Sakura Matou, one of the main heroines of "Fate/stay night," is a kind-hearted girl who visits Emiya Shirou's home every day and cooks him breakfast and dinner.
However, one year before the story begins, Sakura Matou had lost her human emotions, and she has led a difficult life since childhood.
We'll introduce you to the charm of Sakura Matou, so if you're interested, read on to the end.
What is the charm and true nature of the kind-hearted, beautiful heroine Sakura Matou?
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Sakura Matou, the beautiful heroine who adores the protagonist, Shirou Emiya, is surely charming with her gentle expression.
In the Saber and Rin routes, she appears as a supporting character and doesn't get deeply involved in the story, but in the "Heaven's Feel" scenario, where she is promoted to main heroine, you'll be shocked by the intentions that cling to her.
This time, we'll be focusing on Matou Sakura, one of the main heroines of "Fate/stay night," so try to get a sense of her appeal from events in her past.
A girl who visits the Emiya household to make breakfast and dinner
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Sakura Matou is a girl one year younger than Shirou Emiya. She is a member of the archery club, and has been coming to his house every day to make breakfast and dinner for him since a year before the story begins.
Her cooking skills surpass Emiya Shirou's, and she is unrivaled when it comes to Western cuisine.
Throughout the story, Matou Sakura has a bright and kind smile, but it is only recently that she has begun to exhibit human-like behavior and emotions, thanks in part to Fujimura Taiga.
She is deeply in love with the protagonist, Shirou Emiya.
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Until then, Sakura Matou hadn't shown any human-like facial expressions. However, after influencing Taiga Fujimura, Shirou Emiya's guardian, who was orphaned, she regained her facial expressions and began to fall in love with Shirou Emiya, who treated her kindly.
Although Emiya Shirou himself is never aware of this, in the scenario of "Heaven's Feel," the two eventually fall in love with each other.
However, as a result of their mutual feelings, Matou Sakura begins to feel that she does not want him to know her true self, and as a result, she becomes warped.
Sakura Matou, raised in a complicated environment
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Sakura Matou's past and secrets are revealed in the "Heaven's Feel" scenario, but her life up until that point could hardly be called happy.
Even so, Sakura Matou's encounter with Shirou Emiya has allowed her to show a bright and kind side.
Let's take a closer look at her past.
Adopted into the Matou family at a young age
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In the story of "Fate/Zero," Sakura Matou is revealed to have been adopted into the Matou family at a young age. Her maiden name was "Tohsaka," and it's revealed that she and the main heroine, Rin Tohsaka, are blood sisters.
Because the Tohsaka family practiced single-child inheritance of magic, Sakura possessed rare talent as a magician, but she was forced to leave the family because she was the second daughter.
Furthermore, the Tohsaka and Matou families were ostensibly allies, and the Matou family's magic was on the verge of extinction, which also contributed to Sakura's adoption.
Her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, was also forced to make a difficult decision, but he made the decision based on the belief that it would lead to a better future for both parties.
Sakura undergoes adjustments to become accustomed to the Matou family's magic.
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Sakura was adopted by the Matou family, but her days thereafter were filled with hardship.
In order to activate the Matou family's magic, Sakura underwent conditioning by the "mushi" over many years, which caused her constitution to change so dramatically that she completely transformed from her original hair and eye color as Tohsaka Rin.
She was also abused by her stepbrother Matou Shinji and lived in harsh conditions for many years, but her innate patience prevented her from going mad, and she remained in a cornered state of mind.
It is not surprising that Matou Sakura lost her human emotions, but meeting Emiya Shirou at such a time was a turning point, and she began to show her bright smile and gentle side again.
Is her relationship with Tohsaka Rin not so good?
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Rin Tohsaka has inherited the position of head of the Tohsaka family, while Sakura Matou has led a turbulent life since being adopted at a young age. What is the state of their relationship?
As there are fewer scenes in the story where they interact directly, it seems as though they are estranged, but this is due to an unspoken understanding between the two families.
Excessive contact is not permitted, so Tohsaka Rin watches over Matou Sakura from afar, and Matou Sakura also calls her "Tohsaka-senpai" at school, maintaining a certain distance.
However, at the end of the original game, "Heaven's Feel," there is a scene where the two are conversing like sisters, sure to bring tears to the player's eyes.
Sakura Matou is Rider's master, but...
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Sakura Matou also possesses the qualities of a master to participate in the Holy Grail War, and the Servant she summoned was Rider.
The Rider summoned for the Fifth Holy Grail War has the real name of Medusa, the youngest of the Gorgon sisters, and uses Noble Phantasms such as "Self-Sealing Dark Temple (Breaker Gorgon)" and "Other-Sealing Fresh Blood Temple (Blood Fort Andromeda)," which seal away the opponent's abilities.
However, Matou Sakura refused to participate in the Holy Grail War as a Master, and Matou Zouken understood this and handed over his rights to his brother-in-law, Matou Shinji.
She has entrusted her mastership rights to her brother, Shinji Matou.
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Due to Sakura Matou's refusal to fight, Shinji Matou has become Rider's master.
Using the Book of False Minister, Rider made a provisional contract with Matou Shinji as his acting Master, but he still treated Sakura Matou as if she were his former self, and was always concerned about her.
As a result, a part of Rider acts for the sake of his true Master, Sakura Matou, and will show no mercy to anyone who tries to harm her.
The scenario for "Heaven's Feel" depicts Sakura Matou working with Shirou Emiya, whom she has a crush on, to save her after she has made a contract with Henri-Mayu, and we can see Rider fighting hard for her.
Sakura Matou appears as a Master in Heaven's Feel
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In Heaven's Feel, also known as the Sakura Route, Sakura Matou appears as Rider's Master without entrusting her contract with Rider to Shinji Matou.
However, after she and Shirou fell in love and became united, her fear of "not wanting to lose him" and the machinations of Matou Zouken led her to make a contract with the Avenger.
All of her pent-up negative emotions suddenly erupted, and her personality changed completely, taking on a sinister appearance, leading to her being nicknamed "Black Sakura."
Until then, the gentle expression and other aspects of Matou Sakura that had been part of "everyday life" for Emiya Shirou were no longer there, and she committed mass murder in Fuyuki City.
Sakura Matou as depicted in the first TV anime series
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In the first TV anime series (Dean's version), there's an original episode in which Sakura Matou is kidnapped by Caster and used as a vessel for the Holy Grail.
This look was created when Nasu Kinoko, who wrote the original scenario, came up with the idea of "a look that suits Sakura, who can't read the atmosphere," and it caused controversy among fans who saw the video.
Matou Sakura appears in a form that doesn't appear in the original work, and while Takeuchi Takashi, who was in charge of design, is pleased with the result, Nasu Kinoko seems to regret it, saying, "It was me who couldn't read the atmosphere."
You might be shocked when you see the differences from the Saber and Rin routes?
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In the Saber and Rin routes, Sakura Matou's appearance and demeanor are truly worthy of being described as a beautiful girl, but in the Sakura route, where she becomes the main heroine, that description is shattered with a shocking surprise.
Until then, she had captivated Emiya Shirou with her bright smile and gentle expression, and her presence was a part of his everyday life, but past events combine to turn her into a tragic heroine.
Furthermore, the Servant Rider she summoned is always worried about Matou Sakura, so there may be a bond between them that is even stronger than the bond between Emiya Shirou and Saber.
In the story of "Heaven's Feel," Sakura Matou is portrayed as a completely different character from the one we've seen up until now, so even non-fans will likely find it hard to shed tears when they see her portrayed as the main heroine.
