Night is coming.
There is a different atmosphere in the air tonight, as if it is the depression before the arrival of a storm, making people feel stuffy in the chest.
The dining table at the Matou family also became much quieter. Everyone was eating silently, without the usual interest in conversation.
"I'm full. I won't be back tonight, and I may not be back tomorrow either."
Kariya was the first to finish eating. He nodded to everyone, picked up his coat, and walked towards the basement.
Yes, the basement.
As one of the three great families hosting the Holy Grail War, the possibility of the Matou family being monitored by other masters was extremely high, so Kariya had dug a tunnel underground a month ago, allowing him to enter and exit the Matou family without being noticed.
"I'm full too."
Shinji was the second one to finish, doing exactly the same thing as Kariya, but instead of heading to the basement, he returned to his room.
"Ah, brother, wait for me."
Sakura followed Shinji, leaving Tsuruya alone to stare at the empty dining room. He sighed after a while.
"Everyone is so mysterious. Even if the Holy Grail War has begun, we should still eat properly. I am obviously the most unruly person in the family. Forget it, if you don't want to eat, I will!"
However, after taking only two bites, Tsuruya's movements slowed down.
"We finally have a home, please don't let anything happen again. I beg you, Kariya, Shinji."
... ...
In Shinji's own bedroom, Sakura holds Shinji's arm.
"Brother, are you going out like uncle?"
Shinji denied: "No, I'm just too tired today and want to rest early."
"You're lying." Ying said, "I know you want to participate in the Holy Grail War."
Shinji turned around and looked at his sister who was of the same color as him without blinking.
At this moment, Sakura is no longer the girl with black hair and sapphire eyes. Instead, she has become a girl with purple hair and purple eyes, which is similar to the color of the Matou family. This was not done through the inhumane transformation of the cresting bug like Zouken, but Scathach spent two months using runes to change Sakura's color little by little, making her look more like a member of the Matou family.
This was intended to show the attitude of the Matou family to the Tohsaka family and reassure Tohsaka Tokiomi, but it also had Shinji's selfish motive - the Matou Sakura in his memory should be a soft girl with purple hair and purple eyes, while black hair, green eyes and tsundereness are the characteristics of Tohsaka Rin.
"Why do you think so?"
"I, I saw that the Master suddenly disappeared, just like Uncle's silent Servant." Ying said weakly, "Uncle also said that the Master and Teacher Yustiza gave him a very strange feeling, not quite like a human... And, moreover, the Master and Teacher Yustiza haven't come back for several days."
"... ... ." Shinji's body froze and he said nothing.
Sakura held her brother's hand, and her weak and stubborn look made people feel distressed.
Shinji finally couldn't resist his sister's gaze. He smiled bitterly and rubbed his sister's hair with his free hand.
"Ah, I thought I did a good job of keeping it a secret, but you guys are all doubting me... Should I feel like a failure, or should I say you are my family after all."
"elder brother... "
"Forget it. After tonight, my uncle should be able to see Yustisa's background, so there's no need for me to hide it any longer."
Shinji gently pulled away from his sister's hand and walked to the window.
"You are right. I will participate in the Holy Grail War. I made an appointment with Justissa a long time ago."
Sakura grabbed Shinji's clothes: "But, but, brother... this is dangerous."
Shinji gave his sister a soft smile, "It's okay. The Holy Grail War is nothing compared to the training of a master."
Sakura's grip on Shinji's shirt became tighter and tighter: "Then, then I want to go too. I'm also the master's disciple."
Shinji's smile softened: "If you leave, who will protect father? Father doesn't know magic, what if a bad guy breaks in?"
"Wow..." Ying hesitated. On one side was her brother, and on the other was her father. She didn't know how to choose.
Shinji held out his little finger: "Sakura, you protect father, I will protect uncle, let's work together, okay?"
Ying looked at her brother's face, then at his hand, and finally nodded: "Okay, brother, let's pinky promise."
"Well, pinky promise, a liar has to swallow a thousand needles."
The little fingers are interlocked and the thumbs are touching.
After comforting his sister, Shinji put on a brown cloak with one hand and opened the window with the other.
The next second, his body floated up lightly, floated out of the window and flew into the sky.
Sakura waved vigorously at her brother who was flying higher and higher.
"Brother, keep going."
The voice was blocked by the barrier and could not be conveyed, but Sakura's feelings had already seeped into Shinji's heart.
The night wind was freezing cold, but Shinji didn't care as he was in the air.
Because of the difference in physique, Scathach's training of Shinji is closer to that of a warrior than a magician.
The most important thing for a warrior to train is his physique. For the past three months, Scathach has been using various methods to train Shinji's physique. Today, weather changes in a general sense will not have much impact on Shinji.
Under the cover of night, Shinji rode the wind westward, reached the Weiyuan River and then turned north.
The Weiyuan River is the main source of water for Fuyuki City. It flows from south to north, through the city, and finally flows into the sea.
On one side of the estuary is a seaside park, famous for its beautiful sea views and pure white sandy beaches, and a good place for citizens to relax and have fun. Unfortunately, it is winter and night, and the beach is deserted. Even couples on dates are reluctant to approach. The only exceptions are Irisviel, who comes from the north and is used to the cold, and Saber, whose Servant body cannot be measured by human standards.
When Shinji arrived, Irisviel was playing in the sea water barefoot, not caring at all that the water temperature was only in the single digits. Her smile was pure and innocent, which was not commensurate with her age.
Looking at Irisviel like this, Shinji understood why she caused such a great shock to Justisia.
The two people are like two sides of a mirror, with similar backgrounds, similar experiences, similar destinies, and similar choices, but their attitudes are exactly opposite.
Shinji, who was in mid-air, quietly lowered his altitude and hid in the shade of the trees beside the beach. The other side of the mirror was hiding here.
"Perhaps, your meeting can change each other's destiny."
"Shinji..." Justisa did not regain her physical form, but Shinji could still feel the difference in her, as if a tiny crack appeared in her heart wrapped in ice, small but noticeable.
Shinji shook his head at Yustisa and said softly, "You don't have to say anything, just watch."
Before she finished her words, Saber suddenly grabbed Irisviel's arms and pulled her close, and the warm atmosphere was immediately replaced by solemnity.
"It's about to begin." Shinji tensed up. "The second battle."