Chapter 98

As Shiro felt a pair of cool hands on his forehead, he was momentarily taken aback.

"I-Illya?"

"Alright, don't talk! If you resist too much, something else might slip in!"

Illya adopted a rare serious expression, giving a stern warning to both boys as she glanced at Shinji, who appeared to understand. "If that happens, it will be very troublesome to fix!"

Momentarily intimidated by the serious little girl in front of him, Shiro lost his composure.

"Uh… okay."

Unlike Shiro, who was clueless, Shinji already knew what Illya was planning to do—transfer their consciousness or vision.

For Shinji, this was a rare opportunity to learn about a topic that intrigued him about this world.

—The differences and relationships between consciousness, soul, and spirit.

This was one of the most puzzling aspects for Shinji, and he had found no useful clues even after going through all his family's books.

"First, close your eyes..."

Hearing this, both Shinji and Shiro obediently closed their eyes.

Illya chuckled softly as she watched the two boys before her, then leaned their heads together and rested her own against them, closing her eyes.

"Whatever you do, don't look around, okay? This is my first time transferring two people's vision at the same time..."

Three minutes later, Illya looked puzzled as Shiro sat with his head down, face flushed, and a somewhat uncomfortable posture.

"What's wrong, Shiro?"

"N-nothing..."

Shiro scratched his cheek with his finger, avoiding eye contact.

In contrast, Shinji propped his chin on his hand, looking composed and even somewhat reflective, as if he had seen something intriguing. Which, of course, he had—

For example, a steam-filled bathroom and the Einzbern family's cups.

At the same time, Shinji began to wonder.

Why, despite the same mold, was there such a significant difference in size?

And they could float on water?

How perplexing.

Illya grew more curious about their reactions and closed her eyes to use the transfer on herself.

A minute later, Shiro could only turn his head away in silence as Illya stood before them, hands on her hips, face red and panting.

It's not my fault...

Don't blame me, Illya. I didn't mean to see it!

It was just unfortunate timing!

"Shiro—! H—!!"

Hearing Illya's accusation, Shiro hurriedly tried to explain, face reddening. "Wait, Illya! Don't yell! I was just..."

...

In essence, this transfer was just a partial shift of consciousness or vision to another location.

First, it moved to a tree in the forest, then to a steamy bathroom wall in the Einzbern castle.

Transferring another's consciousness had a very low success rate, but because the forest and castle were owned by the caster and because Shinji and Shiro didn't resist, it worked.

"I swear I didn't do it on purpose, Illya!"

"Hmph! Shiro, H!"

"Please, don't say that, Illya... And it's not like I was the only one who saw it. Shinji also..."

Shinji shook his head solemnly. "No, Emiya, I'm sure we focused on different things. If you don't believe me, you say what you noticed, and I'll say mine. They won't be the same!"

Shiro didn't answer, glaring at Shinji with embarrassment. He wasn't about to fall into this trap.

"Then you say what you noticed first!" Shiro countered.

"I'm a bit nearsighted. It was all foggy. I couldn't see clearly. How about we try it again?"

Shiro: ...

...

Shinji was the first to leave.

Not for any particular reason, but because a certain golden-haired passerby had been glancing at the three of them occasionally, making it hard for him to focus on the conversation.

Shinji also noticed Gilgamesh's clear disdain for Illya, which was obvious in his gaze.

After Shinji left, Gilgamesh, hands in pockets, followed. Before leaving, he glanced at Shiro and Illya.

"Is that... a friend of Shinji's?"

Shiro watched Gilgamesh's retreating figure, puzzled.

"Maybe..." Illya blinked, feeling something off about the handsome blond man but unable to pinpoint it.

"Let's not worry about that. Shiro, have you decided? About teaming up to fight Caster?"

Seeing Illya leaning forward with eager anticipation, Shiro found it hard to refuse but equally hard to involve her. He was conflicted.

After nearly two minutes of thought, Shiro found a temporary solution. "Illya, right now I'm teamed up with Tohsaka. Before teaming up with you, I need to get her opinion."

Illya pouted in slight displeasure but felt more determined to find a way in.

...

At 6:30 PM, Sakura walked home with a spring in her step, even humming a little tune, a look of satisfaction she had never shown before.

Shopping with girls her age, being invited to various stores, and meeting new friends in a café to chat about girl things were experiences she had never dared to dream of.

Before reaching home, Sakura saw a familiar figure standing opposite her brother, laughing heartily.

"Though it was tougher than yesterday, it's another victory for me! Hahaha!"

Seeing the blond young man who had often lingered around their house before Zouken's death, Sakura felt a pang of anxiety.

But noticing the cards in the young man's and her brother's hands, her anxiety faded.

—He must have been looking for her brother. Perhaps he was an acquaintance.

Watching Gilgamesh laugh arrogantly, Shinji felt helpless but still nonchalantly handed over his cards.

"I lost."

At that moment, Sakura approached, bowing politely to what she thought was her brother's acquaintance.

As the "mistress" of the Matou house, she had to maintain proper etiquette.

Gilgamesh, noticing Sakura, stopped laughing and gave her a brief glance before taking the cards from Shinji.

"Kid, I'll win next time too. And... I don't dislike those who return misplaced things to their rightful place."

Leaving those cryptic words, Gilgamesh turned and walked away.

"Brother, who was that?"

"Hmm..."

After a moment of thought, Shinji quietly uttered two words.

"...a card buddy."