year 2002.

December 24th, Christmas Eve.

Emiya family.

"Sorry, Sakura, I couldn't pull Shinji over."

There was a hint of apology on Shirou's face.

"No, it's not your fault, senior." Sakura shook her head slightly, but a hint of disappointment clearly flashed in her eyes.

Recently, Shen Er has been going home less and less frequently, often not seeing anyone for ten days and a half.

"But he gave me this."

Shirou took out a white rabbit doll from his bag and handed it to Sakura who was working in the kitchen.

Looking at the rabbit doll Shirou handed over, Sakura's eyes clearly flashed with joy. Even though this was just a common courtesy for her brother, it was extraordinary for herself.

significance.

"Merry Christmas!"

Taiga, who was wearing a Santa Claus suit, shouted as he opened the door, and the next moment he discovered the little bunny in Sakura's hand.

"Huh? Have you started giving Christmas gifts so early?"

"No, this is a gift from Shinji." Shirou explained.

"Matou-kun?" Taiga looked a little surprised, then smiled, raised his thumbs up and encouraged Sakura: "Sakura-chan, keep up your hard work, your cold brother has already started giving gifts."

"Hi." Sakura responded with a smile.

...

On a snowy night, Shinji, wearing a khaki wool coat, was checking the system panel and walking aimlessly on the street.

After such a long time, I have only managed to condense the first two souls of the three souls or three gods (Yuan Shen, Yang Shen, Yin God) - Yuan Shen and Yang Shen. As for the Yin God... just now.

Touch the threshold.

Shen Er felt a little desperate at the thought of condensing into a Yin Shen and forging three souls in just over a year.

After sighing helplessly, Shinji closed the system panel and stopped.

Looking at the festive shops on the street, after thinking for a long time, Shen Er walked in.

...

Not knowing what to buy on a day like this, Shinji finally bought a small Christmas special cake on the recommendation of the store manager.

"Am I a fool for buying such a thing?"

Standing outside the store, Shinji looked at the cake in his hand with a strange expression on his face.

"I didn't expect Matou-san to be self-aware."

After hearing the familiar voice, Shinji made a distinct tsk sound in his mouth and looked at Rin who happened to meet him with a look of disgust.

Seeing the extremely obvious expression of disgust on Shen Er's face, Rin couldn't help but jump a few times at the corners of his eyes: "It's really as unpleasant as ever."

"the same as you."

"You guy!"

"The demon is gone!" Shenji raised his hand and shouted.

"Wash inside——!!"

...

Different from the noisy shops outside, the retro-style cafe on the corner is extremely quiet with the soft music playing, which is in sharp contrast to the festive atmosphere of the shops outside.

In a certain booth, Rin looked at Shinji who was cutting the cake gracefully in front of him. Several minutes passed and he still couldn't react.

"I said, what on earth are we doing?"

"What are you doing?" Shen Er responded without raising his head, "Didn't you say you knew a quiet coffee shop? Then you asked me to bring you here."

Rin held her forehead and showed a bit of despair: "Although this is indeed true, no matter how you look at it, something is wrong now, right?"

"what?"

"No matter how you look at it, it looks like a couple dating!"

"Huh?" Shenji said in surprise, raised his head and looked at Rin with strange eyes, "What nonsense are you talking about? Do I look like a crazy person? I would date a woman like you.

"

"Hey, please explain this to me carefully." Rin bent her eyes and showed a smile that was so sweet that she couldn't feel it.

"It means that only mentally ill men would date women like you. Ah! Why are you kicking me? Crazy woman! I'm just telling the truth!"

"Do you want to die? Shinji Matou?"

"Tch," Shenji curled his lips, and then casually handed a cut piece of cake to Rin, "As a reward for leading the way, one person can't finish it anyway, and don't worry, I didn't bring any poison today.

"

"Can't you say something that will make others feel comfortable listening to you?"

"This sentence will be returned to you intact."

The next moment, there seemed to be some invisible electric sparks produced between the two of them, and only the sound of squeaking could be heard. Then they both hummed at the same time, picked up the cake and turned sideways to eat.

After a few more minutes, Rin was the first to speak and break the silence.

"Matou-san has a sister, right?"

"Ah, what's wrong?" Shenji raised his eyes and glanced at Rin casually.

"No... nothing! I'm just a little curious!" Rin quickly waved her hand.

"Tch," Shinji said, "Tohsaka-san, can you please stop treating me like a fool? I also know some things."

Hearing the sound, Lin was startled, revealing a bit of disbelief: "You...do you know everything?"

"Ah, I know."

"That's it, then...how is Sakura doing lately?"

Shenji raised his shoulders and said casually: "It's probably okay."

"What does it probably mean? Aren't you her brother?" Rin frowned slightly.

"I rarely go home because of some things, and because of her, I go to Emiya's house almost every day."

"Emiya-san's house? What are you doing there?"

"I don't know where to go. If you care, you can go and see for yourself."

"My sister should be more concerned about it!"

"This sentence will be returned to you intact."

"You!" Rin was a little angry, but finally sighed, "Although the Matou family has declined, you understand, right? The magician is..."

"I don't understand." Shenji interrupted Rin casually, "I'm not a magician, so I don't really understand what's going on between you magicians."

"I asked you, could you be a little more serious?"

Shenji did not answer, but changed the subject: "You know? Tohsaka, cakes only taste good at certain times."

"Huh?" He was stunned for a moment.

"What I mean is, don't waste it. Try to eat as much as possible while it's still delicious."

"No, the specific time you mentioned was..." Rin's face turned slightly red.

"Similar to when paired with bitter coffee, the bitterness of the coffee can bring out the sweetness of the cake, right?"

"That makes a little sense," Rin nodded lightly, but the next moment he suddenly reacted, and once again bent his eyes with an awkward yet polite smile, and asked: "Matou-san, what are you doing?"

Does that mean I’m the bitter coffee?”

"It turns out Tohsaka-san is also a self-aware person. I'm really impressed." Shinji answered perfunctorily.

"Go to hell!!" Rin kicked Shenji hard under the table.

"Ah! Be careful! The cake almost fell to the ground!"

"Who cares about you! Anyway, hurry up and go to hell!"

"You are the one who sent me to hell! Even if I go to hell, I will drag you down! Crazy woman!"

"This is my line!!"

"Alara, do you mean that you two have to stay with each other even if you die?"

A somewhat joking voice suddenly sounded from the side, causing Shinji and Rin to turn their heads and retort at the same time.
Chapter completed!