Half an hour later, Tohsaka Residence.
Kirei Kotomine appeared in the study with quiet footsteps, moving like a ghost.
Tohsaka Tokiomi, who was elegantly sipping red wine while waiting for good news, set down his glass. Looking at his expressionless disciple, a sudden and extremely ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
"Kirei, is there any news on Caster? We must claim the reward from the Church!"
Hearing this, Kirei Kotomine remained silent for two seconds.
A strange light flickered deep within those hollow, dead-fish eyes.
Kirei Kotomine's voice was as calm as ever, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"According to the investigation by Assassin's clones, Caster has been completely eliminated by the combination of Ruler and Saber, along with his master."
"How is that possible?!" A vein throbbed on Tohsaka Tokiomi's forehead, and a look of shock appeared in his eyes. "How could they have moved so fast...?!"
"There is one more thing."
Kirei Kotomine interrupted Tokiomi's shock and slowly dropped the real bombshell.
"According to information observed by the Hassan lurking nearby, your daughter... Tohsaka Rin, appeared at the battlefield."
"Furthermore, she was taken back to Einzbern Castle by Ruler as a trophy."
Clatter.
The wine glass in Tohsaka Tokiomi's hand smashed onto the floor with a 'pop'.
"Rin...?!"
Tokiomi slumped into his chair, his face turning pale as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
He had calculated everything, sending Sakura away just to preserve the Tohsaka Family bloodline.
As it turned out, the sole remaining heir had been captured by that most uncontrollable enemy?!
How could he possibly fight this war now?!
"Ruler..." Tohsaka Tokiomi gritted his teeth, a rare expression of fury appearing on his usually composed face. "Einzbern... you've gone too far!!!"
And in the shadows.
Watching Tokiomi's distorted and pained face, the corner of Kirei Kotomine's mouth curled up imperceptibly.
Ah... is this... the taste of joy?
master, I have indeed received your pain... At the exit of the Fuyuki City underground waterway, although the air carried the saltiness of the sea breeze, it was absolute heaven compared to the rotting stench below.
Hansen stepped out of the shadows, carrying a constantly thrashing "red bundle" in one hand.
"Let me go! You kidnapper! You pervert! I'm calling the police!"
Tohsaka Rin was like a salted fish caught on the shore in his hands, her two short legs kicking wildly in the air, trying to strike Hansen's knees.
Unfortunately, her attack range was completely insufficient, and she could only kick the empty air.
"Stop screaming. If you keep it up, I'll throw you back to feed the rats."
"...Ugh, you're... you're joking, right!?"
Hansen walked to the silver Mercedes and tossed her casually.
With a soft thud, the future head of the Tohsaka Family landed accurately in Irisviel's arms.
"Oh my!"
Irisviel hurriedly caught the dirty little girl, looking at Hansen in confusion before glancing at Rin, who was blushing furiously and staring back with wide eyes.
"Mr. Han Sen... what is this?"
The lady blinked, her expression as if her husband had gone out to buy cigarettes and returned with a stray cat.
"A trophy."
Hansen pulled open the car door and lay back comfortably in the rear seat.
"Picked her up down there. She's a Tohsaka cub; she should be usable after a wash... I think."
"The Tohsaka Family again..."
Irisviel was stunned for a second, then looked down at the little girl in her arms.
Rin bit her lip, trying to break free from the beautiful lady's embrace. Even though she was covered in dust and her twin-tails were a mess, she still tried to lift her chin to maintain the dignity of the Tohsaka Family.
"I am Tohsaka Rin! I am not a trophy! This is illegal detention!"
"Pfft."
Irisviel couldn't help but laugh out loud.
She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the dirt from Rin's face, her eyes so tender they could melt water.
"What a cute child. Even though you're trembling with fear, you're still acting tough."
Tohsaka Rin's body stiffened.
That warm touch was exactly like her mother's.
The sharp quills she had raised like a hedgehog softened instantly under this gentle assault.
A sense of grievance surged up like a tide; her eyes reddened, and the tsundere little girl bit her lip and turned her head away.
"I'm not scared..."
"Alright, Iris, it's time to head back."
Hansen rolled down the window and tapped his finger on the door. "Get in. Let Saber drive on the way back."
Irisviel smiled and led Tohsaka Rin into the back seat. "Oh my, have you already grown tired of my driving after just one trip?"
"But since Mr. Han Sen said so, I'll leave it to Saber~~"
Saber, regaining her Riding position, immediately pulled open the door and sat in the driver's seat with a resolute expression. "No problem, please leave it to me."
In an instant, the engine roared.
The silver beast thundered onto the street, leaving the nightmare-filled sewer far behind... Half an hour later, Einzbern Castle.
As soon as the car came to a steady stop, two small figures rushed out from the main gate.
"Mama, Big Brother, Big Sister, you're back!"
Illya, wearing pink pajamas and barefoot on the carpet, rushed toward Hansen like a cannonball as he got out of the car.
Behind her followed a timid purple shadow.
Sakura.
She gripped the edge of Illya's clothes, her large eyes peeking at Hansen with a faint sense of anticipation.
Hansen casually pressed down on Illya's head, stopping the loli-cannonball's impact, and then rubbed Sakura's little head. The latter narrowed her eyes comfortably.
"Yes, we're back."
Then, Hansen lifted Rin out of the back seat like a little chick.
"Get down, Miss Captive."
Tohsaka Rin stumbled to the ground. She was about to straighten her wrinkled coat to assert her presence.
Her gaze shifted.
That purple figure came into view.
The air suddenly went still.
The declaration of defiance she had prepared got stuck in her throat. Tohsaka Rin's blue eyes widened instantly, her pupils contracting violently.
The world seemed to hit the pause button at this moment.
"...Sakura?"
Rin's voice was trembling.
It carried disbelief, wild joy, and a hint of cautious testing.
That was the name she had called out countless times in her dreams, the eternal pain of the Tohsaka Family.
Hearing that familiar yet strange voice, Sakura shuddered.
She slowly raised her head.
The moment her purple eyes met Rin's, a flash of strangeness and confusion passed through them.
She didn't pounce forward and cry "Sister" as Rin had fantasized.
On the contrary.
Like a startled small animal seeing a predator, she reflexively shrank back and hid herself completely behind Hansen.
Her two small hands tightly gripped the hem of Hansen's clothes, as if only this could provide her with enough security.
A strange look, a posture of rejection.
Tohsaka Rin's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, making her look like a ridiculous clown.
It felt as if someone had squeezed her heart hard. A sour sensation rushed into her nose, and the mask of strength she had been forcing shattered into pieces on the ground with a 'clatter'.
"Sakura... don't you recognize me anymore?"
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