"Are you planning to continue living with Illya and that red-haired boy from now on?"
"Um."
Kiritsugu nodded.
"A partner of justice... I used to act for that dream, and became a terrible adult. But now, not only my mentality, but also physical reasons force me to give up on that dream."
Although he survived the spirit invasion by Naoki thanks to Morgan's help, as the price for survival, Kiritsugu's body was no longer as strong as it used to be. Without a cane, he even had difficulty walking.
"In the rest of my life, I want to spend time well with Shirou and Illya—for me, that's enough."
"Is that so."
Raising his teacup and taking a sip, Kiritsugu asked back, "What are your plans for the future? If I'm not mistaken, you went to England, how is life at the Clock Tower?"
"Quite good. But perhaps it's also because I haven't touched the essence of the Clock Tower yet, at least I haven't gotten involved in that dark and dirty power struggle."
"That's good, if possible you should never get involved."
Never get involved.
'Easy to say, but hard to do...'
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Brother?"
A few minutes later, on the streets of Fuyuki City.
Seeing Naoki silent, Gray couldn't hold back her curiosity, "Is Brother thinking about something?"
"It's just that the conversation with uncle earlier made me a little worried." Naoki sighed, "Compared to that, how did you play with those two children earlier? I saw you seemed quite familiar with them?"
"It was very fun."
Gray showed a clear smile.
"Illya told me many things about her hometown, and also some things about Magecraft, she's a very cheerful person. Emiya is very quiet, but earlier while eating, he kept asking the restaurant owner about cooking methods, his eyes even sparkled."
'Is he already preparing to become a top-level chef at this age?'
Naoki chuckled softly, "It seems we can look forward to him becoming a great chef in the future."
That was the strongest chef in the Type-Moon world as established by Nasu.
'Will I also need to stop by the Emiya residence for a meal later? If I'm not mistaken, everyone who eats at that table becomes a Heroic Spirit...'
Thinking about that, Naoki smiled again, "Alright, dinner is over—Gray, do you want to take a walk around Fuyuki City tonight? Let's just say it's a walk after dinner, and I'll introduce you to this place."
"Okay."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Although he said he wanted to introduce her to the city, Naoki wasn't a native of Fuyuki City either. He had only lived here for about a year and a half, far from being familiar, only to the extent of not getting lost.
As for taking Gray to visit famous places in Fuyuki City, he had no idea what famous places there were in Fuyuki City—did Fuyuki Bridge count?
So, in the end, all Naoki could do was take her for a walk around Fuyuki City. Fortunately, Gray was an eight-year-old child, the definition of her happiness was very simple; even just being able to act together with Naoki was already a happy thing for her.
Naoki was actually happy with this situation.
Strolling down the street with a sweet younger sister—was there a more comfortable daily life than this? Two years had been long enough to turn Naoki into a semi-siscon!
However, perhaps due to the effect of returning to his hometown, or perhaps because Fuyuki City was indeed too small.
"Hmm? If I'm not mistaken, you are... Saber Master, Natsukawa Naoki?"
Seeing Naoki and Gray walking towards him, Tohsaka Tokiomi, who was as usual wearing his red suit, said with a slight surprise.
"I heard you went to study at the Clock Tower as Lord El-Melloi's disciple, why are you here?"
"Tohsaka-san..."
Naoki unconsciously frowned, but when he saw the two little girls behind him, his expression immediately softened, "Yes. This time I'm taking advantage of the holiday, returning after two years to celebrate the New Year, and also to attend a doll exhibition."
"Is that so. Oh yes, I forgot to introduce them, these are my daughters, Rin and Sakura." Tokiomi slightly tilted his body to show the two people behind him, "By the way, I haven't had the chance to thank you yet, Natsukawa-kun. I am very grateful for your actions in saving Sakura from the Matou family."
"If you would be so kind, please stop by my residence, allow me to express my gratitude."
"No, no, no, you're too polite." Naoki hurriedly waved his hands, "I only helped someone in trouble, especially since it was actually Saber who saved Sakura, I didn't do anything, you don't need to thank me like this."
"Even so, you still provided assistance; not repaying a kindness is not the act of a noble. Please allow me to repay it." Tokiomi insisted, "Since you are studying at the Clock Tower, how about I write letters of recommendation to some old friends of mine there, so they can help you? I have a little influence at the Clock Tower."
"There's no need to go that far—"
Before Naoki could finish speaking, Tokiomi spoke again, "My apologies, I forgot that you are Lord El-Melloi's disciple; my small influence is certainly no match for the Lord's, I was presumptuous."
"Haaah..."
Naoki immediately felt relieved—Kayneth's name was still potent.
"Then how about this, Natsukawa-kun?" Tokiomi immediately spoke again, "Although you have the protection of Lord El-Melloi, that is after all in England; Japan is very far from England, even the Lord would find it difficult to exert influence here. If you have any business in Japan in the future, I will try my best to assist you from the side, how about that?"
"This is—"
Naoki was just about to refuse, but an idea suddenly popped into his head, stopping his impulse to speak, and then he nodded, "This... could work, in fact, I currently want to ask an expert a few things."
"Tohsaka-san, do you know where in Japan a doll exhibition will be held recently? To be honest, one of the big reasons I returned to Japan this time is for that."
Doll exhibition?
Tokiomi frowned, thought for a moment, and then replied, "Regarding doll exhibitions, not long ago I heard Kotomine mention it; in Mifune City near Tokyo, it seems there's a Magus with considerable ability holding a doll exhibition."
"Mifune City..."
"Are you planning to buy a doll? Frankly, that's not a good choice, because after the seventeenth century, the concept of magic for creating artificial human bodies declined. Even quite skilled Magus in the field of automata cannot match antiques from several hundred years ago; buying them would be at most for collection."
Naoki shook his head, "I don't intend to buy a doll; frankly, I don't have the money for that. My goal is the doll maker."
"A high-level doll maker named Aozaki Touko."