"..."
"..."
Aoi Zenjou's words left Vivian and Waver somewhat puzzled. Confusion flickered across their faces.
After all, from their perspective, they had never heard the name "Little Rin." It was an unknown name to them.
But for Tohsaka Sakura, the situation was completely different.
She knew what the term "Little Rin" represented. The name resonated with a complex mix of emotions within her.
That was her sister, Rin Tohsaka, whom she had never met before.
In that instant, confusion, resentment, and all sorts of dissatisfaction with the past erupted within the young girl's heart. Her emotions surged like a storm.
She looked at her mother, her eyes as cold as ice in the deep winter. A chilling gaze met Aoi's.
"Why is it that person called 'Rin' again?" Tohsaka Sakura's voice was sharp, a rare tone of questioning.
This was a tone Tohsaka Sakura rarely displayed.
If someone hadn't witnessed the warm scene just now, they would never believe that she and Aoi Zenjou before them were mother and daughter. The sudden shift in her demeanor was striking.
However—
Looking at Tohsaka Sakura like that, Vivian felt a sense of déjà vu. The scene felt strangely familiar.
Why was this happening? She wondered.
Hearing Tohsaka Sakura's words, which sounded almost like an accusation, Aoi Zenjou did not feel angry; instead, she felt even more guilty. Her face fell.
When she sent Tohsaka Sakura to the Edelfelt family all those years ago, she had already been restless and uneasy. The decision had weighed heavily on her.
After all, no matter what, Aoi Zenjou knew that she and Tokiomi Tohsaka had together chosen Rin Tohsaka, and had wronged Tohsaka Sakura. The unfairness of the situation was undeniable.
Now, she just wanted to borrow the scabbard of Excalibur Galatine for a bit, yet found that it was still in her older sister's hands. Even this simple request was complicated.
In this situation, let alone Tohsaka Sakura.
Even Aoi Zenjou felt somewhat guilty. She felt a pang of regret.
This mother, who had been a widow for ten years, began to cough violently—this was an old ailment she had developed after the Fourth Holy Grail War; whenever she got nervous, she would cough like this. Her body reacted to the stress.
"Sakura, listen to me... cough... it's not what you think," she said between coughs.
"Your sister... cough... she's just like you, very interested in that weapon," she tried to explain, her voice strained.
"..."
Listening to Aoi Zenjou's explanation, Vivian finally understood why she had felt a sense of familiarity regarding the scene just now. The memory of her own past resurfaced.
Many years ago, she had also done something similar.
She had excitedly run to ask her father, King Uther, what preparations were needed to inherit the throne, only to be told that such a possibility did not exist for her at all. The rejection had stung.
Although she eventually became the King of Britain, everything before that was completely taken away by her younger sister, Artoria. She was overlooked.
As one of the legitimate heirs to the throne, she was never given importance. Her existence was sidelined.
If she hadn't accidentally met Ian on the day of the celebration, she felt she would have probably broken down long ago. His presence had been a lifeline.
It was Ian who saved her and brought her hope with his actions time and time again. His kindness had been a balm to her wounded heart.
Even though she had now somewhat reconciled with Artoria.
But whenever she thought of such things, Vivian still felt a subtle ache in her heart—that feeling of being abandoned was truly not easy to accept. The scar remained.
So she completely understood how Tohsaka Sakura felt at this moment.
It must be a grief that couldn't be vented and a heartache like being ripped apart. The pain was palpable.
In fact, it was exactly like that.
After hearing Aoi Zenjou finish speaking, Tohsaka Sakura looked at her and coldly replied. Her voice was devoid of warmth.
"So?"
"So I deserve to have nothing, while whatever she wants, she can get?" she questioned, her voice sharp with accusation.
"Am I... even your daughter?" she asked, the words cutting deep.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura's single sentence left Aoi Zenjou stunned. She froze, unable to respond.
This was the question she had been worried about being asked by her daughter ever since she sent her away.
And even now, Aoi Zenjou still couldn't find an answer that could reasonably address this question. She was speechless.
"Sakura, I..." she began, her voice faltering.
"Enough," Tohsaka Sakura stopped her mother's pale and powerless explanation.
She turned her back, coldly leaving a single sentence behind:
"I'm going out for a walk." She didn't look back.
After saying this, Tohsaka Sakura left the old mansion without looking back. The warm scene instantly turned cold.
Aoi Zenjou lowered her head, sinking into a silence filled with guilt. Her shoulders slumped.
And Waver, who completely failed to understand why a single scabbard could cause such a heavy situation, somewhat wanted to salvage things. He scratched his face, then spoke as if to himself:
"Um—!"
"I'll go and bring Sakura back!" he offered, trying to be helpful.
"She hasn't lived here much; if she goes out like this, she might get lost!" he added, a plausible reason.
After saying this, Waver didn't wait for Aoi Zenjou's response and intended to leave directly to bring Tohsaka Sakura back. He took a step towards the door.
But before he could take two steps, Vivian stopped him.
"No need to go, Waver," she said, her voice calm and firm.
"Huh?"
Waver turned his head, looking at his colleague with a confused expression.
"Why shouldn't I go?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
"...It's complicated to explain," Vivian said, her gaze distant for a moment.
Vivian glanced at Aoi Zenjou, who was still sighing.
"But in short, you don't need to go," she stated definitively.
"Give Sakura some time... I believe she will recover on her own," she said, a quiet confidence in her voice.
"..."
Although Waver didn't know why Vivian was so confident in saying this, he vaguely felt a certain emotion.
This colleague from the Clock Tower seemed to have experienced a very similar situation, and thus felt a deep resonance. Her empathy was clear.
Why does it feel like everyone has a story? Waver thought, a sense of melancholy washing over him.
Realizing this, Waver became a little melancholic. A sense of his own limited understanding settled in.
And Vivian didn't care about his feelings.
She focused her gaze on Aoi Zenjou. There were some things, she thought, that needed a little assistance. A plan began to form in her mind.
[Tohsaka Sakura left the house in Fuyuki.]
[However, just as Waver thought.]
[Because she was sent away when she was very young.]
[So she didn't know much about the roads in Fuyuki City (even around her home).]
[Finally, Tohsaka Sakura just ended up in a park near her house, sitting on a somewhat worn-out swing. The swing creaked softly under her weight.]
[And you, having witnessed everything, realized that she was emotional.]
It was winter, and many snowflakes were falling from the sky. The white flakes drifted down gently.
They slowly landed on the ground, as if trying to cover up everything from the past. The snow blanketed the world in white.
But just as snowflakes will eventually melt and leave the ground exposed, memories of the past will also quietly assault in those unintentional moments. The past is never truly gone.
Tohsaka Sakura cried again. Tears streamed down her face.
And this time, she wasn't crying because of the emotion of reuniting with her mother;
She just felt that all of this was too difficult to accept. The weight of her history was heavy.
"Sakura."
The Phantom's voice echoed in the young girl's ear. It was a comforting presence.
"Why are you crying?" he asked softly.
"When you cry like this, it makes me feel sad too," he added, his voice filled with empathy.
"Eh?!"
The Phantom was the person Tohsaka Sakura trusted the most in this world. His words quickly had an effect on her.
Tohsaka Sakura quickly wiped away her tears with her hand, and then turned her face away, speaking in a low voice:
"I'm not crying," she mumbled, denying it.
"Phantom, you're mistaken!" she insisted, though her voice trembled slightly.
"Haha," the Phantom's laughter echoed in Tohsaka Sakura's ear. His laughter was gentle and warm.
His voice was even softer than before.
"Sakura," he said.
"Me not speaking ≠ me not being here," he reminded her of his constant presence.
"Don't forget that I am always by your side; you can't hide many things from me," he stated gently.
"Crying is just crying... there's nothing to be embarrassed about," he reassured her.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura was silent for a while, then nodded.
"Yes... I did cry," she admitted softly.
"Good," the Phantom affirmed Tohsaka Sakura's honesty.
"Then—"
"Now, tell me, why were you crying?" he asked, his voice kind and encouraging.
"Uh, this?!"
Facing this question, Tohsaka Sakura became even more embarrassed. A blush spread across her cheeks.
"Phantom, do you really need to know this?" she asked hesitantly.
"Hmm? Do you think you can't tell me?" the Phantom replied, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"But I feel so difficult to say it," Tohsaka Sakura said very directly, expressing her inner feelings.
After spending more than ten years together, she had become much more open in front of him. Their bond was deep.
"What's there to be embarrassed about?" The Phantom's voice held a hint of confusion.
"Do you think I'll laugh at you after you say it?" he asked gently.
"Or—"
"Do you think I'm not suitable to hear you say these things?" he questioned, seeking to understand her hesitation.
"No!" Tohsaka Sakura quickly denied this idea. "I never thought that!" she insisted vehemently.
"Then that's all there is to it," the Phantom said simply.
"Since you think I'm suitable, then tell me the reason you were crying," he encouraged her gently.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura looked around, and after confirming that there was no one else present, she softly voiced her thoughts. Her voice was low, a whisper in the snowy air.
"Phantom."
"Am I... a very unpleasant person?" she asked, the question filled with insecurity.
"Huh?"
[You completely didn't expect Tohsaka Sakura to say something like this.]
[You thought she would be resentful because the scabbard of Excalibur Galatine was taken by her older sister whom she had never met.]
[But now, it seems the situation is completely different.]
[After just criticizing her mother, Aoi Zenjou, for being biased, Tohsaka Sakura began to reflect on herself.]
[She had somehow blamed the reason on herself.]
[You felt both heartbroken and a little sad about her behavior.]
[Her personality seemed to have been gradually twisted into a strange shape during this long period of living.]
"Sakura, why do you think that?" the Phantom asked, not understanding her self-deprecation.
"Because—"
Tohsaka Sakura held the swing rope with one hand and stretched the other hand forward, catching a few snowflakes. The cold flakes melted on her skin.
Before they melted completely, she gently blew them away from her hand.
"If I wasn't unpleasant, why would Mom and Dad send me away?" she questioned, her voice filled with the pain of past abandonment.
"I... I shouldn't have felt that I could get that scabbard, should I?" she mused, her voice filled with self-doubt.
"Phantom."
Tohsaka Sakura looked at the empty space beside her, forcing out a smile as if she understood everything. It was a fragile smile.
She was clearly smiling, yet she appeared so sad. Her smile didn't reach her eyes.
This was a look that could only come after experiencing profound heartache.
"Isn't that right?" she asked, seeking his agreement.
"No," the Phantom denied Tohsaka Sakura's idea almost without hesitation. His voice was firm.
And his tone, unusually, showed a seriousness that would absolutely not be easily revealed in his daily demeanor.
"Sakura."
"You are not unpleasant at all." he stated with absolute conviction.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura didn't become happy because of this. Doubt still lingered.
"Phantom, you're just comforting me, right?" she questioned, seeking the truth.
"I am not comforting you," the Phantom's voice was incredibly serious. "I am stating a fact."
"Sakura, you have never been an unpleasant person, and you don't need to feel that you are unworthy of being cherished by others because of this."
"Haven't I, Luvia, and Vivian proven this point?" he asked, reminding her of their affection.
"We all like you very much; how could you think you are unpleasant?" he questioned, a touch of sadness in his voice for her suffering.
Tohsaka Sakura was clearly touched by the Phantom's words. Her lips trembled slightly.
"Phantom..." she whispered.
"Do I really have the right to believe that?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.
"Of course, you do," the Phantom answered the young girl's question without hesitation.
"Sakura, you are absolutely worthy of being loved." he declared, his voice gentle and full of warmth.
"Always, no matter what, you must believe this," he urged her, his words a steadfast anchor.
"..."
A faint blush appeared on Tohsaka Sakura's cheeks.
But she quickly became aware of a cruel problem—that the scabbard of Excalibur Galatine was still in the hands of her older sister, Rin Tohsaka. The practical issue remained.
"Phantom, what about the scabbard?" she asked, the earlier concern resurfacing.
"We... we met because of that thing, right?" she questioned, implying its importance to their connection.
"If I don't get it, I feel like..."
Tohsaka Sakura didn't continue speaking. Her voice trailed off.
But the meaning she wanted to convey was already very clear.
She felt that the scabbard was a witness to their connection, and leaving it in her sister Rin Tohsaka's hands felt wrong. It felt like a betrayal of their bond.
But the Phantom's next words completely dispelled her worries.
"My little foolish one," he said gently, using an affectionate term.
"Do you think that without that scabbard, I wouldn't be by your side anymore?" he questioned, a playful tone in his voice.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura shook her head.
"No."
"I don't think the Phantom should be that kind of person," she replied, her trust in him absolute.
"Then that's alright, isn't it?" the Phantom's voice returned to its original gentle tone.
"Since that scabbard doesn't play any role at all, why don't we just get another Holy Relic?" he suggested simply, offering a practical solution.
"As for your mother... I think you should apologize," he advised gently.
"After all, she didn't know you needed that scabbard—I believe if she knew, she would have definitely kept it for you, not given it to your sister," he reasoned, suggesting a possible motive.
Perhaps realizing that her behavior just now was indeed a little excessive, Tohsaka Sakura, after hearing these words, quickly nodded.
"I understand," she said softly.
And just at the moment she finished saying this, Tohsaka Sakura's phone received a message from Vivian. A notification sound broke the quiet of the park.
After reading the message content, she exclaimed in surprise. Her eyes widened.
"Phantom, Teacher Vivian said that Mom is willing to help me get the scabbard back!" she said excitedly, relief and hope in her voice.
"Is that so? That's great," the Phantom's voice also became much happier.
"Since that's the case, time waits for no one; let's hurry back," he urged, a sense of urgency in his voice.
"Wait, wait a minute!" Tohsaka Sakura called out, her face flushing slightly, asking for a small pause.
"Phantom, can I ask you one more question?" she asked shyly.
"What question?" he replied, his voice gentle.
"That is... everything you said just now was true, right? You like me, right?!" she blurted out, her heart pounding.
"I mean, like how Sister Luvia and Teacher Vivian like me!" she clarified, wanting to be sure of the nature of his affection.
"Of course, it's true," the Phantom replied with a smile.
"Is there anything to doubt about that?" he asked playfully.
"I wasn't doubting it at all!" The happy Tohsaka Sakura was completely different from before. Her sadness had vanished.
"Phantom, let's hurry back!" she said eagerly, her voice filled with joy.