MMMS 79

Inside Aoi Tohsaka’s room

“Aoi, why don’t you call your husband?”

Ryuuto’s question caught her off guard. Still slightly flushed from her bath, Aoi blinked in surprise. “Call my husband...? What’s this all of a sudden, Ryuuto-kun?”

“You told me earlier he’s busy with something important,” Ryuuto said. “That’s why you had to leave Fuyuki and come back here, right? If it’s really that serious, shouldn’t you call him? He probably needs you.”

Aoi smiled softly, brushing a few strands of damp hair behind her ear. “No, that’s not necessary. He’s a very capable man. I’m sure he’s doing just fine on his own.”

She reached over and gently patted his head, her fingers moving with motherly affection.

He really is such a good boy…

In truth, Aoi had never involved herself in her husband’s affairs. That was simply how things were in the world she came from. As someone who had married into a noble lineage of magi, she had always been expected to remain at the edge of things. To be graceful, quiet, and supportive, never questioning the decisions made by the head of the household.

It wasn’t about being obedient. It was just the way things were done. She had always believed that a woman’s strength lay in being dependable without needing to speak out. That was the role she'd taken on in the Tohsaka family. Whether it was managing the home or raising children, or even silently enduring her husband’s choices… like when he sent Sakura away.

Even then, she hadn’t protested.

Because in that world, her place was behind him, never beside.

"..."

A heavy silence settled in the room.

Thinking about her daughter, who had been missing for over a month, a shadow fell over Aoi's gentle face. Her fingers curled slightly as if trying to grasp something no longer within reach.

Ryuuto looked up at her. "That's not true at all. If it were me, I’d want to hear Aoi’s voice, especially during tough times."

His words stirred something inside her. It felt like a warm breeze had swept through her chest, gently pushing away the cold weight that had been sitting there for so long. She blinked, surprised by how much comfort his simple words brought.

Ryuuto really is such a good child... she thought once more, touched by his kindness.

Her gaze fell on his face—those clear, beautiful black eyes that looked so much like Sakura’s. It made her chest tighten.

If this child were with her... could she change too?

Could she stop being just a silent, dutiful wife and become someone who shared the weight of the family with her husband?

And more than anything, this time, she had to speak honestly with him about Sakura.

"...Alright," she said at last, her voice calm but firm. "If you say so, I’ll call him."

Aoi reached for the receiver. As her fingers wrapped around it, she glanced at Ryuuto. He gave her an encouraging smile, and she smiled back.

A few rings passed.

Then, finally, a voice came through the line.

"This is the Tohsaka residence."

Aoi nervously swallowed, her palm slightly clammy as she held tightly onto Ryuuto's hand for reassurance. With a shaky breath, she brought the receiver to her ear.

"...Tokiomi, it’s me."

There was a short pause before a surprised voice answered on the other end.

"Aoi? Why are you calling?"

Even through the phone, his exhaustion was obvious. His voice carried a roughness that betrayed how long he'd been awake.

It was no wonder. Ever since the chaos at the Einzbern Castle last night, Tokiomi had been running on fumes. The strategy he had painstakingly crafted had unraveled completely, and now he had to deal with the wrath of the King of Heroes. It was all he could do to hold things together.

Tokiomi, who had always taken pride in his calm, dignified image, now felt worn down in both body and spirit.

"It’s nothing urgent..." Aoi bit her lower lip. Just because there wasn't anything urgent, did that mean she couldn’t call? They were husband and wife, weren’t they?

"I just suddenly felt like hearing your voice. I wanted to ask if... everything with the Holy Grail War is going smoothly."

On the other end, a vein twitched on Tokiomi’s forehead. With everything that was already driving him to the brink, now even his wife was bringing up the one topic he didn’t want to think about.

He drew in a breath, forcing down the frustration rising in his throat.

"Yes. It's going quite smoothly," he answered coldly. "It should be over by next week. After that, you and Rin can return home. That’s all. If there’s nothing else, we’ll talk another time."

"Huh...? Wait, Tokiomi—"

"..."

Her soft voice cut in before he could end the call. The word “wait” hung in the air, and then, silence.

In the past, Aoi had never once questioned his decisions. She had always accepted his judgment without argument. But today, she had called him out of the blue, asked about the Holy Grail War, and even told him not to hang up.

For the first time, Tokiomi felt something unfamiliar creeping in.

Was his position in the household being questioned?

First Gilgamesh, now even Aoi... What is going on with all of you?

He stayed quiet, choosing to respond not with words, but with cold, drawn-out silence.

Aoi instantly sensed the resentment in her husband’s silence. Her heart sank, and a helpless feeling began to take hold. She had wanted to bring comfort, not stir up irritation.

Just as she opened her mouth to apologize, a pair of arms wrapped gently around her waist.

Ryuuto pulled her into a warm embrace from behind. Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, she could feel the steady strength of his body, grounding her in place. Startled at first, she looked back at him. He met her gaze with quiet reassurance, and they both nodded without a word.

"Tokiomi," Aoi said softly, "I know you're very busy right now, and I don’t want to take much of your time. But there’s something important I need to talk to you about. Just for a moment."

"...Go ahead," Tokiomi replied, frowning. He sounded like he was trying to pull his composure back together.

"It’s about Sakura—"

Clang.

Something fell to the floor on the other end of the line.

"Aoi," Tokiomi said, his voice suddenly cold and unfamiliar, "why are you bringing up Sakura’s name?"

His tone was sharp enough to make her flinch. The warmth of the call had turned cold in an instant, as if she were talking to a complete stranger.

Her hands trembled slightly, but Ryuuto’s arms tightened around her, steady and warm. That small gesture gave her the strength to speak again.

"Why can’t I mention her?" she said, steadying her voice. "Sakura is our daughter."

"She no longer is!" Tokiomi snapped.

But she didn’t falter. There was a strange calm in her chest now, a quiet certainty that she hadn’t felt in years.

"You’re the one who made her become Sakura Matou."

For a moment, the line fell silent.

Then, Tokiomi let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh. It was dry and ugly and went on for nearly ten seconds, like he was trying to laugh away the weight pressing on his chest.

"So that’s it. I never told you the reason, and now you’ve chosen this of all times to pick a fight with me? Now, during the most critical, critical, critical moment of my entire plan!?"

"That’s not what I meant," Aoi said quietly. "I just want you to explain it clearly. Not just to me, but to Rin as well. She deserves at least that much."

On the other end, Tokiomi drew in a breath, sharp and tired.

"I didn’t want Sakura to become mediocre," he said flatly.

"..."

Aoi couldn’t find any words. The silence stretched between them, heavy and cold.

"You’re too excellent, Aoi," he continued, his tone turning strangely passionate. "You’ve raised them both with such care that Rin and Sakura became once-in-a-century talents, the kind that even the Clock Tower rarely sees. That’s exactly why... they each needed proper backing. A magus without support is a wasted miracle. As their father, I couldn’t just stand by and watch Sakura’s potential fade into nothing."

His voice was calm. But to her, every word felt like a blade slowly pressing against her skin.

He spoke with conviction, like someone explaining a logical theorem, not a choice that shattered their family.

"To preserve both sisters' talents, one of them had to be entrusted elsewhere. The Matou family’s request came at the perfect time. It allowed us to align with two of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War. Even if I fail to reach the Root, Rin can take over. And if Rin fails, there’s still Sakura. One of them will fulfill the Tohsaka family’s wish."

Aoi sat there in stunned silence. Her stomach turned. She could barely understand what he was saying—and deep down, she didn’t want to.