"Luosifen... the taste is really something else!"
A look of happiness, satisfaction, and unexpected surprise appeared on Rin's face as she contentedly finished the soup in her bowl, then looked at her sister and Ryuya.
"Sakura, Dad, don't you think... it's not tasty?"
Looking at Sakura's complicated expression and Ryuya's impassive face, Rin's familiarity with her sister meant she didn't need to think twice, their long-standing tacit understanding allowed her to see at a glance that Sakura didn't much care for the luosifen.
As for Ryuya, frankly, ever since she saw him return, he had always been gentle with everyone at home. Seeing him eat with an expressionless face like today was proof enough of his current mood.
"Sister, it seems I'm just not suited for luosifen after all."
Biting her lip gently, although the rule that luosifen smells bad but tastes great seemed to hold no meaning for Sakura.
Finding herself with no real feeling for the bowl of food before her, she could only awkwardly stir the broth with her spoon.
"The taste... is a bit overwhelming."
Having virtually zero requirements for food, starting from his simulation as the son of the Vile King in Camelot, Ryuya was also a king who led warriors into battle.
Back then, during military campaigns, he couldn't afford to be picky, and having anything to eat was good enough. Even so, he showed resistance to luosifen.
Only out of a desire not to waste food did he finish what was in his bowl. His expressionless face now rarely revealed a hint of... humanity?
"Pfft..."
"Sakura? Rin? What are you laughing at?"
Watching his two daughters burst into laughter, Ryuya didn't understand what they found so funny.
"Nothing, it's just that we discovered even Dad has foods you dislike."
"Yes, I always thought you were perfect, Dad... Ah, sorry, I misspoke."
For Sakura and Rin, whether it was the Ryuya described by Irisviel or the father in their fantasies, he was absolutely perfect, an irreplaceable existence.
To some extent, it was like the leader of the entire world suddenly telling you he's picking you up for a meal and thoughtfully informing you he doesn't eat spicy food.
In this sudden, startling demotion from god to human, what Rin and Sakura remembered was Crimson Moon, was Hope… those two peerless, disdainful women showing emotion upon seeing Ryuya.
The initial distance and awe they felt towards Ryuya vanished without a trace during this meal.
"You two... did you think I was some kind of rigid old man?"
Seeing Rin and Sakura's smiling faces, how could Ryuya not guess what his daughters were thinking? He stretched out his index finger and flicked each girl lightly on the forehead, then called the waiter to settle the bill.
"Sakura, Rin, where would you like to go this afternoon?"
Since all the Masters and Servants for the Holy Grail War had now gathered, meaning the war was about to begin, Ryuya's goal today was to take Rin and Sakura out to have some fun while they still could.
"Where to go?"
Having lived in Snowfield City for so many years, Irisviel had already taken the two sisters and Illya to see and do almost everything there was. If there really was a place they hadn't been, it would probably be...
"Wow, so this is what a maid cafe is like?"
The moment they stepped into the shop, Rin let out an exclamation of surprise.
Affected by her outburst, all the customers, maid staff, and even many of the napping cats in the shop shuddered slightly and looked at Rin.
"Nee-san, you're too loud."
Sakura, following behind Rin, added with a wry smile.
At this moment, the place where Ryuya and the two girls found themselves was a famous maid cafe in Snowfield City.
While called a maid cafe, it was actually a massive restaurant spanning over three floors and totaling 1000 square meters.
Besides various drinks like coffee, milk tea, and sake, it also offered snacks, Japanese cuisine, maid services, and a dedicated cat petting area.
As it was a weekday and still lunchtime, the shop wasn't very crowded. Most of the maids were resting, and numerous cats were lounging on cushions, cat trees, and other spots.
The reason they chose this place wasn't really because they hadn't been here before, after all, with Irisviel around, Rin and Sakura had already experienced everything Snowfield City had to offer.
They simply wanted to stroll around with Ryuya's company. The destination itself... wasn't important.
"Mhm, mhm, I'll be careful."
Nodding somewhat absentmindedly, Rin didn't pay attention to the admiring looks the male customers were giving her and her sister. She was simply marveling at the number of cats while trying to beckon them over.
"Meow~ Meow~ Come here, meow~"
Having a natural love for small animals, Rin spoke while crouching on one knee, trying to slowly approach these cats…
However, the cats seemed somewhat afraid of her, each one quickly running away. Seeing this, Sakura added with a laugh, "Just like before, the cats are all scared of you, Nee-san."
As she spoke, a couple of bolder cats had already come to her side. In Sakura's memory, every time they came to such places, Rin would cause the cats to flee, for some unknown reason.
"Ahhhh! Why do you run away!"
Looking distressedly at the fleeing cats, Rin let out a sound of dissatisfied frustration.
"Rin, do you like cats?"
Coming up behind Rin, Ryuya asked.
"I do! I really like small animals."
Noticing Ryuya was beside her, Rin immediately stood up.
It was clear she still felt a mix of affection and slight awe towards Ryuya, seeming troubled about what expression to wear at the moment.
"You like cats."
Smiling, he simply waved his hand towards the cats. With that small gesture, all the cats in the shop seemed to receive some command and frantically rushed over, gathering at their feet… more precisely, at Ryuya's feet, rubbing against him.
"Huh... Dad, how did you...?"
Gently picking up a very handsome, pure white Ragdoll cat, Ryuya handed it to Rin, "Give it a hug."
"Ah~~~"
Her voice was timid and a bit soft, making it hard to imagine that the strong, proud Princess Tohsaka Rin from the academy would show such an adorable side.
Hesitating slightly, Rin still took the Ragdoll cat. As she did, her fingers lightly brushed against Ryuya's fingertips. This fleeting contact made the young maiden's face flush with bashful redness.
"Dad, did you use magecraft? How did these cats all come to you?"
Looking at Ryuya curiously, just as Rin finished her question, a sound came from the shop entrance again.
"My, my, what a coincidence, my ally, Ryuya-sama."
The smiling visage carried a bone-chilling coldness. The girl, pure as a snow lotus, was none other than the so-called Princess of the Root, Sajyou Manaka.