Chapter 1: Big News Right After Returning (cont.)

"Sakura, listen to me explain... something?" Shirou lost the will to continue halfway through.

Even he found those words utterly unconvincing.

Besides, that was the standard thing to say when caught cheating.

Saying it would only make him seem more suspicious.

"Come to think of it, Miyu, didn't I ask you and Angelica to compile information on that world earlier? How did that go?"

Sakura pulled an unidentified object out from behind her back.

"Senpai, you're very skilled at changing the subject. How did you get so skilled at it?"

Facing Sakura as she drew ever closer, Shirou, who was sitting on the ground, could not help shrinking back.

This felt a little bad.

"Sakura is as beautiful as ever today," Shirou said with an awkward smile.

"But in Senpai's eyes, I'm definitely not as beautiful as Gilgamesh, am I? Definitely not as beautiful as Miss Jeanne d'Arc, that chaste saintess, right?"

Hearing the usually gentle Sakura say such things at this moment made Shirou's heart ache.

But what she said was wrong.

The person Shirou liked was not Jeanne d'Arc, much less Gilgamesh.

The one he liked was Sakura.

That gentle, purple-haired girl.

"No." Shirou stood up and embraced Sakura.

"They really are beautiful, and they shine brightly. But in my heart, you are more beautiful than them. Because I like you."

The sudden confession made Sakura's face flush crimson.

All the words she had prepared to tease Shirou froze in place.

"Se-Senpai..."

Shirou's face reddened as he spoke.

Speaking one's true feelings was often such an embarrassing thing.

But this way, not only had he captured the fortress, he had even neutralized the machete!

What a joyous thing.

Illya, Miyu, and Chloe all wore somewhat strange expressions.

Even Artoria could not bear to watch and turned her head