Chapter 45: Zod and the 5th Holy Grail War (12)

"Isn't it about time we dealt with the Matou?"

"Brother?"

"So suddenly?"

Rin and Illya were puzzled by Zod's remark, but his reasoning was sound.

Of the Three Founding Families, the Tohsaka and Einzbern factions had either fallen into his hands or been eliminated. Yet, the Matou faction had not shown even a glimpse of themselves so far. He speculated that either Assassin or Rider, who had attacked them early on, likely belonged to the Matou camp.

"Saber is mine, and Archer follows Rin's orders, so they're excluded. Lancer is my Servant, and Berserker is out... That leaves Caster, Rider, and Assassin..."

"Caster likely exited the stage early. Her Master was found dead; it seems she was betrayed by her own Servant," Illya added.

Zod nodded at Illya's words. Excluding Caster, that left only Rider and Assassin. He assumed the Matou faction held at least one of those two. It was then that Rin chimed in.

"The Matou, huh... Zod... want to hear something interesting?"

"What is it, Rin?"

"That girl Sakura I mentioned, the younger sister who was adopted away when we were children? She’s a Matou now."

"Hmm... One of those 'harem girls' belonging to Shirou Emiya? Is she pretty?"

"She is. I’m not just bragging, but she’s a refined university student, as popular as I was when I was called the 'Madonna' of Homurahara University. She gets confessed to all the time. Though, of course, her heart only beats for Emiya."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

Zod's interest was piqued by the description of her being both popular and 'refined.' He decided that if he was going to take everything, he might as well take her too. As he began organizing a Matou subjugation team, Lancer raised her hand.

"Master."

"What is it, Lancer?"

"I shall be the one to head out and eliminate those wretches this time. Do not stop me."

"Why? Frustrated by your lack of screen time?"

"It simply does not sit well with me to feel like a mere freeloader."

"Then allow me to assist. I, too, am getting restless from sitting idle."

With both Altria Alter and Archer volunteering for the Matou subjugation operation, Zod nodded as he looked between the two.

"Then the execution date will be tomorrow afternoon, after school. Any objections?"

""None.""

"Then this meeting is adjourned. Rin, Illya—you two are sleeping in my room tonight."

"Hehe~ Are we really just going to sleep?"

"In the same bed as Brother... (//////////)"

Rin and Illya rejoiced with flushed faces. Archer watched them with a heavy, conflicted expression. Curiously, he felt as if there was absolutely nothing he could do; he wanted to stop Rin and Illya, but his body had already moved to exit the room before the thought could even manifest.

"What is it, Archer?"

"It's nothing, Lancer...."

Dismissing Altria Alter's concern with a weary shake of his head, Archer faded into spirit form.

.

.

.

Waking up to a morning like any other, Shirou Emiya panicked momentarily upon realizing Saber was gone. He soon remembered she had been taken by Zod and hurried to school alone. Even before Saber's summoning, he had always walked to school by himself, but today, the walk felt exceptionally bitter. Rin, who used to commute with him, now refused to walk together and arrived only at the last possible second before the bell. Her face was always flushed, her clothes often drenched in sweat or clinging to her body in a suggestive manner. Sometimes, her skirt would be flipped up, revealing scandalous lingerie. Because of this, Rin—the girl once worshipped as the university's Madonna—had become the center of malicious gossip. With her shorter skirts, flashier accessories, and habit of barely avoiding tardiness, rumors even spread that she was dating some delinquent.

This naturally led to boys of ill repute approaching her, though Shirou found a twisted sense of relief in knowing they usually ended up in the university clinic after receiving one of her Tieshanka shoulder strikes.

Shirou could only feel dejected.

"Haa... Honestly..."

"Senior!"

"Ah... Sakura. Good morning."

Approaching Shirou and claiming the spot at his side was a girl with purple hair, amethyst-like eyes, and a red ribbon—Sakura Matou. She felt that Rin, who had always been a thorn in her side, was no longer a threat now that she had stopped approaching her beloved Shirou and was acting like a loose woman. Believing her rival was gone, Sakura now boldly clung to him. Yet, Shirou's mind was still on Rin.

"Senior... are you thinking about Tohsaka-senpai again? Even though I'm right here..."

"Ahaha... Sorry, Sakura. It's just that Tohsaka has been acting... well, lately, you know?"

"It's the path she chose for herself, isn't it? She's not a child anymore; I'm sure she can handle her own affairs."

No matter that Rin was Sakura's biological sister; they had been separated long ago and hadn't interacted for fifteen years. They were essentially strangers. Since the Tohsaka family had effectively discarded her by forcing her into adoption, Sakura held no positive feelings toward them.

"Ahaha... That's quite harsh... Still... is this right? For me, as her childhood friend, to just stand by and watch her go astray?"

"Tohsaka-senpai's behavior has certainly become questionable lately, but again, it was her choice. More importantly, Senior..."

Sakura wrapped her arms around Shirou's arm, pressing it against her E-cup breasts—development far beyond what one would expect of a high school student—and tempted him with a look of pure seductive intent.

"Don't you think you're talking about Tohsaka-senpai too much? When I'm right here..."

"Ahaha... Sorry..."

"Then have lunch with me today. If you do, I'll forgive you."

"Lunch? Sure, that's easy enough."

"Really? Fufu~ Great! No taking it back, okay?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Sakura beamed with delight at the promise of lunch with Shirou.

She did not know... that from a distance, a blonde, blue-eyed boy was watching this scene with a predatory, vile smile on his face....

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