Waking up hazily, Shirou Emiya felt a tickle on his face and groggily reached out to scratch it.
But on his face, he felt soft hair.
At that moment, all the events of the previous night continuously flooded Shirou Emiya's mind, abruptly waking him from his drowsiness.
Feeling the warmth under the covers and the soft girl in his arms, Shirou Emiya's lips curved into a slight smile, his mood inexplicably comfortable.
"This is good!"
Holding the girl in his arms, Shirou Emiya at this moment felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
"Senpai!"
Startled by Shirou Emiya's movements, Sakura Matou opened her eyes and after a moment of eye contact with Shirou Emiya, she shyly buried her face in his embrace.
At this moment, the girl was no longer as proactive as last night, but full of shyness.
This expression made Shirou Emiya want to tease her even more.
"Come to think of it, I've had a habit of morning exercise for a long time, haven't I?"
Although she didn't know what Shirou Emiya meant, Sakura Matou softly replied: "Yes, Senpai used to go to the back warehouse for magecraft training early in the morning, while I prepared breakfast!"
"Yes, it must have been tough on you, Sakura!"
"No, not tough at all!"
Looking at the soft voice of the girl in his arms, Shirou Emiya suddenly smiled mischievously: "Since that's the case, then today we'll do morning exercise together!"
"Eh?"
A somewhat confused Sakura Matou didn't immediately understand Shirou Emiya's meaning.
But upon feeling Shirou Emiya's mischievous hands and feet under the covers, her face instantly flushed crimson.
"This, how can this be, it's daytime!"
"What about daytime? We haven't gotten up yet
anyway!"
With that, Shirou Emiya wrapped the covers tightly, and
the two began to "exercise" under the covers.
Presumably, the two wouldn't be able to eat breakfast today!
________________________________________
In the morning, Shirou Emiya, who had exercised until after ten o'clock, prepared some nourishing food for Sakura Matou, then began to wield his sword in the courtyard.
Amidst the swirling snow, Shirou Emiya, with his mind immersed in his sword, continuously danced with it.
As he danced, the surrounding snowflakes continuously followed his movements.
Attracted by the scene, both Sakura Matou, who had opened the sliding doors indoors, and Atalanta on the corridor, were captivated by his movements.
Wielding his sword, Shirou Emiya could feel that his sword seemed to have become even sharper.
"Can escaping one's virginity also boost one's sword-style!?"
Observing his own condition, Shirou Emiya couldn't help but inwardly complain.
Although it sounded absurd, Shirou Emiya knew that this change was due to the transformation of his state of mind.
It was a transformation caused by the synthesis of multiple events.
The deeply buried wish that had been fulfilled, achieving a positive outcome with his beloved, returning to his former world all these emotions flowing through Shirou Emiya's heart led to the transformation of his sword-style.
After all, the realm beyond the divine domain cannot be increased through mere hard practice.
The journey thereafter relies on enlightenment.
And this was enlightenment.
Slowly stopping his sword, Shirou Emiya couldn't help but smile at the traces around him.
He had become even stronger.
Looking up at the sky, Shirou Emiya smiled and said:
"Today is truly a beautiful day!"
______________________________________
Since Sakura Matou's resurrection, the three of them Shirou Emiya and the two girls had lived a joyful life there.
Shirou Emiya didn't actively seek out Angelica and her group. After all, until he understood their exact strength, he didn't plan to immediately initiate the final battle.
At this moment, he had other ideas.
And he continuously experimented in the magecraft workshop at home.
Relying on the knowledge he learned from the Mage's Association and the talent bonus from his inherent skills, Shirou Emiya's hypothesis was quickly confirmed.
He was currently continuously perfecting this research, striving to develop it as quickly as possible.
But things rarely go as wished.
And so, one day, while Shirou Emiya was researching his hypothesis, a sudden surge of battle intent came from afar.
It was a challenge from a powerful opponent.
"How inconvenient! I didn't expect you to come after all!"
Feeling the challenge from the enemy in the distance,
Shirou Emiya slowly put down his tools and walked out of the magecraft workshop.
"Master!"
"Senpai!"
Outside Shirou Emiya's magecraft workshop, Atalanta and Sakura Matou had already arrived.
After spending some time together, Sakura Matou and Atalanta had now become good friends.
After all, Shirou Emiya often stayed in the magecraft workshop for an entire day to research his magecraft.
The only two people left in the room naturally gradually became familiar with each other.
Eventually, they became friends.
Earlier, Sakura Matou and Atalanta were having afternoon tea in the living room, eating small pastries made by Sakura Matou.
But this sudden challenge instantly put Atalanta into battle mode.
Knowing that things were not good, the two quickly came before Shirou Emiya.
"Don't worry, Sakura, Atalanta!"
"This is a challenge sent to me by the opponent. From this aura, it should be someone I know!"
"So Atalanta, you just need to protect Sakura at home!"
Extending his hands to soothe their heads, Shirou Emiya
said with a smile.
"But I am your Servant, how can I let my Master go to
battle alone!"
To this, a displeased Atalanta quickly slapped Shirou Emiya's hand away and said seriously.
"Even though you are my Servant, are you stronger than me?"
Shirou Emiya smiled.
"And, you are now not just my Servant, but also my
family!"
He placed his hand back on Atalanta's head, stroking her ears.
"Protect Sakura at home, I'll be back soon!"
Nodding to Sakura Matou, Shirou Emiya swiftly vanished from their sight.
Leaving behind only Sakura Matou with a smile on her lips, and Atalanta with a look of shame and indignation.
________________________________________
Here was a basin.
Here were ruins.
This was the place where Shirou Emiya had found Miyu.
Slowly approaching from afar, looking at the golden figure opposite him, Shirou Emiya said with a smile: "I guess we haven't seen each other in a while, have we?"
"Angelica!"
Frowning slightly, Angelica didn't understand how her name had been revealed.
However, this didn't affect the purpose of her visit.
"Although I don't know how you escaped, now, do you still
intend to fight us to the end, Shirou Emiya?"
"Of course, as long as your goal is still Miyu, then I will definitely be your enemy!"
Looking at the golden armor on Angelica's body, Shirou Emiya couldn't help but sigh.
He seemed to have countless ties to Gilgamesh, always encountering him. It was truly frustrating.
But no matter what, the final victor would definitely be himself.
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