Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

"well enough."

"She's still a high school student, yet she's so capable. When I was in high school, I couldn't do anything."

In her youth, Aoi Tohsaka was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Zenjo family of magicians, and she only learned to cook after getting married.

Although that's what he meant to say, Shirou pictured Tohsaka Aoi in a sailor uniform.

"Rin really trusts Shirou-kun."

"is it?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Tohsaka nodded firmly: "Didn't she want you to stay?"

"If you don't trust someone to a certain degree, you probably wouldn't tolerate someone leaving the house while you're sleeping."

Her daughter trusted Shirou Amamiya even more than she had imagined.

She had thought that Rin would show more antagonism towards Shirou, after all, he was the victor of the Fourth Holy Grail War and the one who broke the ancient covenant of the three founding families.

Rin did indeed think that way, and that was her decision, but—

After spending more time with Shirou, her trust in him surpassed her initial hostility.

Aoi Tohsaka completely understands.

After all, they are mother and daughter connected by blood—although it was only the first time Aoi had met Shirou, she had already developed a strong liking for this upright and gentle boy.

No wonder Irisviel flaunts Shirou at housewives' parties every day.

If Shirou were my child, I would be incredibly proud.

Mrs. Tohsaka said with a smile, "If Shirou were my son, and Rin's older brother, that would be wonderful."

"Spare me, or I'll be bullied to death by her and never be able to hold my head up again." Shirou said with a bitter expression.

Mrs. Tohsaka exclaimed in surprise, "How could that be? I can assure you, Shirou-kun will definitely become the ideal older brother that Rin admires."

Shirou said, "You overestimate me, Aunt Tohsaka. Even if Tohsaka admires me, I'll only feel a chill down my spine."

"If I want to be the ideal older brother, all I need is the approval of Illya and Sakura—"

This is the second time today that Shirou has stepped on a landmine while getting carried away with his success.

When the sound of "sakura" rang out in the kitchen, the air seemed to grow heavy.

"……Feel sorry."

"There is no need for you to apologize, Shirou!"

Aoi Tohsaka waved her hands frantically.

"The one who should apologize is me...it's me...it's all...my fault..."

She looked like she was about to cry.

Only then did Shirou realize that Aoi Tohsaka wasn't simply afraid to face Sakura—

She probably has severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Rin has decided to protect Sakura in her own way, but not everyone can be as strong as her.

Unlike her outstanding daughter, Aoi Tohsaka is still unable to escape the shadow of ten years ago.

Guilt, self-blame, and a sense of guilt have haunted her like a nightmare for years.

This already falls under the category of mental illness...

Shirou looked at Mrs. Tohsaka, whose pupils had lost their luster, and thought to himself.

There's no way to just leave it unattended.

Although it was wrong to meddle in the Tohsaka family's affairs, I was the one who lent a helping hand to Matou Sakura back then.

So—let's just consider it after-sales service from that night ten years ago.

Shirou thought to himself: I will comfort Mrs. Tohsaka.

"Be careful, Aunt Tohsaka, your hands are shaking."

Shirou took Tohsaka Aoi's cold hand from behind and helped her chop vegetables.

"Hmm? Thank you, Shirou-kun."

For Mrs. Tohsaka, this was her first physical contact with a man other than her husband, so she was somewhat surprised.

However, for Shirou, who lives in the same house with many girls, this level of physical contact is taken for granted.

Aoi Tohsaka was slightly surprised by the boy's actions, but she accepted it calmly.

Shirou-kun's body is indeed very sturdy...

Shirou said, "No need to thank me. Neighbors should help each other."

Tohsaka Aoi said, "Hehe, it's so great to have a neighbor like Shirou-kun... But can the Tohsaka family and the Amamiya family really be considered neighbors?"

Shirou first used his excellent eloquence (as he claimed) to ease Aoi Tohsaka's mood somewhat.

"Of course we're neighbors. Aren't you and Irisviel both members of the town's association?"

"Then please take good care of me from now on, Shirou-kun."

Seemingly sensing Shirou's sincerity, Aoi Tohsaka responded with a smile.

Great, now it's time for praise.

"Did you know? Tohsaka is very popular at school. Compared to me, she's like a high-class flower in heaven."

Why are you suddenly bringing this up?

Aoi Tohsaka frowned slightly, sensing that Shirou's tone was somewhat flippant.

Shirou revealed his true intentions: "She really did inherit Aunt Tohsaka's beauty."

Mrs. Tohsaka paused for a moment, then smiled shyly and said, "But I'm an old lady now."

"No, I thought she was Tohsaka's older sister when we first met."

"Really?"

For women, there is no more effective compliment than one on their appearance, and this is true even for mothers.

This is an experience Shirou learned from Irisviel.

Aoi Tohsaka gradually cheered up under Shirou's flattery.

Of course, they didn't stop there and continued their praise offensive.

"Of course, you are not only beautiful, but also an excellent cook."

"No, cooking is just a basic skill."

"Um... Shirou-kun, there's no benefit to praising an old lady like me, is there?"

Mrs. Tohsaka said embarrassedly, casting a resentful look at Shirou.

It was too obvious; women's minds are so hard to understand.

"Yeah, it's delicious."

Mrs. Tohsaka was the first to taste the dish Shirou was in charge of, then covered half her face and praised it highly.

"It's really delicious! Is there anything Shirou-kun can't do?"

"Aunt Tohsaka's cooking is delicious too."

"Hehe, the housewife has already lost completely when compared to the male high school student."

Later, the two enjoyed lunch in a pleasant atmosphere.

Shirou certainly failed to cure Mrs. Tohsaka's PTSD, but he did get much closer to her.

"Hehe, I seem to get along very well with Shirou-kun."

Tohsaka Aoi took a sip of black tea and said with a smile, "If there's a chance, will we be able to chat again in the future, Shirou-kun?"

Shirou replied eagerly, "Of course! I also enjoyed chatting with Aunt Tohsaka. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything in the future."

very good!

That's how I became friends with Aoi Tohsaka, having afternoon tea together, and gradually cured her PTSD.

Shirou's ultimate goal—of course—is to reconcile her with Sakura, mother and daughter, and make them as good as before!

……

……

"Senior, did something good happen today too?"

"Huh? Why would you think that?"

As night fell, at the Amamiya family's dining table, Matou Sakura suddenly asked a question.

It was a Saturday night, yet the Matou family heir appeared in the Amamiya residence's living room, and no one questioned it.

Of course, in Shirou's eyes as the head of the family, Sakura is a member of this family.

"I just felt that my senior seemed very happy today."

Sakura Matou tilted her head and said, while Irisviel chuckled to herself.

She clearly thought Shirou had spent the day having a pleasant family date with Tohsaka, but in reality, the guy slept soundly in bed until evening, while Shirou chatted with his classmate's mother all day.

Putting aside the desire to reconcile Mrs. Tohsaka and Sakura, if you ask whether it was pleasant or not, then of course it was quite pleasant.

Tohsaka Aoi is a mature beauty of a different type from Irisviel, and chatting with her while drinking tea is an ultimate way for Shirou to relax.

"..."

Feeling a little guilty under Sakura's gaze, Shirou changed the subject.

"Oh, right... Sakura, would you like me to check your body?"

"Why……?"

Instead of the stunned purple-haired girl, Sera protested, "Shirou, please stop talking about sexual harassment at the dinner table."

Shirou explained, "It's not what you think!"

Didn't Tohsaka faint at school before because of the rejection reaction to the Magic Crest?

So I think Sakura should also get checked out, just to be on the safe side.

After the Fourth Holy Grail War, Matou Sakura volunteered to learn magic so that she could inherit the name Matou in the future.

Of course, her intentions were not pure—

Sakura Matou decided to learn magic so that she could be by Shirou's side in the future and become a woman of value to him.

She kept this secret to herself and became an apprentice magician.

The Matou family's magic crest vanished along with Zouken Matou's body, but his personality was preserved, and he later became Sakura's magic teacher.

While Matou Sakura doesn't have any troubles related to magic crests, she does have another problem.

That is, her own magical attribute "imaginary number" is incompatible with the Tohsaka family's attribute "water".

Shirou had seen Sakura use magic several times.

The shadowy figure that easily defeated the Middle Eastern magician Atram—if not controlled properly, it could potentially harm the user.

Shirou felt it was still necessary to give Sakura a full medical check-up.

"If you don't want me to examine you, someone else can do it."

"No need, senior is fine."

The girl shook her head and said this.

There is a room in the Amamiya residence that Kirisakura uses exclusively; the examination is conducted there.

"Well then...please take care of me, senior."

Sakura Matou was kneeling on the tatami mat when Shirou suddenly bowed deeply to her.

It felt a bit like a wedding night, with the wife saying to her husband, "I am not very talented, please guide me in the future"...