After Shirou brought Ye Sizhen home, he held a simple family meeting.
At the meeting, Ye Sizhen confessed the true reason she had come to Japan and apologized to Irisviel.
Irisviel was a woman, a mother, who loved Shirou deeply, so she would surely never forgive her…
That was what Ye Sizhen had thought. However.
"Are you truly not bothered by this, Madam Irisviel…"
"I can't say I'm not bothered at all. After all, you did once intend to do something harmful to Shirou."
Irisviel sighed. "But you've given up on that now, haven't you?"
"Yes. I can assure you of that."
"Mm-hm. Then that's enough."
Irisviel readily accepted Ye Sizhen's apology.
Seeing that she was in a good mood, Shirou continued, "Um, Irisviel… actually, there's one more thing I need to report to you."
"This is Shirou's house. It isn't my place to criticize what you do, and you don't need my permission to let someone stay here."
"Huh…?"
Shirou and Ye Sizhen both froze, and Irisviel continued.
"In any case, Shirou wanted to discuss letting Sizhen-san continue living here with me… Am I right?"
"…Guh."
Shirou nodded with a grim expression.
A-amazing… Ye Sizhen thought in surprise.
Irisviel grinned mischievously. "Lately, I can tell what Shirou is thinking just by looking at his face. Hehe… I suppose this is what people call being of one heart and mind?"
As the silver-haired, red-eyed Homunculus spoke, she stroked her baby bump, which was growing larger by the day.
A lovely blush spread across her beautiful face.
Although Irisviel had already said her permission was unnecessary, Shirou still explained the situation.
Because Ye Sizhen had obtained privileges over the Thought Disk through improper means, she could no longer return to Spiral Manor.
She had already made plans for her future. She wanted to go to Europe, to lands where Thought Magi had not yet set foot, and realize her dream.
To establish a hall of her own.
However, to do that, she first needed to possess a Spiritual Land.
Even though Ye Sizhen could now use Age of Gods Magecraft, she was still very far from making that dream a reality.
So she hoped to remain in Japan a while longer and use that time to rest, train, and improve herself.
"So, until Sizhen leaves for Europe, she'd like to borrow a room here."
"That's fine?"
"You're okay with that, Iri?"
The silver-haired Homunculus tilted her head. "Mm. I won't interfere."
In the end, Irisviel herself was only able to live in this house because Shirou had taken her in.
Although she considered herself the mistress of the house and his mother, she was not shameless enough to object on that point.
"Besides, if Sizhen-san stays here too, I'll have someone close to my own age to talk to."
Close… to her own age?
Although Irisviel's air had seemed a little more mature since she became pregnant, she was actually only sixteen this year, half Ye Sizhen's age.
Shirou was just about to make a retort when Sella shot him a fierce glare, forcing him to swallow the words back down.
He exchanged a glance with Ye Sizhen, whose face was full of joy.
Shirou said, "Since Iri agrees…"
"But there is one condition."
Ye Sizhen grew nervous. "Please say it."
Irisviel said, "The Japanese-style room beside Shirou's is my private room. I'm not using it right now, but I'll be moving back into it next year. If Sizhen-san wants to stay in this house, please move to the guest room area."
"O-okay."
Ye Sizhen respectfully lowered her head.
Was it her imagination?
For an instant just now, she felt as if killing intent had come from Madam Irisviel.
Had living in her room for nearly a week really angered her after all?
And so, Ye Sizhen became a new resident of the Amamiya residence.
That very night, she moved the dolls and masks she collected into her new room.
Shirou thought things would finally quiet down for a while, but the very next day, Rin Tohsaka showed up at the door to protest.
That was only natural. After all, Ye Sizhen had only recently fought her, thrown her into a workshop, and imprisoned her there for several days.
"How could you possibly let such a dangerous woman stay here? I don't agree! And isn't she wanted by a Chinese Magecraft organization?"
"My family affairs aren't yours to decide," Shirou said dismissively.
"Don't joke around! Sakura… Matou-san comes to your house all the time!" Rin Tohsaka shouted angrily.
"So that's what this was about… you damn sis-con."
"Did~ you~ say~ something~, Amamiya-kun?"
Rin Tohsaka gave him a gentle smile.
In the end, thanks to Irisviel's mediation, Rin Tohsaka reluctantly accepted Ye Sizhen's stay.
As a condition, she was allowed to freely enter and leave the Amamiya household from then on.
As for Sakura herself…
The moment she saw Ye Sizhen, the light vanished from the girl's eyes.
"Another new woman has appeared by Senpai's side… Guh!"
After that, she was depressed for quite some time.
And there was someone whose reaction was even bigger than Sakura Matou's.
That was Taiga Fujimura, who had returned to Fuyuki during her break.
"Nice to meet you. You must be the legendary Fuji-nee, right? I often hear everyone talk about you."
Ye Sizhen greeted her politely.
Perhaps because she had grown distant from the world of Magecraft, Shirou felt she had become smoother and gentler than before.
"..."
Taiga Fujimura's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured from her forehead. "S-she appeared! A Chinese-style beauty whose character completely overlaps with mine! Waaah, Shirou~ What am I supposed to do now~~~~~~!"
No, no, no, the two of you don't overlap in the slightest, Shirou thought.
Besides, having tiger elements doesn't make someone Chinese-style, does it?
...
...
And so, Shirou's household passed a peaceful six months.
Irisviel's due date drew closer with each passing day.
As it approached, Sella grew more anxious by the day, and she scolded Shirou even more often than before.
Shirou understood how she felt. A Homunculus giving birth naturally was something that had never happened in the history of the Einzbern family.
She gathered her courage and told Irisviel that if there were any complications during labor, she would do everything in her power to protect her lady.
"Hehe, don't worry, Sella."
Irisviel gently stroked her hair and comforted her. "Nothing will happen. This is my child with Shirou, after all."
Then, whether fate truly existed or not.
On the night Irisviel became a mother, Fuyuki saw heavy snow for the first time in a long while.
The ones assisting with the birth were Sella and Leysritt. Over the past six months, they had become fully proficient in midwifery and in handling emergencies.
To be safe, Shirou would also stay by her side.
"When the time comes, should I use healing Magecraft beside you?"
He had once suggested that, but it was rejected.
"Don't be foolish," Sella said.
"I can't?"
"No. Mana could affect the delivery."
"Then… what about pain-relief Magecraft?"
"Of course not."
Shirou lowered his head in frustration. "Then there's nothing I can do?"
Irisviel smiled and said, "Trust Sella and Leysritt. As for you, Shirou, it's enough for you to stay by my side."
Although Sella had spoken so confidently, when the crucial moment came, she was so nervous that she became somewhat flustered.
Fortunately, Leysritt remained calm and steady, so nothing went wrong.
Irisviel looked like she was in terrible pain, and Shirou held her hand tightly by the bedside.
For the first time, he felt utterly powerless, unable to help with anything.
If Leysritt had said, "Shirou, you're in the way," at a time like this, Shirou would probably have been depressed for an entire year.
In the end, after a frightening but safe ordeal.
A cry rang through the room, and the child was born.
Just as the prophecy from several months ago had said, it was a baby girl, with beautiful red eyes just like her mother's.
"This is my lady's… the girl who will change the fate of the Einzbern family…"
Sella, tears streaming down her face, handed the child to her mother, Irisviel.
The silver-haired Homunculus held the crying infant in her swaddling clothes and gazed at her with loving eyes.
"It's so strange… I really became a mother…"
"Yes, my lady! You truly became a mother!"
Sella looked even more emotional than Irisviel. Leysritt said nothing, but her eyes remained fixed on Illya.
"Shirou, hold your little sister."
Irisviel suddenly looked at the red-haired boy beside her and spoke.
She had not yet recovered from the exhaustion of childbirth, and her complexion was terribly weak.
Even so, her jewel-like beauty had not faded in the slightest. The happiness on her face covered the worn fatigue, making her gentle gaze and smile shine even more brightly.
"…Okay."
Shirou nervously took Illya from Sella's arms.
That small, fragile little body was far lighter than he had imagined.
Holding her felt like cupping a handful of fresh snow in his hands. It seemed as if the slightest shake would make her fall apart, so delicate that it was frightening.
The fragile life that was still doing its best to live maintained her body temperature in her sleep, her tiny mouth moving faintly with each slow breath.
The beating in her chest was faint, but for this little life, it was already everything she could manage right now.
Shirou felt somewhat nervous.
Although the Einzbern Homunculus technology was the best in the world, among Homunculi not born from the Einzbern family, many had congenital defects from birth.
This child could not be called a pure Einzbern. Could she be…
Sella saw his concern. "Don't worry, Shirou. I've already done a general examination. Illya is a very healthy baby, with no problems in her physical functions."
"Hehe… Shirou was just laughing at Sella, but he's even more nervous than she was. This child is only asleep."
Irisviel smiled as she watched Shirou hold her daughter.
Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.
Once the weight hanging over his heart finally settled, an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.
When Shirou had just returned from the Fairy Kingdom to Proper Human History, it had felt as if a great chunk had been hollowed out of his chest. No matter what he did, he could not find the energy for it.
But now, things were different.
Shirou had found his own "place to belong."
A mother, lovers, friends, juniors…
And now, even his own child…
In that instant, countless emotions he could not put into words wrapped around the boy.
"Shirou, thank you."
Irisviel said it quietly.
Sella and Leysritt both tactfully slipped out of the room, leaving Shirou alone with Irisviel and her daughter.
"I'm so glad I was able to give birth to this child. It's all thanks to you, Shirou."
"No, I didn't do anything."
Irisviel shook her head. She reached out to Shirou, then pulled both him and Illya into her arms.
Feeling the warmth in her embrace and the soft palm stroking the top of his head, Shirou silently swore that he would protect them.
Both as an older brother, and as a father.
...
...
The day after giving birth to Illya, Irisviel was already moving around the house as if nothing had happened.
Everyone advised her to rest properly, but if she could be persuaded that easily, she would not be Irisviel.
Illya was a very lively child, and because none of them had any experience raising a baby, everyone was thoroughly worn out that day.
That night, Irisviel called Shirou over.
"Has she fallen asleep?"
"Yes. She finally fell asleep."
Irisviel looked even more exhausted than she had the day before. It had taken her two hours just to quiet Illya down and get her to sleep.
"Homunculi are mature as soon as they're born, so they don't need to be cared for… Human babies really are something else. So fragile, and so demanding…"
Shirou looked at Irisviel as she complained with a blissful expression and teased, "Do you regret becoming a mother?"
"Of course not, you idiot Shirou."
The silver-haired Homunculus glared at him fiercely. "I don't regret it at all. If anything, I feel even happier now. Though it's true that even if I'm happy, it's still very tiring."
"Is that so? That's why Sella and I told you during the day. You don't have to do everything yourself."
Shirou said, "Just tell me if there's anything you need."
Irisviel pinched her delicate chin. "That's true. I understand. Shirou, then comfort me properly tonight."
"?"
The boy frowned slightly, then nodded. "Would a shoulder massage work?"
Irisviel gazed at the boy with her beautiful red eyes.
"How mean… Do you really need me to say it that clearly?"
After saying that, she got down on all fours and crawled toward Shirou, her body swaying.
With that bewitching smile on her face, Irisviel looked like an animal in heat.
Perhaps because she had just given birth, her breasts and hips were both a size larger than before.
"What I want Shirou to massage isn't my shoulders, but…♡"
"W-wait! Calm down, Iri!"
Pinned down on the tatami, Shirou shouted.
"Illya has already been born. We don't need to do that kind of thing anymore!"
"But we promised back then!"
"Illya is right there!"
In the end, Shirou's cries were meaningless.
It was not until the next morning that Irisviel finally let him return to his own room.