Reborn in Type-Moon: Starting by Adopting Sakura - Chapter 28

"Yuu, the results go far beyond what I was expecting," the Ryougi head said, shaking his head in amazement. "Are you certain this payment is adequate?"

What Yuu had accomplished wasn't just restoration anymore—it was like the sword had been reborn entirely, transformed into something that might have been even better than the original.

Yuu's smile was easy, almost casual. "Think of it as a birthday present for Shiki. I know it's arriving a bit late, but better late than never, right?"

The gratitude on the older man's face was clear as day. He closed the case carefully, then reached out to clasp Yuu's hand in both of his. "You have to come visit us sometime. I insist on finding a proper way to repay this kindness."

After they'd finished their temple meal, simple vegetarian fare that was surprisingly satisfying and finally seen their guest off, the afternoon sun was already high overhead.

Yuu stretched and looked around their rented room, taking in the traditional wooden architecture and the peaceful atmosphere. "Not too shabby for a temporary office, wouldn't you say?"

Irisviel moved to the window, gazing out at the temple grounds where tourists wandered between old buildings. "I have to admit, I never thought you could find somewhere this peaceful right in the middle of such a busy area. It's almost surreal."

“We’ll probably be stuck here for the next week or so…” he said, settling back into his chair. "I hope you don't mind playing secretary for a while longer."

She turned back to him, her smile bright and just a little too innocent. "Of course, Boss. Whatever you need."

…

The early summer sun was absolutely merciless, beating down on Asakusa Temple like it had a personal vendetta against anyone foolish enough to venture outside. Heat waves rose from the pavement in visible ripples, and the whole district felt like someone had cranked up a giant oven. Tourists wandered around looking half-melted, pulling off hats and jackets, frantically waving whatever they could find in front of their faces in a futile attempt to create some kind of breeze.

Inside their temple room, Irisviel had given up any pretense of maintaining proper posture. She was kneeling by the window, her pale knees pressed against the cool tatami mats, leaning forward to catch whatever hint of air might drift through. Her black skirt had ridden up slightly from the position, the fabric pulling taut across the curve of her hips.

"Yuu," she said, not bothering to turn around, "next time we travel somewhere, can we please pick a place that isn't crawling with people?"

Yuu glanced up from the ancient text he'd been studying, his attention still half-buried in centuries-old characters. "Why would fewer people matter?"

"Eh?" She twisted around to look at him, her silver hair sliding off her shoulder as she moved. Her eyes went wide for a moment before her cheeks started to turn pink. "What do you mean, 'why would it matter'... Yuu, are you trying to harass your poor assistant right now?"

He blinked at her, genuinely bewildered. He closed the book and tilted his head, slightly confused.

How exactly was that harassment? Still, years of experience had taught him one fundamental truth about dealing with women—there were times when you could reason your way through a misunderstanding, and times when any attempt at logic would only dig you deeper into whatever hole you'd apparently fallen into. So he just gave her a diplomatic smile and turned back to his reading.

But she wasn't about to let him off that easily. She shifted from her kneeling position and crawled across the tatami toward him, moving like an oversized cat that had decided it needed attention. Her blouse pulled tight with the movement, and she fixed him with those wide, slightly damp eyes that somehow managed to look both accusatory and playful at the same time.

"Mr. Yuu," she said, lips forming a perfect pout, "you're not allowed to have weird thoughts about your employee, okay?"

"What weird thoughts?" he asked, and he really did sound confused.

He had a general idea of what she was getting at, but for the life of him, he couldn't figure out how their conversation about travel destinations had somehow taken this particular detour.

"Alright, I get it." he said with a slight smile, reaching over to ruffle her silver hair.

Irisviel's frown deepened immediately. She caught his wrist in both hands, giving him a pointed glare. "Don't treat me like I'm still some little kid. I'm not the same girl you used to visit at the Einzbern castle anymore."

When she leaned forward to make her point, her arms pressed together naturally, and her blouse shifted just enough to remind him that she definitely wasn't kidding about not being a little girl anymore.

"Speaking of the castle," he said, "you were absolutely obsessed with those toys I used to bring you."

The sudden change of subject caught her off guard, and she blinked at him. Yuu decided this was a good time to close his book and set it aside.

"Let's get out of here for a while. This heat is making me feel like a piece of dried fish."

Her entire expression changed in an instant. "Can I drive today?"

He hesitated for just a moment. "You can... try."

"Yes!" She released his hand and practically bounced in place, looking like an excited girl.

Back in those days, the Einzbern castle had been like its own little world, cut off from everything. Yuu had made a habit of bringing toys for the lonely princess who lived there, and out of everything he'd given her, those little toy motorcycles had been her absolute favorites.

"I've only ever driven around the castle courtyard before," she said as they headed toward the car, her voice bubbling with excitement. "This will be my first time on actual roads with other people around. Can you believe it?"

She slid into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel like she was holding something wonderful. Her whole body seemed to vibrate with anticipation.

"Just remember," Yuu said, settling into the passenger seat and trying to sound calm, "start the engine gently, steer smoothly, and we drive on the left side here."

"I know, I know! Just watch me go!" She turned the key, kicked off her heels, and pressed her stocking-covered foot against the gas pedal.

The engine came alive with a throaty roar that seemed to echo off every building in the temple district.

"Hey, easy on the throttle there!"

"Yuu, stop being such a worrywart," she said, not taking her eyes off the road ahead. "Just sit back and watch me work."

He opened his mouth to say something else, then thought better of it. Whatever. Even if they ended up face-first into a vending machine, as long as she was having fun, maybe it would be worth it. That was the thought going through his head as she gunned it into Tokyo traffic, the car lurching forward like a wild animal that had just been released from its cage.

…

Half an hour later, a white Santana screeched to a stop in front of the Reiroukan estate, the tires protesting loudly against the asphalt.

"So, how was my driving, Yuu?" Irisviel asked, turning to him with a beaming smile, her hands still gripping the steering wheel like she was reluctant to let go.

Yuu sat in the passenger seat, his knuckles slowly returning to their normal color as he released his death grip on the door handle. He managed what he hoped looked like a genuine smile. "Honestly? It was... impressive. Shockingly impressive, actually."

And he wasn't entirely lying. She had slipped through the dense Tokyo traffic like she'd been born behind the wheel, slipping between cars with inches to spare, taking corners that should have been impossible at those speeds. It wasn't just skill—it was like she had some kind of supernatural Driving Skill hardwired into her brain. Even Yuu, who'd been driving for years, had to grudgingly admit she'd outclassed him completely.

"I knew you'd be impressed!" She was glowing with pride. "I've been practicing so hard to get this good. If there hadn't been so many other cars on the road, I could've really opened her up and shown you what I can do."

Yuu blinked at her. You were already doing more than a hundred kilometers per hour through city streets. What's next—are you planning to sprout wings and take up low-altitude urban flight?