Chapter 234 - Kariya Matou (1)

He immediately recognized the woman he was looking for.

Early in the afternoon in the middle of the vacation, one can see the children playing in the land bathed in the peaceful sunlight of early autumn, with their parents looking after them in the distance, always smiling. The square around the park's fountain was full of people from the village who had brought their families to relax for a moment.

Even in such a crowd, he did not lose his way.

No matter how crowded it was, no matter how far away, he was sure he could find it without any effort. Even if he didn't know if he could see her even once a month, even if she already had a partner.

Only when he walked up to her did the woman under the shade of the trees notice his arrival.

"Hey, it's been a long time since we've seen each other. "

"Oh, Kariya-kun."

Showing a modest and polite smile, she looked up from the book she was reading.

Tired... Seeing her that way, Kariya felt trapped by anxiety. Something seemed to be tormenting her.

He immediately wanted to ask what was the cause of that problem, to force himself to find a solution to that 'something' - but Kariya could not even mention it even though he was guided by that impulse. He was not close enough to show such unreserved affection; that was not his position.

"It has been three months. The journey has really been long this time."

"Ah... Eh, yes."

Surely her smile would appear in his sweetest dreams. But he does not have the courage to face it when it is really before him. It has been like this for the last 8 years, and Kariya will probably never be able to face that smile until the end of his days.

This is because she makes him so nervous, so much so that he never knows what to say after the two have greeted each other, and a subtle silence makes its appearance. That happens every time too.

To break the uncomfortable silence, Kariya looked for the person with whom he could always talk easily.

There. Playing among the other children on the grass, the two pigtails were moving happily. Although she was still very young, the girl was already showing signs of the beautiful face she had inherited from her mother.

"Rin-chan."

Kariya called out to her, waving her hand. As soon as she noticed it, the girl named Rin rushed towards him with a bright smile.

"Welcome, Uncle Kariya! Did you bring me another gift?"

"Rin, mind your manners..."

The young girl did not seem to notice her mother's embarrassed voice. Rin's eyes shone with expectation. Kariya, responding with the same smile, showed one of the two gifts she was carrying behind her back.

"Waah, beautiful..."

An elaborate brooch made of glass beads of various sizes captured the girl's heart at first sight. Although it seemed too much for a girl of her age, Kariya was well aware of Rin's precocious tastes.

"Uncle, I thank you as always. I will take good care of it."

"Haha, as long as you like it, your uncle will be happy too."

Gently stroking Rin's head, Kariya sought out the recipient of the other gift he had brought.

For some reason, she was nowhere to be found in the park.

"Where is Sakura-chan?"

Hearing Kariya's question, Rin's smile immediately faded,

Her face looked as if she had totally stopped thinking, the face of a child resigned to accept reality without thinking.

"Sakura, she has already left."

With an inexpressive face, Rin gave an answer in a monotonous tone, then, as if she wanted to avoid Kariya's questions, she ran back to the children she was playing with a few moments ago.

"..."

Surprised by Rin's incomprehensible words, Kariya looked at Rin's mother inquisitively without realizing it. She averted her eyes from the empty spot with a sad face.

"What does that mean...?"

"Sakura is no longer my daughter, nor Rin's sister."

Her tone was rough, but stronger than her daughter Rin's.

"That girl, she has gone to the Matou family."

Matou...

The name, sounding so deeply familiar and yet abominable, ripped out Kariya's heart violently.

"That can't... What the hell does that mean, Aoi-san!?"

"Or that should have happened... However, there was an accident. Even Rin doesn't know about this, and I don't want her to know."

Kariya's heart was beating violently. The little Sakura-chan, what could have happened?

Aoi Tohsaka, who had remained cold since Kariya had seen her, could no longer keep calm. Her body was shaking violently, her face was paler than normal and her lips were purple.

"Aoi-san?"

"Sakura has been kidnapped."

Aoi's words destroyed Kariya.

The little Sakura. That happy and shy girl at the same time that always enjoyed playing with her older sister... had she been kidnapped?

"They waited for Tokiomi to deliver Sakura and to leave the place to snatch her from the hands of the Matou," Aoi explained to her.

"Are you all right, Aoi-san?" Kariya asked.

Kariya was very worried about Sakura, but he was also worried about Aoi. Being the mother of the child, she should be dying inside because of the anxiety.

"I am worried, but she is not my daughter," Aoi said coldly. "That's what Tokiomi said, it's up to the Matou to rescue her daughter."

Aoi's cold response sank Kariya.

"Do you agree with that?"

"I was prepared for something like that when I decided to marry someone from the family Tohsaka, when I decided to become a magus's wife. When one enters the bloodline of a magus, it is a mistake to seek the happiness of a normal family."

And, facing Kariya, who seemed to want to speak again, the magus's wife, gently but clearly, stopped him -

"This is a matter between the Tohsaka and the Matou. This does not concern you, who have turned your back on the world of the magus."

She finished that sentence by nodding slightly.

With this, Kariya could no longer move. As if he had transformed herself into one of the trees in the park, he felt his chest drowning with weakness and helplessness.

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With Aoi looking after her, Rin was playing brightly, full of energy, as if trying to chase away her pain.

As if Rin's behavior was the answer that pushed Kariya to her side, Tohsaka Aoi was only showing the profile of a peaceful mother in the middle of her vacation.

But even so, Kariya did not fail to notice. There was no way that he could not notice.

The firm and serene Tohsaka Aoi, who had accepted her destiny.

She was not even able to hide the tears that were gathering in her eyes.