Chapter 22

December 24, 2003.

Another Christmas Eve has arrived.

The Emiya Household.

In the living room, just like every year, Taiga, dressed as Santa Claus, was already drunk and drowsy, lying on the low table and almost falling asleep.

"Fuji-nee, if you're going to sleep, go to bed. You'll catch a cold sleeping here," Shirou said, exasperated, as he approached with a blanket.

"I told you not to drink so much, but you never listen."

"I am not drunk!"

"With that stench of alcohol, it's hard to believe you."

"Shirou, did you just call me smelly... how rude!"

"Don't lunge at me!"

Watching the chaotic scene between Shirou and Taiga, Sakura, who had been sitting quietly at the table, couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

Seeing Taiga asleep on the floor with a blanket over her, Shirou gave Sakura a somewhat helpless smile.

"Sorry, Sakura, for showing you this side of Fuji-nee."

"It's okay," Sakura shook her head, "It's very different from my home, but I kind of like it."

Hearing this, Shirou scratched his head awkwardly and smiled. "Well, normally we shouldn't pry into each other's family matters, but Sakura, about your family situation with Shinji..."

Before he could finish, Shirou noticed a complicated emotion in Sakura's eyes and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to."

Sakura shook her head without saying anything, just staring at the white teddy bear on the table—a gift sent from Tokyo.

"But Shinji never forgets to send Christmas and birthday presents. Maybe he just can't bring himself to show his feelings in front of his sister," Shirou continued.

Sakura still didn't respond.

Seeing that Sakura didn't want to continue the conversation, Shirou changed the topic, "By the way, Shinji, what's he doing now..."

Before he could finish, the news broadcast on the television caught his attention.

"Two months after his debut, the mysterious singer 'Ni' won the Newcomer Award with his first album and gained countless fans. However, at the release of his second album, he suddenly announced that he refused all awards and claimed that his songs were all plagiarized. He even declared that he would retire from the music industry.

"This announcement immediately sparked outrage and discussion among fans.

"However, Ni did not specify who he had plagiarized from, and no one has come forward to accuse him of plagiarism.

"Moreover, fans who compared Ni's songs and lyrics found no signs of plagiarism or borrowing.

"This incident has been fermenting for a month, and the truth about Ni's plagiarism claim remains unknown.

"Additionally, Ni, who wore a mask at the press conference, left fans puzzled when he said he wanted to 'try being Ni' in the future."

Watching the masked singer 'Ni' at the press conference on TV, Shirou shook his head helplessly.

"Maybe it was just a fleeting interest. But he's really something, managing to do all this on a whim."

"Yes, my brother is truly amazing," Sakura replied softly, looking down.

"But since the news says so, Shinji should be back by now, right? After all, that press conference was a month ago."

Sakura shook her head.

"Has he found a new interest? What does he mean by 'try being Ni'?"

"I don't know."

Sakura looked at the TV, which had already moved on to the next news segment.

"A locked room murder case that occurred in Tokyo's Shinjuku district at 5:10 PM today has been solved, and the suspect has been arrested by the police.

"It is said that a 17-year-old high school student assisted the police in solving the case.

"Furthermore, according to police sources, this is the eighth case solved by this high school student this month."

"Um," Shirou looked at Sakura and asked tentatively, "Could this high school detective be..."

"Probably my brother," Sakura replied.

Shirou: What can't my friend do?

"Ah~" Shirou sighed, leaning back and supporting himself with his hands on the floor. "Shinji is really a genius. Honestly, I've never seen him fail."

Suddenly, Sakura remembered the small figure struggling against the rushing river, refusing to give up. She brushed a strand of hair aside.

Pride, focus, effort, determination, perseverance—these were qualities her brother possessed, and she aspired to have them too.

"There's one piece of cake left. I hope it doesn't go bad," Shirou said as he got up and took the remaining cake from the table, walking slowly to the fridge.

"If Shinji were here, at least it wouldn't go to waste."

"My brother doesn't like sweets."

"Huh?" Shirou said, puzzled, as he put the cake in the fridge. "Shinji never mentioned that."

"Maybe it's not something worth mentioning."

"Really," Shirou said, closing the fridge door with a helpless look. "That guy once fought me over pudding. I didn't think he'd hate sweets. Shinji is really a strange guy."

Sakura didn't mind Shirou's mention of Shinji fighting over pudding, assuming her brother was just playing around.

At 11 PM, Fuyuki City's Shinto train station.

Just stepping out of the station with his luggage, Shinji looked at the heavy snow and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of the familiar cold air.

But before he could even sigh and say he was back, he saw Rin standing about ten meters away, staring at him in shock with earphones on and a CD player in hand.

Such a small world!

Setting materials really can't be trusted. Didn't they say Tohsaka Rin can't use machines? Shinji thought to himself.

Shinji didn't know how long it took Rin and how many times she asked the CD player store clerk to barely learn how to use the simplest CD player. She couldn't even switch songs yet.

"It's only been a few months, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" Shinji said, annoyed, but before he could take a step, Rin stopped him.

"Stop right there!!"

"You're acting weird."

"Just don't come any closer!"

"Although our relationship isn't great, your attitude is surprisingly infuriating," Shinji said, expressionless.

Oh no! Rin panicked. The reason for her panic was that the CD in her CD player was one of his.

If he found out she bought his CD, he'd definitely mock her!

Thinking this, Rin silently took a few steps back.

"Anyway, let's pretend we didn't see each other today!"

Seeing Rin's flushed face as she said this, Shinji sighed after a long silence and turned around.

"Whatever, I'm too tired from the long train ride to argue with you." He waved his hand. "Goodbye, and Merry Christmas."

Huh? He's leaving just like that? Rin was surprised, and after a while, she reluctantly and softly replied...

"Ah... Merry Christmas..."