Illya's Happiness / Recent Developments

Wang Xiaoming then realized that the woman dressed like a uniformed office lady was actually a Grand Caster.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure about this myself. I'll explain it to you in detail when we have more time later."

"Hmm~"

Since Wang Xiaoming had said that, Touko Aozaki naturally wouldn't press the matter further. After thinking for a moment, she changed the subject. "But speaking of which, Emiya Kiritsugu really trusts you completely."

"Ah?"

"I've already entrusted my daughter to you."

Faced with Wang Xiaoming's question, Touko Aozaki gestured with her lip towards Illya, who was fast asleep next to him, and said in a joking tone, "Could it be that you see potential in you being a nanny?"

After hearing Touko Aozaki's teasing, Wang Xiaoming scratched his head.

Ever since Touko Aozaki found out that Wang Xiaoming had adopted Shirou and Sakura, she has seen him as a mother hen.

Actually, it wasn't that Kiritsugu didn't want to return with Illya. Although the two of them had previously wreaked havoc on Einzbern's headquarters, changing identities was still quite easy for this former Magus Killer. However, the android "materials" he had collected in the chaos weren't so easy to get on the plane.

After much deliberation, Kiritsugu, still concerned for Irisviel, decided to return along the same route with the materials. However, since he had already smuggled himself in, he didn't need to worry about his surroundings. But Illya...

Kiritsugu was reluctant to let his daughter travel with him on this arduous journey.

So after helping Illya forge her identity, Kiritsugu, who watched Wang Xiaoming take Illya onto the plane, also embarked on his journey home.

"Uncle, are we there yet?"

Wang Xiaoming's thoughts were interrupted by Illya's voice. He turned his head and found that Illya had gotten up from beside him at some point, and seemed to be in much better spirits than before.

It seems that this short rest on the way home has relieved a lot of the fatigue from the journey for Illya.

Wang Xiaoming glanced out the car window and realized that the car had unknowingly entered the bustling city center.

"It's almost time. Soon Illya will be able to see her mother."

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Illya then noticed Touko Aozaki driving the car and, somewhat curiously, whispered to Wang Xiaoming:

"Uncle, who is this older sister?"

"Touko Aozaki, you can just call me Sister Touko Aozaki."

However, the cramped carriage clearly couldn't hide Illya's voice. Touko Aozaki's sudden voice startled the little girl, and after she came to her senses, she greeted Touko Aozaki somewhat awkwardly.

"Mmm, Sister Touko Aozaki ('▽')"

Wang Xiaoming's lips twitched slightly as he watched this scene. If he remembered correctly, Touko Aozaki was a few years older than him. This cutesy act...

However, after receiving a "kind" look from Touko Aozaki, Wang Xiaoming decided it was better to pretend he hadn't heard her.

"Alright, we've arrived."

As the car slowly pulled up into a residential building, Wang Xiaoming, who was the first to get out, turned around and bent slightly, his left hand behind his waist and his right arm bent forward towards Illya inside the car.

"My lovely little lady, are you ready to embrace your new life?"

P. S.: I've been busy lately... I apologize for only updating when I have time.

My boss is going on a business trip next week... things will probably be piling up again, but I'll try my best to update on time!

Chapter 152. Illya's Happiness

Time flies, and it was already the end of December 1995. At this time of year-end, everyone was immersed in the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the new year.

The same applies to a family that has just moved to Tokyo.

"Mom, is it ready yet?"

With her back to her mother, Illya looked sleepy. The girl, who had just woken up but was already feeling drowsy, asked her mother in a daze.

"Almost there~ Illya -chan, just bear with it a little longer~ Mommy will definitely dress you up beautifully~"

Irisviel noticed her daughter's sleepiness, though she felt a pang of heartache. However, her own "work" was nearing its end, so she could only ask Illya to be patient a little longer.

"Okay, sure ('▽')"

Illya, forcing herself to cheer up, nodded. She believed that no matter how her mother dressed her, she would always look her best.

Not long after--

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Illya- chan~"

After completing the final step, Irisviel's cheerful voice reached her daughter's ears.

Thanks to Touko Aozaki, the "body" she created for Irisviel makes Irisviel look almost indistinguishable from others, except for her undeniable noble air. In fact, her "functions" are even superior to her previous "body" (the Lesser Grail).

However, dressing up her daughter for the first time was still a rather exhausting "task" for Irisviel, who had only recently acquired her "body".

After wiping the sweat from her forehead, Irisviel chuckled and then turned Illya around.

"So cute~"

Admiring her own craftsmanship, Irisviel nodded in satisfaction.

"Huh?"

Illya at this moment--

Her pink kimono was adorned with cherry blossoms, and her long silver hair, which she had always kept, was now tied up with a pink ribbon. Combined with her red eyes inherited from her mother, Illya now looked more like a delicate porcelain doll.

"Mom is right."

Just then, another voice came from outside the room. Looking in the direction of the voice, Illya saw her father leaning against the door, smiling as he watched the mother and daughter inside.

"Thank you, Mom!"

Upon hearing Kiritsugu's words, Illya turned and threw herself into Irisviel's arms.

This is a new habit that Illya developed after arriving in Tokyo.

When Illya first arrived at this place, she noticed that her mother seemed to have lost her body. She couldn't hug her like before, nor could she leave the room. Illya was very worried, so every time she saw her mother, she would go up and rub against her to see if her mother had recovered. This habit continued even after Irisviel obtained a new body.

"Illya loves her mom the most!"

Snuggling against Irisviel, Illya looked just like a spoiled little kitten.

"And what about Dad?"

Seeing his daughter nestled in his wife's arms, Kiritsugu feigned sadness and asked...

But how could such a question stump Illya? Under Irisviel's doting gaze, the little girl, rising from her mother's arms, puffed out her tiny chest and declared:

"Illya loves Daddy and Mommy the most!"

What is happiness?

Some people are happy because they make money; some are happy because they receive praise from their bosses; and some...

If you ask this age-old question to a hundred people, you're likely to get a hundred different answers.

For Illya, the period after leaving the "Castle of Winter" was the happiest time of her life.

Because she saw her father and mother. She knew she hadn't been abandoned, and that her parents still loved her. The reason they hadn't kept their promise to return to her immediately was because her mother had health problems, and her father needed to take care of her.

Although Illya has suffered a lot during this time, compared to her mother's health, she would be willing to suffer ten or a hundred times more, because Illya loves her parents the most!

In this place called Japan, far from the "Castle of Winter," Illya's family was finally reunited and could finally live together as before.

Although the new home wasn't as big as "Castle of Winter," Illya really loved it here because it wasn't as cold and impersonal as "Castle of Winter"; because her parents were here; because there were so many more people who loved her here...

"Illya, Shirou and the others have come to see you."

Just then, another cold voice came from outside the room. Upon hearing this voice, Illya's face lit up with surprise, and she slipped on her slippers and ran towards the door.

"Here I am!"

"Illya, slow down, the ground is slippery, be careful not to fall."

Just as she reached the door, that cold voice rang out again. At the same time, a woman with regular features appeared in Illya's line of sight. Just like her voice, this woman exuded an aura of "do not disturb" about her. However, the moment she came into contact with Illya, this aura instantly subsided.

Maiya Hisau, Emiya Kiritsugu's former assistant, now lives with the Emiya family.

"Okay~ Maiya- mama~ φ(>ω"

The title "Maiya Mama" was requested by Irisviel. Although Illya didn't understand why she had to be called that, under Irisviel's almost forceful insistence, the title "Maiya Mama" was settled in the Emiya household.

However, Illya noticed that Maiya's mother's face would quickly turn red every time she called out that name. This time was clearly no exception.

Illya's voice wasn't quiet; even the Emiya couple in the room could hear it clearly. Under Irisviel's somewhat ambiguous gaze, Kiritsugu coughed twice, a rare occurrence for Kiritsugu.

However, Illya had already left the house, obviously couldn't see these things anymore.

Illya entered the living room with light steps. The living room was already full of guests, Illya greeted them one by one.

"Uncle Wang~"

The person who brought me back from the cold, desolate "Castle of Winter," a seemingly kind uncle, has, for some reason, started wearing glasses recently.

"Auntie Touko Aozaki ~"

The person who created my mother's body is also Illya's doctor. I heard that she can help Illya grow up quickly and become as tall as her mother.

Illya had heard her parents say that these two people had been kind to her family, so Illya respected them both very much.

"Well, I'll be bothering you now, little Illya."

Seeing Illya greet them, Wang Xiaoming smiled and responded. Wang Xiaoming also hoped that this child, whose fate in the "original story" was tragic, could live a happy life.

Touko Aozaki, sitting on the other side, smiled and nodded at Illya.

Now that the elders have already given their greetings, all that's left are your two little friends!

Illya turned her gaze to the two small figures beside Wang Xiaoming, and her eyes lit up:

"Sakura-chan~ Shirou ~"

After Illya greeted them, the two children gathered around.

"So pretty, Illya- chan~"

The little girl with purple hair looked at Illya, who was dressed up in her finest attire, and her eyes lit up. Shirou beside her, nodded in agreement.

Illya, who was preoccupied with her friends, then realized that she hadn't taken off the clothes her mother had dressed her in earlier.

"Hehehe~?(????ω????)?"

"Illya -chan, shall Mom take you all out for a stroll?"

Irisviel, who came out of the inner room, looked at the three little ones huddled together chattering away. After exchanging a glance with her husband standing beside her, Irisviel smiled and said to the three children.

"Okay~" *3

Amidst the neat and energetic replies, Irisviel and her three children tidied up a bit before preparing to leave the house, accompanied by Maiya Hisau.

"Then I'll go and take a look too."

Touko Aozaki, who had been silent until now, suddenly stretched and stood up from the sofa.

"Okay, I'll leave those children in your care."

Wang Xiaoming understood that Irisviel and Touko Aozaki were trying to give him and Kiritsugu some space to talk.

After Irisviel and Touko Aozaki left with the children, only Wang Xiaoming and Kiritsugu remained in the living room.

After a brief silence, Wang Xiaoming broke the silence in the living room:

How have things been lately?

(I've been incredibly busy lately; I'll see if I can get the update schedule back on track while I'm taking my driver's license test.)

Chapter 153. Recent Situation

How have things been lately?