Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Talk between sisters (I)

Homurahara Academy was the local high school Haruki attended with Sakura. Other characters like Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka were also studying here. Haruki rarely interacted with the two as he had his hands full dealing with Sakura’s ever-growing affection and Shinji’s antics.

Haruki entered the school fifteen minutes before the bell rang. The students returning to classes after their club activities chased him through the hallway. His brow twitched; he barely held the curses in his mouth. Having Sakura’s company came with some drawbacks.

Haruki stopped outside class 2-A and frowned. The classroom was strangely silent. He slid open the door and stepped inside. The reason for the silence was none other than Sakura standing face to face with her sister.

As one would expect from the main heroine, Rin Tohsaka was a beautiful young woman with aquamarine eyes. A part of her long wavy brown hair was styled in twin-tails tied with a black ribbon, while the rest cascaded down her shoulders. She had a long red coat over her Homurahara academy uniform—a tanned vest over a white shirt and a black skirt.

Rin immediately recognized Haruki but she felt something off about him. He was shrouded in different air, standing out yet blending in.

‘Archer, do you feel it?’

“I don’t, Master.”

Archer, who was in his spiritual form, replied instantly. He had been through the war before and possessed vague memories of the participants. This dark-haired boy wasn’t one of the masters as far as he knew. Though something about him irked Archer.

Rin nodded and snapped her attention back to Sakura. “How can I help you?”

Rin couldn’t fathom why Sakura would approach her with such a serious expression. Sakura usually kept a distance from her.

After all, on paper they shared no bond whatsoever after Zouken Matou adopted Sakura. From a Magus perspective, she and Sakura were enemies as they came from different families.

Sakura didn’t notice Haruki. Staring down Rin with serious eyes, she opened her mouth. “Tohsaka-senpai, can we talk in private?”

It took a moment for Rin to comprehend Sakura’s request.

‘Did she find out I attend the Martial Arts Club to watch her?’

She shook her head.

‘Doesn’t look like it.’

Sakura was usually an easy-going girl with a brilliant smile. Though at times, she would gloomily sit in the park for hours as though waiting for someone. Rin would’ve comforted her if it weren’t for her “trouble” with expressing her feelings.

“Tohsaka-senpai?”

Rin nodded and walked past Sakura. “Follow me.”

As Sakura turned around, her eyes met Haruki. “S-Senpai.”

“What’s going on here?”

He was aware of Sakura’s plans to take back Rider from Shinji. But why was she meeting Rin of all people? The two were more like acquaintances instead of sisters. Sakura looked up to Rin Tohsaka even in this timeline. Heck, she still used the red ribbon given by Rin when Sakura was adopted. This goes to show how much she cherished her time with Rin.

“Please come with me.”

“Alright.”

He followed the sisters through the hallways.

“Master, this girl is a magus.”

Medea communicated in her spiritual form.

‘I know. Her servant is strong too.’

“How strong?”

‘He killed you in one of the timelines.’

In Fate Stay Night, she was killed by Gilgamesh. In Fate Unlimited Blade Works route, Archer killed her. Heaven’s feel route showed True Assassin tricking Medea using her master Kuzuki. She was forced to stab herself with her Noble Phantasm, even then True Assassin plunged a dagger into her throat for a swift but brutal death.

Medea fell silent as Rin took a turn for the stairs leading to the roof.

‘Scared?’ Haruki provoked the usually calm Medea. ‘I won’t let it happen as long as I’m around.’

He’d rather abandon his current quest to revive his mother than losing Medea. With his system, there would always be a chance to bring back his mother. However, Medea won’t be the same even if he did manage to revive her.

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Medea could feel the determination in his voice. For once, she was grateful to be in her spiritual form, or she wouldn’t be able to control her surging emotions.

Rin opened the roof’s door. Sakura gestured to Rin to go ahead before she looked back at Haruki.

“Senpai, sorry for not coming today. I’ve brought a bento if you feel hungry.”

Her angelic smile dazed him. How could someone smile so brightly after going through such horrors?

“Master…” Medea grumbled. “Focus.”

Haruki coughed. “Let’s eat together during the break.”

“Yes, Senpai.”

Sakura walked toward Rin, who was admiring the scene from behind a fence. Her gaze ladened with complicated emotions landed on Rin’s back. She reached for the red ribbon tied to the left side of her hair and gently stroked it.

“Rin Nee-san.”

Rin’s cool expression dissolved into surprise. Eyes wide, she stared at Sakura. It’s been ages since Sakura called her sister. Sakura’s smile filled with nostalgia brewed complicated feelings in Rin’s heart. She loved Sakura, and the fact Sakura acknowledged her as an older sister almost made her grin. Almost—because the cold and calculating beliefs instilled in her mind raised her wariness against Sakura’s change.

Sakura continued, “Rin Nee-san, I need your help.”

Sakura’s cutesy voice blew away Rin’s aloof mask.

“W-What is it?”

“I want to get rid of Shinji, Nee-san.”

With a sweet smile, Sakura voiced her request. Haruki and Rin just stared at Sakura.

‘I changed her too much,’ Haruki thought.

Sakura in the original series was rather soft-spoken and prone to embarrassment, always hiding her desires from others. Suffering in silence was her motto before she met Haruki.

“Why?” Rin asked in an indifferent tone. Her so-called “Magus” persona was on full display. “You’re going to participate?”

She didn’t outright reveal anything about the Holy Grail War because of Haruki’s presence.

“I do,” Sakura replied in a firm voice. “Shinji is Rider’s Master. He threatened to kill Haruki-senpai with her help. Rin Nee, it’s the only thing I’ll ever ask of you. So, please...”

Haruki raised his hand. “Hold up. That idiot is going to kill me?”

“No, you wait. Sakura, you told him?”

Rin was greatly puzzled by Sakura’s decision to tell her crush about the magus society.

Sakura lightly shook her head. “Senpai’s Kaa-san was a magus.”

Haruki grabbed Sakura’s arm. “Mom told you?”

“Yes. She did.”

“I was the only one in the dark about her,” Haruki grumbled.

‘Just you wait, Mom. I’ll have you answer every question after I get you back.’

“She could have done it to… protect you.”

Arch, the dragon goddess, hadn't been very active in other matters. Her speaking up for his mother was suspicious.

‘Very very suspicious.’

“...”