Chapter 31

A bt 7 a.m., cumulus clouds are neatly arranged in the sky like pure white fish scales. The blazing sun dispelled the coolness of the night, and the streets and alleys put on short-sleeved shirts and shorts.

Wearing casual clothes, Himeko slowly came to the wooden door of a certain house and reached out to the door.

-Knock-

"Come in!"

Through the door, a young and energetic voice came from inside the house. Following a burst of hurried footsteps, a pink-haired girl in home attire opened the door with a click.

"Ah! It's that handsome big sister!"

After hearing the exclamation from inside the house, Himeko's expression instantly eased, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly in a happy arc, and she subconsciously stretched out her hand.

Touching the girl's soft pink hair, he said, "Nice to meet you again, that... it's little Ellie, right? Are you the only one at home?" As soon as her voice fell, another voice came from the depths of the house.

Then came a boy in an apron.

"Ellie, who's here...? Tsk—"

There was an undisguised and disgusted click of the tongue.

Hearing the clicking sound, Himeko's face scrunched, and she rolled her eyes at the boy.

"Say kid, aren't you a bit too rude? I came here especially to see you, even though it was unannounced, so it's fine if you don't welcome my visit, but don't just respond to my kindness with a 'tsk'?"

"I don't remember myself ever welcoming an adult who would inexplicably show hostility towards children." Emiya Shirou shook his hands, put his hands on his chest, and put on a clear gesture of resistance to Himeko

"So, why are you here? If I remember correctly, don't you still have work to do? You left your subordinates alone and run to the home of two children who you have only known for a day—a qualified captain shouldn't have such irresponsible behavior, should they?"

Himeko smiled bitterly: "Do you still remember what happened yesterday? I didn't really do anything to you two. Is it necessary to hold grudges from yesterday to now? Even though I helped you get back to this small town. Can't you forget about that small amount of unpleasantness? You are a man anyway, so you shouldn't be so narrow-minded, right?"

"Even without your help the two of us alone can get back home, even if we have to walk it won't take too much time." Emiya Shirou snorted mercilessly

"In the final analysis, even if we really can't return to the town after that, Isn't it the fault of you people who didn't give any advance notice before the town was locked down?"

"..." Himeko was left speechless

Being choked by a child's words she couldn't help but feel a little headache, she had a helpless expression on her face as she sighed softly and shook her head: "A boy who is too fussy will not be welcomed by girls."

Shirou Emiya looked disgusted: "You are more than twenty years old while being single and you're trying to teach me how to please girls? Forget it, I am not going to find someone older than me as an emotional support."

"Hey! Brat, you are overdoing it!" Himeko glared at Emiya Shirou, and said angrily, "Can you not attack me personally? I see that you are very caring to your sister so why do you talk to me like that?"

"The smell of prejudice is so strong! Have I offended you? Also! Why do you insist that I have never had a boyfriend!"

"Then have you ever had a boyfriend?" Emiya Shirou raised his eyes with indifferent eyes.

"I..."

Himeko was at a loss for words and her rapidly changing face looked extremely frustrated. She looked at Emiya Shirou's complex eyes which were mixed with indifference, confidence, and a little bit of sympathy, and suddenly felt the desire to act on her impulsive thoughts.

She began to regret her decision to come and visit this thorny child. Compared to confronting this boy who is cruel and truthful, she would rather go back to the intersection and be with her team members and bask in the sun.

"Besides, even if you really are popular it has nothing to do with me." Emiya Shirou shrugged, "Compared to you, my Ellie is much cuter."

"..." Elysia's face flushed slightly as she lowered her head and pressed her hands against her lower abdomen which was wringing uneasily.

"Okay, okay, I know you children have deep feelings for each other." Himeko put on an unbearable expression and suddenly moved the tip of her nose as her expression became a little puzzled

"Hey, what's that smell?"

Emiya Shirou's body froze for a moment

He didn't look at the expressions of Himeko or even Elysia as he turned around without saying a word and rushed towards the kitchen in a hurry.

The breakfast being cooked on the stove was burnt.

—Just like that, after about ten minutes of jumping around.

"Thanks for the food."

"Thanks for the food."

"Thanks for the food."

Three voices with the same words but completely different emotions sounded softly from three different directions on the table.

Then, amidst the crisp sound of clanging bowls and chopsticks, two children who were family members, and an adult who came to eat without being announced, quietly entered the rhythm of eating.

Emiya Shirou was not the kind of person who talked a lot

Elysia who was relatively lively would not do such a barbaric and uneducated behavior like talking while eating.

So—in a comfortable and quiet atmosphere, the person who first broke the silence naturally became the only "tasteless adult".

"Oh, I really admire you, brat." Himeko expressed a moved appearance as she marveled at the wonderful encounter she faced this morning

"I never expected that you'd have such skill to cut chicken breasts. Make teriyaki trout, okonomiyaki, spinach salad... oh, there's even miso soup and tempura. I can taste the taste of home in this remote place. Am I dreaming?"

"Hey! Can you not be so rude?" Emiya Shirou quickly raised his bowl to cover himself as the chewed food splashed in front of him. He immediately felt his appetite which was not much at first lowered in an instance

His eyebrows and his eyes kept twitching as he said with fire in his eyes: "I can't bear it if you keep eating on the table."

"So, can you stop talking while eating!?"