Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

It was resolved so easily; even someone as resilient as me was somewhat taken aback this time.

Aozaki Touko looked intently at Shirou and spoke calmly.

"By the way, Ritsuka. It might be a bit sudden, but could you please run an errand for me? Go to the shopping street and buy a kilogram of beef."

"This is so sudden! Why did I have to do this?"

Aozaki Touko winked at her through her glasses: "This is preparation for conquering the city, please, Ritsuka."

"No arguing while I'm not around!!!"

After shouting this at the two people inside the house, Ritsuka Shuse disappeared into the entrance hall.

After getting rid of the homeowner, only Shirou and Touko remained in the small apartment.

"Shirou... My name is Amamiya Shirou."

The boy's initiative in introducing himself made Aozaki Touko smile.

Her gentle laughter contained no sarcasm, but rather a warm feeling, as if it were enveloping you.

"You're really serious, Shirou... Hmm, I like people like you."

She squinted and said, "In that case, I'll introduce myself again. Nice to meet you, I'm Aozaki Touko."

Since the night in the forest a few days ago, Aozaki Touko has noticed Amemiya Shirou's presence.

A mysterious boy appeared in Misaki City without warning, as if by divine intervention from a stage mechanism.

His strength is so great that it is unfathomable, and all his actions so far seem to point to one goal: to protect Qingzi.

Who exactly is this child?

Why did it have to happen at this time of all...?

This boy would help his sister defeat him; this is how Aozaki Touko should react.

In fact, that was what she thought until yesterday.

However, after meeting Shirou in person today, she had a new realization.

Although this idea is incredible, but—

To Aozaki Touko was surprised to find that this child was not her enemy.

"The lawyer is quick and efficient; he should be back in no time."

So, Shirou, let me get straight to the point and ask you this:

Should I consider you my enemy?

Aozaki Touko maintained her polite and dignified adult posture, her legs, encased in black stockings, were elegantly crossed, but her eyes sparkled with a girlish curiosity.

"As expected of Aoko's older sister, she's so perceptive... Well, that saves me some time."

Shirou looked her straight in the eye and declared, "Touko, I don't intend to be your enemy."

Orange asked even more curiously, "Isn't it true that I'm about to start a war with Aoko?"

Shirou nodded and said, "Yes, even if you become Aoko's enemy, I will not consider you an enemy."

After listening to the boy's confession, the puppeteer thoughtfully pinched his chin and nodded.

"...It's incredible. I feel the same way, which is why I asked that question."

Even though you have repeatedly hindered me, I cannot sense any hostility from you.

Shirou... what is your true purpose? Can you tell me?

"To save you, I jumped from eight years in the future into this era—"

Shirou, of course, would never utter such words, which were practically a heartfelt confession.

He simply said, "You don't need to know."

Upon hearing this, Aozaki Touko showed an expression of great regret: "Is that so... You can't tell me yet? That's a shame."

But even if you, Shirou, don't intend to be my enemy, I won't let Aoko go, okay? Is that alright?

“It’s alright,” Shirou said.

Aozaki Touko said thoughtfully, "Your eyes reveal the determination that 'Aoko will not lose to you'..."

It's strange, I should be really angry, but I can't get angry at you at all. Oh well—"

The red-haired puppeteer suddenly stood up and stretched languidly.

When she arched her back, her already full and proud breasts became even more prominent, and Shirou was subconsciously drawn to them, so he quickly turned his gaze away.

"Shirou, I like you more and more... Do you want to come over here?"

Aozaki Touko looked at Shirou.

Shirou was surprised to find that the glasses she was wearing had disappeared.

At first, I just thought, "This child seems to belong to Aoko," so it was only natural to take him away.

But now I'm certain, you're not Aoko's thing at all—

But now I want you even more... I simply want you now.

The red-haired witch extended her slender fingers and placed them on the boy's face.

"Come with me, Shirou... I will love you dearly and give you a sense of satisfaction that those two girls could never give you."

Shirou had been warned by Aoko before the time jump, but he never expected that he would actually be won over by Aoko.

I remembered the promise I made to "Aoko in the future," but even so.

Shirou answered without hesitation.

"Yeah, sure."

Volume 2, Chapter 133: Yuzhu: How can I shut up my past self?!

"...Would you like to come with me?"

Upon hearing Shirou's unexpected reply, Aozaki Touko's aggressive demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a pure, girlish joy.

But when she looked at Shirou again, the red-haired doll's smile froze.

Aozaki Touko frowned her beautiful eyebrows and asked coldly.

"Shirou... are you kidding me?"

Shirou maintained his usual expression and denied it, saying, "That's not true. Why would you think that?"

"…………"

Aozaki Touko removed her slender, pale fingers from the boy's face.

"Because your eyes... they are rejecting my gaze."

Why tell such an obvious lie? You clearly never intended to be mine.

"I did not lie."

"That is--"

"I can be your companion, Orange, but I can't be your possession."

Shirou said.

He disliked this kind of simple relationship of domination and being dominated, of keeping and being kept.

While it can simplify interpersonal relationships, Shirou sees such relationships as fragile.

Shirou and Touko are completely at odds on this most fundamental issue.

After returning to the pan-human history, Shirou became much more merciful than before, no longer the ruthless "fairy killer" he once was.

Because he knew that this was "common sense" necessary for integrating into the human world.

Even if it's an enemy with whom he once fought to the death, if the other party is not an incorrigible villain, Shirou will spare their life after asking them to fulfill certain demands.

For example, Tokiomi Tohsaka and Risei Kotomine.

After they signed a pledge promising not to leak Shirou's information or cause trouble for Shirou and those around him, Shirou spared their lives.

As Shirou put this belief into practice, he gained more and more companions.

Irisviel, the girls of Einzbern, Lady Avalon... they became Shirou's family.

Kenneth, Sora, Waver... they all later became Shirou's allies.

Aozaki Touko, on the other hand, is on a path completely opposite to Shirou's.

At the Clock Tower, she is a magician known for her "collecting obsession".

If you can provide valuable material after defeating the enemy magician, you can spare their life.

They might even forcibly save someone's life in order to establish a give-and-take relationship.

As a result, she created a sanatorium in her London workshop called the "Spell Provider's Special Relief Facility," where magicians who had been defeated by Orange or had voluntarily become her accomplices resided.

Although Orange now possesses countless patents for magic, most of her money is used to maintain that facility.

Due to the growing demands from the magicians living there—who want new facilities or special treatment—Orange has recently been seriously considering whether to simply start a company or liberate (fire) everyone.

To outsiders, Aozaki Touko must be a cold-blooded and ruthless witch, but Shirou noticed her gentle side—

Although that tenderness was based on her slightly distorted view of happiness, the victim may not be able to empathize with it.

"Is that so, Shirou? You hate being treated like that... But I swear I'll treat you differently from everyone else."

Because you are so special. Although I have seen all kinds of outstanding talents, this is the first time I have met someone as excellent as you. No, I should say I never thought that someone like you could exist in this world.

Who exactly are you? And where did you come from? I really want to know these things... but even if I ask you, you probably won't tell me.

Then there's only one thing we can do—Shirou, shall we make a bet?

"What do you want to bet on?"

Aozaki Touko displayed a resolute and composed expression, and Shirou felt that she really resembled "the future Aoko".

“I will kill Aoko and take everything from her. When that time comes... Shirou, you will become mine too.”

"Shirou's magic, his skills, your soul, and your freedom—all of it will belong to me alone."

"Ah."

Without hesitation, Shirou nodded and said, "If you can really defeat Aoko, I will agree to anything you ask... I can even become yours."

Conversely, if Aoko wins, then Orange, you have to promise me one thing too.

"what's up?"

Aozaki Touko blinked: "If there's anything Shirou wants me to do for you, you can say it now... I think I won't refuse you."

Shirou shook his head and said, "It's pointless to say it now, because that's something 'the current Orange' can't do."

"Hey~"

The puppeteer pinched her delicate chin.

Then, she voiced a question that had long troubled her:

"Shirou, aren't you going to stop me and Aoko?"

"why?"

Aozaki Touko put her glasses back on and revealed an incredibly gentle and beautiful smile: "Because Aoko and I are sisters. When you see your own sisters killing each other, shouldn't the first reaction of a normal person be to try to stop the fight?"

But Shirou, you seem quite eager for Aoko and me to settle things.

"..."

The boy couldn't help but think of Saber, and her sister... Morgana, the fairy princess from this world whom he had never met.

A genius girl born as the ruler of an island.

The younger sister who took away all her older sister's efforts and dreams.

Their experiences are remarkably similar to those of the Aozaki sisters.