By the time Kaito finished soaking in the hot spring, he saw Ginko and Ai staring at each other in the tea room.
If he knew what had happened, he would have given Ginko a big thumbs up.
This was a great assist.
It made Ai firm up her intention to become his disciple.
Wasn't it precisely because she had this thought that she started confronting Ginko in refusal to admit defeat?
In the original work, the two also didn't quite get along.
"Alright, how many games did you play during this time?"
Kaito had only gotten his back scrubbed, then briefly soaked in the hot spring. The Angel Hot Spring didn't have much effect on him anymore, so he got out early.
Coincidentally, also because Akina still needed some time to get over that hurdle.
"Only one game, Sensei."
"Hmph!"
Ai didn't want to admit her defeat, so she pouted her chubby little face and silently walked over to sit in seiza position beside the board, waiting.
Kaito looked at the game. After waiting for Baal to analyze it, he also smiled.
"Alright, you both played quite well. Ai, your talent is undeniable, but if you want to defeat her, it will take at least three years."
After speaking to Ai, Kaito turned his gaze to Ginko.
"As for you, you've already felt the pressure, right? So, starting today, temporarily stop playing Shogi."
"Huh? Sensei, why should I temporarily stop playing Shogi?"
Ginko was stunned. She thought the next sentence would be to guide her well, to prevent her from being surpassed by Ai in three years. Instead, he told her to stop playing Shogi?
If she doesn't play Shogi, how will she gain experience!?
"Hehe, we have a saying in China: 'Going too far is as bad as not going far enough'."
"It means doing something to excess is just as inappropriate as not doing enough."
"So, you, you've been pushing yourself too hard, always trying to catch up with that young Ryuo, right? During this time, you haven't had much time to rest, and you've been in a passive state of stress."
"Given this situation, I can only ask you to temporarily stop playing Shogi, and even temporarily stop thinking about it so much."
After giving this reasonable explanation, Kaito sat down and put all the Shogi pieces back into the hidden compartment.
"Relax for a while. When I see that your mental state has recovered, I'll slowly guide you."
"As for you, Ai, you'll just have to keep losing to her and then crying about it, hahaha."
Kaito deliberately laughed out loud.
This laugh stimulated Ai again. She immediately pattered over to Kaito and grabbed the corner of his clothes.
"Brother Kaito, you should teach me to play board games. I don't want to lose anymore, and I definitely don't want to lose to this old lady!"
"Huh? You little brat, who are you calling an old lady!?"
"Whoever speaks is who I'm calling."
'Hehe, the familiar segment of Ginko and Ai bickering, right?'
Kaito reached out and patted both their little heads, signaling them to quiet down. Just then, Akina returned, changed into a new yukata.
But she still didn't dare look directly at Kaito, pretending to be calm as she brought over the tea set and started brewing tea.
"Alright, since you want to learn board games from me, shouldn't you become my disciple first?"
"Yes! Hello, Sensei! Greetings, Sensei!"
Ai performed a very cute, funny greeting. Beside her, Akina paused in her tea brewing, then revealed a helpless expression as she finished making the tea. She handed a cup to her daughter and signaled her to do what Ginko did earlier.
Ai took the teacup, nodded, and then held it with both hands.
"Sensei, please have some tea!"
"Good."
Smiling, he took the tea, took a sip, and placed it on the board, completing Ai's apprenticeship ceremony.
As for the gift, Kaito took another one out from his pocket.
Making these jade pendants was becoming more and more effortless for him.
He had made this one casually while walking over after soaking in the hot spring.
With the Magic Circuits, his control over his abilities was more precise, plus he had the experience from the previous two times, so he made it quickly.
As for the red string, he had bought a pack of red strings from a store. They sold individual strings for 3 yuan each, but a pack of 50 was only 100 yuan, so of course he bought a pack.
You have to admit, merchants really know how to 'do business'.
Actually, the cost of a pack of red strings is even cheaper. It's just that the red strings sold in ordinary stores are like that; only the ones sold in jade shops are better.
"Here, this jade pendant is yours. From now on, you are Ginko's junior sister. You need to be good and listen, and don't quarrel, understand?"
"Yes, Sensei!"
Ai energetically took the pendant and compared it to the board. It was indeed the same material.
At the same time, the golden 'Hand of God' pattern inside the pendant amazed her.
It seemed naturally formed, not artificially made.
Her little head was filled with big questions.
"Alright, put it on. I'll tell you more later. For now, just know that your teacher, me, is very amazing."
In fact, Akina hadn't told her daughter about the chat group yet.
Firstly, her daughter was too flighty. Once she knew, she would ask all sorts of questions. At the same time, she was afraid she might accidentally tell someone, which is why she hadn't said anything.
But it should be soon; she would eventually have to let her know.
As for Ginko, she would probably be like Baal, remembering at first, but gradually it would turn into other memories.
Well, she just needed to know that Kaito had superpowers.
"Alright, you two go take a bath and go to sleep. Ai, get to know your house properly with your senior sister. She'll be staying at your place temporarily. For clothes, have someone bring over a yukata for now."
Both nodded and obediently left, leaving only Kaito and Akina.
"Kaito, do you think I should let Ai know about the chat group?"
"She'll have to know eventually, but let's wait a while."
Kaito replied, picking up his teacup for another sip.
"By the way, have you contacted that person? About him coming over tomorrow."
"Hmm, I called him in the afternoon. I didn't explain why, just asked him to come over and talk."
"That's enough."
Nodding, the two then took out their phones to look at the chat group.
Everyone was lively in the chat group, apparently discussing something.
[Irisviel]: Honestly, that Tohsaka Tokiomi is so irresponsible. He's actually thinking of giving away his younger daughter to someone else.
[Shodai]: Indeed, such a father is completely unfit!
[Misuzu]: Sounds really hard to accept. It seems your magus world has many problems too.
This is what was happening in the chat group. Scrolling through the chat history, Kaito and Akina learned the details.
It turned out that Irisviel, being interested in the upcoming Holy Grail War and wanting to know about her opponents, had her tool person, Emiya Kiritsugu, investigate.
Well, the investigation revealed that Tohsaka Tokiomi was planning to give his daughter, Tohsaka Sakura, to the Matou Family.