"Brother, were you just looking over here?"
In the massage room, wrapped in a towel and with a face mask and cucumber slices for hydration, Sakura suddenly spoke up, glancing over at Shinji on another massage chair.
"No..."
Seeing Sakura's curious expression, Shinji averted his gaze and turned his face away, feeling puzzled. How had his sister become so perceptive? The seemingly innocent tone and deliberate natural expression were difficult to handle. In some ways, he really was being led by the nose!
No, this couldn't go on!
Suddenly, Shinji came up with an idea.
"By the way, Sakura, during my recent trip, I happened to come across something." He said, retrieving a small white porcelain bottle from his system space. "It's said to keep a woman's appearance at her most youthful and vibrant state..."
Before he could finish saying "medicine," a blur shot over and snatched the small bottle.
Seeing Sakura tightly gripping the bottle, breathing heavily, Shinji smiled to himself.
There, you revealed your true colors!
At the same time, noticing her overreaction, Sakura quickly composed herself, replacing her beast-like expression with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, brother..."
Seeing that her towel had come loose from her earlier movements, Shinji picked it up from the floor, cleared his throat, and handed it to her.
"Sakura, even though we're siblings, we're old enough to know the difference between men and women."
Realizing what had happened, Sakura's face gradually turned red as she looked down at herself.
Sakura's mind was racing with two thoughts: one, to straightforwardly reveal her feelings to her brother, and two, to act like a normal girl, scream, and run away with the towel.
After thinking it over, Sakura chose not to act like an ordinary girl. She calmly took the towel and wrapped herself.
"It's fine because we're siblings."
Smiling, she said this and then returned to her massage chair as if nothing had happened. Shinji, on the other hand, was left confused.
What was his sister planning?
Shinji didn't realize Sakura's internal struggle. She repeatedly told herself it was too early.
She knew her brother well—whether one called him carefree or irresponsible, it was all the same. For him, women might just be accessories.
Did he truly care about Rider? Maybe a bit, but not to the extent of romantic love.
If Rider decided to leave, Shinji wouldn't stop her. That was his nature!
Conversely, if someone chose to stay, he would consider them his.
But as long as his views on love didn't mature, there was a limit to how far their relationship could go. In some ways, it was better to be his sister than his lover.
She couldn't rush things!
Sakura reminded herself again that she had to wait until her foolish brother's views on love matured before making a move.
For now... absolutely not!
"Brother, I'm done with my massage. I'll be leaving now."
After saying this, Sakura left, and Shinji sighed inwardly. He understood what she was thinking.
But he really was this kind of person. Changing his nature quickly was unlikely; it might take a very long time.
"Ahh~~"
Shinji sighed and lay back down.
Sakura and Rin were indeed sisters. Their views on love were almost identical. Rin had rejected him for the same reason in the interdimensional rift.
Unless he changed his casual attitude towards women, there would be no progress. According to Rin, she was waiting for true love, not something fleeting, much like Sakura now.
"Aren't you just afraid of loneliness?"
Gil's voice, tinged with amusement, came from the side. Shinji rolled his eyes.
"Watch it, or I'll report you for trespassing. Afraid of loneliness? What a joke."
Gilgamesh casually sat on another massage chair and continued, "Don't deny it, brother. Last time in the interdimensional rift, you shared many personal secrets with that older sister (Rin). You did it because you found something interesting, didn't you?"
Shinji looked at Gilgamesh with a hint of curiosity.
"Oh? What's that?"
Gilgamesh shook his head, smiling wryly. "You're really good at hiding your feelings, brother. You shared your secrets with that older sister because you discovered an intriguing phenomenon, didn't you?"
Shinji snorted. "You don't understand."
"Don't be in such a hurry, brother. I haven't finished."
Gilgamesh's expression grew serious as he continued, "From my observations, what you fear isn't loneliness itself but the fact that you can endure it. Discovering this trait in yourself, you acted out of character, trying to deepen your bond with that sister by saving her and sharing secrets."
He sighed. "I'm really curious about your true identity. This transcendent solitude... apart from me, you might be the only one, perhaps even surpassing me."
Listening to Gilgamesh's analysis, Shinji remained outwardly indifferent but couldn't help admitting inwardly that he was right. At some point, he had realized he possessed traits not typical of ordinary humans.
The realization that he could tolerate loneliness without discomfort made him wonder if it was due to his cultivation. Stories often described cultivators as detached and emotionless.
But Shinji felt it might be his true nature.
"However, you're missing something—some responsibility or duty that matches this trait. Without it, you can't fully understand yourself."
"Do you think I'm like you? With kingly duties or something?"
Shinji rolled his eyes and waved dismissively. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just an ordinary person."
"Oh really? But wasn't there an empress who called you king?"
"That was just a child's game. It's not real."
Standing up and stretching, Shinji continued, "I find you Heroic Spirits amusing. You love to overthink. Haven't you heard that overthinking leads to confusion?"
"I saw it, you know."
Hearing this, Shinji's movements paused slightly, but he quickly resumed as if nothing had happened.
"I saw what she left you and what she said in that white space. Such loyalty..."
"Alright, enough. I'm just me. If I don't know something, if it's not in my memory, or if it's just hearsay, I won't consider it real."
"Hahaha..." Gilgamesh laughed, then grew serious again. "I'll keep watching you, brother, until all mysteries are unveiled."
"Sure, do what you want."
Grabbing a bottle of coffee milk from the fridge, Shinji waved dismissively, then downed the entire bottle in one go.
"Ahh, coffee milk tastes best after a bath."
"Indeed, I agree, Shinji."
Seeing Saber-chan appear with a bottle of coffee milk, Shinji was taken aback. Both young Heroic Spirits together?
Looking at Saber-chan in her silk child's bathrobe, Gilgamesh sighed. "I see. So this is the source of the disturbance."
Shinji suddenly remembered the unresolved incident with the New Jewel Sword. He had been too busy with Shinkage, sparring with his sister, and flaunting his own loli to remember.
"Gil, help me out, will you? Just clear the unnecessary memories from those affected by the incident."
"You're really demanding, brother..." Gilgamesh sighed.
"Please. If I do it, I might accidentally delete other memories."
"Alright, alright."
Gilgamesh agreed, though reluctantly. Shinji's goal was to put an end to the incident's aftermath.
"It feels like working for you, brother. Isn't this a job for your organization?"
While rummaging through his treasure trove, Gilgamesh grumbled.
Shinji laughed, "Don't worry about it. Since you're living in this country, helping out occasionally isn't a big deal. After all, sharing kindness benefits everyone."
"Shinji, why erase the citizens' memories?"
Seeing Saber-chan's confusion, Shinji decided to explain everything. Whether she chose to stay or return was up to her.
But first, he ordered a family bucket.
...
In the living room, licking ketchup off his fingers, Shinji explained everything to Saber-chan, who was now in disbelief.
"How... how is this possible? To say that our past battles were just an unchosen possibility? Am I not real, Shinji?!"
Seeing Saber-chan's agitation, Shinji resisted the urge to snark, recalling how he had tricked her during the Holy Grail War.
"No, Saber, you're real. It's just that you're from an unchosen possibility."
"Damn it!" Saber-chan cursed, clearly frustrated.
"And remember, even if you wish on the Holy Grail to change the past, your kingdom will still face extinction due to the choices of humanity."
"You've told me that before!" Saber-chan shouted, then softened. "But... but I still..."
Noticing her occasional glance at the fried chicken, Shinji finished her thought.
She still couldn't give up fried chicken and fries?
"The choice is yours. For personal reasons, I won't erase my extra memory. Whether you stay or go is up to you."
Taking another bite of fried chicken, Shinji washed it down with a large gulp of cola and let out a satisfied burp.
He didn't mention that if Saber-chan chose to return, she would vanish completely, unlike Shirou's Saber, who could return to the past.
Seeing the dwindling bucket of fried chicken, Saber-chan made her decision.
"No, I'll stay!"