Shinji Matou at Your Service

And so, Reika became a Master.

Indeed, she wasn't a magus and had no talent for magecraft, nor could she provide mana to sustain a Servant. But she had already figured out a solution before the summoning.

After completing the summoning, she used up all three Command Spells at once, all to serve as the energy source to sustain her daughter's existence.

The simpler the command, the better the effect. Though it couldn't permanently solve the problem, the miraculous power contained in the Command Spells was enough to allow Jack to exist for quite some time without needing to fight.

Moreover, this approach had another advantage.

With the Command Spells used up, and her being an ordinary person, no one would suspect her. Additionally, Jack, as an Assassin, possessed the class skill Presence Concealment at an A+ level. Even if they crossed paths with other Masters or Servants, they wouldn't be detected (except by a Ruler).

And that was enough—because their objective was simply for the daughter to find her father. They had no interest in fighting.

Thus, in this unusual Holy Grail War, an even more unusual pair was born.

While the other Masters and Servants fought with their own goals in mind, mother and daughter lived their quiet, peaceful life.

During the day, she ran a shop.

This was also an influence from her dreams. In the other world, she loved cooking, and so did Jack. The two of them even rented a shop in Trifas. Though it was just a whim, and they weren't very consistent with it, they surprisingly did a good job.

Inspired by this, she opened a small fast-food shop in the old town near the church. It served to make her daughter happy and to earn a little money for daily expenses.

As for the night—when most Masters and Servants were active and on guard—mother and daughter were the most carefree.

If they were tired, they would rest in their cozy little home.

If they weren't tired, they would sneak near the Matou household to see what he was up to.

Sometimes they went together, sometimes only Jack went.

During the Master and Servant's internal conflicts.

During the rescue of the Emiya household.

During the chaotic battles in the outskirts.

During the Holy Grail Grand Prix.

They watched silently all the while but never intervened, as the time wasn't right.

That was until the post-Grand Prix duels, when Shinji, wounded after two consecutive battles, was chased and surrounded by a group of monsters, his situation growing desperate.

She couldn't hold back anymore and had her daughter release a fog to save him, then gave him the riddle she had prepared long ago.

The result, of course, was gratifying.

He fought his way through, wiping out the criminal group. He doted on her daughter just like he did five years ago and eventually solved the riddle, finding the place that connected her, him, and their daughter.

They walked home together.

She watched as he opened the door, took out the pair of men's slippers she had bought long ago, and said the words she had been meaning to say for so long. They had dinner together and chatted over tea afterward.

Everything was just as the other "her" had once dreamed.

And with that, the story came to an end.

Having finished, Reika said no more, silently watching Shinji before her—so familiar yet so strange.

Shinji didn't speak either. He kept his head down, staring into his teacup, watching the ripples that occasionally formed on the surface of the tea.

The two of them sat in silence, neither one speaking first.

After what seemed like an eternity, Shinji finally exhaled and slowly spoke, "Reika, I—"

His voice was hoarse as if something were stuck in his throat.

And that was only natural. Anyone would be moved after hearing such a story—knowing that a woman had silently waited for them and had given so much for them, even though they hadn't noticed.

Even though their connection only spanned a brief ten days, he didn't understand why she was so persistent about him. But he felt that he had to do something to repay this sentiment.

The Third Magic was the power of the soul, the power of the heart. The more he understood this, the more he cherished such pure, beautiful emotions.

However, before he could organize his thoughts and say what he wanted to say, Reika stood up.

"That's enough. The story is over. If there's nothing else, you should go."

"But—"

"But what? Do you have something to say to me? Don't get it wrong—I'm Reika Rikudou, but I'm not the Reika Rikudou you know. I made it very clear just now: I'm simply someone who has a dream once a week, like watching a drama series. Maybe I feel a bit touched, but I'm not the protagonist. Don't think of us as the same person. That would trouble me."

Shinji had no response. It was an irrefutable fact, just as he wasn't the other Sakura's brother, and on the other side, Sakura had taken the name Edelfelt. But—

"Then why did you—?"

"I was just fulfilling her dream. She wanted to be a family with you. She wanted Jack to return to her father's side. I was just helping her fulfill that wish. Now that her wish has been fulfilled, I don't need to keep playing her role."

Reika spoke calmly, every word blocking off any thoughts Shinji might have had.

"What about after this—"

"There shouldn't be any more interaction between us. You and I have no real connection. You have your life, and I have mine. You're a prominent figure in the world of magic, but I'm just an ordinary office worker with no ties to that world. I admit you're an outstanding man, but we're too far apart in age, and I don't like guys with wandering eyes."

"I see."

Reika's frankness left the man with nothing to say. Indeed, a parallel world version of the same person was not the same person.

He picked up a nearby notepad and pen, scribbled down two numbers, and handed them to her.

"This is my mobile and home phone number. Please don't refuse. Maybe you and I won't interact much, but you and Jack will. No matter what, she regards you as her mother and the two of you have lived together for a long time. That time can't just be erased. Are you going to abandon your daughter after sending her to me? That would break her heart."

Reika reached out and took the note.

"I'll keep it. I won't give you my number, though. Jack knows how to find me. It's almost dawn. Your family probably has a lot to ask you. Don't keep them waiting too long. Besides, compared to me, the other two—"

"The other two what?"

"Nothing."

At this point, Shinji realized there was no point in staying any longer. He stood up.

"Alright, if you insist… Contact me if you need anything. I won't refuse to help."

"I'm a bit tired, so I won't see you off. Goodbye, Matou-san."

"No need to see me off. Goodbye, Reika—no, Miss Rikudou."

With that, Shinji walked out of the house that wasn't his home and gently closed the door.

He took a few steps, then turned back to glance at the house, memorizing the house number as he let out a soft sigh.

"Looks like I was being too sentimental... No, something doesn't feel right… And that blue cube, why did that sound so familiar…? Oh well, even if I ask her, she won't tell me anything. I'll just ask Jack when I get back. Speaking of which, with Jack's split consciousness… does that mean I've gone from having one daughter to two?"

Shinji, now on his way back, didn't see Reika inside the house, sitting on the sofa, staring absentmindedly at the spot where he had been sitting, still holding the note he had given her.

Nor did he know that her heart wasn't as light as he might have thought. She had hidden many things.

The dream had affected her far more deeply than she let on.

The sense of immersion was terrifying. Seeing the protagonist look exactly like her, with the same name—how many people wouldn't be moved by that?

If not for this dream, she might already be married with children by now. After all, she was 28. Her traditional parents had been urging her to get married for some time. In the end, to avoid their pressure, she had no choice but to move out.

It wasn't that she didn't want to get married. She had gone on all the arranged dates her parents and relatives had set up for her. To be fair, the candidates were all excellent—not lacking in looks, family background, or ability, many of them were young elites.

But because of the influence of the dream, every time she saw a potential suitor, she would subconsciously compare them to that adult Shinji, indirectly leading to each arranged date ending in failure.

Once Jack appeared, the failures came even faster.

Because Jack would always tell Reika, "This man isn't good enough—he's not as good as Dad here, or there, or anywhere."

At first, she would argue with Jack. But after a few times, she gave up.

Never try to compare other men to a daughter's father—because in the daughter's heart, her dad will always be the best.

This indirectly led to her remaining single, her parents pressuring her, and her moving out of the house. It also led to her quitting her job and leaving Tokyo—well, the last two weren't entirely related, as those were actually for taking her daughter out of Fuyuki to find her father.

Japan's work culture is different from most countries. Overtime is the norm, and taking leave is almost a crime. Though her job was relatively easy and well-paying, it was still impossible to take a long vacation.

After several failed attempts to take time off, she gritted her teeth and quit her job—which, in Japan, is often tantamount to ending one's career. In Japan, loyalty to a company is almost an obsession, and dedicating one's life to a single job is common. Quitting a job, on the other hand, is seen as a huge deal.

After quitting, you may face various forms of discrimination. Banks may refuse to give you loans, and pension and insurance systems may become stricter. Finding a new job will also be much harder than for a fresh graduate, as employers will assume you have some unforgivable flaw that forced you to leave your previous job. It's no wonder that some people would rather commit suicide than quit.

Though the backlash against the lifetime employment system increased after the economic bubble burst, and things have improved somewhat, the culture and values built over many years don't change easily. She still had to bear a considerable risk by quitting.

Of course, with her intelligence, capabilities, and life experience gained from the dream, she would do well no matter where she went. She used her savings to open a shop and rent a place, but after that, she hadn't touched her savings at all, relying solely on the shop's earnings.

Even so, to her parents, this was a catastrophic event.

"What should I do next? Can I pretend not to care?"

She slumped onto the sofa as if all her strength had left her.

The note slipped from her hand and landed right on her chest.

What was the purpose of everything she had done? What feelings did she hold for that young man?

She didn't know.

"Honestly… I'm such a fool."

...

"Honestly… I'm such a fool."

At the same time, in a different location, another woman who looked exactly like her also slumped on a sofa, sighing.

She was the Shadow Ruler of Romania, one of the decision-makers of the prestigious Yggdmillennia family, currently a rising force in the world of mystery. After the true leader of the family had retreated from the public eye to focus on magical research, she had become the sole ruler of the vast clan.

It was hard to imagine that such a powerful woman would show such a vulnerable expression.

In her hands, she held a blue cube, hovering between illusion and reality. She occasionally glanced at it, as if expecting something.

It was this mysterious object that had appeared out of nowhere in front of her and the others, giving them hope of reaching another world. Yet she had made a seemingly laughable choice—she gave up, placing her hope in her parallel self.

She could have gone with her best friend to find him and their daughter. But because her parallel self was living a happy life, she chose not to disrupt it.

The reason was laughable. Compared to her own tainted and filthy self, the one who had never stepped into the darkness was more suited to be by his side with their daughter. That would be the truly happy family she had once dreamed of when she was still a young lady.

"I wonder how things are going over there? Although Fiore said she and Jack-chan have already arrived in Fuyuki, it seems they still have some reservations and haven't revealed themselves to him. I know it's asking a lot, and it wouldn't be surprising if they refuse, but… I hope… even if it's not for me, at least for Jack…"

"Mom, I'm back."

A silver-haired girl pushed the door open. She wore a black suit jacket, a plaid knee-length skirt, and a crest of Broceliande's best private school embroidered on her chest.

Reika looked up, her smile as gentle as ever.

"Welcome back, Jack-chan. Why are you home so early today?"

Indeed, this was Jack, the girl who had gained a physical body and had fully integrated into human society, now a school idol.

"Because we took the day off."

Jack set down her bag and came over to her mother's side, taking her hand and acting spoiled.

Perhaps because she had entered puberty and was growing taller, it was becoming harder to leap into her mother's arms and nuzzle like she used to.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"How could I be? Even if I have a physical body now, I'm still a Servant. I'm not that fragile. We just have something important to tell you."

"Oh? What's the important thing?"

Reika asked with a smile.

"Has my precious daughter found love? Let me guess—who's the lucky boy? Is it that promising student council president?"

"Hmph, of course not. The boys at school are all just immature kids. Just like Uncle Caules."

"If you say that, you'll hurt Uncle Caules's feelings."

"He won't find out."

Jack winked mischievously, looking strikingly like someone else when they were plotting mischief.

"What I wanted to tell you is about Dad—apparently, we've met him on the other side."

Reika, who had been lying on the sofa, trembled and sat up.

"How did you meet him?"

"I don't know the details. We just suddenly saw him. He was holding us up and playing with us—it was really fun."

"I see. That's wonderful."

Reika hugged her daughter close, closing her eyes and softly whispering.

"My wish has been fulfilled. Now it's up to you, Fiore, Jeanne."