"The one behind this whole string of incidents has been my sister..."
"She's back, and she's come to take the right to inherit the Magic from me..."
Aoko Aozaki held her chin and muttered to herself, her mind racing all the while.
Now she understood why she had completely failed to react to the doll's sudden attack at the amusement park just now.
Because it had been her sister's work.
Alice's expression also turned grave as she began reexamining their previous battles in light of Shirou's information.
Up until now, she had assumed the enemy invading Misaki was some unknown outsider Magus.
The autonomous dolls the enemy had deployed had been so outstanding in performance that Alice had instinctively judged them to be works from before the seventeenth century.
The fact that the enemy had used such priceless rare dolls as disposable tools for probing and reconnaissance without the slightest hesitation suggested a nouveau riche Magus with enormous wealth and a vast collection, but no territory of their own.
But thinking back on the doll they had encountered tonight... it had been far too new. Not only was it not from before the seventeenth century, it might very well have been made within the last few years.
And more than that...
"Aoko."
"Yeah... exactly. That last doll tonight..."
Now she had found the reason why she had been so shocked that she could not move.
"...It was probably made with me as the model."
Aoko bit down on her thumb, her expression twisted with both hatred and fear.
"The reason she could use antiques so freely is because she never treasured them in the first place!
Tch... yeah, if it's her, then Grandfather's barrier not reacting to her makes perfect sense too!
Of course she'd know my weak points as well. Even removing the anchor points would be easy for her. Effortlessly."
Only a few minutes ago, the two had been arguing so fiercely they were practically on the verge of a fight. But the moment the name "Touko Aozaki" came up, they slipped right back into working together.
Shirou was deeply moved. Thank you, Touko!
"Alice, didn't you say before that the formulas inside the dolls were very similar to the Misaki barrier?
This is really my sister declaring that she's the true master of this city. Those dolls are soldiers protecting Misaki."
As Aoko's almost feverish analysis continued, a shadow quietly spread through Alice's eyes.
"Is her dollmaking really that advanced?"
Alice had known Touko since childhood, but she had never truly understood her.
Because Touko Aozaki was not Alice Kuonji's companion on the path of Magecraft.
She had been Alice's mother's technical collaborator. The technical collaborator of the previous Meister.
Just how extraordinary did a Magus have to be to become her mother's assistant?
The moment Alice let herself imagine it, she felt shaken.
Aoko said, "My sister always was more skilled when it came to creating things... but now it all finally makes sense.
As much as I hate to admit it, the enemy this time really is my sister.
Touko Aozaki herself, the original heir to this land."
"..."
Alice said nothing more. She only gave Shirou a deep look.
As for Shirou, he was honestly delighted that Aoko and Alice had naturally made up once an external enemy appeared.
When he noticed the black-haired girl looking at him, he gave her a placating smile.
Alice coldly turned her face away, completely ignoring his attempt to curry favor.
Sigh... it looked like melting the ice in the young witch's heart would not be easy. He still had a long road ahead of him.
...
In the end, Alice magnanimously allowed Shirou into the mansion after all.
Now that they knew the enemy's identity, both Aoko and Alice were itching to start preparing a new battle plan, but it was already one in the morning.
Time for a lady to rest.
Alice stopped at the stairs and glanced back at Aoko.
It was as if she were silently saying, "I'm leaving the rest to you. If anything goes wrong, you'll pay for it." Then the girl returned to her room.
Shirou spoke to the girl still holding his hand.
"Thank you for believing me, Aoko."
After going back and forth over it, he had finally decided to call her by name.
Since he was a mysterious man from the future, he could afford to be a little selfish.
Aoko smiled brightly.
"Hehe, Shirou, you're so polite...
Not at all. I should be the one thanking you.
Thank you for saving me again tonight."
"It was the least I could do," Shirou replied modestly.
Strangely, the moment she heard his answer, Aoko's eyes lit up.
"The least you could do... so it really is like that, huh?
Ah, it's getting late. We should go too, Shirou."
Still tugging his hand along, Aoko led him toward the east wing.
Shirou: "?"
Were the Kuonji family guest rooms in that direction?
Aoko pulled Shirou all the way to the room at the end of the east wing hallway.
"We're here."
She made the announcement with her hands on her hips.
Even though he already knew the answer, Shirou still forced himself to ask, "Aoko, this is...?"
"My room. You're staying in my room tonight, Shirou."
"..."
Shirou clearly remembered that Aoko's room was only supposed to have a single bed.
The boy was struck speechless, while the girl looked as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Of course, it was impossible for her not to care at all.
She was still a sensitive seventeen-year-old girl. Inviting a boy only four or five years younger than herself to stay in her room for the night was bound to make her at least a little self-conscious.
But just as Alice had said.
Lately, Aoko had been in a constantly heightened, almost overexcited state.
And on top of that, now that she knew her sister was coming to take revenge on her, all those wandering thoughts had been shoved to the back of her mind.
"Don't just stand in the doorway!"
To hide the last trace of embarrassment still clinging to her, Aoko roughly shoved Shirou into the room.
"Sorry. It's kind of messy. I didn't have time to tidy up."
"No... it feels very lived in."
"Hehe, everything here besides the bed is stuff I brought from home. It feels pretty different from the overall style of the house, doesn't it?"
Aoko scratched at her hair in annoyance.
"Tch. If I'd known Shirou was coming, I would've cleaned up beforehand.
Anyway, sit down somewhere first. I'll get you something to drink."
There was a thermos in the room that spared Aoko the trouble of going to the kitchen to brew black tea. She took out the thermos and the tin of tea leaves, then said to Shirou,
"Could you grab the tea set for me? It's in the... ah."
Aoko had not even finished explaining before Shirou had already reached for the drawer where the tea set was kept.
"..."
Seeing that, the girl covered her mouth, her expression one of utter surprise, and yet also relief.
So I was right. Shirou really is familiar with my room...
Whenever there was something to discuss, Aoko usually went to Alice's room, so in truth, no one else ever entered this room. Aoko did not have any habit of entertaining guests here, either.
And yet Shirou had reached for it so naturally...
"Ugh..."
By the time that thought fully sank in, Aoko's face had gone so red it was almost burning.
After that, the two of them drank tea in silence, and not once during that time did either of them say a word.
Once she had cleaned up the tea things, Aoko stole a glance at Shirou, then suddenly said in a fidgety tone,
"Sorry, Shirou, could you turn around? I want to change."
"Huh?"
Aoko added, "...My underwear's soaked through. It feels awful."
Shirou's gaze drifted, unbidden, toward the girl's ample chest.
One of the biggest troubles well-developed girls had was how easily sweat built up beneath the breasts and in the cleavage.
That was a little piece of practical knowledge Shirou had picked up while washing Irisviel's underwear.
Shirou rose to his feet.
"I'm going out for a bit. Call me when you're done."
"Ah, no, no, you don't have to go into the hallway! It's below freezing outside by now, isn't it? It's cold."
Aoko grabbed Shirou's wrist with surprising force.
She simply could not accept sending him out because of her own lack of consideration.
"...Alright."
After a brief pause, Shirou nodded.
He sat up straight and turned his face toward the wall.
"D-don't turn around, okay?"
"Should I just step outside after all?"
"No! Shirou stays right there!"
Very soon, the sound of fabric brushing against skin came from behind him.
That soft rustling, suggestive enough to set the mind wandering, stood out clearly in the stillness of the late night.
"..."
Even though Shirou had already accidentally seen all of Aoko's naked body because of what happened in the bathroom before, he still felt strangely nervous.
Rather, having seen her body before only made him more nervous now.
The sensual sight he had seen that day, together with the sounds of her changing, was projected back into the boy's mind.
Her beautiful neck. Her delicate collarbones.
Her slim, toned waist and full hips drew out a perfect, enticing curve, and her well-trained thighs were long yet soft with flesh.
And of course, Aoko's overly ample chest.
They were like ripe white peaches hanging from slender branches. Even through her clothes, the full shape of her breasts drew the eye irresistibly, and without them on...
"..."
Shirou swallowed.
Then, to his surprise, he noticed that the curtains in the room had not been drawn.
The reflection in the glass faintly showed the scene inside the room.
Including, of course, the figure of the girl behind him, already stripped down to her underwear.
Her underwear was light blue, trimmed with lace.
It was a bit too mature for a girl in the bloom of her teens, but on Aoko's perfect figure, it suited her just right.
"..."
Shirou hesitated.
Should I tell Aoko-nee-san? She'll be embarrassed, right? Or would it be better not to say anything?
After wrestling with it, the boy still could not betray his conscience.
"Um... Aoko..."
"Sorry, can it wait till later?"
The girl undid her bra clasp and began wiping away the sweat that had gathered in the creases with a towel.
With the motion of her hand, those two full, heavy mounds shifted in lush, alluring shapes.
How soft did they have to be to move like that...?
Shirou shut his eyes in regret.
Two minutes later, Aoko had changed into fresh underwear and put on comfortable pajamas, then told Shirou he could turn around now.
But by then, Shirou could no longer bring himself to look her in the face.
"Aren't you going to sleep on the bed?"
"I'm fine sleeping on the floor."
"Is that so... Mm, I guess that works."
Aoko nodded thoughtfully.
Thank goodness Aoko had common sense. She was nothing like Irisviel, who would have insisted on dragging him into bed with her. Shirou let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Then good night. You can tell me more about yourself tomorrow, Shirou."
"Okay."
What he had thought would be a long, agonizing night ended quietly and without incident.
...
The point in time Shirou had jumped to was December 1989.
It was the end of the year, and final exams were already over.
Although Alice always wore her school uniform, she was actually already on winter break. Aoko, meanwhile, only had the closing ceremony left.
In other words, Aoko would be going to school during the day today, while Alice would be staying home.
Which meant Shirou had no choice but to face the awkward situation of being alone with the witch for an entire day.
In the past, just being in the same space as Alice had made Shirou feel calm and healed in both body and mind, but now he felt distinctly uneasy.
Becoming friends with Alice the way he had before was probably impossible now. At the very least, he had to get the mistress of the mansion to allow him to stay.
After borrowing some money from Aoko, Shirou went to the shopping district and bought some fresh ingredients.
At this point, I'll just win Alice over with my cooking!
"...Alright."
Taking a deep breath at the entrance, Shirou stepped inside the mansion.
Alice might be in the living room, so Shirou decided to circle around through there.
But when he passed through the entry hall, he saw an unexpected sight.
The front hall of the mansion was reminiscent of a medieval castle.
There was no artificial lighting. Only the cold winter daylight served as illumination.
And there, someone sat amid it all with an overwhelming sense of incongruity.
Delicate beauty that could have been mistaken for an Eastern doll. Thick, pure black hair.
Slender limbs, and skin so pale it seemed never to have known sunlight.
A black knit sweater for lounging at home and a short brown patterned skirt blended perfectly with her slim figure.
Alice Kuonji was quietly leaning against a cold square pillar, fast asleep.
It was a kind of sleep that gave off no sense of life, so enduring and still it looked like a beautiful painting.
Her expression was peaceful, yet wrapped in a certain kind of happiness.
"...So cold."
Watching the sleeping girl's face, Shirou let out a puff of white breath.
The pillar Alice was leaning against actually had a heater built into it. If it were turned on, it should be warm.
But "future Alice" had said that the heater in the front hall was broken. Neither Aoko nor Alice knew how to fix it.
Even though every sleeping cell in Alice Kuonji seemed to be silently saying don't disturb me, Shirou still walked over.
He gently set the plastic bag he was carrying down on the floor.
Kneeling on one knee beside Alice, Shirou did not reach toward the girl. Instead, he placed his hand on the broken heater.
He shut off his sight and observed the inside of the heater through touch, and the image rose in his mind.
"Hey, Shirou! Did you know heater and circuit are pronounced the same in Japanese? So fix it for me!"
For some reason, Shinji's dumb joke came back to him.
"Hmm..."
It looked like the heating element had worn out. That really was not the sort of problem an amateur could handle.
Of course, for a Magus, it was no problem at all.
Not only someone as capable as Alice, even an apprentice Magus like Aoko could repair it.
Because all it took was the most basic of basics, Reinforcement Magecraft.
The problem was that not everyone could touch an object, analyze its interior, and identify the fault as easily as Shirou could, so the two of them had no way to find what was wrong with the heater.
He spent ten seconds repairing it.
Then he turned the heater on.
Watching the Fairy Tale Witch become enveloped in warmth, Shirou rose and left, completely satisfied.