Abnormality In Type-Moon: Madness Of Animeverse

"Lady Aoko?"

In the courtyard, Aozaki Touko stood with furrowed brows, her face twisted in an uncharacteristic display of unease and frustration. She bit her lip as if wrestling with some vexing thought.

A voice called out tentatively beside her.

"Hm? Oh, it's you, Ichika. What brings you here?"

Touko glanced over at the pink-haired girl before her, noticing her damp hair—a clear sign she'd just come from the bath.

Touko instinctively gave a small smile, reaching for a cigarette, only to realize that at some point she'd been smoking down to the butt.

Unaware of how long she'd been standing there, lost in her thoughts, she let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

For someone who constantly advised others, like Illya, to face reality and use it to their advantage, she herself had lost her composure after hearing an outrageous claim earlier.

"Um… I was wondering if you could help me awaken my magic circuits," Ichika asked, her voice cautious.

She avoided meeting Touko's gaze, fearing she might be buried on the spot if her request annoyed her.

"That's easy enough."

But Touko didn't seem upset. Instead, she smiled knowingly, placing a hand on Ichika's shoulder, channeling her mana to activate Ichika's circuits.

Ichika exhaled in relief.

As she suspected, Lady Touko had been aware of her plans all along and had mercifully chosen to let it slide.

In moments, Ichika felt a distinct flow running through her body, a warmth that surged within her.

Feeling the energy, she couldn't help the grin spreading across her face.

Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed from the front courtyard.

"Looks like you have a visitor."

Touko set aside her prior thoughts and headed towards the front entrance.

---

"Where should I put my bags?"

Standing at the doorway of the Aozaki residence was Rin Tohsaka, a mountain of luggage strapped to her back.

"Why are you carrying so much stuff?"

Roy, who had come to open the door, stared at her, his expression bewildered.

"Well, my house was destroyed, so I'm looking for a new place to stay," she replied, using a reinforcement spell to hoist her bags inside.

She looked… oddly excited. There was a certain thrill in her eyes.

"Didn't you claim your house was more secure than City Hall? Well, since we're allies, I figured it'd be safe to crash here, right? Especially since my Servant's already working under your roof."

"No, it's not that you're unwelcome. Just, the house is kind of... full right now."

But before Roy could finish his sentence, Rin's eyes had already settled on the unusual group of women gathered around the residence.

Shiina Kasumigaoka, Ai Hayasaka, Illya, Ichika Nakano, and her sister Miku. And then, of course, Aoko and Touko Aozaki.

Upon noticing Rin, the women exchanged glances, gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, and went about their business.

Just like that, Rin's earlier enthusiasm vanished, replaced by a chilly feeling.

A few days away, and there's even more competition? Each one of these women had a unique charm, a natural grace. From sisters and maids to literary prodigies and an adorably precocious Illya, all accompanied by the dignified Aozaki sisters who were practically royalty to Roy.

While Rin was beautiful herself, she felt she couldn't outshine this crowd.

An intense sense of defeat welled up within her.

"Where's your Archer?"

"He's still recovering from his injuries. It'll take at least two or three days," Rin replied, sulking.

It wasn't clear if she was more upset about Archer's condition or the bitter taste of defeat.

For Servants, recovering from injuries was usually straightforward, as mana supply would help them regenerate far faster than humans. If their Masters had healing spells, it would be even quicker. But Archer had held off the Berserk Saber for several minutes, surviving by sheer luck alone. Hoping for a quick recovery was unrealistic.

"And your arm… how's that?"

As she spoke, Rin's gaze drifted to Roy's right arm.

"It's fine, more or less."

Roy rotated his shoulder experimentally. There was still some soreness, but Touko's work was nothing short of miraculous. His arm moved as if it had always been attached, and he was confident it'd be back to normal by morning.

Despite his reassurances, Rin's eyes lingered on his shoulder, filled with guilt, regret, and perhaps… gratitude.

She couldn't deny her admiration.

Back then, Roy hadn't had a moment to think. He'd saved her purely on instinct.

Reflecting on the night's events, she realized he'd rescued her not once, but three times in total.

Rin couldn't help but be moved by his actions.

"…Why didn't you hesitate back then? Why'd you save me without a second thought?"

Rin looked down, idly kicking at a pebble, as if the question were casual.

Yet her ears stood tall, a visible red blush spreading across them—though she herself seemed unaware.

"If you had died, the exorcism barriers would've collapsed, letting a horde of vengeful spirits and curses flood into Fuyuki City. There'd be a lot of casualties… what's wrong?"

Roy's puzzled gaze met Rin's.

"N-no, nothing…"

Rin slumped her shoulders, looking thoroughly dejected.

"You're right. And, well… thanks."

Right, thanks… sure! Is that really his answer? How does he manage to have so many women around him with zero emotional intelligence?! Roy chuckled softly, seeing the frustration on her face.

"To be honest, I didn't think that much. I just wanted to save you. By the time I realized it, I'd already pushed you away. It wasn't for any particular reason."

"I-I see. Well… thank you. I… I'm happy."

Rin replied earnestly, though a hint of a smile betrayed her efforts to keep a straight face.

As a way of repaying him, she decided to prepare a meal. Since her specialty was Chinese cuisine—something she knew Roy liked—she resolved to give him a proper feast.

"Miss Rin, is this really enough?" Hayasaka Ai, who was assisting her in the kitchen, suddenly spoke up, her voice calm but with a hint of amusement.

"You… you can't be serious, Hayasaka!"

Rin turned, eyes wide, a deep blush coloring her cheeks as she looked at the girl.

"If you're fond of Lord Roy, why not take the initiative?" Hayasaka suggested with a slight smirk.

"Take… the initiative?"

"Precisely. Just look around. This house is filled with beautiful women. If you don't step up, you might not get another chance."

Hayasaka's tone was as polite as ever, but her eyes hinted at a mischief she rarely let show.

She could sense the tension between Rin and Roy, but without a push, nothing would come of it. And with figures like Touko Aozaki, Kasumigaoka Shiina, and Ichika Nakano already making advances, Hayasaka believed that Rin's best chance was now.

While Roy's gentleness could be deceptive, that side of him was genuine—only, he had an equally unyielding and darker side.

And with his enigmatic charm, only more admirers would follow.

Rin needed to act now, or the distance between her and Roy would only grow.

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