Chapter 278

Early morning, at the shopping street of Fuyuki City.

After going through the newly emerged memories and convincing himself to accept them, Shinji felt much more at ease.

At least, that sense of discomfort was no longer as strong.

"Go with the flow and accept what's added" was the little life lesson Shinji had just learned that morning.

As long as he didn't run into Shirou and the others, there wouldn't be...

Seeing Shinji suddenly stop in his tracks, young Saber looked up at him, puzzled. "Shinji, what's wrong?"

"I've just realized something very important—lolis are really amazing... No, I mean, one should never deceive oneself! That's absolutely wrong!"

"Yes, yes, I agree."

Young Saber nodded.

At that moment, Shirou, who was also out shopping with Saber, noticed Shinji and young Saber. Smiling, he walked over to greet them.

"Morning, Shinji. And..."

Shirou looked down at the young Saber, who was about the same age as Illya and Miyu. "Saber-chan."

"Morning." Saber-chan nodded in greeting.

Seeing Shirou casually greeting Saber-chan without any sense of incongruity, Shinji was genuinely shocked.

He never thought that the combination of the Jewel Sword and his ring would be so powerful that even Shirou wouldn't notice anything amiss!

Do you really not feel that something is off?

Dude, you've got another Saber right behind you!

Two Sabers? Seriously, no sense of incongruity at all?

Just as Shinji finished his internal rant, he suddenly noticed Saber behind Shirou frowning. His heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, Saber has sensed something is wrong!

"Shirou, there's a wonderful smell coming from over there. What could it be..."

Seeing Saber pointing somewhere and asking such a question, Shinji almost burst out laughing.

Are you that clueless, Saber?

"Oh, I think it's a new Chinese snack shop."

As soon as Shirou said that, he noticed Saber swallowing.

"Saber?"

Shirou smiled awkwardly, trying to get the now-distracted Saber back on track, but it didn't seem to work.

Saber turned back, pointing at the new snack shop across the street, and seriously said, "Shirou, I see a sign offering free samples for the grand opening."

"Sigh~"

Shirou sighed, muttering, "This is why I didn't want to bring you along. If we go, the newly opened shop might go bankrupt..."

Before he could finish, Shirou realized that Saber, who had been behind him, had disappeared! He found her at the entrance of the snack shop!

Realizing he had to stop Saber from turning the free sample event into a charity, Shirou quickly bid Shinji goodbye and rushed over to Saber.

Watching this pair of Master and Servant, Shinji sighed.

No more complaints. For now, he could pass off the fact that he had temporarily acquired a loli, just like many other Shirous.

"Let's go, Saber."

Just as Shinji was about to take a step, he realized that young Saber, who had been beside him, had also disappeared!

Looking around, he saw her at the snack shop as well.

Seeing the friendly middle-aged shopkeeper inviting passersby to try the samples, Shinji couldn't help but think of him as a philanthropist.

...

On the way back, young Saber was still upset about Shinji dragging her away.

"Why did you do that, Shinji!"

"If we didn't leave, the shopkeeper's face would have turned green!" Shinji retorted, sighing, and handed her a credit card. "You can go back and buy food when they officially open. Use this."

"That's acceptable."

Saber nodded, putting the credit card into her small pocket. She knew that with this, she could buy almost anything!

At this point, Shinji, who felt he needed to ask, finally voiced his curiosity.

"By the way, Saber, don't you think something's off? Like what just happened..."

"What?" Saber looked confused, then concerned. "Shinji, you've been acting strange since this morning. What's going on?"

"It's nothing. But if you all don't feel something's wrong, then never mind. After all, I'm someone who can adapt quickly."

Seeing Shinji's thoughtful look, young Saber, not knowing what he was thinking, simply nodded without saying more.

After all, her Master had always been like this. Even after the Holy Grail War, he went on two trips, bringing back a Holy Grail once, but not telling her about the second trip. Not even Sakura knew!

Since Shinji's task for her was always to protect Sakura, Saber sometimes wondered if Shinji didn't trust her abilities.

"Shinji, although I don't want to say this, it's better not to underestimate me! Remember, even though it was an incomplete summoning, I am still your Servant!"

"Huh?"

Shinji blinked, not understanding what the small, ahoge-laden Saber was saying, but he didn't dig into his memories for answers. After all, doing so might ruin the sense of novelty.

Novelty is the most important thing in these matters!

"Alright, I got it," Shinji said, waving his hand dismissively, which only made Saber more annoyed. Before she could say anything, Shinji spoke again.

"By the way, do you still need breakfast? You ate a lot of snacks just now."

"No problem. Snacks go into a different stomach!"

Shinji: ...

Meanwhile, Shirou, who had a similar experience, left the market with Saber reluctantly glancing back at the snack shop.

After taking a few steps, Shirou suddenly felt a slight sense of incongruity and stopped.

"Hmm? Saber-chan?"

Seeing Shirou deep in thought, Saber quickly asked, "Shirou, what's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. Let's go home."

Unable to figure out what was wrong, Shirou gave up thinking.

Saber-chan is Shinji's Servant. Saber is my Servant. Yes, that's it!

No problem at all!

...

Standing in front of his luxurious mansion with groceries, Shinji looked at Sakura, who had just stepped out of a taxi after a few months and seemed a bit rounder, along with the now-submissive Rider in her summer outfit.

It's confirmed. Sakura must have placed some spies!

The moment she found out there was a cute little girl with me, she instantly teleported back!

That's just too fast!

"Brother～～!"

Sakura's tearful cry as she reunited with Shinji dispelled any doubts he had. Dropping the grocery bags, he went up to greet her with a heartfelt sigh.

This road is steep and easy to trip on, I must... Ahem! I must welcome her!

"Sakura!"

Opening his arms, Shinji prepared to comfort her, but...

"Brother, you're finally back."

Seeing Sakura stop in front of him, wiping her tears, Shinji awkwardly retracted his arms, scratching his head.

"Yes, long time no see, Sakura."

He smiled sheepishly, feeling a bit bewildered.

Is she doing this on purpose?

She must be! Seeing me open my arms, she intentionally avoided it? Am I being led around by my little sister?

"Master..." Rider, who had silently followed, adjusted her glasses and spoke, then looked at young Saber with hostility.

Identity doesn't matter, age doesn't matter. Rider only knew that this new addition was not only small but also cute—a tricky enemy!

Watching Shinji chat with Sakura, Rider felt wronged. What happened to what he said on the ship?

Didn't he say she was cute too?

So why bring back such an adorably cute little girl?

Matou Shinji, I really misjudged you! I thought you were different from those who prefer lolis!

On the other hand, young Saber looked at her colleague Rider with a bit of displeasure.

Why? Because Rider often found chances to be alone with Shinji, even though she came later! Even her Servant position was granted by their Master!

"Brother, who is this child..."

Since Sakura and Rider weren't in Fuyuki during the Jewel Sword incident, they didn't have the alternative memory.

"Sakura, what are you talking about?" Saber-chan looked puzzled.

Just as a typical "Who are you, I don't know you but you know me" conversation was about to unfold, Shinji quickly intervened.

"Wait, we can talk later. Let's eat first."

...

During breakfast, Rider, wearing a belly-exposing maid outfit chosen by who knows whom, kept her eyes locked on the young Saber who was heartily eating.

Though she occasionally sent Shinji meaningful glances, they were completely ignored.

"…That's how it is, got it?"

"Yes, I understand now."

Sakura hesitantly nodded, then looked at Saber-chan, who was engrossed in her food, and analyzed, "So, the incident caused another possible reality to manifest, meaning there's a possibility where Brother summoned Saber. Everyone in the city is affected, but Rider and I weren't because we were traveling."

"Yes..."

Rider nodded slightly. "I do feel a bit of incongruity. Since earlier, it feels like something is trying to alter my memory."

"The runaway has stopped. Now it's just residual effects. Judging by the remaining laws I sensed, it should disappear in three days."

Hearing this, Rider secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it's only three days, this Saber wouldn't be a troublesome enemy.

Just three days, I can endure!

"Really?" Sakura looked a bit disappointed. "So Saber-chan will disappear in three days?"

"No, I meant the residual laws will disappear completely. The affected reality won't change."

Hearing this, Rider's relief turned to tension. This little ahoge loli might turn me into a losing childhood friend!

"Anyway, my current abilities aren't enough. I can forcibly erase memories around me, but I can't completely remove the runaway's effects. It's already part of reality."

Feeling trapped by Shinji's words, Rider clenched her fist under the table, wishing she could use her Noble Phantasm to send Saber away.

What a mess!

"So, you all need to get along for a while. But I guess you two won't feel any incongruity by tomorrow, as the law fragments haven't fully disappeared."

"No, I won't be affected by that!"

Rider calmly declared, not showing any of her internal frustration.

Unfazed by Rider's bravado, Shinji shrugged. Even he was affected, so there's no way Rider could escape it.

At that moment, Saber-chan looked up from her meal.

"Another bowl, please!"

...

With the maids back home, Shinji finally enjoyed a worry-free summer morning.

A cold drink, a copy of Jump.

In the large backyard, by the pool, under the parasol.

Wearing only pink swim trunks with anime girls printed on them, Shinji put down his drink and flipped through the latest issue of Jump.

Sakura had tackled Rider in the pool, and in the latest issue of Jump, Naruto was catching up to Sasuke—both scenes were intense.

In the manga, Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails' power, making it hard for Sasuke to handle, probably drinking a lot of water.

In reality, while not as grand in scale, Sakura was dominating Rider in the pool.

Under his sunglasses, Shinji scored them both 85 out of 100, proud of being a good person.

Otherwise, how could these two be so well-fed and healthy?

That's all thanks to me!

"Shinji..."

Hearing Saber-chan's voice, Shinji turned to look.

Seeing her wearing a white one-piece school swimsuit and carrying a float ring, he silently cursed himself… No, he cursed Kishimoto.

How could you stop at such an intense moment!

Sasuke was about to power up, and you stopped drawing!

The one-piece swimsuit is perfect!

Setting down Jump, Shinji cleared his throat. "Cough, haven't learned to swim yet, Saber?"

"Almost there, Shinji. Didn't you say you'd teach me when you came back?"

Damn! What a bastard!

Shinji cursed his alternate self.

Could someone who says that be me?

No way! I'd never say something like that!

Setting aside any moral dilemmas, mainly… this feels a bit criminal, bro!

Seeing Saber-chan's excited red face, Shinji decided to give in to his alternate self.

I'm just cleaning up after another version of me in this world!

But just as Shinji was about to get up and teach Saber-chan to swim, Sakura's voice called out.

"Saber-chan, can't swim yet? Come here, I'll teach you."

"Thank you! Sakura!"

Shinji: ...