Rin kept flipping through the soul fragments in her hand. After a long while, she sighed, casually put the soul fragments into a drawer, then took the draft on the table filled with dense mysterious text, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.
Suddenly, the electronic clock on the table rang. The time had quietly reached 16:30 on November 27, 1997.
Rin turned back to look at the ringing electronic clock, picked it up to turn off the alarm, put it back in place, stood up, and picked up the coat draped over the back of her chair.
In the corridor, Aoi Tohsaka smiled as she watched Rin running towards her. After these few years, Aoi Tohsaka had become accustomed to her daughter's rough personality.
"Rin, are you getting ready to pick up Sakura from school?"
"Yes, Mom. I won't talk anymore, or I'll be late."
Then, Rin rushed into the yard in a whirlwind, pushed out a customized small motorcycle from the garage, fastened her helmet, hopped onto the bike, twisted the throttle, and sped out of the gate.
The twilight sun shone lazily on Rin. Her ponytail, exposed outside her helmet, swayed with the wind. Passersby on the street habitually smiled at the little girl riding the motorcycle, while a few confused onlookers watched the scene with curiosity.
Looking at the peaceful and harmonious Fuyuki City of today, those who didn't know better would never imagine that just three years ago, a great disaster had occurred here that nearly destroyed the city. Human forgetfulness is truly a wondrous thing.
Rin rode her small motorcycle through the streets and alleys, soon arriving at the elementary school where Sakura was enrolled.
Ignoring the middle-aged man reading a newspaper at the gate, Rin skillfully maneuvered her motorcycle and dashed into the campus.
The man put down his newspaper, shook his head in exasperation, and shouted at Rin's retreating back.
"Hey, Rin! Riding a vehicle on campus, be careful for me!"
With her back to the man, Rin let go of one handlebar and raised her hand to wave.
"Don't worry, Uncle!"
Soon, Rin arrived at the Archery Club on campus. She casually pulled out the key, hooked her finger through the keyring, and walked into the club while spinning it.
Sakura, who had worked up a sweat during archery practice, had just stepped out of the shower. She tilted her head to one side, wiping her smooth black hair with a towel, while preparing to go to the locker room to change back into her school uniform.
"Sister? You're here."
"Yeah, Sakura!"
Rin looked at Sakura, who had just finished showering, her fair skin flushed with pink. Rin pulled Sakura into a hug, buried her face in Sakura's hair, and took a deep breath.
"Mmm, Sakura, you still smell so good."
Surprised by Rin's sudden attack, Sakura shyly pushed her away.
"Sister, stop it. It won't be good if someone comes out and sees us."
"Tch, what's there to be afraid of? If anyone dares to talk, I'll give them a good beating."
In the girls' locker room, Sakura finished changing. With her schoolbag in one hand, she held onto Rin with the other as they walked out together.
At that moment, Shirou and Shinji, who had also just finished showering, arrived together, chatting and laughing.
Shirou and Shinji, who were still joking around, suddenly stiffened. Their eyes darted around, not daring to look at Rin.
Seeing their expressions, Rin said somewhat gloomily,
"Hey, you two. Why do you look like you've seen a ghost when you see me?"
Shirou waved his hands in a panic.
"No, definitely not! Rin, how would we dare? Right, Shinji?"
"Right, Rin, how would we dare."
"Hmph, whatever. Sakura, let's go."
Shirou and Shinji watched Rin and Sakura leave. Patting their chests in relief as if they had survived a disaster, they looked at Rin's back and whispered a complaint together.
"You violent woman, who wouldn't be afraid of you? One wrong move and we'd be covered in lumps from your beating."
Arriving outside the Archery Club, Rin easily hopped onto her motorcycle and inserted the key. She then put on her safety helmet, took Sakura's bag and placed it on the floorboard. Sakura then gracefully smoothed her skirt and sat sideways on the back seat, hugging Rin's waist.
On the twilight road, Sakura hugged Rin's waist, her face pressed against Rin's back. Looking at the flying ponytail before her, she spoke up.
"Sister, since you dropped out this time, do you really not plan on going to school anymore?"
"Yeah, it's too boring and a waste of time. I'll definitely be, and can only be, a Magus anyway. As for you, Sakura, why don't you just drop out too? No need to wait for winter break; I can take you to Misaki City tomorrow to seek apprenticeship with that witch I've been telling you about."
"Um, sister, I still want to go to school."
"It's okay, Sakura. If you want to go to school, then go. We'll just go after your winter break starts in a few days. If you don't want to, that's fine too. Anyway, your sister will protect you in the future."
"Mhm, sister."
Pressed against Rin's back, Sakura listened to her sister's reassuring words and felt her warmth. A faint blush appeared on her small face.'Sister, it's so good to have you.'
As the motorcycle entered the Tohsaka Residence, Rin let Sakura go inside first while she pushed the motorcycle back into the garage.
Tokiomi Tohsaka, sitting in the living room watching TV, looked at the two girls walking in and said with a smile,
"You're back. Just in time, come take a look."
Tokiomi Tohsaka pointed at the TV for Rin and Sakura. A food program was currently playing, and the dishes on screen indeed looked very appetizing.
Tokiomi Tohsaka continued,
"How about it? Papa just learned a few things from the TV. Should Papa show off his skills tonight and make an extra dish for you?"
Looking at Tokiomi Tohsaka, Rin shuddered with a chill. Since who knows when, Tokiomi Tohsaka had suddenly become obsessed with cooking. However, Tokiomi Tohsaka had no talent in this area; every time he made something, it was 'chemical waste' capable of poisoning someone to death.
Seeing Tokiomi Tohsaka's rising enthusiasm, Rin retorted sarcastically,
"No thanks, Papa. We'll just eat what Mama makes. You should enjoy those things yourself; your daughter doesn't want to die young yet."
Tokiomi Tohsaka was heavily struck by his daughter's sharp tongue. He slumped onto the sofa in dejection, muttering to himself,
"I make killer cuisine... I'm being shunned by my daughter..."
Sakura smiled and covered her mouth, watching the scene of her sister's sharp tongue and her father's dejection, which had gradually become a part of their daily life. Recalling the past, she looked at Rin with gratitude. 'Indeed, because of sister, our family is constantly moving in a better direction.'
Sensing Sakura's gaze, Rin turned back and looked at her strangely.
"Sakura? Why are you looking at me like that? It feels weird."
'As expected, sister is still the same,' Sakura thought while saying,
"It's nothing, sister. I just feel that you are especially cute today."
Hearing Sakura's praise, Rin tsundere-ly covered her face.
"Ah, Sakura, you—why did you suddenly say that? What do you mean 'cute'? How could I be cute..."
She then rushed out of the living room in embarrassment.
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