At 7 AM, Shinji, having just finished his morning exercise, opened the front door and was greeted by the long-missed aroma of a home-cooked meal.
"I'm back."
Hearing the door open, Sakura, who was wearing an apron and slippers, hurriedly ran to the entrance, holding a ladle.
"Welcome back, brother. Breakfast will be ready soon. Please go wash up."
Seeing the happiness and contentment on Sakura's face, Shinji replied softly.
"Okay, I will."
At 7:30 AM, Shinji, wrapped in a towel, stepped out of the bathroom to find the change of clothes Sakura had prepared and left in the changing room while he was bathing.
"Having a considerate sister isn't so bad," Shinji remarked softly to himself, casually tossing aside the towel and putting on the clean clothes.
After breakfast, Sakura hummed a tune while washing the dishes. Though Rider, who often felt deliberately ignored by her Master, offered to help, Sakura politely declined. It was clear that Sakura enjoyed taking care of her brother and the household chores.
Shinji, seated at the dining table and reading the newspaper, skimmed over the headlines about a gas leak incident in a district of the new city.
In the past few days, this was already the third reported gas leak. It was likely the work of the woman Shinji had initially intended to intercept.
"Is it a Servant?"
Rider, feeling neglected by Sakura, asked.
"Probably," Shinji said, casually putting down the newspaper. "But it seems the war hasn't officially started yet."
With that, Shinji stood up and smiled at Sakura, who had finished washing the dishes. "Sakura, get ready to go out."
"Okay! I'll go change my clothes."
Watching Sakura excitedly rush to her room like a child, Shinji couldn't help but smile wryly.
"She really is like a child."
Rider remarked in a flat tone, "Unlike you, even though you're only a year apart."
"Rider, with such a strong curiosity, do you want to continue tonight?" Shinji's lips curled into a playful smile as he looked at Rider. "I'm looking forward to it."
Rider remained silent. Indeed, her curiosity about this man was growing, but she instinctively sensed the domineering and unyielding strength hidden beneath his exterior. Getting closer might truly bring unexpected dangers.
But curiosity is...
Seeing Rider's silence, Shinji shrugged slightly. "I thought you would react like an ordinary girl."
"What is an ordinary girl like?"
Rider asked a strange question.
"Probably willful, stubborn, and unyielding."
"Willful, stubborn, and unyielding?"
"Yes, in short, the cute side that most girls have."
Shinji glanced at Rider with interest.
After a few seconds, Rider finally said, "I'm not cute."
"Do you think you don't have a cute side?" Shinji turned his head, smiling as he looked at Rider. "How about I help you discover your cute side? You know, there are many kinds of cuteness in a woman. You must have a unique cuteness. How about I help you find and show it to you?"
Feeling a sense of crisis from Shinji, who was half a head taller than her, Rider didn't respond.
Seeing no answer from Rider, Shinji lost interest in teasing her and changed the subject. "How about going out with us today?"
"No, Sakura wants to spend time alone with her brother," Rider replied. "Besides, I found an interesting book."
"A book?" Shinji was surprised. "Aren't you only interested in reading itself?"
Rider's face showed a hint of caution. "Why do you know so much about me?"
Shinji replied without hesitation, "It's simple analysis. You've been here for two days, spending most of your free time reading. You read any book quietly, regardless of the type. So I guessed you just enjoy the act of reading. Simple reasoning, right?"
(Shinji: I've played the original game so many times; how could I not know?)
"...It just sounds simple."
After a long silence, Rider said this and then turned to spirit form, disappearing from the dining room.
Wearing a gray shirt with a tea-colored wool sweater over it, dark pants, and black boots, Shinji topped his outfit with a khaki wool coat. Sakura's outfit, in contrast, was more modest—a white plain dress, a pink jacket, and a red coat with an ordinary bag.
"Hey, Sakura, don't you think you're sticking a bit too close?"
Sakura, clinging tightly to Shinji's arm, shook her head. "No, because we're siblings."
"Whatever you say," Shinji shrugged, then casually said to Rider, who was inside, "Anyway, the house is yours to watch over."
Rider nodded slightly.
Fuyuki City has a river that runs through it—Miyama River. It divides the city into two distinct parts.
The east side is the new city, a highly modernized area with everything.
The west side is Miyama Town, an old town with mostly residential areas.
The two sides are connected by the modern Miyama Bridge.
On the bridge, as they sat on the bus, Shinji felt a bit helpless with his sister, who was sticking so close to him. Though she was his sister, such intimacy was still a bit uncomfortable for him.
But knowing Sakura's past, Shinji wisely chose to stay silent.
After about a twenty-minute ride, they arrived at their destination—Spring Sakura Amusement Park, which was currently in its half-price trial run and would officially open in mid-March.
By the way, Spring Sakura Ice and Snow Kingdom and Spring Sakura Indoor Water Park were on either side of the amusement park.
The Ice and Snow Kingdom featured indoor skiing and various ice sculptures that children loved.
The Indoor Water Park was a year-round water park with artificial beaches and other recreational facilities.
"Brother, is coming to the amusement park the surprise?"
Seeing Sakura's delighted face, Shinji gently shook his head.
"No, it's not."
"It's not?"
"Sakura, this amusement park is a gift for you." Shinji said, removing his arm and placing his hands on Sakura's shoulders, pointing to the signs of the three Spring Sakura-themed attractions above them. "Along with the Ice and Snow Kingdom and the Water Park, they're all gifts for you."
"Huh? A gift for me?" Sakura was momentarily stunned.
"In short, this is our family's business, and it's also yours."
"What?!"
Sakura gasped, covering her mouth. Though she knew her brother had been managing the family's assets in recent years, she never imagined he would invest in such a project and then present it as a gift to her...