Chapter 653

As for Magecraft- related jobs, employers immediately distanced themselves upon learning that she was a former Sealing Designation Enforcer had left the association.

The only option that would likely be her working as a mercenary in the gray area of the job market.

"I will pay back the rent as soon as I find a job."

"Huh? Is Bazett so eager to find a job because he's worried about rent?"

If that's the case, don't worry, you can stay as long as you want.

Shirou laughed and said, "Did Karen and Tohsaka say something again? Don't worry about it."

"No, I can't cause Shirou any more trouble."

Seeing that Bazett's attitude was very firm, Shirou didn't say anything more.

Finally, they agreed to go out together the next day, Shirou said he would take her to meet people he knew.

Shirou and Bazett boarded a bus at a station near the shopping street, enjoying the scenery for over an hour before transferring to a tram and finally arriving at their destination.

A café named Ahnenerbe.

It was noon, but there weren't many customers in the shop.

I don't know how it was designed, but the store is rather dimly lit.

Only the tables facing outwards are well-lit; the area deep inside the café where the counter is located is exceptionally dark.

There are four square windows in the wall, and the sunlight shining through them is the only source of light.

At the innermost table sat the person Shirou had arranged to meet.

Asagami Fujino.

Four years have passed since they first met.

As Shirou enters his second year of high school, Asagami Fujino, who was once a student at the Riyon Girls' Academy, is now in her early twenties.

The girl, who was already more mature than her peers in every way, has now blossomed into a stunning beauty that makes passersby turn their heads when they walk past the coffee shop.

It was a Western-style cafe, yet she wore a luxurious and elegant high-class kimono as if it were perfectly natural. Incredibly, no one found the scene out of place.

With her dignified and beautiful appearance and innate temperament, Asagami Fujino blends seamlessly with her surroundings, creating a captivating picture.

There was another woman next to her Shirou didn't recognize.

Not the style...?

Shirou's excitement, which had been high, instantly cooled by half as he had hoped to see Shiki again after so long.

Are the Ryougi Group's tasks really that busy? They don't even have time to see me!

But at least we can see that Fujino in her kimono pose shows that Shirou still has half of his passion left.

The woman next to Asagami Fujino was about the same age as her, in her early twenties.

She had long, black hair that hung straight down her back.

Her features were very elegant, yet she had a sharp, warrior-like gaze, making her the complete opposite of Asagami Fujimaru.

Ah... she looks a bit like Rin.

Shirou thought to himself, "She must be the apprentice that Touko mentioned before. I think her name is Azaka."

"Fujino."

Upon hearing Shirou's call Asagami Fujino's eyes lit up, and her previously aloof and cold beauty was replaced by joy and a smile.

"You've come, Shirou..."

Asagami Fujino looked at the red-haired boy and frowned slightly.

To be precise, he frowned at the woman behind Shirou.

This is understandable, after all, the boy she had been longing for finally asked her out after a year, only to find that he was with a woman she didn't know.

Moreover, this woman exuded a very troublesome aura even in Asagami Fujino's "Clairvoyance".

"Come, sit down first."

Shirou sat down directly opposite Fujino, ignoring the strange looks from the woman next to Fujino, and began a conversation on his own.

"Fujino, this is Bazett."

"... Hello."

Asagami Fujino's expression turned even uglier.

Shirou turns out I'm not the only one who addresses older women by their first names without using honorifics...

She began to listen to Shirou's explanation absentmindedly.

"Does he/she want my help to find a job for this woman?"

Asagami Fujino rested her slender fingers on her chin, observing the woman dressed as a man with rose-red hair.

"Since it was Shirou who asked me to do this, there is no reason to refuse."

But is there anything Miss Bazett can do?

"I can handle any combat-related work," Bazett replied, sitting up straight.

To be precise, it's "she knows nothing but fighting," Shirou warned her on the way here not to say that.

"Bazett was previously the Sealing Designation Enforcer."

"..."

Asagami Fujino and the women around her all showed expressions of surprise.

The Sealing Designation Enforcer is just a legend to most people in the world of Magecraft.

After all, being targeted by them is tantamount to certain death.

But it was precisely for this reason that Bazett encountered setbacks everywhere after leaving the Mage's Association, and couldn't even find work in the field of Magecraft.

"You're the only person I can ask for help, Fujino."

Well... there are many people Shirou can ask for help, but saying it this way seems more sincere.

"Hasn't Shirou contacted Miss Touko?"

"I can't get in touch with them. I haven't been able to reach them for a year since they gave me the phone number."

In other words, Shirou and Touko haven't seen each other for a year...

A small sense of joy welled up inside Asagami Fujino about winning.

However, she didn't know that Shirou simply couldn't bring himself to contact Touko.

They met quite often that year—especially in bed.

"I understand now."

It would definitely be more appropriate to contact Miss Touko...

Miss Azaka, may I ask you for help later?

Asagami Fujino looked at the woman beside her, who was called "Azaka," and nodded. Then she took out her phone and started making a call.

Progress is going smoothly.

Touko immediately became interested when she heard that Shirou had introduced her and that he was the former Sealing Designation Enforcer.

"Miss Bazett, please come with me now. My master wishes to see you."

"Huh... now?"

"Yes, now... once that person decides to do something, no one can stop them."

Touko Aozaki's disciple sighed.

After saying goodbye to Shirou, Bazett left.

Now only Shirou and Asagami Fujino are left in the café.

"I feel a little bad about sitting here for an hour with just two cups of black tea. Shall we go somewhere else to look around?"

Shirou extended the invitation, but Fujino calmly shook her head.

"I would be content just to see Shirou once."

"Don't say that, come here."

Shirou grabbed Asagami Fujino's hand and pulled her away from the coffee shop.

Volume 9: Chapter 406 Fujino's Confession

"Wait, Shirou..."

"I have a place I want to go. Stay with me for a while, Fujino."

"Ah, um, okay."

Shirou dragged the bewildered Asagami Fujino out of the coffee shop and hailed a taxi on the street.

Afterwards, they arrived at an abandoned building located in the very center of the industrial area.

"Wow, that brings back so many memories."

"Hmm, it reminds me of things from the past."

Asagami Fujino looked around with a nostalgic expression.

The fourth floor of the abandoned building was once the Magecraft workshop of a Grand Doll Master.

Former site of the Japan headquarters of "Garan no Dou".

The firm's exterior and interior are exactly the same as they were four years ago.

The walls and floors are bare, with only tables, chairs, a coffee machine, and a few shelves—what's currently popularly called industrial style.

The walls were piled with old-fashioned CRT televisions and psychic boards discarded by the previous owner, creating an incredible atmosphere.

The firm itself hasn't changed much compared to the past; the only difference is that the people from back then are no longer there.

The reason Touko Aozaki opened her office in such a rural place was because she was wanted by the association.

Shortly after the incident with Araya Souren, Touko was released from her Sealing Designation by the association and regained her freedom.

To meet the needs of her own business development, Touko Aozaki left Kanbushi City.

Ryougi Shiki helped Touko Aozaki manage the building for a while, but later she had other things to do... in short, she inherited the family business and stopped working for Touko.

Today, it seems that the ownership of this building no longer belongs to Touko, and it has changed hands several times.

"Miss Touko sold this building..."

Asagami Fujino's tone was slightly regretful.

Given Touko Aozaki's wealth, the value of this building is probably less than the little finger of one of the dolls she makes.

Shirou suddenly asked, "After all, this is a place with many summer memories. Why sell it when you could have kept it? Fujino, is that what you're thinking?"

"Huh? No, I didn't... Waaah."

Asagami Fujino finally nodded somewhat shyly.

Shirou said, "But that's just the kind of person Sister Touko is."

No matter how many memories something holds, once you lose interest, it will no longer hold any place in your heart and can be discarded without hesitation.

Because she created a doll that was exactly like herself, she was able to discard even her original physical body. That's a level of mental strength that most people don't possess.

That's what makes Sister Touko so great... She's always so cool, no matter what.

Asagami Fujino looked at the red-haired boy with a confident expression and asked.

"Where is Shirou- kun?"

"What?"

"Is it the same for Shirou...? If you lose interest in something, will you never have any attachment to it again?"