"It's really rude, so that Mr. Emiya and Miss Artoria will have to work hard in the future." Mrs. Aberdeen's tone and expression seemed to be full of apologies for me.

"How can it be so hard, your grandchildren, Artoria also likes it very much, and I don't know how happy she is for a long time. So we would like to say that we would like to welcome you more and more in the future. I smiled and shook my head.

"In that case, then next time, let's ask Mr. Emiya to bring Miss Artoria to our lodgings." Mrs. Aberdeen also smiled when she heard this, "It's up to us as the hosts to entertain the two of you well." ”

"It's an honor. On behalf of Artoria, I would like to thank you for your kind invitation. I quickly bowed my head and said respectfully.

"Haha, young man, don't forget that there is no second round of main course after the competition." Mr. Aberdeen hugged his arm behind his wife and said, "Prepare well these days, next time you and I must distinguish the winner from the loser!" ”

"Yes, yes...... Please be merciful. I agreed with a wry smile.

Mr. Yasumoto is so obsessed with cooking that even before leaving, he didn't forget to remind me about the next competition......

Bidding farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Aberdeen in accordance with etiquette, I felt a heartfelt sense of happiness as I watched the two of them hold each other's hands on the inside and a few grandchildren on the outside.

Such a calm and warm life is the existence that countless people have pursued and worked hard to create throughout their lives.

Perhaps, all the rich and magnificent experiences, deep to the emotions that accompany life and death, are just a cup of tea, a meal, a word and a smile.

There is no doubt that the two will continue to walk so calmly in the future until the end of their deaths.

I stood at the door for a long time, watching the figures of the Aberdeen couple fade away, fading more and more under the darkness of the night, and finally disappearing from the limit of my vision.

"Whew...... Let's go back. ”

I don't know if it's towards myself or someone else, I muttered and pushed open the hidden outer door and returned to the entrance.

"Good...... While Artoria is away, do a big cleaning and clean all the rooms. ”

After a few taps on my cheeks, I forced myself to pick myself up and keep my spirits up.

Then, the cleaning took a lot less time than I expected.

The floor is very clean, the table top is very tidy, and even the bathroom has just been carefully cleaned, and there is not a single trace of broken hair.

The huge Wei Palace Mansion, from the living room to the warehouse, dozens of rooms are completely unnecessary.

Needless to say, this is naturally a credit to Artoria when I was not at home.

Unable to find a place to start, I finally had to go to the backyard to pick up a broom, gather up the few dead leaves that had fallen in the evening breeze and burn them.

This became the only thing I did during the "big cleaning".

The burning dead leaves flickered brightly in the night, and curling green smoke rose.

Artoria ...... Even if you're not so serious, it's okay......"

As I stared blankly at the pile of dead leaves, I sighed involuntarily.

When this pile of dead leaves burns out, I will be completely in a predicament where I have nothing to do.

Well, actually, from the very beginning, the idea that I was going to do a big cleaning, it came down to keeping myself busy and not stopping for a moment.

Because once the body is idle, the thoughts of Artoria will automatically rise in the depths of the mind.

…… But it doesn't matter.

It's just a night, a few hours at most, and it's gone by quickly, and you don't feel lonely.

…… No, that's all self-defeating.

As soon as the idea emerged, and before he even had time to form a complete idea, he was ruthlessly rejected by himself one step ahead.

I remembered,I've heard that guy frowning and complaining more than once before.,How the lovelorn students of Suiqunyuan High School Park are.,It's brought these very bad effects to the campus atmosphere.。

"It's incomprehensible. Before the parties had a relationship with each other, they were obviously happy and had no worries when they were single. Now it's just back to the state it was in the beginning, why can't you figure it out? The student council president, who has a strict temperament, crossed his arms and pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose to reveal a puzzled look, "Emiya, in your opinion, is there any special reason for this?" ”

"This ...... I haven't been in any relationship with anyone, so I'm afraid I can't say the exact situation...... But I can probably understand that things like feelings are not so simple to give up......"

"That's right...... If he has a favorite girl in the palace one day, can you share your feelings with me? Hey, don't show that strange expression.,I'm going to become the abbot of Liudong Temple after graduating from Suiqunyuan School Park.,There are countless scriptures to learn to memorize.,So even if you talk about marriage, you won't think about it until you're at least thirty years old.。 At the moment, I just want to use the experience of the Emiya to manage this school. ”

"Don't count on me, I'm not the most popular type at first glance, maybe I'll get married later than you in the future. It's more efficient for you to go to Shinji and inquire about this kind of thing......"

"Shinji, that guy can't be relied on at all.,Besides, the only one who really regards me as a friend in Suiqunyuan School Park is Wei Gong, you.。 Don't be too unconfident, participate in more social activities for all grades and classes held by the student union, and you will definitely meet good girls. Even if I'm the student council president, I'll turn a blind eye to you......"

"Okay, okay, according to what you said, if I encounter an encounter that I can't even think of one day, I will definitely take the initiative to come to you."

At that time, I simply skipped the topic with vague answers, and I didn't have any ideas in my mind.

And now—

“——！”

In a flash of inspiration, I suddenly got up from the ground and walked briskly to the reception room.

There, there is the only telephone landline installed in the entire Wei Palace.

Picking up the microphone, I found the number from under the landline that I had gotten two years ago, but had never taken the initiative to dial.

Without hesitation, his fingers pressed the numbers in order with great coherence, like a pianist on television skillfully pressing the keys.

After the last digit was dialed, I brought the earpiece to my ear and waited motionlessly.

"——! Toot"

The characteristic signal tone of the phone is dialed out one after another.

It didn't take too long, that is, the signal came four or five times in a row, and there was a crisp "click" sound in the earpiece.

The call was answered.

"Hello, this is Liudong Temple."

On the other side of the phone, a familiar, elegant but calm voice came.