Shinji Matou at Your Service

"You need to pull yourself together, Aozaki Touko. This isn't like you!"

Aoko shook Touko by the collar.

"The Touko I know is always decisive whether it's a good idea or a bad one, good or bad, once you decide, you act, even if it means losing or dying! Because that's how my sister is!!!"

In her urgency, Aoko called out that long-unused word—sister, the one she admired, trusted, and respected since childhood.

Even when breaking ties with the family, accused of killing their grandfather, she didn't refute. She left for London alone, taking on debt to enter the Clock Tower, confronting magi to gain power, sparking the chaos of Mahoyo story.

She was always strong, proud, and aloof, refusing to explain, covered in scars, bloodied yet unyielding.

Such a sister, hated by many, moving forward alone—how can she be so weak now?

"Then what do you want me to do?"

Touko let her crazed sister shake her.

"Make a decision. Confess, reject, or... whatever. Just don't be like this. It's pathetic. Show some of that fighting spirit! Ten seconds. If you don't decide, I will!"

"Only ten seconds? Isn't that too short?"

"Not at all. Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

"Fine, fine, I'll decide."

Maybe worn out by Aoko, Touko scratched her head ungracefully.

"That's the Touko I know. So, confess or reject? I'll punch anyone who objects."

Aoko finally released her, ready to fight. The Witch of Destruction saying she'd punch someone was enough to make even Zelretch would think twice.

"Neither," Touko shook her head.

"Then what—?"

"I'm going to take a gamble."

"Gamble on what?"

"Fate. Didn't he talk about destiny, past lives, reincarnation last night? I'll bet on it. The stake is myself. If we're fated, when I see him again, I'll give myself to him. If not, there's nothing more to say."

Touko headed to her room, Aoko quickly following.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes, leaving Hokkaido now."

I've been tied to you for so long, I've forgotten my own heart. I need to leave to truly understand myself. Even if I lose, I want to lose completely.

"Is this okay?"

Aoko watched her in shock.

"You told me to decide. Why hesitate now?"

Touko countered.

"No, it's just different from what I imagined."

"If you could guess so easily, how could I be your sister? Oh, right, you made me decide, so bear the responsibility."

"What? Responsibility?"

"Yeah. Since 1995, I've been living off his allowance, and his little lover manages my income. Without that, I'll be broke, so I'll have to rely on you for a while, dear sister."

"Wait, wait, that sounds weird. Is he supporting you?"

"If you want to see it that way, that's fine," Touko said shamelessly.

"…"

"Regret making me decide?"

"A bit."

"Too late. Once I decide, I don't change."

"Wow, you're so decisive in a place like this."

Aoko wanted to bang her head against the wall at this point.

"Fine, fine, let's go. It's been a long time since we last... Huh? Did you just say you have living expenses? From 1995 to now?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Then why are you still spending money in my name? The person who can help you with the Sealing Designation can't be stingy, you, you-- pay me back, pay me back, pay me back, pay me back!!!"

"I don't have money, but I have a life to give."

Touko put her hand on her hip and played rogue.

"If you're capable, then kill me."

"I, I'll kill you--"

Aoko pounced on her with her teeth and claws bared, but before she could touch Touko, she was stopped by the next sentence.

"Your face changes as soon as you mention money. How did you call me just now, sister, sister, sister-- ah, it's been so many years since I've heard you call me sister. Call me a few more times, maybe I'll be in a good mood and pay you back."

"Touko, you..."

"Not calling me sister anymore? Little sister."

"Ugh! I'm such an idiot to worry about you."

Aoko went crazy.

"You know it."

...

All the fighting and bickering aside, once Touko made a decision, she would act on it immediately. Aoko was the same, since she had forced her sister to make a decision, she would be responsible to the end.

By the time Shinji returned, the house was already empty, leaving only the uncleaned bowls, chopsticks, and teacups on the table and the overturned note.

A line of words was added to the originally blank back.

"I'm gone, don't look for me, see you if fate allows."

It was signed by Touko Aozaki. Compared to previous signatures, this one was particularly flamboyant, and one could feel a sense of unrestrainedness just by looking at it.

"Well, she's gone."

Shinji put down the note and sighed with a complicated look on his face.

"Why did she leave as soon as she arrived? Did something happen to the Tohno family?"

Asked Justeaze, who was unaware of the situation.

"Not them, she's gone, and she's never coming back, not to the Tohno or the Aozaki."

"But, but didn't she just take Miss Satsuki as her disciple? How could she just..."

"That's the nature of Touko, she's the wind, and she can't stay in one place forever. I guessed this day would come when I signed the contract with her. I guess Aoko's arrival awakened her true nature."

"How could this be, I, we've always considered her family, why... why..."

Justeaze was a little distraught, she had always regarded Touko as her friend, and now she was suddenly gone, which was hard for her to accept.

Shinji gently took Justeaze into his arms: "It's okay, even if she's gone, she's still family. Don't you feel it? The longing contained within, she will come back, someday."

Justeaze let out an "mm": "She didn't even wash the dishes, she won't last long."

"Even if she can hold on, I have my ways, she can't run away."

Shinji grinned, his teeth flashing coldly.

...

Half a month later, Touko received an envelope from Danzou Katou, who had rushed to meet up with them.

In the envelope was a photo of a drunken Touko and Aoko hugging each other, head to head, face to face.

On the back of the photo was a familiar slippery face and a message.

"Have a nice trip."

"Aoko."

"Hmm?"

"Go kill him, I won't stop you."

"...No."

"Why?"

"Don't drag me into your flirting."

"..."