Matou Kariya, a man who grew up witnessing the inhuman aspects of magecraft, developed a deep-seated loathing for it.
Nine years ago, driven by his will to reject magecraft, he faced Zouken fearlessly and managed to escape the clutches of magecraft, earning a normal life.
However, all of that was cast aside a year ago when he learned that the woman he once loved deeply, who he believed would find true happiness, had her daughter taken away from her.
"...Is this really okay?"
Kariya asked this question, with a similar firmness, twice to the woman he once deeply loved.
The first time was nine years ago, the night before she took on the Tohsaka name.
Kariya could never forget her expression back then.
She looked a bit troubled, a bit apologetic, but her face was flushed with a blush, and she nodded slightly, seemingly embarrassed.
Faced with that dignified smile, Kariya conceded defeat.
It was because he believed in that smile that he willingly accepted it.
He decided that only the man who intended to marry Aoi, Tohsaka Tokiomi, could bring her happiness.
He truly believed that...
The second time was a year ago, after hearing the news that her daughter, Sakura, had been adopted by the Matou family, he looked into her eyes and seriously asked her again.
"...Is this really okay?"
"...I've prepared myself... It's impossible to pursue even the most ordinary family happiness..."
That was her answer, avoiding his gaze and only showing him her profile, but the glistening in her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
The same question, but a different answer.
Nine years ago, when she accepted the young magus's proposal, her smile was filled with the anticipation of happiness.
But a year ago...
Kariya realized he had made a fatal mistake. He should have understood better than anyone what magecraft truly was.
Magecraft was something to be abhorred, something to be rejected.
Understanding this, Kariya had rejected his destiny, severed ties with his family, and left.
Some might say these matters were none of his concern, but the problem was he had allowed them to happen.
He knew how terrifying magecraft was and had chosen to run away out of fear... but he had left the most important girl in his life to the most dangerous magus.
At that moment a year ago, what burned in Kariya's heart was endless regret!
He had spoken the wrong words time and time again.
Nine years ago, instead of asking, "Is this really okay?" he should have firmly told her, "This isn't right!"
If he had said that back then and not let Aoi go—today might have been different.
If she hadn't married Tohsaka, she might have been spared from the cursed fate of being associated with magecraft and could have lived an ordinary life.
If he hadn't harshly questioned the decision between Tohsaka and Matou in that park—she might have been sad for a while, but she might have dismissed it as a mere gripe and forgotten about it. Yet, even so, it was the first time he saw Aoi blame him so much.
Without those words, she wouldn't have been forced to hold back her tears.
Kariya couldn't forgive himself, couldn't forgive himself for making mistakes over and over again.
To punish himself, he decided to return to the place he had once left behind—the Matou residence. Kariya knew that here, there was a way to atone for his mistakes—
The world he had once escaped. The destiny he had fled to protect himself.
For the sake of the one woman in this world he didn't want to see cry.
As a young man with minimal magical talent who had never undergone magecraft training, enduring the year-long brutal torture to qualify for the Holy Grail War should have been impossible.
But Kariya endured.
Only a few understood the reason, including Shinji and Zouken.
To avoid death, his spirit (soul) activated an emergency defense mechanism, transforming his regret into hatred for himself, while his hatred for Zouken and Tohsaka Tokiomi was twisted to the extreme by this defense.
His twisted hatred for himself, Zouken, and Tokiomi allowed him to survive that hell and endure the pain of being eaten alive by the Crest Worms.
But now, with the sudden appearance of another world's Shinji, the unexpectedly changed fate of the girl, and Zouken being sent away by the boy, Kariya was at a loss.
Things he had never envisioned before—the outline of a future was gradually forming before his eyes.
Yet, even with these changes, even though the distortions in his heart were slowly retracting like a spring stretched to its limit, he still couldn't forgive himself or Tokiomi. His hatred for himself and Tokiomi even haunted him in his dreams, consuming him!
"What should I do..."
Miss Yanako, clutching her head, was flooded with countless images in her mind—scenes of the mother and daughters playing in the park like before, Tohsaka Tokiomi taking Sakura away from Rin and Aoi, herself watching from afar, powerless, clenching her fists...
"Aunt Yanako?"
The tightening fist and deepening despair were interrupted by the voice of a little girl.
"Hungry..."
Seeing the young girl showing signs of fear due to her possibly frightening expression, Yanako quickly smiled and stood up. "Wait a moment, Sakura. Auntie will make something delicious for you and the other girl."
Turning away, Yanako made a decision in her heart because of the little girl—she would...
...
At ten o'clock at night, after receiving Kariya's call in his hotel room, Shinji went to the window again, sighing softly and showing a bit of helplessness.
It was commendable that his uncle hadn't done anything rash, but it wasn't a significant growth—just a small step... no, perhaps not even growth, more like reverting to the Kariya of the past.
Although a bit disappointed, Shinji had hoped Kariya would be more decisive, ignoring Kotomine's words and choosing a new path on his own. But it seemed he was still lacking.
However, Shinji understood that Kariya had already done well. At least he hadn't let his hatred for Tokiomi blind him and become Kotomine's toy.
Otherwise, there would truly be no future.
For the woman he loved and hoped to see happy, for himself, and for the woman's child (Sakura), there would be no future.
On the phone, after listening to Kariya, Shinji advised him to do nothing and not to be swayed by anyone at this time.
Shinji didn't tell Kariya that tonight might be Tokiomi's final night; otherwise, Kariya might be tempted to go to the scene.
Even if the hatred had lessened, he would still want to confront Tokiomi, hoping for some sort of answer.
But Shinji knew it was meaningless. Tokiomi, a magus, believed his magecraft ideology was flawless. No matter what Kariya said, Tokiomi wouldn't think he was wrong.
Even if they spoke the same language, some things had long since diverged.
Of course, Kariya could understand, but he didn't want to. He didn't want to understand magecraft matters, so hearing Tokiomi's explanation would only bring more pain and self-hatred.
Different worldviews, values, beliefs, honors, and pursuits meant they were fundamentally different people. No amount of conversation would bring understanding, only frustration.
After setting down his wine glass with a sigh, Shinji drew the curtains and turned towards the suite's inner room. He had no interest in what might happen at the Tohsaka mansion tonight.
...
The next morning.
In the stone chamber, Kotomine Kirei frowned in puzzlement. First, Saber's group had set a condition for the alliance—his departure from Fuyuki.
Kirei didn't understand why. Was this Emiya Kiritsugu's request? Why did he make such a demand? Was he watching Kirei too?
Another troubling matter was that after betraying his teacher last night, he couldn't find suitable spectators. Matou Kariya, who had a grudge against his teacher, had left Fuyuki the night before.
Moreover, the woman he had investigated, who had past romantic entanglements with his teacher (allegedly abandoned by him), had also rejected him.
So, who should he invite to this performance?
Just his teacher's wife?
No, that wouldn't work. There was no point. She would only experience ordinary sadness and pain upon seeing her husband's body, far from the scenes that could bring him joy.
Sensing Kirei's distress, a blond man in casual clothes appeared beside the sofa.
"Growing so fast, Kirei, now troubled by the lack of interesting performances?"
Hearing this, Kirei chuckled softly and threw the file on Kotobuki Yanako into the trash.
"It doesn't matter. It's just a small performance before the grand finale. Without it, it's fine. As long as the finale gives me the answers I seek. Gilgamesh, if there's no intermission, should we advance the climax?"
"Hahahaha!" Gilgamesh laughed suddenly. "What's this, Kirei? So eager for the conclusion? Ah, very well! I understand your sentiment! Let us witness it together!"