บท 374: C374
Shirou didn't feel any guilt about selling off Arcueid. That girl was just way too noisy. And the worst part was she actually had the audacity to push him down on the bed in London. He simply can't tolerate it!
But now, that damn Harem King had finally been taken care of.
And as for her final curse? To Shirou, it was just the lament of a cursed dog.
Not even worth mentioning!
At the worst, he would simply switch from eating fish to having squid, right?
He refused to believe that he would choke on squid after eating it!
After Arcueid was taken away, the dining table finally grew quieter, and the atmosphere shifted towards a more peaceful and calm state.
But...
"Oh, I just remembered. I also made something," Sakura said with a smile as she stood up, bringing out several dishes from the press cooker in the kitchen. The aroma filled the air, tantalizing the senses.
He glanced at the dishes and asked, "What are these?"
"Braised oysters, braised pigeon meat, and braised lamb kidneys," Sakura replied as she placed several bowls of soup in front of him. She gathered her apron with her hand and sat back in her seat.
He asked curiously, "Why didn't you bring them out earlier?"
With a bright smile, she explained, "I actually just organized the storage room today, and my mind was a bit scattered, so I completely forgot about them."
Forgot?
How is that even possible?
Sakura's face beamed with a radiant smile, seemingly like sunshine, but beneath that facade, there lurked a sinister and cold smirk.
She had suspected that the annoying golden cockroach would follow them. If she had brought out the food earlier, wouldn't that pesky creature have devoured it already?
"Oh, I see..." He nodded.
Ritsuka pouted unhappily, puffing up her cheeks and said, "Sis, that's not fair! I want to eat too!"
"No, you can't. These dishes aren't nutritious for kids," Sakura replied firmly. "Besides, they are specifically meant to replenish brother's body."
Shirou's hand, which was suspended in mid-air, abruptly stopped, and he asked, "Replenish my body? Do I look weak, Sakura?"
She reassured him with a gentle tone, "No, not at all. It's just that you've been working so hard and deserve some nourishment. It's my way of taking care of my brother."
"Oh, I see... Well, thank you, Sakura."
She smiled, "Don't say it like that. We all know that I'm the cutest and most considerate little sister to brother, after all."
Miyu: "..."
Miyu lost her appetite a bit, and it seemed that Gray couldn't eat either.
Ritsuka pouted and expressed her unhappiness, "I'm the cutest little sister to my big brother!"
Not wanting to argue with Ritsuka, Sakura gently pinched her cheek and smiled warmly, "Then I'll be the most caring little sister to our big brother."
"You're both my adorable and caring little sisters." Shirou said.
"Hmph!" Ritsuka pouted.
Miyu and Gray exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them.
Suddenly, their appetites seemed to vanish completely.
They couldn't help but feel a sense of being unnecessary, as if they didn't quite fit into the dynamics of the Fujimaru household.
But then again, it was only natural. After all, they were guests in the Fujimaru household.
And the one who felt most unnecessary...
Gray unconsciously glanced at Artoria.
Strangely enough, the king didn't crouch in a corner.
In the past few days, Gray had come to realize that this king was usually serious and dignified, appearing exceptionally dazzling. However, when it came to matters concerning the Eternal King, she seemed very timid and would often hide in corners.
Yet now, she was standing right beside Gray, her gaze fixed on the Fujimaru family of three.
On her beautiful face, there was longing, but more than that, a deep sadness.
Gray couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were going through Artoria's mind.
Although she was her vessel, in reality, she didn't know much about her.
Her understanding of Artoria mainly stemmed from legendary tales of King Arthur and historical accounts, but even those narratives and records were often lacking in accuracy.
In fact, the general perception among people was that the King of Knights and the Eternal King were one and the same, referred to simply as King Arthur.
According to one version of the King Arthur legend, it was believed that Arthur fell under the enchantment of his sister, Morgan, and unknowingly fathered a son named Mordred. It was prophesied that Mordred would ultimately bring about Arthur's downfall. In an attempt to prevent this fate, King Arthur ordered the execution of all children born in the same year as Mordred.
However, based on Gray's experiences and observations, she couldn't reconcile the image of this solemn, serious, yet gentle king with the idea that she was capable of committing such actions.
Miyu walked up to Sakura, her expression earnest as she made a request, "Please, let me help too."
Gray, feeling nervous but determined, blurted out, "Um... let me help as well!"
Sakura hesitated for a moment, considering the fact that both Miyu and Gray were guests. It didn't feel quite appropriate to have guests do the chores.
However, Shirou glanced at them and spoke up, "Let them help, Sakura."
He understood the thoughts running through the minds of Gray and Miyu. These two children were sensitive individuals, particularly Gray. She carried deep feelings of inferiority, and simply enjoying everything without contributing would make her uncomfortable. It would create a sense of indebtedness within her, creating a mental barrier.
Recognizing this, he encouraged Sakura to let them lend a hand.
This was also true for Miyu, who came from a parallel world.
Both Gray and Miyu didn't need comforting; they needed to find their own psychological place and adapt to their surroundings.
When individuals find themselves in unfamiliar environments, it is common for them to seek ways to establish their position.
In this aspect, he could relate to them as well, having experienced a similar journey to this world in the past.
"I understand, brother," Sakura nodded, and the three of them started working together in the kitchen.
She was pleasantly surprised to see that both Gray and Miyu possessed excellent household management skills, as if they had been living independently for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Shirou presented a big teddy bear to Ritsuka, saying, "Ritsuka, this is a gift from your brother."
"Thank you, brother!" Ritsuka beamed with gratitude. However, as she inspected the teddy bear, which already appeared slightly disheveled, she furrowed her brow in confusion and asked, "Brother, has someone else used this teddy bear before? Why is the packaging missing?"
"Arcueid took it apart," he explained.
Ritsuka expressed her discontent, saying, "Arcueid is so rude! It's obviously a gift for me, and she still took it apart! Hmph! Next time we play a game, I won't let her join anymore!"
He affectionately patted her little head, trying to console her.
Observing the scene, Sakura, who had completed her tasks in the kitchen, found the situation a bit peculiar. She couldn't help but ask, "Brother, don't I have a gift?"
"It's in my bag. I brought you a set of silverware and some tea."
Sakura set aside what she was holding and eagerly rummaged through his bag to find her gift.
He couldn't help but smile and shake his head. In moments like this, when Sakura asked him for a gift, she seemed like an ordinary girl going through her adolescence,
Sakura discovered the silverware and, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Brother, why is the packaging for the silverware missing as well? And it seems that there's a silver fork missing too?"
He pondered for a moment before responding, "The packaging was taken apart by Arcueid. As for the fork, it's probably in her pocket."
She let out a sigh, "Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it then."
Sakura wore a gentle yet helpless expression on her face, However, her hand was tightly clenched behind her back.
That damned cockroach!
Whenever the image of Arcueid's smile flashed through Sakura's thoughts, the anger she had been holding back always felt like it was on the verge of breaking out.
Gray witnessed this scene and quietly crouched down, trembling in fear. She felt that Sakura was incredibly frightening!
Especially that smile—it sent shivers down her spine!
Meanwhile, Shirou took a seat on the couch, and Ritsuka hastily retrieved a stack of test papers from her room. As if seeking praise, she dashed towards him, shaking the papers in her hands, "Brother, brother! Let me tell you, I got a perfect score on all my recent exams!"
He took the papers and looked at them, confirming that they were indeed flawless scores.
A faint smile graced his face as he extended his hand to tousle her hair. "Well done!"
"Hehehe...!" she beamed, her expression brimming with joy.
Miyu: "..."
Standing in the kitchen, Miyu observed this scene and couldn't help but purse her lips.
Gray glanced at her curiously and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Miyu?"
She politely replied, "It's nothing. There's no need to worry."
"I see," Gray nodded, then shifted her gaze towards Artoria.
Noticing a hint of melancholy in her expression, Gray couldn't resist asking, "Are you alright, Your Highness?"
"It's nothing, Gray," she smiled softly.
"Oh, I see," Gray nodded once again.
She couldn't quite understand why the two of them had suddenly become lost in thought, but she didn't want to pry any further. After accidentally making Artoria cry earlier, she didn't want to add to the trouble. So, even though she felt confused and concerned, she held back from asking too many questions.
That was just her nature—overly aware of herself, constantly mindful of others' feelings, carrying worries but too afraid to share them and burden others.
There were only a handful of vacant rooms in the house, but they managed to make space for Miyu and Gray to stay together, at least temporarily.
As for Mrs. Fujimaru and Mr. Fujimaru's room, it remained unoccupied.
But today was particularly strange. Knowing Ritsuka's personality, once Shirou returned, she would typically bug him to play games together. Surprisingly, it was only eight o'clock, and she had already retired to her room, getting ready for bed.
"Has she been feeling tired lately?" He glanced at Sakura and asked.
She nodded, "Yes, she's been going to bed early these days."
"I see..." He nodded and continued, "To get a perfect score, she must have put in a lot of effort."
There was no need to dwell on Ritsuka's academic performance. Over a year ago, when Shirou had just returned, even her kindergarten test papers would have been failures.
The previous scores above 80 were solely because he had dedicated his spare time to helping her with her grades. However, achieving a perfect score now must be the result of her hard work.
...
Ritsuka discreetly cast a quick glance at Shirou and Sakura from the staircase before retreating to her own room and locking the door.
A moment later, a Magical Girl stick with two small red beads emerged from underneath the covers, floating in front of her. "Is there really a need to be so cautious, Ritsuka?"
"Shh... Ruby!" Ritsuka placed a finger in front of her lips, gesturing for Ruby to be quiet.
She whispered anxiously, "Please don't let my brother see you. Otherwise, he'll definitely make me throw you away!"
"Tsk~! Seriously, this is ridiculous. As a staff of love and justice, I find it quite distressing to have to skulk around like this. It's enough to make me shed tears," Ruby grumbled.
Then, a mischievous smile played on Ruby's face as she continued, "So, spill the beans! Did your perfect test scores bring a big, proud smile to your brother's face?"
Ritsuka's smile widened as she nodded, responding happily, "Yes! He was really pleased with my scores. It was a great feeling! Oh, and by the way, I'll need your help with the math test next week too, okay?"
"Aww~! That's so adorable!" Ruby exclaimed, her voice filled with delight. "Of course, I'll be there to help you. After all, you're an incredibly cute magical girl~! Hehehe~!"
...
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