Do You Want to Take a Bath Together?

How could someone this cute possibly be a boy?!

Miyu felt her entire worldview collapse, leaving her frozen in place.

"Hehe~ I never expected someone here to recognize me. This Assassin? How did you know who I was?"

Astolfo did not deny it. He leaned his upper body over the dining table, propping his chin up with one hand as he asked in an incomparably adorable manner.

Mo Shuying's heart skipped a beat. He swallowed and pretended to take a sip of tea, only speaking after he had calmed himself down.

"I only happened to find out. This is actually our first time meeting."

Mo Shuying sighed inwardly. Astolfo truly was a super trigger. Seeing him in person was a completely different experience.

Red Archer beside him was also shocked to learn that Astolfo was a boy. A few seconds later, he finally recovered, picked up his teacup, and took a sip to hide his earlier awkwardness before looking at Mo Shuying.

"Then do you know who I am?"

It was a very direct question. Red Archer was not a bad person, but he was not particularly likable either.

Mo Shuying glanced at him and smiled.

"What did you think when you saw your former self today?"

"..."

That one sentence exposed Red Archer's origins. Red Archer snorted coldly and stubbornly replied.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Boring."

After saying that, he continued drinking tea.

Mo Shuying did not expose him any further. Then he noticed that Gray, who had been keeping her head lowered the entire time, was now watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Little girl, do you have something to say too?"

Mo Shuying suddenly turned and asked. Gray jumped in fright, nearly dropping the teacup in her hands.

"I-I-I-I!"

Gray stammered for a long time without voicing her question. Her snow-white cheeks had already turned crimson, and she covered her face before running away.

"Ah, what a shy girl."

Mo Shuying took another sip of tea, then looked toward Miyu.

"Miyu, just drinking tea is boring. Could you bring out some snacks?"

Miyu: "..."

Why did Mo Shuying seem more like the master of this house than anyone else?

"Yes."

With that doubt in mind, Miyu went to prepare some snacks. Before long, she returned with a cart full of pastries.

"Wow~ Such pretty, exquisite little cakes! They must taste amazing! I want some!"

Astolfo's eyes lit up at the sight of the various snacks. Red Archer beside him let out a disdainful snort.

Neither Mo Shuying nor Astolfo paid any attention to that aloof fellow. Though it was still late at night, having midnight tea was not bad at all.

Elsewhere, in Luvia's room, Tohsaka Rin and Luvia were planning something.

"We can only join forces."

Luvia said.

"Haven't you already started doing that?"

Tohsaka Rin replied with a smile.

"Hmph, naturally, one must strike first in matters like this. Aside from the three of us, there are still four Masters and Servants whose identities remain unknown. All of them are threats to us. You have seen Mo Shuying's strength. If we can bring him into our group, our chances of claiming final victory will be very high."

Luvia analyzed the situation. Tohsaka Rin nodded in agreement, and then—

"But there can only be one final winner. Who will it be?"

Tohsaka Rin knew that she and Luvia were both fierce rivals and close friends. Although they usually bickered, fought, and insulted each other, they would never truly hurt one another at a time like this. Illya's side would be easy enough to handle too. If it really came down to it—

"If it really comes down to it... should we put Illya forward?"

"I think that would work. Heracles's strength is guaranteed as well."

"Alright, then it's decided."

"Though I feel a little sorry for our Servants, there is no helping it."

"That's right. That will be the first plan. The backup plan is to play it by ear."

"Then it's settled! During this time, you should do your best to recruit Mo Shuying. I'll go find Shirou more often and bring him into our group. That will strengthen our side considerably!"

The two had been talking things over nicely, but at Luvia's words, Tohsaka Rin's expression stiffened and the room suddenly fell silent.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Luvia asked in confusion.

Tohsaka Rin looked up with a stiff smile.

"Mr. Mo was invited by you, so naturally you should be responsible for him. As for Emiya, we have been friends living together for years. What I say will definitely carry more weight than what you say, so I'll go!"

Guard against fire, guard against theft, and guard against your best friend. Tohsaka Rin felt that she could not relax for even a moment!

"What are you talking about, Rin? Don't be willful. Could you please follow orders?"

Luvia said sternly.

A vein twitched on Tohsaka Rin's forehead.

"You're obviously doing this on purpose! You're the very definition of abusing your authority! Anyway, I'm going to persuade Emiya, so stay out of it!"

"Tohsaka Rin! This behavior of yours is called being undisciplined and unorganized!"

"So what?! Fire me, then!"

"I'll dock your pay!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Watch me!"

"Ah! I'm going to fight you!"

"Who's afraid of who?!"

"Baji Crash!"

"Flying Body Press!"

"Boom! Boom boom! Boom boom boom!!"

The two tough girls began exchanging blows. Ancient Baji martial arts collided with English grappling techniques, and the battle became extraordinarily fierce.

Miyu paused when she heard the commotion, then ran off to take a look, leaving only three people seated at the table.

"Aren't you going to check on them?"

Mo Shuying asked Red Archer and Astolfo.

"It's fine. I can feel that they simply want to clash with each other."

Astolfo opened his mouth and took a bite of cake. His entire face immediately filled with bliss. Mo Shuying turned away. He really could not look any longer; it was far too damaging to his preferences.

Red Archer set down his empty cup and smiled.

"I'm used to it."

That utterly accustomed look made Mo Shuying unable to resist asking.

"Hehe, actually, I'm really curious. Did you two end up together afterward? If you did, who had the final say at home? No, wait, you seem to be in this state because of Independent Action. So you didn't end up with her in the end? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"...My affairs are none of your business! Hmph."

Red Archer did not want to discuss that topic, so Mo Shuying did not ask further. In truth, in some timelines, Emiya and Rin had ended up together.

Just then—

"Hmph! Anyway, I don't care! Archer, let's go."

Tohsaka Rin stormed out angrily. As she spoke, Red Archer turned into motes of light and vanished. This was one of the ways Heroic Spirits could exist, and ordinary people could not detect it.

Soon afterward, Tohsaka Rin left the castle and headed across the way. There had been too many unexpected events today, so Emiya had gone home with Illya. He was currently over there.

Luvia came running out, furious beyond measure. At that moment, August approached with an utterly calm expression.

"Miss, Mr. Mo, your rooms have been prepared. The bathwater has been heated and may be used at any time."

There was a large bathhouse in this castle, spacious enough for quite a few people to bathe and soak together.

Mo Shuying's eyes lit up when he heard that they could take a bath. He had not had a nice, relaxing soak in a long time, and he was looking forward to it. But—

"We can bathe?! Yay! Assassin, do you want to bathe together?!"

Astolfo leaped up in excitement, turning to look at Mo Shuying expectantly.

Mo Shuying's heart gave an embarrassingly eager thump. How should he put this—

He was actually a little excited!!