Hello everyone, I'm KaleidoMirror.

After a long period of inactivity, I'm back, and I'd like to share a bit about what's been happening. Some time ago, I made the decision to leave a job that had become incredibly stressful due to circumstances beyond my control. Fortunately, life has given me a new opportunity, and now I'm in a much better position, working in a professional and friendly environment—far from the toxic atmosphere I was in before. This new chapter has rekindled my motivation and my desire to keep creating.

However, as often happens, the good news came with some setbacks. I lost my computer, and with it, many of my previous works. As a result, I've decided to back up all my projects to the cloud to prevent future losses.

To get back into the rhythm, I'm sharing a short chapter. Although it's incomplete, I wanted to update the story as soon as possible. I still have the main plot in mind and some notes stored on my phone, but I'll need some time to decide which project to fully focus on next. Most likely, my upcoming release will be "The Birth of the Hogwarts Sword"; I had nearly finished this chapter during my breaks, and even took the time to revise and rewrite several parts.

Thank you in advance for your support, and I look forward to sharing more content with you soon.

I'd also like to emphasize that "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War" and all its adaptations are the property of their respective authors. Likewise, Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Grand Order, and their various adaptations and visual novels belong to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon.

Are you ready?

Enjoy!

New Chaldea

Expansive Grand Library

(Currently Tea Time)

Mei tilted her head slightly and murmured, "Why… why am I here in Chaldea? Who are all of you?" She held her teacup in both hands, trying to keep them from shaking as she continued, "I've heard terms like 'Master' before… but things like 'Singularities' and 'Human Order' are things I still don't understand…"

Looking at her ancestor, Murasaki Shikibu, with wide eyes, Mei received answers she could never have imagined… yet everything she was told sounded so… strange? Or perhaps a bit… exciting? Even so, there was something in her heart that made her feel uncertain. Why did her ancestor smile that way—so calm and elegant, as if everything she was saying was… trivial?

But to Mei, none of it made any sense!

Caught between such different emotions, she remembered that, until recently, she had thought her life was… normal. Well, that's what she believed.

Her mother, Chika Fujiwara, always told her she had to act like an "ojou-sama," the way she did when she was young. Sometimes, she'd laugh and say, "Where did you get this habit of acting before thinking?" Mei took it as a scolding, but she noticed her mother smiled when she did things right, so it had to be good! Besides, her mom always told her she was as pretty as a porcelain doll, which she was told was "100% inherited from her." Mei didn't fully understand the "porcelain doll" part, but it sounded nice, so she tried to be "as good and mature" as her mom.

Sometimes, she'd even set aside her favorite games to try to become a "true ojou-sama."

Her dad, Shirou Emiya, would always laugh whenever her attempts didn't go as planned, but he always knew how to comfort her. Lifting her into the air, he'd say that one day he'd tell her all the stories of her mother as a "real ojou-sama." Mei wanted to hear them all, but she could never get him to say much more. Still, she forgave him easily because they always ended up running around the garden together—and that was the best! In the end, her mom would join in and laugh with them. Mei felt so happy; deep down in her little heart, she knew her mom and dad cared about her and loved her very much.

Then there were her aunts, who loved her in their own special ways. Toyomi-Oneesama would sometimes take her on vacation trips, and Moeha-Oneesama would play funny pranks on her. Lately, of course, they'd been busy with her baby brother, Akira, who had just been born. Mei adored her brother's tiny smile, though she did feel a little jealous. Sometimes, her aunt Kaguya and uncle Miyuki no longer spent as much time with her as before. But it was okay, because now she was a "big girl," and she loved her little brother—so everything was fine!

She also had her grandfather, Takeshi-Ojiisama, who was serious and would tell her she would one day become a "true Yamamoto." Mei didn't fully understand what he meant, but it seemed important. Sometimes, she felt a bit lost, but just when she was about to ask, her mom would rescue her, whispering, "After all, you're an Emiya, so don't worry about grown-up matters."

Then, on what seemed like an ordinary day, the other half of her happiness arrived in a whirlwind in the form of a children's book that, as it opened before her, released sweets, toys, flowers, and brightly colored hearts, all at once, unexpectedly changing her life.

That was the day she met Alice-chan—and discovered that… magic was real!

At first, Mei thought she had to be dreaming. These things only happened in the fairytales she loved so much. "Are you a servant?" she asked, feeling her heart race faster and faster. Alice-chan—whose real name was Nursery Rhyme—explained that the world they lived in had a "secret side," something she called…

"Hidden by the moon?" Mei repeated, feeling dizzy, yet also as if something wonderful was unfolding.

She didn't fully understand what it meant, but the phrase spun in her head, like those tales of heroes and monsters her dad used to tell her before bed. It all seemed incredible, though maybe a little scary. Should she tell her parents? She didn't want to hide anything from them, but she also wasn't sure how to explain it. She decided to wait a bit, though keeping secrets felt a bit uncomfortable.

After that, alongside her new friend, even more amazing things began to appear. The most astonishing was when she discovered her family's connection to something called Onmyōdō, a form of magic rooted in Japanese folklore.

At first, it seemed… strange. But then, like a spark, that strangeness turned into curiosity. How could all this exist, and she not know? And as she thought about it, she felt a fire light up inside her—a fire that brought even more questions.

So now, here she was, in this strange place called Chaldea, trying to stay calm. Around her, other Servants looked at her with curious smiles, as if she were something strange and intriguing. It made her feel a bit odd… but also important!

"Is there anything else you'd like to know, my little blossom?"

Mei looked up as she finished her chocolate dessert. Her head still felt a bit heavy; there were so many people saying… strange things. Things she couldn't fully understand, but they left an odd feeling in her chest, as if everything was more vast and complex than she could imagine.

"No… I think that's all for now," she answered with a slight nod, trying to show she was keeping up, even though she felt a bit uncertain inside.

"Come now, don't make that face," her ancestor replied with a gentle smile, lowering her fan. "I know it sounds confusing, but we'll discuss it more thoroughly when the time is right. Today, I want to help you with something special." With a graceful motion, she conjured a small scroll in front of Mei, whose eyes widened. "True to your name… My sweet Chiika was absolutely right! I can see you have great potential. I'm thrilled to imagine just how far you might go!"

"No! I mean… I just…" Mei stammered, feeling herself blush, though she wasn't entirely sure why.

"I know…" The older woman looked at her with a mix of tenderness and something Mei couldn't quite decipher. "Learning the art of Onmyōdō isn't easy, especially when you've tried to do it on your own. You still have a long way to go, my little one."

"But Mei-chan has been amazing so far! Alice has seen it! She practices every day," Alice, who was sitting beside her, chimed in enthusiastically, as if sharing the most wonderful secret in the world. Mei smiled; Alice always made her feel just a little braver.

"Please, there's no need to get upset," said Lady Kaoruko, raising a hand with an elegant gesture. The scroll floated gently toward Mei, who regarded it warily before taking it, as if holding it meant entering a whole new world.

"But… why do you trust that I'll be able to do it?" Mei whispered, a feeling in her chest telling her that her ancestor knew far more than she was letting on.

"I trust you because I know what you're capable of," she replied, with a wink that made Mei feel special. "After all, things are more exciting when they get… interesting."

"Alice will be with you always, Mei-chan!" exclaimed Alice, her face so familiar that Mei sighed, surrendering to her best friend's words.

"I promise that as soon as I can, I'll teach you a few of my secrets." Lady Kaoruko turned toward the others at the table, who immediately adopted various nervous expressions. "I'll be awaiting good news from the writing club on how you were considered, and they'll escort you to your own room. I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me for now, my dear… I must attend a meeting with someone who's been quite insistent on meeting you. Though I don't think now is the best time."

"So, that's what you're planning, Murasaki-san?" came a firm, unfamiliar voice.

Mei flinched, looking toward the door, where a young woman with a determined gaze had just appeared. Her arrival brought a sudden hush to the room.

"It's rather unfair that I wasn't informed of this special guest," the newcomer said, fixing her gaze on Mei with an intensity that made Mei lower her eyes, feeling small. "I've been waiting to meet you, Mei Yamamoto-san. Or would you prefer… Mei Emiya?" The young woman smiled as if Mei were some intriguing puzzle. "But how rude of me…" she added, gesturing gracefully, "Allow me to introduce myself: I am the acting Director of Chaldea, albeit temporarily. Though it may seem odd, I am the Caster-class Servant, Leonardo da Vinci."

"Da… Vinci?" Mei murmured, feeling as if the name sounded familiar.

"Yes, that's me," Da Vinci replied, approaching with an amused smile. "How delightful… you're even more adorable than you looked in the LAPLACE system." Mei tried to make sense of that, but her mind was swimming; could this young woman really be the famous inventor who painted the Mona Lisa? Da Vinci interrupted her before she could ask another question.

"I know what you're thinking," Da Vinci said, confidently smiling. "But my current form represents the ideal of beauty I pursued all my life. For a true genius, age and gender are irrelevant!"

"Oh, ignore her, my little blossom," sighed her ancestor, standing up gracefully. With an amused look, she hid a smile behind her fan. "Since everyone at Chaldea learned about your existence through the SHEBA system… it's been quite a stir."

"I'd call it curiosity… and perhaps a touch of envy!" chimed in Alter Santa Lily with a giggle, casting a glance at the others nearby. Mei wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but it seemed… amusing.

"Hey! It was a fair competition!" protested Alice, pouting as she held up a lollipop, making Mei almost laugh, though she covered her mouth to stifle it.

"Oh, let's be honest," Jeanne added, raising an eyebrow. "Even Abby was sad all week because she wanted to meet you… we all heard her sighing about how much she wanted to see you, Mei."

"That's not true! Jeanne just wants to make me look foolish," replied Abigail, though her voice remained calm. She glanced at Mei, with a slight smile. "Don't believe her, Mei-sama. Jeanne is always making things up. Right, Jack?"

Jack the Ripper, who had been quiet until now, tilted her head with a serious expression and said, "A little… though Abby sometimes tricks me too."

"Hey! Whose side are you on?" Abigail huffed, shaking her golden pigtails in mock annoyance.

Meanwhile, someone whispered if Mei could cook as well as Archer Emiya, and another voice, sounding like "Paul-kun, be more considerate," seemed offended.

"You're in no position to judge me, Medea-chan!" came a voice from the back.

"Please, enough! Let's not make a scene!" Mei's ancestor interjected with a nervous smile, trying to calm everyone down. "Forgive them, my little blossom. They all came to welcome you… even Artoria Caster, who, despite pretending not to care, was the most eager to meet you!"

Mei blinked, looking at all the Servants present. It was hard to follow everything they were saying, but it made her feel… excited.

"Murasaki-san is right…" Da Vinci said, though she seemed a bit weary. She cast a serious look at everyone before resting a hand on her head with a sigh. "All you're doing is making our guest even more nervous… You should be ashamed!"

Then, as if on cue, they all seemed to apologize at the same time, albeit a bit clumsily. Mei couldn't help but laugh, and that laugh soon turned into a soft giggle that made everyone else in the room smile.

Her ancestor watched Mei, a gentle smile on her lips and a warm look in her eyes. As she watched her laugh like that, she seemed to whisper to herself, almost as if she didn't want anyone else to hear: "May that smile last a long time… because sometimes life can be a bit tougher than we imagine."

Mei didn't hear those words, but she felt the affection in that gaze.

Thank you so much for joining me in this story.

The next part of this chapter is particularly special to me, as it reflects much of what I've put into this new phase of my life after so many ups and downs. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Goodbye, KaleidoMirror.