Chapter 24: 10:05 AM.

The time is 10:05 AM.

Although sparse, customers aiming for the morning set began to step through the gate of the cafe "Ahnenerbe."

Even the certain full-body-tattooed Devil who had been absorbed in small talk started working seriously as a waiter, going around to take orders.

There was also a strangely unique lineup of staff, including a red-haired girl who seemed to be in charge of cooking and a silver-haired Sister assisting, but the customers did not give them any odd looks.

The reason is that this is a peculiar cafe known for being a place where people one doesn't usually meet can be encountered, and the customers themselves were an equally unique crowd.

For instance, there was a blonde, red-eyed boy chatting with a chestnut-haired high school girl, and a bearded man continuously stuffing himself with curry—a truly colorful and individualistic cast.

Amidst all this, Ryougi Shiki, Tohno Shiki, Illyasviel von Einzbern, Chloe von Einzbern, and Miyu Edelfelt were chatting across a table.

"Hmm, are you all from Fuyuki too?"

"Yes, we all went out together today."

Shiki asked, poking her cheesecake, and Illya replied. Illya, too, was eating a morning set with tea as her drink, responding with a smile.

At first glance, the atmosphere was harmonious.

However, the dark-skinned girl sitting next to Illya occasionally cast a meaningful glance, and the black-haired girl sitting next to her, Miyu Edelfelt, was restless. Tohno Shiki, who had moved to sit next to Shiki, still seemed unsure of what to say.

The very reason they all ended up sitting together like this was...

Right upon meeting, Shiki saw through the true identities of the three girls, and Chloe responded with a sarcastic remark, creating an unpleasant tension.

Illya, who came in later, was surprised that the man with the full-body tattoo looked exactly like her older brother and was further shocked by the sudden, confrontational atmosphere.

The phrase she blurted out in a panic, wondering, "How did it come to this!?" was:

"C-Can we share the table!?"

Shiki could have refused, but sensing an air similar to Saber or the airheaded Vampire, she agreed to share the table out of curiosity and a little bit of surveillance. Shiki welcomed the fact that the situation was settling down peacefully.

Actually, Shiki had heard about the girl in front of her, especially Illyasviel, from Saber. Apparently, she was the daughter of Saber's former Master; they once clashed, but now she's staying at Emiya Shirou's house.

However, based on their conversation, something was subtly different.

In particular, Illyasviel’s (Illya's) attitude and statements had a gap compared to what Saber had told her. Shiki had heard that she was supposed to behave like a dignified noble, but she clearly looked like an ordinary girl.

Furthermore, the story Illya told about her "Onii-chan" (older brother) was also different. And the existence of Chloe von Einzbern and Miyu Edelfelt was something she had never heard of before.

Well, this is that kind of place.

It's not strange for such things to happen, and it is the norm here.

Therefore, Shiki, while being cautious, didn't pursue the matter further and took a bite of her cheesecake.

"But the town Ryougi-san mentioned, Mifune City, I've never heard of it, and Misaki Town that Tohno-san mentioned... was it near Fuyuki?"

"Illya, this is that kind of place, so if you worry about it, you lose."

Illya tilted her head, thinking it was strange. Then, Chloe, who was quietly sipping her tea, summarized the existence of Ahnenerbe in a single sentence.

"That's right, Chloe-chan. More importantly, congratulations to the three of you on the broadcast of 'Prisma Illya 2wei!'"

"Broadcasting a second season despite the various issues with profitability and other things is respectable. Congratulations on that, and congratulations on the birth of a new Type-Moon world."

"...Ah, thank you very much."

"No problem, the pleasure is mine. Compared to Tohno-san and Ryougi-san, we’re nothing much. We’re rookies who are full-on moe rather than a chronicle or mystery like you two..."

Changing the subject, Shiki congratulated them on the broadcast of 'Prisma Illya 2wei!' (the second season of 'Prisma Illya') scheduled for July 2014, and Shiki likewise offered her congratulations, welcoming the arrival of a new Type-Moon world. Miyu and Illya were so happy and embarrassed by the words of the two who could be called great pioneers that they couldn't express themselves well.

Frankly, in a meta sense, 'Prisma Illya' is a spin-off manga from 'Fate/stay night.' While the basic setting adheres to the Fate and Type-Moon worldview, a significant portion is secondary creation due to it being a spin-off. After all, the author themself explicitly stated, "It won't be fed back to the original work," so "absolutely don't point out inconsistencies."

Moreover, the content is a Magical Girl story that big kids and older brothers adore. Given that their history in Type-Moon is shallow, Illya and Miyu's reactions to being congratulated by the great seniors were understandable.

"Hee, hee, hee. I finally, finally have my chance! Even though I only appeared in the drama CD, I was black and white in the game! It's been so long... but I will make Onii-chan crazy for me and make him mine, so be prepared, Illya!"

"Hey, what do you mean by that, Chloe! And speaking of that training camp, if you do anything weird to Onii-chan, you won't get away with it, Chloe!"

"Agreed. I am against secretly getting ahead."

Chloe rejoiced that her turn had come and declared war in love to Illya. Illya was not one to remain silent and immediately stated her intent to fight. Miyu, too, had no intention of backing down from Chloe's declaration of a secret advantage, and the flame of fighting spirit resided in her dark eyes.

Seeing that Illya and Miyu would not back down, Chloe smiled wryly.

A cold war of love began among the three girls, silent yet intense sparks flying between them, though no words were exchanged.

"That’s heartwarming, Ryougi-san."

"Do you really see this situation as heartwarming? It looks like some kind of battlefield to me."

Shiki watched this scene and offered a relaxed opinion. Shiki, viewing it from a woman's perspective, sharply retorted to his comment.

"Listen, glasses brother over there. Just so you know, I am serious about getting Onii-chan!"

Chloe shouted at Shiki, whom she only saw as a girl who loves her older brother due to his age. However, this act of trying to appear older made him smile even more, finding it endearing.

"I-I'm serious too. About Shirou-san and, well, um..."

Miyu also blushed and voiced her feelings. Who knows what she was imagining, but her reaction was truly cute.

"A-I've even been kissed on the forehead! And since we’re siblings but not blood-related, it's totally okay! Besides, he once told me that my swimsuit made his heart race the most!"

And then, Illya yelled in defiance of the other two. After shouting, Illya realized it, but the content of her statement... the air froze.

"..............."

"..............."

"..............."

"..............."

"..............."

An awkward silence dominated the scene. Shiki suddenly recalled a certain passage from Hollow Ataraxia.

—Thump

"—–"

...Wait... something's wrong with me.

My focus is blurred, and words oddly won't come.

He looked at Illya.

The silver-haired girl was busy alternating between blushing and turning pale. But at least Shiki confirmed that when he looked at her, his focus didn't blur, and words didn't fail him.

"That's right. I'm a mermaid. The water will teach me how to swim."

"—–"

It was the same as before.

His mind went blank at Illya's smile.

The dizzying floating sensation was close to vertigo, but it definitely wasn't vertigo.

He recalled the passage again.

Meanwhile, it was Illya who seemed to have a blank mind, panicking over her slip of the tongue and being cornered by the two girls.

—Thump

He swayed precariously.

...That's right, everyone was equally beautiful.

But if I had to choose the best.

"...............Illya, you made my heart race the most."

Ah, well, that's the truth, there's no point in deceiving myself now.

This libertine, without a single lie, was captivated by Illya’s swimsuit, and his head stopped working properly.

"Honestly, my heart is pounding even now. ...So, what about you? Doesn't your heart race, Illya?"

Scratching his cheek, he somehow managed to ask the question without averting his gaze.

"Yes! My heart is racing a lot!"

Without resisting the sensation of her hugging his neck, he fell into the water with Illya.

A praise for Lolicon, as if to say, Come on, Agnes! Shiki suddenly caught sight of that "Onii-chan," who was currently the tattooed Avenger, and muttered:

"...............Lolicon."

Shiki stated her honest impression with an absolute zero, cold stare, as if looking at garbage or a disposable temp worker.

"N-No, I'm not! Onii-chan just likes me, he's not a lolicon!"

"That's right... wait, no, Onii-chan is mine!"

"If Shirou-san likes small girls... I don't mind."

"No, he's a lolicon."

At Shiki's comment, the girls simultaneously defended the older brother who was the object of their affection. However, their words ultimately served to strengthen the suspicion that Emiya Shirou was a lolicon.

"Shirou-kun... I'm disappointed in you!"

"Wait, come to think of it, you were in Kagetsu Tohya... Ah, I see, you were the same kind after all—good for you, Killer Demon. You've found a fellow lolicon."

Shiki expressed his disappointment in his friend for having a liking for young girls. But Shiki recalled the lecherous glasses' lolicon tendencies and distanced herself from Tohno Shiki.

"L-Len and I were consenting!"

Again, the air froze.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..."

"Illya, that's a genuine lolicon. It's my first time seeing one."

"........................"

Illya, Chloe, and Miyu commented in order, and the girls distanced themselves from the lecherous lolicon with glasses. Tohno Shiki, being looked at with disdain by the women, could only turn pale and sweat profusely.

"Hey Caren, another order of curry."

"Understood, Avenger. I'll prepare it right away."

"Yes, yes."

While the lecherous man with glasses was facing isolation from the women, Avenger was busy working as a waiter. In the kitchen, Caren, or rather, Magical Amber, who could be called the mastermind of this situation, was diligently preparing the food.

"It's starting to get busy now."

"Yeah, it is. And honestly, it's a little tough for three people to handle the cooking, register, and waiting in a cafe of this size."

Avenger agreed with Caren's statement. Ahnenerbe is a relatively well-known cafe and is quite large. Manning it with only three people is difficult for keeping up with the gradually increasing number of customers for the morning and lunch rush.

Furthermore, Kohaku, or rather, Magical Amber, was fine since she usually did housework. However, Caren's sense of taste was disastrous, so she could only manage plating or dishwashing.

"You're right. Shall we call for reinforcements from the mansion soon?"

Amber, hearing their exchange, took a cell phone out of her pocket and made a call.

"Hello, Yumizuka-san, good morning. About the job we discussed the other day... it's fine! The item is in the locker, so you can walk under the sun... Yes, the pay will be generous. Goodbye then."