I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

Sakura was a very special girl, in every sense of the word.

Delicate, timid, and pitiful.

But one thing was certain: she would grow up to be an exceptionally beautiful woman, though who knew which brat would get lucky with her.

She timidly followed beside Kurumi, holding her hand tightly.

Her slender, delicate feet were clad in small black shoes over white stockings. She wore a black, form-fitting lace blouse, with a short skirt that seemed like it could be lifted by the wind at any moment. A small cloak draped over her shoulders, its fluffy white edges adorned with two dangling pom-poms.

The most playful part of her outfit was the cat-ear hairclip on her head and the tail hanging down from her waist.

At this time in Fuyuki, such eccentric outfits were not yet popular, but Sakura was so irresistibly cute that she caught the lingering gazes of many passersby.

After watching Matou Kariya leave, Sakura once again returned to her quiet, timid demeanor.

Kurumi casually led Sakura around, wandering aimlessly, until Sakura's steps hesitated for a moment.

Kurumi stopped and looked at the place that had caught Sakura's attention—the station platform.

"Hmm?" Kurumi glanced at the large "—→ Yatsushirodai" sign on the platform and quickly came to a conclusion.

...

Time subtly shifted.

Kurumi was now sitting with Sakura on a tram heading to Yatsushirodai, like an older sister taking her little sister to school.

Perhaps because her thoughts had been seen through, the emptiness in Sakura's purple eyes gave way to a hint of shyness. She nestled her head in Kurumi's arms, letting Kurumi gently stroke her hair.

Sakura was a girl who had learned to accept things as they were, but even so, there were still some things that lingered in her heart.

Yatsushirodai Elementary School was located on the outskirts of Fuyuki, an institution with quite a bit of history. Kurumi led Sakura to the entrance of Yatsushirodai Elementary School, then sat down on a nearby bench with a good view and placed Sakura on her lap.

Sakura clung tightly to Kurumi's hand, growing more and more timid as she nestled into Kurumi's embrace, sneaking glances outside from the crook of Kurumi's arm.

It wasn't that she wanted to attend school here; rather... Rin was the one who attended this school.

"Do you miss your sister?" Kurumi asked, stroking the little girl's hair as she watched her secretly observe the direction of the school.

"It's... Rin." Sakura's voice was soft and timid, still carrying a hint of childishness. "Not... sister."

But there was an unexpected stubbornness in her tone. From the moment Tokiomi Tohsaka had sent her to the Matou family to endure inhuman suffering, she had already lost the Tohsaka surname.

Moreover, the old worm's teachings had ingrained this deeply into her.

"If you want, I can help you bring Rin home too," Kurumi said with a light laugh, playing with the tail that hung from Sakura's waist. Whatever the little girl wanted was not difficult for her to obtain.

"No... no..." Sakura nearly cried out, pleading. "Just... seeing her... is enough."

——

The winter sun, always eager to slack off, began leaning toward the western hills not long after the afternoon started. The clouds overhead were tinged with orange and yellow as Yatsushirodai Elementary School let out for the day.

Amid the clamor, a large group of little kids, in clusters of threes and fives, rushed out.

Sakura's eyes were wide open, carefully searching through the crowd for the figure she longed for.

But she grew more and more disappointed.

The kids coming out of the school were fewer and fewer, and she still hadn't seen the person she had been hoping for.

The light gradually faded from her empty purple eyes.

Of course... it had been a year...

In the small, closed-off heart of Sakura, the sobbing began. She had already spent a year in that pitch-black, despairing insect pit; it wasn't unusual for Rin to have transferred schools by now.

As the sky grew darker and the number of students dwindled, Sakura gave up completely, burying her head in Kurumi's chest.

It was getting wet. Kurumi's rose-red eyes gazed at the Yatsushirodai Elementary School, now bathed in the setting sun. A lone crow stood on the railing of the rooftop, its neck craned.

Kurumi knew that Rin was still in the school.

"Do you want to wait a little longer?" Kurumi gently cradled Sakura's head, comforting her.

"No need." Sakura's voice was tinged with tears, and for the first time, she hugged Kurumi back tightly. "It's... enough."

In that moment of weakness, Kurumi's heart ached.

"Let's go," she said, lifting Sakura up with a smile. The little girl was too light, too frail, too pitiful. "...Let's go home."

Without looking back, Kurumi carried Sakura away, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun.

A black and red figure brushed past them, pulling down a hat as it made its way toward Yatsushirodai Elementary School. Beneath the brim, a wine-red eye gleamed coldly.

——

Kotone hadn't come to school today, nor had she taken any leave.

Rin shivered slightly, feeling uneasy.

She was scared—scared that Kotone would disappear just like Sakura, one day vanishing without a trace.

Rin had deliberately stayed behind, planning to pack up Kotone's things and bring them to her house, hoping to find out what had happened.

The golden glow of the setting sun filled the classroom, making her heart feel suddenly empty, as if she had missed something important.

Looking out the window, she saw a slender figure carrying a little girl away.

That upturned face...

Clatter—

Her stationery scattered across the floor.

Sakura!!!?

But in the blink of an eye, the two figures disappeared into the sunset, as if they had been a mirage.

Was it a dream? Rin didn't know.

——

The crow standing on the rooftop railing was quite unusual.

Its red eyes gleamed like rubies as it watched Kurumi carry Sakura away.

It was one of Tokiomi Tohsaka's familiars.

Behind those red eyes was Tokiomi Tohsaka himself, frowning deeply in his study in Miyama Town.

Avenger.

According to Gilgamesh, this was the Servant who had "taken" Sakura from the Matou family. In his words, the Matou family was so filthy it defiled his eyes, and even being forced to look at them was an enormous insult.

Perhaps being taken by Avenger was actually a good thing for Sakura? Tokiomi Tohsaka shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought.

It was after much consideration that he had entrusted Sakura to the Matou family.

He pondered why that extraordinary Servant had brought Sakura to Yatsushirodai Elementary School.

But perhaps that place wasn't safe either? He began to consider sending Aoi and Rin away for a while.

...

Suddenly, the familiar's perspective shifted upwards slightly, then was abruptly turned around.

Beneath the shadowy bangs, only a single wine-red eye was visible.

Avenger!

——

Kurumi's lips curled into a slight smile as she looked into the crow's ruby-like eyes, enunciating each word carefully, ensuring that the magician behind the eyes could understand her lip movements.

"Your... daughter... is... amazing!"