"Eh?!"
This was the first time Tohsaka Sakura had been so directly refused by her elder sister Luvia.
Normally, even if she didn't agree, Luvia would always carefully consider things before giving a reason for her refusal.
But now, she had directly refused!
This meant...
Her elder sister strongly disapproved of what she had just proposed!
[Tohsaka Sakura's plan was disrupted.]
[This was a situation she hadn't anticipated at all.]
[At this moment, her mind was a little chaotic, and she didn't know how to handle it.]
[You noticed this.]
[You quickly spoke up to comfort her.]
"Don't worry," Mr. Ghost's voice sounded in Tohsaka Sakura's ear. "Let's first ask what's going on." He suggested calmly.
"Luvia definitely wouldn't refuse you for no reason." He added reassuringly.
"Ask what's going on, and then communicate properly. There will definitely be a solution." He encouraged her.
The comfort from Mr. Ghost quickly calmed the flustered Tohsaka Sakura down.
She already cared a lot about his words, and even more so at a time like this.
And so, the little girl mustered her courage. "Sister Luvia, why won't you let me participate in the Holy Grail War?" She asked with a hint of nervousness.
Although in front of outsiders, Luvia always had a decisive demeanor that brooked no argument, she wasn't like that when facing her younger sister Tohsaka Sakura.
The young lady from Finland looked at Tohsaka Sakura for a long while before slowly opening her mouth.
"Sakura, what I'm about to say might sound a bit harsh." She began hesitantly.
"Can you... promise not to be angry with me?" She asked with concern.
"..."
Although Sakura didn't know what Luvia was going to say next, out of trust for her, she nodded.
"I understand." She replied softly.
"I won't be angry with you, Sister Luvia." She assured her.
"That's good." Luvia felt a little relieved after receiving Tohsaka Sakura's promise.
"First of all, I want to remind you of something." She stated seriously.
"The Holy Grail War... is something only country bumpkins would do." She declared matter-of-factly.
"Huh?"
Tohsaka Sakura could hardly believe what she had just heard.
"Sister, what are you saying?" She asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"The Holy Grail War... is something only country bumpkins would do?" She repeated, seeking confirmation.
"That's right." Luvia crossed her arms, her expression earnest.
"We've been at the Clock Tower for so long now... Have you seen any magi mention the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki?" She questioned, raising a valid point.
"Eh?"
Luvia's reminder made Tohsaka Sakura realize that the situation seemed to be exactly as she described.
The two sisters, who had originally only planned to stay for a month, had now been there for an entire season.
During this time, only their teacher, Vivian, had mentioned the Holy Grail War.
Even when she talked about it, she used a cautious and humble tone.
In a way, this did indeed completely align with what her elder sister Luvia had said.
The Holy Grail War in Fuyuki was actually such an insignificant event?
No wonder Luvia was worried that she would be upset after hearing this.
Seeing her younger sister Tohsaka Sakura remain silent, Luvia knew that she had definitely understood what she had just said.
Striking while the iron was hot, she immediately brought up her second reason.
"Sakura, aside from this, there's actually another reason." She revealed.
"..."
Still recovering from the previous statement, Tohsaka Sakura looked at her elder sister Luvia again, her tone becoming much more cautious.
"What reason is it?" She inquired softly.
"Hmm..." Luvia's attitude softened a little.
"According to the ancestral teachings passed down within our family, those of us with direct bloodlines are absolutely forbidden from returning to Japan." She stated firmly.
"Of course, you don't need to consider such things." She added, trying to reassure Sakura.
"But—"
Luvia held Tohsaka Sakura's shoulders, her brow furrowed with worry.
"I can't ignore this rule no matter what." She confessed, her voice laced with concern.
"After all, I am the future head of the Edelfelt family. If I were to take the lead in violating the ancestral teachings, the consequences would be quite severe." She explained her responsibility.
"This means that even if I were to allow you to go to Fuyuki to participate in some Holy Grail War," She continued, her grip tightening slightly.
"I... wouldn't be able to go back with you, understand?" She asked, her eyes pleading for comprehension.
"..."
If the first reason was Luvia's concern for the family's reputation and her reluctance to let Tohsaka Sakura participate in a Holy Grail War that the Clock Tower considered a ritual for country bumpkins, then the second reason was purely her concern as an elder sister for her younger sister.
Because of the ancestral teachings passed down for some unknown reason, Luvia was absolutely unable to return to Fuyuki, let alone participate in any Holy Grail War.
This also meant that if Tohsaka Sakura really wanted to go back and participate in the war, she would basically be alone.
For Luvia, who always cared deeply about her younger sister, this was clearly an unacceptable situation.
"So—"
Luvia looked at her younger sister in front of her, her eyes filled with a hint of heartache that was reserved only for her.
"Sakura, do you understand?" She asked softly.
"I'm worried something might happen to you." She admitted, her voice filled with genuine concern.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura nodded.
"Yes, I understand." She replied quietly.
[Although her idea was temporarily put on hold because of her elder sister Luvia,]
[Tohsaka Sakura didn't give up on it.]
[Or rather, her desire to participate in the war became even stronger because of her sister's persuasion.]
Late at night.
Lying in bed, Tohsaka Sakura looked at the white curtains above her bed, her expression somewhat melancholy.
She still couldn't ignore the thought of participating in the Holy Grail War in her mind, just like her sister had said.
Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she whispered a question to the "air."
"Ghost-san, are you there?" She asked tentatively.
"If you are, please talk to me for a bit, okay?" She pleaded softly.
In less than a second, Mr. Ghost's response came.
"Hmm... I'm here." His voice was gentle.
"Eh—?!"
Tohsaka Sakura looked towards the other side of her pillow, where the voice had come from.
A cute little rabbit plush toy was sitting upright in that spot.
It was the little girl's favorite toy—now especially used to represent her favorite Mr. Ghost.
"Ghost-san, don't you need to rest?" She inquired with concern.
"Theoretically, I shouldn't need to." Mr. Ghost's reply came again.
"What's wrong? It's so late, and you're still not asleep." He noticed her restlessness.
"Are you thinking about something?" He asked gently.
"Yeah."
Tohsaka Sakura nodded.
In front of him, she had no intention of hiding her thoughts.
"I'm still thinking about participating in the Holy Grail War." She confessed.
"Hmm?" Mr. Ghost's voice carried a hint of doubt. "But didn't Luvia say she doesn't support you doing that?" He reminded her.
"That's true." Tohsaka Sakura didn't deny what he said.
"But—"
"I still want to go." She declared firmly.
"..."
"..."
The room fell into a deathly silence.
After a long while, Tohsaka Sakura took the initiative to break the quiet.
"Um... Ghost-san, are you like my sister, not supporting me in doing this?" She asked hesitantly.
"What? I didn't say I don't support you." He responded, his tone surprised.
"Huh?" Hearing this, Tohsaka Sakura immediately perked up.
"Then if you support me, why didn't you say anything just now?" She questioned, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh... I was thinking about how to help you." He explained.
"How to help me?"
Tohsaka Sakura took the rabbit plush toy's arm, as if Mr. Ghost was sitting right there.
"That's right." Mr. Ghost affirmed his previous statement.
"Since you insist on thinking this way, then we should try our best to win you an opportunity, right?" He suggested encouragingly.
"Mr. Ghost!"
Two blushes appeared on Tohsaka Sakura's cheeks—it was the happiness she felt when she realized he was on her side.
"Then have you thought of any way?" She asked eagerly.
"It can't really be called a solution." Mr. Ghost replied to Tohsaka Sakura. "I just feel like you could ask Vivian for help." He proposed.
"Vivian-sensei?"
"Yes." Mr. Ghost further confirmed his idea.
"Since she was the one who suggested you participate in the Holy Grail War—"
"I think she would definitely be very willing to help you solve these problems, don't you think?" He reasoned.
"Eh!" A light of hope appeared in Tohsaka Sakura's eyes. "Ghost-san, you're so right!" She exclaimed.
"Since Vivian-sensei is so amazing, she definitely has a way to persuade Sister Luvia." She said with newfound optimism.
"Right? You think so too." He agreed.
"So—"
Mr. Ghost's words carried a hint of tenderness.
"Go to sleep quickly." He advised gently.
"After you wake up, go and discuss it with Vivian. Maybe a solution will come up." He encouraged her.
"Yeah!" Tohsaka Sakura nodded.
"Good night, Ghost-san~" She said sweetly.
After saying this, the little girl closed her eyes and rested happily.
But she quickly seemed to remember something and opened her eyes again.
"Ghost-san, are you still there?" She asked softly.
"I am." He replied.
"Can I ask you one more small question?" She inquired shyly.
"Of course, you can." He responded patiently.
"Then... I want to know what I'm like in your eyes?" She asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
"...Very cute." He replied simply.
"Eh—?!"
Hearing this answer, Tohsaka Sakura wrapped herself in her blanket with unimaginable speed, shrinking into a ball.
Then, a muffled "Good night again, Ghost-san" came from inside.
And inside the blanket, the little girl Tohsaka Sakura's face was already completely red with embarrassment.
Curled up in a ball, she kept repeating the words she had just heard in her mind.
He... said I'm cute!
[You didn't know what Tohsaka Sakura was thinking at this moment.]
[But you could clearly feel that this Holy Grail War wasn't just her business alone.]
[You felt that since you had formed a bond with her in that mansion in Fuyuki, you really should go back and investigate it properly.]
[This was the Holy Grail War she was going to participate in.]
[But it was also the Holy Grail War you were going to participate in.]
[In terms of purpose, you had indeed reached a perfect unity.]
The night quickly passed.
Tohsaka Sakura, who had received a solution from Mr. Ghost, got up early in the morning.
After tidying up, she rushed to Vivian's office as quickly as possible—even though it wasn't the agreed-upon study time at all.
But to Tohsaka Sakura's surprise, although she had indeed arrived very early, Vivian was even earlier!
The mature older sister was already sitting in the office.
Steam rose from the cup of barley tea that had been brewed on the desk, swirling like mist.
It seemed she had been sitting there for quite some time.
However, Tohsaka Sakura knew that these weren't things she should be worrying about right now.
She needed to ask Vivian for help!
"Vivian-sensei, please help me!" She pleaded earnestly.
[Following the suggestion you made, Tohsaka Sakura told her teacher Vivian everything in detail.]
[However, the latter not only didn't express surprise but also seemed very calm, as if she had expected all of this.]
"I see." Vivian nodded. "I understand what you mean." She said calmly.
"However—"
"Isn't this actually not a problem at all?" She asked with a hint of amusement.
"Eh?!"
As soon as Tohsaka Sakura heard Vivian's words, she immediately realized that her incredibly capable teacher had thought of a suitable solution.
"Sensei, do you know what to do?" She asked eagerly.
"Yes." Vivian nodded.
"Actually, when you get down to it, you're only facing two problems right now, aren't you?" She began to analyze the situation.
The mature older sister held out the index and middle fingers of her right hand.
"First, Luvia believes that the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki is an unrecognized ritual for country bumpkins by the Clock Tower." She stated the first issue.
"Second, Luvia is worried about you returning to Fuyuki alone to participate in the war, feeling that it's very unsafe." She outlined the second concern.
"Sakura, I should be right, shouldn't I?" She asked for confirmation.
"Yes, yes!" Tohsaka Sakura quickly nodded. "That's right, Teacher Vivian, you're absolutely right!" She agreed enthusiastically.
"Then this is actually very easy to solve." Vivian said confidently.
Vivian stood up and picked a book from the bookshelf behind her.
"First is the first problem—regarding the Clock Tower's level of recognition of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War." She addressed the initial concern.
"It must be admitted that the Clock Tower doesn't really acknowledge the Holy Grail War internally." She conceded.
"But that doesn't mean everyone has rejected it." She clarified.
"Look."
Vivian opened the book in her hand to a certain page and spread it out in front of Tohsaka Sakura.
All that could be seen were densely packed contents, with some places marked with sticky notes.
It was clear that this was various information that Vivian had collected during this season.
"As you can see from this, there aren't no people within the Clock Tower who have delved into the Holy Grail War." She pointed out.
"Otherwise... it would have been impossible for me to collect this information." She reasoned.
"Eh?!"
Tohsaka Sakura realized something.
She reached out her small hand and pointed to the book on the table.
"Does that mean that as long as my sister sees this, she won't worry about losing face for the family?" She asked hopefully.
"Yes."
Vivian reached out and patted Tohsaka Sakura's head.
"But the prerequisite is that you have to win." She added a condition.
"After all—"
"If you clearly represent the Clock Tower but end up losing in such a place, it would be too embarrassing." She emphasized the importance of victory.
A light of certainty flickered in Tohsaka Sakura's eyes.
"I understand!" She exclaimed, feeling more confident.
"With this, one problem is solved!" She declared happily.
"But—" The little girl tugged on the corner of Vivian's clothes. "How should the other problem be solved?" She asked, still worried.
"That's even simpler."
The corners of Vivian's mouth slightly curved upwards in an almost imperceptible arc.
It was the joy of finally finding the most perfect way to intervene.
She whispered like a devil.
"Since Luvia can't accompany you back—"
"Then let me, as your teacher, fulfill that obligation in her place." She offered with a sly smile.