Fate/Magus Path

127 Tohno Residence

In the end, under relentless pressure from Roy, Shiki Tohno was forced to lead the group to the courtyard of the Tohno family estate.

From their brief interaction, Shiki quickly realized one undeniable fact, whether or not he guided them, this person would find his home anyway.

It left him with no other choice but to comply.

Especially given the piercing gaze of the blonde woman beside him, her eyes brimming with hostility, almost as if blood itself would seep from them. Her barely restrained eagerness made it clear she was ready to tear him apart. Refusing would undoubtedly lead to dire consequences.

Resigned to the inevitable, Shiki Tohno found himself conscripted as their unwilling guide.

"We're here."

As they arrived at the grand estate, Shiki's expression turned complex.

It wasn't just the coercion that bothered him. His personal history added to the weight of the moment. Though he was the eldest son of the Tohno family, Shiki had spent the last eight years living with the branch family, the Arima household. His memories of his home were hazy, limited to fleeting impressions from his childhood.

After the passing of the Tohno patriarch, his younger sister, Akiha Tohno, had assumed leadership of the family and summoned Shiki back to the main household.

One might have expected their reunion after eight years of separation to be a deeply emotional affair.

But for reasons he couldn't quite grasp, Akiha's attitude toward him was strangely harsh. Her sharp demeanor and strict tone in every interaction often left him questioning if he had done something to upset her.

The Akiha of his childhood had been nothing like this. Time, it seemed, had changed them both in ways Shiki found hard to reconcile.

All in all, Shiki Tohno felt little affection or familiarity toward this "home" he had returned to. If anything, his feelings bordered on resistance.

Roy, however, paid no mind to Shiki's inner turmoil or the family dynamics at play. He strode confidently toward the entrance of the Tohno estate, calling out to a figure within the courtyard.

"Pardon the intrusion, lovely lady."

A young woman with elegant crimson hair, clad in a maid's uniform, was diligently sweeping fallen leaves from the front yard.

"And you are?"

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, the maid lifted her head. Her gaze landed on Roy at the gate, her expression tinged with confusion.

But upon spotting Shiki standing behind him, she immediately straightened, offering a respectful bow.

"Master Shiki."

"Kohaku." Shiki responded, addressing the red-haired maid by name.

"Welcome home, Master Shiki. It's quite late; Lady Akiha has been waiting for you in the parlor. Please go see her at once."

She then turned her attention to the two strangers accompanying him. "And these two are... friends of yours, Master Shiki?"

"They're-"

Before Shiki could answer, Roy interjected with a polite smile.

"You misunderstand, Miss Kohaku. Shiki and I merely crossed paths by chance. While there is a certain... connection between us, calling us friends would be premature."

"I... see." Kohaku replied, her gaze shifting between Roy's cordial demeanor and Shiki's visibly strained expression. Something about the situation felt off, though she couldn't quite place what.