Yay! I finally finished the next chapter!

I've been writing this gradually, but, of course, I have to focus on school! Sorry for the long wait!

The story is getting closer and closer to the true beginning! Look forward to it!

Anyways, please enjoy~

Climbing down the stairs is tiresome. Kishinami Hakuno had long gotten tired of admiring the strange morphing landscape as what supposedly is the sky turns a brighter orange and buildings float beside her as she descends. Clanking armor echoes from behind her as she trudges forward down the seemingly never-ending steps, reminding her of the golden servant aiding her.

Things are silent between the two—both too focused on what could possibly be ahead on the floor below. Hakuno is tense when she reaches the bottom of the staircase and enters the new layer.

What lies in wait for the pair is a large open space with one path going to the left and, in front of them, a teenage girl in red stands.

"So," The dark-haired girl greets them, "You did come." She huffs, shaking her head in exasperation. Her long twin tails sway along with the motions as she lifts her face once more. Her turquoise eyes pierce through the brunette. "You really don't listen to what people tell you."

"Rin…!" Hakuno whispers out but quickly shakes her head, correcting herself. No, it's another copy of Rin, right? Her caramel eyes focus on the confident dark-haired girl standing in the middle of the field. Still, she was lying in wait like this…!

"But, I'll forgive you just this once." Rin plays with the ends of one of her pigtails, wrapping it around her finger as she leans on her other hip. "Thanks for doing just as I ordered. You just had to do it."

"Oh?" The silky-smooth, velvety voice of the golden man behind her—Gilgamesh—rumbles through the air with hints of amusement. "Your eyes look excellent, blinded by your greed, mongrel. Have you revealed your true nature and are now being pursued by your creditors?"

"Your servant is an eyesore as always." Rin turns to Hakuno, deadpanning. "He's so annoying. I'd love to humiliate him here, but… well, you're bot valued customers, after all?" She tilts her head with a small devious smile. "Maybe that energy will help me out this time."

Rin snaps her fingers, and, with that small cue, a monster—an enemy program—appears from thin air and by Rin's side. "Kishinami? You'll have to make it through here if you want to get out," The dark-haired girl declares before motioning towards the beast beside her. "But—as you see, there's something blocking your way." A smirk lifts on her lips as she taps her cheek as if in contemplation. "Will you be able to defeat this guy and make it through, I wonder?"

"Wait." Suddenly, a calm voice echoes through the labyrinth, confident yet polite. "We just processed your visual data, Miss Kishinami, and that enemy program is a special type." Along with the voice, a blurry image of a blonde boy with green eyes paints in Hakuno's mind. "Avoid battle with it at all costs."

"Oh, was that Leo's voice just now?" Rin's voice fluctuates in amusement. "So, he also got thrown into the old school building. Well, doesn't really matter." She shrugs, flinging her long hair to the side. "As Leo said, this guy's quite strong. It might be hard for your Servant to defeat. But I'll help you out this time."

Hakuno stares at the twin-tailed girl in confusion. Help me?

"If you help someone, they'll help you next time, you know. If you make me a show of good faith, I'll lower this guy's rate." Snapping her fingers, Rin continues as an atm-looking machine appears between the two girls. "I've prepared a terminal directly connected to my account. If you want to make things easier, then please deposit the specified amount."

Rin snickers, building up to her declaration. "I call it the Tohsaka Money is Power System!"

With that announcement, everyone—including those in the old school building listening in—go silent.

Um… what?

Even Gilgamesh is unamused.

As there is a lack in reaction, Rin repeats herself. "The Tohsaka Money is Power System!"

Hakuno blinks awake, her eyes gradually opening as drowsiness continues to control her mind. She rolls onto her stomach, snuggling her face into the comfort of her pillow and her body into the warmth of her blanket. With a deep inhale and exhale she rolls back onto her back, covering her face in the process.

She couldn't remember—but she had a feeling that she just had the strangest dream just earlier. At least—stranger than most dreams she has had in a while.

Strangest of all is—for some reason, Hakuno has the urge to check her wallet.

Without having to pick up Shinji, Hakuno has much more free time than she had expected. Arriving at school much too early, not even the archery dojo was open for her to practice at. Thus, Hakuno had decided to stop by her classroom first to put down her things.

The corridor is silent as she reaches for the door handle to her classroom. It seemed as if even the teachers hadn't arrived yet—though Hakuno knew that, by this time, Kuzuki-sensei must have already arrived at school. Her homeroom teacher always seemed to be punctual, unlike her club's advisor, Fujimura-sensei. Thankfully, Mitsuzuri—the captain—is in charge of opening the dojo instead.

Hakuno slides the door open, letting it clatter as usual as she enters the supposedly empty classroom. Except—it isn't. The classroom isn't empty.

Standing amidst the empty desks, basked in golden morning light, a very pretty boy with light blonde hair that practically glows and large peridot gem-like eyes. Hakuno stares in awe, frozen at the entrance as she is entranced by the boy's regal and elegant aura and beauty.

All of a sudden, her heart accelerates, each beat painfully strong. It is as if her body is on high alert. The beautiful boy was causing her body's fight or flight instincts to prickle. As it his very presence was unnerving her.

On the other hand, the mysterious boy had heard Hakuno's entrance and, thus, turns to address her. His large green eyes peer into the brunette's caramel ones as his face stays blanks, almost emotionless—only for a moment. Then, his lips perk up and a smile forms on his pretty face.

It was an easy smile—the kind that only children can make. A simple smile that washes away almost all the tension in Hakuno's body. Hakuno found her own lips stretching up in a smile, matching the boy's.

"Good morning," the boy greets her in a pleasant tone.

Hakuno is dumbfounded by the boy's voice for a moment before catching herself and awkwardly greeting him back with a small bow. "Good morning to you too."

"I'm Leonardo Bistario Harwey," The blonde—Leonardo—introduces himself with a polite smile. "And you are?"

"Kishinami…" The brunette mutters out, "Kishinami Hakuno."

Leo continues to smile at Hakuno before he moves past her and towards the entrance, in which she made way for him out of instinct. "I'll be seeing you later then…" Just as he is about to leave, Leo's peridot eyes shine strangely in what Hakuno thought to be interest. "Miss Kishinami." He waves her goodbye as he leaves her alone in the empty classroom.

Hakuno blinks, dumbfounded as the boy disappears from her sight. Was that the transfer student Ryuudou was talking about yesterday?

After the morning's encounter with the mysterious boy, Leonardo, Hakuno isn't surprised when he walks into the classroom that very same day during homeroom after being allowed in by Mr. Kuzuki.

"Please introduce yourself." Mr. Kuzuki gives a curt nod toward the small boy.

With that, Leonardo steps forward and in a loud voice introduces. "Everyone, my name is Leonardo Bistario Harwey. In time, it will be a name known to all the world, but, for now, it is the name of your classmate." The majestic blonde boy declares with a regal tone. "I'm pleased to meet you all and I hope we will enjoy our time together."

In response to Leo's speech, the classroom is silent. There aren't even any jabs at his eccentric manner of speaking or any coos over how pretty he is. Instead, the entire classroom is enthralled by his regal bearing—entranced, even—into stagnant silence. Like deer in the headlights, the whole class is immobilized by a presence far brighter than our own—that is, except one person.

In the second row's window seat, Rin sits undaunted as her calculative aqua eyes assess the enigma that had just introduced himself to the class. She had heard of the Harwey family—they are a growing magus family in both wealth and power in the European area. He isn't here to sightsee, is he? She jokes in her head. As if—it's obvious why he is here… Rin keeps her frown under her usual poker face, hiding her caution.

"Thank you for the introduction." Kuzuki responds for his frozen class, "There is a free seat in the second row. Please sit there."

"Yes, sir," Leo replies with a polite smile before he focuses his attention on the empty seat in the middle of the class. Peridot eyes skim over the row, moving from his own seat to the seats next to his wear two brunette girls sit. However, Leonardo's focus narrows onto a single brunette—the one sitting in the seat next to his. Once in his seat, Leonardo turns to Hakuno—the girl he had met that same morning—and gives her that same innocent smile he had given her before. "It's good to see you again, Miss Kishinami. I'll be in your care as your neighbor."

Hakuno smiles in return, nodding to the blonde. "Same goes for me, Harwey."

"Please, just call me 'Leo'." The blonde asserts.

Hakuno nods, understandingly. "Okay, Leo."

Turquoise eyes slide over to the conversing boy and girl, narrowing slightly in contemplation. They know each other…?

"Oh? Where are you heading to Miss Kishinami?"

Following routine, once the bell chimes for the end of school, Hakuno gathers her things and heads for the exit of the classroom—or that is what she would have done if Leo hadn't stopped her first. The transfer student tilts his head slightly in curiosity.

"I'm in the archery club, so I'm going to club practice now," Hakuno explains with a small smile.

"Archery, you say?" Leo gives her a surprised look before it swiftly morphs into an accepting smile. "That sounds interesting." He nods with a smile, "Well then, I will not hold you back any longer. I wish you the best of luck with your practice."

"Thank you, Leo," Hakuno replies before raising a hand to wave him goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yes, tomorrow." Leo waves goodbye too as the brunette exits the classroom. Once she is gone, Leo gradually lowers his hand as his lips fall. His peridot-like eyes stare at the door a little longer than necessary before Leo turns back to pack away his things.

Meanwhile, Rin eyes the strange transferee with suspicion, though she doesn't voice it. Instead, she stands up and elegantly leaves the classroom—not forgetting to glance at the mysterious blonde once more before her exit. Her mind puzzles over the boy's strange interest with her brunette classmate that happens to be amongst the center of some of the things most important to her.

When Rin slips into the archery dojo, the sharp sound of arrows hitting the targets echoes from the other end of the area as several students stand, lined up on the wooden stage. Rin's aqua eyes skim over each of the members, stopping and focusing on a vibrant head of purple. Her gaze lingers.

Meanwhile, the senior members—who are standing near the back to observe the other members—notice the newcomer. Cinnamon brown-haired Mitsuzuri leans over to Hakuno, whispering while pointing at their classmate. "Hmm? Isn't that Tohsaka-san?"

"Yeah," Hakuno nods in response. "I wonder what she came here for?"

"Well, all we can do is ask." Mischievously, the captain grins. She then twirls towards the entrance, calling out with a wave. "Hey, Tohsaka-san! Over here!"

Noticing her classmates, Rin follows the beckoning and approaches the two brunettes. Smiling politely, she greets them. "Mitsuzuri-san, Kishinami-san."

"What are you doing here, Tohsaka?" Hakuno asks curiously with a slight tilt of her head.

Rin only smiles as she politely shakes her head. "Don't mind me, Kishinami. I'm just here to spectate." The twin-tailed girl then turns her attention back to the juniors who have been continuing with their practice.

"I see." Hakuno nods along as she follows suite—returning her attention to her juniors.

Many things occur in Fuyuki under the cover of night. The shadows hide the darkness behind the light.

A fateful night, a man happens to drink too much liquor and stumbles out from a pub. Slurring half-understood mumbles, he shuffles through the street as he tries to find his way home from a long day at work. On his disoriented way, the man makes the half-hearted decision of taking the shortcut through a back-alley home. With only half-a-mind, the man balances himself against the dirty, cold walls. The cool against his hot skin soothes him, lulling his mind further into a daze. There is a flicker of red in his vision as the man's eyelids flutter shut, growing so heavy that they eventually close—never lifting again.

Thud! The man falls over, sliding down the cold alley wall. His skin pales drastically as an indent appears on his chest—near his heart. Not even blood drips from the wound or his lips; and, all that is left is a cold corpse of a man on a fateful night.

Under the moonlight, a woman smiles from within a dark room as she stares into a crystal ball.

"Found you."

"We're boxed in from the beginning this time. How amusing." The golden man behind her laughs, "Perhaps confinement and prohibitions are our themes this time?"

Upon entering the fifth layer, Hakuno and Gilgamesh first come face to face with a huge metal vault door, blocking their path. Rani's dungeon was seeming stranger and stranger by the minute.

"You've arrived." All of a sudden, an almost emotionless voice echoes through the labyrinth. Hakuno recognizes the voice's owner—it's Rani. "The previous me errored from my proper self. But the current me will not." This copy of Rani asserts. "I have no more secrets. So please, search this Labyrinth as much as you like—however—there is still a dress code here." Rani announces bluntly, "Miss Hakuno I will have you be free. All extra features will be cut."

…Huh? Hakuno blinks in confusion at the metal door before her. What is Rani talking about? Other than coming to the Labyrinth to escape from the Far Side of the Moon, I don't think I have any freedom or anything, but—

"You don't understand?" Rani accurately predicts Hakuno's thoughts and responds accordingly. "Your clothes—If you want to enter this layer, please first remove your clothes."

Hakuno's lips part as he caramel eyes blink in astonishment—no words come out and instead an almost screech-like sound escapes her throat. Beside her, Gilgamesh laughs. "Look, it is just as I predicted, mongrel." A smirk spreads on his lips. "The freedom of removing one's clothing—the antithesis of confinement."

"That wasn't my intent, but…" Rani trails off, "Ah—I see, this is a Servant who will never admit his own mistakes. If you're bringing such an uptight Servant, this will be more difficult. But, it is time for you to be free, Miss Hakuno." She brushes past the topic of the brunette's servant—instead goading the other girl to do as she commanded. "Do it. Take it off. But, a sudden complete separation would have high difficulty, wouldn't it?" As if just considering the idea, Rani gives Hakuno an exception. "It is fine for you to retain your underwear."

"So it appears," Gilgamesh comments with an undertone of amusement as he turns his attention back onto his Master. "Will you be free, mongrel? I don't mind. I grant you special permission. Look lively!" Hakuno could swear an almost sinister smirk spreads across Gilgamesh's face. "Your naked body is the proof of your origin."

Hakuno sighs, shaking her head in despair as she leans on a hip. I—I don't think—no—I don't understand Rani's characterization here…! And why is Gilgamesh smirking at me…!?

"It's supplementary, but this door will open when Miss Hakuno removes her clothes." Rani explains, "It has a fully automated lock opened by clothing removal. Now, requesting special permissions."

Abruptly, a laugh reaches Hakuno's ears from the transmission that comes from the student council room. "Ku—ahahahaha!" Hakuno can almost see Leo wiping away tears from his eyes from all of his laughter. "Oh, there's nothing else we can do, is there! Ah, vice president, are you ready to record? There's no need to tell you?" He speaks to the other person in the student council room, watching alongside him—Rin. Hakuno's eyebrow twitches at the conversation she hears. "—Good job. As expected. Truly most elegant." Leo claps his hands as he returns to speak to the brunette in the labyrinth with her servant. "Now then, Miss Kishinami, go ahead and take it off. We'll all cooperate by averting our eyes from the monitors, so go ahead and do it without hesitation!"

What is our idiot president saying —-!? Hakuno can't control the twitch in her eyes at the command the self-nominated leader of the student council had just given her. I thought he was suspicious before but is Leo actually a fake planted by BB!? Upon hearing some more chatting between Leo and Rin, Hakuno couldn't endure. "I can't take this anymore—Julius! Where did Julius go?!" Hakuno demands, "He's the only one who can stop Leo!"

"Julius is out on special assignment." The calm voice of Gawain answers Hakuno's plea. "But, please have no fear. I, Gawain, am always at Leo's side."

Ignoring Gawain's response, Hakuno shouts in frustration. "Gawain is useless to me! All he does is whatever Leo tells him to!"

"Why is something so simple meeting such resistance…" Rani sighs. Even she seems to have gotten annoyed at the development. "There's nothing for it. Remove one piece of formal wear. That will have to suffice."

Remove a piece of formal wear… Hakuno perks up at the deal given to her with a sigh of relief and does just as she is asked, taking off a single formal wear and putting it away in her pocket. Well, compared to stripping down to my underwear…

With the condition fulfilled, Rani shows no complaint. "That is sufficient. Now, please enjoy your exploration of the Labyrinth. I will be waiting further inside."

On the other hand, Leo is the one with complaints as the student council president grumbles over the development. "Rani's rationality is working against us. Proposing a compromise instead of wasting time with persuasion…"

"Leo, it is too early yet to be discouraged." Gawain encourages the younger boy, "This Labyrinth has just begun. If they go forward, then perhaps…"

"Indeed…thank you, Gawain." Leo's voice is much more cheerful as if that despair that had been in it just seconds earlier was no longer plausible and only bright hope was ahead. "It seems hope is not lost yet."

"And these two just won't shut up, will they." Hakuno deadpans with a low groan.

"But…Rani has changed this time." The sweet voice of Sakura chirps in, "She's still not interested in attacking like before, but she isn't apathetic or…" She trails off.

Rin cuts in after Sakura, "Will this be all right then, Hakuno? If you remove your formal wear, your capabilities in battle will be greatly decreased." Suspicious, the dark-haired girl mutters. "I get the feeling that we've been manipulated by Rani's requests…"

"It's a matter of whether to sustain damage on a physical or spiritual front, isn't it?" Leo interjects, "Our enemy this time…hehe—" A soft giggle escapes the boy before he returns to his unique casual tone. "She is keeping the philosophical components in mind. Fight on, Miss Kishinami!"

Meanwhile, while the student council room was getting noisy, Hakuno had already begun exploring the dungeon. She and Gilgamesh had been running through for a bit by the time Leo decided to pipe in a small cheer. However, in response, she only finds herself deadpanning. I feel like someone fell below BB and Rani in my personal estimation just now…

That morning, Hakuno wakes up with a heavy, ill instinctual tug on her gut. It was from her dream; however, Hakuno couldn't remember just what it was about exactly. All she could remember was a striking uncomfortable flare and lots of annoyance.

With a sigh, the drowsy brunette turns her head to look at the time. Time to get ready…

It has been a couple of days ever since Shinji had suddenly told her he no longer needed her as an alarm and now Hakuno is gradually adapting to enjoy her extra times in the morning. The first pleasure she had learned was the ability to sleep in an extra thirty minutes.

After getting dressed, Hakuno climbs down the stairs only to be pleasantly surprised by the delightful scent of fried eggs and toast. Yashiro has the table set with breakfast spread splendidly as Hakuno reaches the kitchen. "Morning, sleepyhead." Yashiro greets her with a smile.

"Morning, Nii-san." Hakuno returns the greeting as she slips into her seat. "Breakfast smells wonderful."

"And tastes wonderful as well." Yashiro quips as he takes his seat across his sister.

Both siblings clap their hands together, muttering out a polite "Itadakimasu" before digging into their breakfast.

"You haven't been going to Shinji's house lately. What happened?" Yashiro inquires before taking a bite from his toast.

"Shinji told me he didn't need me to wake him anymore," Hakuno explains.

"Hmm…" Yashiro hums, "So the seaweed-head is finally growing up."

"Nii-san…" Hakuno deadpans. "Don't call him that; he's my best friend."

"Yeah, yeah…" Yashiro shrugs as he reaches for the remote, taking it and turning on the television.

"Now for another report on the recent serial alleyway death cases." A male news reporter announces, "On to you Kobayashi."

With those words, the scream quickly transitions to a woman standing in front of a taped-up alleyway with police cars and a crowd of people around the area to check the commotion. "Yes, Kobayashi here on the scene!" The woman reporter opens. She then motions towards the taped scene, "Just this morning, another man around his late-sixties was found in this alley, dead. Like previous recent cases, forensics inform that the only sustained injury to the victim was a single impact to the abdomen which had shattered the victim's ribs and heart—"

Hakuno swallows the last bit of her breakfast as a frown overtakes her face. Another one of these serial murders? She didn't like it—the thought that such a dangerous person was still out and about in Fuyuki. Who knows when and who they would strike next.

Yashiro holds similar thoughts as he grumbles, "Another one of these cases… Fuyuki has become quite dangerous lately…" His eyebrows furrow as his caramel eyes fills with concern. "I hope they catch the guy soon."

"Me too." Hakuno agrees.

"Leo-sama this, Leo-sama that! What is with the girls of this school?!" Shinji bursts, seething. "Can't they see that he's nothing more than haughty know-it-all that loves to show off?!" The indigo-haired boy is in outrage as he mimics majority of the female population in the school at how they treat the new transfer student. Hakuno can only laugh awkwardly, sweatdropping at her best friend's insinuations.

"Are you sure you aren't looking at a mirror, Matou?" Issei interjects rather sarcastically.

Shirou elbows his best friend at the jab, hissing. "Issei…!"

The student council president only sighs as he eats more of his lunch, shaking his head at Shinji's antics. "Don't worry, Emiya." The navy blue-haired boy eyes the chattering indigo-haired boy in a deadpan manner. "He's too thick to even consider it."

Too busy pacifying her best friend, Hakuno shrugs off refuting the comment. It was true in a certain case—Shinji never shows more than what he wants others to see, after all.

"—And Hakuno! Don't you think he's being too clingy to you?!" Shinji points out, seeming as if he had never heard Issei's sarcastic comments as he moves on to another thing that bothers him about Leo. "I swear that brat is trying to steal away not only my popularity but also my best friend! The nerve of him!"

Hakuno contemplates that idea but immediately disapproves of it. Though it's true that Leo has been approaching her often, it didn't seem like he did it out of any sort of ill will. "He only talks to me cause I'm his seat neighbor, plus, I did run into him right before he transferred…"

"I'm sure that's it! He set this all up!" Shinji declares, slamming his palm against the table. "All so he could steal my best friend from me!"

Shirou makes a strange expression. "Rather than Harwey trying to 'steal your best friend' from you…" His golden-brown eyes focus on Hakuno's visage. "Wouldn't it be more that he has taken a liking to Hakuno herself?"

Hakuno blinks at those words. "Taken a liking to"… me…?!

Shinji and Issei join in on the blinking session, staring confused at Shirou for a moment before turning their attention to the brunette girl and blinking at her in puzzlement. "To Hakuno…?" Shinji mutters out as he examines his best friend's face.

"Ahahahaha!" Shinji bursts out into laughter. He laughs so hard that he clenches his stomach and curls up into himself. "There's no way!" He can barely hold a sentence with how much he is laughing and wheezing. Hakuno's eyebrow twitches in irritation at the amount of laughter spewing out from her own best friend.

"I'm sorry, Kishinami, but I'll have to agree with Matou on this one." Issei pipes in. "You aren't exactly the most ladylike girl and, in all honesty, despite my dislike for women, I find comfort in how you don't feel like a gir—" Hastily, Shirou covers Issei's mouth, cutting off his explanation, but it was too late.

Hakuno, having heard all this, silently seethes, glaring at her three male friends. In a fit, she stands up, fuming her way to the door and opening it with great force. "Well, then, excuse me for not being ladylike enough for you guys." Her angry caramel eyes slide onto her three friends. "I guess I'll just have to go somewhere where my unladylike presence is appreciated then." She then slams the door behind her, leaving behind the three boys in a fit.

As she strides away from the student council room, she can hear a loud clatter and the muffled shout from Shinji pleading her to wait. However, she doesn't stop—though she does slow down—waiting almost as the hurried footsteps of her best friend catch up to her. She purses her lips into a small pout. "I can be ladylike too…"

"Hey, Hakuno!" Shinji slams the door to the student council room open. The indigo-haired boy finally had stopped tripping over his own feet in his minor panic to reach his best friend who is fuming down the hall.

Chasing after him is Shirou and Issei, who both feel rather guilty for their offhanded comments. The three boys follow the obviously angry brunette girl with the three of them calling after her to wait while apologizing. Hakuno, however, wouldn't have it and, thus, continues to stomp through the hall, rounding the corner quickly, picking up her pace.

In order to match the girl, the three boys hasten their pace into a forceful fast walk. Shinji rushes forward as Shirou and Issei follow close behind—though they apologize to those around them and ask for them to make way. Bumping into a girl in a white lab coat, Shirou quickly apologizes. "Sorry, about that. Please excuse us." He doesn't linger to pay much attention to the girl, only briefly noting her odd features before chasing after the pack once again.

"You are excused." The girl mutters despite knowing the auburn-haired boy hadn't heard her. Her spectacles gleam under the hallway's fluorescent lighting as her amethyst eyes fixate on the retreating auburn-haired boy. "Emiya Shirou…"

In a strangely secluded area of the city, sparks fly as two figures flicker about. One, a woman, soars through the sky—her confidence dwindling as she bites her purple lips. The other, a man, holds himself with a steady tempo as he focuses on the woman—his bloodlust hidden beneath the surface, yet threatening every-so-often to burst. Despite her range, the woman struggles against the calm man. However, the woman is a tricky fox—using her vast magical power, she hastily escapes with a flutter of beautiful purple butterflies.

With her escape, the man does not pursue the woman—instead, he waits. The world around him wavers as the barrier around the battlefield disappears, yet the man does not react. Rather, he waits and waits and waits—until another man emerges from the shadows. "Let's go back, Assassin."

Along those words, the two disappear back into the shadows of the night.

The dim orange light of sunset tints the hallways of the old school building as Hakuno exits her private room. Gilgamesh is close behind her, dissipating into his astral state as she walks through the corridor toward the student council room.

The whole routine is like muscle memory to Hakuno now. Waking up to the unchanging sky, listening to Gilgamesh's harangues, going to the student council room, having BB interrupt the student council meeting, going to the Sakura Labyrinth, returning to the student council room, dozing off to Gilgamesh's lectures—all of it has become her daily life now. There is a certain sense of ease with it—the familiar routine gives Hakuno an odd sense of belonging—a home almost.

"Good morning, Miss Kishinami." Upon entering the student council room, Hakuno is immediately greeted by Leo with his signature gentle smile and Gawain standing behind him.

Three figures sit at the student council table: Leo at the head and Rin and Rani next to each other at a side. Rin gives Hakuno a casual wave, holding a cup of tea in her other hand. "Good morning, Hakuno."

"Good morning, Hakuno." Rani greets similarly, stopping her typing to turn to the brunette with a small smile. "If you are getting a drink, I highly recommend the coffee over the tea."

Near the chair at the other end of the table, Sakura holds up a tray with two pots on it. "Good morning, Hakuno-san. Would you like tea or coffee?"

At the ordinary scene, a small smile lifts on Hakuno's lips, "Good morning, everyone."

How was it? I would love to hear your opinions and predictions!

I think you guys can guess by now who some of the servants are... and some of the other characters introduced in this chapter! :3

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Please leave a review before you leave~