A fire broke out at night in the hotel where Kenneth was staying.
The arsonist triggered the alarm early, giving everyone time to evacuate.
"There's a fire downstairs," Sora said, answering a call from hotel staff. She glanced at Kenneth, who sat on the sofa watching news of a mysterious gas leak and explosion in Fuyuki City's Bay Port from days ago.
"The fire was set on purpose, and the area was cleared first. I bet it's Saber's master attacking to heal his servant's left-hand injury," Kenneth said. "Ignore it. I've set up 24 magic barriers on this floor and summoned dozens of demons to guard it. Let them try to break my fortress. Lancer, go downstairs and face the enemy. Don't fail me this time."
The blond man with slicked-back hair radiated confidence. His servant, a man with a teardrop mole, bowed. "I won't disappoint you, Master."
In the square far from the hotel, staff counted evacuated guests, worried some might still be inside the burning building.
"Mr. Kenneth El-Melloi?" a staff member called.
"I'm here," a man replied.
The staff eyed him oddly, thinking, *You're Kenneth El-Melloi?* The man's plain appearance didn't match the name. Suspicious, the staff asked, "And your wife?"
"My wife, Sora, is safe. Don't worry," Emiya Kiritsugu said, his face blank.
"Alright." The staff crossed out Kenneth El-Melloi and Sora Nazara's names, assuming this man had taken a rich foreign woman's name.
Emiya Kiritsugu glanced at the list, noting the evacuees' names were marked off. He stepped away, pulled out a flip phone, and called his assistant, Kuon Maiya.
After confirming Kenneth hadn't fled the hotel's top floor, the Magician Killer pressed the detonation button. A direct fight against Kenneth's magic was risky. Blowing up the building and letting it collapse on him was safer.
*Even a Clock Tower monarch can't survive a 150-meter fall,* Kiritsugu thought, setting a dangerous flag. He drove off without looking back.
Meanwhile, another attacker was at the Zenjo family compound in Fuyuki's Fuyu Town, escorting his teacher's young daughter to her mother. Kotomine Kirei handed Sakura to Zenjo Aoi.
"Master's wife, I've brought Miss Sakura. My task is done. Please inform Teacher," Kirei said.
"Thank you. I'll tell Tokiomi," Aoi replied, nodding as she hugged her daughter.
"Mom, I missed you so much," Sakura said. Her father gave her safety, but her mother's embrace was warmer.
"I missed you too, Sakura," Aoi said, burying her face in her daughter's hair.
"And me! Me too!" Tohsaka Rin bounced nearby, eager to hug her sister, who'd been gone for half a month.
"Sister!" Sakura rushed to Rin, wrapping her in a tight hug.
The mother and daughters' reunion was warm, but Kirei knew his teacher, Tohsaka Tokiomi, used this to teach Sakura strength—to face her fate as the Matou family's adopted heir. Compared to harsh lectures, Tokiomi's care for his daughter was surprisingly tender.
"I won't disturb you further, Master's wife. Please help Miss Sakura stay strong. I'll return when needed," Kirei said. This small task from Tokiomi kept him from tracking other Masters and Servants, especially Emiya Kiritsugu. Suppressing his odd frustration, Kirei left the Zenjo home.
---
"Grandpa, Broly wants to learn," Fujimura Taiga said, bringing a freshly bathed Broly to Fujimura Raiwa at the Fujimura estate. She relayed the boy's wish for education.
"Please, Grandpa Fujimura," Broly said, mimicking Taiga's instructions.
"Learn? Kids do need schooling," Raiwa nodded. He'd been a gangster in his day, but times had changed. Even the underworld needed educated members now.
"Grandpa—" Taiga began, but Raiwa cut her off.
"Is this boy really ready for school? He's young—kindergarten age. But what's there to learn? It's just playtime and making friends. Better to keep him here at the Fujimura estate. He'll grow up with our family's values and become a fine kid."
"Grandpa, don't drag him into the underworld! There's no future in it," Taiga snapped, slamming the table.
"What? You and your father refuse to take over the family business!" Raiwa roared back, slamming the table too. Sparks seemed to fly between the old tiger and his fiery granddaughter.
Seeing Taiga wouldn't budge, Raiwa relented but set conditions. "If he wants to learn, send him to elementary school. If you want him to avoid the underworld and use our family's money, he needs to prove his talent. His grades must be excellent. Can you promise that?"
"No problem," Taiga said, patting her chest. She trusted Broly's smarts.
"But what if he fails and you cheat again?" Raiwa asked, eyeing her skeptically.
"No way," Taiga shot back, but her voice wavered under his *you've-cheated-before* stare. "What do you suggest, Grandpa?"
"Simple. If he fails, I retire, and you take over as Fujimura Group leader," Raiwa said with a sly smile, revealing his true plan.
"Only then will we fund this kid."
"Grandpa, that's sneaky," Taiga groaned.
"Your father won't take over, and you don't want to either. So? Agree or keep the kid at home," Raiwa pressed.
Taiga glanced at Broly's clear, eager eyes. She wouldn't let the Fujimura underworld corrupt him. Slamming the table, she said, "Fine, Grandpa. I agree."
"Get the phone. I'll call Shenyuan Town's First Elementary School principal to arrange a spot," Raiwa said.
Enrolling an undocumented child was tricky for most, but for the Fujimura Group, a local powerhouse in Fuyuki City, it was a single call. Underworld ties might raise eyebrows, but a low-profile school in a nearby town would accept Broly without fuss.
"Boss, will the young lady keep her word?" Scarface asked after Taiga left with Broly.
"This is the first time she's cared so much about someone else," Raiwa said.
"She's kind-hearted. Maybe she just pities the kid," Scarface replied.
"Then her pity will make her honor the deal and take over the family," Raiwa said.
"But what if Broly's a good student?" Scarface asked, hinting at sabotage.
"If he's talented, he'll help whitewash the Fujimura Group," Raiwa said.
"Huh?"
"My granddaughter's right. The underworld has no future," Raiwa sighed. He'd seen its peak and now its decline.
"What if he's a bad student?" Scarface pressed.
"Light casts shadows. The Fujimura Group will survive, even if smaller. I trust Taiga's ability. As for Broly, good or bad, if he's capable, he'll aid her, like you do me."
"Good plan, Boss. I'll ensure Broly's loyal to Taiga and the family," Scarface said.
Broly didn't know Raiwa's plans. He only knew his time in this world was one day shorter, and he'd gained a new identity: a transfer student at Shenyuan Town's First Elementary School.
---
"Broly, study hard. If you don't understand something, ask your teacher," Taiga said the next morning as they parted. She wore her middle school uniform.
It was Monday, a school day.
Scarface drove Broly to Shenyuan Town's First Elementary School. Along the way, he repeated how kind Taiga was and how Broly should repay her. At first, Broly nodded, agreeing gratitude was due. But Scarface's endless repetition felt like hypnosis, making him yawn.
"This is the kid for school," the principal said, directing Teacher Kimura to test Broly's academic level.
The test revealed Broly knew nothing. As expected, he was placed in first grade.
But within half a day, his teacher was overwhelmed.
"Principal, this kid asks too many questions. I said 1+1=2, and he asked why. How do I answer that?" one teacher complained.
"Same here," another said. "He's smart—smarter than most kids. But he asks nonstop. I spent the whole class answering him. Some questions are pointless, just a kid being picky."
Four teachers complained that morning. Broly's relentless questions disrupted their classes. It wasn't about their patience—it was his sheer volume.
"It's normal for kids to be curious. Did you tell him to stop asking pointless questions?" the principal asked.
"We did, but it didn't work. He said his sister told him to ask about anything he doesn't understand. He sticks to that. Even when punished to stand, he keeps asking, like he doesn't notice the punishment."
"I tried spanking his palm to quiet him," another teacher added. "He held out his hand, took the hits without flinching, and kept asking. I've never seen a kid like this."
She didn't mention how Broly's calm stare unnerved her. It wasn't anger—just an eerie calm that hid his thoughts, sparking fear of the unknown.
Broly, the transfer student, was proving to be a challenge for Shenyuan Town's first-grade teachers.
(End of this chapter)