I'm Not A Master, I'm A Director (Type-Moon Fanfiction) - Chapter 20: It’s a Wonder that Britain is still around

Tohsaka Residence.

“Thank you, Shinji-kun.”

Tokiomi opened the invitation letter handed to him and glanced at its contents.

“It’s the day after tomorrow?”

Tokiomi raised his head to confirm with Shinji.

“That’s right, it’s tomorrow night at 8 PM at the Neo Cinema.” Shinji nodded, speaking matter-of-factly, “It’s the FSN preview screening.”

The Tohsaka family had provided significant assistance to the FSN movie, so it was only natural for Shinji to invite the entire Tohsaka family.

“Is the movie about to be released? Truly, you live up to your reputation, Shinji-kun.”

Tokiomi gently stroked the envelope of the invitation letter, a glint of light passing through his eyes, as he muttered softly.

“If the movie succeeds, it might even be a turning point for the Tohsaka family…”

Shinji, with his sharp ear, heard Tokiomi’s mutter and raised an eyebrow.

‘When I brought the project proposal over, you definitely didn’t have this expression…’

If Shinji’s memory served him right, Tokiomi agreed to the project somewhat reluctantly due to the compensation Shinji offered. If it weren’t for the Tohsaka family’s current decline, with Tokiomi’s pride and traditional ways, he wouldn’t have easily agreed to Shinji’s plan.

However, today’s Tokiomi’s attitude was completely different from before, surprising Shinji.

‘Who changed Tokiomi’s mind?’

Shinji couldn’t help but have that thought.

Nevertheless, Tokiomi’s attitude had little impact on Shinji. After all, the one reaping the largest benefits from his project was undoubtedly his own Matou family.

If the Tohsaka family wanted to join in, due to the long-standing relationship between the two families, Shinji wouldn’t reject them.

“Tokiomi-san, about your response…”

“My daughter and I will attend.”

Tokiomi replied calmly.

Shinji smirked, “Is that so? Then it’s settled.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Shinji’s overly light-hearted attitude made Tokiomi furrow his brows slightly.

“Shinji-kun, you…”

“Oh my, oh my.”

Seeing Tokiomi’s expression that seemed like he wanted to lecture a junior, Shinji quickly changed the subject, asking the third person in the room, “Grandpa Risei, what brings you to Tokiomi-san today?”

“Shinji, it’s been a while.” Risei laughed heartily, “You’ve really done something big this time, giving face to the Mayor of Fuyuki City.”

“Oh no, you’re too kind, Grandpa Risei.”

Shinji scratched his head bashfully.

Compared to Tokiomi, this old man treated Shinji like his grandson in earnest, making it harder for Shinji to handle him.

“My rascally young one hasn’t caused you any trouble, has he?”

Risei patted Shinji’s shoulder forcefully, asking loudly.

“Of course not, your son is quite talented in acting. You can look forward to his excellent performance tomorrow.”

Shinji hesitated for a moment but chose not to mention the incident of Kirei “promoting” Mapo Tofu on the set.

‘I’m exhausted… Why do I feel like a teacher reporting a student’s performance to the parent?’

Unable to find common ground with the two adults, Shinji bid them farewell after handing over the invitation letter.

“Well then, I’ll be awaiting Uncle Tokiomi and Grandpa Risei’s presence tomorrow.”

After bidding farewell to the two elders with a smile, Shinji closed the door to the guest room.

Tokiomi, sitting on the sofa, sighed inconspicuously and looked back at the old man who was still drinking tea.

After a while, Tokiomi broke the silence.

“What do you think of that Shinji kid?”

Risei smiled lightly, feeling quite content, “Every time I see that young one, it’s like having a grandson, especially when he’s with Caren.”

Speaking up to this point, Risei’s expression turned slightly sad. Shinji had left to study abroad five years ago, and Caren had gone to the Vatican headquarters four years ago to further her education. As for his son, Kirei, he wasn’t particularly close to him.

Over the past few years, Risei had indeed been somewhat lonely.

Regarding Risei’s statement, Tokiomi was momentarily stunned, then nodded understandingly.

When Shinji and Rin were studying basic magecraft with him in the past, Tokiomi also had the illusion of having an extra son.

However, compared to Rin, who was not only exceptionally talented but also diligent in her studies, Shinji’s magecraft talent was higher than Rin’s, but his attitude towards learning magecraft was half-hearted and very casual. Once he roughly grasped a magecraft, Shinji often refused to practice it further.

In Tokiomi’s eyes, if Rin was the responsible and diligent heiress of the family, then Shinji was definitely the indulged younger son who didn’t take things seriously.

“Ah.”

In the reception room, Tokiomi let out a long sigh.

“If Shinji-kun put effort into the field of magecraft, his achievements could potentially surpass everyone in his generation and become a leading figure in the Japanese magecraft community. It’s quite a pity.”

Facing his old friend, Risei, Tokiomi expressed his thoughts without reservation.

“The once declining Matou family has finally produced a genius mage. I thought that a marriage between Shinji and Rin could bring the Matou and Tohsaka families closer together.”

At this point, Tokiomi’s expression darkened.

“But I didn’t expect that Shinji-kun, at such a young age, would become entangled in lust and desires. He’s definitely not a man to entrust my daughter’s life to!”

Hearing Tokiomi bring up the idea of a marriage between Rin and Shinji, Risei’s expression also soured.

Shinji’s “exploits” in the Clock Tower were indeed quite shocking, and both of them had heard about it. Although some of the details might have been exaggerated in the rumor mill, it was a fact that Shinji maintained inappropriate relationships with multiple women at the Clock Tower.

“I used to think about entrusting Caren to Shinji as well, but…”

Risei and Tokiomi exchanged a glance, each reading helplessness in the other’s eyes.

‘Sigh, if that brat could just rein in his behavior with women.’

Risei took a sip of strong tea, feeling frustrated.

“Never mind, we shouldn’t force matters between the younger generation.” Tokiomi consoled himself, “After all, Rin is already exceptionally talented. I believe that the Tohsaka family will flourish under her leadership in the future.”

Thinking of his outstanding daughter, Tokiomi’s calm face revealed a faint smile.

“Don’t worry, Shinji will provide support.” Risei joked, “Although that kid is a bit of a rascal, he’s quite compassionate. Given his friendship with Rin, he’ll definitely lend a hand.”

Meanwhile…

“Achoo!”

As Shinji walked out of the Tohsaka residence, he suddenly sneezed loudly.

“Good grief, which beauty is talking about me behind my back?”

Shinji rubbed his nose with his finger and muttered under his breath.

Of course, the departing Shinji hadn’t heard the two elders’ evaluation of him. If he had, he would definitely have scoffed at it.

Because the idea of “marrying Rin Tohsaka” had never been an option in Shinji’s mind.

Rin’s personality was too lively and independent, not at all to Shinji’s liking. Compared to Rin, who could potentially become a pirate leader, Shinji preferred a wife of the traditional Japanese Yamato Nadeshiko type.

In terms of appearance, Rin was certainly among the most attractive, and if it weren’t for the close relationship between the Matou and Tohsaka families, Shinji might have actually pursued her.

However, Rin’s status as the future head of the Tohsaka family eliminated the option of a “casual relationship” with her.

So, let’s just remain friends.

Even though Rin was stunningly beautiful, she wasn’t enough to make Shinji give up a forest for a single tree.

It had to be said that in any parallel world, Tokiomi always seemed to think from his own perspective, deluding himself in his thoughts.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

The next evening, the FSN production team members gathered at the Fuyuki City cinema on time.

“I still can’t believe that a city the size of Fuyuki only has one cinema?!”

Outside the cinema, Shinji muttered quietly to Shirou as they waited for the others to arrive.

“Isn’t that normal? It’s not Tokyo. Why would there be so many cinemas?”

Shirou, who had long accepted that Japan had less than 400 cinemas, actually found Shinji’s viewpoint strange.

“I have nothing to say to you.”

Shinji rolled his eyes. To him, who had grown up with four cinemas near his home, he felt that he and Shirou didn’t share the same understanding in this regard.

“Shinji.”

At that moment, Kariya walked over.

He grabbed Shinji’s shoulder and said, “The day before yesterday, I contacted the Flora family of the Time Group…”

Shinji’s heart suddenly tensed, and he nervously asked, “They didn’t agree to cooperate, did they?”

“They didn’t agree directly—”

“That’s good! Shirou, let’s go there. Rin and the others are coming.”

Shinji forcefully interrupted Kariya’s words and then dragged Shirou toward the Tohsaka family group, leaving Kariya behind.

“What’s wrong with him? I haven’t even mentioned that the Flora family is already in contact with the El-Melloi family.”

Kariya might be a bit simple-minded, but he wasn’t foolish. Shinji’s attitude towards the Flora family was clearly problematic.

“But let’s hope Shinji didn’t do anything to provoke the Flora family. They are much more powerful than our Matou family.”

Watching Shinji in the distance, Kariya rubbed his temples with a headache.

On the other side, Shinji didn’t notice his uncle’s conflicted expression. Once most of the production team members had gathered, he led everyone to take a commemorative photo at the entrance of the cinema.

Premieres were out of the question. The distribution plan for FSN by Bandai was too conservative to spend money on such events.

Even this trial screening in Fuyuki City was something Shinji had specially requested from Bandai.

So, in order to have some memorabilia, Shinji had to organize the photo himself.

“Pretty shabby.” Gilgamesh said somewhat displeased, “Why are the crew and regular viewers mixed together?”

“It’s already quite good. This was added on as an extra.” Shinji consoled in a low voice, “When we become successful, I’ll arrange separate screenings for you and Enkidu…”

“Umm…”

Gilgamesh furrowed his brow, and his flushed face revealed his complicated emotions. His position seemed to sway between wanting Enkidu to see him on the big screen and not wanting to make a fool of himself.

“Boring!”

Gilgamesh snorted heavily through his nose and then quickened his pace into the screening hall.

Meanwhile, back at the original spot, Shinji displayed a foxy smile.

At this moment, Arturia approached.

“Hey, Master. For a separate screening, will there be any special snacks?”

Shinji glanced at Arturia’s eager expression, then at the huge bucket of popcorn (already one-third empty) in her hand, not knowing what to say.

Britain really was something else, they somehow managed to keep Arturia fed all these years without being overwhelmed.

Shinji silently commented in his mind.