The blond woman in front of me had her back only shown, so I couldn't see her face.
Her name was Artoria Pendragon, a servant who had participated in the 5th Holy Grail War and had served me as her master.
The War was hard, but we managed through it, leading us to this very moment.
Now that everyone had been defeated, she was at her commendable moments before she disappeared.
Artoria was silent and so was I, but not long after a short silence she had spoken .
「As your sword, I have defeated all your enemies and have protected you. I am glad that I have been able to fulfill this oath.」(Artoria)
I nodded my head to acknowledge what she had to say.
I also felt we had done the right thing.
「Yeah, you did well.」(Shirou)
「I need to tell you something before I go.」(Artoria)
Artoria then turns her back in order to face me, giving me a sight of something more beautiful than the sun that was about to rise from the opposite side of the world.
Her face was cute and her body was petite.
Even her dress fit exactly with her hair.
「I love you.」
A small smile had formed within Artoria's face and so did mine.
She had disappeared right after.
The sun had momentarily blinded my eyes, so all I saw was the sun and nothing else.
I felt a lump in my throat, but I managed to revert it to how it was.
This was how it should be.
Her own time and mine as well were different, so it couldn't be helped.
The Holy Grail had helped each master materialize their own servants that were from Heroic Legends.
Meaning that Artoria was also a Heroic Legend, albeit a living one.
Still though, I love her.
「Yeah」(Shirou)
「That's just like you.」
And with that was the end of the Holy Grail War.
I turned my back and carried Illya who was unconscious and proceeded to go home.
Arriving at my own house, no one was there, but me and Illya.
Taiga-nee and Sakura had already gone to school since I made them a note explaining that I will be at Issei's house.
It was a lie, but it worked well.
Illya soon woke up and noticed that it was only me.
「Shi-rou?」
Illya woke up and rubbed her eyes.
Not long after, she quickly widened her eyes.
「Wait, Shirou! What happened?! The last thing I knew was I was kidnapped by Kirei Kotomine!」
「Well calm down a bit, Illya.」
I began to tell her what had happened when she was unconscious, the battle between Gilgamesh and Kirei and how we won.
It was a bit hard to say, but I also told her how Artoria had disappeared right after.
「I'm sorry, Shirou. Because of me, that Saber had disappeared..」
Tears were forming on Illya's eyes, while looking at me with grief.
「Illya..」
She shouldn't be the one to blame.
After all, it was about time that we eradicated the last participants that were in the war, and doing it right now was the best time.
I wiped Illya's tears away.
「Don't be so hard on yourself, Illya. After all, we were going to face them eventually. And of course, you don't have to worry about Saber.」
「I understand, Shirou. But did Saber have any last words before she disappeared?」
Hearing Illya's question made me recall the words Artoria had said, especially the warm confession that she had made.
I smiled at Illya.
「That's a secret.」
Just hearing Artoria's words is something I will only keep for myself.
After all, a confession like that was something I shouldn't tell to others as it is too special to just reveal it.
「Shirou..」
Illya looked at Shirou with concern
「Geez, Illya. You don't have to look like that. Now what about we make some breakfast.」
After all, I am hungry.
「I understand. Then let's eat!」
Illya's expression slowly changed.
That's what I like better of course.
Me and Illya finished our breakfast.
Since we were tired, we slept a long time in order to replenish our energy.
Illya was sleeping inside the same futon as me.
Well, that's fine if she's still worried about me.
Illya had now become a resident of the Emiya household.
After all, her own house had been destroyed during the war.
Hearing the sound near the front sliding door, I noticed Fuji-nee had finally come home.
I along with Illya stood up out of the futon and went to the kitchen where Fuji-nee was now in.
「Yo Shirou! Make some food like usual!」
「I understand Fuji-nee. Today, I'll make Karaage.」
Fuji-nee was delighted, but noticed someone behind me.
「Uhm, Shirou, who is this?」
「Oh, it's Illya. I guess you can call her someone who is now living in this household.」
Fuji-nee stared confused before giving it some thought.
「Wait! You can't have someone of this age living in your house alone with you! That's illegal Shirou!」
Ahh, I should have explained this much better.
Before I could answer Fuji-nee's misunderstanding, Illya walked forward.
「Hello, I am nice to meet you. My name is Illyasviel Von Einzbern and I am the daughter of Kiritsugu Emiya.」
「Ehhhhhh?!」(Fuji-nee)
「Illya?!」
I was even surprised at the reveal.
I didn't know Dad had a child.
He never told me, but then again, he did have some secrets he never wanted telling to anyone including me.
「I'm sorry that I never told you this Shirou. There was simply no time to do so. And I am also older than you.」
I looked at Illya, dumbfounded I was when I was treating her as my little sister.
But something like this to be older than me?
No way, not even other people would believe it.
「B-but you look like a little girl!」
Fuji-nee aggressively pointed to Illya with a flabbergasted face.
「Just because I look like this doesn't mean I am a little girl! I am eighteen in fact!」
「Then that means you're one year older than me Illya?!」
I wasn't as shocked as Fuji-nee, but I was still surprised at all the secrets this little girl had kept from me.
No wonder Illya was interested and persistent in trying to talk with me at that time.
「That's right! That means you have to call me Onee-chan Shirou.」
Ilya's face quickly reddened.
「Illya..」
Then why did she try to kill me and Tohsaka if she was the daughter of Kiritsugu?
It doesn't make sense for someone like Illya to do that.
Maybe, a personal grudge?
「Sorry Shirou. It's just that there are some secrets that I must keep.」
So that's how it is.
Well, everyone has secrets, but I will surely interrogate Illya on why she tried to kill me.
It may sound like a joking matter coming from me, but anyone who's experienced a near death situation will not.
Just thinking about it didn't fit the personality she was showing right now.
Fuji-nee looked like she was staring at a ghost, so she just went to the kitchen in order to prevent her mind from exploding any further.
「Alright. I won't ask questions in the meantime, but I understand that there were things that had probably given you difficulty telling them to me Illya.」
「For now, let's just go to the kitchen, so don't make that face Illya」
I walked to the kitchen along with Illya, but she tugged on my clothes before I could even step into the room.
「Wait Shirou.」
「What is it?」
I faced my head towards her, but her own head was looking down at the floor.
I already told her that it was okay, but looking at her body reactions made me rethink.
「I-I want you to call me Onee-chan from now on Shirou!」
Eh?
「There's no way I can call you that!」
I felt my face redden.
Maybe because it was out of embarrassment.
「You have to! You must! Since we are family, you must call me with honorifics!」
She has a point, but just looking at her appearance and having someone call her Onee-chan was weird.
I might be even viewed as a creep for doing that in public.
「B-But!」
「No buts! You must! Now say it Shirou!」
She really had to cut me off with my explanation.
Though, I guess you can argue that it wasn't going to be a good one with the stutters I was having.
Fine, I will call what you want me to call you then.
「Onee-chan?」
My face was red, but Illya's face was even redder.
Serves my big sister right.
Just then, I heard Fuji-nee's loud noise.
「Shirou, hurry and make food! I'm starving here!」
「Alright, I understand Fuji-nee.」
「Uhm Shirou?」
It seems like Illya has another thing to say.
FIne, I'll give you one more chance.
Make sure it's important.
「What is it this time, Onee-chan?」
I said so arrogantly.
「P-Please call me Onee-chan when we're only alone Shirou. 」
Her face which was touching my forearm made me notice how hot her face was.
My own big sister's face was cute.
「I understand.」
I smiled at her.
Me and Illya entered the room and Illya sat down near Fuji-nee, while I went to the kitchen to cook food.
The kitchen was next to the table, so there weren't any interruptions to your cooking when someone was talking to you.
It's just that your back is the only thing the other person can see, which is rude if it was a guest.
I could care less if it was Fuji-nee since she was always pulling pranks.
Since we had leftover Karaage enough for all of us along with Sakura, I recooked them.
I also shredded some cabbage and prepared the soy sauce.
Quickly gazing at Fuji-nee and Illya's face, I knew that they were really being enticed by the fragrance of the food I'm cooking.
Half an hour had passed and I managed to finish and serve them to the two.
I placed the other one next to where I was sitting.
The table was rectangular, so Fuji-nee was sitting at the length of the table along with Illya, and I was sitting at the side of it.
Illya was next to me, while Fuji-nee was a bit farther.
Now all we need to do is wait.
Minutes passed since I had placed them.
Even if Sakura is late, we still need to wait for her since she's an important figure in our household.
Still, I can empathize with all the hungry gazes at the food that's in front of us.
「Shirou, I can't wait any longer! Can we just eat our food already. It's going to get cold.」(Fuji-Nee)
「She's right Shirou.」(Illya)
That's odd.
Fuji-nee should have also noticed that Sakura wasn't here.
Maybe, she knew she wasn't going to appear?
Did Shinji do something again?
「But aren't we forgetting about Sakura?」
「Sakura?」(Illya)
I forgot that Illya didn't know her.
I should have told her when Fuji-nee came.
「She's another part of our household who always comes here after school and even in the weekends to help me with all sorts of things.」
「I see.」
Since I'm done explaining who Sakura is to Illya, I looked towards Fuji-nee.
「So Fuji-nee?」
「I thought you knew already.」
「No? How am I supposed to know already if me and Illya were sleeping?」
「Ah, that's right! She never told me anything, so I thought you'd know. Well, I did see her with Shinji.」
As expected of Fuji-nee's clumsiness.
Though, I am worried about Sakura walking with Shinji.
「Did Shinji do anything to Sakura?」
「Nothing really. I saw them talking normally. Though, I'd call that abnormal instead since Shinji wasn't always like that with Sakura.」
「Hmm. It is abnormal for Shinji to act nice towards Sakura. But as long as she's safe, then that's good with me.」
I'm even surprised at the fact that Shinji was acting nice towards her.
Did Shinji hit his head or something?
「Then Shirou, can I have the karaage that you prepared for Sakura then?」 (Fuji-nee)
Fuji-nee's mouth was drooling at the sight of extra food.
I feel a bit bad that Sakura didn't come, however I don't want to waste such food.
「Fine, but make sure to share it with Illya as well Fuji-nee.」
「Okay!」
Fuji-nee and Illya shared the food and ate it for themselves with joy.
「Thank you for the food Shirou!」(Illya)
「Same as well Shirou」(Fuji-nee)
Illya's gratitude was nice, but Fuji-nee still had food on her mouth.
It's rude to do that, you know?
And so, my life had gotten back to normal.
1 year had passed.
Update 2!
Progresses are being made, only slightly though. It's taking this long, I know. Right now, I only have a week left of School and I've been busy because of that, so I couldn't have enough time to able to do significant progress. Please forgive me.
Anyways, I can still assure you that the first chapter is better quality than the old one. No progress for second chapter. I promised that I would post them at the same day, so I'll be keep my promise until the very end.