After finishing dinner with his family, Tomoe stretched his arms and made his way toward his room, eager to finally relax. The day had been exhausting, and his body still felt sluggish from his earlier training. All he wanted now was a hot shower and some well-earned sleep.

But before he could even take the first step up the stairs—

"Tomoe, there's a call for you!"

His mother's voice called out from the kitchen.

Tomoe paused mid-step, raising an eyebrow. A call? At this hour? That was unusual.

"From who?" he asked as he turned back, walking toward the kitchen where the house phone sat on the counter.

"It's your friend, Shinji," his mother replied, her expression curious.

Instantly, Tomoe's expression hardened.

Shinji calling this late? Yeah, this can't be good.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"

"Tomoe? Good, you're there. Listen, come to the Fuyuki Granary, quick," Shinji's voice came through, sharp and urgent.

Tomoe frowned. The granary?

"Is it...?" He didn't need to finish his sentence.

"Yeah, we got a lead," Shinji confirmed, his tone serious.

Tomoe exhaled through his nose. "Where do we meet?"

"Don't worry about that. Just go—I'll find you," Shinji said before abruptly hanging up.

Tomoe clicked his tongue in irritation. That guy… always so damn cryptic.

Despite his frustration, he wasted no time. He turned and rushed toward the entrance, already making calculations in his head. He needed his jacket, his gear—this was going to be a long night.

"Mom! I'm going out!" he shouted as he slipped on his shoes.

"What? Wait, son—!" his mother started, but before she could stop him, he had already thrown the door open and bolted outside.

Left behind, his mother shook her head, sighing in exasperation. "That boy... honestly."

Meanwhile, sitting at the dining table, a young girl with short black hair and piercing violet eyes watched the front door with quiet concern.

"Onii-chan..." she murmured under her breath.

Miyu, his adopted sister, clutched the edge of the table, unease settling in her heart.

Something about tonight didn't feel right.

Z

It took quite a while for Tomoe to arrive at Fuyuki Granary. The journey was longer than he had expected, and the cool night air only made him more aware of the distance he had to cover. The granary itself was located near the vast rice paddies on the outskirts of the city, where fields stretched out under the moonlight. Rows upon rows of neatly arranged paddies glistened under the stars, their surfaces reflecting the dim glow of streetlights positioned far off the main road.

Fuyuki's farmers, employed by the government, maintained these fields with unwavering dedication. During the day, this area would be bustling with workers tending to the crops, their voices and the sounds of agricultural machinery filling the air. But at night, it was eerily quiet—almost unnervingly so.

Tomoe finally arrived at the designated location, scanning his surroundings for any sign of Shinji. The granary itself was a large, old structure built to store harvested rice before distribution. There were several storage silos lined up neatly in a row, their massive metallic frames standing like silent sentinels in the darkness. The faint scent of grain lingered in the air, mixing with the earthiness of the nearby paddies.

Yet, despite his efforts, he couldn't spot Shinji anywhere.

Tomoe frowned, sighing in mild irritation. *Did that bastard set me up or something?* He knew Shinji wasn't above playing pranks on him, but this seemed a little too serious for a joke. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he started walking toward the granary, hoping to find some clue as to why he was called here.

Just then—

"Oi, Tomoe!"

A voice called out from behind.

Tomoe turned around swiftly and saw Shinji approaching with his usual cocky smirk.

"Took you long enough," Shinji said, crossing his arms.

Tomoe rolled his eyes. "This place isn't exactly next door to my house, Shinji," he retorted. "Not everyone has the luxury of a chauffeur or a convenient ride, you know."

Shinji snorted, waving a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses. Whatever. Come on, I'll show you what's up."

Without further delay, Shinji led him toward the edge of the rice paddies. As they approached, Tomoe noticed a distinct shift in the atmosphere. The once silent area was now bustling with activity—a gathering of uniformed police officers was scattered around, their flashlights illuminating patches of grass and dirt as they investigated something. A few of them were talking among themselves, while others were cordoning off certain areas with yellow tape.

Tomoe's brows furrowed as he took in the scene. "What the hell happened here?" he asked.

Shinji didn't answer immediately. Instead, he merely said, "Just wait a second."

Tomoe huffed in annoyance but did as he was told, turning his attention back to the police. Something bad must have happened for this many officers to be involved. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

And then, among the officers, he spotted her.

A familiar figure stood near the center of the investigation—a young woman in a nun's habit, her silver hair cascading down her back. Even in the dim lighting, Tomoe recognized her immediately.

Caren Hortensia.

His eyes widened slightly. What is she doing here?

As if reading his mind, Shinji chuckled. "She's determining whether this was a homicide or a rogue Servant attack."

Tomoe nodded absentmindedly. That made sense. If a Servant was involved, it was a matter of the Holy Grail War rather than a standard crime, and the Church—represented by Caren—would have the authority to investigate.

Still, something felt off.

"If she's here, why aren't Tohsaka or Edelfelt?" Tomoe asked.

Shinji smirked knowingly. "Simple. I got connections in the police force. Tohsaka doesn't."

Tomoe blinked. "Wait, what?"

Shinji chuckled at his confusion. "You see, the current head of the Tohsaka family, Tokiomi Tohsaka, is one of those 'true magus' types. A staunch believer in the traditional ways of magecraft. Because of that, he barely interacts with normal people outside his circle. And since she grew up under his teachings, she inherited that same isolationist mindset. That means she has no ties to local authorities. If something happens in the city, she won't know about it unless the Church—meaning Caren—tells her."

Tomoe processed that information. It made sense in an annoying kind of way.

"And Edelfelt?" he asked next.

Shinji snorted. "They're outsiders. They barely know what's going on in this city, let alone its police affairs. Chances are, they don't even know something happened tonight."

Tomoe let out a small hum of acknowledgment. "Oh."

He wasn't sure how to feel about all of this. The way Shinji talked, it was clear that magi society operated on a completely different set of rules—ones that he, as a normal person, would probably never fully understand.

Still, something nagged at him.

"If that's the case… why didn't you tell them about this?" Tomoe asked.

Shinji gave him a look as if he had just asked whether water was wet.

"Telling them would be the same as admitting that I can't handle this situation on my own," Shinji scoffed. "That would basically mean I'm asking them for help, which in turn means I'd be indebted to them."

Tomoe sweatdropped at the sheer pettiness of it all. "I mean… wouldn't it be better to have more people on the same page? This is a life-or-death situation, right?"

Shinji clicked his tongue. "That's exactly why I won't tell them. If I owe them a favor, they'll use it against me later. No way in hell am I giving Tohsaka or Edelfelt that kind of advantage."

Tomoe sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Man, you magi people are exhausting."

Shinji rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who got dragged into this mess."

Tomoe wanted to argue, but… fair enough. He really had no room to talk.

As he stared at the scene unfolding before them—the officers moving about, Caren speaking with one of them, the eerie silence of the rice paddies surrounding them—Tomoe couldn't help but wonder.

Just what kind of enemy were they dealing with tonight?

Z

It took a while, but Tomoe finally noticed Caren moving away from the crime scene. Her expression was unreadable as she exchanged a few last words with one of the officers before stepping away from the restricted area. The police continued their investigation under the dim glow of streetlights, their voices murmuring in the distance like the buzz of nocturnal insects. The cool night air carried the faint scent of damp earth and rice paddies, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

The moment Caren was alone, Shinji grabbed Tomoe's wrist and yanked him forward.

"Come on," Shinji said, dragging him toward her with an urgency that made Tomoe stumble slightly. "Now's our chance."

"Dude, can you not pull me like a toddler?" Tomoe protested, though he didn't resist. "I can walk, you know."

Shinji ignored him, focused solely on reaching Caren before anyone else did. As they approached, Caren turned in their direction, her sharp silver eyes registering mild surprise at their sudden appearance.

By the time they reached her, Caren had already noticed their approach. Her pale blue eyes flickered with a brief moment of surprise before settling back into their usual detached calm.

"My, my," Caren mused, folding her hands neatly in front of her. "I was wondering if anyone would show up."

"Good evening, Sister Hortensia," Shinji greeted smoothly, offering a polite nod. "Quite the incident we have here, huh?"

Tomoe hesitated for a moment before offering his own awkward greeting. "Uh, hey, Caren."

Caren tilted her head slightly at his informal tone but didn't comment on it. Instead, she shifted her gaze back to Shinji, as if assessing him.

Shinji got straight to the point. "So, what's the verdict?"

Caren didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave them both a slow, deliberate look before speaking.

"As expected, this was indeed the work of a Servant," she confirmed. "There were no traces of conventional weaponry, no signs of a struggle that could be explained through mundane means, this is no doubt the work of a servant."

Shinji hummed in thought. "So, we've got a rogue Servant running around. Great. Just what we needed."

"What are your plan after this, Caren?" Tomoe asked, unconsciously using an informal tone. Caren who notices didn't comment on it and answer.

"I'll be informing other participants of what happened tonight, and nothing more."

"But..." Tomoe was clearly hoping for more but before he can said anything Shinji scoffed.

"Tch. Figures." Then, to Tomoe, he said, "You see now? This is why it's important to stay informed. You don't want to be the poor bastard who gets caught up in something like this without even knowing what's going on."

Caren gave Shinji a long, considering look before nodding in approval. "Indeed, the Matou family's swift response is admirable. The incident only occurred a few hours ago, yet here you are, already seeking information." She placed a delicate hand against her cheek, feigning a thoughtful expression. "Truly, the Matou family's connections are vast. You must be very well-prepared."

Shinji smirked, puffing his chest slightly. "Heh. Of course. We—"

"Although," Caren interrupted smoothly, lowering her hand, "one does wonder if such eagerness comes from a place of genuine responsibility… or perhaps a desperate need to compensate for something."

Silence.

Tomoe blinked. Wait… that sounded like a compliment, but—

Shinji, to his credit, took the jab with remarkable grace. He didn't flinch, didn't scowl, didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he nodded once, lips curling into a tight-lipped smile. "Yeah, yeah. Very funny." Without missing a beat, he turned on his heel. "Well, since we've got our answer, we're done here. Come on, Tomoe."

Tomoe hesitated, glancing between Caren and Shinji. Unlike Shinji, he actually wanted to talk to her a bit more. Maybe ask a few more questions, get her opinion on the whole situation. But before he could open his mouth—

"Do you need something?" Caren inquired, tilting her head slightly.

Tomoe blinked, suddenly put on the spot. "Ah—well, I—"

"Tomoe." Shinji's voice was sharp, cutting through his hesitation. When Tomoe turned, he saw Shinji staring at him, his expression utterly exasperated. "We. Are. Leaving."

Tomoe looked back at Caren, whose eyes were patiently waiting for his response. A small part of him wanted to ignore Shinji and stay. But… Shinji had a point. There wasn't much else to be gained here.

With a sigh, Tomoe gave Caren a small nod. "Right. Uh, thanks for the information. I guess I'll see you around?"

Caren's lips quirked ever so slightly. "Perhaps."

And with that, he turned to follow Shinji.

As they walked away from the crime scene, Tomoe sulked slightly, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You didn't have to rush me, you know."

Shinji groaned, throwing his arms up in frustration. "Goddammit! This is not the time to get all starry-eyed over some girl, you idiot!"

"I wasn't—!" Tomoe started to argue but stopped. Was he? No, that wasn't it. He was just… curious. Right? He shook his head, muttering, "You're making a big deal out of nothing."

Shinji gave him a flat look. "Uh-huh. Sure." Then, rubbing his temples, he sighed. "Whatever. Just focus. We've got a Servant out there who's killing people. The last thing we need is for you to get distracted by some silver-haired sadist in a nun outfit."

Tomoe narrowed his eyes. "That is a very specific description."

"Because she is very specific," Shinji grumbled. Then, with a shudder, he muttered under his breath, "Crazy women, man…"

Tomoe decided not to comment on that.

As they walked further away from the granary, one thought lingered in Tomoe's mind. If this was just the beginning… what else was waiting for them in this war?

z

As they walked away from the crime scene, Tomoe glanced at Shinji, expecting him to say something about their next move. However, the silence stretched on.

He frowned. "So, what do we do now?"

No response.

Tomoe looked over again and realized Shinji was completely zoned out, his expression tense, eyes unfocused.

"Oi, Shinji," Tomoe called again, nudging his shoulder.

"Shut up," Shinji snapped, not even glancing at him.

Tomoe grumbled under his breath. "Well, excuse me for trying to be useful..."

A few more moments of silence passed before Shinji exhaled sharply. "This is bad."

Tomoe, who had already resigned himself to waiting, perked up. "What's bad?"

Shinji reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded map, quickly unfolding it and scanning it with sharp eyes before turning it towards Tomoe.

"Look," he said, pointing at the area they were in. "The victim was attacked in the middle of the rice fields."

Tomoe nodded. "Right, and?"

Shinji shot him a glare, clearly irritated that Tomoe didn't immediately see the problem. "The problem is *where* the attack happened. The rice fields cover a *huge* stretch of land right at the edge of the city."

Tomoe's brows furrowed. "Okay…?"

"*Meaning, even if we tried to find the Servant responsible, the chances of actually running into them are ridiculously low. We don't have enough people to cover all that ground."

Tomoe folded his arms. "So what? We just give up?"

Shinji let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course not, dumbass. I'm saying we can't afford to just blindly wander around hoping we'll stumble onto them. If we waste time, someone else *will* die."

That shut Tomoe up. He pressed his lips together, glancing back at the rice fields. The thought of another attack happening while they were standing around was unsettling.

After a moment, an idea struck him. "What if we use the same method as before? The insects and the surveillance spells."

Shinji immediately shook his head. "That worked last time because the attack was *inside* the city. I had a limited area to search, and I could make a decent guess on where the enemy might move. But *this*—" He tapped the map. "—this is different. We're at the *edge* of the city, which means the Servant has multiple options. They could head into the city, sure, but they could just as easily disappear into the forest, go towards the coast, or even move into the mountains."

Tomoe frowned. "So… you're saying we have no way of knowing where they went?"

"Exactly." Shinji clicked his tongue in frustration. "We could stay here and wait for them to attack again, but that's basically gambling with people's lives. And if they *have* already left, then we'll be wasting our time standing around doing nothing."

Tomoe hesitated before suggesting, "What about the victim? Maybe they had some kind of clue before they died."

Shinji sighed, shaking his head. "If that were the case, Caren would have told us."

Tomoe raised a brow. "You sure?"

"As annoying as she is, she's a professional. If she had *anything* useful, she would've at least hinted at it. That cop was just unlucky—wrong place, wrong time. He didn't see it coming."

Tomoe exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "So what do we do now?"

"Let me think," Shinji muttered, rubbing his temples.

Tomoe crossed his arms and leaned against a wooden fence post, watching Shinji deep in thought.

"Better think fast," Tomoe urged. "Because if we don't figure this out soon, someone else might end up just like that cop."

Shinji said nothing, but his grip on the map tightened.