[Tohsaka Sakura hadn't anticipated her father returning at this hour.]
[After all, this wasn't the first instance of her parents behaving in this manner.]
[Ordinarily, her father should have returned in the afternoon, yet here he was, back home at noon.]
[This was, in fact, quite an unusual occurrence – but Tohsaka Sakura didn't dwell on it.]
[For her, the mere sight of Papa was a source of immense joy.]
"Ghost-san~"
Tohsaka Sakura responded to the voice in her ear.
"Papa's back, I'll chat with you later!"
"Okay."
Having received Mr. Ghost's consent, Tohsaka Sakura, clutching her rabbit plush, emerged from her room.
Upon seeing her father at the far end of the corridor, a radiant smile instantly graced her cheeks.
"Papa~"
"Sakura." Tohsaka Tokiomi noticed his daughter. "Why are you still in your room?"
"Haven't you gotten out of bed yet?"
"No, Papa." Tohsaka Sakura shook her head. "I just popped into my room to grab something."
"Is that so..."
Tohsaka Tokiomi harbored no suspicion towards Tohsaka Sakura's words—in his eyes, his young daughter was incapable of lying.
"Then—"
"Sakura, let's head out."
"Eh?" Tohsaka Sakura blinked her beautiful eyes.
Clutching her rabbit plush, she gazed at her father before her, her face etched with confusion.
"Papa, where are we going?"
"..."
Tohsaka Tokiomi crouched down and gently patted his daughter's head.
"We're going to visit an uncle."
"Oh..." Tohsaka Sakura nodded obediently. "Is it the uncle you mentioned before? I know!"
"Papa, then let's go!"
Observing his daughter's immediate agreement, Tohsaka Tokiomi felt a sharp pang of sorrow in his heart.
For he knew that this journey to the Matou household was far more than a simple "visit."
It was the choice that would ensure the survival of both his daughters.
This was an event that should have transpired several days later.
Yet, the head of the Matou family, Matou Tsuruno, desired to see his daughter today for reasons unknown.
While this sudden request was somewhat peculiar, Tohsaka Tokiomi was acutely aware that he had no room to refuse.
After all—
He was currently the one seeking a favor; a more sincere attitude was naturally required.
"Hmm." Tohsaka Tokiomi ruffled his daughter's hair, forcing a strained smile.
"Let's go."
[You followed Tohsaka Sakura as she left the mansion.]
[A car was parked just outside the entrance.]
[An elegantly dressed woman was seated in the passenger seat.]
[You realized that this was Tohsaka Sakura's mother—and indeed, it was.]
"Mama~"
The moment she spotted the figure in the car, Tohsaka Sakura, clutching her rabbit plush, called out with considerable joy.
And her mother—a woman named Zenjou Aoi—upon hearing her daughter's heartwarming call, responded with a gentle smile.
She said softly:
"Sakura, we're going to see an uncle today, okay?"
"I know~"
The little girl replied to her mother with a proud expression.
"Papa already told me~"
"Oh... that's good then." A flicker of barely perceptible sadness crossed Zenjou Aoi's eyes. "Sakura, would you mind sitting in the back by yourself today?"
"Okay!"
"Hmm, very good girl, go on."
"Okay~"
[You followed Tohsaka Sakura as she settled into the back seat of the car.]
[Her father, Tohsaka Tokiomi, and mother, Zenjou Aoi, took their places in the front.]
[In stark contrast to Tohsaka Sakura, who remained cheerful.]
[You swiftly noticed the unusual demeanor of the two in front.]
[At this moment, their faces were stern, devoid of the tenderness they had displayed towards their daughter just moments ago.]
[You sensed that something was amiss.]
[You inquired with Tohsaka Sakura—the only one capable of hearing your voice.]
"Sakura, have you heard your Papa and Mama mention what kind of person the uncle we're going to meet is?"
"Eh?"
Mindful not to reveal the existence of Ghost-san, Tohsaka Sakura deliberately lowered her voice.
"I don't know."
"Because Papa only told me about it yesterday."
"This..." Mr. Ghost's voice held a note of increasing doubt.
"Then—"
"Are we going to see him now?"
"I suppose so." Tohsaka Sakura scratched her cheek, looking rather troubled.
"But... I'm not entirely sure."
"Because Papa and Mama didn't say."
"..."
[You increasingly felt that Tohsaka Sakura was far too compliant with her parents' decisions.]
[This kind of personality was certainly not ideal.]
[You decided to offer a gentle reminder.]
"Say, Sakura."
"Hmm?" Tohsaka Sakura blinked her eyes.
"Don't you... don't you think this is a bit odd?" Mr. Ghost elaborated on his reasoning.
"We're going to someone else's house, after all."
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura didn't directly respond to Mr. Ghost's question.
She lifted her gaze towards her father and mother in the front.
A hint of hesitation flickered in her lovely eyes.
"I don't know..." Tohsaka Sakura counted on her fingers.
"But since Papa and Mama have arranged it, then—"
The little girl didn't finish her sentence, but her intended meaning was clear enough.
She felt it wasn't her place to object to this arrangement.
[You certainly couldn't condone Tohsaka Sakura's way of thinking.]
[You resolved to persuade her further.]
[However, at that very moment, you noticed the two in the front had begun to converse.]
[After a moment of consideration, you decided to eavesdrop on their conversation first.]
"Tokiomi, why did they ask us to bring Sakura over so soon?" Zenjou Aoi's voice held a hint of urgency.
"Weren't we supposed to have her for a few more days?"
"I'm not sure either."
Tohsaka Tokiomi's brow furrowed deeply, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
"But—"
"They've already said so... I can't exactly refuse, can I?"
"If I did that, things would only become more complicated."
"..."
Zenjou Aoi said nothing more, lifting her head to steal a glance at her daughter in the rearview mirror.
A touch of sorrow clouded the woman's eyes.
But ultimately, she could only conceal it all, feigning as if nothing were amiss.
[Zenjou Aoi remained unaware that her actions had been observed by you.]
[You realized that this mother was subconsciously reluctant to send Tohsaka Sakura away.]
[Furthermore, you discerned that this wasn't an impulsive act but rather the result of careful planning.]
[Could it truly be as Tohsaka Sakura had said—an arrangement that shouldn't be resisted?]
[The situation was far more complex than it initially appeared.]
[This prompted you to temporarily set aside your intention to persuade Tohsaka Sakura.]
[You decided to first observe how things would unfold.]
The car sped along the road, eventually pulling up in front of an enormous mansion.
Tohsaka Tokiomi was the first to alight, followed by Zenjou Aoi, and then Tohsaka Sakura.
Subsequently, the couple each took one of their daughter's hands.
Gazing at the rather impressive mansion before him, Tohsaka Tokiomi's spirits lifted slightly.
He addressed Zenjou Aoi beside him:
"Aoi."
"It seems the environment is quite pleasant... If Sakura stays here, she'll probably be well cared for."
"I hope so." Zenjou Aoi offered a forced smile, not wanting to worry her husband.
"Sakura is our child... I don't want to see her come to any harm."
"Me neither."
As he spoke, Tohsaka Tokiomi retrieved his phone and dialed a number.
--Beep--Beep--
The call connected.
"Tsuruno, this is Tohsaka Tokiomi."
"Aoi and I have arrived at the front of the residence with the child. Where should we meet?"
"Oh, I see, I understand." Tohsaka Tokiomi nodded. "I will wait here."
The man hung up his phone and then relayed the content of the call to his wife.
"Aoi, let's wait here for a moment."
"He'll be here shortly."
"...Hmm."
Zenjou Aoi verbally acknowledged her husband, but the hand holding her daughter's tightened even more than before, eventually causing her pain.
"Mama, it hurts..."
"Ah, sorry."
As a mother, Zenjou Aoi felt as though she was reaching her breaking point.
But in front of her child, she couldn't afford to show too much emotion.
[Zenjou Aoi's reaction further solidified the correctness of your assumptions.]
[As a mother, she was clearly quite resistant to the idea of sending her daughter away.]
[This made you increasingly aware of the gravity of the situation.]
[What circumstances could possibly compel a mother who loved her daughter so dearly to willingly part with her?]
With a clang.
The iron gates of the mansion swung open.
However, the one who came to greet the Tohsaka family was a wizened, elderly man.
"Old Man Zouken, why is it you who has come to receive us?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi looked at the old man before him, his expression a mask of surprise.
Faced with this question, Matou Zouken, the man addressed as Old Man, simply offered a nonchalant reply.
"Tsuruno has some urgent matters to attend to, so he asked me to handle things with you."
"I see."
Having understood the explanation, Tohsaka Tokiomi nodded.
"I apologize for troubling you."
"It's no matter." Matou Zouken's gaze swept over the family before him.
"It's not suitable to discuss this outside. Please, come in."
"Okay."
[Guided by Matou Zouken, the Tohsaka family soon entered the interior of the mansion.]
[However, this representative ultimately only escorted Tohsaka Tokiomi into a room, while asking Zenjou Aoi and Tohsaka Sakura to wait outside.]
[You sensed that this arrangement might have been made with ulterior motives.]
Inside the room.
Tohsaka Tokiomi and Matou Zouken sat opposite each other at a table.
"You mentioned earlier..." Matou Zouken cut straight to the chase, "that your second daughter is a prime candidate to become a magus, correct?"
Knowing he was the one seeking a favor, Tohsaka Tokiomi adopted a more humble demeanor.
He nodded, replying:
"Yes, she has already undergone the relevant assessments."
"However, due to the hasty departure, the relevant documentation wasn't brought along... If necessary, I can return to retrieve it now."
"No need." Matou Zouken regarded the man before him. "Since you're willing to admit it, it's likely not far from the truth."
"Well... I'm not one for beating around the bush either."
The old man directly stated his intention.
"Since you're already here, let's just have her stay behind today."
"This..."
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, Tohsaka Tokiomi hadn't anticipated the handover happening so swiftly.
However—
The man was also acutely aware that this might be his daughter's only chance at survival.
Despite his confusion, magi did not probe each other's intentions lightly—that would signify a declaration of war, to the death.
Tohsaka Tokiomi composed himself, responding to Matou Zouken:
"Alright, I understand."
"Hmm, I like your straightforwardness."
Matou Zouken looked at Tohsaka Tokiomi before him, a rather unsettling smile creeping onto his face.
[You were unaware that Tohsaka Tokiomi and Matou Zouken's conversation had concluded so quickly.]
[Or rather, Zenjou Aoi outside the door hadn't expected it to be this fast either.]
"Sakura."
Zenjou Aoi's trembling hand gently stroked Tohsaka Sakura's soft, dark hair.
"From now on, you must be a good girl and listen obediently here."
"Don't eat too many sweets, or your teeth will rot."
"Be polite to everyone, and never talk back to your elders."
As a mother, Zenjou Aoi conveyed every instruction she could think of to her daughter before her, as if doing so could somehow erase the reality of having to leave her here.
Hearing these words, Tohsaka Sakura's lips trembled slightly.
But in the end, she said nothing.
With a soft click.
The door behind the mother and daughter opened.
Tohsaka Tokiomi and Matou Zouken, having concluded their discussion, emerged from within.
The man approached Zenjou Aoi and said softly:
"Aoi, Old Man Zouken has agreed."
"Sakura will stay here starting today."
Zenjou Aoi silently stood up, taking her husband's arm.
Composing himself, Tohsaka Tokiomi addressed his daughter, Tohsaka Sakura:
"Sakura, you'll be staying here for a while."
"Be a good girl and listen well, okay?"
The little girl didn't verbally respond to the question, but her body nodded almost instinctively.
Tohsaka Tokiomi knew that his daughter needed some time to adjust to this situation, so he didn't say anything more.
He gave her head a final pat before turning and leaving with his wife.
And Tohsaka Sakura watched their retreating figures, completely stunned.
Yes.
She realized that she fundamentally couldn't accept the fact that they were leaving her here.
But—
It seemed there was no way to change it now.
[You vaguely sensed Tohsaka Sakura's true feelings.]
[You knew this might be the last opportunity.]
"Sakura, do you really want to be left here?"
"..."
"Do you really want to leave their side?"
"..."
"Answer me!"
"..."
"No, I don't want to at all." Tohsak
a Sakura's whisper was laced with the beginnings of tears.
"Ghost-san... please help me."
"Alright, I'm relieved to hear you say that," Mr. Ghost responded to Tohsaka Sakura's plea.
"I have an idea right now that might allow you to leave with them. Would you be willing to try it?"
"What is it?"
"Cry!"
"Cry as loudly as you can!"
"Cry right now!"
The friend only Tohsaka Sakura could see offered this suggestion.