"Hmm..." Matou Sakura felt disheartened. The pudding cake on the table was dwindling, now revealing a small piece of white porcelain at the bottom.
"Miss Red Queen said I would find my sister soon, but I..."
Shirou remained expressionless. "Can you provide me with her magical energy signature?"
Sakura picked up a fork and poked at the pudding cake. "Can you use mine? Blood relatives should have similar signatures, right?"
"I'm sorry, Master. According to the database, everyone's magical energy signature is unique. Finding a person's residual signature from their blood relatives is difficult. In such cases, DNA testing would be faster."
"Hmm..."
Sakura lowered her head, feeling increasingly downcast.
"Little girl, did you forget to bring money?"
The shop owner's friendly gaze made Sakura look up. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed the shop owner's expression stiffen before she slowly returned to the counter.
"Shirou! Don't use magic on ordinary people without permission!"
"Apologies, Master. Your safety is my top priority."
After hearing this, Sakura glanced at the counter again. Seeing that the shop owner was just a bit dizzy and not seriously harmed, she relaxed.
"Shirou, remember to pay before we leave."
"Rest assured."
The alchemical doll gave a slight bow. Sakura picked up a small piece of pudding cake and began to chew, resembling a little squirrel eating.
"The last time I saw Sister and Mother was in... that direction! She would likely come from there if Sister were to come, right?"
"You're very clever."
Sakura lowered her head. Although Shirou was complimenting her, she still felt too foolish.
"Can you monitor the magical energy fluctuations in that area for me?"
"Of course, Master. Shall we go now?"
Sakura glanced outside. The moon was slowly rising, and night had fallen.
The store was lit, and aside from the shop owner, there were hardly any customers.
Matou Sakura hopped down from her chair. Standing by the counter, the shop owner hesitated momentarily before remaining in place.
After a while, the shop owner snapped back to reality.
"What happened to me? Did I not rest well yesterday? Huh? Where did that customer go?"
The shop owner walked over to the table where Sakura had been sitting. Aside from the leftover pudding cake and cold milk, only money was left behind.
After tidying up, she couldn't recall who the customer was, frowning as she scanned the store.
"Looks like I need a good rest."
...
Tohsaka Rin cautiously hid behind a trash can in an alleyway. Because of the weak streetlight, the passageway appeared dim and gloomy.
She was back in Fuyuki City! She had returned without her family's permission!
Recently, things have become increasingly strange. First, there was a serial killer on the loose, then the Holy Grail War. Her father sent her and her mother to another city to protect them.
'I wonder how Sakura is doing?'
This thought briefly crossed Rin's mind. She hadn't returned to help her father win the Holy Grail War.
Rin knew she didn't have the ability for that. She was here to investigate something!
About that serial killer.
Several students from her school had gone missing. At first, she didn't pay much attention, but when her best friend from school disappeared...
Tohsaka Rin felt she needed to find out the truth!
When she arrived in Fuyuki City and followed the magical energy fluctuations to this dark alley, she realized things were far more complicated than she had imagined!
A young man was leading... two, no, three children! No, his group was still growing!
The children seemed to have lost their senses, aimlessly following the young man.
Sometimes, the young man would curse at them for walking too slowly!
Rin swallowed, hiding her tiny body in the shadows. The magical energy from the man's wrist confirmed she had found the truth!
'It's that bracelet! A magician is attacking ordinary people!'
Watching the growing group of children behind the man, Rin shivered. She wanted to retreat.
Tell her mother, who would then inform her father. With her father's strength, he could efficiently resolve these issues!
Her steps became heavier. The man's bizarre magic filled her with fear!
What should she do?
Thinking about her best friend who had vanished, and unable to reach her family by phone, she was sure this man was behind it!
Who knew what would happen next time they met if she didn't act quickly?
Should she let her father handle it? Rin gritted her teeth. By then, it might be too late!
"Click, click, click!"
Rin ran, trying to find her way in the alley. She lost track of him!
She took out the gift her father had given her and focused on the direction indicated by the clock hands.
That location represented something with magical energy!
She took small steps, quickly moving forward after determining the direction. She needed to be faster!
Who knew what the serial killer was planning with so many children? It wasn't tutoring them in a basement!
Rin was very worried...
What should she do?
She had never felt her heart race so fast. For the first time, her young heart felt a sense of mission.
"Where is everyone? They were just here! Did my instrument break?"
Rin frowned, looking around. It was too dark, making it hard for her to find her way.
"Ouch!"
Rin tripped over something!
Looking closely, she saw a shoe splattered with blood!
Her pupils shrank to pinpoints, her breath halted, and even the magical energy in her body seemed to block momentarily!
"Wh-what is that?"
"Of course, it's a shoe, little girl."
It felt like her heart was gripped by a giant hand! Rin stiffly turned her neck, slowly looking up.
The young man was smiling warmly at her!
"Ahh!"
Rin tried to run but tripped and fell!
"Kanade!"
Rin rushed over, flipping the small figure lying on the ground. It was indeed her best friend!
"Kanade! Kanade, wake up!"
In Rin's frantic shaking, Kanade slowly opened her eyes, groggily asking, "Rin? Why are you here?"
...
"Master, two weak magical energy signatures are detected in the alley ahead."
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Let's go check it out!"
"Risk assessment: low. Proceeding."
Shirou nodded. "Master, please follow me."
"Based on the magical impact calculations, we can't obtain accurate readings, but the probability of them being human magician apprentices is 99%."