CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 279: A QUIET DAY AT THE EMIYA HOUSEHOLD

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[DHEEGH] Chapter 279: A Quiet Day at the Emiya Household

Oct 5

[Fuyuki City, the Emiya Residence]

The bathroom at night was filled with a faint mist; milky fog blurred the outlines around the room.

Illya stood in the center of the bathroom, her silver-white long hair damp with water droplets, plastered to her shoulders and spine.

Her small hand was raised high, pointing toward the half-open window; her eyes, set off by the steam, glittered with an unusual silvery-white light.

"Come, wand!", Illya said calmly.

However, as if time had stopped, nothing happened.

A minute passed; outside the window only the faint night breeze rustled the leaves.

Five minutes passed; warm humidity filled the air, and apart from the sound of water droplets falling, nothing else occurred.

Ten minutes passed; Illya still held her original pose, her slender arm a little numb.

She blinked and finally showed a puzzled look, "Huh, where’s my magic wand?"

A gust of cold wind blew in from outside, the night chill piercing the bathroom’s steam. Illya shivered involuntarily; her pale little shoulders trembled.

Just then, the bathroom door was gently knocked.

"Illya, are you done bathing? Need me to help scrub your back?", the head maid Sella’s gentle voice called from outside the door.

The girl froze for a moment; the silvery light in her pupils faded, a flush crept over her cheeks, and the warm steam couldn’t hide that embarrassed shyness.

"N-no, it’s fine! I can do it myself!", Illya answered flustered, and immediately turned as if to escape, hurried back into the tub; splashes rose and concentric ripples spread.

Warm water wrapped her slender body; Illya hugged her knees, shrinking into the water, only her rosy little face showing.

"Ugh, so cold...", she shivered slightly. Though her body sat in warm water, her heart was bothered by the leftover chill from the cold wind that had come through the window.

"How strange, why was I standing by the window for so long?", Illya murmured, confusion flashing in her ruby-like eyes.

She shook her head gently, trying to brush off that inexplicable blank feeling.

"I’m done~ Ah, shoot, it’s already started. Liz, why didn’t you remind me!", Illya shouted as she dashed out of the bathroom, her silver-white hair still dripping, wet against her shoulders, wrapped only in a pink bath towel that exposed snow-white arms and slender calves, her footsteps patting on the floor.

———

In the living room, Liz was lazily curled on the sofa, holding a bag of chips, eyes half-closed, looking relaxed. Hearing Illya’s shout, she answered without turning her head, "I called you, but you didn’t respond."

Liz: "Besides, that disc was mine in the first place."

Illya puffed her cheeks in anger, rushed to the sofa, plopped down next to Liz, legs tucked up, and fixed her attention on the TV, which was playing her favorite magical girl anime.

Just then Shirou came over, looking at Illya with a hint of exasperation in his tone, "Illya, if you don’t put on clothes properly you’ll catch a cold."

"I’m coming, I’ll just watch one episode. No, only half an episode left!", Illya replied without turning her head, eyes glued to the screen.

"At least dry your hair first," Shirou sighed helplessly, picked up a nearby towel, went behind Illya, crouched, and gently dried her wet hair.

The towel moved back and forth through the silver strands, taking away the remaining droplets; the warm touch made Illya squint slightly, a comfortable expression appearing on her face.

Liz turned her head, a chip between her teeth, her big eyes looking at Shirou seriously.

"Shirou."

"Yes?"

Liz said in a calm tone, "I’m going to take a bath later too."

Shirou didn’t look up, replied casually, "So?"

Liz blinked, "Help me wash."

"No," Shirou refused calmly.

"Why not, Shirou, you’re being biased~", Liz said coquettishly in a flat tone.

Shirou: "I only helped Illya dry her hair..."

At that moment Illya excitedly raised her hand high, "Go for it, magical girl–Achoo!"

———

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtain gap into the room; the slight warmth contrasted sharply with the subdued atmosphere in the room.

"37.5°C, so she really did catch a cold," Sella looked at the thermometer reading, brow furrowed, a rare serious expression on her face. She sighed softly and murmured, "How did this happen?"

She gently set down the thermometer, her gaze falling on the pale little face in the bed; guilt rose in her heart. Madam had entrusted Miss Illya to her care, and she hadn’t been diligent enough.

Illya lay under the soft covers, cheeks unnaturally flushed from the fever; her silver-white hair spilled across the pillow. She opened her eyes slightly, gaze dreamy, voice hoarse, "Cough! Cough! I’m fine, Sella."

In fact, no one could be blamed for the cold. One could only say that standing in wet hair by the window for ten minutes was outrageous behavior.

More embarrassingly, the girl absolutely could not remember why she had done that. That segment of memory seemed wiped away, leaving only a vague blank.

Now Illya only thought she had caught the cold because she hadn’t dried her hair after the bath and had gotten too absorbed in the magical girl animation, accidentally getting chilled.

Shirou carried a bowl of warm rice porridge into the room, "Illya, come eat a little."

"Thank you for your work, Shirou," Sella immediately stood up, reached out to take the porridge bowl, "From here on, leave it to me."

However, Illya lifted her head slightly; looking with those ruby-like eyes, she blinked, and in a slightly coquettish tone said, "I want... Onii-chan to feed me."

The air froze in that instant.

Sella’s expression stiffened as if struck by thunder, her whole body turned to stone. She looked at Shirou with silent grievance in her eyes.

Faced with Sella’s stare, Shirou could only give an apologetic, helpless smile, as if silently defending himself, "This isn’t my fault."

He sat on the bedside, picked up a spoon, and gently scooped a spoonful of porridge.

Illya raised her chin a little; her lips parted slightly, like a soft cherry blossom petal, thin lips translucent with a faint sheen of water, reflecting the weak morning light outside the window, appearing especially delicate.

"Sigh, although Illya is still a child... Shirou, don’t spoil her too much," Sella stood to the side, hands folded across her chest, a complicated expression on her face; she tried to maintain the strictness befitting a head maid, but her tone betrayed a hint of helplessness and subtle envy.

Shirou’s tone was gentle, "Can’t help it, she’s sick, letting her be a little spoiled is fine once in a while, right?"

Illya heard this and tilted her head, a sweet smile on her face, "Ehehe! Thanks Onii-chan, I love you the most, Sella too, love~"

Sella shook her head, but the corner of her mouth couldn’t help curling into a tender smile; she sighed lightly, "Ah, you child."

Soon Illya finished a bowl of porridge; her complexion grew much rosier, and her forehead temperature seemed to drop a little. She leaned back on the pillow contentedly, blinking at Shirou with faint drowsiness in her face.

At that time the clock hands quietly pointed to seven.

Shirou Emiya stood up, picked up the schoolbag placed aside, ready to go out. He looked back at Illya in the bed and said, "Sella, please take care of her today."

Sella nodded, "It’s my responsibility."

However, just as Shirou turned to leave, a soft little hand suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

"Onii-chan, don’t go...", Illya’s voice was as thin as a mosquito; her fingers gripped Shirou’s sleeve tightly.

Shirou’s steps stopped; he looked down at the small hands clinging to his sleeve, his heart softening slightly.

He sat back down at Illya’s bedside.

Sella furrowed her brow and called out a reminder, "Shirou?"

"One day off won’t hurt. Sella, please call the school and ask for a leave," Shirou said calmly.

"...All right," Sella replied softly, ultimately offering no objection.

With Shirou staying by Illya’s side, Sella could finally free her hands to handle other household chores. She gently closed the door, leaving the two siblings in the room.

For a moment, surrounding silence left only the girl’s breathing; Shirou sat at the bedside, gently holding Illya’s small hand.

Suddenly Illya stirred a little, lifted half-open eyes, voice low almost inaudible, "Onii-chan, can you... stay with me forever?"

Shirou replied softly, "I’m here."

But Illya seemed unsatisfied with that simple answer; she bit her lip, "I mean... from now on, always... forever..."

Before she finished, her eyes slowly closed and she fell into deep sleep, her breathing gradually steadying.

Shirou quietly pulled the covers up to her chin, then reached out and lightly placed his hand on her forehead.

Then, the girl’s previously slightly hot body temperature returned to normal within seconds.

Shirou watched Illya quietly, his fingers gently brushing the silver hair at her brow, "Forever, huh..."

———

A week later, Homurahara Academy, high school division, student council room.

Illya’s cold miraculously recovered in one day, and Shirou no longer took leave, returning to his usual calm, orderly school life.

At this moment Shirou Emiya sat at the student council table, eating a homemade boxed lunch; Student Council President Ryuudou Issei sat opposite, eating a large portion of fried noodles from the temple.

"Emiya," Ryuudou pushed his glasses up his nose, "Two new transfer students came to our class, you noticed them, right?"

Shirou nodded, "Ah, you mean Tohsaka and Edelfelt."

"Right, Tohsaka and Edelfelt... I’m amazed you could remember such awkward names so quickly," the student council president sighed, "Both are beauties, but my intuition tells me both will be trouble."

Shirou leaned back in his chair, thought a moment, and said, "Tohsaka is a middle school classmate of ours."

"Ah, now that you mention it...", Ryuudou quickly recalled as well.

Fuyuki City isn’t very large; there are only a few schools. Shirou and Ryuudou had both advanced through Homurahara Academy from elementary school; now Shirou’s little sister Illya was also enrolled in the academy’s elementary division.

Rin Tohsaka had entered Homurahara Academy during middle school; not long after, she suddenly left to study in Britain. Now, for some reason, she’d suddenly reappeared in Fuyuki.

"Why is she back, couldn’t she continue studying in Britain?", Ryuudou said casually.

"Don’t know," Shirou answered simply.

Ryuudou didn’t pay much mind; it was just a topic that popped into his head. Tohsaka and Edelfelt are certainly pretty, but not every classmate would be drawn to them.

Shirou just looked indifferent.

Knock! Knock!

The student council room door was lightly tapped.

"Um, Emiya Senpai," With a gentle voice, a girl pushed open the door and stepped in.

She had outstanding looks; glossy black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, the slightly curled tips adding softness to her demeanor. Her smile was warm and healing, like a spring breeze across the heart, making people relax unconsciously.

Shirou looked up and smiled lightly, "Sakura."

Matou Sakura, a first-year at Homurahara Academy, like Shirou a member of the archery club; her archery skill in her grade was unmatched, expected to be the archery club’s ace after Shirou graduates.

Although her surname was "Matou," in this world the Matou house had collapsed years ago for unknown reasons. The rumor spoke of a heavenly falling sword of judgment destroying the family manor; the incident remained one of Fuyuki City’s urban legends.

Sakura inherited the Matou name due to her father’s arrangement. Her biological father, Tohsaka Tokiomi, didn’t want the Matou family’s valuable land and magical texts to be easily taken by the Mage’s Association, so he forged an adoption document allowing Sakura to carry the Matou surname, legally securing her inheritance rights.

Thus, the young Matou Sakura was actually a genuine heiress; she owned several valuable spiritual ley-line lands whose rental income alone could keep her financially secure for life.

Her father has since died, but she had no intention of changing her surname back to Tohsaka. Rather, she hoped in the future to change it to.

The girl looked at Shirou, her gaze a little evasive.

"Sakura, is something wrong?", Shirou asked.

Matou Sakura bowed her head, voice slightly embarrassed, "Um... the archery club room’s air conditioner seems to be broken."

"I’ll go check it out with you," Shirou had finished lunch and had some free time, so he naturally left the student council room with Sakura.

After leaving, Sakura suddenly asked in a small voice, "Senpai... what do you think of Rin Tohsaka?"

Though the surname differed, their blood relation could not be denied. Sakura felt complicated about this sister.

But some things she would not yield.

———

On the roof of Homurahara Academy, Rin Tohsaka stood with her arms folded, arrogance on her face.

"Caster Medea, Assassin Hassan, I’ve already collected these two cards now," Rin said.

Luviagelita Edelfelt gracefully adjusted her golden curls, "Rider Medusa, I’ve collected that one."

Rin’s smirk grew wider; she waved the cards in her hand, tone laced with undisguised mockery, "Ha, your results are far behind mine."

Luviagelita sneered, "Hmph! You only snatched the easiest Assassin; the really troublesome ones are still to come."

Their gazes collided in the air, sparks seemingly flying.

After a brief silence, Rin broke the stalemate first, with an unwilling but resigned expression, "...The remaining Saber and Berserker cards aren’t something we can collect alone."

Caster, Assassin, Rider three cards, plus the initial Archer and Lancer, left only two class cards remaining.

Luviagelita nodded slightly, tone tinged with reluctance, "Though I hate it, we have no choice but to cooperate... The Lancer class card is the son of light, Cú Chulainn; the Archer card is?"

Rin Tohsaka: "The limited-summon Noble Phantasm is [The Roar of the Flame God], so it should be Arjuna."

"Of all gifted heroes, so that’s why you got the stronger cards at the start," Luviagelita shook her head.

"Heh," Rin put away the three cards in her hand: "Let’s think about how to deal with the remaining Saber and Berserker first."

"Start with Saber," Luviagelita analyzed coolly, "Berserker should be the strongest; it’s better to leave him to last..."

To reclaim a class card, one must go into the Mirror World and defeat the black Servant incarnated by the card.

The Berserker Servant is Heracles, an overwhelming force with exceptional defense and also possessing revival ability.

By contrast, the Saber Servant, King Arthur Artoria Pendragon, is also a top-tier powerful Servant, but somewhat easier to handle than Heracles.

Archer and Lancer are no ordinary Servants either; without the previous person in charge of card reclamation, the Mage’s Association’s designated seal executor, those two cards would be hard to reclaim smoothly.

While Rin Tohsaka and Luviagelita Edelfelt were closely planning tactics to reclaim the remaining class cards, in the Mirror World some unexpected changes occurred.

———

The essence of a class card is to call a Servant from the Throne of Heroes into the card via an appropriate catalyst.

The Servant inside the Saber card should have been that King Arthur, Artoria Pendragon.

But now, a small change had occurred.

Artoria remained the same, only the suffix of the name had changed to Avalon.

"As for the sword, I’ll use the one Shirou lent me for now," The young swordswoman awaiting a challenger drew a weapon.

[Blazing Sun’s Splendid Flame Holy Sword (Excalibur·Hephaistos)]

["Permission granted.— Hephaestus"]