In the bathroom, Shinji, with a towel wrapped around his waist, found himself in a staring contest with Rider, who was curled up in the bathtub.
Hmm... Considering that FSN (Fate/Stay Night) is originally an R18 story, there's really nothing wrong with this scene. It's just the nature of this world, nothing unusual, nothing to worry about.
Shinji thought this to himself, lowering his gaze, locking onto the sight, and not looking away.
After all, he'd bragged about predicting enemy movements based on the rise and fall of their chest (breathing), so he couldn't lose face now!
But then again, Rider truly deserves praise for not reacting like an ordinary girl in such a situation, screaming or causing a scene.
That definitely deserves a big thumbs up!
After a full minute, Rider finally spoke calmly, "Sorry, I'll be done soon."
"It's fine. Next time, you can use Sakura's bathroom or the one at the end of the hallway on the second floor. This one is the one I always use."
After saying this casually, Shinji left and gently closed the bathroom door behind him.
Of course, though his face remained expressionless, Shinji couldn't help but feel he'd just seen a beautiful sight or scenery.
A few minutes later, Rider, wrapped in a towel, opened the bathroom door and saw Shinji leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, resting his chin on his hand, deep in thought.
To an outsider, this scene might seem strange— a man and a woman both wrapped in towels in a small space (changing room), yet it was unusually quiet and harmonious.
The man was lost in thought, while the woman silently observed him, creating an oddly silent atmosphere.
After over a minute, Shinji seemed to notice Rider, gave a faint smile, and then walked past her into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Rider was very curious about what this man, who seemed so unusual and far from simple, was thinking.
Moreover, he had promised to help her participate in the Holy Grail War, but what method would he use?
Could it be...
When Shinji finished his bath, it was already 10 PM.
Just as he entered the living room to greet Sakura before heading to the study, Sakura immediately clung to his arm, pressing herself close.
"Brother."
"Sakura, aren't you going to sleep? It's already very late."
"I just want to spend a little more time with you before bed."
Looking at Sakura, Shinji suddenly understood.
His sister probably still didn't feel the reality of it all. With this thought, his gaze softened, and he gently placed a hand on Sakura's head, comforting her softly.
"It's alright now. The nightmare is over, Sakura."
"Brother, from now on, it'll just be the two of us in this house, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
At midnight, in front of the fireplace in the living room, Shinji sat on the sofa, seriously reading the materials on Command Spells and the Holy Grail he had found in Zouken's room.
Zouken hadn't left much behind, and much of the crucial information was either missing or intentionally removed.
The Matou family provided Command Spells for the Holy Grail War, but there were very few notes or records on this part, which was odd.
Logically, even if there was little information about the Holy Grail, the details on Command Spells should be thorough.
Shinji guessed that after perfecting the Command Spell system, Zouken had intentionally hidden part of it.
However, this didn't pose much of a problem for Shinji. The complete records in the False Book of Command and the remaining materials on Command Spells were enough.
Although the information on the Holy Grail was incomplete, Shinji roughly understood its principles. The method to dismantle the Greater Holy Grail system was still unclear. Although he had obtained an analyzer, time was pressing.
The main task given by the system was to completely dismantle the Holy Grail system, not just destroy the Holy Grail. If it were merely about destroying the Holy Grail, Shinji could just stay home and wait.
After all, wasn't Saber there?
And even if Saber wasn't around, he could just prepare some explosives, throw them into the Greater Grail's location when no one was around, and that would be it.
But unfortunately, the task wasn't that simple.
The system required him to complete the tasks of the princess and a certain twin-tailed girl ten years ahead of time, and to do so more thoroughly than they did.
Those two had merely dismantled the Greater Grail, but his task was to completely dismantle the Holy Grail system, which was more ambiguous.
This meant not just the dismantling of the Greater Grail, but also the Command Spell system and that factory. All of these might be within the scope of his task.
The factory didn't matter; once the Greater Grail was dismantled, the factory would shut down completely, and Ahad would switch off his "power"!
—Because it would be impossible to recreate the same Holy Grail system! The Einzbern's "savior obsession" would have no hope of being realized!
Covered with a blanket, holding Shinji's arm, Sakura, who had been clinging to his side the whole time, looked at the still-burning fireplace and spoke softly.
"I've had many dreams like this, with just the two of us snuggling together on the sofa by the fireplace, with only the dim flickering firelight, but it felt very warm, just like now."
Hearing this, Shinji turned his gaze away from the book to his sister, who he had urged several times to go to bed but who had not obeyed.
"Really..." Shinji's eyes softened again, and then he suddenly thought of something. "Sakura, I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" Sakura turned her head, showing a bit of curiosity and anticipation.
"Yes, but you'll see it tomorrow." Shinji smiled and raised a finger. "It's a very special gift."
"A doll?"
"Close, but not quite. You'll know tomorrow. Now go to bed. I'll be done soon; just finishing this bit."
Sakura chuckled, "Brother, you're mean. Knowing this, I'll be too excited to sleep."
"Really?"
"I suspect you're doing it on purpose."
"I'm not. Now, go to sleep."
Finally, under Shinji's urging, Sakura reluctantly went to her room.
Shinji, meanwhile, carefully reviewed all the materials, memorizing the key points before going to bed.
January 30th, 4 AM.
Shinji, accustomed to waking early, looked helplessly at Rider, who, just like yesterday, lay semi-transparent and lifeless by his bedside.
Why doesn't this silly woman ever listen?
Seeing Rider once again requesting blood, Shinji thought it was a bit much and perhaps it was time to give this overly curious woman a bit of punishment.
Shinji, like a magician, produced a lollipop and handed it to Rider. Rider, confused, was about to ask something when Shinji popped the lollipop into her mouth.
Mana! Pure, easily absorbed mana that helps with digestion and supplements calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins!
With the lollipop in her mouth, Rider was stunned, staring at Shinji.
A lollipop that replenishes mana was too shocking.
"This is the last time, Rider," Shinji said as he got out of bed, tidying his pajamas before turning back to Rider with a slight smile. "If this happens again, I'll have to punish you. And it'll be a serious punishment, especially for a woman."
Rider didn't respond but understood from Shinji's slightly playful tone that he wasn't joking.
"Sorry."
Hearing Rider's apology, Shinji casually waved his hand, picked up his sportswear, and walked out the door without looking back.