"Brother and Mr. Annuo have gone to the third floor. You should be able to speak."
Sakura sat next to Emiya Shirou, looking worriedly at the several bandages wrapped around Emiya Shirou's body.
"...If I tell you, can you keep it a secret for me?"
Emiya Shirou twitched the corners of his mouth, touched his arm, feeling the pain, and showed a soft expression.
"As long as senior can tell me."
Sakura nodded.
"...Yes, Sister Jie."
After a moment of silence, Emiya Shirou lowered his head and said.
"Sister Mustard!?"
Sakura covered her mouth.
"But... why?"
After the Holy Grail War happened this time, the image of Kazuko in the eyes of others could not be said to be a 180-degree rotation, but a 720-degree rotation.
"Sorry, Sakura, this...I can't say."
"At least, I absolutely can't say anything until I think about something clearly."
"But at least I can tell you... Sister Jie will not be an enemy."
Emiya Shirou said with firm eyes.
You can't deceive yourself.
Although it hurts physically - but no matter what happened, no matter what words Akuko said that hurt him, no matter what Akuko did to hurt him, no matter what Akuko did,
Whether she is "Akuko" or not, she is the Akuko who grew up with Emiya Shirou for ten years.
Whether it's a poppy, a fairy, or a flesh-receiving elf, Shirou Emiya doesn't bother to care about so many messy identities.
Sister Mustard is Sister Mustard.
He wants to fulfill Sister Jie's wish while keeping his own wish.
Thousands of years of time, thousands of years of wishes... If it still cannot be completed, it would be too pitiful.
Emiya Shirou did not feel that he was qualified to use his own words to unravel Akuko's thousands-year-old tragic wish - her tragic wish, perhaps, only Xiang Yu could solve it.
But the Holy Grail War...
Emiya Shirou rubbed his hand back and forth.
If you want to destroy the Holy Grail War, you can't fulfill Wasabiko's sad wish.
If you want to fulfill Wasabiko's wish... it seems that the only solution at present is to use the power of the Holy Grail, the all-powerful wish-making machine.
What should I do...
If you can't even take care of the people around you, how can you be a so-called righteous partner?
"Well--"
Clenching his fist, Emiya Shirou breathed heavily, but when he pulled the wound on his abdomen, he immediately let out a muffled groan.
"senior......!"
Sakura was startled by Shirou and quickly supported Shirou.
"I'm fine..."
After waving his hand, the sad look on Shirou's face never dissipated.
Sakura pursed her lips and sighed lightly.
Senior...what kind of troubles can cause you such pain?
...
"Then, I will go back today."
"Goodbye Sakura, wait until tomorrow... let's meet directly there."
"Also...be careful with Mr. Rider Xiang An."
Emiya Shirou waved goodbye to the two Matou family members, then refused Anno's support and insisted on walking towards home.
"Is it okay, Shirou?"
Annuo still looked a little worried.
"I'm fine...Mr. Annuo, do you have any way to revive Mr. Xiang Yu without borrowing the Holy Grail...at least once?"
Emiya Shirou asked Anno.
Now he can only think of such a solution, and perhaps the only one he can seek is Annuo.
"......I have no idea."
"But maybe, there is such a possibility, you just need to find it yourself."
Anno patted Shirou on the back.
There was also a hint of sadness between his brows.
Those things Adroson said... no, at least for now, they cannot be exposed to anyone.
When they reached the road very close to home, Emiya Shirou's body suddenly stopped.
because--
Not far ahead, Kazuko, carrying a green bag of vegetables, was looking at him.
"A mustard, sister mustard..."
Shirou Emiya greeted Akuko with a stiff expression.
Kazuko was carrying a dish in one hand and a book in the other. When she saw Emiya Shirou, she frowned and didn't say anything. She just quickened her pace and walked past Emiya Shirou.
"Oh! Sister-in-law, wait for me!"
Xiang An was looking around when he suddenly saw Mustard Child speeding away and quickly wanted to catch up.
But he was stopped by Annuo.
"Give me what you have in your hand...just do me a favor."
An Nuo whispered to Xiang An.
"Ah? Oh oh."
Xiang An was stunned for a moment, then reacted and nodded.
"Then I'll leave these things to you... You should delay as much time as possible."
After handing the two large bags of ingredients to Annuo, Xiang An walked next to Shirou Emiya.
"So - boy, let's find a place to chat?"
Xiang An had a hearty smile on his face.
Annuo turned his head, nodded to Shirou Emiya, and then chased Akuko on behalf of Xiang An.
"...Thank you, Mr. An Nuo, and Mr. Xiang An."
Emiya Shirou didn't know why he suddenly felt like crying.
It feels like there are many people helping you find a way to get through this difficult situation...
"Don't say thank you for now. Let's see if you can help my sister-in-law first. By the way, you shouldn't be able to drink wine yet?"
Xiang An was a little greedy, but after looking at Shirou Emiya, he suddenly remembered that this country seemed to have strict restrictions on drinking.
"that......"
Emiya Shirou smiled awkwardly rather than politely.
...
"...Why did you come here with me?"
Feeling that Xiang An was getting further and further away, Ajiezi turned around to take a look at what was going on. Then when he turned around, he saw An Nuo's face that had not changed for thousands of years, and was immediately startled.
"Your Majesty Fairy... thank you for not taking action in the morning."
Annuo did not explain his own affairs, but came up to say thank you first.
"...No need to thank me."
"I'm the weirdest thing about you, White Knight."
She turned back again, apparently not intending to pursue the matter of Xiang An going to find Shirou Emiya.
"Do you really think Shirou Emiya can be a so-called partner of justice?"
There wasn't much emotion in her tone, but Annuo could hear the hint of hidden fatigue.
"why not."
Annuo smiled, but it looked a little strange because of the stiffness of his muscles.
"At least, he sincerely wants to do this, doesn't he?"
"I am a knight, I don't need to make him feel that negative feeling."
"Although he is immature, he will eventually grow up, right?"