Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

On the night Irisviel became a mother, Fuyuki experienced a long-awaited heavy snowfall.

The midwives were Sera and Lizzie, who had become proficient in midwifery skills and knowledge of how to handle emergencies over the past year.

Just to be on the safe side, Shirou will also accompany him.

"Should I use healing magic on the sidelines then?"

He had made that suggestion, but it was rejected.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” Sera said.

"Can't you?"

"Yes, magic can affect production."

"Then... what about the magic trick for pain relief?"

"Of course not."

Shirou lowered his head in frustration: "Then am I someone who can't do anything?"

Irisviel smiled and said, "Trust Sera and Lyselle."

As for Shirou, all you need to do is stay by my side.

Although Sera had made a bold claim, when it came to the crucial moment, she still appeared somewhat flustered due to excessive nervousness.

Fortunately, Lizzie was calm and composed and performed steadily, so nothing went wrong.

Irisviel looked to be in great pain, and Shirou held her hand tightly by the bedside.

For the first time, he felt so powerless, unable to help at all.

If Liselle were to say something like "Shirou, you're in my way" at a time like this, Shirou would probably be depressed for a whole year.

Finally, it was a close call—

With a cry echoing throughout the room, the baby was born.

Just as predicted months ago, it was a baby girl with the same beautiful red eyes as her mother.

"This is the lady's... the girl who will change the fate of Eindzbern..."

With tears streaming down her face, Sera handed the child to the mother, Irisviel.

The silver-haired android held the crying baby in its swaddling clothes, its eyes filled with loving affection.

"It's unbelievable, I've really become a mother..."

"Yes, madam! You've really become a mother!"

Sera seemed even more excited than Irisviel, while Lyselette, though saying nothing, stared intently at Ilya.

"Shirou, hug your sister."

Irisviel suddenly looked at the red-haired boy beside her and spoke.

She had not yet recovered from the fatigue of childbirth and looked very weak.

However, her beauty, reminiscent of precious gemstones, showed no signs of diminishing. The happy expression on her face masked her tired and haggard appearance, making her gentle eyes and smile even more radiant.

"……it is good."

Shirou nervously took Illya from Sera's hands.

That petite and frail little body was much lighter than he had imagined.

Holding it felt like holding a handful of fresh snow, as if it would crumble at the slightest touch, so delicate it was almost frightening.

Fragile yet striving to live, the creature maintains its body temperature in sleep, its small mouth moving slightly with its slow, deliberate breathing.

Although the throbbing in its chest was subtle, it was already the limit of the little life at this moment.

Shirou was a little nervous.

Although Einzbern's artificial human technology was the best in the world, many of the artificial humans who were not born into the Einzbern family had congenital defects.

This child can't be considered a pure Einzbern, could it be...?

Sera saw his worry: "Don't worry, Shirou."

I've had a preliminary check-up, and Ilya is a very healthy baby with no physical problems.

"Hehe... Shirou was just laughing at Sera, but he's actually more nervous than her. The child is just asleep."

Irisviel watched with a smile as Shirou picked up his daughter.

Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.

After his anxiety subsided, an indescribable feeling of gratitude welled up inside him.

When Shirou returned to Pan-Human History from the Fairy Kingdom, he felt as if a large part of his chest had been hollowed out, and he couldn't muster the energy to do anything.

But it is different now.

Shirou now has a place to call his own.

Mother, lover, friend, junior...

Now she even has her own child...

In that moment, the boy was overwhelmed by too many indescribable emotions.

"Shirou, thank you."

She said quietly.

Sera and Lyselle tactfully slipped out of the room, leaving Shirou alone with Irisviel and her daughter.

"I'm so glad I was able to give birth to this child. It's all thanks to you, Shirou."

"No, I have nothing—"

Irisviel shook her head, beckoned to Shirou, and then embraced him and Illya together.

Feeling the warmth of their bodies in his arms and the soft hand stroking his head, Shirou secretly vowed that he would definitely protect them.

He is both an older brother and a father.

……

……

The day after giving birth to Ilya, Irisviel was moving around the house as if nothing had happened.

Although everyone advised her to rest, she wouldn't be Irisviel if she could be easily persuaded.

Ilya is a very lively child, and since none of them have any experience in raising children, everyone was exhausted that day.

That evening, Irisviel called Shirou over.

"Are you asleep already?"

"Hmm, she's finally asleep."

Irisviel looked even more tired than yesterday; it had taken her two hours to get Ilya to sleep.

"Artificial humans are mature from birth, so they don't need care..."

Human babies are truly remarkable, so fragile yet so capricious…

Shirou looked at Irisviel, who had a happy but complaining expression, and teased, "Regretting becoming a mother?"

"How could that be, you idiot Shirou?"

The silver-haired android glared at him fiercely: "I don't regret it at all; on the contrary, I feel even happier."

However, although it was a very happy experience, it was also quite tough.

"Really? That's why I told Sera during the day that you don't have to do everything yourself."

Shirou said, "Just tell me if there's anything you need."

Irisviel pinched her delicate chin: "That's true, I understand—"

Shirou, let's treat them well tonight.

"?"

The boy frowned slightly, then nodded and said, "Can I massage your shoulders?"

Irisviel gazed intently at the boy with her beautiful red eyes.

"Ugh...do I have to spell it out so clearly?"

After saying that, she crawled towards Shirou using all four limbs, swaying her body.

With her alluring smile, Irisviel looked like an animal in its breeding season.

Perhaps because I just gave birth, my breasts and hips are a size larger than before.

"I want Shirou to massage my shoulders, not my shoulders, but...?"

"Wait, wait a minute! Calm down, Alice!"

Shirou, who was pinned down on the tatami mat, shouted.

"Ilya has already been born, we don't need to do that kind of thing anymore!"

"We made a promise back then!"

“Ilya is still right there!”

As it turned out, Shirou's shouts were meaningless...

Irisviel did not let him return to his room until the next morning.

----------------

*

Volume 5, Chapter 193: Aika Sajou

The blinding sunlight streaming through the gaps in the tightly closed curtains made Ayaka Sajou open her heavy eyelids.

Even though she is no longer a little girl, and even though she will be taking exams next year, winter is still not something to be liked.

Ayaka Sajou reached out from under the covers and dragged the alarm clock from the bedside table into the warm bed.

This digital alarm clock, which displays the year, month, day, and week of the week, was a birthday gift Ayaka received when she was 7 years old.

At that time, she actually wanted a cute alarm clock, but she couldn't complain about her father's good intentions, so she used it for ten years.

[1999]

Ayaka Sajou glanced at the year, which she wouldn't normally pay attention to, before checking the time.

[6:14 AM]

There were still 15 minutes until 6:30. Normally, she would definitely want to stay in bed a little longer.

But not today—

Today is the day my sister is leaving home.

With this in mind, Ayaka Sajou perked up, climbed out of the quilt, and put on her glasses.

"it is good."

After changing her clothes, Ayaka Sajou stood in front of the dressing mirror next to the wardrobe, combing her hair, which had gradually grown longer since she entered high school.

After confirming that there was nothing amiss, Ayaka Sajo left the room.

The girl breathed on her hands to warm them as she walked through the cold corridor.

After reaching the end, turn the corner and you'll arrive at your family's garden.

It is reminiscent of a vast garden in a botanical garden, the place where Ayaka Sajou practiced magic.

For the past ten years, she has practiced magic in the garden left by her mother every day without fail.

Even after my father left, it was still the same.

Ayaka's father, Hiroki Sajou.

Nine years ago, Hiroki Sajo participated in a subspecies Holy Grail War held in Japan, and never returned.