"This Noble Phantasm... hasn't the Holy Grail War already ended? And that look… are you Rin?"
Holding a plate of tofu, Kotomine Kirei (hereafter referred to as Mapo) looked toward his opponent. After observing for a long moment, he asked hesitantly.
"You still dare to call me that?"
Although Rin Tohsaka had experienced the effect of summoning herself — bringing the Master directly into the combat zone — seeing a Mapo who looked exactly like Kotomine Kirei, Rin still opted for harsh words.
"You betrayed my father!"
"That was indeed my fault. But I joined the Holy Grail War to find my own wish."
Mapo took a bite of the spicy tofu on his plate, his expression showing utter delight.
"At that time, under Caster's guidance, I found my goal. It's only natural to express my gratitude."
"So you killed him?"
Mapo looked confused. He figured this must be a future timeline. While Tohsaka Tokiomi had plenty of grievances toward him, he also showed some understanding. What reason would he have to kill him?
"Would you two stop speculating already?"
Illyasviel cut off their disjointed conversation. "This Kotomine Kirei is from another timeline. In that world, things developed very differently because Kiritsugu Emiya summoned the wrong Servant. It's a world where everyone found salvation."
"Everyone found salvation?"
Shirou Emiya looked contemplative. And if Kiritsugu's Servant was a truly just Caster, it must've been someone completely different from the one who threw Fuyuki into chaos here.
"Salvation? That's easy to say."
Kotomine Kirei turned to Mapo. "You said you found your desire? What is it?"
"The desire of gluttony. A hunger for gourmet food. A craving for mapo tofu."
While eating his beloved dish, Mapo answered without hesitation.
"You're telling me you gave up the Holy Grail War for something that ridiculous?"
Kotomine Kirei could barely process that answer.
"Is it really that ridiculous? People can't survive without eating. What's wrong with following one's desires? Don't tell me you don't like mapo tofu?"
Faced with the counter-question, Kotomine Kirei couldn't argue back. He did, in fact, have a deep love for the dish.
Kirei remained silent for a few seconds and decided not to continue the topic, instead resuming his play.
"...I activate my own effect: I discard two cards from my hand. At the start of the next turn, I can special summon a Level 8 or lower Archer from the Graveyard in Attack Position."
Two cards were discarded from Kirei's hand.
"Effect of Caren Hortensia in the Graveyard. When this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, it can be special summoned. If it leaves the field after being summoned this way, it is banished instead."
A pale-haired girl surrounded by red fabric descended like an angel.
Caren Hortensia
Master — 2★ DEF 2000.
"As long as this card remains in the combat zone, your opponent cannot target other Servants for attacks."
Due to Caren's sadomasochistic spiritual media constitution, she's always targeted first. The card retained that trait.
"Isn't this my irresponsible father?"
Caren quickly accessed the Noble Phantasm's provided information. Wiping away nonexistent tears, she sobbed, "To think even after returning to my father's side, I'm still fated to be a punching bag. Boohoo."
After sending Caren to the Church for training, Kirei never paid much attention to her. If Kotomine Risei had not died, Caren might've grown up in Fuyuki.
"I don't see any actual sorrow on your face. Other than your looks, you really didn't inherit anything from your mother."
"I thought Father had already forgotten what Mother looked like."
Caren shot back without hesitation. "A man who didn't even shed a single tear when she died has the gall to mention her?"
Kotomine Kirei understood that Claudia's death was largely due to him. He once tried to be a normal person, but failed. Her death held no meaning—yet he couldn't admit it was meaningless.
"Let's drop this topic."
Back then, he wondered—was it joy he felt for Claudia, or sorrow at wanting to kill someone he loved? Every time the answer neared, his mind cut the thought off. Kirei instinctively dodged the subject.
"A man who always runs from things will never grow into maturity. Is Father mentally stuck at age nine?"
Kirei ignored Caren's jab and looked at the card in his hand, somewhat hesitant. Something about it felt... off. Eventually, without knowing what he was thinking, he slapped it down.
"I normal summon my father — Kotomine Risei!"
Kotomine Risei2★ ATK 1200.
An aged priest entered the battlefield.
"What a curious Noble Phantasm. Even dragged this old man who could never become a Heroic Spirit back from the dead."
Risei felt like he'd been asleep for ages. "To see my son and granddaughter again… what a blessing. Kirei, from the way you're dressed, did you give up priesthood to become a chef?"
"You're mistaken, Father."
Mapo clarified. This wasn't the Risei from his own timeline—his Risei was alive and well, and had already brought Caren back from the Church. "The one behind you is the me of this timeline."
"Is that so? Noble Phantasms really are baffling things. Still, I'm sure you've become an excellent priest, Kirei."
Risei looked approvingly at Kirei's neat attire and nodded with satisfaction.
"Father Kotomine Risei, I'm sorry to say—your son grew into a complete monster!"
Rin Tohsaka wouldn't allow Kirei a warm reunion. She tore away his solemn mask right in front of his father. "Just to feel pleasure, he murdered my father! He turned the Church basement into his playground, capturing innocent children and draining their mana! Look at what he's done!"
"The daughter of Tokiomi Tohsaka..."
Risei recognized Rin's identity. Her anger was genuine, not a shred of falsehood. He felt a sinking dread. "Is this true, Kirei?"
"Yes, Father. The man you raised… is a full-fledged demon!"
Kotomine Kirei wanted to laugh, but the sound wouldn't come. Seeing his father's disappointed face should've made him happy. That moment of crushed hope should've been sweet.
But this duel... didn't seem so fun anymore.