Reborn in Type-Moon: Starting by Adopting Sakura - Chapter 35

The sun had ducked behind the clouds while they walked, and Yuu felt the shift in the air before he saw it—that subtle change that meant weather was coming. The breeze picked up, rustling through Iri's silver hair and making the trees around the pond sway.

"Iri," he said, and something in his tone made her look over.

"Hm?" She looked up at him, her red eyes curious.

"About your Magic Circuit..."

The thing he couldn't stop thinking about since she'd first walked into the bookshop. He'd felt it immediately—something different about her circuit, something that made him pause even though he'd been careful not to pry. The timing hadn't felt right then, and she clearly hadn't wanted to discuss it. So he'd let it go.

But now, walking beside her like this, it felt like the right moment.

Iri stopped walking. Something shifted in her expression—not quite sadness, but a dimming of the light in her eyes. Her lips parted as if she might say something.

A raindrop hit her shoulder.

And then the sky opened up.

Rain came down in sheets, soaking them both in seconds. Their conversation dissolved into the rush of water and the sudden need to find shelter.

They ran toward the nearest building, Yuu grateful that he'd parked the car close by. Once they were inside, dripping and breathless.

"The forecast mentioned possible showers," Irisviel said, wringing water from her hair. Her white shirt clung to her skin, the fabric made translucent by the rain, revealing the soft curves beneath.

"Ah, my heel snapped," she said with a soft sigh, slipping off her black high heels and setting them aside on the car mat.

She drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around her knees and settling into the passenger seat like she was trying to make herself as small as possible. Her stockings had gotten damp from the rain, and she rubbed at her foot where the shoe had been digging in.

She flexed her toes, working out the soreness. There was something almost childlike about the way she tucked herself into the corner of the seat, her silver hair falling around her shoulders.

Yuu found himself watching her for a moment longer than he should have before clearing his throat and reaching for the keys. "Iri, let's get you home."

The rain hammered against the windshield and roof, turning everything outside into a blur of gray and water. The sound was almost overwhelming, but inside the car felt strangely peaceful.

“No.” She curled up tighter, resting her cheek against her knees. When she looked at him, her red eyes seemed far away again, like her thoughts were somewhere he couldn’t follow. "Yuu... let's just stay like this for a while. Please."

Something in her voice made him pause. He let his hand fall away from the ignition.

"Alright."

They sat there together, listening to the rain drum against the car, neither of them speaking.

Irisviel looked fragile sitting there, like she might disappear if the wind blew too hard. Yuu felt like a shelter against whatever storm was coming for her—solid, warm, something she could lean on.

She wished this moment could last forever.

...

Manaka slipped into the warm bath water, her small frame disappearing beneath the surface as ripples spread out from where she'd entered. She pulled her knees up to her chest and let herself sink down until only her eyes and the top of her head were visible.

Slowly, she released the breath she'd been holding, watching the bubbles rise to the surface and pop in rhythm with the rain drumming against the bathroom window.

She surfaced, took a deep breath, then sank down again, wrapping her arms tighter around her knees. The warm water pressed against her from all sides, shutting out everything else. It reminded her of winter mornings when Master would let her curl up in his warm bed.

But Master had gone out again today. With that hussy.

Not that she blamed him, of course. How could she? It was that woman's fault for dressing the way she did, practically throwing herself at him. So obvious, so desperate. Did she really think someone her age could pull off that whole sophisticated act? It was almost embarrassing to watch.

"Ah!" she broke the surface, gasping and pushing wet hair out of her face. Water dripped from her blonde strands, and steam rose around her as she settled back against the tub.

Knock knock knock.

A small shadow appeared through the frosted glass door.

"Manaka-nee?" Sakura said. “You forgot your clothes. Should I bring them in?"

"Oh." Manaka blinked, realizing she'd been so lost in thought she'd climbed straight into the bath. "Yes, thank you, Sakura."

"I'm coming in." The door opened and Sakura stepped inside, wearing her white tights and pink slippers, a neatly folded dress draped over her small arms. "Where should I put these?"

"Just hang them on the rack there." Manaka watched the little girl carefully arrange the dress. "Sakura."

"Mm?" Sakura turned, tilting her head with that innocent curiosity only children had.

Manaka's expression softened into her sweetest smile. "You're starting school next year, aren't you? I picked up some study guides for you."

"Oh... thank you, Manaka-nee."

"Of course. And if you need help with anything—math, reading, whatever—just ask me, okay?"

Sakura nodded and padded back out, her damp slippers squeaking softly on the tile.

Alone again, Manaka let her head fall back against the tub's edge and stared up at the bathroom light. Outside, rain ticked softly against the glass, same as it had all night.

"I wonder when Master will come home tonight..." she murmured to the empty room.

…

Parking Lot.

The rain had softened to a gentle tapping against the windows.

Irisviel's black heels lay forgotten on the floor. Her damp blouse stuck to her skin, and she'd drawn her knees up to her chest like she was trying to make herself smaller. Wet silver hair clung to her cheek and neck as she stared out at the rain-streaked glass.

"Yuu," she said quietly, "do you want to see my Magic Circuits?"

“…Eh?”

"You told me once that people need to communicate to understand each other." Her arms tightened around her legs. "I don't want to keep hiding things from you. But if I show you... it feels selfish. No, that's not right. I'm afraid. Afraid of pulling you into something you shouldn't be part of. Afraid that you'll see what I really am and..." She trailed off.

The rain filled the silence between them.

"Yuu." She turned to look at him, and her red eyes were bright with unshed tears. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Yuu could see how close she was to breaking. One more step and he'd be looking straight into whatever pain she'd been carrying. The Einzbern family's history wasn't something simple—he knew that much. But what exactly was Irisviel walking into with this Holy Grail War?

These past days in Tokyo, she'd been so bright, laughing and exploring the city like any young woman discovering the world for the first time. Happy and carefree.

But maybe that was the problem. Sometimes people burned brightest right before the flame went out.

The way Irisviel had been acting lately—all that joy, that desperate grab at normal life—it felt like someone trying to fit a lifetime of happiness into whatever time she had left.

"Iri." He looked at her gently, and she could see herself reflected in his dark eyes. Gently, he took her hand. "Don't worry. I'm here."

She nodded, something resolving in her expression. "Okay."

Irisviel turned away from him and slipped her coat off her shoulders. She gathered her damp silver hair with one hand, sweeping it to one side to bare the back of her neck.

Her fingers shook slightly as she reached for the top button of her blouse. One by one, she undid them, letting the fabric fall away from her pale shoulder.