The Tiger of Fuyuki Who Drops In for a Meal and the Fallen Nation's Furnace / The Hero Whose Real Name Is Alcides

Her grandfather was Fujimura Raika, the boss of the Fujimura Group's yakuza forces—the old man who had always looked after Kiritsugu and Ritsuka.

So Taiga's family could be said to be rich. Very rich. Being a teacher was probably just a hobby of hers.

After all, Taiga herself was strong enough to take on several yakuza thugs alone.

"Oh right, I should tell Taiga tonight and have her go wake Shinji tomorrow morning. Since she has the key to the Matou residence, she'll probably kick Shinji's bedroom door open in one go."

The corner of Ritsuka's mouth curled up, revealing a wicked grin that made Sakura smile wryly.

Shinji was bound to be in trouble. If that old maid Taiga caught him lying together with an underage girl, hopefully his head would not get smashed open by the Tiger Bamboo Sword.

With the subject of Shinji put aside, the two began talking about what had happened that day, along with all sorts of everyday trivialities.

About ten minutes later, Ritsuka stopped at the entrance to the elementary school division.

A familiar figure stood there quietly, like a distinct sight amid the crowd, while the surrounding students scattered and left.

Standing on tiptoe, Miyu peered through the countless parents who had come to pick up their children, searching for someone.

But she did not spot Ritsuka and Sakura on the other side, and she unconsciously sighed.

Her sister had told her that she had cleaning duty today and would most likely arrive late...

"Miyu!"

A familiar voice sounded behind her. Miyu turned toward it. "Sister?"

"Miyu, I'm late. Did you behave well in class today?"

Having cleaned up once more before leaving and thus arrived a few minutes late, Ritsuka reached out and patted Miyu's little head. Their orange eyes met.

Several years ago, not long after Kiritsugu's death, Miyu's eyes—which had originally been red—had suddenly changed to the same color as Ritsuka's.

Ritsuka had witnessed that moment and come up with a rather reasonable explanation: the Divine Child had become a child of man.

Ritsuka's orange pupils = human ≈ child of man. Miyu's pupil color = Ritsuka's pupil color = human = child of man. The equation held.

Of course, the real reason was...

"Yes. My homework was praised by the teacher today, and I was assigned as class president."

Miyu smiled faintly and greeted Sakura behind Ritsuka as well. The two were already quite familiar with each other, since Sakura, like Taiga, often came over to their home.

The three of them set off together along the familiar road home.

As Miyu talked about amusing things from school and the helplessness of being confessed to by little boys, both Sakura and Ritsuka smiled.

Being called behind the school building for a confession was something they had experienced before as well.

"Oh, Sister, I want that book, The Mysteries of the Universe. It's by the famous scholar Kepler."

"And The Seven Wonders of the Universe. I want to read both."

"...Miyu is already reading books like that?"

After hearing Miyu's request, Sakura could not help clicking her tongue softly. "Miyu, you're a genius."

In a sense, Miyu was a genius—a true super-genius. She herself was exceptionally capable, and her learning ability surpassed all common sense.

Ritsuka, living through her second life, might not have been called a genius, but she was at least an excellent student.

However, because she had died young in her previous life and circumstances had prevented her from continuing school, her academic level had only reached middle school.

She herself was not particularly interested in studying, but the books Miyu currently read were all professional academic texts.

They included things like Solid State Physics, Celestial Mechanics, and Theory of Cosmic Systems.

"Rather than those books, I'd prefer Miyu to read something more appropriate for her age... Forget it. Sakura, could I ask you to accompany Miyu to take a look? I'll go buy some ingredients for dinner."

Ritsuka broke out in a slight cold sweat as she remembered the things piled up at home that she could not understand at all.

A sense of defeat rose within her, but it came with a sense of pride as well.

Miyu was talented in every respect—housework, cooking, academics, and more. There was probably nothing in the world Miyu could not learn.

Ritsuka was also doing everything she could to teach her what she knew.

Such as a few anti-pervert punches and wolf-slaying sword techniques.

Ritsuka placed several Yukichi notes in Sakura's hand. Sakura nodded slightly and winked at her. "Don't worry, Senior."

"Okay. Miyu, listen to Sakura, all right?"

At the crossroads, Ritsuka turned left toward the department store, while Sakura led Miyu right toward one of Fuyuki City's only two bookstores.

The Tiger of Fuyuki and the Fallen Kingdom Brazier, Here for a Free Meal

"Taiga, you got here early."

Carrying the ingredients she had put together at the department store, Ritsuka pushed open the door. Smelling the alcohol in the house, she sighed helplessly before punching Fujimura Taiga on the head.

Taiga, who had been engrossed in television, toppled straight onto the floor from the sudden blow. Just as she was about to complain, she saw Ritsuka pick up the alcohol on the table, her brows furrowing as though she were about to get angry.

Taiga immediately flopped flat on the ground and did not dare get up.

Ritsuka hated alcohol. It brought back some very unpleasant memories.

There were not many things she hated: alcohol, a certain banned substance that was highly addictive, and uncontrolled, uproarious laughter...

Alcohol was strictly forbidden at the Emiya Residence. Besides Taiga, most of the people who came here were minors, and even old Fujimura Raika, who visited occasionally, did not like drinking.

Japanese law prohibited drinking before the age of twenty.

"Hehe... Oh, Miyu-chan, I came to visit!"

Seeing that Ritsuka's expression was off, Taiga hesitated before changing the subject and greeting Miyu, who entered second while carrying a book. Miyu smiled and stepped forward to pull Taiga up from the floor.

Sakura entered the room third, followed Ritsuka into the kitchen, and put down the ingredients in her hands.

Only then did she take out a gift and hand it to Taiga, who was rubbing her head. "Fujimura-sensei, this is a gift for you."

"Oh, a gift for me... So today is my birthday. Thank you, Little Sakura!"

Accepting the birthday present with both hands, Taiga raised her hand and high-fived the bewildered Sakura.

Then she happily ran off to one side to unwrap the gift.

Miyu hugged the books she had just bought and returned to her room. The living room suddenly fell quiet, with only the sound of vegetables being washed at the sink remaining as Ritsuka prepared the ingredients she had bought that day.

"Senior, I'll help too."

After looking around, Sakura walked over to the kitchen and rolled up her sleeves.

The two worked side by side, preparing dinner.

Ritsuka washed the salmon and placed it in a container, pouring in a little junmai sake for flavoring.

She sprinkled salt over both sides and left it for five to ten minutes to draw out the excess moisture.

As she skillfully handled the fish, Ritsuka glanced sideways at the girl beside her, who was working with a serious expression. A faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

Not far away, two figures—one large and one small—were crouched by the door, peeking through a narrow crack and eagerly watching the harmonious scene.

Taiga's face was full of excitement, and she nearly shouted encouragement for Sakura before a wooden spoon flew over and struck her forehead—

"Woohoo!! Uwah..."

Taiga cried out and fell to the floor, while Miyu hurriedly dragged her away.

Having failed to sense anyone else through her mind's eye, Ritsuka silently withdrew her hand in the kitchen. She smiled faintly at Sakura, who had turned back in confusion.

"Senior, was that sound just now..."

Sakura looked hesitant, but Ritsuka claimed that there was no problem at all. Calmly pressing Sakura's shoulders, she made her look at the rice she was preparing to steam. "You heard wrong. There's no one there."

"R-Really? I think I heard someone scream just now..."

"You must be too tired from studying. You only imagined it. Trust me. When have I ever lied to you?"

Ritsuka handed Sakura a basin of clean water, then took out some kitchen paper towels and used them to dry the salmon.

Next, she took out onions and carrots and sliced them all thinly. The slender kitchen knife danced in Ritsuka's hands, and the speed at which she chopped vegetables rivaled that of some anime cooking god. After all, her physical ability and mind's eye gave her extraordinary control over ingredients.

She broke apart the soaked mushrooms, sprinkled pepper and other seasonings over the salmon, then took down the drink pitcher from a high shelf and began mixing fruit juice.

She prepared juice for three in advance. There was none for Taiga, because when Ritsuka had opened the bottom compartment of the refrigerator earlier, she had found a pile of frozen beer and sake. Taiga had come prepared.

Though she truly despised alcohol, simply throwing it away would be a waste. Money was not easy to earn, so naturally she had to be frugal. After dinner, she still had to work security at a venue, and old Fujimura Raika paid quite well.

"Sakura, could I ask you to keep an eye on this? I suddenly remembered something and need to check on it."

Sakura nodded gently. "No problem. Please leave it to me."

Ritsuka patted Sakura on the head and grinned at the girl's slightly flushed cheeks.

Everything was ready, and there was still plenty of time. Ritsuka covered all the food with lids and waited for the salmon to absorb the seasoning, then took out the Crystal Dice and went to the living room.

The thing had been lying quietly dormant, but it had just reacted strangely. The last time it had reacted like this was several years ago, when she had met Miyu.

Because of other reasons at the time, she had not paid much attention to the Crystal Dice's abnormality. But now, it had begun reacting again.

Sitting on the sofa, Ritsuka held the faintly floating, crystal-clear twenty-sided die in both hands. As she pondered, its twenty faces began to turn.

At last, one face stopped before her eyes and magnified the image within.

A heavily built man with obvious signs of muscle atrophy, his upper body bare, his face covered by a long strip of cloth, a massive bow resting on his shoulder.

A terrifying presence completely opposite to a hero, wrapped from head to toe in killing intent.

...

Alcides (Archer/Avenger)

Synchronization Value (0%)

...

"Emmmm, what's going on? Why did one suddenly appear?"

Ritsuka looked at the Crystal Dice in confusion. The fierce Avenger stood in her vision like a projected model.

Why had he suddenly appeared? She had no idea. The first time had been during the fire that swept through the New Capital, when she had gripped this twenty-sided Crystal Dice.

The last major reaction had been when she met Miyu. At that time, the Synchronization Value of the character "Emiya Shirou" in the Crystal Dice had surged forward, breaking past thirty percent in one go.

A baleful air filled Ritsuka's heart with unease after she carefully examined the new figure.

Although he was an obvious villain, with every part of him filled with the concept of evil, he gave off a sense of sadness.

He was clearly a villain filled with the very concept of evil, yet he gave people a sense of sorrow.

"Alcides... I feel like I've heard that name before..."

"Ritsuka, it seems to be snowing outside. Should we take out the kotatsu? It looks like it'll get cold."

The Crystal Dice fell into her palm. Ritsuka turned and saw Taiga rushing in, the energetic woman looking unusually excited.

Ritsuka stepped past Taiga and onto the corridor, then paused slightly as she watched snowflakes drift down from the sky. The snowfall was not heavy, but it was indeed a beautiful sight.

"Hey, hey, Ritsuka, hurry up and take out the kotatsu."

Ritsuka glanced at Taiga, who was spinning in circles beside her, and laughed softly. "All right. Miyu, come help me get the kotatsu."

The Fallen Kingdom Brazier.

It was a secret treasure capable of capturing the King of Britain, and something quite noteworthy in Japanese culture. Unfortunately, Ritsuka did not know the "British legend" contained within it.

The electric heater was set up, the wooden frame assembled, a set of blankets spread over it, and then a square wooden tabletop placed on top.

After setting up the kotatsu in an empty part of the room, Ritsuka brewed a pot of black tea for Miyu and Taiga, who had crawled inside with blissful expressions. She placed the teapot in the middle of the table, then headed toward the kitchen.

Approaching the fully focused Sakura from behind, Ritsuka reached out and lifted the lid from the cutting board. "Sakura, go rest for a while too. I'll take care of the rest."

"Huh?"

Sakura was guided by the shoulders and gently pressed down beside the kotatsu. Under Ritsuka's expectant gaze, she slipped her legs inside...

"Mmm... mmm..."

With peaceful, contented expressions, the three of them—Sakura, Miyu, and Taiga—were all utterly captured by the kotatsu, immersed in its warmth.

Outside the window was a snowy scene blanketed in a thin layer of silver-white. Fuyuki City was not the sort of place where snow piled up thickly on the ground; covering the earth in a thin layer was the norm.

Ritsuka hoped she could experience another heavy snowfall like in her previous life.

That was true beauty—so beautiful it took one's breath away.

She continued working.

After some time, Ritsuka lifted the pot lid and took out the foil-baked fish she had prepared. A fragrant aroma immediately filled the room.

"Dinner's ready."

The Hero Whose True Name Was Alcides

"Snow—yay!"

Dressed in thick clothes, Taiga charged straight into the yard, her boots crunching loudly against the ground. The snow had already piled up rather thickly.

Miyu sat by the corridor with the newly bought book in her arms, flipping through it with the air of a model student. Sakura, meanwhile, had been dragged by Taiga into a snowball fight, with snowballs constantly flying back and forth through the yard.

After tidying Sakura's room and cleaning up the room reserved for Taiga as well, Ritsuka walked down the corridor carrying a bottle of warm water.