The living room was thick with an awkward vibe.
Gaio lounged casually on a single-seater sofa, his long legs crossed, one ankle resting on the other knee. The glow of his phone screen lit up his calm face.
He scrolled with focus, as if the little scene at the bedroom door earlier and the heavy silence now filling the room had nothing to do with him.
Marin Kitagawa sat beside him, while Rin Tohsaka sat across on the opposite sofa.
Marin's hands rested neatly on her knees, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of her skirt. Her eyes darted around—one moment sneaking a glance at Rin's expressionless profile, the next shooting a pleading look toward Gaio.
Rin sat ramrod straight, her ice-blue eyes fixed on the polished floor, her face unreadable. Only the slight tightening of her lips betrayed a hint of unease.
The silence wrapped around the room like invisible vines.
After what felt like forever, Marin finally mustered the courage to speak, her voice tentative and cautious. "Rin-chan… did you… hear what we were saying just now?"
Rin looked up, her gaze steady as it met Marin's face. She gave a barely perceptible nod. "Yeah." One word, short and sharp, but it sent Marin's heart leaping into her throat.
"Uh… um…" Marin froze, her face practically screaming "What do I do now?"
Instinctively, she nudged Gaio's elbow on the sofa beside her.
Gaio, as if only now noticing the tension, lazily lifted his eyes from his phone.
Catching his girlfriend's desperate "Help me!" expression, he let out a nearly inaudible sigh, his eyes flashing with a hint of "Didn't you say you'd handle this?"
He set his phone down, resting his hands on his knees, and turned his gaze to Rin.
"Miss Tohsaka," he began, his voice as calm as ever, "since you overheard me and Marin, I'd like to know what you're thinking."
His tone was so casual it was like he was asking if she wanted another cup of tea, yet he deftly tossed the ball back into Rin's court.
Marin immediately latched onto his lead, nodding eagerly like a chick pecking at grain. "Yeah, yeah! Rin-chan, what do you think? Just treat this place like a… a pit stop! Don't overthink it! Gaio-kun's cool with it too!" She shot Gaio a quick look for confirmation.
Gaio gave Rin a small nod, reaffirming his stance.
Rin's gaze lingered on the floor for a few seconds. When she looked up, a flicker of resolve passed through her ice-blue eyes.
"I… still want to go back to Fuyuki City," she said softly but firmly. "Not just to visit Mom, but to see my sister too."
Her eyes briefly darted toward Gaio. "And more importantly, there's something crucial I need to take care of."
Gaio knew exactly what she meant—the Holy Grail War.
"Of course, Rin-chan!" Marin jumped in, her eyes sparkling. "You should totally go see your mom!" She suddenly leaned closer, affectionately grabbing Rin's arm. "How about I go with you?"
Gaio nearly choked on his own spit.
Resisting the urge to facepalm, he sighed inwardly: Marin, if you go with Rin to Fuyuki, my whole cool act from our talk on the train is gonna fall apart.
Rin, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion, widened her eyes slightly. "You… want to come with me?"
"Yeah!" Marin nodded excitedly. "I can help you pack, keep you company on the trip, and we can chat to pass the time! Plus, Fuyuki's local snacks are amazing—we could—"
"Marin," Gaio cut in gently, his voice calm but firm. He looked at Rin, adding pointedly, "Miss Tohsaka has some important business to handle. And… some things might not be suitable for outsiders to get involved in."
Marin pouted. "I'm not an outsider! I'm Rin-chan's cousin!"
The corner of Rin's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Her eyes met Gaio's for a brief moment, a silent understanding passing between them.
"Marin-nee," Rin said at last, her tone softening in a rare way, "thanks for the offer. But this time… I need to handle some family matters on my own."
Marin's shoulders slumped, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair. "I just don't want you getting picked on when you're there alone. Last time we saw your mom, the Tohsaka family wasn't exactly… welcoming."
Her voice trailed off, but then she perked up, looking at Rin. "If Gaio-kun and I were there, at least you'd have some backup!"
Rin's ice-blue eyes flickered with a trace of warmth. "Thanks, Marin-nee," she said, her voice softer than usual. "But I'll manage."
Marin, defeated by Rin's insistence, let her shoulders sag further. "Fine, fine…"
Then, as if remembering something, she added, "What about… the guardian thing?"
Rin didn't respond right away. Her eyes lowered, and the living room fell so quiet you could hear the hum of the air conditioner. The awkward atmosphere crept back in.
Marin couldn't sit still any longer. She shifted on the sofa, shooting Gaio another silent plea for help.
Catching her signal, Gaio sighed almost imperceptibly and uncrossed his legs.
Looking at Rin, his tone was calm but carried an undeniable weight. "Miss Tohsaka, about the guardian thing—don't keep brushing Marin off."
He paused, glancing at his girlfriend. "She's genuinely worried about you."
Marin nodded vigorously, like she'd found her lifeline. "Exactly, Rin-chan!"
Trying to lighten the mood, she puffed out her chest with a hint of pride. "Don't overthink it! Your big sis Marin's got money now!"
Rin looked up, her gaze settling on Marin's earnest, eager face, then shifting to Gaio's calm but supportive expression.
Deep in her eyes, a flicker of conflict passed.
It wasn't that Rin didn't want to accept their kindness.
Marin's pure concern felt like warm sunlight on a winter day, stirring a bittersweet warmth in her cold heart.
She could even sense the quiet support in Gaio's gaze—he genuinely wanted Marin's wish to come true.
But that very warmth made her hesitate.
The Tohsaka family… the Holy Grail War… her father's mysterious death… these heavy burdens were like invisible chains binding her fate.
She stood at the center of a storm, and no matter how calm she appeared, turbulent currents raged beneath the surface.
She couldn't predict when or how the next danger would strike. She didn't want—couldn't—drag Marin into a quagmire that could swallow lives whole.
And then there was…
Her gaze flicked toward Gaio.
There was something contradictory about him—a dangerous edge mixed with an almost startling calm around Marin.
She could tell he was sharp. He might not know the specifics, but he'd definitely picked up on the "trouble" tied to her.
His earlier comment about "not suitable for outsiders" wasn't just for Marin—it was a subtle warning to Rin. He didn't want Marin caught up in her mess. He just wanted to protect the peaceful life he shared with her.
Going back to Fuyuki wasn't just about visiting her mother's resting place or seeing her sister.
Most crucially, she was Rin Tohsaka—a mage, the daughter of the former Tohsaka head, destined to step onto a battlefield.
She had to uncover the truth behind her father's death, no matter the cost.
Letting Marin become her guardian? That would be like painting a giant target on her back.
"Marin-nee…" Rin's voice came out slightly hoarse.
"Oh, come on, Rin-chan!" Marin, sensing a rejection coming, got flustered and scooted closer, grabbing Rin's arm and shaking it. "Don't overthink it! It's just one more person looking out for you! Gaio-kun's on board too!" She glanced at Gaio for backup. "Right, Gaio-kun?"
Gaio didn't speak, just looked at Rin.
His gaze was steady, as if seeing through the layers of worry in her eyes.
Unlike Marin's eager pleading, he stayed calm, a quiet pillar of strength.
After a brief silence, he spoke softly but clearly. "Miss Tohsaka, Marin wants to take care of you. That's her heart. As for the rest…"
He closed his eyes for a moment, sighing inwardly: Marin, looks like my cool act's about to get ruined again.
Opening his eyes, a sharp glint flickered in their depths, though his tone remained even, carrying a heavy certainty. "I'll handle it."
Rin's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening slightly.
"Handle it?" The words echoed in her mind like a thunderclap.
Was he seriously… going to do what he'd jokingly said on the train? Dismantle the Holy Grail?
The absurd yet jarring thought hit her hard.
The quiet confidence in his voice made her feel, once again, an almost otherworldly pressure.
But she quickly suppressed the shock, keeping her face composed.
She couldn't agree. Fuyuki was a battlefield, and the Holy Grail War was a deadly game. Even she wasn't sure she'd come out unscathed.
She couldn't let Marin become a target just because of a "guardian" title.
Looking into Marin's hopeful, anxious, slightly aggrieved eyes, Rin swallowed the refusal on the tip of her tongue, opting for a compromise instead. "Marin-nee," she said gently, "give me a little time, okay?"
She paused, her gaze flicking to Gaio's calm yet deep eyes before settling back on Marin. "After I come back from Fuyuki, alright?"
Marin's bright expression dimmed instantly, like a deflated balloon. Her shoulders slumped, and she pouted, muttering, "Still gotta wait…"
Gaio reached out, gently ruffling her soft blonde hair, his voice back to its usual warmth. "Come on, Marin. Respect Miss Tohsaka's decision."
Marin, still a bit sulky, softened at his touch. She looked up at Rin, her eyes reluctant but accepting. "Fine… Rin-chan, we'll handle the paperwork when you're back!"
"Mm," Rin replied softly, her tense heartstrings easing slightly at Marin's pure concern.
A faint sound of a door closing came from upstairs, and the living room fell completely silent.
Gaio leaned back in his sofa, legs still crossed, posture unchanged. His phone screen's glow lit his calm face as his thumb swiped quickly, seemingly handling messages.
Soon, light footsteps came from the staircase. Marin appeared at the living room entrance, her usual bounce absent, her steps heavy with lingering frustration.
Her eyes locked onto Gaio on the sofa. In a few quick strides, she rushed over and threw herself into his arms.
"Ugh…" Burying her face in his chest, she pouted dramatically, her voice muffled with a hint of grievance.
Gaio's lips curved slightly. He set his phone down, one arm wrapping naturally around her while the other gently stroked her smooth blonde hair.
"Still upset?" His voice was low and gentle.
Her head nodded vigorously against his chest. "I'm just worried about Rin-chan…"
She nuzzled closer, lifting her face, her big eyes filled with sincerity and concern. "You don't know how close I am with Rin-chan. When we were kids, whenever she came to our house, I was the one who played with her."
Adjusting her position to lean against his shoulder, she started counting on her fingers. "She was so shy when she first showed up, so I dragged her to read my manga, braided her hair, took her to the convenience store for ice cream… She didn't talk much, but I know she remembered it all."
Gaio listened quietly, his fingers gently running through her hair.
"Once we got close, she'd smile sometimes—so pretty." Marin's voice softened with nostalgia. "She's had it rough… Gaio-kun, do you think the Tohsaka family will give her a hard time when she goes back?"
She sighed, her brow furrowing. "I know Rin-chan's got some secrets she's not telling. Ugh, I met her dad a few times before. He seemed kind, but… there was always something mysterious about him, like you couldn't quite figure him out."
She deflated further, her arms tightening around Gaio's waist as if drawing strength from him or trying to pour out her worries for her cousin.
Gaio held her close, his chin brushing her head lightly, his tone soothing. "Don't worry too much. Rin's tougher than you think."
Marin nuzzled his chest again, mumbling, "I can't help it…"
Gaio chuckled silently, saying nothing, just patting her back gently.
His phone screen lit up with a buzz. He picked it up, glanced at it, and the curve of his lips deepened.
"Marin," he said, his chin brushing her hair again, "I've got a new concert lined up."
"A new show?" Marin looked up, her earlier gloom replaced by curiosity, her eyes blinking at him.
Gaio nodded, turning his phone screen toward her.
It was a message from his manager, Yayoi Shinotsuka, short and to the point:
"Gaio-kun, new venue confirmed. Fuyuki City Sports Arena."
"Fuyuki… Sports Arena?" Marin read slowly, her eyes lighting up like they'd been plugged into a socket. She perked up instantly.
Her earlier worries vanished, replaced by pure excitement.
She snatched his phone, double-checking the message. "Fuyuki City for real? You're holding a concert in Fuyuki?!"
"Yep." Gaio looked at her beaming face, his smile growing warmer.
"Woo!" Marin let out a cheer, jumping out of his arms and spinning in place, her blonde hair flying. "That's awesome! So cool!"
Her cheer barely faded before she dove back into his arms like a homing bird, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling like they held crushed starlight, fixed on him without blinking.
She got it. She understood in a flash.
This wasn't some random new gig. Her boyfriend had seen her worry, her disappointment, and arranged this just for her!
He'd had his manager add a concert in Fuyuki so she could go along openly, under the guise of work, and rightfully set foot in Fuyuki to fulfill her wish to help Rin-chan.
The gesture was quiet but burned with meaning.
"Boyfriend-kun…" Her voice was sweet as honey, soft and tender with a rare charm, her eyes brimming with unfiltered love and gratitude. "Thank you."
Gaio looked into her radiant eyes, his lips curving up. He ruffled her hair naturally, his voice low and teasing. "No need to thank me, girlfriend-chan."
Marin's heart swelled with happiness. Giggling, she leaned up and planted a quick, loud kiss on his lips.
Then, like a cat who'd gotten away with stealing a treat, she buried her flushed face in the crook of his neck, her warm breath grazing his ear. Her voice dropped to a playful, slightly suggestive whisper. "So… there's a bathroom upstairs, and Rin-chan probably won't come down…"
Her soft fingertips traced absent circles on his chest. "To save water and protect the planet… Boyfriend-kun," she paused, her breath teasing his sensitive earlobe with a sweet hint, "wanna take a bath together later?"