I walked beside Arturia, still exhausted from the fight against Kashimo. The silence between us was peaceful but heavy, as if each of us were digesting what had just happened. I stared at my hand, remembering the strange sensation of receiving Kashimo's soul, and the responsibility that now weighed upon me.
Suddenly, Arturia stopped, lightly gripping my arm. Her eyes fixed on a group ahead, walking the same path back. I looked up too and immediately recognized the figure leading the group: Shirou and Tachie, their faces scarred from the fight, next to Rin, whose expression was serious but softened by the relief of holding her sister in her arms.
Sakura, still unconscious, was propped up carefully between Rin and Choso. Choso's expression was hard, but there was something serene in his eyes, as if, even after the fight, he had achieved a greater understanding of himself.
The meeting was silent for the first few moments. The wind gently ruffled everyone's hair, carrying the dust and the feeling that everyone had faced their own hell. I took a few steps forward, breaking the silence: "You guys made it too, right?"
Shirou stopped, staring at me. My weary gaze met his, and a hint of a smile appeared on his lips. "We made it… but it was close."
Rin said nothing, just held Sakura close, as if to show everyone why he was still standing. Choso looked directly at me, and for a moment, the two shared a silent understanding; they had both fought not for glory, but for family.
Arturia crossed her arms, letting out a soft sigh. "It seems we all have stories to tell tonight."
I scratched the back of my neck, looking at the group ahead. The weight of everything they carried hung in the air, but there was also a sense that, even with so many different paths, they were all being pulled toward the same fate.
I frowned. "Sakura…?" I stepped forward, my eyes widening as I saw Sakura unconscious in Rin's arms. "Why are you with Sakura? Wasn't she home?"
The silence lasted a moment, until Choso responded with the same grave calm as always, even though he carried a visible fatigue: "She was kidnapped…" he said bluntly. "She was trapped in a ritual, used as part of Caster's plans."
I felt the ground drop for a second. The idea of Sakura having experienced something so dangerous made the blood run cold in my veins. Fear filled my expression, but before I could say anything, Choso raised his hand, adding firmly, "But it's okay now. We got her out."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my chest, my eyes returning to Sakura, still asleep but alive. Relief began to dissolve the panic.
It was then that Choso added, with a special weight to his words: "Besides, we got two of Sukuna's fingers."
The world seemed to stop for a moment. My eyes widened even further, unconsciously reaching for my abdomen, where I felt the suffocating presence of the demon within. "Two… fingers?" I repeated, almost in a whisper.
Rin glanced at me. Shirou remained attentive but silent, as if weighing the consequences of those words.
I swallowed hard. The weight of the revelation fell on me like a stone. It wasn't just about Sakura, nor about the fight they'd won… now it was clear that everyone was being pulled even deeper into the nightmare that was Sukuna.
But Choso kept his gaze firm. "It's up to us to decide what to do with them."
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself, but I couldn't hide the tremor in my hands.
Rin shifted Sakura in her arms and, even though she was still worried about her sister, spoke firmly, as if to convey the weight of what they had done:
"It wasn't just that…" She glanced at Arturia and me. "We defeated Assassin and Caster. Two less Servants in this war."
I blinked, surprised at how casually she said it, but then gave a tired half-smile. "Hah… looks like we're on the same page, then." I scratched the back of my neck, exchanging a quick glance with Arturia. "We've had our share of trouble too. We defeated that troublesome reincarnated… the one who was wreaking havoc throughout the city."
My tone suddenly became more serious, my hand clenching into a fist. "And we got a finger from Sukuna, too."
The air seemed to weigh even more heavily. Shirou's eyes widened slightly, processing this information. Choso, who already knew, simply crossed his arms silently, but he kept a close eye on the others' reactions.
Rin tilted her head in surprise. "So… we got three fingers today alone?"
"Yes…" I replied with a serious, somber expression. "But each one is like carrying a bomb ready to explode…"
Arturia kept her gaze steady, observing the tension that was beginning to build between everyone. "It doesn't matter how many fingers we have… what matters is that they can't fall into the wrong hands."
I took a deep breath, trying to ease the pressure I felt. I looked at Sakura, unconscious in her sister's arms, and then at my companions. "At least… we're all alive. That's already a victory."
Rin nodded, but her gaze remained worried. She knew that, even with victories, each step they took brought them closer to something much greater than anyone there could imagine.
I walked in silence, the cool night bringing a strange calm after so much chaos. My thoughts, however, were turbulent. I looked at Sukuna's two fingers, which Choso was carefully carrying, and then at what I had achieved.
"The only reincarnated ones left…" I murmured more to myself than to the others. "Are Uraume… and the Angel." The image of Hana, the little girl with the pure expression, came to mind. I frowned. "...And the Angel is trapped inside an innocent child."
Choso, beside me, remained serious, but didn't interrupt. He knew I was digesting this in my own way.
Shirou, who was behind me carrying a sword that was beginning to dissipate, completed the thought, his voice heavy with seriousness: "But that's not all." He paused, staring at each of them. "There's still Lancer... Kenjaku... and possibly Kirei."
Rin narrowed his eyes at the name. "Kotomine Kirei... so that priest might still be involved."
Shirou nodded slowly, remembering every shadow that loomed over the Holy Grail War. "We can't underestimate any of them."
I clenched my fists, feeling the pressure of fate build on my shoulders once more. "So we have enemies on both sides... reincarnated and Masters." I let out a heavy sigh. "It seems this war won't end anytime soon."
Arturia, until then silent, placed her hand on the invisible hilt of her sword and spoke firmly: "That's precisely why we cannot weaken. Every victory, every enemy less, is a step toward protecting what remains."
Her words echoed through the group, bringing a measure of firmness amidst the uncertainty. Even with Sakura unconscious and everyone exhausted, they knew the path ahead would only become more dangerous.
But there was no turning back.
Sukuna's fingers weighed on his mind like lead. Each step seemed to lead him deeper into a war that didn't entirely belong to Mik, but which he could no longer avoid.
Suddenly, a name echoed in his memory: Gilgamesh.
I remembered the golden, arrogant figure who had disappeared at the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War, a man who looked more like a king than a warrior, surrounded by impossible treasures, looking at everyone as if they were mere insects.
I frowned, but didn't say anything out loud. Since the beginning of this new war, I hadn't seen Gilgamesh once. No clue, no appearance. It was as if he were waiting, somewhere, for the right moment to act.
"Is he still out there? Could it be…?" I thought, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
But I didn't tell anyone. Not Arturia, not Choso, not Shirou or Rin. That thought remained hidden within me, like a shadow I preferred not to reveal.
Because, deep down, I knew: if Gilgamesh appeared again… things would get even more complicated.
And now, with so many enemies still ahead, the mere thought of him weighed heavily on my heart.
By the time the group arrived home, night had fallen, and the air carried the heavy feeling after so many battles. Rin was still holding Sakura, who remained unconscious, and Shirou was too exhausted to say much. Choso walked in silence, as if keeping to himself the remnants of everything he'd felt when facing Caster.
At the entrance, Illyasviel was already waiting for them. The girl seemed calm, but her red eyes followed them as if measuring every detail: who was injured, who was exhausted, who had returned darker than when they left.
I met her gaze and felt a weight tighten in my chest. Since the battle we'd fought together, I hadn't been able to have a decent conversation with Illya. I remembered her look well that night, a mix of pain, hatred, and a strange fragility she hid with pride.
I wanted to say something. Ask if she was okay. Tell her I felt they both, somehow, carried fates they didn't choose. But the moment didn't allow it. Sakura needed care, Rin was too tense, Shirou was still trying to compose himself… and Illya's presence only reinforced that the war would not let up.
So I restrained myself. I just walked past her, giving a brief nod, like someone who recognizes someone important but knows the conversation needs to wait for another time.
"It's not time yet…" I thought, moving forward, feeling Illya's eyes still fixed on him.
I knew that sooner or later I would have to talk to her. Maybe sooner than I would have liked.
The sun had barely risen when Sakura slowly opened her eyes. She got up slowly, her body still heavy with the memories of the previous night. The images came fragmented: Caster, the feeling of imprisonment, and then the warmth of Rin's embrace. But there was something else: stray words, fragments of conversations she had heard even while unconscious.
They spoke of the Grail, of servants, of Sukuna's fingers.
Her heart sank. She had always known there was something strange going on around Yuji, Rin, Shirou, and especially Choso, but now the pieces were starting to fit together. And she needed answers.
....
The next morning, Sakura was the first to get up. She found me still lying on the makeshift futon, breathing heavily with exhaustion. She knelt beside me and called out in a calm but firm voice:
"Yuji-Sensei… wake up."
I opened my eyes, drowsy, but soon noticed the seriousness on her face. Sakura didn't just look worried, but… determined.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
But she didn't answer right away. She just looked away, clenching her fist, until she blurted out: "I know. About you… about this war."
I felt my body freeze. Before I could formulate an excuse, she added: "Last night, Choso had no way out. I cornered him… and he told me. That you're fighting for the Holy Grail. That you're facing people who want to use me."
The silence between us stretched. I sat up, rubbing my face, searching for words. I couldn't stay mad at Choso; after all, I knew Sakura was the most vulnerable part of all this.
"Sakura…" I began hesitantly. "You weren't meant to carry this burden. I wanted to protect you from this truth until the end."
Her eyes trembled, and she smiled sadly. "And you think hiding would be protecting me? I've already been used once, Yuji. If you're truly fighting for me… I deserved to know."
I couldn't
answer right away. I just stared at her, feeling the weight of that truth fall like an inevitable current between us.
I lowered my gaze, and for a moment I was lost in my memories. I saw before me the same fragile little girl who had once reached out to me, asking for help when all seemed lost. She remembered the fear in her eyes, the suffocating loneliness, and how I'd promised, without words, that I wouldn't let it happen again.
My voice was hoarse, thick with sincerity: "I just… didn't want you to suffer again. I didn't want you to have to go through any of that again…"
I clenched my fists, trembling, as if that confession had been ripped straight from the depths of my chest. "Since that day I saved you… I decided I would do everything possible to make sure you never got involved with that again. Never again."
The silence hung between us, heavy but full of meaning, as I kept my eyes fixed on her, as if begging her to understand how much that promise still meant everything to me.
Sakura remained silent for a few seconds, just watching me. My tone changed, the tension in my clenched fists, and that look in my eyes—there was no lie there. I truly believed what I was saying; I truly had carried that weight since the moment I saved her.
She took a deep breath, bringing her hand to her chest as if to steady herself. Her heart was beating fast, not just from what she'd heard, but from what was implied.
"I understand, Yuji…" she said in a low, soft tone, almost as if she were choosing each word carefully. "I know you only wanted to protect me… that you carry this promise as if it were a part of who you are."
A small, sad smile formed on her lips, but quickly disappeared as she leaned forward slightly, staring at him closely. "But I need you to enlighten me." Her voice trembled, but it was firm, determined. "What exactly are you two up against? What does this 'Holy Grail War' mean?"
I looked away for a moment, as if seeking strength in the walls of the room or the silence that enveloped it. Sakura, however, didn't let him escape. She reached out and lightly grabbed my sleeve, pulling him back to the present. "You saved me once, Yuji…" she continued, her eyes welling up. "But how can I believe I'm truly safe if I don't know what threatens us all? How can I stay out of it if I'm being dragged deeper and deeper into it, whether I want to or not?"
My chest tightened. I wanted to spare her, I wanted to keep that promise, but I also knew she was right. Sakura had already been targeted, already used, and simply being by their side put her at risk.
She discreetly wiped away a tear before it fell completely, and finished in an even softer tone: "I don't want to be a burden to you… I just want the truth. Tell me, Yuji… what are you really facing?"
That question hung in the air like a blade, demanding more from him than any battle had ever demanded.
Illya leaned against the side of the doorframe and entered as if she already knew exactly when to appear. Her light robe dragged a little on the tatami mat, and for a moment, the room felt smaller, not because of her physical presence, but because of the cold certainty in her eyes.
"I can save you the conversation…" she said, looking from Sakura to me and finally to Rin in the hallway. "Short explanation: this city is at the center of a Holy Grail War. Masters make contracts with Servants, heroes from ages past, and fight until one remains. Even Uncle Yuji was once a Servant. The prize is a "wish." But the Grail is tainted, and anyone who tries to control it ends up becoming fuel for something worse. Parallel to this, there are reincarnated beings and curses circulating: Uraume, and the Angel sealed in Hana, possible loose ends like Lancer, Kenjaku, and, if luck fails us, Kirei. We've already taken down Assassin and Caster. Twelve of Sukuna's fingers are with us, attracting predators like blood to the sea."
Sakura listened without blinking. When Illya finished, she took a deep breath and nodded, as if putting the pieces of a puzzle in the right place all at once.
"So that's what's happening." She turned to face me firmly. "I'll participate."
I straightened as if I'd been struck. My first reaction was to deny it; the word stuck in my throat, heavy, ready to leap out. But Sakura didn't look away. There was no childish fear there; there was determination. Her hands trembled only slightly, less than the courage pushing her voice out.
"I've been used once." Sakura continued, without raising her voice. "And I almost was again. If I stand still, it will happen again. I'm no longer the little girl you saved, Yuji. I want, and I will, help."
The silence between us stretched. I clenched my fists, unclenched them, and clenched them again. The memory of her as a small girl, crying, burned behind my eyes. But the person in front of her now had what that little girl didn't: a will of her own. A will that didn't ask for permission.
"I…" I began, my voice breaking, and began again, quieter. "I didn't want you to carry this."
He looked at Illya, then at Rin, then back at Sakura. "But I understand. You're not asking to join. You already joined the moment they tried to take you."
Rin approached, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. The touch was supportive and, at the same time, a silent pact. "If she stays, she'll stay on our side of the circle," Rin said. "Trained, protected, no suicidal impulses. I guarantee it."
Illya crossed her arms, considering.
"Conditions, then." She pointed with her chin, counting on her fingers. "One: no direct contact with Sukuna's fingers; controlled proximity. Two: you don't approach any battlefield without two of us. Three: I'll take care of the containment seals and put up new barriers around the house. Four: training routine with Rin, body strengthening, and reading magic flow. And…" her gaze softened a millimeter, "five: you speak up if anything inside you changes, no matter how small. A shiver out of place, a strange dream. Anything."
Sakura nodded without hesitation. "I accept."
I took a deep breath. The weight behind my ribs didn't disappear; it just rearranged itself. I took a step forward, close enough for only her to hear. "I promised to protect you. That hasn't changed. It just…" I swallowed hard. "changes how I do it. I'll protect you by your side, not in front of you."
Sakura smiled small, a tired but genuine smile, and touched my sleeve with her fingers, as if signing the agreement her words had already made. "Then we'll go together."
"Good." Illya clapped her hands once, dryly, and the energy in the air seemed to re-engage. "We have enemies who won't wait for our agenda. This afternoon, I'll erect the sealing field. Rin, start with basic reinforcement. Choso, you man the perimeter and alternate with Shirou. Arturia…" she found Saber at the door, alert as ever. "I want you paired with Yuji. If Uraume or Kenjaku test the water, they'll test it against steel."
Arturia inclined her head solemnly. "The string is ready."
Rin was already gently pulling Sakura into the hallway. "Bath, food, and light training. No heroics on the first day."
Sakura chuckled, almost relieved to have a clear path. I stood there for another second, watching the two of them walk away, until I felt a hand touch my shoulder—Illya's.
"You did the right thing," she said simply. "Growing up hurts. Letting others grow hurts more."
I exhaled through my nose, a tired half-smile. "Then let's make it hurt our enemies."
"This is the easy part." Illya answered, turning his face to the window, where the morning began to open the sky. "The difficult is physical."
In the corridor, Rin's voice was already echoing instructions; Sakura responded with a "ok" that mixed nervousness and new mood. Choso arranged the bandages in his arms discreetly as he watched doors and windows; Shirou checked blades that only existed while he wanted. Arturia, silent, expected me to take the first step.
I gave. And for the first time since the night before, the weight in the chest was not just afraid. It was purpose. And purpose, I knew it was also a kind of strength.
I was still looking at the hallway, where Rin was already pulling Sakura for the first exercises when he heard Illya's voice behind me.
"Uncle Yuuji ..." she said, with that tone that didn't sound as a request, but it wasn't exactly an order either. "The mood here will calm down for a while. Leave the sisters between them, Choso and Shirou are already taking care of the rest. Get out with Arturia."
I blinked surprised. "Now?"
Illya arched an eyebrow, as if the answer were obvious. "Yes. She needs time in the open field, you need air. Training and strategy are not done only between walls. And ..." She tilted her head, the slightly ironic look "You don't know when you will have another quiet opportunity."
Arturia, hitherto immobile at the entrance, just raised the chin in silence, the blanket swinging lightly with the air stream that passed through the open window. Her aura was ready, but there was also a sparkle in the eyes, as if I understood what Illya wanted even before me.
I poked the back of the neck, taking a deep breath. "Okay ... Okay." I forced a half smile and looked at Arturia. "So let's go?"
She nodded firmly. "The wind is calling."
And so, we both came out together. I closed the running door behind me, and soon they were outside, where fresh morning air brought the smell of the moist land. The sounds of birds mingled with the distant echo of the city, creating an almost strange sense of peace in the midst of war.
Arturia was walking beside me, straight like a spear, but there was something soft in the way the horizon watched. I realized, for a moment, that it was not just my guardian, bera someone who also carried weight, someone who deeply understood what meant fighting for others.
I sighed breaking the silence. "You know ... I haven't had a moment for a long time. Just ... walking, without thinking about who will appear on the next corner to try to kill me."
Arturia turned her face, her blue eyes finding mine. "The truce is just a breath." She stopped for a moment, letting the wind move her golden hair. "But it is in these breath that proves someone's strength. Not only in combat, but in what decides to carry with it when the sword returns to the sheath."
I laughed low, nervous. "You always talk like that, like pulling a sword even when you talk about breathing."
Arturia did not smile, but the rigidity on her lips softened for a second. "And you always try to hide the fear with a smile." The answer was direct, but there was no judgment, only finding.
Silence returned, comfortable this time. And so we follow the street until they reached a small hill where the wind blown harder, pushing the clouds slowly around the sky. I stopped, looking up, the thoughts spinning.
I knew Illya was right. That moment was not just rest: it was a different preparation, a way of reminding yourself from what you were protecting.
Changing perspective ...
Choso and Taiga walked side by side along the narrow street, the afternoon sun was beginning to hide behind the roofs. Taiga shook his bag on his shoulder, smiling as always, talking about banal issues to relieve the tension that still hanged in the air after so many battles and revelations.
For a long time, Choso just listened to her in silence, her eyes half -circled, as if every word of her were something distant, but at the same time necessary. He was not used to that lightness.
Suddenly he stopped for a moment, making Taiga turn to face him. His serious gaze contrasted with his relaxed shine in her eyes.
"Taiga ..." He said quietly, almost hesitant. "You ... are you happy?"
The question took her by surprise. She blinked, laughing awkwardly. "What? This came out of nowhere…" Taiga scratched her cheek, not knowing how to react. "But… yes, I think I'm happy."
Choso watched her intensely, as if seeking something beyond the words. "I'm not just talking about this moment… I mean, with everything. With your life."
Taiga's smile diminished a little, and she looked away to the ground, thoughtful. "It's not always easy…" he admitted. "But I try to find joy in the little things. In friends, in the simple moments. I think that's what keeps me up."
Choso remained still, as if absorbing every syllable. Then he closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I just wanted to know what this feels like… happiness. People always ask me why I keep fighting, and I have no answer. But… when I'm around you, it seems I'm starting to understand."
Taiga's cheeks flushed slightly, but she smiled genuinely. "So, keep trying, Choso." She punched him lightly on the arm, playfully, but her voice held sincerity. "Maybe you'll find you're closer to happiness than you think."
Choso gaze softened, and for the first time on that walk, he gave something that could almost be considered a smile.
A moment passed, and silence accompanied them both on their walk. Taiga noticed that Choso remained quiet, his eyes always looking straight ahead, as if carrying an invisible weight he didn't want to express in words. She knew that look, had seen it many times before, the look of someone who had lived a life too long to have been light.
Taiga stopped walking, forcing Choso to stop as well. She lifted her face and looked directly at him, unafraid of that dense aura that always enveloped him. The wind played with her hair, but her voice was firm and clear.
"I know, Choso." She clenched her fists at her sides, but didn't look away. "I know you've lived many years… and that those years haven't been happy."
He remained silent, but his dark eyes wavered for a moment, as if those words had hit him harder than any blow could.
Taiga took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
"But now it's different." Her voice softened, but the weight of what she said remained. "Now you have a chance to be happy."
She lifted her hand and gently placed it on his chest, feeling the slow, almost heavy rhythm of his heart. "And that chance…" a small, warm smile appeared on her face, "…could be with me."
Choso looked at her in surprise, his lips parted as if searching for an answer. But no sound came out. The only thing he could do was stand there, still, his chest burning with a sensation he couldn't yet name, while Taiga's words echoed within him like a promise.
Choso remained still for a few seconds, feeling the warmth of Taiga's hand still on his chest. Her gaze didn't waver, and it disarmed him in a way no battle had ever managed. He took a deep breath, slowly closing his eyes.
With slow steps, he leaned forward, approaching her. Taiga's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she didn't back away. When their faces met, Choso closed the distance and kissed her.
It was a firm kiss, yet hesitant at the same time, as if he were afraid the moment would vanish if he moved too quickly. Taiga stood still for a moment, feeling the weight of all those years of loneliness Choso carried. Then, gently, she closed her eyes and responded, her hands rising to rest on his broad shoulders.
The world seemed to fall silent around them. There was no war, no curses, no weight of centuries. Just the two of them, in that moment, sharing something neither of them dared put into words.
When they pulled away, Taiga was flushed, but her smile was genuine and full of life.
"See?" she whispered, her voice light but charged with emotion. "You can be happy too."
Choso stared at her silently, but the intensity in her eyes said everything her mouth couldn't express.
Choso kept his eyes fixed on Taiga, still feeling the heat of the kiss on his lips. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable; it was as if everything around them had disappeared. He took a deep breath, and his deep voice broke the stillness:
"You're right…" he said, low but firm. "After so many years… after carrying only pain and memories… I finally found something I can protect."
He looked away for a moment, as if searching for the right word, but then looked back at her, unwavering. "It's not just about my brothers." His chest heaved slowly, as if each word were a weight lifted. "It's about you too."
Taiga's eyes widened slightly, feeling the impact of those words. Choso didn't speak in metaphors, nor in empty promises. This came from a raw, truthful place, from someone who had spent more time with death than with life, and yet could still say something so pure.
She smiled, her eyes brimming with tears without realizing it, and squeezed his arm again, as if grounding him in the present. "Then… protect this, Choso. Protect us both."
And in that moment, for the first time in years, Choso felt that those words weren't just an impossible wish, but a reality worth fighting for.
Changing perspective...
Shirou and Tachie were sitting on the training room mat, panting after the last scam sequence. The sound of swords echoed only in memory, since now everything was quiet, interrupted only by their heavy breathing.
Shirou lay on his back, staring at the wooden ceiling, the sweat running down the forehead to the side of his face. He let out a long breath, as if the weight of days in a row of battles had finally fallen on him. "Haa… I haven't trained that serious in a while." He commented, letting a tired smile escape.
Tachie, still sitting, held the sickle supported by the side, the firm hands on the cable. Even exhausted, he kept his posture upright, as if he could not completely relax. She looked at Shirou from Soslaio, the serious expression, but the corner of her mouth softened. "You still care more about others than yourself." He said, with a kind of reprimanding, half -playing tone. "It's no wonder it always ends up exhausted."
Shirou turned his face to her, her eyes half -circled by tiredness, but with a determined shine. "And you?" asked. "It always seems to carry the world on the back. Even when you don't have to."
Tachie was silent for a moment, the lost look on the scythe blade. Then he leaned the gun next to it, and finally dropped his back on his mat, imitating Shirou. The two were side by side, staring at the ceiling.
"Maybe it's true ..." she admitted, her low voice. "But if I don't carry it, who is going?"
Shirou closed his eyes, laughing lightly. "Funny… I think that's why we end up understanding each other."
The silence that followed was not uncomfortable. Only the sound of their breath filled the space, while the sweat cooled and the body relaxed after the intensity of the training. For the first time in a long time, Shirou and Tachie could only… rest.
Tachie remained lying on the mat, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, but the expression hardened a little. The memory came back as a shadow, and for a moment the silence seemed heavier.
"Shirou ..." started, the lowest voice than before. "There is still one thing I need to do."
Shirou turned her face to her, curious. "What?"
Tachie took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to say aloud. "I ... I still need to apologize to Yuji." His fingers closed in hand over the mat. "That day… when I recovered my memory… I couldn't control myself."
Shirou watched her in silence, but his gaze was not judgment. She continued, feeling the weight of her own words: "I treated him as an enemy. As if he was just another threat to be cut. I didn't think of what he carried, what he had already passed. And even after all, he didn't hate me. He accepted me here."
Her voice trembled slightly, though it was still firm. "But I can't forget. I still feel that ... I need to notice that."
Shirou closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a tired sigh, but with a slight smile. "That's his way. Yuji doesn't keep a grudge… even when I should."
He sat down, resting his arms on his knees, and looked at her sincerely. "But if you feel you need to apologize, do it. Not because he needs to hear, but because you need to say."
Tachie turned her face to him, surprised by the clarity of the words, but then relaxed the body again on the mat, as if he had taken part of his chest weight just by admitting that aloud.
Shirou was silent for a few seconds, watching Tachie still lying on the mat, his eyes lost on the ceiling as if they sought an answer up there. The air was heavy, and only the sound of their breath filled the room.
He leaned forward, supporting his elbows on his knees, and then asked, with a low but firm voice, "Tachie ... When we win this war… Would you be able to live with us? Stay by our side, after all this?"
The words echoed through the environment, loaded with a simple but deep desire. For a moment, Tachie remained motionless, as if trying to avoid the question. But then her lips moved slowly, and the answer came out like a cold blade.
"No ..." she said, the calm but heavy voice. "It wouldn't be possible."
Shirou looked up at her, confused. "Why?"
Tachie closed his fists on the mat, taking a deep breath. "Because the Grail has been contaminated. I… I'm not something that should exist in this world. When all this is over, when the grail stops feeding my presence, I will disappear. It's inevitable."
Shirou's heart squeezed. He was speechless for a moment, watching her face. Tachie, however, did not seem sad, just resigned, like someone who had accepted his own destination for a long time.
"So ..." She continued, turning her face to look at Shirou aside, her firm eyes despite the pain they hid "don't think of a future with me. Just think about winning this war. That's what really matters."
Shirou felt a lump in his throat, but managed a small, bitter smile. "You say that as if it were easy…"
Tachie closed her eyes and, for the first time since the conversation began, allowed herself a soft sigh, almost like a sad laugh. "I never said it would be."
Shirou remained silent, the weight of Tachie's answer still hammering at his mind. But as he stared at her, resigned to his own end, something stirred in the depths of his memory, a fragment of a dream that wouldn't leave him alone.
He remembered a name… Ciel. A presence that had emerged from the darkness of his subconscious, as if a whisper from another reality. In the dream, Ciel spoke of a greater destiny, of choices, of paths that crossed. And with it came the memory: Tachie, not as a servant, not as a wielder of a cursed scythe… but as a human.
Shirou's eyes widened slightly, his heart beating faster. "So… you mean…" he muttered to himself, but loud enough for Tachie to hear.
She turned to face him, arching her eyebrow. "What is it?"
Shirou took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "Maybe I can't save you… this version of you that's here, connected to the Grail…" he began, his voice trembling with the intensity of what he was saying. "But that doesn't mean you're completely gone."
Tachie narrowed her eyes, confused. "What are you trying to say?"
Shirou stared at her, firmly, as if those words were his newfound resolve. "The human version of you is still alive. I saw it… in a dream, or something. If this 'Ciel' was a clue, then there's a chance. Maybe I can't stop you from disappearing… but I can find the human Tachie. I can save you."
Silence fell over the room. Tachie didn't respond immediately, just stared at him in surprise, as if those words had cracked the armor of resignation she'd built. Behind the coldness in her eyes, something wavered, a spark of hope she tried, futilely, to suppress.
Tachie sighed softly, letting a small, if melancholic, smile escape.
"Good luck, Shirou." she said softly, but with sincerity. "If anyone can do something like that, it's you."
Shirou nodded, keeping those words like a silent oath.
changing Perspective...
Arturia and I sat in a simple coffe, enjoying a moment of calm after so many battles and arguments. The afternoon sun streamed through the window, reflecting on Saber's golden hair, while I leisurely bit into a sandwich.
Arturia watched the hustle and bustle of the street, but every now and then she'd cast discreet glances at me, as if trying to better understand this young man who, even amidst the chaos of the Grail, still smiled so genuinely.
I was relaxed, but deep down I was reflecting on the responsibility I carried. I was standing before a living legend, a queen, and yet, at that moment, I only saw a companion sharing a snack with me.
I leaned back in my chair, watching the scene with a mixture of fascination and disbelief. Across from me, Arturia was finishing her third plate of food as if it were completely natural, cutting pieces of meat with impeccable precision, chewing elegantly, but at a speed that would make any athlete envious.
It was impressive. I'd seen people with appetites before, but nothing came close to what Saber was capable of consuming. I put my hand to my forehead, chuckling slightly, in disbelief.
"I still don't know how you do it, Arturia…" I commented, leaning across the table. "It seems like the more you eat, the more space appears in there."
She paused for a moment, dabbing her lips with her napkin in a refined manner, and gave him a serious look, as if ready to justify this almost supernatural ability. "Food is essential to maintaining a servant's vital energy," she explained calmly. "Consuming mana, especially in consecutive battles, drains a large portion of the reserves. Food… is an alternative way to compensate for this loss."
I arched my eyebrow, impressed, but still not entirely convinced. "Okay, that makes sense, but it doesn't change the fact that you just devoured the most expensive dish on the menu as if it were an afternoon snack."
Arturia blinked, as if she didn't understand the implication. "Are you suggesting it was an excess?"
"An excess?" I nearly choked on my own soda. "You're kidding me, right? This is beyond excessive. I swear I'll have to sell part of my school uniform if I keep bringing you here."
For a moment, Saber's firm expression softened, and a short laugh escaped her lips. It was rare, but when it happened, I felt like it was a reward all my own.
"So you're complaining about sharing a meal with me, Yuji?" she said, her tone teasing now, her green eyes shining with a hint of humor.
I sighed, raising my hands in surrender. "No, I'm not complaining… I'm just impressed. Seriously, I still can't believe someone so small can eat like a sumo wrestler after a final."
Arturia lifted her chin, maintaining the posture worthy of a queen. "I'm not small. I'm just efficient at enjoying what the world offers."
I laughed out loud this time, attracting a few curious glances from other tables, but I didn't care. It was in those moments that I forgot the weight of the Grail, Sukuna, and all the responsibilities surrounding me. To me, in that moment, it was just Yuji Itadori and Arturia Pendragon sharing a meal, and somehow, that made me happy.
I picked up the menu again, scanning the options, and murmured, "I think I'll have to order dessert to go with that, otherwise I'll look too weak."
Arturia raised her eyebrows, almost challenging him with her gaze. "If you're going to compete with me, Yuji, be prepared to lose."
I smiled, accepting the challenge without a second thought.
A few minutes later...
As soon as we left the restaurant, still laughing at Arturia's teasing about who ate more, we decided to take a walk to relax. The weather was mild, with a gentle breeze swaying the trees along the street. At one point, a shop with colorful windows caught my eye. It was a toy and stuffed animal store, filled with cute little animals that seemed to smile at everyone who passed by.
"Hey, let's take a look?" I suggested, pointing with an amused glint in my eye.
Arturia looked away from the window, observing the stacked dolls and stuffed animals with that look of restrained curiosity. "Stuffed animals?" he repeated, almost surprised. "I didn't think this was the kind of thing you'd be interested in."
"Not really my type…" I replied, scratching the back of my neck. "But sometimes it's nice to see things like this. It reminds me that, despite everything we're going through, there are still simple, good things in the world."
Arturia didn't say anything, but walked into the store beside him. Inside, the atmosphere was welcoming, full of colors and soft sounds. Children ran between the aisles with their parents, hugging stuffed animals bigger than themselves.
It was then that I stopped suddenly. Among so many options, his eyes fixed on one specific plush toy: a small, stuffed lion with a funny, determined expression. The tag attached to its ear read: "Kon."
"Look…" I took the lion in my hands, lifting him up as if I'd just found a treasure. "Kon, huh?" I laughed. "This little guy looks like a troublemaker, but at the same time… he's kind of cute."
Arturia approached, examining the lion with a serious gaze, as if judging an important artifact. "It has a curious expression..." she commented. "It seems to want to convey courage, even though it's just a toy."
I held the stuffed animal to my chest and smiled. "Maybe that's what I like about it. A little silly, but somehow... it makes you want to protect it."
For a moment, Arturia was silent, observing me with that simple way of clinging to things. She realized there was something deeply human in that gesture, something that reminded her of values she herself had lost throughout her life as king.
"Are you... going to take him?" she asked finally.
I looked back at the lion cub, then at Arturia, and laughed. "Of course. Who knows, maybe he'll bring me luck in this war?"
And, with a twinkle in my eye, I carried Kon to the counter, while Arturia followed him, silently, but with a slight smile that rarely escaped.
Arturia held the little lion cub Kon in her arms, as if he were something more precious than she cared to admit. Walking beside her, she kept her hands in her pockets, enjoying the silence of the night. Fuyuki City was calm, illuminated by the streetlights reflecting off the river.
The night wind was cool but pleasant, carrying the scent of the water and the nearby trees. We crossed the bridge slowly, unhurriedly, as if for a moment the weight of war had lifted.
I broke the silence, looking at the silvery reflection of the moon on the river's surface.
"It's strange, you know? After everything we've been through... to have a moment like this, just walking, without anyone trying to kill us."
Arturia glanced sideways at me with a serene expression. "Strange, but necessary. Even warriors need moments to breathe." She lightly hugged Kon to her chest. "Otherwise, we forget why we fight."
I smiled, agreeing. "You're right. I think that's why I like nights like this… it's like the whole world is giving us a break."
Arturia looked away from the river, her blond hair blowing in the breeze. "A break before the next battle." Her voice sounded calm, but there was a firmness in it, as if she had already foreseen what was to come.
I sighed but maintained my smile. "Then let's enjoy this break until the end."
We continued walking side by side, the moon illuminating their steps across the Fuyuki Bridge, and Kon seemed to watch them with his sewn-open eyes, witnessing this rare moment of tranquility.
The silence of the night was shattered in an instant.
Until I felt a sudden tightness in my chest, as if the air had been knocked from my lungs. I staggered, instinctively placing my hand on my heart. The sensation was heavy, suffocating, the curses around me pulsing with an abnormal intensity, almost as if they were converging on that point.
Before I could even react, a golden flash cut through the darkness.
A sharp impact struck my back. My body was thrown forward a few steps, blood splattering across the bridge floor.
"Yuji!" Arturia screamed, dropping Kon to the ground and immediately turning around, her hand on the invisible hilt of Excalibur.
Behind us, the golden figure loomed imposingly. The wind seemed to bend in his presence. His crimson eyes were filled with contempt, and around him floated gleaming portals, ready to fire blades.
It was him...
Gilgamesh.
End of Chapter 23