Kirei Kotomine felt a little dizzy, taking slow, deliberate breaths to steady himself.
For some reason, he felt as if he were trapped in an endless fog—unable to even see his own feet. It was as if, with just one misstep, he would plummet into an abyss with no end.
Shaking his head, Kirei made his way back to the church, hoping to get some rest.
But the question still gnawed at him: why had he—someone who was "never meant to be chosen"—become a Master?
He had no dreams, no aspirations, no deep-seated desires. The Holy Grail, a so-called Universal Wishing Machine, should have gone to someone else—someone with a real wish. And yet, here he was.
His gaze fell on the three bright red Command Seals etched into his hand. With a sigh, he slowly closed his eyes.
Before drifting off, he gave a firm order to the empty room:
"From now on, do nothing without my permission."
"Got it," a voice replied.
A woman materialized from the shadows—a figure cloaked entirely in black. It was none other than Hassan of the Hundred Faces.
"That guy was really strong," she muttered with a sigh.
"It's good that you realize that," Kirei said calmly. "Because next time, things could get even more dangerous."
"Understood," she replied, nodding.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll be responsible for Tokiomi Tohsaka's family security."
"...This is gonna be a hassle."
---
Meanwhile, at the Tohsaka Estate...
Arthur stood on the rooftop, staring at the vast sky above.
Had it really been almost a year since he arrived here?
The Holy Grail War was set to begin in less than a week. Yet, as Arthur reminisced, it all still felt like yesterday.
"I wonder what my loyal knights are up to right now," he mused, gazing at the moon.
SMACK!
With a casual clap of his hands, Arthur crushed a mosquito that had dared to interrupt his moment of reflection.
"Ugh, the change in weather must be bringing out more bugs. Right, Kariya Matou?"
Arthur's voice shifted ever so slightly as he waved his hand. A flash of cold steel cut through the air, slicing through a bush.
From within, a gaunt, pale figure emerged—a man twisted by suffering and madness.
Kariya Matou.
Arthur leaped down from the rooftop, landing gracefully in front of him.
"Long time no see, Kariya. What's wrong? Still being eaten alive by worms?"
Kariya gritted his teeth. "Hah… It's just a small price to pay for my wish." His breathing was ragged, his body trembling slightly, but his eyes still burned with determination. "Besides, didn't you once say, 'You can't see the rainbow without enduring the storm'?"
Arthur chuckled. "I did say that, didn't I?"
For a moment, the two men stood there, recalling a time nearly a year ago—a time before the war, before the suffering.
---
Kariya's memories drifted to her.
No matter how much time passed, he could always recognize that face at a single glance.
It was a bright, sunny afternoon in the city park. Children laughed and played, their parents watching over them fondly.
For most people, spending time with family in such a peaceful setting was a simple joy. But for Kariya Matou, there was only one person in the crowd who mattered.
No matter how many people were there, he could find her instantly, as if it were instinct.
Even though he rarely got to see her—
Even though she now belonged to someone else—
Even though their worlds had long since drifted apart—
Still, he found her.
Sitting quietly on a park bench, she hadn't even noticed his presence at first.
Then, as if sensing something, she turned toward him.
"…Oh? What a coincidence. How have you been, Kariya?"
She removed her hat, revealing an elegant smile.
But Kariya's heart clenched the moment he saw her.
She had lost weight.
That beautiful smile, the one he treasured the most, was still there—but it was thinner, weaker than before.
A hundred questions swirled in his mind. He wanted to ask her why. He wanted to tell her he would fix everything, no matter the cost. That he would walk through fire and death itself if it meant she could smile truly, without pain.
But…
He knew.
He knew he had no right.
They were just old friends. That was all they had ever been, and all they would ever be. He wasn't someone who could protect her. He wasn't someone she could lean on.
Perhaps he never would be.
"We haven't seen each other in a while. You were away for quite some time this time, huh?" she said casually.
"Ah—y-yeah," Kariya stammered, forcing a laugh. "I guess I was."
He thought about her all the time. Every moment, every night, she haunted his mind.
And yet, when she stood before him—so close and yet so unreachable—he couldn't even find the courage to speak.
It had always been this way.
It always would be this way.
Maybe that's why, every time he saw her, Matou Kariya found himself at a complete loss for words.
------
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