"So cold…" Haru woke up on a park bench. "Where am I?"
"Oh, you're awake." A soft, shy voice.
A timid girl stood before him, her short black hair tied with a red string and two small red beads adding a playful touch. Her big, round eyes glowed with worry, though she shrank back as he moved.
"Sakura, come here," said a man in a hooded sweatshirt.
The girl scurried behind him, peeking out at Haru.
'Sakura Matou?'
Haru knew her, but something was off. 'Why's her hair black?'
Sakura, originally Rin's sister, had been handed over to the Matou family. Both had rare magic talent, but since Rin's "five elements" fit the Tohsaka style better, their father Tokiomi sent Sakura to the Matous.
Tokiomi meant well, not wanting her gift to go to waste, but he didn't know the Matous' bug magic was cruel and warped. Sakura endured endless torment, setting the stage for later tragedies.
By now, Zouken Matou should've changed her, turning her hair purple. So why…
"Who are you? Why were you near Rin?" The hooded man stepped closer, revealing white hair and a face lined with bulging veins.
Kariya Matou, a broken man who'd tried to save Sakura, giving up everything for it.
Haru's mind clicked. The insect sounds before he blacked out; Kariya must've saved him. Good thing Kariya wasn't heartless. Maybe he could help find the Kamizukis.
Haru played dumb. "Rin? Who's that?"
"Don't pretend, magus," Kariya said coldly. "I saw you take down Caster's familiar."
Ghostly wasps drifted from the shadows, circling Haru.
"Tell me your goal. Why approach Rin?"
Haru's stomach dropped. Kariya cared about the Tohsaka family more than anything. If he thought Haru meant harm…
"This city only has two magus families: Matou and Tohsaka. You're not one of us, so you're an outsider. Here for the Grail, I assume?"
Kariya didn't buy Haru's kid act. In the magic world, looks could lie; illusions, puppets, anything was possible.
"I'm actually here to save someone. My uncle and aunt went missing…"
Haru kept it short and honest. He had no schemes to hide.
But he couldn't explain his circuits or knowledge, making his story sound thin.
Kariya stared, blank-faced. "That doesn't cover your magic skills."
The wasps edged closer.
'Great!'
Kariya's body and mind were frayed, plus Berserker's madness; he wasn't stable. Truth wouldn't sway him.
'Maybe a gamble?'
If he stayed, he'd die anyway. Better to try something bold. Unsteady minds might bite at wild tales, right?
Haru took a deep breath. If he couldn't win Kariya's trust, he was finished.
'What now?' He wasn't good with words.
Then it hit him: 'That's it!'
Calmly, he said, "I mean no harm. You saw; I didn't hurt Rin, and I'm no threat to you. You're overreacting."
Kariya studied him, then called off the wasps. "Who are you, really?"
Haru exhaled. "I have [Future Sight]. I've seen what's coming, so I know you and the Tohsaka sisters."
He wasn't exactly lying.
[Future Sight] had three forms: predictive, measured, and absolute. Knowing the plot was close enough, even if things could shift.
"Stop talking nonsense! You think I'll believe that?" Kariya scoffed, though Haru seemed earnest.
He narrowed his eyes. Berserker's madness hadn't fully taken him; he could still reason.
[Future Sight]; he'd heard of it. Not truly "sight," but a rare trait, often ending in ruin. Magi, chasing truth, saw knowing the future as a burden and left such people alone.
Kariya, despite leaving the Matous, knew it was as rare as a god-tier Mystic Eye. The odds were tiny. No way he'd trust Haru's claim.
"Fine, keep your secrets."
Kariya gave him a cold look, took Sakura's hand, and turned to go.
Whatever Haru was up to, he'd saved Rin, had no Servant, and barely any magic. Just a harmless kid.
Maybe he had bad intentions, but Kariya had faced worse. For saving Rin, he couldn't kill him. The wasps were just to dig out the truth.
But [Future Sight]? Sounded like a panicked lie.
"Stay away from Rin… or else."
His voice was icy. He'd spare Haru once, but not twice.
"You don't believe me because you don't get [Future Sight]. I'm telling the truth; I've seen how it ends!"
Haru met Kariya's gaze. "Including your tragic end."
"End?"
"Yeah. You lose the Grail War, fail to save Sakura, and get eaten by bugs in the pit."
Kariya faltered. That was his worst nightmare. But Haru's next words shattered him.
"The Tohsakas don't make it either. They all die."
"What? Aoi….how?" Kariya grabbed Haru, frantic. "She's just a normal person, safe at home. How could she get caught up?"
'You strangle her yourself…'
Haru couldn't say that. Who knew how Kariya would react?
"Wait… why should I trust you? It's all lies!" Kariya growled. "My Servant's the strongest. I'll win!"
"Berserker Lancelot, the greatest Round Table knight… Normally, he'd dominate." Haru smirked. "But not this time."
"This war has Alexander the Great and Diarmuid of the Radiant Face; both top-tier Servants. Even Lancelot might not be their match."
"How do you know their names?" Kariya's anger flared. "Are you with Zouken? Only he and I know Berserker's identity!"
Haru shook his head. "I told you about [Future Sight]. Knowing Lancelot's name is nothing. I even know his Noble Phantasm: 'Knight of Owner,' letting him turn anything into a weapon or take others'."
Kariya wavered. Only he knew that. The effect might be guessed, but the name…
Berserker's phantasm was passive; no need to call it out. How could Haru know?
'Does he really have Future Sight?'
Haru pressed on. "This war's Saber is King Arthur. You know what that means; Lancelot is at a disadvantage against her."
Kariya stiffened. "Lancelot's strong, and with madness enhancement…"
"Can he beat Archer, though?"
Haru's tone was even. "Here's a bonus: Gilgamesh. That's Tokiomi's Archer."
"Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes…"
Less known in East Asia than Arthur or Hercules, but globally, anyone into myths knew him. History's oldest hero! The name hit hard; Kariya didn't know what to say.
"Why would someone like that answer the call?"
"Who knows? Maybe the king was bored." Haru shrugged. "Point is, your body can't handle Berserker's magic drain. You won't win."
Kariya bit his lip with frustration.
Sensing the opening, Haru tested, "Do you want to team up with me? I know the future. With me, you can save Sakura."
He was nervous. Kariya was on the brink; body and mind. One misstep, and he might lash out.
And honestly, Haru's pitch was shaky.
Convincing someone with that alone? He'd have to play prophet and hope Kariya bit.