The Calm Before the Holy Grail War

"Ah~"

The next day, sunlight spilled across the streets as the world welcomed a brand-new dawn.

Morning rays filtered through the gaps in the windows, scattering into the Tohsaka Estate. Flecks of light dotted the dim mansion, adding a touch of brightness.

Yu Feng yawned as he stepped out of his room and made his way downstairs. Reaching the first floor, he found Emiya had already prepared breakfast.

"Didn't expect you to whip up breakfast. Planning to play butler?" Yu Feng teased.

Emiya gave a helpless smile. "Just a habit someone drilled into me. I was pretty good at cooking when I was alive, though that was a long time ago."

"Alright, I'll go wash up first. Oh, and I hope you made enough." Yu Feng left the remark behind as he headed to the bathroom. It was still early, and Rin Tohsaka was still lazing in bed, but Yu Feng's habit of rising early had also been instilled by someone.

As he washed his face, Yu Feng stared at his reflection in the mirror. A flicker of complexity passed through his amber eyes.

When Yu Feng finished and came out, he saw that Emiya had packed the table full of dishes. He shot Emiya a surprised look, and Emiya glanced back. "Are you going to wake her, or should I?"

"I'll go. It's about time to get her up anyway."

With that, Yu Feng walked to Rin's door, opened it without hesitation, and stepped inside. The moment he entered, he caught Rin changing clothes—and she saw him push the door open.

Instantly, a flush crept up Rin's face, and a shout rang through the entire Tohsaka Estate.

"Pervert!!!"

Yu Feng hurried back downstairs, only to find Emiya struggling to suppress a grin. Yu Feng's gaze, heavy with resentment, locked onto him.

"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"

"No, I just predicted it. But I didn't expect her reaction to be that intense."

Yu Feng shot back, "Since when were you this sneaky?"

Emiya just smiled and said nothing.

A little while later, Rin came down with a faint blush on her cheeks. When she saw Yu Feng, she let out a loud huff.

Yu Feng simply rubbed his nose and kept quiet.

Just then, Mordred suddenly appeared before them.

The moment Mordred spotted the table full of breakfast, her eyes lit up. "Oh, we're eating? Then I won't hold back!"

With that, she sat down and dug in at lightning speed. Rin stared in astonishment at how fast Mordred was eating.

Is this girl's stomach a bottomless pit? Rin couldn't help but think.

Yu Feng and Emiya, however, seemed to have expected this, their expressions calm.

During breakfast, Yu Feng remembered something and said to Rin, "Rin, I've got something to do after school today. I might be back a bit late."

Rin waved a hand dismissively. "Sure, no problem. Just make sure you come back."

After she said that, Emiya shot Rin a strange look.

When breakfast was over, most of the food on the table had vanished into Mordred's stomach. Yu Feng, Rin, and the others hadn't eaten much.

Mordred patted Emiya's shoulder with a satisfied grin. "Not bad, cook. Maybe I'll make you my personal chef someday."

Emiya's face darkened with a line of exasperation.

Meanwhile, a phrase suddenly popped into Yu Feng's head.

Chaldea's Chef Emiya the Mother Hen?

Actually, that name suited Emiya pretty well.

Yu Feng held back a laugh as he thought it.

"You're not thinking something bad, are you?" Emiya noticed Yu Feng's odd expression and couldn't help asking.

"No, not at all." In an instant, Yu Feng's face returned to its usual calm, showing no trace of his earlier amusement.

"No way, you're definitely thinking something bad. Right? Am I right?" Emiya shot back.

At the entrance of Homonculus Academy.

Countless students streamed in from outside, entering the campus. Yu Feng and Rin were among them.

"Hey, Rin!" A voice called out—it was Ayako Mitsuzuri.

"Yu-kun, good morning." Ayako greeted Yu Feng as well.

"Good morning," Yu Feng replied.

Ayako pulled Rin aside and whispered a few words, making Rin's face turn bright red. Yu Feng figured it was better to leave than stick around.

"I've got something to do, so I'll head off first." He said to the two, then walked toward the school building.

Rin watched Yu Feng's retreating back, lost in thought. Seeing her so serious, Ayako gave her a firm slap on the shoulder.

"So? How's it going?"

Caught off guard, Rin blinked. "How's what going?"

Ayako looked at her like she was hopeless. "What else? You two! Did it work out?"

"You idiot! What are you talking about? We're not in that kind of relationship."

Ayako Mitsuzuri looked at Rin Tohsaka with a hint of disappointment in her eyes, which annoyed Rin. "Hey, what's with that look? Did I say something wrong?"

"Huh? Don't you know the saying, 'A water pavilion gets the moonlight first'? Apart from his lousy personality, what's wrong with Yu-kun? Haven't you noticed it all this time? You two are a perfect match—don't tell me you're not interested in him."

"That face paired with his silver hair gives off a real puppy-dog vibe. If he slicked his hair back and acted a bit aloof, he'd be a total cool handsome guy! If you don't make a move now, when will you?"

"And all those hints you've been dropping—you don't really think he didn't get it, do you? Let me tell you, when are you going to change that personality of yours?"

"If Yu-kun gets snatched away, you won't even have a place to cry."

Listening to Ayako's nagging, Rin Tohsaka suddenly remembered what Yu Feng had done to her last night for some reason.

Rin's face instantly flushed red.

"Alright, alright, stop nagging. I've got this under control."

Ayako watched Rin, whose cheeks were slightly rosy, and her previously doused gossip fire reignited. "What's going on? What's going on? Did Yu-kun do something to you? Tell me!"

Rin thought for a moment, then gave Ayako a tsundere glance.

"I'll tell you after school this afternoon."

With that, she walked straight ahead.

"Hey~? Tohsaka! You can't leave me hanging like this! You're just as nasty as Yu-kun!" Ayako let out a mournful sigh and followed Rin's pace.

"Who told you to call me out like that? Geez, just tough it out until this afternoon."

"Ugh, seriously, Tohsaka, you're too cruel."