MMMS 104

As time passed, something shifted between the two on the balcony.

Morgan's queenly composure melted away, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. The mischievous glint she'd been directing at Artoria faded completely as she lost herself in the moment.

Snap—the Mystic Eyes released their hold.

Artoria could move again, but she didn't. She stayed frozen on the couch, watching as Morgan's face grew flushed and dazed. Her own heart hammered against her ribs.

And then it hit her.

The reason she felt so... affected. Morgan looked just like her. Without meaning to, Artoria had been imagining herself in her sister's place. Being held like that. Being wanted like that.

Her thighs tensed under her nightgown.

Before she knew what she was doing, she was on her feet, moving toward them.

Artoria slipped her arms around Ryuuto from behind, pressing against his back. Her arms—trained for battle, meant to wield holy weapons—now wrapped around his waist like they belonged there.

"Lancer?! What are you—"

"I... I couldn't help it!" The words tumbled out of her in a rush. "Sister’s Mystic Eyes messed with my head, and I..."

Before he could respond, she pulled his face toward hers and kissed him.

At that moment, Morgan—still nibbling at his ear—let out a bashful giggle, and leaned in from the other side.

And so the two sisters—who had spent lifetimes at each other's throats—found themselves in an impossible moment of harmony.

Both holding the same person. Both wanting the same thing.

…

"Rider! You in there?! We've got a strategy meeting—get your ass moving!" Waver burst through the attic door, out of breath.

"Hm? What's got you all worked up, boy?" Iskandar didn't bother looking away from his screen.

The king sat cross-legged in front of an old CRT TV, completely absorbed in some strategy game.

"...God, seriously?" Waver let out a long sigh. By now, this wasn't even surprising. "Tokiomi sent a message. One of his familiars dropped off a letter."

"A messenger, eh?"

"Yes, some fancy emerald bird thing. Probably standard Tohsaka magecraft."

"Hah! Gemstone familiars? Guy really likes to show off his money." Rider scratched his beard. "Alright, where's this letter?"

"Right here."

Waver handed it over, trying not to look too much like an errand boy. The letter was short and to the point.

"Well, well... Tokiomi wants to team up. Says we should hit that Einzbern castle together."

Both Iskandar and Waver frowned.

"Now he wants to play nice? War's almost over..."

"Looks like our black-haired boy still has Tokiomi rattled. Can't get over getting his ass kicked by a teenager."

"BAHAHA! So he thinks I'm the pushover here!?" Iskandar slapped his knee, finding the whole thing hilarious rather than insulting.

The letter mentioned meeting at Fuyuki Church at midnight if Rider was interested in talking terms.

"Wait, isn't the Church supposed to be neutral? Why would the supervisor let them negotiate there?"

Rider leaned back, still grinning. "It's a power play, kid. Shows he's serious, but it's also a threat. That supervisor—Kotomine Risei—I'd bet good money he's in Tokiomi's pocket."

"What?! That bastard's working with Tohsaka?!"

"Looks that way." Iskandar shrugged like it was no big deal, but then his expression grew thoughtful. "What really gets me though... is why Archer went along with this."

Waver rolled his eyes. Not everyone had a Servant who did whatever the hell they wanted.

But Rider kept mulling it over. Gilgamesh and Iskandar had butted heads over what it meant to be a king. They'd sworn to kill each other. And would someone as proud as the King of Heroes really team up with anyone to take down some kid who'd beaten him once?

That would mean giving up his chance at revenge. Admitting he couldn't handle it alone.

"So? What should we do?" Waver asked. Were they going to team up with the Tohsakas or not?

"What do you think, boy?" For once, Iskandar turned away from his game, looking at him seriously. “I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

"Strategically an alliance makes sense for both sides..." Waver hesitated. "But the letter says the Master has to go alone. Which means there's a pretty good chance this whole thing's a setup."

The unspoken question hung between them.

‘Are you brave enough to face Tokiomi by yourself?’

Waver couldn't answer right away.

He took a step back, feeling the weight of the giant’s stare.

He knew better than anyone how much of a liability he'd been. Against Kayneth, against his own damn teacher—he was the reason Rider lost that fight.

If Iskandar had gone all out, if he'd faced down Saber's Noble Phantasm head-on instead of worrying about keeping one scrawny kid safe... they might've actually won.

But instead, Rider had ditched his chariot and run—not to save himself, but to protect Waver.

Back then, Waver had thought he was a talented magus—thought he was some kind of tactical genius. What a joke. Two weeks into this war had shown him exactly how small and useless he really was.

Was he just going to keep hiding behind Iskandar forever?

He slapped both cheeks hard and looked up. "Yes. I can do it."

The moment he said it, that split second of doubt just... disappeared.

"I'll handle Tohsaka. You deal with Archer." He straightened up, feeling something he'd never felt before. “Leave the rest to me.”

For the first time since this war started, he felt free.

"Good. I'm counting on you." Iskandar nodded, still focused on his screen, but there was warmth in his voice.

Waver stared at the king's broad back. For the first time, he felt like he could stand next to the King of Conquerors without shame—maybe even as an equal.

—

"Sniff sniff... Ryuuto, you smell different today..."

In the bright conservatory that morning, Irisviel had pulled Ryuuto into her lap, but her usual cheerful demeanor was nowhere to be found. Instead, she wore a suspicious pout. There was definitely a woman's scent on him. Sweet and rich. And it wasn't hers.

That was... concerning.

"Huh? Do I? You're probably imagining it." His laugh came out a little too high.

Irisviel's eyes narrowed, and something almost sad flickered in them. That perfume was everywhere on him—his hair, his clothes, his skin. You didn't get that kind of scent from just talking to someone.

Even if she loved him to pieces, there were limits to what she could overlook.

"You said you spent the night in Artoria's room, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

So she could back up his story.

“…That’s odd.” Irisviel's pout deepened.

Because the thing was, this wasn't just one woman's scent. It was two distinct ones, layered together. Still, there was no way Ryuuto could explain that he'd spent twenty minutes that morning sandwiched between Morgan and Artoria in what could only be described as a very thorough kissing session.