Rin's aloof behavior left Matou Kariya feeling heartbroken.
He hadn't done anything wrong, so why was his little angel suddenly acting so distant?
It must be Tokiomi's fault, he thought bitterly.
"Sakura, are you okay?" Kariya asked, looking at her with genuine concern.
He had rushed back to Fuyuki the moment he heard about what happened, relieved to learn that Sakura had been rescued. However, no matter how many times he tried reaching out to her in the group chat, Sakura never responded, which left him feeling anxious all over again.
"I'm fine…" Sakura replied softly.
With Chihiro by her side, Sakura felt safe, her usual silence starting to ease up.
Seeing her like this, Kariya felt a pang of sorrow once more.
Damn Zouken, damn Tokiomi. Look at what you've done to such a kind child.
"Mr. Kariya, have you been back to the Matou household lately?" Chihiro suddenly asked.
Kariya frowned. "No, I haven't returned to the Matou estate since I came back to Fuyuki. Why?"
"Oh, nothing," Chihiro said casually, but gave a quick glance at Zhang Jiao.
Under the table, Zhang Jiao discreetly produced a talisman. He chanted softly, and the talisman ignited, transforming into a thin line of fire that shot out of sight.
Not far away, several insects lurking in the shadows were incinerated in an instant.
---
At the Matou residence, Zouken Matou felt the sudden loss of his monitoring familiars and snorted coldly.
"So, they've noticed…"
Zouken muttered, seething. It's that brat with the strange techniques again. I'll teach him a lesson eventually.
For now, he couldn't act; Chihiro had a Heroic Spirit with him. Besides, his interest in Sakura had waned for the time being.
What concerned him more was Kariya's recent transformation.
How could a man with no natural affinity for magecraft suddenly possess functioning magic circuits?
Zouken recalled inspecting Kariya himself and confirming that he was just an ordinary man.
To verify Kariya's authenticity as a mage, Zouken had even sent him a relic. Unexpectedly, Kariya had successfully summoned a Servant, confirming that his magical circuits were indeed real.
This change piqued Zouken's curiosity, prompting him to keep a close watch on Kariya.
Over time, he'd observed something strange, Kariya often seemed to talk to empty air, or sit in a daze around midday as though lost in his own world.
Zouken suspected that some form of magic was obscuring his vision, preventing him from seeing the full picture.
With Tokiomi's sudden hostility toward Kariya as well, it was clear something unusual was unfolding in this Holy Grail War—something he wasn't privy to.
---
"Kariya!"
Back at the fast food restaurant, Tohsaka Aoi emerged from the restroom, stopping short as she noticed Kariya.
Aoi wasn't a member of the group chat, so she had no knowledge of the future where Kariya killed Tokiomi. And Tokiomi certainly hadn't mentioned it to her.
"...Aoi…"
Seeing the woman he loved, Kariya finally managed a faint smile.
Aoi smiled back, seemingly relieved. "When did you come back? I had no idea."
"Just a few days ago," Kariya replied with a bitter smile. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't left back then, maybe I could've warned you about my family's true nature, and Sakura wouldn't have had to suffer…"
"It's alright. This isn't your fault," Aoi said gently as she sat beside Sakura, affectionately patting her head.
Kariya watched them for a moment before his attention shifted to the unfamiliar figure sitting nearby. "Uh… and who is this?"
Standing with a regal air and dressed in modern yet flashy attire, Ishtar caught his eye. There was something oddly familiar about her appearance, she looked almost exactly like Rin.
"Ha! I am Ishtar, the goddess of Venus," she proclaimed proudly, lifting her chin. "How rude of you, mortal, to ignore a goddess."
"You're… Ishtar?" Kariya stammered, thoroughly confused.
Why did this so-called goddess look so much like Rin?
Lacking formal training in magecraft, Kariya had no knowledge of Pseudo-Servants, let alone why a goddess would share a face with his niece.
"Kariya, have you had lunch yet? Why don't you join us?" Aoi offered warmly.
"Well… alright," Kariya agreed, unable to refuse her invitation.
He took a seat, quietly observing the Tohsaka family and savoring the rare moment of happiness. He wished he could freeze this scene and preserve it forever.
---
"Hmm?"
Red Hare, who had been happily munching on a carrot, suddenly stopped and lifted its head, glancing around warily.
"What is it, Red Hare?" Chihiro asked, noticing the horse's unusual behavior.
Red Hare's expression turned serious. "Someone is watching us, but I can't locate them."
"An invisible observer?" Chihiro's gaze sharpened, and he glanced at Zhang Jiao. "Could the old worm still be spying on us?"
Zhang Jiao looked around and shook his head. "No, I don't sense any of his familiars."
"Hm? So it's not Zouken?"
Chihiro pondered, frowning. "Who else has the skill to remain hidden like this? Could it be Emiya Kiritsugu?"
The only other person Chihiro could think of with such exceptional stealth capabilities was Kiritsugu.
But then…
"Wait… that's…"
Chihiro's eyes widened as he caught sight of a distant figure standing on the roof of a nearby building.
The figure's distinct appearance immediately hinted at its identity, leaving Chihiro in shock.
But just as he focused, the figure vanished as if it had never been there.
Did I imagine it? Chihiro thought, doubting himself. Why would that person appear during the Fourth Holy Grail War?
Was it possible they had been summoned using a Heroic Spirit Summoning Card?
No, that figure didn't seem like the type who would enter a contract with anyone, especially not outside of their homeland.
"You're not imagining things."
Zhang Jiao's voice cut into Chihiro's racing thoughts. "I saw it too."
Chihiro let out a breath, reassured. "So, I'm not hallucinating…"
It seems the Fourth Holy Grail War has gone completely off-script.