Chapter 818

Shirou used to play with Illya, and back then Kuro could only watch from inside...

For a while afterward, the two remained silent.

Chloe was happily blowing bubbles at first, but soon a somewhat lonely expression appeared on her face.

Seeing the change in her expression, Shirou felt a sense of unease.

"What's wrong?"

Chloe turned her head slightly. "... Nothing. Just some boring thoughts popping into my head."

Shirou asked, puzzled, "A pointless idea?"

"Hmm. Watching those bubbles burst and disappear in the night sky, I feel like they're a lot like me."

"..."

Upon hearing Chloe's words, Shirou's eyes widened.

I'm just like them...

It could disappear suddenly at any time, existing like a bubble.

Brother, look, doesn't it look just like it?

As Chloe murmured with a lonely smile, the boy suddenly pulled her to his side.

"Brother... huh?"

Shirou pressed his lips to the girl's lips.

"...!"

Chloe initially looked very surprised and somewhat resistant, but she quickly stopped resisting and responded to him proactively and enthusiastically.

At least five minutes have passed.

The two of them finally separated.

"... Don't do this suddenly, you silly brother! What if someone else sees us?"

Chloe wiped her mouth, her cheeks burning, and nervously looked around.

Even though there's not many people around, it would be terrible if someone I know saw me...

Nevertheless, Shirou asked with a nonchalant expression.

"Was that enough? If not, have some more."

"Enough, enough!"

The brown-skinned girl bit her lip.

"It's unbelievable that you kept feeding people your saliva..."

Ugh... my mouth is filled with my brother's taste now...

Chloe's cheeks were as red as candied apples sold at a festival.

This is a rare instance of shyness from a mischievous little devil.

"If you run out of magic, just let me know anytime. I'll be there for you no matter what."

"Mmm... mmm... I understand, brother."

Shirou placed his hand on her head. "And don't say those words again."

Kuro is my family. No matter what happens, I will never let you disappear.

"Um... thank you."

Upon hearing Shirou's words, Chloe revealed a dreamy yet blissful smile.

She closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and offered her lips once more.

"Kuro, why is your face so red?"

Miyu asked this question, but Chloe tilted her head and brushed it off.

"Hmm? Really? Is it because it's too hot? I'm not really used to wearing a yukata... I usually wear something even more revealing."

"I see."

Shirou's time alone with Chloe came to an end while they were blowing bubbles.

Afterwards, they arrived at the meeting point, where Miyu waited quietly by herself.

"Well then, Miyu, it's time to hand over the reins."

"Um."

This completed the handover ceremony for the older brother.

Shirou wanted to continue his previous conversation with Kuro, but it seemed impossible now, since Miyu was also important.

The black-haired girl stood in front of the boy, looking up at him.

"Um, nice to meet you, Mr. Shirou."

"Yes, nice to meet you, Miyu."

After watching Chloe's figure disappear, Shirou Miyu strolled around the venue together.

Unlike Chloe, Miyu's reaction was somewhat reserved.

Kuro happily browsed the stalls, while Miyu wore an incredulous expression. Was this her first time attending a festival?

Upon realizing this, Shirou asked to confirm, and Miyu nodded in agreement with his guess.

"Hmm, what an incredible sight."

Whether it's the ocean, a festival, or an amusement park, Miyu doesn't seem to have seen many things that other children take for granted.

What kind of life has she been living all this time?

Is she clearly another version of myself (Shirou)'s sister?

Shirou decided to make it up to Miyu and, incidentally, use the opportunity to find out what was going on.

But just then, the boy suddenly remembered—

"... It's today."

That night.

On the night after Shirou's battle with the corrupted Berserker... Morgan, he had a dream.

Shirou dreamt that he, Illya, and Miyu were happily strolling through a festival.

In that dream, there was neither Kuro nor Illya's friends.

In other words, that dream wasn't a precognitive dream, but rather a memory from a previous world.

In other words--

Today may well be the last day of the old world.

Volume 10: 487 People in Fuyuki City, There's a Female Simulator

Today may well be the last day of the "old world"...

Shirou, realizing this, did not make a sound, but suppressed the turmoil in his heart.

He asked the girl next to him in as cheerful a voice as possible.

"Miyu, do you want some cotton candy?"

"Marshmallows... I've heard of them."

As expected, Miyu had heard of it but had never seen the actual product.

Shirou decides to take Miyu to find the cotton candy stall.

"Ah, I've got it."

After walking for a while, Shirou successfully found the cotton candy stall.

However, he forgot about Miyu's personality.

"... That's strange, Mr. Shirou."

The black-haired girl pinched her chin, looking utterly confused.

Shirou felt a sense of foreboding. "No, that... Miyu..."

Miyu said, "The cotton candy I know is a simple food made by melting sugar and processing it into a cotton-like shape."

The material cost is only a small amount of white sugar, which is just a few yen. Considering the packaging, it would be at most a few tens of yen.

But why is it 500 yen?

Shirou: "So, that was..."

Miyu: "Even with a very high gross profit margin of 75% for a restaurant, it would only cost around 200 yen."

The prices here are clearly too high; in fact, they're practically extortionate...

Wow, wow, wow!

Shirou stopped her from continuing.

Miyu, what are you talking about?! And don't say it in front of the store!

The shop owner was giving me a scary look, and the parents around me with their children were whispering amongst themselves.

Shirou hurriedly covered Miyu's mouth and left the cotton candy stall.

Come to think of it, that's just the kind of girl she is.

After leaving the store, Shirou sighed and slowly released his hand from Miyu's mouth.

Miyu seemed confused as to why she was being forced to leave the store with her mouth covered, and looked up at Shirou with an incredulous expression.

"Hey Miyu, that's not how you think of festivals... um..."

"I don't quite understand. Come to think of it, Illya just said the same thing to me."

While I was enjoying my date with Kuro, did Illya experience the same thing...? I feel a little sorry for her.

"What exactly happened? Please tell me in detail," Miyu asked.

Shirou said, "How should I put it... don't overthink it, just be happy. Is it too difficult for Miyu?"

"Don't overthink it..."

Miyu is a thoughtful girl, but festivals cannot be understood using ordinary perspectives.

Shirou was troubled for a while...

"... When Miyu plays with Illya, Kuro, and their friends, and doesn't think about anything too complicated, are you happy?"

"... Happy, very happy."

"With me?"

"Certainly."

"That's good. The important thing is to spend it with important people and enjoy it to the fullest."

Seeing the girl's somewhat confused expression, Shirou continued.

Ultimately, festivals are just that kind of event.

Spending time together like this, feeling happy is enough.

If you overcomplicate things and end up enjoying nothing, then you've got your priorities backwards.

"If you don't feel it's suitable, not buying anything is also an option."

"I see."

"No, I'm not encouraging you not to buy anything. The important thing is to be happy..."