A Household of Heroes

Matou Sakura's original name was Tohsaka Sakura. She was Tohsaka Rin's younger sister, born into the Tohsaka Family, a lineage of magi.

But for certain reasons, the young Matou Sakura had been sent to the Matou Family, where she suffered no small amount of hardship over the following decade.

Matou Sakura, whose heart had long since died, had despaired of this cold world and resigned herself to everything—until she met Emiya Shirou, that sinful man.

It was Emiya Shirou who let Matou Sakura feel a trace of warmth. As time passed, she became increasingly familiar with him, and her smiles grew more frequent.

With light in her heart and faith to hold onto, Matou Sakura found the strength to resist.

A few days ago, she had suddenly gained many memories—memories of fighting and living alongside a blindfolded lady. They made Matou Sakura understand many things, such as...

The Holy Grail, which could grant wishes.

Having learned of the Holy Grail's existence, Matou Sakura wanted to obtain it. If she could get the Grail, she could wish away every sorrowful experience in her life, become that pure and spotless girl again, and then pursue the white moonlight in her heart.

For that, she needed to be strong.

As the true inheritor of the Matou Magic Crest, Matou Sakura was not nearly as frail as she appeared.

Her brother had a violent temper and often bullied her through all kinds of means.

Usually, she endured it in silence. But last night, when her brother broke into her room intending to do something, she exploded!

By now, her brother should still have been locked in the basement, his body crawling with bloated worms.

And in the middle of the night half a day ago, she had also summoned a Servant of her own.

Matou Sakura had not let anyone know about any of this. She was preparing a grand plan—one that would crush everyone else and make her the final victor.

"Heh~"

Thinking of this, Matou Sakura could not help but laugh softly. Tohsaka Rin looked over with a slightly hesitant expression, but in the end, she still forced herself to ask.

"Sakura~ did you think of something happy?"

Tohsaka Rin made her voice as gentle as possible, but she failed to hide the tremor in it.

"Ah~ no, no. It's just that Senpai's cooking is so delicious. I'm fine, Sister."

Matou Sakura deliberately showed an innocent smile and called her sister at the end.

The power of that single word, "Sister," was immense. Tohsaka Rin's eyes widened, visibly reddening, but she fought to hold it in. Setting down her chopsticks, she rose to her feet.

"Excuse me. I need to use the bathroom."

With that, Tohsaka Rin turned and ran off.

Watching this, Mo Shuying sighed inwardly. Tohsaka Rin truly was perfect, but she had one weakness: Sakura.

Tohsaka Rin felt guilty toward Sakura. She had once questioned her parents—why had they sent her younger sister away? Why had it not been her? For more than ten years, she had failed to fulfill her responsibility as an older sister, leaving Tohsaka Rin deeply ashamed before Matou Sakura.

Red Archer quietly ate beside them. He was a Guardian transformed from the future Emiya Shirou. The Guardians here were another class, one beyond the seven standard classes. Coming from the future, he knew quite a few things, including Sakura's experiences and some of what she would do later.

He knew, but like Mo Shuying, he said nothing.

After finishing his meal, he stood up and said only one thing.

"Not bad. But next time, sprinkle some pepper on the fish before grilling it. It'll taste better."

Then he carried his plate to the kitchen, leaving Emiya Shirou with a thoughtful look on his face.

After the meal, Fujimura Taiga and Matou Sakura took their leave.

That left this group gathered around the dining table once more.

"Ahem. The first Holy Grail War strategy meeting now begins."

The recovered Tohsaka Rin stood there, coughed, and spoke.

"To deal with the battles and unforeseen incidents ahead, we should still hold a strategy meeting."

Luvia sat cross-legged with her arms folded and chimed in.

"The enemies we know of so far are Bazett and Caster—a powerful mage who uses Rune Magic. The other three Masters and Servants remain unknown. Frankly... this intelligence is necessary. If possible, we should find it out in advance."

As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you would never be defeated. Information warfare was important too.

"How about this? This afternoon, Archer and I will go out and look around to see if we can find any valuable clues. Luvia, you set up some defenses around here. This will be our base from now on—we can't have it disappear like your place did."

After Tohsaka Rin assigned everyone their tasks, Emiya Shirou opened his mouth wide at the side, as if asking when exactly his house had become their base.

"Mm, understood. Don't worry. I swear upon the honor of the Edelfelt Family that I will make this place impregnable!"

Luvia declared, patting her chest and setting off a ripple.

"Mm. I'll go bring Illya over in a bit, and buy some groceries on the way back."

Tohsaka Rin and Red Archer stood up, ready to set off.

Mo Shuying glanced at the two of them and spoke.

"I'd like to take a walk too."

Everyone immediately turned to look at Mo Shuying in unison. Mo Shuying remained calm as ever.

"Don't worry. I won't run."

"Ah, no, it's mainly that it isn't very safe outside right now. You, by yourself..."

Luvia spoke.

Mo Shuying smiled and shook his head.

"On my own, I'm actually safer than the two of them combined. Don't forget my Class."

Only then did they remember that Mo Shuying was an Assassin. Really, aside from Presence Concealment, he did not resemble an Assassin at all.

"Fine, be careful on the road. Will you be back for dinner tonight?"

Tohsaka Rin nodded in agreement.

Emiya Shirou, standing beside her, shuddered.

Mo Shuying nodded.

"Of course I'll be back. Other places might not have food this good. All right, I'll return early."

With that, Mo Shuying activated Presence Concealment and slipped away.

Afterward, Tohsaka Rin and Red Archer also left the Emiya Residence and began their investigation.

Mo Shuying had two purposes for coming out.

First, he genuinely wanted to relax. Back when he had been an Otaku, he had barely gone anywhere, so he could take this chance to experience the sights of a foreign land.

Second, he wanted to search for clues—clues about the other Masters and Servants. And besides that... he wanted to visit Ryuudou Temple.

He still could not let go of what had happened with Caster Mom. Although she had not caused him any substantial harm, being plotted against still felt awful.

As he walked down the street, the passersby could not see him due to Presence Concealment.

It was rather strange. Even though all of Fuyuki City had clearly been sealed off, its residents had not noticed anything at all. They went to work and lived as usual. It was probably the Holy Grail's doing.

Mo Shuying wandered toward Ryuudou Temple, and before he knew it, he had arrived at a park.

"Huh? Isn't this the place where I was [born]?"

Mo Shuying remembered this place. It was exactly like the one in that separate space.

As he stepped into this somewhat nostalgic place, suddenly—

"Grrr~"

A strange rumbling sound reached him. Mo Shuying turned and saw only a short-haired girl in a suit lying on her side on a bench, looking rather

pitiful.

"Grrr~ grrr~"