"Shinji! You came too."
Before dawn the next day, Shirou Emiya got up early and headed out.
He had already left food at home for Taiga Fujimura. She would probably come by later to mooch a meal; once she found it, she could eat it herself. Besides, Issei Ryudou was at home too.
"What do you mean, I came too?"
Shinji looked at Shirou oddly.
"I mean... um, Mr. Adelson's Master is Sakura."
Shirou scratched his head, unsure what to say.
"My brother is very strong, you know. And since we're going to attack the Einzbern Family's stronghold, some of his abilities will be very useful."
Sakura stood beside her ancestor, Adelson, smiling at Shirou Emiya.
"Forget it. I can't be bothered explaining it to you."
Snap.
Mana circulated. Matou Shinji created liquefied gemstones, which then condensed, compressed, and changed shape. Finally—
A cat landed on the ground and opened its eyes.
"Meow~"
Its gem-like appearance rapidly shifted, turning into... a pink cat.
Shirou:?
"What are you trying to do?"
He did not quite understand what Matou Shinji was planning.
"The magecraft that makes it up is sensory magecraft, so its senses will be extremely sharp. As for why it turned into a cat, I honestly don't know."
Shinji picked up the pink cat and stroked its fur in his hands as he smiled.
"Perhaps life chooses its own form. When magecraft gains life, it chooses its own form as well."
"Though maybe it's because of my memories. They all transform into creatures from my memories. I can interfere, but under normal circumstances, I think it may be better not to."
"Meow~"
The pink cat broke free from Shinji's hands, climbed onto Sakura, then tucked its paws atop her shoulder and began purring.
It was exactly like an ordinary cat—except