Listening to their conversation, Shinji finally remembered that in the original game, the two of them often talked about strange topics in the Archery Club when no one was around.
The topic was about a promise they made: whoever got a boyfriend first before graduation would win, and the loser would have to listen to the winner for a day. Now, they were probing each other's progress.
"Why are we talking about this again?" Rin, sitting by the table at the entrance, asked, putting down her tea as if she had just remembered something.
"What do you mean why? Wasn't it you who started it, Tohsaka?" Mitsuzuri, sitting opposite her, replied. "You complained about never having a boyfriend, so we made a bet on who would get one first before our third year."
Rin recalled, "Oh right, it was during that argument. The loser has to listen to the winner for a day."
"But isn't limiting it to just boyfriends a bit restrictive?"
"Huh? Is it?"
Mitsuzuri instinctively responded, not realizing that the last question wasn't from Rin.
Rin, with her mouth half-open and twitching, showed an overly shocked expression.
"Yes, it is." Shinji, who had somehow approached them unnoticed, stood beside them, arms crossed and eyes closed, speaking earnestly. "Why not change it to whoever finds a partner first? After all, in this era, partners aren't limited to just boyfriends. Women with women are also accepted. Why be confined by gender? Don't you agree?"
By now, Mitsuzuri had also realized Shinji's presence, looking at him and Sakura with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?" Shinji casually asked Rin, whose face was twitching in disbelief. "Why do you look like someone who woke up an hour early and got caught having their secret overheard by an acquaintance?"
Hearing this, Rin's expression grew even more shocked.
"As expected of a genius," Mitsuzuri sighed, "You even guessed that Tohsaka's household clock is an hour fast."
"Really?" Shinji feigned surprise.
"Good morning, Captain, Tohsaka-senpai," Sakura greeted with a bow and then looked apologetic, hesitating, "I tried to stop him, but my brother..."
"I understand completely," Rin said through gritted teeth, standing up and cracking her knuckles, "I just wonder if Matou Shinji is ready to face the consequences of eavesdropping on ladies' private conversations."
"Indeed, Matou-kun. Are you prepared?" Mitsuzuri stood up as well, her smile not reaching her eyes, which made Shinji instinctively sense danger.
"Huh? Ladies?" Shinji looked puzzled, glancing around, "Where? I don't see any except for Sakura."
At this, both Rin and Mitsuzuri's expressions became identical, wearing sweet yet humorless smiles.
The farce ended with Shinji paying a small price (in pain).
"Listen, if you dare spread this, I'll kill you," Rin threatened, but Shinji remained indifferent.
"Mitsuzuri, why don't we try dating?" Shinji pointed at Rin and looked at Mitsuzuri, "She has to listen to you for a day, right? My condition is simple: make her end every sentence with 'meow' on that day."
"You bastard!!" Rin exploded like an angry cat.
"Hahaha, that sounds fun," Mitsuzuri laughed heartily.
"No, wait," Sakura weakly interjected.
"But I can't accept a relationship that has nothing to do with love," Mitsuzuri continued, "Even if Matou-kun is very attractive."
Hearing this, Sakura sighed in relief.
"Alright then, I wish you victory in advance, Mitsuzuri."
"Why are you wishing Mitsuzuri-san victory?" Rin clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
"Do you really think you have a chance, Tohsaka-san?" Shinji said, looking surprised. "Honestly, even Mitsuzuri, who sweats it out in the Archery Club every day, seems more likely to win than you. Why would you make a bet you can't win?"
"Hahaha, sorry about the sweat every day," Mitsuzuri laughed, then looked at Sakura, "Your brother has a sharp tongue. Even his compliments sound like insults."
"Uh, haha..." Sakura laughed awkwardly, silently wondering if she also had a sweat smell and considering buying some perfume.
"Matou Shinji!!"
"What now, Tohsaka-san?"
"Seaweed head!"
"Expired twin tails."
"Scum!"
"Demon."
"Bamboo stick!"
"Mouse pad."
"Um... top student!"
"Hmph! You too!"
Watching their brainless back-and-forth, Mitsuzuri asked Sakura, "For them, is 'top student' an insult?"
"Uh, well..." Sakura just smiled wryly.
After five minutes of this back-and-forth, Mitsuzuri sighed and intervened, "Can you two take your usual bickering elsewhere? The club members are about to arrive."
"Hmph!" Rin crossed her arms and turned away with a huff.
"Tch," Shinji stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away with a click of his tongue.
As they were leaving, Shinji cleared his throat and gave Sakura a meaningful look.
Catching Shinji's hint, Sakura hesitated, then blushed and stammered, "Th-thank you, Tohsaka Big Sis!"
"Uh, you too, Sakura... huh?"
Pfft!
Shinji couldn't hold back his laughter, quickly opened the door, and walked out, leaving behind, "Mitsuzuri, Sakura, I'll leave now, see you."
"Haha, Big Sis," Mitsuzuri also laughed.
Rin finally realized what had happened and, smiling, asked Sakura, "Sakura, did Shinji teach you that?"
"Um..."
"Anyway, do your best here, Sakura. I'll have a good talk with Shinji." With that, Rin waved and stepped outside.
The student council room at the corner of the third-floor stairs in the teaching building.
Issei, standing outside the door with his arms crossed, quickly grabbed the collar of Shinji, who had run past him in a hurry.
"Matou, how many times have you broken the no-running-in-the-hallways rule?"
"Issei, this is different! There's a demon behind me!"
"Demon? You mean..."
Before Issei could finish, Rin leisurely ascended the stairs, smiling as she approached.
"Thanks for the help, President."
Rin said with a smile, smoothly taking hold of Shinji's collar.
"I see, a real demon indeed," Issei adjusted his glasses.
Ignoring Issei, Rin turned and dragged Shinji towards the stairs.
"Come with me."
"Issei..." Shinji pleaded with his eyes.
"Matou, you must face your own karma," Issei intoned, silently expressing his inability to help.
"Issei, it's fixed."
Carrying a newly repaired heater, Shirou stepped out of the student council room and placed it on the floor.
Issei quickly took a few steps forward, apologizing, "Sorry for making you do all the work, Shirou."
"What's next? Time is short," Shirou asked, but then noticed the two figures disappearing at the stairway, "Was that Shinji and Tohsaka?"
"That's Matou's own doing. No one else can help."
"Haha."
"The next item is..."