February 6th, Wednesday
If we consider the official start of this Holy Grail War to be when Shirou summoned Saber, then it's only been three days.
"Although it's a bit early…"
On the way to school, Sakura looked at her brother, who was muttering something under his breath as he held her arm. She tilted her head in curiosity.
Seeing Sakura's puzzled expression, Shinji smiled gently.
"It's nothing, just talking to myself."
Sakura, who had heard such things too often, didn't fully believe him this time. She pouted her lips.
"Brother, are you doing something dangerous? Don't think you can fool me! I'm not a child anymore! Hmph!"
"Dangerous?"
Shinji's eyes softened further, and he gave a very gentle, sincere, and beautiful smile.
"No, it's something that should be very pleasant."
Not understanding the implications of her brother's calm and reassuring words, Sakura tilted her head again, showing a bit of curiosity.
"Something pleasant? What is it?"
"You're still too young to understand."
"I'm not young anymore! Really! Brother always treats me like a child!"
Seeing Sakura turn her face away in annoyance, her cheeks puffed out, Shinji suddenly felt that she had a point.
Although she wasn't related to him by blood, she was essentially like a sister to him.
—Both of them were young, but carried great burdens.
Forcing himself to momentarily forget the sensation in his right arm, Shinji coughed twice.
"Cough, cough. Anyway, only a very few people can feel that kind of joy. And even if it's called joy, it's just a very unpleasant kind of dark humor in the eyes of ordinary people."
Sakura's eyes filled with even more confusion as Shinji smiled lightly.
"Well, you don't need to worry about these things. Just remember that in this world, being an ordinary person might be the happiest thing. The so-called truth of the world, the deeper you delve into it, the more melancholy and pain you will feel. Just like many people in the past, present, and even future, who are filled with suffering and contradictions, without any redemption."
Listening to her brother's somewhat philosophical and cloudy words, Sakura, though not fully understanding, felt as if she grasped a little bit.
"What about you, Brother? You must know a lot of things that I don't. Do you feel melancholy and pain?"
"Me?"
Shinji was somewhat surprised by his sister's question but didn't mind it too much. He smiled easily.
"No, your brother doesn't care at all."
...
In front of Homurahara Academy.
Seeing Rin, who had been waiting early with her arms crossed, Shinji didn't have time to say anything before she warmly greeted Sakura.
After a few days of getting familiar, Sakura was much less cautious around Rin and instead chatted happily about various trivial matters and some girls' little troubles.
"...Me too! Recently, I've gained some weight, and I don't know where it's gone. It's really annoying!"
"Sister... Tohsaka-senpai too?"
Sakura covered her mouth in surprise, then naturally lowered her gaze to Rin's still "ordinary" figure, murmuring, "But it doesn't show at all…"
Feeling Sakura's gaze, Rin's expression became subtle. She looked at Sakura, then at Shinji.
"Hey, Sakura, you didn't learn any bad things from your brother, right? And Shinji, stop teaching Sakura nonsense!"
Shinji didn't mind these words and casually replied, "Some things don't need to be taught, and no matter how much you teach what's not there, it won't work."
"Uh…"
Rin thought for a few seconds before realizing the hidden meaning in his words. Her face changed, and she stared at Shinji with gritted teeth.
Feeling Rin's murderous gaze, Shinji remained indifferent and turned to leave.
"Alright, I'm off. Bye."
"Huh?" Rin was stunned, then realized something. "Are you skipping class again today?"
"Yeah." Shinji yawned widely and waved his hand, "I want to take a nap, so I have to sneak out before Taiga arrives. See you."
"Fujimura-sensei, Matou is planning to skip class today."
Hearing Rin's cheerful voice behind him, Shinji's face darkened instantly. He felt a strange aura approaching him from behind.
"Ma...tou...Shin...ji!"
"Hahaha…"
Shinji turned around to see Taiga approaching with an unusually bright smile. He greeted her with a laugh, "Good morning, Fujimura-sensei. It's such a nice day today, hahaha…"
"Yes, it's indeed a nice day!" Taiga smiled too and put a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "Perfect for studying hard in class!"
Feeling the pressure on his shoulder, Shinji could only give up his plan to find a short-term haven to heal his mind and body after being tricked by an "old woman" last night.
...
On the rooftop, Shinji looked speechlessly at Rin, who was checking him over. Considering her good intentions, he didn't mind the somewhat unfair treatment.
By the way, Shinji's concept of gender equality includes: if you touch me, I should be able to touch you too for it to be fair!
"Alright, you can go now."
Seeing Rin, who still looked displeased but was clearly relieved, Shinji didn't say much and turned to leave.
As for the thought of one day getting back... ahem, returning the insult exactly as it was, it never crossed his mind!
"Wait a minute!"
Rin suddenly thought of something and stopped Shinji, asking, "What did Caster want from you? Did you find out?"
"She seemed to want to use my brain or something."
Hearing this, Rin's expression turned strange, and she muttered to herself, "Brain? She doesn't have one?"
"Then I was rescued by your Archer. Well, I should thank you for that. Consider it a favor I owe you. If you die... unfortunately sacrifice yourself in this war, I'll handle your funeral! At least two billion yen, very grand!"
Seeing Shinji giving her a thumbs-up and winking, Rin's forehead veins popped. She couldn't hold back and lunged at him!