Chapter 327

According to the Ryougi Family's tradition, the children of the Ryougi Family are given two names with identical pronunciations but different kanji characters before they are even born.

Both "Ori" and "Shiki" are read as "shiki" in Japanese, and they share the same physical body, so no one has ever suspected that this cold girl who always wears a kimono to school has a multiple personality setting.

Over these past two days, Ori has been feeling an inexplicable sense of displeasure; she doesn't know where this feeling originates, but she just finds everything somewhat displeasing to the eye.

For instance, this school that any random Tom, Dick, or Harry can just wander into.

Or, for instance, the new trainee teacher openly using third-rate suggestion magecraft in class to hypnotize the students into listening obediently.

And also that group of guys currently standing by the classroom window, seemingly appraising what kind of effect hypnotic magecraft can have on the modern educational enterprise.

If it weren't for this school being relatively close to home, saving time on the commute, Ryougi Ori would really want to drop out of this school.

She was propping her right cheek with her right hand, looking displeased at the uninvited guests outside the window, but suddenly her gaze met with a little boy inside.

The other party saw her momentary stupor, and immediately revealed a joyful expression that Ryougi Ori couldn't comprehend, waving at her as if greeting an acquaintance.

"Broly-niichan, who are you waving to?"

Little Sakura saw the boy's action and couldn't help but ask.

"I'm waving to that girl in pink clothes; her name is Ryougi Shiki, someone I met on the road coming over to Guanbu City two days ago.

She is also a capture target acknowledged by the Crystal Palace, and has already agreed to become my wife after this."

Broly spoke the honest truth.

Kiritsugu Emiya: "..."

The boy's blunt manner of introducing his newly found wife to the girls, including his own daughter, caused his blood pressure to rise more or less.

"Eh, really?"

Ilya was somewhat doubtful; the girl in the classroom had already turned her head toward the other window, completely disregarding Broly's greeting.

"What is certain is that she noticed us just now, and at the same time, she ignored Fujimura-sensei's suggestion magecraft."

Rin Tohsaka said; although Fujimura Taiga isn't even a proper magecraft initiate, she did learn a trick or two following her father, and her suggestion magecraft is capable of affecting ordinary people.

"Hmm, the surname Ryougi... could she be from the Ryougi Family?"

Rin Tohsaka was somewhat puzzled, but had no intention of disturbing Fujimura Taiga's class; she asked a passing teacher if there was a free classroom, and the group went to an empty classroom to wait for the time being.

And when Broly and the others arrived at Kanjo Gakuen, it happened to be the fourth period in the morning; once the lunch bell rang, a large number of students poured out of the classrooms.

"How did you all get here?"

Fujimura Taiga came running over clutching her books and asked directly.

"We happened to be passing by this way, so we just dropped in to check on you, Fujimura-sensei."

Rin Tohsaka explained briefly; the matter of Ilya's fist and severed arm drew a cry of surprise from Fujimura Taiga.

"Ilya, are you alright now?"

She circled around Ilya, asking with some concern.

"I'm fine now, Fujimura-neesan."

Thanks to Fujimura Taiga's cheerful personality, both Rin Tohsaka and Ilya have a very good relationship with her.

"Right, it's noon already, you haven't eaten yet, right? Want to eat at our school cafeteria? The faculty meals provided by Kanjo Gakuen are pretty decent."

At Fujimura Taiga's invitation, the group decided to mooch a faculty meal at Kanjo Gakuen.

Of course, for Broly, it was probably just a taste test; if he really let loose and ate his fill, the school's teachers probably wouldn't have any food left.

By the time they reached the cafeteria, Broly ran into that kimono girl with a "don't approach" aura again.

Upon spotting the approaching group from afar, Ryougi Ori first froze, then clicked her tongue, turned her head, and headed for the cafeteria window selling bread.

"What's with that guy? Why does she look like someone owes her money?"

Rin Tohsaka felt it was somewhat inexplicable.

"You mean Ryougi Shiki? That's a solitary kid, not very sociable; normally at lunch she runs off to a place with no one to eat alone."

Fujimura Taiga hasn't been a trainee teacher for long, but she still knows a fair bit about the students in her class.

And Ryougi Shiki is a student Fujimura Taiga pays particular attention to; as for why Fujimura Taiga pays particular attention to Ryougi Shiki, it's probably because Ryougi Shiki is also a yakuza ojousama.

"I can understand the suffering of a yakuza ojousama; classmates are more afraid of one's yakuza family background, always walking on eggshells around you, looking terrified of offending you, but actually we're no different from ordinary people, we just want to make friends on equal footing, yet we're always misunderstood and distanced..."

After the faculty meals were served, Fujimura Taiga talked on and on, recounting problems from her own student days, directly launching into empty empathy.

Rin Tohsaka looked at her, thinking that if the Ryougi Family Fujimura Taiga spoke of really was that Ryougi Family of demon hunters, then the kimono girl most likely wasn't being isolated by others, but was actively cutting off her own connection to the outside world.

"I feel like I should do something, but unfortunately I'm just a trainee teacher, not her homeroom teacher; talking heart-to-heart with her would be a bit improper in name and justification.

And the teachers at this school only care about advancement rates; for a girl with that kind of special identity, as long as she doesn't disturb others' studies, they don't really bother with her."

Fujimura Taiga complained on; fortunately, a sound-isolating magecraft barrier and a cognition barrier that makes people subconsciously ignore this place had been set up around them, otherwise if the grade's Dean of Students eating nearby heard this, she'd definitely make things difficult for Fujimura Taiga, this university student trainee teacher.

"So she does have troubles?"

Broly asked, and he had already finished the faculty meal in front of him.

"She definitely has troubles! Otherwise how could she not have a single friend to eat with!"

Fujimura Taiga asserted confidently; she doesn't know about the demon hunter family business, nor does she know that Ryougi Ori despises her use of third-rate suggestion magecraft to guide students' learning; she's just judging based on her own life experience, assuming the yakuza ojousama Ryougi Shiki with a similar identity might be facing the same adolescent troubles.

"Then I'll go find her and eat with her."

Broly hopped off the cafeteria chair and said, heading in the direction of Ryougi Shiki's presence.

"Eh?"

Fujimura Taiga blanked for a moment, vaguely recalling that seven years ago the boy's attitude toward strangers he didn't know was still rather cold.

"Didn't expect so many years to pass, Broly has grown up too, now he'll even treat strangers gently."

Fujimura Taiga exclaimed in admiration.

"What stranger? That kimono girl named Ryougi Shiki is his new capture target."

Rin Tohsaka was somewhat speechless, and reminded her.

"Eh!"

Hearing this, Fujimura Taiga had a sudden realization.

"No wonder she's so enthusiastic; turns out she's going to mooch food."

Little Sakura nodded at the side, expressing complete understanding of the boy's behavior of going to help a new capture target.

"Is this really okay?"

Kiritsugu Emiya was somewhat doubtful.

"Definitely no problem, Uncle Emiya; Broly-brother, towards people who are his wives, is definitely wholeheartedly helping."

【Yeah, seven years ago when he helped you, he directly beat your father up, single-handedly ruined Tohsaka Tokiomi's Root dream, and the Matou Family also became a thing of the past because of it.】

Kiritsugu Emiya was expressionless, but in his heart he couldn't help but retort.

At the same time, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality), who was just preparing to sit on the empty auditorium's high platform and enjoy her lunch bread, encountered a male classmate who came to strike up a conversation.

"You are Shiki Ryougi, right?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Bai Chun Li Xu; I count as a senior one grade above you."

"What business?"

"Shiki Ryougi classmate is really cold; I just came over to ask, do you want to eat lunch together with me?"

Bai Chun Li Xu's figure was very slender, his features also very handsome; if not for wearing male clothing, one might have thought this was a girl, yet he issued an invitation to the kimono girl.

"Very regrettable, I have no habit of sharing lunch with strangers."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) directly refused; as this body's male personality, she denied people without the slightest hesitation.

"That really is a bit disappointing; by the way, Shiki Ryougi classmate, you like taking midnight walks, right?"

Bai Chun Li Xu suddenly asked.

"You stalked me?"

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) revealed a displeased expression, staring at the boy before her.

"No, I just happened to have encountered Shiki Ryougi classmate taking a walk on the midnight streets; that night's you deeply attracted me."

"That's unfortunate; I don't have the slightest impression of you."

"First time......"

"What?"

"I just thought of the place where I first met you; I heard that on that night someone was killed at that place."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) frowned, not understanding what this person wanted to say.

"I will still pay attention to you, Shiki Ryougi classmate; hope in the future we can become friends who eat lunch together."

Bai Chun Li Xu left; regarding this, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) only felt it was somewhat inexplicable.

"Why don't you eat lunch together with others?"

Just as she unwrapped the yakisoba bread, preparing to start eating, she heard another inquiring voice.

Turning her head to look, she only then discovered that at some unknown time, the strange boy she had seen outside the window during the fourth period in the morning was now standing behind her.

【Just had one inexplicable guy leave, and now another inexplicable little kid comes?】

This was Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s most genuine feeling at this moment, but she still answered Broly's question after taking a bite of yakisoba bread: "Why would I have to eat lunch together with a guy I don't even know?"

"Then you wouldn't feel troubled?"

Broly leaned closer to pursue the question.

"No, no one eats lunch with me, why would I therefore feel troubled?"

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) retorted; she actually had no reaction to the boy's approach.

"Dining atmosphere not lively enough?"

Broly thought for a bit, then tried asking.

"Hah, I don't like lively at all; huddling together with a bunch of people whose words don't match their hearts would only make me feel uncomfortable."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s way of eating yakisoba bread was not ladylike at all, and this was also related to her currently being the male personality Shiki.

One saw the yakisoba bread quickly grow shorter in her hand, while the kimono girl's mouth puffed up like a hamster's.

"Then me staying by your side right now, would it make you feel uncomfortable?"

Broly asked again.

Hearing this, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) blanked for a moment.

Frowning, she thought for a bit, feeling it was indeed somewhat strange.

Normally, she doesn't like others approaching her.

But......

The kimono girl looked at the boy, feeling this might be because the other party is a child, his thoughts comparatively simple, lacking adults' complex human nature, so she didn't reject him.

"Indeed not uncomfortable, but also don't feel there's anything good about it."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) said, then unwrapped another bread.

But perhaps because she had already gnawed one bread, the girl suddenly felt her mouth a bit dry.

"Here, strawberry milk."

Broly took out a dairy beverage he carried on his person from space, and handed it over.

Feeling a bit choked, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) also didn't stand on ceremony, took the milk from the boy's hand and drank it down in big gulps.

"Thanks."

Only after finishing drinking did she say thanks.

"No need to thank; just now, do you feel a bit better?"

"What do you mean?"

"The matter of eating lunch together with me."

"You say it like you actually have something to eat."

"I've got it all with me, though it's leftovers from last night."

Watching the boy conjure a pile of food out of thin air, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) wore an expression like she'd seen a ghost.

"Hmm, you want some?"

Meeting her gaze, Broly picked up a Steamed Giant King Crab and shoved it right at her.

"I have food, thanks."

At this, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s mouth corner twitched, and she refused.

"Then let's trade."

Broly felt he had to let this Reserve Wife know the joy of sharing delicacies with close people, so he snatched the Yakisoba Bread from the kimono girl's hand and swapped in the Steamed Giant King Crab from his own.

He ate the Yakisoba Bread in three bites, and seeing the kimono girl still spacing out while staring at the lobster in her hand, Broly reacted and reached over, dismantling the hard shell on the lobster's body for her.

"This way it's easier to gnaw the meat, you eat up quick."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality): "..."

Facing the boy's somewhat expectant gaze — his mouth corners still sporting bread crumbs — the girl eating giant lobster at school for the first time did not refuse.

Of course, this was certainly because one Yakisoba Bread hadn't filled her up.

"Good?"

After watching the kimono girl gnaw a mouthful of shrimp meat, Broly asked.

"It's just so-so."

"Then try this Lamb Chops!"

"Mmm~"

While eating himself, Broly began feeding the girl.

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) originally wanted to refuse, but the boy was too enthusiastic.

And the food offered wasn't bad either, so she half-pushed half-accepted the feeding.

Of course, this might also have something to do with what the Root-style Shiki said — about leaving a bit of an impression on the other personalities.

"Hey, stop giving me stuff, I can't eat anymore."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s appetite wasn't that big; she hit her limit quickly.

"Oh."

Broly was very obedient; seeing the girl's little belly slightly bulging, he proceeded to eliminate the remaining food himself.

After finishing eating, he didn't forget to retract the tableware into the Crystal Palace Internal Space — though he'd have to wait until he got back to wash these plates.

"Hey, kid, what's your name?"

She untied her kimono sash, slightly loosening the burden on her lower abdomen, and only now did Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) ask.

"Eh, you forgot?"

Broly looked strangely at the kimono girl.

"What did I forget, did I know you before?"

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) frowned.

"Yeah, we know each other, and you even promised you'd become my wife in the future."

Broly nodded.

"Hah, you little brat, do you even know what a wife is..."

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s voice grew lower and lower, because the boy's expression was too serious, not like he was joking at all.

And she's a multiple personality situation...

After her voice gradually trailed off, she paused, then asked: "Do you know my other personality?"

"Yeah."

Broly nodded decisively.

*Slap~*

Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) smacked her forehead.

"What on earth are you thinking?!"

She was questioning the Female Personality Shiki, but unfortunately got no response.

"Anyway, I'm not the same as the me you know, you have to redo your self-introduction, hmm, and say how old you are."

"Okay, I'm Broly, counting by physical age, should be 12 years old."

"You're 12?

You look way too young.

Forget it, I'm Shiki, older than you, but don't call me big sister.

As for the wife thing, the other me might've been teasing you, I won't acknowledge it."

"Eh?!"

Broly's eyes went wide, a promised thing, and it can still be un-acknowledged?

And on Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality)'s side, the moment the words fell, a strange feeling arose.

Just like another personality, negating her negation.

"Fine, fine, you want me to acknowledge it, okay, but the premise is, this kid actually makes me fall for him."

At this moment, Shiki Ryougi (Weaving Personality) finally understood where her irritability these two days had come from.