Chapter 4: Reunion with Sakura
While Caren was wallowing in her private dejection, Shirou, who had been staring out the window, suddenly spoke.
"You are asking me this specifically because you hope there is a secret technique that can stop your spiritual obstacles from reappearing?"
"Um, yes. If possible, I truly wish my body did not harbor such a 'curse'."
Caren knit her brows slightly, her tone sounding somewhat sorrowful. A constitution like this meant her life was destined to be neither easy nor pleasant; it would be filled with various pains that could strike at any moment. How was that any different from a curse?
"If you are willing to bear the cost, I happen to have a method here that can change your physical condition."
Suddenly, the red-haired youth spoke these words.
This abrupt spark of hope caused Caren's eyes to light up slightly, but then she immediately noticed the word "cost" in his sentence. Although she felt some trepidation in her heart, Caren decided to at least ask what the "cost" was before making a decision.
"Mr. Orihara, could you tell me what the cost is?"
Hearing the girl's inquiry, the red-haired young man standing by the window finally turned around. Those pale gold eyes, which seemed to carry a certain majesty, looked toward her.
"The 'cost'... is this." Shirou raised a finger and tapped his own lips. "To pass on the power that will completely rid you of the 'curse,' it needs to be transmitted by mouth. Although there are other methods, I worry your body wouldn't be able to bear them; it might even lead to a collapse."
"This..." Such a cost, while not sounding painful, was somewhat embarrassing.
Caren knit her brows slightly, looking at Shirou with a troubled expression.
"Are you truly not lying to me? Like the way men use flowery words to deceive the purity of a beautiful woman they've taken a fancy to?"
"I can swear by the God you believe in: I can make it so you never have a spiritual obstacle reaction again. That 'curse' on your body will be as if it has vanished, and it will never affect your life again."
Though it was debatable whether the God the nun believed in could actually defeat Shirou...
"..." Caren wavered slightly.
After several minutes had passed, as if having made up her mind, she pressed her lips together, her cheeks flushing a light red as she slightly closed her eyes.
"I-If you are not deceiving me... then... please go ahead..."
Then, a few seconds later, the girl's lips were pressed.
As if being transmitted directly into her mind, the chanting of Kotodama (Word Spirit) began to ring out.
When Shirou raised his head again, the girl's cheeks were still bright red.
"I-Is it over...?"
"Yes, it's over," Shirou said with a smile.
Caren hurriedly wiped her lips and then stood up.
"But... I don't feel anything at all..."
The girl's expression as she looked at him now was like she was looking at an evil man who had deceived an innocent girl.
"So, what do you need to feel?" Shirou shrugged. "You surely heard it just now, right? The sound of the Kotodama. That is a form of protection. Your constitution has been altered; from now on, spiritual obstacle reactions will no longer occur."
Shirou did not impose the concept of master and servant upon the nun before him; he merely used the form of protection to permanently suppress her "Masochistic Spiritual Medium Constitution." Naturally, there wouldn't be any "special" physical sensation.
"I still feel like you lied to me..." Seemingly full of regret, Caren felt quite ashamed that her first kiss had been taken away.
Heavens, she was actually in a stranger's house and had believed a lie he seemingly made up to trick her into kissing him...!
Why was she so foolish today...
Sitting by the bedside, Caren's slender hands were nervously folded together. Various emotions intertwined within her, leaving her brain in a muddle, and for a moment she didn't know what to do.
Neither of them spoke, and a peculiar atmosphere seemed to permeate the room.
"The magecraft that briefly treated your body earlier has already worn off. Even so, standing here before me now, aren't you perfectly fine?" Shirou said to her.
"It seems... that is indeed the case..."
She could clearly feel it; her body was not producing a spiritual obstacle reaction due to his presence. There was no expected pain or wounding.
"Really... I truly..."
Caren couldn't help but have her eyes well up with tears. She hadn't expected that the constitution she loathed so much—the one that felt like a curse—would be changed on such a dramatic day, in such a seemingly playful manner.
"Starting to understand now, are we? My foolish, unintelligent Miss Caren," Shirou teased.
"You...!" Hearing Shirou's teasing words, Caren was momentarily exasperated, looking at him with a mix of shame and anger.
The girl's expression at this moment was very entertaining. If he didn't have other matters to attend to, Shirou would have truly liked to tease her further.
"Alright, I have some things to do and must leave first. If you need anything in the future, you can come here to find me."
After saying this, Shirou waved to the nun, who was still in a state of indignant shame, and then departed.
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The rain gradually weakened, and the scent of earth in the forest became heavier than usual.
The Einzbern Castle, which he had not visited in a long time, was already right before his eyes. To Shirou, the castle looked largely unchanged compared to the last time he saw it. If he had to be picky, many flowers and plants had been planted around the perimeter, making it look like the residence of a princess from a fairy tale.
As Shirou reached the castle's main gate, light footsteps happened to ring out from inside.
"Hurry up, Illya~ We promised to go fishing today!"
Accompanied by this voice, the castle gates were opened from the inside. As the gap gradually widened, two young women appeared.
They were undoubtedly both beautiful girls with exceptional looks. The one walking in front wore a white dress and a matching sun hat; her beautiful long purple hair and healing smile gave off a gentle impression.
Chasing from behind was a girl in a purple dress. Her long silver hair and crimson eyes were identical to her mother's, but her appearance was quite youthful—she looked almost like a middle school girl who had just started junior high.
The one in front was Sakura, and the one behind was Illya; Shirou identified them at a glance.
And at the moment they saw Shirou, both girls couldn't help but stop in their tracks, their expressions turning slightly dazed.
After a brief moment of being stunned, the first to react was Sakura. She flew into Shirou's embrace like a small bird.
"Shirou, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"
Sakura rubbed her face against his chest like a kitten. Shirou smiled and stroked her smooth hair, feeling the changes the girl had undergone over these ten years.
'She's changed quite a bit.'
While thinking this, Shirou spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yes, I missed you too."
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