At this time, Shirou suddenly changed the topic and asked, "Special effects?" I didn't expect you to like that kind of thing. Pen ~ Fun ~ Pavilion www.biquge.info"

“…… It's not like a girl's hobby, is it? Because it was something I watched with my father when I was a kid, and it was the first time I watched a TV show, so I remember it very well, and I still remember that the tokusatsu movie was called Kamen Rider Sora. ”

"Does your father like it too?"

"Well, he's a policeman, and when he sees someone arguing, he has to go up and uphold justice."

"That Kamen Rider...... What kind of plot is it? Shirou asked, seeming interested.

"Huh? Shirou, haven't you seen it? I heard that it was quite popular among boys at that time. ”

"No, I haven't."

He shook his head. Shirou, who grew up in the church and entered the seminary after the death of Kirei, is generally not exposed to this kind of entertainment.

Illya still remembers the ending of that heroic drama, in the end, the protagonist Goyo even though he was betrayed by his own people, in the end he still chose to kill the lover who became a monster for the sake of justice, and after defeating the villain final boss Zero, Goyo himself closed his eyes in the moonlight, and in the end only left a sentence.

- No one wants to be a hero, because the price of a hero is too heavy.

This film also caused a lot of discussion when it came out, in order to emphasize the reality of fear in front of the eye, and to eliminate many contradictions in general tokusatsu hero dramas and emphasize integration, but the final tokusatsu film is so too realistic. It is said that the producer is not responsible for the fact that although he is trying to protect others, he has also used violence? For this reason, it was decided that the protagonist Goyo would die at the end of the battle.

After listening to Illya's words, Shirou pondered for a while and said, "So, if you can defeat monsters, wicked people, and even humans like that protagonist, do you have the motivation to [do evil] for the sake of [justice]?" ”

The implementation of justice will inevitably have blood on its hands, which is an irreversible contradiction.

"Any ideals and miracles have a price, in the final analysis, we are such people, for our own ideals, and to destroy the dreams of others, sometimes even have to sacrifice the people around them."

“……”

There was no trace of doubt in Shirou's eyes, but Illya was speechless. She put her hands on her chest and fell into deep thought, perhaps from the beginning, her ideal was a sign of hypocrisy.

"If you can't choose, don't choose. It's okay to go with the flow, and if you don't want to see someone else die, close your eyes. As I have done so far, and as I will continue to do from now on. It can be sad to see the misfortunes of others, but there is no need to act on it. ”

Even at this moment, there are people dying in Japan and abroad. Illya never intended to stop it, nor did she grieve for it.

"No...... I hate that statement, and I don't think it should be. Illya's voice was trembling, she wasn't angry, she wasn't sad, but there seemed to be some kind of tension in her words. We should find ways other than sacrificing others, and I don't want to kill anyone if possible. I hope I can save them with them, because this is weird, right? Why do people have to kill each other like this? ”

As she said this, Illya was angry and remorseful at her weakness. She herself understands that this is a whimsical wish, what a childish idea. But either choice or giving up, Illya felt that she would regret it. Among these options, Illya seeks a third path, even if it is impossible to achieve by miracles.

Apart from the whistling of the wind, only the breathing of two people could be heard. After a long time, it was still only the sound of breathing, and Illya did not speak again.

“…… Feeling sorry for others and wanting to help others is also a beautiful thing about being a human being. It's a difficult ideal indeed, but if it were you, you should be able to make it like that. ”

"Really...... May I? ”

Seeing Illya's surprised expression, Shirou picked the corners of his mouth and smiled slightly.

"Of course, it is precisely because of the difficulties that it has the value of being called ideals; It is precisely because it is a miracle that the power of the Holy Grail is needed. In that case, you can just get your hands on it, the power that can change the world. ”

Shirou is referring to the Holy Grail.

"I—"

Shirou's words once again sent Illya deep in thought.

"The Holy Grail is a reflection of personal desires, and since you have a spell, it must not be accidental, but because you need the Holy Grail for some reason. So, Illya, don't you have your own wishes? Is it really unimaginable? Maybe you've had a desire, but you've forgotten it. ”

Aspiration? For Illya, there are mountains of things she wants, but they are always "things that can be obtained if you work hard]. If it's okay to have any wish, it means that you have something that you can't get no matter how hard you try.

"Such a ridiculous wish, can it be done?"

She muttered silently—Shirou knew exactly what she was trying to say.

Shirou never imagined that Illya, who seemed to be extremely weak and kind, would choose such a thorny and rugged path. It's like the stupidity of someone who has never driven a car and just kicks the gas pedal in a sports car without brakes.

However, the eyes she kept staring down were unwavering. For Illya, it seems that this is why it is worth doing this, and Shirou looks at her calm expression and thinks that this is the real her.

For some reason, she hid her true nature, and Shirou finally got a glimpse of it again - and he had to admit what Nyarrathotep had said not long ago.

The meaning of the Holy Grail is not just a wish machine, but to make them understand who they are, the deepest desires of their hearts.

For both Shirou and Illya, neither of them has a wish that needs to be fulfilled by the Holy Grail, but in the midst of this Holy Grail War, the Holy Grail opens up their hidden inner world, both good and bad.

At this time, Shirou thought that this was exactly what fate had arranged.

- I see.

Shirou raised a smile at the corner of his mouth, even he didn't expect to be able to smile so heartily.

- You're just like me.

The atmosphere was extremely silent, only time flowed.

At some point, the wind became fierce, turning from a cry to a low whistling, and perhaps a blizzard would soon form.

"It's going to be a blizzard, go back inside, Illya."

“…… Well. ”

Illya nodded, and turned back into the house. And Shirou's gaze fell on Illya's back, and he didn't look away for a long time. In his eyes, Illya's figure began to distort, disintegrate, and melt...... Melted into his psyche, overlapping each other.