It was a while before Vivian reluctantly let go of Ian. She gazed at him, both familiar and unfamiliar, her eyes reflecting emotions as intricate as the Minotaur's labyrinth.
If she could start over, Vivian felt she might have chosen to leave Camelot with him by the lake that day, forsaking the chance to ascend to the throne.
But—
There are no "ifs." Just as the forgotten are destined to gather dust in the corners of memory. The man before her was indeed Ian, but he no longer loved her as he once did.
"..."
Ian reached out, touching the spot where Vivian had just kissed him. His eyes showed confusion, but he managed to control his emotions and speak. "Vivian, what was that..."
Facing his bewilderment, Vivian already had her prepared excuse. She clasped her hands behind her back, meeting the tall man's gaze directly, and answered him:
"That's a form of thanks in England."
"Please don't mind it."
"..."
[You knew this certainly wasn't the real reason.]
[After all, you and Sakura Tohsaka lived in the Clock Tower for quite some time—even if you eventually returned to Finland, that fact wouldn't change.]
[You had a good grasp of what constituted a 'thank you' gesture.]
[However, looking at Vivian, you felt there was no need to expose her.]
[Since this mature teacher chose to act this way, she must have her own reasons.]
[For some reason, you felt you could completely trust her.]
[And apart from that, you realized you actually enjoyed the kiss too.]
[But you understood this might not be a good sign—it was better to subtly express the appropriate boundaries between you.]
Watching Vivian finish her "explanation," Ian hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke his mind:
"I see, I understand."
"However—"
"If you don't mind, Vivian, could you give me a heads-up next time you plan to do something like that?"
"Coming on so suddenly... is a little startling."
Hearing Ian's "warning," Vivian's heart sank. Once upon a time, he would never have so subtly expressed the need for boundaries with her.
The witch then realized how many concessions he had made for her, how much hesitation he had swallowed. That was such a sincere and passionate feeling, now turned into a mere bubble.
However—
Vivian knew all of this was the bitter fruit of her own making. In this moment, she could only force herself to swallow it whole.
"Mm."
Vivian managed a strained smile, then nodded. "I understand."
"In the future... it won't be so sudden."
"That's good then." Ian very magnanimously forgave the witch's impolite "raid." "Let's just pretend nothing happened now."
"Vivian, Sakura and the others must be waiting anxiously. We need to serve the dishes quickly."
"Alright."
Having reached an agreement, Ian and Vivian were about to carry the prepared dishes out of the kitchen. And just at that moment—
Sakura Tohsaka, who had been observing in secret, walked in, feigning nonchalance. "Um, I'll help too."
"Eh?" Ian hadn't expected Sakura Tohsaka to enter at this moment. He instinctively "rejected" her offer.
"No need, it's smoky in here, Sakura. You go on out first."
"Vivian and I can handle it."
What Ian didn't know was that his simple words, to Sakura Tohsaka, who had just witnessed the kiss, were like a lit fuse. She instinctively took it as a direct result of Vivian's actions.
Then—
She had to get serious too.
"It's alright, Mr. Ian," Sakura Tohsaka said with a smile.
"You and Miss Vivian are guests... how can I let guests do all the work?"
"But weren't you just back too...?" Ian couldn't help but say.
"There's. No. Need. To. Quibble. Over. That."
As Sakura Tohsaka spoke, she walked over to Vivian and "took" the plate of food from her hands.
"..."
Such an aggressively possessive action—even if Vivian hadn't known Sakura had witnessed the kiss, she would have understood her student was jealous.
How could I possibly let him go to you?
The witch's eyes began to show resentment. She unhesitatingly picked up another plate, continuing Sakura's earlier statement.
"Indeed, there's no need to quibble over these things."
"Ian, let's go."
"..."
Although the atmosphere felt subtly off, Ian knew it was best not to express any opinion at this moment. He had a feeling that if he said the wrong thing, things could quickly spiral out of control.
"Mm, I understand."
[You, Vivian, and Sakura Tohsaka entered and exited the kitchen together.]
[The three of you made several trips back and forth before finally managing to get all the dishes out.]
[It was a remarkably strange atmosphere, and also an incredibly suffocating one.]
[You desperately wanted to break the tension, but you had no idea how.]
In the dining room.
Rin Tohsaka looked confusedly at the scene across the table. Sakura Tohsaka and Vivian had both seated themselves beside Ian, leaving her own sides of the table empty. If her mother, Aoi Zenjou, hadn't sat down, it would have created the bizarre situation of a lively side of the table and a cold, deserted one on her side.
"..."
"No!" Rin Tohsaka couldn't help but exclaim. "Why are you all squeezed together?! Won't it be hard to reach the food like that?!"
"Sit a little apart! Otherwise, it'll look like our house is tiny!"
Rin Tohsaka was very direct in her speech. This was a habit she had developed over time. After all—
Outwardly, she was an excellent student council lady, excelling in everything. Inwardly, because her mother Aoi Zenjou was in poor health, Rin Tohsaka was the actual head of the family. This dual superiority had long taught Rin Tohsaka how to assert her opinions. No matter when or where, she possessed her own little pride.
However—
For Vivian and Sakura Tohsaka at this moment.
Although they knew their actions were probably not ideal, both also knew this was absolutely not the time to give ground. After a brief entanglement, Vivian and Sakura Tohsaka simultaneously looked towards Rin Tohsaka across the table. Though they said nothing, their gazes unanimously conveyed the same message.
That was for Rin Tohsaka to "mind her own business."
"..."
Rin Tohsaka, realizing this, was stunned for a moment. They, master and student, are actually that united?
Fortunately, Rin Tohsaka's mother, Aoi Zenjou, wasn't someone who couldn't read the room. She quickly realized that her eldest daughter's recent words seemed to have caused some undesirable effects. As the highest-ranking member of the Tohsaka family (at least overtly), Aoi Zenjou immediately diffused the situation.
"It's alright."
"You don't need to mind what Rin said; she just acts too much like a student council president, always wanting to manage everything."
"Sakura, Miss Vivian, please just pretend you didn't hear her."
"..."
Rin Tohsaka looked at her mother, Aoi Zenjou. She knew her mother was trying to save face for her, and she couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration. Even in this situation... she's still thinking of her daughter.
If I can truly obtain the Holy Grail—
Then I'll wish for her recovery!
Thinking this, Rin Tohsaka smoothly followed her mother's lead.
"Mom's right."
"I just have a habit of lecturing others... just consider it a whim of mine."
"..."
The three at the other side of the table knew Rin Tohsaka was going along with her mother's words. But everyone understood there was no need to expose her—after all, doing so would surely lead to extreme awkwardness later.
Ian, realizing this, immediately changed the subject.
"Let's eat first."
"We can talk about other things after dinner."
"Mm!" Knowing Ian was also helping her, Rin Tohsaka took the offered step down. "Let me have a taste."
Rin Tohsaka picked up her chopsticks and began to sample the dishes before her. The moment it touched her tongue, she gasped. "This... who made this food? It tastes really good!"
Rin Tohsaka wasn't just being complimentary. As the head of the family, her cooking skills were quite impressive. It was precisely because of this that Rin Tohsaka could quickly and accurately judge that the person who made this dish was definitely no amateur.
"..."
Ian thought for a moment, deciding to preserve Vivian's dignity. He answered Rin Tohsaka's question: "Vivian and I made it together."
"..."
Vivian's eyes dimmed slightly, but then, as if making a sudden resolve, they brightened again. She couldn't continue to claim his credit.
"No."
"Ian made it alone... I was just assisting him."
"Hm?"
Rin Tohsaka frowned slightly. "Who made it exactly?"
"Sister," Sakura Tohsaka spoke up at this point. "Does it matter who made it?"
"Uh..." Rin Tohsaka scratched her cheek. "Not really, I guess."
"Then—"
Sakura Tohsaka smiled faintly, then made a "please" gesture. "Sister, why don't you use the time you spend asking questions on eating instead?"
"..."
Feeling the atmosphere was strangely peculiar, Rin Tohsaka didn't press the question of who made the food further. She went along with her sister's words, agreeing.
"You're right~"
"Yes, if the food is this good, I should definitely eat more!"
"Mom, Sakura, Miss Vivian, please eat more!"
"Alright. / Understood. / Thank you."
Seeing that the situation had finally stabilized, Ian sighed in relief. He was truly in a difficult position.
On his left sat his Master, Sakura Tohsaka, with whom he shared over a decade of companionship. On his right sat Miss Vivian, whom he instinctively felt familiar with. Neither was someone he could casually ignore.
But now, things were finally a little better.
At least—
They could finally have a proper meal.
However, things were not as simple as they seemed. Just as Ian picked up his own chopsticks, lifted the first dish, but before bringing it to his mouth—
He found the atmosphere had once again become tense. The reason for this situation was that Sakura Tohsaka and Vivian simultaneously looked at him. They seemed to have interpreted Ian's movement of chopsticks as an action to pick food for someone.
And so—
A scene even more terrifying than before unfolded.
Sakura Tohsaka watched from his left, both hands clutching her bowl, looking as if she were ready to receive any food Ian might pick up at any moment. And Vivian watched from his right, her hand subtly tugging at the corner of Ian's clothes. Clearly, she also desperately wanted Ian's chopstick-chosen food as a sign of his preference.
The situation suddenly became incredibly tricky. Ian knew he absolutely couldn't just put the food back into his own bowl as originally intended—otherwise, both women would surely feel extremely awkward. But he also couldn't pick the food for either of them. If he did, the other would definitely be very uncomfortable.
What should he do?
Just as Ian found himself at a complete loss, an unexpected savior appeared.
It was Rin Tohsaka.
Holding her bowl, she looked confusedly at Ian, who seemed frozen in time.
"Ian, what are you doing? You picked up food, but you're not eating?"
She's here!
A savior!
Following Rin Tohsaka's words, Ian directly placed the food he had picked up into her bowl.
"No, I was just thinking that if Miss Rin finds the taste good—"
"Then you should eat more!"
"Huh?"
Rin Tohsaka looked at the extra food in her bowl, momentarily unsure what Ian meant. But she knew that refusing outright would definitely be impolite.
"Ian, thank you."
The moment she spoke those words, Rin Tohsaka felt a chill. It was the combined gaze of her sister Sakura Tohsaka and her teacher Vivian. Both seemed extremely displeased that Rin Tohsaka had received that one chopstick-full from Ian.
But before Rin Tohsaka could even figure out what was going on, a new round of contention between Sakura Tohsaka and Vivian began.
Vivian took the initiative, very naturally mimicking Ian's earlier action, and very gracefully picked up some food for him.
"Ian."
"You... worked hard cooking, so eat a lot too."
"..."
Sakura Tohsaka realized she was a step too late, and immediately tried to make up for it elsewhere. She no longer cared that her mother was watching—after all, if she didn't react soon, her teacher might really snatch Ian away. She directly took the bowl of food that Vivian had just placed some in, and, like a girlfriend, asked Ian for his opinion.
"Um—"
"Mr. Ian."
"Since you're so tired from cooking... do you want me to feed you?"
Rin Tohsaka, on the other side, was dumbfounded.
Zzzap.
A white lightning bolt flashed through Rin Tohsaka's mind.
So that's what it is!
Holding her bowl, she suddenly understood why the food Ian had picked up earlier had caused such universal hostility from Vivian and Sakura Tohsaka.
That wasn't just food, was it?
That was a fuse!
Her sister, Sakura Tohsaka, was clearly fighting with her teacher, Vivian, over Ian, their Servant!