Multiversal Friendship System-Chapter 144 - A Bowl of Mapo Tofu

Souta opened the task system interface, which displayed a notification of receiving 1,000 points.

"The mission is complete... So does that mean Rin and the others have already gone back?"

Souta stared at his phone, lost in thought.

He wasn't particularly concerned about these points—he was just curious about how the future would change now that he had intervened in the Fourth Holy Grail War.

And also... what exactly had Illya wished for at the time?

Did she really wish for the ability to control her physical age?

Just as Souta's curiosity peaked and he was about to ask, someone in the group chat tagged him.

Illya: "@Souta. Big Brother, I've already returned to the future. Do you want to come see me here?"

Souta: "You're back? Does that mean the rescue plan was a success?"

Illya: "Yes, Grandpa's memories were altered, and he never harassed me or Mom again after that. We're living in Fuyuki City now. I've been back for a week."

Souta: "A week? The time difference is huge. Less than a day has passed on my end."

Rin Tohsaka: "Well, you 'did' travel back from the past, and the flow of time between our worlds was never the same to begin with. This kind of discrepancy is normal."

Souta: "Rin, you're back too?"

Rin Tohsaka: "Yeah, Illya and I returned to the same point in time. Sorry, I was adjusting to my new circumstances, so I didn't notify you right away."

Souta: "No need to apologize. But it seems my guess was wrong."

Rin Tohsaka: "What guess?"

Souta: "About the mission. I originally thought the task would only complete once you all returned to the future. But now it seems it was considered complete once you settled Sakura and Illya rescued her past self. Otherwise, if it were the former, there wouldn't be a week-long time gap."

Illya: "That stuff doesn't matter! Big Brother, come to Illya's side now!"

Rin Tohsaka: "No, come to 'my' side first, Souta. There's a shop I want to recommend to you—I guarantee it'll blow your mind!"

Souta: "What kind of shop? Don't tell me Kotomine Kirei opened a restaurant in Fuyuki, switching from being a priest to a chef specializing in mapo tofu?"

Rin Tohsaka: "..."

Rin Tohsaka: "Wait! How did you know? That's impossible! The storyline should've completely changed by now!"

Souta: "..."

Souta touched his lips in disbelief. No way... He had just been joking. Did he actually guess right?

Kotomine Kirei 'actually' went into the mapo tofu business?

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But he only knew how to eat it, right? How did he learn to make it?

Souta: "I was just talking nonsense. Don't tell me it's actually true?"

Rin Tohsaka: "It is true. Illya and I have eaten there a few times. It's really spicy, but the taste is undeniably good."

Rin Tohsaka: "Also, Kirei's daughter, Caren, transferred to our school. She's a really nice junior—completely the opposite of Kirei. Sakura and I have been looking out for her."

Souta: "..."

Rin Tohsaka: "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Souta: "No, it's just... I'm a little moved that you were able to let go of your hatred for Kirei and build a friendly relationship with his daughter."

Souta sighed inwardly. Sometimes, ignorance really was bliss.

He remembered very clearly that in the original story, after Caren arrived in Fuyuki, she pretended to admire Rin and Sakura as her seniors, but it was all an act—she just wanted to mess with them for fun.

Now... it was probably the same.

Rin Tohsaka: "That's all in the past. Holding onto grudges would only hold me back. I've moved on."

Souta: "By the way, Rin, how's your sister doing?"

Rin Tohsaka: "Sakura? She's doing great. She's still a bit shy like before, but she's much more cheerful now."

Souta: "That's good. I'll try to find time to visit her."

Rin Tohsaka: "Sure. If you come, I'll bring Sakura along and we can all hang out."

Rin Tohsaka: "Wait! Forget I said that. Actually, forget the hangout—just don't visit Sakura. Come see me instead."

Souta: "???"

Rin Tohsaka: "Anyway, you can't visit Sakura."

Souta: "Why not?"

Illya: "Because little Sakura keeps thinking about the big brother who made snacks for her back then. Rin, you're being really obvious, you know?"

Rin Tohsaka: "Shut up! You don't have a Servant protecting you anymore. Don't think I'm still scared of you!"

Illya: "Rin, that's no way to talk to your senior. And even without Berserker, you're no match for me."

Souta: "Senior? You two are in the same school now?"

Rin Tohsaka: "Yeah, she's in the same high school as me."

Rin Tohsaka: "Souta, fine, you can visit Sakura. But you have to promise not to make a move on her."

Souta: "What are you even thinking? From my perspective, only a day has passed. My impression of Sakura is still that of a child. Your worries are completely unfounded."

Illya: "Big Brother, ignore Rin. Weren't you curious about how things have changed here? Come to Illya's side first!"

Rin Tohsaka: "No, come to me first, Souta. I can take you to eat Kirei's mapo tofu. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Souta: "..."

Now that Rin mentioned it, he was kind of tempted to try it.

After a brief moment of consideration, Souta decided to visit Illya first. He was more curious about what wish she had made and what her current physical condition was like.

If Rin called her "senior," then she must have grown to match her actual age of 18, right?

He really wanted to see that.

Souta: "Rin, I'll visit Illya first. I'm curious about her wish. I'll come find you later."

Rin Tohsaka: "You scum! Hmph, Illya's body has already grown up. Too bad for you—she's no longer in your preferred age range. Bet you're disappointed."

Souta: "..."

Souta didn't bother responding. He was used to being misunderstood—it didn't bother him anymore!

Rin would eventually learn that he was a leg man.

Illya: "Big Brother, Rin's just jealous. Ignore her and come to Illya's side now!"

Souta: "Just a sec."

Without further delay, Souta used the system's teleportation function to travel to the Type-Moon world.

Since he had been thinking about Illya, he was directly transported to her side.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a spacious bedroom decorated in an overwhelmingly cute style.

In front of him was a princess bed, on which sat a silver-haired girl who seemed to glow like moonlight.

Her familiar face confirmed that this was indeed Illya.

However, Illya's body wasn't as curvaceous as Souta had imagined. Compared to Irisviel's mature figure, the current Illya was still in a youthful, budding stage.

She looked... about 12 years old.

"Big Brother!"

The moment she saw the flash of white light in her room, Illya jumped off the bed.

Her slender legs were clad in pure white stockings, her skin as smooth and fair as a freshly peeled egg. Paired with her delicate, porcelain-like face, she looked like an angel descended to earth, evoking an overwhelming urge to protect her.

Souta felt a slight stir in his heart.

"Welcome to my home!"

Illya ran up to Souta and hugged him tightly, nuzzling against his chest as if savoring his scent.

Souta smiled and gently ruffled her silvery hair.

"Rin said you were her senpai, so I thought you'd grown up completely. Guess I was wrong."

"I did grow up! I became all curvy like Mommy!"

Illya looked up at Souta with a sweet smile.

"But Illya was afraid Big Brother wouldn't like that, so I made myself small again just now."

"..." Souta froze. "Made yourself small again? Don't tell me you actually wished for the ability to control your physical age?"

"Yep! Now Illya can be whatever size Big Brother likes."

Illya let go of Souta and twirled in place, her short skirt fluttering as if to show off her figure.

As she spun, she hopped back onto the bed, swinging her stocking-clad legs playfully—almost as if she were teasing him.

"Big Brother, Illya's body is ready for naughty things now. Do you want to... try it out right here?"

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