Rin's aloof behavior left Matou Kariya feelibroken.

  He hadn't done anything wrong, so why was his little angel suddenly ag so distant?

  It must be Tokiomi's fault, he thought bitterly.

  "Sakura, are you okay?" Kariya asked, looking at her with genuine .

  He had rushed back to Fuyuki the moment he heard about what happened, relieved to learn that Sakura had been rescued. However, no matter how many times he tried reag out to her in the group chat, Sakura never responded, which left him feeling anxious all ain.

  "I'm fine…" Sakura replied softly.

  With Chihiro by her side, Sakura felt safe, her usual silearting to ease up.

  Seeing her like this, Kariya felt a pang of sorrow once more.

  Damn Zouken, damn Tokiomi. Look at what you've doo such a kind child.

  "Mr. Kariya, have you been back to the Matou household tely?" Chihiro suddenly asked.

  Kariya frowned. "No, I haven't returo the Matou estate since I came back to Fuyuki. Why?"

  "Oh, nothing," Chihiro said casually, but gave a quice at Zhang Jiao.

  Uhe table, Zhang Jiao discreetly produced a talisman. He ted softly, and the talisman igransf into a thin line of fire that shot out of sight.

  Not far away, several is lurking in the shadows were ied in an instant.

  ---

  At the Matou residence, Zouken Matou felt the sudden loss of his monit familiars and snorted coldly.

  "So, they've noticed…"

  Zouken muttered, seething. It's that brat with the straeiques again. I'll teach him a lessoually.

  For now, he couldn't act; Chihiro had a Heroic Spirit with him. Besides, his i in Sakura had waned for the time being.

  What ed him more was Kariya's ret transformation.

  How could a man with no natural affinity fecraft suddenly possess funing magic circuits?

  Zouken recalled iing Kariya himself and firming that he was just an ordinary man.

  To verify Kariya's authenticity as a mage, Zouken had eve him a reliexpectedly, Kariya had successfully summoned a Servant, firming that his magical circuits were indeed real.

  This ge piqued Zouken's curiosity, prompting him to keep a close wat Kariya.

  Over time, he'd observed something strange, Kariya often seemed to talk to empty air, or sit in a daze around midday as though lost in his own world.

  Zouken suspected that some form of magic was obsg his vision, preventing him from seeing the full picture.

  With Tokiomi's sudden hostility toward Kariya as well, it was clear something unusual was unfolding in this Holy Grail War—something he wasn't privy to.

  ---

  "Kariya!"

  Back at the fast food restaurant, Tohsaka Aoi emerged from the restroom, stopping short as she noticed Kariya.

  Aoi wasn't a member of the group chat, so she had no knowledge of the future where Kariya killed Tokiomi. And Tokiomi certainly hadn't mentio to her.

  "...Aoi…"

  Seeing the woman he loved, Kariya finally managed a faint smile.

  Aoi smiled back, seemingly relieved. "When did you e back? I had no idea."

  "Just a few days ago," Kariya replied with a bitter smile. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't left back then, maybe I could've warned you about my family's true nature, and Sakura wouldn't have had to suffer…"

  "It's alright. This isn't your fault," Aoi said gently as she sat beside Sakura, affeately patting her head.

  Kariya watched them for a moment before his attention shifted to the unfamiliar figure sitting nearby. "Uh… and who is this?"

  Standing with a regal air and dressed in moder fshy attire, Ishtar caught his eye. There was something oddly familiar about her appearance, she looked almost exactly like Rin.

  "Ha! I am Ishtar, the goddess of Venus," she procimed proudly, lifting her . "How rude of you, mortal, to ignore a goddess."

  "You're… Ishtar?" Kariya stammered, thhly fused.

  Why did this so-called goddess look so much like Rin?

  Lag formal training in magecraft, Kariya had no knowledge of Pseudo-Servants, let alone why a goddess would share a face with his niece.

  "Kariya, have you had lunch yet? Why don't you join us?" Aoi offered warmly.

  "Well… alright," Kariya agreed, uo refuse her invitation.

  He took a seat, quietly the Tohsaka family and sav the rare moment of happiness. He wished he could freeze this se and preserve it forever.

  ---

  "Hmm?"

  Red Hare, who had been happily mung on a carrot, suddenly stopped and lifted its head, gng around warily.

  "What is it, Red Hare?" Chihiro asked, notig the horse's unusual behavior.

  Red Hare's expression turned serious. "Someone is watg us, but I 't locate them."

  "An invisible observer?" Chihiro's gaze sharpened, and he g Zhang Jiao. "Could the old worm still be spying on us?"

  Zhang Jiao looked around and shook his head. "No, I don't sense any of his familiars."

  "Hm? So it's not Zouken?"

  Chihiro pondered, frowning. "Who else has the skill to remain hidden like this? Could it be Emiya Kiritsugu?"

  The only other person Chihiro could think of with such exceptional stealth capabilities was Kiritsugu.

  But then…

  "Wait… that's…"

  Chihiro's eyes widened as he caught sight of a distant figure standing on the roof of a nearby building.

  The figure's distinct appearance immediately hi its identity, leaving Chihiro in shock.

  But just as he focused, the figure vanished as if it had never been there.

  Did I imagi? Chihiro thought, doubting himself. Why would that person appear during the Fourth Holy Grail War?

  Was it possible they had been summoned using a Heroic Spirit Summoning Card?

  No, that figure didn't seem like the type who would enter a tract with anyone, especially not outside of their homend.

  "You're not imagining things."

  Zhang Jiao's voice cut into Chihiro's rag thoughts. "I saw it too."

  Chihiro let out a breath, reassured. "So, I'm not halluating…"

  It seems the Fourth Holy Grail War has gone pletely off-script.