Shirou Emiya — Doesn't Want to Work Overtime!

"You really can eat. Don't they feed you properly at Tokijiro House?"

Watching Kaori juggle her growing collection of snacks and bags, Shirou couldn't help breaking into a sweat. He'd never seen anyone with such a voracious appetite. If not for the fact that he'd saved up quite a bit over the last month, he wasn't sure he could have afforded her rampage today.

"Mmph, I just have a big appetite. At Tokijiro House—mm—they serve us normal portions."

Kaori sat on a bench along the street, still chewing vigorously.

"So basically... you've never actually had enough to eat?"

Shirou frowned, glancing at her frail arms, suddenly doubtful.

He had assumed that maybe Tokijiro House had been deliberately underfeeding her, keeping her half-starved as a form of discipline. But that wasn't it.

It was that her appetite was far beyond average—yet she'd only ever been allowed average portions. In effect, the result was about the same.

She's been starving this whole time.

Shirou had just watched her polish off a stack of food taller than she was—without even looking full. Honestly, it was kind of terrifying.

"No wonder she eats like that."

He sighed. Maybe it wasn't fair to blame the house's owner after all.

Though… he still wasn't sure if she was full. He was sure, however, that his wallet was now completely empty.

Shirou eyed the thinning pouch of coins in his pocket with quiet dread.

If her average meal cost his entire monthly wage, then yeah—no house could afford to keep a girl like this fed.

Three meals a day? That's nine months of wages gone!

"Rika the oiran! It's Rika-sama!"

As Kaori devoured yet another snack, a ripple of excitement surged through the crowd nearby.

"Mmph—Shirou, aren't you going to go look?"

Kaori turned to him, cheeks stuffed like a squirrel's, her voice muffled but curious.

"No thanks. I prefer less crowded places."

Shirou shook his head. He had no interest in oiran processions. If not for the restaurant owner forcing him to take a break today, he'd probably be training his magecraft and breathing techniques—or helping out around town.

Definitely not following Kaori around while she hunted for snacks.

"Oh, okay. Then let's go buy more food."

Kaori nodded, still mid-chew.

Shirou blinked for just a second.

The mountain of food that had been next to her a moment ago… had vanished.

"…"

"I didn't zone out that long, right?"

Shirou questioned his own senses.

It had only been a few breaths. And yet the food pile was gone—completely gone.

Even Saber couldn't eat that fast...

Wait—who's Saber?

Before he could finish the thought, Kaori leapt off the bench.

"Now that I've found my meal ticket, today's mission is to eat my way through this whole street!"

She raised a finger skyward, her eyes sparkling with dramatic flair.

"Meal ticket…?"

Kaori stuck her tongue out sheepishly and tapped her temple with one hand.

"Ehehe~"

Then she turned and sprinted toward the next shop she'd pointed out earlier.

She's totally pretending to be innocent.

Shirou sighed. He was both emotionally wounded and extremely impressed.

That's my hard-earned money you're burning through.

Not that he really had any other use for it at the moment.

His food and lodging were covered by the restaurant, and aside from occasionally helping out struggling families, his wages had mostly gone untouched.

Still, he only paused for a moment before jogging after her.

A child wandering alone in a crowded street like this… was dangerous.

But by the time Shirou looked ahead, Kaori was already gone.

She probably ran ahead to the shop she pointed out.

He headed there immediately, weaving through the bustling crowd.

Like most places in the district, the shop was packed. But no matter where he looked, there was no sign of the girl.

"Excuse me—did a young girl in a kimono come in? Long hair, about this tall?"

Shirou gestured to Kaori's height, asking the busy vendor behind the counter.

"Haven't seen anyone like that. Might've gone somewhere else."

The owner scratched his head and shook it, apologetically.

"Where could she have gone?"

Kaori had vanished without a trace.

Shirou didn't consider her a close companion—not yet—but after spending hours with her, he at least saw her as a friend.

Even if they hadn't talked at all, he'd still go looking. A missing child was no small matter.

Especially a child as small and frail as her.

But finding her in a crowd like this… was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

And this was Yoshiwara—Shirou barely knew the place.

Guess I'll have to check Tokijiro House.

With no other leads, he began asking pedestrians and stall owners, but no one had seen her.

It was as if she'd stepped into the crowd and dissolved into air.

Gone… like dust on the wind.

"Ah!"

Rushing toward Tokijiro House, Shirou hurried down a narrow hallway in search of the madam. But just as he turned a corner—

Splash!

He collided with a young woman carrying a tray of tea.

The entire tray flew into the air, dousing Shirou in warm liquid. The girl fell back with a cry, hitting the floor hard.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I-I'm sorry—wahhhh!!"

A girl in a kimono with long black hair and vivid blue eyes clutched Shirou's sleeves, sobbing uncontrollably, her tears pouring out as if someone had turned on a faucet.

"No, no—it's fine. Really."

Shirou tried to calm her down, flustered by the water soaking his shirt and her unrelenting apologies.

But—

"Waaaah! I didn't mean to!"

Even as he tried to gently push her back, her grip only tightened. Her crying grew louder.

Shirou stood there, helpless.

"You again, Suma? How many times do I have to tell you—stop wailing like that! You're disturbing the customers!"

The nearby sliding door slammed open. A stern-looking woman appeared in the hallway, shooting the sobbing girl a glare of pure exasperation as she strode over.