Rider, who had been coldly keeping everyone at a distance just moments ago, immediately broke into a smile when she spotted Shirou.
She walked straight up and linked her arm with his. She moved so quickly that Shirou missed his chance to pretend he didn't know her.
"Let's go, darling."
Rider's voice was so sweet it practically dripped with honey, completely unlike the cold, unapproachable attitude she had shown just moments before.
The guys who had been hitting on her froze at the sudden change in her demeanor. Caught completely off guard, they turned to stare at Shirou.
"What the hell? So she really was waiting for someone."
"Tch, and it's some high school kid... You've got to be kidding me."
They muttered irritably, clicking their tongues loudly in an attempt to hide their embarrassment.
"What's so great about that short, baby-faced kid anyway...? You two don't match at all."
Shirou was thoroughly annoyed, but he couldn't exactly argue with them on that point.
He might shoot up to 187 cm after turning twenty, but right now he was only 167 cm tall.
Rider was already over 172 cm, and with high heels on top of that, simply standing beside her made Shirou look strangely out of place.
Still, if anyone here was unworthy of Rider, it was definitely these guys who went around hitting on women.
"Hey, you guys..."
Just as Shirou was about to step forward and give them a piece of his mind, he suddenly felt a chill from beside him.
He turned toward its source and saw Rider's lips curl into a faint, contemptuous smile as she looked at the men.
"So what if he's a little short?"
"Urk...!"
Still holding Shirou's upper arm, Rider fixed the men with an utterly frigid glare.
She usually gave off the impression of an intelligent beauty with perfect control over her emotions, but now she looked positively furious.
"Shirou is far more of a man than trash like you could ever be."
Her murderous gaze was like that of a venomous snake locking onto a rat.
That alone made the men feel as though their bodies were turning to stone from the legs upward, no longer under their control.
"...Rider."
Shirou called her name softly.
Rider withdrew her gaze, and the men, finally freed from that pressure, fled in a panic.
"...Phew."
Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.
If they caused a scene here, both he and Sakura would end up getting lectured by Tohsaka and Caren later.
Come to think of it, several of the bystanders watching him and Rider were wearing Homurahara uniforms. Was school going to have a fresh batch of rumors tomorrow?
Something like "Shirou Amamiya spotted on a date with mysterious beauty" or "Amamiya's real girlfriend revealed" could easily spread through the entire school overnight.
Shirou could already imagine the utterly heartbroken look on Issei's face when he heard about it.
"Hmph. That was a close one."
Rider spoke coolly, then turned to Shirou.
"I was so scared. All those men kept coming over to hit on me."
"You didn't look scared in the slightest."
"Mm. I'm fine now because you're here, Shirou. Please get rid of any pests that come near me."
"Even if you say that..."
To be honest, Shirou had been pretty happy when Rider stepped in and defended him like that.
Even though she was the one who had dragged him into the whole mess in the first place.
Rider really is cool...
So even when she suddenly started acting like a helpless girl, Shirou felt absolutely nothing.
Still, Rider really did attract far too much attention.
There would probably be no shortage of men approaching her like this from now on. Once he got home, he would have to discuss some countermeasures with Tohsaka and the others.
"Let's move somewhere less crowded first. And, uh... could you let go of my arm?"
Shirou looked down at his arm, which was currently being pressed against her ample chest.
Only then did Rider let go of him.
Afterward, Shirou took Rider into a tea shop along the street to get away from prying eyes.
It was right around the time school clubs were finishing for the day. If someone they knew spotted him walking around town with Rider, things could get troublesome.
The shop was small and tastefully decorated, with soft classical music playing in the background.
There weren't many customers inside, mostly older women and couples. The warm, subdued lighting gave the place a cozy atmosphere.
"What are you doing in the shopping district, Rider?"
After placing his own order, Shirou handed the menu to Rider.
"I heard you've been wandering around here for the past few days. Are you looking for your Master?"
Rider opened the menu and shook her head.
"That isn't important right now."
"Not important? Isn't finding your Master the most important thing to you? Even if you've forgotten your True Name and identity, you still haven't forgotten your purpose..."
She had seemed so eager about it before, yet now she acted as though it hardly mattered.
Rider gave Shirou a meaningful look before answering.
"Anyway, let's put that aside for now. The reason I came to the shopping district... was to look for a part-time job."
"Uh."
Shirou was left speechless.
What an unexpectedly practical reason.
Rider continued, "Sakura said I could stay at her house for as long as I wanted. But I don't think it's right to keep relying on her like that. I'd like to find a part-time job and contribute to the household expenses."
"I see. So that's why you've been wandering around the shopping district."
Shirou nodded in understanding.
Rider might be a Servant, but she clearly didn't want to become a burden on Sakura. That consideration made Shirou think even more highly of her.
"If you don't mind, Shirou, could you help me look for a part-time job too?"
"Well, I guess I can do that."
That evening, after discussing the matter with Tohsaka, Shirou had agreed to let Rider settle in Fuyuki.
Rin Tohsaka had initially objected, but Sakura Matou kept insisting, "I'll take full responsibility!" Eventually, Rin gave in.
"If Rider causes any trouble, Sakura won't be the only one held responsible. You'll be accountable too, Amamiya-san!"
Sakura Matou immediately went pale.
It would have been one thing if she were the only one punished, but if Senpai got dragged into it because of her...
Miss Rin Tohsaka, the Evil Lord of Fuyuki, had executed her plan perfectly.
In any case, Shirou also had to take responsibility for Rider now.
"A part-time job that would suit Rider..."
Shirou glanced from the corner of his eye at the female Servant sitting across from him.
Her impossibly beautiful hair. Her flawless, delicate features.
Her natural elegance. Her full, shapely figure, paired with long, slender arms and legs.
There were rumors at school that Rider was a fashionable beauty, but the truth was actually much simpler.
Even the most ordinary pair of jeans became fashionable the moment Rider put them on.
She was practically the perfect clothes horse.
"Rider, why don't you try modeling? I bet it pays pretty well."
"Modeling... me?"
Rider clearly hadn't expected Shirou to suggest such a thing. Surprise flashed through her violet eyes.
Shirou thought it was a great idea.
Iri sometimes left fashion magazines scattered all over the house, and he had occasionally glanced through them while cleaning up.
To be honest, the models in those magazines couldn't even compare to Rider.
"You're really beautiful, Rider. I'm sure you'd be popular as a model."
"...!"
Rider's eyes visibly wavered.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks, though the light of the setting sun made it difficult to notice.
"Shirou... do you really think so?"
"Yeah."
"Th... thank you."
"?"
For some reason, having her thank him made Shirou feel embarrassed too.
"So, what do you think? Want to try applying?"
"I'll pass."
Rider quickly regained her composure.
Shirou cried out, "Why!?"
"Wait... Shirou, why are you so excited about this? You suddenly got really worked up!"
Of course he was excited at the thought of seeing Rider dressed in all sorts of different outfits!
The boy screamed those words inside his head, but naturally, he couldn't say them aloud.
In sharp contrast to Shirou's enthusiasm, Rider remained rather cool about the idea.
"I'm not suited to modeling. I'm not cute at all."
"Cute?"
Rider nodded.
"To be cute, you have to be petite... That's a world I have nothing to do with."
Admittedly, "cute" was generally used to praise things that were small and delicate, which was the complete opposite of Rider.
But models didn't have to be "cute," did they?
It wasn't as though she was going to model children's clothes.
"Rider is already beautiful enough..."
"Shirou, don't you prefer cute, petite girls too?"
"I think they each have their own appeal."
Rider stopped and shook her head.
"What I mean is, if it were the same girl, wouldn't Shirou prefer her cute and petite?"
"Of course n..."
Shirou stopped halfway through his answer as several images suddenly flashed through his mind.
Aesc the Savior and Morgan.
One was the girl who had traveled alongside him, slender, petite, and cute. The other was the Queen of Britannia, mature and alluring.
Artoria and the Lion King.
One was a gallant, androgynous beauty. The other was the majestic and sacred Goddess of the Holy Lance.
The same person, yet each form possessed an entirely different charm.
Could he really choose between them?
Could he honestly say that they became more attractive after their bodies matured?
Shirou: "..."
Rider stared straight into his eyes, then sighed.
"Shirou... So you really do think 'cute and petite' is better."
"I don't think that."
"Let's just drop the subject."
In the end, Rider rejected the suggestion of working part-time as a model.
If she was going to find a part-time job, she would rather do something involving physical labor. That kind of work suited her better.
That was Rider's opinion.
...
"Shirou-kun?"
Just as Shirou and Rider finished their tea and were preparing to leave, a voice called out from nearby.
The woman who had entered the shop possessed refined features and gave off a gentle, mature air.
It was Rin and Sakura's mother, Aoi Tohsaka.
She wore a simple dress that cinched neatly at the waist, accentuating the graceful curves of her figure.
Despite already being the mother of two children, her figure remained shapely and well-proportioned, with a mature allure that younger girls simply didn't have.
Aoi Tohsaka was carrying shopping bags, apparently having just finished her shopping.
"It really is Shirou! It's been so long!"
The beautiful green-haired woman beamed and clasped her hands together.
"It's a weekday, isn't it? Why are you here, Shirou...? Huh?"
Only then did Aoi Tohsaka realize Shirou wasn't alone. There was a woman sitting across from him.
"..."
For a moment, Aoi Tohsaka was stunned by Rider's extraordinary beauty. A trace of panic even flashed through her eyes.
She had always been confident in her own appearance, but standing beside Rider suddenly made that confidence disappear.
More importantly, this beautiful woman was having tea alone with Shirou...
"I-I see. So you two are on a date... I misunderstood the situation. I'm sorry."
In the span of only a few seconds, the emotion in Aoi Tohsaka's voice went from excitement to dejection.
"It's not like that."
Shirou hurriedly explained the situation to Aoi Tohsaka and invited her to sit down.
During all this, Rider shot him a look sharp enough to make his skin prickle, but Shirou decided to ignore it for now.
"I see. So I misunderstood... Hehe."
Aoi Tohsaka gave an awkward laugh.
"A beauty like Rider-san certainly would get approached a lot."
"Why are you here, Aunt Tohsaka?"
"I come here for tea from time to time, especially after I've finished shopping in the shopping district."
Aoi Tohsaka showed Shirou the ingredients she had bought.
As a middle-aged woman who had divorced her husband and now lived with her children, she had almost limitless free time.
"Shirou... who is she?"
Rider asked bluntly.
It wasn't that she disliked how familiar Shirou seemed with this woman. What caught her attention was the surname Tohsaka.
"I forgot to introduce you. This is Aunt Tohsaka. She's Rin's mother."
"Rin Tohsaka's... mother?"
Rider gave the beautiful green-haired woman another careful look.
From that reaction, she must have already heard from Sakura that Sakura and Rin were sisters.
Which meant that Rin Tohsaka's mother standing before her was also...
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rider."
"?"
Aoi Tohsaka blinked in confusion. Rider-san had been glaring at her so fiercely just moments ago, so why had she suddenly become so polite?
"Rider-san is currently staying with the Matou family."
"!"
Aoi Tohsaka covered her mouth.
"Then that means you're that child's..."
Rider nodded without changing expression.
"I'm Sakura's friend."
"I see..."
A very complicated expression crossed Aoi Tohsaka's face.
She bit her lip and remained silent for a long while before finally looking up.
"Rider-san... how has Sakura been lately? Has she been eating properly?"
"She's doing very well. She eats more than the men in the Matou family."
"I see... Thank goodness."
Aoi Tohsaka pressed a hand to her chest and let out a relieved sigh.
Come to think of it, that comment about Sakura eating more than the men in the Matou family was pretty dangerous.
If Sakura ever hears that, she'll definitely get angry! Just don't let the blood splatter on me...
Aoi Tohsaka suddenly took the boy's hand.
The motion was so unexpected that Shirou froze for a moment.
"Shirou-kun, Sakura... and Rin too. Please look after them from now on."
Suddenly being entrusted with such an important responsibility by the girls' mother left Shirou at a loss. All he could manage was, "I'll do my best."
"Thank you, Shirou-kun. If there's ever anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask."
Aoi Tohsaka held tightly onto the boy's hand without letting go.
"I want to do something for you too, Shirou-kun. So if there's anything you want from me, no matter what it is, I'll do it for you."
"Ah... That's going a little too far, Aunt Tohsaka."
Shirou pulled his hand free.
As expected of the daughter of the Zenjou family. Even though her daughters were already in high school, her hands were still remarkably soft.
Aoi Tohsaka turned back to Rider.
"Rider-san, I'm counting on you to look after Sakura too."
"Mm."
Even without being asked, Rider had every intention of doing so.
When it came to wanting Sakura to be happy, Rider was confident that her feelings were no weaker than Shirou Amamiya's or Aoi Tohsaka's.
"By the way... Ahem."
Aoi Tohsaka suddenly cleared her throat.
"Rider-san, Shirou-kun... in the future, could you try to avoid sitting together and having tea alone like this, if possible?"
"What?"
Rider narrowed her eyes.
Aoi Tohsaka touched her cheek and looked away.
"I understand that today was an unusual situation, so I'm talking about the future. Since Rider-san is Sakura's friend and cares about her, please try not to spend time alone with Shirou-kun from now on."
"...Sakura wouldn't mind me having tea with Shirou outside."
Rider replied.
Her tone had lost its earlier gentleness and now carried a noticeable edge, but Aoi refused to back down.
"Yes, but that child is too kind. That's why I'm saying it for her... Please be mindful of how close you are to Shirou-kun."
As both a mother and a woman, Aoi Tohsaka had sensed something from Rider's initial attitude toward her.
That was why she had spoken up.
But Aoi wasn't the only one who had sensed something.
Rider had too.
"You're the one who should be keeping your distance from Shirou, aren't you?"
"What?"
Aoi Tohsaka frowned.
Rider continued, "Since you're Sakura's mother, shouldn't you be even more careful about keeping your distance from Shirou?"
"Of course I am..."
"Are you really?"
"!"
Aoi Tohsaka's words were cut short, and her expression froze.
Rider gave Shirou a look warning him not to interfere, then pressed on relentlessly.
"Would you like me to lend you a mirror so you can see what kind of expression you had when you first saw Shirou?"
It had been the expression of a woman.
There had been delight mixed with an almost ingratiating sweetness, like a married woman arriving at a secret rendezvous and seeing the lover she had been longing for.
"Th-that's not what it was! I...!"
Aoi Tohsaka looked flustered, her words beginning to stumble over one another.
"I'm simply very grateful to Shirou... Yes! That's all it is!"
"Shirou is a benefactor of the Tohsaka Family. Whether it's Rin or Sakura... I'm truly grateful to him!"
"All I feel toward Shirou is immense gratitude, so I want to repay him... That's all!"
Aoi Tohsaka bit her red lip.
"If possible, I hope Shirou can find happiness in the future together with Rin and Sakura..."
"I see. So that's what happiness for your daughters looks like to you."
Rider nodded thoughtfully.
"Aoi Tohsaka, are you planning to have Shirou marry both Rin and Sakura?"
Aoi Tohsaka fell silent for a moment.
"If neither of them objects, and Shirou-kun is willing... I suppose it wouldn't be impossible."
"Aunt Tohsaka..."
Shirou stared at her in shock.
He had just heard an absolutely explosive statement, and it had come straight from the mother of the girls involved.
Marrying two sisters at the same time? What kind of feudal society was this?
Shirou thought that would be the end of it, but Rider apparently wasn't satisfied yet.
"Is that really all? Is that truly all you're thinking?"
"? What are you trying to say, Rider-san?"
Rider fixed her with an intimidating stare, enunciating every word.
"Surely, in that future you're imagining, your daughters aren't the only ones who are supposed to become Shirou's women..."
Shirou: "?"
Aoi Tohsaka: "!"
The beautiful green-haired woman's cheeks instantly turned crimson, so red they looked ready to bleed.
Her eyes darted around in panic, and she didn't dare look at Shirou's reaction. Lowering her head, she muttered,
"I-I just remembered I have something to take care of... I should be going... Shirou-kun, see you later!"
With that, Aoi Tohsaka pushed herself up from the table and fled from her seat.
"What you said just now was going too far." Shirou sighed as he watched her retreating figure.
Rider probably regretted it a little herself. She nodded in agreement.
Next time they saw Sakura's mother, they would have to apologize properly...
...
The next day, Shirou's bad feeling came true.
A rumor began spreading through Homurahara that "a college student model and a beautiful married woman got into an argument at a tea shop over Shirou and nearly came to blows."