MMMS 94

“Lord Ryuuto… the wound’s already healed. I feel a lot better now.”

When Ryuuto stepped back into the room, he found Irisviel sitting up on the futon, her pale hair slightly mussed, eyes warm as she looked up at him.

“I’ve really caused you a lot of trouble, haven’t I? Honestly, I must be such a burden. You probably regret ever picking me up.”

“There’s no such thing,” he said, sitting down beside her and taking her hand without hesitation.

The two of them began chatting like nothing had happened, as if the world outside had nothing to do with them anymore.

From her spot near the wall, Maiya watched in silence. Something unfamiliar twisted in her chest. That same image—of them together at the mansion gate—flashed through her mind again.

To her, Irisviel had always been like a princess. Graceful. Kind. Far too good for someone like her. Untouchable. And yet…

Now she was here, sitting so close to the boy who had defeated her husband, her fingers laced with his like it was the most natural thing in the world.

It felt like betrayal. There was no other way to describe it.

Why was she risking everything for him? Even giving up Avalon? Maiya couldn’t understand it.

“Lord Ryuuto,” Irisviel said softly, scooting a little closer to him, her voice shy. “Can I ask you something?”

He raised an eyebrow. “That depends. What is it?”

“Could you forgive Miss Maiya… for shooting at you earlier?”

Maiya tensed. “Milady… please. You don’t have to go that far for someone like me.”

But Irisviel just turned and gave her that same gentle smile.

“I already heard everything from her. She’s not with Kiritsugu anymore. She only stayed here to see the war through to the end. When she shot at you, I think it was just out of concern for me. I hope you’ll forgive her.”

And she wasn’t wrong.

After Ryuuto defeated Kiritsugu, he’d forced him into a binding pact. One created by Morgan herself. It barred him from ever setting foot in Fuyuki again—and came with a nasty curse.

She said if Kiritsugu ever tried to return, he’d transform into a giant caterpillar.

And even if he wanted to break it… well, in this age, there was no one left who could. To break Morgan’s curse, he’d need someone on the level of Solomon or Medea. At the very least.

Ryuuto let out a breath and studied Maiya for a long moment. Then he nodded. “…Fine. I’ll let it slide. Just for Iri’s sake.”

“Thank goodness!” Irisviel lit up, then suddenly threw her arms around him, knocking him flat onto the tatami. Her cheeks flushed as she pressed a quick, bashful kiss to his cheek.

“…………”

Maiya stood frozen for a second, then gave a quiet bow.

Without a word, she turned and stepped out of the room.

The night air was cold. She walked across the courtyard, boots brushing against wild grass. Moonlight filtered through the clouds, casting silver streaks on the overgrown garden.

Then she felt it.

A chill ran down her spine—sharp, unnatural.

Something was here.

Her hand dropped to her waist, and she drew her pistol. “Who’s there?”

“…Hehehe. Sharp as ever.”

The voice made her tense.

From the shadows between the bushes, a woman stepped out—graceful, confident… and identical to Irisviel.

“What—” Maiya’s eyes widened. Her grip on the gun tightened.

The door behind her was still shut. There hadn’t been time for Irisviel to slip past her.

“You’re...”

“Relax. Iri’s still inside.” The woman smiled, but there was no warmth in it. “I’m just another part of her….”

“Another… Iri?” Maiya didn’t lower the gun. Her stance stayed sharp, even as confusion flickered across her face.

Same voice. Same face. Same elegant posture.

But everything else was wrong.

There was no kindness in her eyes. No softness in her tone. Just an icy calm, layered with something unsettling.

With her hands tucked behind her back, the black-clad Irisviel strolled closer, each step unhurried. “My circumstances aren’t the point,” she said with a calm smile. “What matters is what you just heard about Iri.”

Maiya’s eyes narrowed. “And what about it?”

“If she dies, I go with her. That’s… inconvenient. She’s always been kind to you, hasn’t she? Don’t you want to save her?”

“Of course I do.” Maiya’s voice was sharp. “But how am I supposed to—”

She caught herself, jaw tightening. Stop the Holy Grail War? That wouldn’t work. Even if they ended it, Iri’s fate wouldn’t change. That body wasn’t built to last.

“There is a way,” Black Iri said smoothly. “And it’s actually pretty simple…”

She leaned in close, her breath cold against Maiya’s ear, and whispered a single sentence.

“—!”

Maiya recoiled. Her face twisted in horror, fury flooding her eyes. “Don’t joke about something like that!”

“I’m not,” the woman replied flatly. “I’m serious. If nothing changes, Iri’s going to die. You know that. Are you really going to stand back and let it happen?”

Maiya’s grip on her pistol tightened. “…Why are you telling me this?”

“Because those two are hopeless,” Black Iri said with a half-laugh. “They obviously care about each other, but neither of them is willing to take the first step.”

“You mean…” Maiya hesitated, her voice caught between disbelief and anger. “The lady has feelings for that boy?!”

She raised the gun without thinking.

Black Iri didn’t even blink.

“Of course. You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? Or are you still clinging to the idea that she still has feelings for Kiritsugu?”

“She does. Kiritsugu is—”

“What? Her hero? Or maybe just your ideal. Your idea of what love should look like. Tell me, Maiya—was Iri ever a person to you, or just a symbol to keep on a pedestal?”

“…”

There was nothing she could say.

Because deep down, she’d never asked. Never wanted to.

Not what Iri wanted.

Not who she loved.

Not who she chose.

The black-clad girl stepped in a little closer, eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

“Kiritsugu always went on about ideals,” she said quietly. “But in the end, it was all calculation. Cold logic, compromises, trade-offs. You saw it, didn’t you? When you pulled that gun—Ryuuto didn’t hesitate. He moved to protect her with his own body.”

Maiya didn’t respond. Her hand slowly dropped, the pistol lowered. Her voice came out quieter, more human. “…If I go along with this… can I really save her?”

“Absolutely.” Black Iri gave her a smile. She reached out and gave Maiya’s shoulder a gentle pat. “Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”

And like a mirage, she melted into the moonlight.

…

“Maiya, it’s pretty cold outside, isn’t it?”

When she returned, Ryuuto was sprawled out across Iri’s lap, a faint grin on his face as her fingers brushed his hair.

Maiya didn’t answer. She walked to the futon in silence and lowered herself into a proper seiza beside them.

Iri blinked. “Maiya? Is something wrong?”

“Lady Iri,” Maiya said, “please place your hands behind your back.”

“Eh? Um… alright?” Still confused, Iri slowly did as asked.

Without warning, cloth bindings slipped around her wrists.

“Maiya?!”

But Maiya didn’t even flinch. Her gaze locked onto Ryuuto with quiet resolve. “Lord Ryuuto. Please sleep with the lady. Right now.”