When the first ray of morning sunlight fell on Akatsuki's face, she frowned and pulled the curtains shut, burrowing back between Tohsaka Rin and Matou Sakura to continue her game of chess with Duke Zhou in her dreams.
At this moment, the Emiya Residence was quiet. The Holy Grail War had been forced to a halt for unknown reasons and was currently in a state of stagnation. Taiga Fujimura had finally been discharged from the hospital yesterday, and Matou Sakura's health had also mostly recovered recently.
Akatsuki and Shirou Emiya put their heads together and decided to have a proper celebration.
So, all day yesterday, Akatsuki, Shirou Emiya, Tohsaka Rin, Matou Sakura, Illya, Taiga Fujimura, Archer, Rider, Artoria (Avenger), Ryudou Kuzuki, Ayako Misuzu... anyway, Akatsuki had invited everyone from the original work she could think of, except for the missing Shinji Matou.
At first, Archer, Rider, and Artoria (Avenger) weren't interested, but after some "friendly" persuasion from Akatsuki, they eventually agreed. Along the way, they even ran into Kirei Kotomine having lunch at a Chinese restaurant, but Kirei did not accept Akatsuki's invitation.
Akatsuki didn't force him to choose and instead led the group to continue their outing.
Using the gold from within the Millennium Castle, Akatsuki declared that all of today's expenses would be on her. With a grand wave of her hand, she spent money like water, instantly making everyone submit to her "money power."
After a full day of enjoyment, when night fell, everyone except those who had to go home gathered at the Emiya Residence to continue the party—though, of course, it wasn't that kind of wild party.
It was just a very ordinary celebration.
However, in the latter half of the night, Taiga Fujimura drank too much and dragged Akatsuki, Archer, Rider, and Artoria (Avenger) into a drinking session.
Akatsuki turned up her nose at the sake Taiga Fujimura had saved, and instead brought out an aged brew from Huaxia—the kind that was priceless and not even found on the market.
The result was that everyone present ended up drinking more or less.
Even Shirou Emiya, who usually had the habit of waking up early to train, was still sleeping in his bedroom; there was no helping it, as he had been forced to drink quite a bit by a tipsy Taiga Fujimura last night.
"Ugh... my head hurts..."
Tohsaka Rin sat up in bed while rubbing her temples. She looked at the somewhat unfamiliar surroundings, then at Akatsuki sleeping between her and Matou Sakura, and her sluggish brain seemed to realize something, instantly becoming clear.
Fragments of last night's memories surfaced in Tohsaka Rin's mind, and as they did, her face grew redder and redder.
"It's all Fujimura-sensei's fault..."
Tohsaka Rin tried to recall everything that happened last night, but her hungover mind only held some hazy, ambiguous memories.
Last night, after Taiga Fujimura got drunk, she didn't believe that Akatsuki liked girls or that she had kissed both Tohsaka Rin and Matou Sakura. Since that bit of alcohol was trivial to a True Ancestor, Akatsuki, who had remained sober, gave Taiga Fujimura a disdainful smile and immediately made a move on the limp and weak Tohsaka Rin.
Even though Tohsaka Rin tried to resist, the effects of the alcohol made her struggle seem pale and powerless.
Thus, under the shocked gazes of everyone, she kissed Tohsaka Rin for a full three minutes before turning to make a move on the defenseless Matou Sakura.
At the thought of this, Tohsaka Rin subconsciously looked at Matou Sakura sleeping beside her. Sakura was still sound asleep, a trace of peace on her face.
Seeing this scene, a surge of complex emotions welled up in Tohsaka Rin's heart. Her feelings for Akatsuki were complicated, while her feelings for Matou Sakura leaned toward sisterly affection.
Thinking of this, Tohsaka Rin remembered that last night, using the influence of alcohol, Akatsuki had forcibly made Sakura and her reconcile. Although she didn't know how Akatsuki knew what she and Sakura were thinking, this action had significantly dissolved the barrier between her and Sakura.
"I should find an opportunity to thank her properly..."
Tohsaka Rin quietly got out of bed, trying her best not to wake Akatsuki and Matou Sakura. Today, she unusually decided to get up early on her own. Putting on her slippers, she decided to go wash up first and clear her head.
As she passed the living room, Tohsaka Rin found Taiga Fujimura slumped over the table looking half-dead, muttering something to herself.
"I'm doomed... getting drunk and encouraging minors to drink, encouraging students to kiss someone of the same gender... if anyone finds out, my teacher career is over..."
In the bathroom, Tohsaka Rin looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was still slightly flushed, and whenever she thought of last night, her face felt like it was on fire.
"Are you awake?"
Archer's sudden voice gave Tohsaka Rin a fright.
"You, you, you... when did you come in!" Tohsaka Rin quickly turned around and said in a panic.
"Just now." Archer looked at her with a calm expression.
Tohsaka Rin took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. "About last night..."
"Nothing happened. That fellow Akatsuki was unexpectedly well-behaved. I didn't think she was the type who wouldn't take advantage of someone in such a state."
Archer leaned against the bathroom wall with his arms crossed, reporting the events of last night to Tohsaka Rin. Just as Archer said, in the end, Akatsuki didn't do anything out of line; she simply went to bed and slept.
"Wow, I've really got to see her in a new light. To think she did nothing in that situation—it's really not her style..."
"Rin, are you perhaps disappointed?"
"What are you talking about..."
"Whatever, that kind of thing doesn't matter. I'm not very interested in your private life, Master." Archer looked at Tohsaka Rin. "What I want to know is what your plans are for the future."
"The future...?" Tohsaka Rin thought for a moment. "I asked Illya about that. The Holy Grail War has encountered an anomaly. The appearance of the eighth Servant, Avenger, and that mountain of flesh carrying the aura of the Holy Grail has caused the greater grail to enter a state of stagnation. However, it won't be long before the Holy Grail War restarts, though the rules might change."
"I see. Then be prepared in advance."
After saying that, Archer returned to his spirit form.
"Oh, it seems I'm not the first one up."
Akatsuki pushed open the door and spoke with feigned surprise upon seeing Tohsaka Rin.
"You would have realized that after you got up or walked into the living room, wouldn't you?"
"That's true, but Fujimura-sensei is asleep in the living room, so I was wondering if you had also fallen asleep somewhere in the Emiya Residence halfway through."
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