Flashback – Tohsaka Residence, Years Ago
The Tohsaka estate was always quiet, steeped in an air of strict discipline and unwavering tradition. Even as a child, Rin knew what was expected of her. The weight of the Tohsaka lineage rested on her small shoulders, and she bore it without complaint—at least, not openly.
But the house wasn't just quiet. It was cold.
A grand estate meant little when its halls were empty, and an imposing father did not make for a comforting presence.
Rin sat in the grand study, a book of magecraft theory in her lap, eyes glancing between the pages and the figure of her younger sister sitting opposite her. Sakura, barely five years old, was clutching a stuffed animal, her expression blank as she stared at the wooden floor.
Their father sat behind his desk, his gaze distant, a glass of untouched wine beside him. His presence filled the room, suffocating and heavy. He did not speak to Sakura. He barely acknowledged her.
For a long time, Rin didn't understand.
A door creaked open, and a man entered the room.
Silver hair. Tanned skin. Cold, knowing eyes.
He was always there. A figure that did not belong yet had become a permanent presence in their lives.
Archer.
He was a Servant, but to Rin and Sakura, he was something else. A guardian. A mentor. A quiet force that remained in the background, yet was always watching over them.
"Master, it's time for your training," Archer said, his tone even.
Rin immediately stood, book in hand. She didn't need to be told twice. She knew what her duty was.
Sakura looked up, her violet eyes uncertain.
Rin hesitated, glancing between her father and Archer. "What about Sakura?"
It was an innocent question, but the air in the room changed. Their father finally looked up, his gaze sharp.
"Sakura is not part of this," he said flatly.
Rin clenched her fists, but before she could speak, Archer placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, finding no warmth in his gaze, but a quiet understanding.
He led her away without another word.
Sakura stayed behind. Alone.
YEARS LATER
The once-grand Tohsaka manor stood silent. Dust hung in the air, catching the dim glow of the evening sun as it streamed through the tall windows. The house felt empty, devoid of the presence that once commanded it.
Tokiomi Tohsaka was dead.
Rin sat on the couch, gripping the hem of her dress with trembling fingers. She was only a child, but even she understood what death meant. Their father was never coming back. Their mother had died years ago, and now... it was just her and Sakura.
Sakura sat beside her, smaller, more fragile. She clutched at the edge of Rin's sleeve, but Rin didn't move. She didn't look at her. She couldn't.
She didn't want to see the reason their father had always looked at them differently.
The silence stretched, unbearable, until the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the manor.
A man stood before them, tall and clad in red, with steel-gray eyes that held a strange sense of familiarity. He wasn't their father, nor was he an enemy. He had been summoned into this world as a Servant, but his purpose had changed.
Archer—no, Emiya—knelt before them, his expression unreadable. He placed a hand on Rin's head, ruffling her hair the way their father never did.
"...So, it's just the two of you now." His voice was calm, but there was something else beneath it. Something he didn't say.
Rin didn't respond. She couldn't.
Sakura peeked out from behind her, watching the man with hesitant, fearful eyes. She was too young to understand, but she knew enough to be afraid.
"Your old man was a fool," Archer said bluntly, leaning back against the couch with his arms crossed. "But he wasn't completely incompetent. He left behind something worth protecting."
Rin finally looked up, frowning. "Are you talking about the family name?"
Archer exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "No, you idiot. I'm talking about you."
Rin's breath hitched. She hadn't expected that.
For as long as she could remember, she was taught that the Tohsaka name was everything. That she had to be strong, to carry on their legacy. Their father had raised her to be a proper magus. But never—never—had she been told that she was worth protecting simply because she was herself.
And neither had Sakura.
Archer's eyes softened, if only for a moment. "Your father is gone. That means you two need to look out for each other." His gaze flickered to Sakura, who flinched under the attention. "That means you, too"
Sakura shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say.
Rin swallowed hard, then straightened her back. "...I can take care of myself."
Archer smirked, but it wasn't mocking. "Sure you can." He ruffled her hair again, ignoring her protests. "But even the strongest people need someone to rely on. That's why I'm here."
Rin blinked up at him, stunned.
Sakura hesitated, then finally whispered, "...Will you stay with us?"
Archer was quiet for a moment. Then, with a rare gentleness, he answered:
"Yeah. I'll stay."
For the first time since their father's death, the Tohsaka mansion didn't feel so empty.
Present Day
The Tohsaka household had changed over the years, but some things remained constant. The sun filtered through the windows of the western-style manor, illuminating the neatly arranged furniture and the scent of morning tea lingering in the air. Despite the grandeur, the house no longer carried the weight of strict magecraft traditions. It was a home now.
Rin sat at the dining table, sipping her tea with her usual composed expression. Across from her, Sakura flipped through a book, absentmindedly stirring her tea with a small spoon. They weren't children anymore. Their childhood struggles had hardened them, but at the same time, they had built something stronger—a bond neither of them would break so easily.
Archer stood by the kitchen, arms crossed as he observed them. His silver hair and piercing gaze gave him an intimidating air, but the way he quietly watched over the sisters revealed a more protective side. He had been there for them after their father's death, a guardian when they had no one else.
"You two are oddly quiet this morning," Archer finally said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm just thinking," Rin replied, placing her cup down. "About the war."
Sakura glanced up at her sister but didn't say anything at first. Then, after a pause, she spoke softly. "You're really going to participate, aren't you?"
Rin folded her arms, nodding. "Of course. The Holy Grail War is the Tohsaka family's responsibility. Besides, I can't just let incompetent people get their hands on it."
Sakura's expression darkened for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it with a small smile. "I see..."
Archer sighed, leaning against the wall. "You should at least be careful. There are too many unknowns in this war."
Rin smirked. "That's why I have you, isn't it?"
Archer scoffed but didn't argue.
Sakura hesitated before speaking again. "You don't have to do this, you know. You don't need the Grail."
Rin's confident demeanor faltered, just for a second. But she quickly recovered. "It's not about needing it. It's about making sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands."
Sakura didn't push further, but the look in her eyes said enough—she was worried.
A comfortable silence settled over the room before Rin stood up, stretching. "Alright, I'm heading to school. You coming, Sakura?"
Sakura nodded, closing her book and standing as well. "Yeah."
As they walked toward the door, Archer spoke again, his voice softer this time. "Rin. Sakura. Stay safe."
Rin waved him off with a smirk. "Please, I'm always careful."
Sakura gave a small smile but didn't respond. As they stepped out, the morning breeze greeted them, and they began their walk to school.
The crisp morning air bit at Ren's face as he walked alongside Shirou toward school. The streets were still quiet, only a handful of students making their way toward the gate. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Ren felt like a zombie. Between summoning Jeanne, fighting off an Assassin, and now crashing at Shirou's place, his life had taken a nosedive into chaos in the span of two days.
Shirou glanced at him. "You look like hell."
Ren gave him a flat look. "Wow. Good morning to you too."
Shirou smirked. "Didn't sleep well?"
Ren sighed. "Let's see... my house got wrecked, I'm stuck sleeping in a friends home, and my Servant doesn't understand the concept of personal space. Yeah, I'd say I slept great."
"You're exaggerating," Jeanne's voice echoed in his mind.
"Am I? Because I distinctly remember waking up with you practically suffocating me."
Jeanne didn't respond, but he could feel her pout through their connection.
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "She's complaining?"
Ren rubbed his temples. "She always complains."
Shirou chuckled. "I get it."
As they neared the school gates, Ren spotted two familiar figures waiting nearby—Rin and Sakura Tohsaka. Rin had her arms crossed, looking as sharp and composed as ever, while Sakura stood beside her, listening patiently.
Ren groaned. "Great. An early morning encounter with the Tohsakas."
Shirou shot him a look. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Ren smirked. "Depends on Rin's mood."
As if on cue, Rin turned to them, her sharp blue eyes locking onto Ren.
"Well, look who it is," she said, her tone casual but carrying a teasing edge. "Enjoy your sleepover?"
Ren rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, had a blast. Almost as fun as having my house reduced to rubble."
Sakura's expression softened. "I'm really sorry about that, Ren-kun."
Ren sighed. "Not much I can do about it now."
Sakura nodded. "Still, if you need anything, please let me know."
Ren blinked. "...Uh, thanks?"
Rin scoffed. "You're being awfully nice to him."
Sakura smiled. "He's staying with Senpai. Of course I'm nice to him?"
Ren smirked. "See? Sakura treats me better than you do, Rin."
Rin rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it."
Shirou chuckled. "You two argue like siblings."
Ren shrugged. "It's our love language."
Rin muttered something under her breath before turning to Shirou. "We should hurry before we're late."
The four of them walked into the school together, the usual morning routine settling in.
Ren was used to boring school days. Ever since he got wrapped up in this Holy Grail War nonsense, the idea of sitting through lectures felt surreal—like he was living two separate lives. One where he was just another student, and another where he was fighting for his life.
"At least one of those lives makes sense," he thought bitterly as he tapped his pencil against his desk.
Math class dragged on, the teacher droning about equations that Ren barely paid attention to. Across the room, Shirou sat with his usual focused expression, diligently taking notes like the model student he was. Rin, of course, looked like she already knew everything being taught, while Sakura dutifully jotted things down without issue.
Ren, meanwhile, felt like his brain was melting.
"Are you struggling?" Jeanne's voice echoed in his mind.
"I wouldn't say struggling. More like completely disconnected from this nonsense."
"You should at least try to keep up."
"Says the medieval war heroine who probably thinks numbers are witchcraft."
"I understand numbers just fine, thank you very much."
Ren smirked slightly, but it faded when the teacher called on him.
"Tsukihara, what's the answer to this equation?"
Ren blinked at the board. Numbers. Lots of numbers. He had no idea what any of them meant.
"...37?"
The class chuckled, and the teacher sighed before moving on. Ren slumped in his seat, shooting a glance at Shirou, who just shook his head in mild disappointment.
"You're embarrassing yourself," Jeanne commented.
"I don't need the peanut gallery making it worse."
The rest of the day went about the same. Lunch came and went, Sakura offering him part of her bento while Rin continued her usual routine of pretending she wasn't paying attention to him but making snide remarks anyway. Shirou, being Shirou, tried to keep the peace, and Ren just rolled with it.
By the time school was over, Ren was ready to go home—well, back to Shirou's house. The idea of calling it "home" was depressing.
As he packed his things, Shirou approached. "You heading back?"
Ren nodded. "Yeah. Unless you're kicking me out."
Shirou sighed. "You can stay as long as you need. Just... try not to provoke Saber again."
Ren scoffed. "She's the one who nearly cut me in half. I was just standing there."
"She's just cautious."
"Yeah, real friendly."
As they walked toward the school gate, Rin and Sakura were there again, chatting about something before noticing them.
Rin narrowed her eyes. "You two heading home together?"
"Yeah," Shirou replied casually.
Sakura tilted her head. "Ren-kun, how long are you staying with Senpai?"
Ren rubbed his neck. "Until I figure something out, I guess. My house is... well, you saw it."
Rin crossed her arms. "So you really have no other options?"
Ren shrugged. "Not unless you're offering me a place to stay."
Rin scoffed. "Like I'd do that."
Sakura smiled. "It's nice that Senpai is helping you."
Ren chuckled. "Yeah, he's a real saint."
Rin sighed. "Just don't cause any trouble."
"Me? Trouble? Never."
Shirou shook his head. "Let's go before it gets late."
As they walked off, Ren couldn't shake the feeling that this temporary arrangement was only going to lead to more headaches.