IBHJ 1030

"Oh!" She clapped in delight. "That explains why Uncle Gawain kept saying you were Britain's greatest beauty!"

Shirou: "..."

"Let's not talk about that, Mordred."

"I didn't bring it up - Uncle Gawain did," she said with a bright smile.

Watching this cozy father-daughter moment, Kiara rubbed her eyes. "Am I still dreaming?"

"Huh, what do you mean?" Misaya frowned.

Kiara gestured at Shirou and Mordred. "This can't be real!"

"Why not?"

Kiara turned to see Fujimaru walking over with Tethys.

"It's not that I don't want them to get along," Kiara stammered. "But... but... this is just too hard to believe! This has to be some kind of illusion created by my other self."

"Don't say that." Fujimaru sighed. "They finally managed to work things out."

"Exactly!" Arcueid nodded. "Just a while ago Mordred was chasing Shirou with her sword for ten blocks. Now look at them."

Kiara shook her head, bewildered. What was going on? Before she could ask any more questions, she noticed Fujimaru and Misaya were fading away. "What's happening to you?" she gasped, pointing.

Fujimaru looked down, startled.

Misaya smiled faintly. "It seems we're going back to our time."

Manaka Sajyou had unearthed the past and brought it to life within the Resurrection Pyramid. Now that she had achieved her wish of resurrection and left, this slice of the past would return to its original timeline.

"It's time to go back." Fujimaru smiled, then turned to Misaya. He hesitated for a moment. "Do you have any regrets, Misaya-senpai?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Misaya looked at him, puzzled.

Fujimaru didn't answer. The truth was too painful. Of everyone here, only Misaya had no future; she had died in the past.

Misaya was quiet for a moment, then smiled. "I— I don't care about those things anymore."

"But I do." Fujimaru smiled and turned to Arcueid. "Arcueid, can you give us one more day?"

Manaka had unearthed this fragment of the past, but it was Mooncell's resources that kept it going. Arcueid had been summoned to repair this plane of the past.

"Well..." Arcueid hesitated. Because Mooncell's resources were focused on this plane, her siblings, who had made pacts with her, were finding ways to exploit the situation. Monsters were attacking the Sanctuary, and other UOs were joining the assault. The longer Mooncell's resources were diverted, the more opportunities other UOs would have to take advantage of the situation.

Tethys smiled at the hesitant Arcueid. "Give them one more day. Let them resolve some things from the past. As for what's happening outside, I'll take care of it."

Arcueid looked puzzled. "May I ask who you are?"

"Oh my. You don't recognize me, little Crimson Moon?" Tethys blinked, then smiled. "I suppose you've completed self-overwriting. Since you don't know me, it doesn't matter. Think of me as a ghost lingering in the past."

"But can you leave this place?" Arcueid asked curiously.

"Just like Manaka Sajyou used the past to enter the future, it's possible," Tethys explained. "Though I won't be able to exist for long."

"I see..." Arcueid still looked confused. "I don't quite understand what you're trying to do, but I agree to your request. You're all looking at me with those pleading eyes. I couldn't say no, even if I wanted to."

She was far too kind to refuse anyone.

"Thank you," Fujimaru said with a smile.

Fujimaru turned to Misaya and the others with a smile. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Misaya asked, tilting her head.

"It's a surprise. You'll find out tomorrow." Fujimaru closed his eyes.

"I see." Gilgamesh stroked his chin, a knowing look on his face. He understood the young man's intentions.

Everyone left, leaving Shirou and Mordred alone in the flower field.

At the hotel, Ayaka finally woke up. When they explained what Manaka Sajyou had done, she was quiet for a moment.

"So that's what happened... My sister was with me all along." Ayaka looked downcast.

All the mysteries were solved, and the truth about Ayaka was revealed. But in the end, Manaka Sajyou had still used her.

Everyone tried to comfort her, but they struggled to find the right words.

...

Night fell.

Kiara tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

She was worried about Shirou and Mordred. As strange as their earlier interaction had seemed, she was glad they had reconciled.

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the distance, jolting everyone awake. They rushed outside to see smoke billowing and flames leaping into the sky. Within the inferno, they saw Shirou running for his life. Behind him, Mordred, sword in hand, chased after him with a furious expression.

"How dare you slap my butt! Stop running, or I'll cut you down!" she yelled.

"You bit my neck! It really hurt! What are you, a puppy?" Shirou shouted back.

"Yes, I'm a puppy! What are you? If you've got guts, stop running!"

"If you've got guts, stop chasing!"

"I'm not a child! Why would I need guts? You're the one without any, running away like that!"

"What does running have to do with guts? I'll run if I want to! You can say whatever you want, but you still can't catch me! Nyah nyah nyah!"

"Ahhhhh! I'm so angry! Eternal King must die!"

Mordred chased after him furiously, but Shirou wasn't worried. He was faster than her.

Misaya sighed, shaking her head. "What is this?"

"I thought Manaka-neesan came back to kill us," Ayaka said, rubbing her forehead. "But this..."

Arcueid laughed, scratching her head. "They get along so well!"

"How exactly are they getting along?" Fujimaru adjusted his glasses, looking exasperated.

"Huh? They're not?" She looked confused. "I've always been surrounded by people who try to poison me. Isn't this how normal people show affection?"

Fujimaru felt a cold sweat break out. What had this girl experienced in her life?

"Stop running!" Mordred yelled.

"Stop chasing!" Shirou laughed.

Kiara sighed in relief. "Now this is normal. Finally, everything's back to how it should be."

She could finally get a good night's sleep.

...

"With this, we congratulate Fujimaru Shirou on his graduation and present him with his diploma..."

Gilgamesh, dressed in a suit, presented the young man with his diploma. Shirou, sitting in the audience, was the first to start applauding.

Arcueid also clapped a few times, then slumped down, looking bored. "So this is what you meant by something interesting...?"

She turned to Shirou, who was sitting beside her, and drawled, "So... bo-ring!"

Shirou gave her a sweet smile, then suddenly reached out, grabbed her face, and with a quick flick of his wrist, sent her flying through the air. She spun around 720 degrees before landing with a thud.

The world went silent.

Mordred gave Arcueid a sympathetic look. "It's unfortunate, but what you find boring might be important to others. You've learned your lesson now, Lady Arcueid. So you should be quiet..."

Before she could finish, Arcueid jumped to her feet, her eyes sparkling. "That was fun, Shirou! Do it again!"

Shirou: "..."

Mordred: "..."

Looking at Arcueid's enthusiastic expression, Shirou's face turned serious. "Arcueid, shall we play a very fun game?"

"Wh-what game?" Arcueid asked confusedly while looking at his serious expression, though inwardly becoming cautious.

Based on her understanding of him, generally when he showed this face to her, it was the beginning of him trying to trick her.

"Let's play Red Light, Green Light. What do you think?" he asked.

"Shi-rou!" Arcueid glared at him, pointing at herself. "Do I look like an idiot?"

"Aren't you one?" he shot back, feigning surprise.

Arcueid puffed out her cheeks. "Hmph. Even if I am, the same trick won't work twice on me!"

Mordred stared at her, speechless. "She's not even denying being an idiot..." she muttered, shaking her head. "What was I thinking, respecting her like that?"

She cringed, remembering how she used to admire Knight Arcueid in her younger, more naive days.

"Students, over there—" Arthur looked towards Shirou and said disapprovingly, "Please don't disrupt the graduation ceremony."

"Sorry, Mr. Arthur. We didn't mean to." Shirou quickly composed himself. Why did he always get so carried away when he was with Arcueid?

Feeling ignored, Arcueid puffed out her cheeks and suddenly threw her arms around Mordred.

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

Mordred was startled and tried to wriggle free, but her strength was no match for Arcueid's. She was trapped in a tight embrace, unable to escape.

She looked pleadingly at Shirou, hoping for help.

He gave her a look, and in that moment, Mordred understood what his gaze meant.

—If you struggle, she might actually bite. Just saying...

Mordred: "..."

And then?

There was no "then." Like a docile pet, Mordred went limp in Arcueid's arms and fainted.