How Can I Give Up?

"Homura, what's your plan?"

Eriri asked while looking at Homura, who was about to take action.

"Don't ask..." Homura shook his head. "I need to prepare some stuff."

Upon hearing this, Eriri and the others started to worry.

Was he really going to take a tough approach?

"Homura-kun, don't make us worry..." Megumi said while staring at Homura intensely.

"Okay, okay..." Homura sighed resignedly. "I admit, besides sneaking her out, I really have no other way."

"What? Isn't there surveillance in her house?" Elf asked, looking puzzled.

"Exactly, that's why I need to prepare some stuff." Homura replied. "Otherwise, if it's just sneaking in, I could manage that alone."

"You know, it's not just any family, but the Shinomiya family..." Utaha chimed in with furrowed brows. "Homura-kun, if you get caught, it won't end well."

"That's right!" Nanami exclaimed, looking anxious. "I think the consequences are too serious. Homura-kun, just give up, please..."

"Hahh... this is why I didn't want to tell you..." Homura sighed again. "Nanami, have you thought about what would happen if I gave up? How Kaguya would react?"

"She..." Nanami couldn't answer.

"On one hand, she might not care, but on the other hand… I could lose Kaguya's trust completely."

Homura explained with a serene expression.

"Given how she was raised by her family, it wouldn't be surprising if she stopped believing in friendship altogether..."

At this point, he chuckled in a self-deprecating way.

"Kaguya's father couldn't fully change her, but it's likely that my giving up would completely change her."

"Knowing this... how can I give up?"

Homura sighed again before continuing.

"Anyway, don't worry too much. You know my capabilities. As long as I dress inconspicuously, no one can notice me."

"In that case, please bring her back with you, Homura-kun." Megumi said with a gentle smile.

"Megumi… you're on board now?" Eriri asked, looking at Megumi with a complex expression.

"Well, we can only support Homura-kun, no?" Megumi gently shook her head. "Because Homura-kun... would never give up on any of us, right, Homura-kun?"

Apparently, her words had a double meaning.

Homura understood, and maybe Eriri and Utaha did too.

'Perhaps Megumi's question was also the one they had wanted to ask for a long time, but it was finally asked today... Anyway, hadn't this already been decided? Once they asked, I won't lie about it!'

As Homura thought this, he smiled and nodded firmly.

"Yeah! I won't give up on any of you!"

As the girls heard his answer filled with determination, their emotions were truly complex—a mix of relief and conflict.

Some genuinely thought he was only talking about not giving up on Kaguya, while others who understood the hidden meaning felt genuinely conflicted.

Even though it might seem like he was greedy, wanting all of them, they couldn't help but wonder: if Kaguya was truly abandoned by him today, would they be abandoned by him too if someday they encountered the same situation as Kaguya?

As a result, amidst the conflict, there was a subtle sigh of relief after they heard Homura's answer—it all seemed particularly contradictory.

However, since it was already like this, no one would let him have his way easily.

As for what would happen in the future, who knew?

In their worry and anticipation, Homura finally set off with Haru.

===

"Little one, do you think what I'm doing is really the right thing?"

On the way, Homura asked Haru while stroking her back.

"Is it about what you just said?"

Haru looked up at Homura and asked curiously.

Although she couldn't understand the words of anyone besides Homura, she grasped the gist based on what he said. 

He was planning to sneak someone out, and it would be best not to be detected!

"Yeah, I know it's not the best thing to do, but I can't stand seeing my friend stuck in that kind of situation..." Homura said in a complicated tone.

Haru raised her paw, pressing it against Homura's chest.

"Why hesitate? Just do what you think is right! For me, family is the most important thing! And for you, your friends are equally important, right?"

"Yeah... you're right..."

Homura smiled and rubbed Haru's head.

"You and my friends are the most important to me."

After saying this, Homura immediately nuzzled the adorable Haru against his neck and had to admit he truly loved this cat—meeting her was truly a wonderful thing.

At the same time, a sense of pride lingered on Haru's face.

Later, Homura purchased some items, saving them for tomorrow's use.

After another stroll with Haru, they headed back home.

===

"Homura, what did you buy?"

Elf asked while curiously leaning in, peeking inside a big bag in Homura's hand.

"Just some ordinary stuff."

Replying casually, Homura quickly pulled out a laptop and handed the bag to Elf.

Without wasting any more time, Homura started creating a new program on the laptop, lost in his own world.

As Elf looked at the inside of the bag, her eyes twitched.

""It's totally just ordinary stuff!""

Eriri and the others who had just come over to peek inside the bag couldn't help but exclaim in incredulity.

"Yeah, didn't I say that already?" Homura said casually while fiddling with his laptop. "I told you it's just ordinary stuff, right?"

"All of these don't seem useful though..." Elf remarked hesitantly.

"Well, it's not useful for me but useful for Kaguya."

Upon hearing Homura's words, the girls fell silent for a moment, but remembering his mysterious and exceptional skills, they accepted it.

However, since these items were for Kaguya, then the laptop must be for himself, right?

At this point, they started to figure out Homura's intentions, but imagining it all still seemed pretty ridiculous!

They had to admit that if one needed to do it alone, other than him, probably no one else could do it, considering his multitude of exceptional skills!

If Homura's skills were split among several people, they could definitely form a special ops team!

And so, the girls didn't bother him, and to avoid seeming overly concerned, they proactively went online to check the progress of various players in Fate/stay night.

How should they put it?

With the number of people playing it, eight hours had passed since the game's release, and quite a few players had already finished the game. Although finishing multiple routes was impossible, most of the routes had been explored.

As people on the internet shared their progress, some were excited, while others were amazed.

However, the most talked-about thing was none other than the revelation that King Arthur was actually a female!

Inevitably, this became the most discussed topic.

[Netizen A: Hey, is this arrangement really okay? King Arthur being a chick, I mean.]

[Netizen B: Why wouldn't it be? I mean, people might complain a little, but who cares? Plus, there's no solid proof that King Arthur's even male or female. Minamiya-sensei set it up like this, and honestly, I think it makes it way more interesting, don't you think?]

With this statement, the heat of this topic finally subsided.

However, the second topic about Emiya Shirou and Archer being the same person, surprised everyone as well!

[Netizen A: From now on, Shirou is gonna totally push his limits and challenge those heroic spirits!]

[Netizen B: Wait, how's he even gonna do that as a human? Doesn't that seem kinda unreasonable if he isn't a heroic spirit himself?]

[Netizen C: Yeah, although his personality is meh for some people, his combat skills are seriously impressive. Can't wait for the anime adaptation of this game!]

As Elf's attention was drawn to this topic, she couldn't help but feel excited.

'Well, well, look forward to it! Your expectations are about to come true!'

Elf thought with enthusiasm, unable to wait to see their reaction later.