Morning.
Utaha Kasumigaoka opened her eyes.
What greeted her was not the familiar ceiling of her own home, but an unfamiliar one.
"What a shame."
With a disappointed sigh, Shiina resigned herself to getting dressed and rising from bed.
As she stepped out of the bedroom and entered the living room, a delicate fragrance wafted from the adjacent kitchen.
"You're awake. Perfect timing—breakfast is almost ready. Wash up and eat."
Hearing her footsteps, Roy peeked out from the kitchen, offering Utaha a gentle smile.
His attire was as simple and unassuming as the day before, with black-framed glasses perched on his tall nose bridge. The faint smile on his lips remained, exuding a soft, approachable aura.
Utaha nodded and headed to the bathroom.
A hint of awkwardness prickled at her. As a servant, she had woken up later than her master and even let him prepare breakfast.
'Master, is this girl your girlfriend?'
Souji's voice echoed in Roy's mind.
"No. Why do you ask?"
'Ah, well... it just feels like you treat her differently. You're so cold when talking to me, but so gentle with her! N-Not that I'm jealous or anything!'
Souji's voice dripped with resentment.
Roy could practically envision her pouting in his mind.
"Saber."
'Yes?'
"When I summoned you, I didn't use a catalyst."
'Eh? Why bring that up now? Wait, does that mean...?'
"Mm. I summoned you purely based on compatibility."
'My, my, how bold of you, Master.'
Listening to his words, Souji couldn't help but let out a silent gasp of surprise.
The Throne of Heroes was overflowing with countless spirits.
To ensure victory in the Holy Grail War, one had to summon a powerful Heroic Spirit by any means necessary.
This was where catalysts came into play—relics tied to a Heroic Spirit's legend, be it weapons, capes, or other artifacts. By using such a catalyst, a Master could precisely summon the specific Heroic Spirit they desired, securing a powerful ally for the war.
Without a catalyst, the Greater Grail would automatically summon the Heroic Spirit most compatible with the summoner.
But with this method, there was no guarantee of the Servant's strength. For all one knew, they might end up with a weakling, frail as a chick.
After all, the truly great heroes recorded in human history were few and far between. The majority of Heroic Spirits were far weaker, vastly outnumbering the powerful ones.
To most, summoning a Servant based solely on compatibility would only invite one reaction:
"Do you even want to win?"
A Heroic Spirit summoned purely by compatibility stood little chance against one carefully selected via a powerful catalyst. The consensus among Holy Grail War participants was clear: to win, one had to seek out relics tied to mighty Heroic Spirits of legend.
"Rather than a Servant's raw strength, I prioritize compatibility—how well we get along. Do you understand?"
'Ohh!'
"So, I have only one demand of you: be open with me."
'Understood, Master!'
Souji's voice brightened with joy, brimming with excitement.
"Ahh, honestly, I'd love to work with a Master like you too! I, Okita Souji, swear upon the honor of the Shinsengumi to bare my heart to you! If I break this oath, may I... um, be cut down by my comrades!"
Summoning a Servant by compatibility.
This meant not only that the Master would obtain a Servant who resonated with them, but also that the Servant would gain a Master who suited them perfectly!
Between such a Master and Servant, there would inevitably be shared topics, similar goals, or overlapping experiences—far easier to build rapport than with a Servant summoned via catalyst.
If they still couldn't get along, then the fault lay solely with the Master.
Satisfied with his answer, Souji finally quieted down.
Seeing her pacified at last, Roy allowed himself a faint smile.
Well, it was true—he did care more about his compatibility with Souji than her strength.
That part wasn't a lie.
After finishing her morning routine, Utaha took a seat at the kitchen table. As expected, breakfast was a simple Japanese-style congee with side dishes. In Japan, congee was usually reserved for when one was sick, but as a servant who had let her master cook, she had no right to be picky.
"And it's delicious."
Utaha gave it a glowing review in her mind. Making plain congee taste this good was a skill in itself.
Recalling last night's dinner, Utaha understood.
Roy's cooking was excellent—at least when it came to authentic Japanese cuisine, he was exceptionally skilled. The flavors surpassed anything she'd tasted in restaurants, and such mastery couldn't be achieved in just a month or two. It had to be the result of years of practice and refinement.
"Does Master Roy live here alone?"
"There's also a pair of sisters, but they're always running around outside. No telling when they'll be back."
"Aren't there dangerous magical beasts in the wild?"
"Against those two, the beasts are the ones in danger."
Utaha froze for a moment before suddenly realizing.
So, the most formidable members of the Aozaki family were those two sisters always out and about?
Come to think of it, back at the refugee shelter yesterday, that dark-skinned young man had seemed more interested in Roy's family than in Roy himself. So, despite being the youngest, Roy's special status was due to the influence of those powerful sisters?
Knock, knock!
Breakfast had just ended, and the dishes hadn't even been cleared yet when rhythmic knocking sounded at the front door.
The visitor was clearly well-mannered—the gentle rapping was unhurried, far from impatient.
Seeing this, Utaha took the initiative to start clearing the table.
Roy stepped into the entryway and opened the gate.
"Good morning, Mr. Roy."
Standing at the door was a stunning girl with lustrous, voluminous black hair tied into twin tails with ribbons.
She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a striking red overcoat. Not only was her appearance refined, but her demeanor was composed and graceful—an impeccable beauty whose noble upbringing was evident at a glance.
Upon seeing Roy, she flashed him a flawless smile.
"Good morning, Mayor Tohsaka."
Roy, as if expecting her, returned the greeting with a familiar smile.
"And this is?"
Roy glanced behind the twin-tailed girl.
Standing behind her was a golden-haired girl dressed as a maid.
Her beauty was no less striking than the mayor's, if not more so—her sandy gold hair, tied into a side ponytail, made her stand out even further. Yet her posture, standing respectfully behind the mayor, was that of a loyal attendant who deliberately dimmed her own radiance.
Moreover, she wore a proper, traditional maid outfit.
"Mr. Roy, this is your first time meeting her, right? She's the servant I've chosen."
Rin turned to the golden-haired maid, signaling her with a glance.
"Good morning, Master Roy."
The maid bowed deeply at a perfect angle, her etiquette impeccable.
"My name is Ai Hayasaka. Currently, I serve as Lady Rin's attendant."
***
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