In the Shinomiya Mansion's family head study.
Sunlight crept across the antique desk, illuminating Gan'an Shinomiya's pale face.
His eyes were tightly shut, dark circles heavy beneath them, his chin resting on the edge of the mahogany desk as he slept like the dead.
A sparse strand of hair stubbornly clung to his forehead—the "trophy" he'd yanked out in a fit of rage and sorrow earlier.
The old butler sighed silently, gently draping a thin blanket over him.
In the heavy silence of the study, only the muffled, unwilling snores of the family head remained.
Meanwhile, back at Gaio's house.
Rin, sporting faint dark circles under her eyes, expressionlessly placed the last steaming scallion pancake on the table.
The table was loaded with a lavish breakfast: vibrant cold cucumber salad, fragrant preserved egg and lean pork congee, and the crispy-edged scallion pancakes she'd just made.
She untied her apron, her gaze drifting for the umpteenth time to the closed master bedroom door.
Marin's cryptic words from yesterday morning had been buzzing in her head like pesky bugs all day. She'd mustered up the courage, rushed home right after school to get some answers from her cousin.
And what happened?
Marin's door was locked tight. Rin knocked forever, only to hear a sleepy mumble from inside: "Don't bug me... so tired... talk tomorrow..."
As for Gaio? Nowhere to be found! Phone? No answer! Texts? Radio silence!
Rin waited from evening until night, then from night until dawn.
She barely slept a wink, dragging herself out of bed before sunrise to hole up in the kitchen. With a tangled mix of anxiety and anticipation she couldn't quite name, she'd poured her heart into preparing this massive spread.
As if that might guilt-trip the "no-show" guy into having a conscience.
Click.
The master bedroom lock finally turned.
Rin's eyes snapped to it, her heart skipping a beat.
The door opened.
But it wasn't Gaio who came out.
Marin Kitagawa shuffled out with a messy mop of blonde hair, wearing an oversized cartoon T-shirt that could double as a dress, rubbing her sleepy eyes and yawning.
"Morning, Rin-chan... yawn~~~" She plopped down at the table, eyes still half-closed, but her nose twitched. "Whoa! Smells amazing! You're the best, Rin-chan!"
She grabbed a xiaolongbao without hesitation and stuffed it in her mouth, completely ignoring the "I need to talk" written all over Rin's face.
Rin's mouth twitched.
She took a deep breath, staring at Marin chowing down, trying to keep her voice steady. "Marin-nee."
"Hmm?" Marin mumbled around a mouthful, snagging a scallion pancake next.
"Brother-in-law," Rin's tone was straining, "he... didn't come home last night?"
Artoria and Sakura Tohsaka, just stepping into the dining room, froze in unison.
Their eyes met in mid-air, sparking a silent conversation.
Sakura blinked: Saber, they still haven't cleared up yesterday's mess?
Artoria shook her head slightly: I have no idea.
Sakura glanced at Marin, scarfing down food: Looks like Marin-nee's not even fazed by it.
Artoria shook her head again: I have no idea.
Sakura's eyes drifted to the door: Should we bail?
Artoria's gaze swept over the feast, her expression turning rock-solid, like she was back in the final battle of the Holy Grail War. She shook her head firmly: No, this king must eat.
Sakura's mouth twitched, resigning with a sigh. The next second, she plastered on her sweet, innocent smile: "Morning~ Rin-nee, Marin-nee."
Marin, mouth full, waved vaguely: "Morning, Sakura~ Saber, come eat too! Rin-chan's breakfast is super-duper delicious!"
Rin's temples throbbed. Watching her carefree cousin, plus Artoria and Sakura casually digging in, she felt her dark circles deepen.
Black lines crawled across Rin's forehead as she stared at the three oblivious women devouring the food. She sucked in a breath, slammed her hands on the table with a smack, and stood up straight.
"Marin-nee, I..."
"I know what you're gonna say, Rin." Marin suddenly set down her chopsticks, cutting her off with a serious face and a solemn nod.
Sakura whipped her head toward Artoria for eye contact, but—
The signal fizzled out in the air.
Because the receiver, Artoria, was hunched over a huge bowl in one hand and a scallion pancake in the other, demolishing the table's offerings like a storm.
Her golden ahoge bobbed with each chew, fully lost in her food paradise.
"Connection failed..." Sakura's face mirrored Rin's with those same black lines.
You're not the King of Knights—you're the King of Chow! Sakura ranted inwardly, finally burying her face in her bowl, pretending she didn't exist.
Rin's mouth twitched harder.
Seeing Marin's "I get it" expression, plus the clueless Artoria and ostrich-mode Sakura, she sighed faintly.
Marin caught Rin's sigh and flashed a sunny smile: "Rin, what I said yesterday? I meant it after thinking it through. I know how you feel."
Her gaze swept over the buried-head Sakura and Artoria, landing on Rin's face. "I get all of your feelings."
Sakura's hidden head stiffened. Artoria's cheeks bulged, her ahoge snapping into a big question mark. Feelings? Like, I ate too much? She tilted her head in confusion.
Marin said it casually, like divvying up cake: "I'm not gonna hog Gaio-kun. I'll share him with you guys."
"Pfft—!"
Sakura sprayed congee across half the table, choking with a red face and coughing nonstop.
Rin sucked in a breath, her head buzzing, face flushing instantly, steam practically hissing from her scalp. So... it really is like that...
Artoria swallowed her bite, ahoge still curved in a question mark, eyes clear but baffled: Share? Share what? Snacks? She didn't get it at all, just grabbed another pancake and shoved it in.
Food first.
Marin stood, wrapping an arm around the stiff Rin: "Rin, I already talked to Gaio about this yesterday."
Her mind flashed to after Rin left yesterday morning: In the car, Gaio's domineering vibe, like he owned the world and saw it as a game, and after he confessed his feelings, how she'd dazedly followed him to a hotel for some wild entanglement... Marin's face heated with two rosy blushes.
She shook it off, hugging Rin tighter, her tone dead serious: "Rin, we'll always be together, sticking by Gaio-kun's side."
Rin was totally zoned out, mouth agape, brain crashed—no words.
Marin let go, patting her shoulder with a grin: "Gaio-kun couldn't check out cars with me yesterday. Rin, Sakura," she looked at Sakura, who'd just wiped her mouth and was still in shock, and—
"And you, Artoria!"
The named Artoria jerked her head up, cheeks still puffed, ahoge wobbling in confusion.
She'd missed all the twists, only catching "check out cars" and her name.
She blinked her bright eyes and nodded vigorously without hesitation: "Yeah!"
Rin, Sakura, and Artoria headed out the door.
Rin and Sakura walked with heavy steps, heads down, lost in thought. Only Artoria strode lightly, looking relaxed, like nothing had happened at breakfast.
Rin walked in silence for a bit, then couldn't hold back and turned to Artoria: "Saber."
"Hmm?" Artoria looked over, puzzled.
Rin hesitated, then asked: "What do you think about what Marin-nee said?"
Artoria tilted her head, thinking. Those morning words? She only remembered Marin saying something about sharing... snacks? And checking out cars?
She couldn't figure out what was special about it, so she stroked her chin and gave a universal answer: "Follow your own heart."
Rin froze.
Follow... my heart?
She looked into Artoria's clear, slightly confused eyes—pure and straightforward, no complications.
Rin's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed.
Yeah... why overthink it?
If you like someone, you like them.
Her lips curved into a relieved smile.
"Yeah, you're right."
Rin smiled freely. Artoria, seeing no more questions, nodded satisfied and went back to enjoying the scenery.
Nearby, Sakura eavesdropped quietly, clenching her small fists. She took a deep breath, her eyes turning determined: Then... I've gotta step up too!
The three walked to school, each with their own thoughts.
Meanwhile, back at the Shinomiya Mansion.
A roaring motorcycle pulled up to the grand gates. Kaguya stepped off, standing in front of Gaio.
Her face was slightly pink, shy but trying to keep her composure: "Gaio-kun... thank you for last night... for giving me such a wonderful evening."
Gaio grinned, ruffling her hair. "Head back and tell your dad. I'll get the place ready soon, then you can move in."
"Yeah!" Kaguya nodded hard, her eyes full of tenderness as she gazed at him. "I'm really looking forward to it, Gaio-kun."
Gaio nodded, about to put on his helmet and rev the engine to leave.
"Gaio-kun..." Kaguya called softly.
He turned back. Kaguya's arms opened slightly, face beet red, eyes shy but expectant.
Gaio got it, killed the engine, and got off.
He strode over, pulling Kaguya into a tight hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest, greedily breathing in his reassuring scent.
From the study window in the Shinomiya Mansion.
Gan'an Shinomiya, just waking up, face still pale with lingering dark circles, caught a glimpse of the glaring scene outside the gates.
He snatched the high-powered binoculars from the desk, jamming them to his eyes.
The view zoomed in—his carefully raised daughter, clinging to that damn kid like a little bird!
"Urgh—!" Gan'an let out a muffled roar, teeth grinding.
Veins bulged on his forehead, pulsing wildly; his hands trembled from gripping the binoculars too hard, knuckles white.
He watched helplessly as the kid ruffled his daughter's hair again before hopping on the bike and roaring off.
Kaguya stood there, staring dreamily in his direction, her face showing a softness he'd never seen!
The binoculars clattered against the mahogany window frame with a thud.
Gan'an glared at his daughter's lingering back, chest heaving, vision going black in waves.