can either find it in the group or fill in the blanks with your imagination... If you really don't want to join the group, I can upload it to Baidu Cloud. If anyone wants it, just say so in the book review section and I'll create a pinned post.

This was typed by a member of [*][Novel. net]

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