Reborn in Type-Moon: Starting by Adopting Sakura - Chapter 15

Speaking of education, Yuu had gone out and bought three computers, installing one in each of their rooms. He was determined that there wouldn't be any more Tohsaka children who couldn't figure out how to operate basic electronics.

Yuu had this growing suspicion that the internet age was right around the corner, and he wanted to make sure they were prepared for it. If magecraft could somehow be integrated with computer technology, especially when combined with the Astromancy Department's research into "pseudo-spiritrons," the possibilities could be absolutely game-changing.

He'd been thinking that Sakura's particular magical affinity might actually work best in some kind of virtual environment. It was an idea he'd been turning over in his mind for weeks now, digging through old records and obscure texts to try and figure out if there was a viable path forward for her development.

The main obstacle was that pseudo-spiritron technology was tightly secured by the Astromancy Department, which happened to be one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower. Getting anything useful out of Marisbury Animusphere was probably going to be even more challenging than that time Yuu had tried to get a tour of the Einzbern family workshop.

But then again, Yuu had learned over the years that there really wasn't such a thing as an impossible deal if you were creative enough about what you were willing to offer in exchange.

"I'll figure something out eventually," he muttered to himself, already starting to brainstorm different approaches.

There wasn't any real hurry anyway. Even if he managed to get his hands on the technology tomorrow, Sakura wasn't anywhere near ready to actually use it yet. He had plenty of time to work out the details and come up with a plan that might actually work.

"Um… Onii-sama, do I really have to learn this?" Sakura held up the thick book titled Introduction to C++, looking at it like it might bite her. It definitely didn't look like anything magical.

“If you don’t want to learn C++, Java is fine too,” Yuu said without looking up from his own reading.

It was the 1980s, and C++ was absolutely everywhere in the programming world. By the 90s, Java would probably take over. Yuu was convinced that programming knowledge was going to be crucial for whatever direction Sakura's magical development took.

"Okay, I'll try," Sakura said quietly. She didn't really understand why he thought this was important, but she trusted him completely.

The problem was that all the characters in the book looked more like weird runes than anything else, and they were giving her a headache that was somehow worse than any of the magecraft theory he'd been teaching her.

This actually puzzled Yuu quite a bit. Magecraft was infinitely more complex than programming—it was knowledge that had been refined and developed over thousands of years. By all logic, it should have been much harder for her to pick up. And yet Sakura understood magical concepts almost instinctively, making connections and drawing conclusions that impressed him. But a basic programming language like C++ seemed to completely overwhelm her. He could only assume it was some kind of Tohsaka family quirk.

"Just take your time with it. Build up your understanding piece by piece."

"Yes, Onii-sama. I'll work really hard at this. I won't let you down," Sakura said, clutching the book against her chest like she was making some kind of solemn vow.

"There's no need to rush yourself."

"Right!" She nodded with determination.

Yuu turned back to his desk and started reading through an ancient manuscript he'd been working on. But when he glanced up a few minutes later, Sakura was still standing there in the same spot, still holding her book.

"Is there something else?" he said without turning around.

"Um…" Sakura held the book up so it covered half her face, and her voice came out muffled and shy. "Onii-sama… if I learn C++, could I maybe get a reward for it?"

"A reward?" Yuu raised his eyebrows, then nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually a good idea. Positive reinforcement is important for learning."

He smiled at her. "Sure, anything you want. Whatever reward Sakura has in mind, I'll make it happen."

"Really?!" Her whole face brightened, and she practically bounced on her feet before rushing out of his room in excitement.

From the next room over, where Manaka had been organizing some documents, there was a sharp crack as she snapped a pencil clean in half.

She tossed the broken pencil into the trash, set down her stack of papers, and walked into Yuu's room.

"Master."

“Manaka? Do you need something?”

She stood in the doorway with this hopeful look in her eyes. "Do you have any work for me to do?" There was something almost eager in the way she asked, like she was trying to sound casual but failing completely.

Manaka stepped closer and tilted her head slightly, grabbing onto his arm with what was probably supposed to be a casual gesture but came across more like a small child trying to get attention.

She was incredibly easy to read. Yuu couldn't help smiling. "You've already been helping me with so much. I'm definitely going to need to rely on you even more going forward."

"Well, in that case…" Her voice took on this soft, almost musical quality that she probably thought was subtle. Those bright sea-blue eyes of hers were practically glowing with hope.

She was so transparent it was almost endearing.

"Master~" The way she drew out the word made it clear she was building up to something.

"I think I'd like a reward too."

She looked up at him with those huge, expectant eyes, and Yuu realized she was probably the most genuine person he'd ever met. There wasn't a dishonest bone in her body.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned down close enough that she could probably feel his breath.

Then he kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Thank you, Manaka. You've been doing an excellent job."

For a moment, she just stood there looking completely stunned.

Then her face turned bright red and she started babbling. "I mean, I guess I did think about what it would be like if we, you know, actually kissed properly, but the forehead is nice too, I'm really happy about it, I am, but also, wait, that's not what I—"

She was flailing around like she couldn't figure out what to do with her hands, and it was honestly pretty adorable.

Manaka was such a sweet kid—honest and genuine and completely overwhelmed by everything. There was something almost pure about her, like she hadn't been touched by any of the ugliness that seemed to follow magi around.

That innocence reminded Yuu of fresh snow, untouched and clean. Where that purity led would probably depend a lot on the choices he made going forward.

He was determined not to let anything happen to her like what had happened to others in the past. He'd make sure of that.

Maybe this would also help her be a little kinder to Sakura, now that she felt like she was getting equal attention.

She left his room looking satisfied, and Yuu went back to his desk to continue reading The Epic of Gilgamesh.

Another quiet week passed after that.