Taking Jack back to Rin's house, Yuuji couldn't see Rin herself, but he could feel her magic quietly monitoring him from the shadows. He whispered a "good night" toward the corner of the room before carrying Jack back to his bedroom.
On the other side, Rin let out a quiet sigh of relief upon sensing Yuuji's safe return. She had also felt the magical fluctuations from earlier and guessed that Yuuji had likely encountered another Servant. Seeing him return unharmed so soon, Rin assumed that some sort of truce had been reached.
"Master, aren't you going to ask what happened to him just now?" Muramasa asked. Though the swordsmith usually only cared about blades, boredom had forced him into small talk.
"No. I'll ask him tomorrow. For now, let's rest. Saber."
"Then, good night, Master."
"Good night, Saber… and Yuuji," Rin replied softly.
Early Morning
Yuuji woke up early, glancing at Jack who was still sleeping soundly beside him. He didn't just want to maintain the magical link that tied her to this world—he wanted to be closer to her. Perhaps it was because of his own nature, or perhaps something deeper. Slowly, Yuuji placed his hand on Jack's head and gently stroked her face. As he did, something strange began to appear in his mind.
Images began to flood Yuuji's thoughts—fragmented memories, heartbreaking and raw. He saw children abandoned on the cold streets at birth—poor, weak, and utterly helpless. No one helped them. No one fought for them. Their cries for justice faded, their voices gradually weakening until they vanished into the darkness of the night.
"It's so dark… why? Why doesn't anyone want us?""Is it because we are… unnecessary?""Mama, where are you?""No… don't abandon us."
The sorrow and pain blended together, and out of the shadows, Jack's figure slowly emerged.
Yuuji looked at Jack, still sleeping so peacefully, and clenched his fist. In his heart, he silently made a promise.
Leaving Jack to rest, Yuuji walked into the kitchen. There, he found Muramasa sitting in the living room, meditating in silence.
As if sensing Yuuji's presence, Muramasa opened his eyes and gazed at him. There was a subtle shift in his expression, something that wasn't there before.
"Have you already changed your resolve?" Muramasa asked. "Good. At least in the next battle, you'll be of real help."
The memories Jack had unknowingly shared with him had steeled Yuuji's resolve. He would no longer participate passively in the Holy Grail War—this time, he had a purpose.
But Muramasa had no idea how far Yuuji's newfound resolve might take him.
Yuuji said nothing, simply giving a quiet nod before walking away.
Muramasa closed his eyes again, thinking of their mission. "At least," he thought, "with that boy's determination, things might be much easier."
After preparing breakfast, Yuuji went to wake Rin as usual. The household gathered at the table, eating in their typical, almost ritualistic silence—save for the two Servants, Muramasa and Jack, sitting beside them.
"Yuuji, wait a moment," Rin called out as he prepared to leave.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Is there something hidden in your arms? I sense a strange magical energy coming from you."
Only then did Yuuji remember the book he had picked up last night. He took it out, revealing its cover. It read, simply: "Fairy Tales."
"Yuuji, you're into fairy tales?" Rin asked with a surprised look. It was the first time she had seen a fairy tale book imbued with magical power.
"I found it on the road last night. I didn't look closely at what it was," Yuuji replied, trying to explain its origin.
"Then let me study it. Maybe there's something valuable in it," Rin said, reaching for the book.
But to her surprise, Yuuji didn't let go.
"What's wrong, Yuuji? Give it here."
"I'd like to, but I can't," he said, his voice tense. It felt as though if he released the book, he would lose something deeply important.
Before Rin could argue, the book suddenly moved on its own. It jerked out of her hand with a burst of magical force, landing firmly back in Yuuji's grasp.
"What the—?" Yuuji stared at the book, feeling his own magical energy suddenly pulled into it. Then, the book began to float. A burst of bright light erupted from it, blinding everyone for a moment.
When their vision returned, a small girl in a gothic lolita dress stood beside Yuuji, holding his arm with a delicate but possessive grip.
"Yuuji, that's… a Servant! You actually picked up a Servant outside?" Rin exclaimed, utterly stunned. She could feel the attributes radiating from the girl—this was no ordinary being.
Yuuji, however, looked at the girl with a sense of strange familiarity, as if fate itself had brought her here.
Jack, on the other hand, bristled with hostility. She could feel the threat this newcomer posed to her position.
"Let go of Mama! Who are you?" Jack shouted, rushing to cling tightly to Yuuji's other arm and glaring at the girl.
"I am not 'someone.' I am Nursery Rhyme, the Servant contracted to my brother," the gothic girl replied coolly, her gaze meeting Jack's.
"Mama is Jack's! Get away, outsider!" Jack snapped, trying to push Nursery Rhyme aside.
"No. My brother is mine. You can walk away," Nursery Rhyme shot back, refusing to yield.
The two of them glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Yet Yuuji noticed something—despite the heated exchange, neither girl was using her full Servant powers. To an outsider, it looked less like a fight and more like… children squabbling over a toy.
Rin, however, had seen enough. Watching the two "girls" fight over Yuuji made her temples throb. This Holy Grail War was already dangerous enough—now she had to deal with two Servants fighting over her housekeeper?
"Seriously? I was the first one to meet him! I was the one who confessed! Why are these brats trying to steal Yuuji from me?" Rin muttered under her breath, finally losing her patience. She stormed forward, grabbed Yuuji's hand, and declared,"This man is my housekeeper! You two kids, back off!"
Jack and Nursery Rhyme turned their glares toward Rin, and without hesitation, pulled her into their "battle" as well. Yuuji was now stuck between three stubborn girls, all tugging at him from different sides.
From the sidelines, Muramasa and Fuji (who had wandered in) watched the scene unfold.
"…Chaotic," Muramasa muttered. "But… it does bring a strange warmth to this house. Like a family that hasn't been seen in years."
Yuuji glanced at all of them and silently made up his mind: This time, no matter what, he would protect them. He would never let anyone harm this strange but precious 'family.'