Her teacher and the Phantom...
No, she should call him Mr. Ian now, she corrected herself.
Why were they hugging?
Since when had they become this close? The sight brought a pang of confusion and unease.
That's right—!
Just now, it was Ian who had proactively told her he wanted to come out and chat with Vivian for a bit, wasn't it? He had initiated leaving the room.
Could it be that he did it just for this moment? Was this orchestrated?
Wait a minute.
If that was the case, her teacher Vivian seemed to have come out even earlier! She had left the room before him.
Could it be—
Was this something they had planned together? Her mind raced, trying to connect the dots.
All the actions linked together in the mind of the amateur detective Tohsaka Sakura. A clear, albeit unsettling, picture began to form.
She realized that her teacher Vivian seemed to have an intricate relationship with Ian, whom she had liked for over ten years.
What was going on?! The question screamed in her head.
Tohsaka Sakura desperately wanted to understand the true situation, yet she couldn't bring herself to take that step. She remained rooted to the spot.
She liked the Phantom; this was indeed an undeniable fact. Her affection for him was deep.
But at the same time, she also deeply respected her teacher Vivian. Vivian had taught her so much.
After all, a student can best feel whether a teacher is genuinely invested in their teaching. It's something that is evident in their efforts.
And Vivian was clearly such a serious and dedicated presence. Her commitment to teaching was undeniable.
If she were to really rush out now and question the two of them, it might lead to an extremely serious breakdown in their relationships. Everything could shatter.
Tohsaka Sakura didn't dare to do that, and she couldn't do that. The potential consequences were too great.
Besides that, she had one more thing she was most worried about.
That was, although she truly liked Ian very much, he had never expressed his liking for her. His feelings remained unstated.
If she had to say anything, it was only that moment on the park swing just now.
But even so, Tohsaka Sakura knew that what she had received was only a liking that was "the same as Luvia and others." It was a general fondness.
That wasn't the kind of liking she wanted. Her heart yearned for something more exclusive.
The young girl's eyes dimmed at this moment, looking as if she had fallen into an abyss. Disappointment clouded her features.
But this sense of loss did not last too long.
Because her sister, Rin Tohsaka, walked up at this moment and gently patted her shoulder. Her sister's touch was grounding.
"Sakura, what are you doing here?" Rin's voice came from behind her.
The voice from behind startled Tohsaka Sakura, making her almost stumble forward. She jumped in surprise.
Fortunately, Rin Tohsaka reacted in time and grabbed her clothes.
"What are you doing?" the older sister asked, puzzled by her reaction. "Such a big reaction?" she questioned, her brow furrowed.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that!" Tohsaka Sakura said, her face flushed, lowering her voice, afraid of being discovered by the two around the corner.
"Why did you suddenly appear behind someone like a ghost?!!" she exclaimed in a hushed, exasperated tone.
"Hey!" Rin Tohsaka became a little angry at this point.
She put her hands on her hips and refuted her sister's words without backing down. Her stance was defiant.
"Didn't you two both go outside one by one, and that's why I followed you out of the room?" she retorted, stating the obvious reason for her presence.
"Who has nothing better to do than try and scare you?!" she added, her voice sharp.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura really couldn't refute her sister's words. Rin's logic was sound.
After all, ever since Sir Ian went out to find Vivian, she didn't know why, but she felt restless and uneasy, and finally she saw the scene just now.
And Rin Tohsaka wasn't the confused type either.
Looking at Tohsaka Sakura's silent reaction, she realized that something was very wrong. Her sister's unease was palpable.
She instinctively wanted to lean out and take a look, but she was stopped by her sister in time.
"Don't, don't look!" Tohsaka Sakura said in a panic, blocking her sister's view.
"Why not?" Rin Tohsaka became even more confused.
"Because, because—"
Tohsaka Sakura bit her lip tightly, and finally came up with a reason that didn't quite sound like a reason.
"Because I have a question to ask you!" she blurted out.
"Huh?"
Before Rin Tohsaka could react, she was pulled back into the original room by Tohsaka Sakura.
With a click.
Tohsaka Sakura locked the door, covering her ample chest, and let out a sigh of relief. The immediate crisis was averted.
"What was that?"
Rin Tohsaka was completely bewildered now.
"You ask me a question, fine! What's with locking the door?" she demanded, her voice exasperated.
"Uh, this..."
Although they had never lived together, Tohsaka Sakura and Rin Tohsaka were equally clumsy when it came to lying. Their attempts were transparent.
Facing her sister's question, Tohsaka Sakura could only reply with very vague words.
"Because the question I'm going to ask you next is very important!" she insisted, trying to sound serious.
"..."
Rin Tohsaka temporarily reined in her emotions.
Not having summoned a Servant yet, she indeed wanted more information. The Holy Grail War was looming.
Setting aside other things—
Just the fact that her sister had summoned an unknown Heroic Spirit from the scabbard of Excalibur Galatine was enough to make Rin Tohsaka rack her brains. It was completely unexpected.
If she could know the magical principle behind it.
Then she could definitely gain an advantageous position in the Fifth Holy Grail War. Information was power.
"Alright, go ahead," she said, agreeing to listen.
"I'll listen and see what it's about," she added.
"It's just—"
Tohsaka Sakura recalled the scene she had just witnessed in the garden, and her fair cheeks instantly flushed again. The image replayed in her mind.
For her, such a scene was simply too impactful.
"Sister, what kind of relationship do you think a boy and a girl would have if they were hugging?" she asked, her voice small and hesitant.
Tohsaka Sakura was naturally asking about the scene she had just witnessed.
Sir Ian and Vivian were embracing in the Tohsaka family's corridor, looking very close.
And she, secretly observing, felt like an unnecessary third wheel, a superfluous lightbulb.
Frankly speaking, Tohsaka Sakura already had an answer to this question. The most obvious explanation.
But she was not so willing to admit that possibility. Her heart resisted the simple answer.
However, what Tohsaka Sakura didn't know was that at this moment, this question was very difficult for Rin Tohsaka to answer.
Because this sounded like a question about romance, didn't it?! The topic felt foreign to her experience.
Unfortunately.
As the current official (or rather, future) heir of the Tohsaka family, Rin Tohsaka's grades, behavior, appearance, and even family background were exceptionally superior among her peers. She was a perfect example of the family's ideals.
This overly formidable background resulted in her being seen as a "lofty flower on a high peak" by others. She was admired from afar.
And so—
Rin Tohsaka's romantic experience to date was zero. She had never been in love.
Because there were simply no boys who would be bold enough to approach her—this meant she had absolutely no related experience. No personal stories to draw upon.
It was fine when the topic wasn't brought up before, but now that it was mentioned, Rin Tohsaka realized she truly didn't know how to answer this question.
Saying "I don't know" directly would seem a little cold and unapproachable;
But if she answered with absolute certainty "That's a romantic relationship," it would seem too arbitrary, feeling like an outsider making wild guesses. That wouldn't be elegant.
That wouldn't do! She had to maintain her image.
After careful consideration, Rin Tohsaka found a way to answer this question "elegantly." She formulated her response.
"Well—"
"Sakura, you have to consider different cases," she said, suggesting a logical approach.
"Different cases?!" Tohsaka Sakura's eyes lit up.
That's right!
This was the answer Tohsaka Sakura wanted to hear—possibilities other than "romantic relationship"! She seized upon the idea.
"Then!"
Tohsaka Sakura leaned her body forward a little.
"Sister, what exactly do you mean by 'different cases'?" she asked eagerly.
"Ahem," Rin Tohsaka cleared her throat, adopting the skill she used to charm others as the student council vice president in school. She put on her public persona.
"Well, you have to look at the situation—!" she began, putting on an air of expertise.
"Think about it, if they haven't seen each other for a long time, and now they meet, isn't a warm hug completely reasonable?" she suggested, offering a plausible scenario.
"Or perhaps, it's a special etiquette somewhere where hugging symbolizes friendship or something," she added, listing other possibilities.
"In short, you have to analyze the specific situation!" she declared, emphasizing the need for context.
That's right.
Analyze the specific situation!
Tohsaka Sakura strongly agreed with this statement—or rather, she needed this reason.
Her teacher and Ian were absolutely not hugging because they liked each other. She clung to this belief.
The young girl, thinking like this, was completely unaware that she had first set up a target and then was searching for arrows that could hit it. She was constructing a justification.
"Yes, Sister, you make a lot of sense!" she said, her voice filled with newfound conviction.
"Of course~"
Realizing that she had "perfectly" answered her sister's question, Rin Tohsaka felt a little proud. A small, self-satisfied smile played on her lips.
However, she quickly stopped herself—after all, that would violate the Tohsaka family's ancestral precept to "always maintain elegance as a magus." Her composure returned.
"Sakura, since I've answered your question."
"Shouldn't you also tell me why you suddenly thought of something like this?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"N-no, there's no reason!"
Tohsaka Sakura waved her hands, clearly trying to avoid the topic. Her face was still flushed.
"By the way—!"
"Sister, can you answer me one more question?" she asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Hmm?" Rin Tohsaka folded her arms across her chest. "Go ahead, what's the problem this time?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"It's just..."
Tohsaka Sakura's voice grew softer and softer.
"If I want to get closer to a boy, what should I do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Hearing these incredibly direct words, even Rin Tohsaka, with zero romantic experience, couldn't help but feel the need to complain.
"Hey!" she exclaimed.
"Sakura, you really are in love, aren't you!" she declared, stating the obvious conclusion.
"Not yet!" Tohsaka Sakura denied Rin Tohsaka's statement. "It's still a long way from being in love!" she protested, her voice higher than usual.
"..."
"..."
This kind of answer was equivalent to silently confirming the question itself. Her denial was a confirmation.
"You..."
Rin Tohsaka covered her forehead, sighing:
"Ah, never mind," she said with resignation.
"Whether you want to fall in love is not something I should interfere with—you have your freedom, I have no right to interfere too much," she stated, respecting her sister's personal life.
"However, about getting closer as you said... I think it's actually quite simple." she added, offering advice.
"Simple?" Tohsaka Sakura blinked her eyes. "What does that mean?" she asked, intrigued.
"Well—"
Rin Tohsaka put her hands on her hips and spoke her true thoughts.
At this moment, she wasn't answering the question just for the sake of maintaining her image, but genuinely wanted to share her experiences in handling matters with her sister.
Although it wasn't romantic experience, it could definitely be considered something applicable by analogy. Her life lessons could be transferred.
"It's about being proactive," she stated simply.
"Think about it, when we two just met, if neither of us wanted to take the initiative to greet the other, wouldn't the result just be both of us standing there awkwardly?" she explained using their own recent encounter.
"Be proactive, and you can have a story with others," she concluded, summarizing her philosophy.
"Uh..." Rin Tohsaka scratched her face at this point. She felt she might have spoken a little too confidently, so she quickly added.
"Of course, it doesn't mean that doing this will definitely lead to a story."
"But—"
"I believe that if the other person truly has that intention to respond to you, the step you proactively take will be met with dozens or even hundreds of steps in return," she said, expressing her faith in mutual effort.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura listened to her sister's wisdom and had a sudden realization. She nodded thoughtfully, murmuring the words to herself.
"Sister, you are absolutely right," she said, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"If I'm not proactive... I won't have any chance at all!" A new determination filled her voice.
[You did not know about this conversation between the Tohsaka sisters.]
[Because at this moment, your attention was completely on Vivian before you.]
[She looked incredibly sad. Her sorrow was palpable.]
[So much so that you even started to doubt if you had unintentionally done something else that made her sad.]
The atmosphere was very awkward.
Facing Vivian who was sobbing in his arms, Sir Ian didn't know what to do. Her tears were unsettling.
Letting go just like this was clearly not right. His instinct told him not to.
But—
Staying like this, hugging her, also seemed a little inappropriate.
However—
Seeing her looking so sad, Sir Ian felt he didn't need to overthink it.
Let her continue, he decided.
When people are sad, they always need a place to vent their emotions.
Furthermore—
He felt such a strange and inexplicable concern for her.
It wasn't clear how long passed like this, but Vivian finally calmed down. Her sobs subsided.
She raised her head, looked at Sir Ian for a while, and finally slowly let go of his hand, taking a few steps back.
"I apologize, I seem to have been rude," she said softly, her voice hoarse from crying.
"Not at all," Sir Ian smiled gently, responding to Vivian.
"If a hug can make you happy—"
"I am very willing to do so," he said sincerely, reiterating his willingness to help.
Hearing this, Vivian felt a pang in her nose and almost started crying again. His kindness was almost too much to bear.
That small spark of hope was flickering in her chest, denying the fact that he had forgotten her. It clung to the possibility of remembrance.
"Then—"
"Can I still ask you for help like this in the future?" she asked, her voice hesitant, seeking permission.
"..."
Sir Ian was silent for a while, then replied with a smile.
"If the Master agrees, I will help you immediately." he said, setting a condition.
"..."
Vivian's expression instantly became incredibly disappointed, but she quickly composed herself again. Her face hardened with resolve.
The witch had completely denied her failure. She refused to accept the reality of his words.
So everything before her, to her, was just a temporary concession.
No.
Not even a temporary concession was needed. She wouldn't give up.
"I understand," Vivian smiled indifferently, selectively ignoring the first half of Sir Ian's answer.
"In the future, if I encounter such a situation again, I will proactively seek you out," she declared, twisting his words into a promise of her own.
Sir Ian heard that the meaning Vivian was expressing was different from his own.
However, just as he was about to explain clearly, Tohsaka Sakura appeared at the end of the corridor. Her eyes were fixed on them.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, she came to her knight's side.
"Mr. Ian!" she called out, her voice a little high-pitched.
"What is it?" Sir Ian replied to his Master.
The very next moment after speaking, Tohsaka Sakura grabbed Sir Ian's hand right in front of Vivian. Her touch was firm.
The latter leaned her body closer, almost pressing against him.
Facing this scene, Vivian felt like her teeth were about to break from clenching them so hard. Jealousy and rage flared within her.
And Tohsaka Sakura's next words directly threw the witch into an ice cave of despair.
"Mr. Ian, can we go shopping together tonight?" she asked, her voice shy but determined.
"I want to get familiar with Fuyuki in advance with you!" she stated her request clearly.
What—!
They were going out together?! The thought was unbearable.
Just as Vivian felt her breathing becoming a little difficult to keep up with, things suddenly developed in a direction she had never anticipated.
Tohsaka Sakura, still tightly holding Sir Ian's hand, cautiously asked her teacher.
"Teacher—"
"Will you... will you come with us?" she asked, extending an invitation that was both innocent and, perhaps, a subtle challenge.