A/N

I'm lazy so I'll cut short. This will be the last uneventful chapter before the plot really kicks in, I kinda used this as a setup to give some badass power to my avatar so thank you if you're still sticking around.

I'm ultra-busy with exams in this period so I might take a lot of time to update my fanfic.

Damn! I forgot about these assholes, what should I do? From the anime I remember Subaru beating them on his own on his second or third loop so we could do this...but interfering like that could ruin Subaru's love for Emilia...

"Move it, move it! Out of my way!" a feminine voice yells from the exit of the alley. It's no other than Felt running like crazy. Short blonde hairs, red eyes, and a very petite body, that's Felt for you.

"Here we go! Is that the cute girl who summoned me?!" Subaru yells, oblivious of the stupidity of the sentence.

"Summoned? I dunno what you're talking about but I'm really busy now sorry! Don't give up you two!" Felt says temporarily slowing her pace.

"Wait what? What!?"And just as fast as she came, she parkours away with extremely elegant acrobatics. Wish I knew how to do stuff like that.

"Hey, that didn't make you decide to be less hostile towards us, by any chance, did it?" Subaru awkwardly asks.

"If anything it made things worse" The 'ugly bastard' states cracking his fingers.

"Yeah, of course..." Subaru replies dejectedly.

Think Mat! How can I escape this situation but still make Subaru fall for Emilia...? Oh god, there's a solution... but my reputation will suffer greatly from this.

I wait for Subaru's punch to hit the "Ugly bastard" and quickly do what my friend kyle taught me on my high school first year... strategic retreat!

"That's the first time I hit someone! I didn't expect it to hurt me that much..." Subaru whimpers.

"C'mon we got this Mat...?" Subaru says fist in the air referring to me... if I was still there that is: I already quickly retreated behind a corner at the end of the alley, a place that's pretty well hidden but still near enough for me to hear the conversation.

"Seriously?! He ran away?! Whatever, I don't need him, my adrenaline is surging! I've got this!" Subaru proudly states charging forward before stopping in his tracks and praying for mercy as soon as the blue-pink-haired thug pulls out two blades.

I'm sorry Subaru, but you have to go through this alone.

I stand still as Subaru's being beaten up and wait for Emilia to come into action, not that I could do anything useful at this point.

"That's enough!" A voice yells from the exit of the alley. I peek my head out just enough to see what's happening, sure enough, Subaru's on the floor, with bruises all over him and the three thugs surrounding him. Near the exit of the alley, I can see a silhouette: because of the scarce illumination and the long-distance, I can't see her well, but judging by the voice, silver hairs, and time of action she must be Emilia.

"Stop now and I'll let this slide, so just give back what you stole please, it's very important to me" Emilia firmly states addressing the thugs.

"You didn't come to save this kid? Then don't interfere with our business! A little brat passed here a few moments ago, she was probably the thief you're looking for" the ugly bastard respond.

"They don't seem to be lying... I have to go after her". Emilia whisper to herself.

Emilia sprints towards the end of the alley.

Crap she's running towards me, she might see me! Emilia then stops a few steps away from my hiding spot and turns back to the thugs.

"But regardless I can't overlook what's happening here!" as she says this, three small blocks of ice materialize above her and are launched against the trio.

As expected two of them get up and start yelling at her until Puck enters the scene and, well...

"You bitch! Next time I see you I won't go easy on you!" the armed one yells picking up the small one and running away together with the ugly one.

Afterward, Subaru and Emilia start their discussion and I wait for Subaru to pass out before letting myself out.

"I said I won't help him!" Emilia says to Puck.

"Hey, ehm... nice to meet you guys" I greet them awkwardly coming out from my hiding spot. Their attention promptly switches to me.

"Pardon, who are you? Are you the thief who took my insignia?" Emilia asks pointing a finger at my face.

"What? No no no I'm just Subaru's friend, pleased to meet you, the name's Mat Karuki but you can call me Mat." I say.

"Subaru?" they both ask at me looking confused.

"The boy currently passed out on the ground," I say pointing to the unconscious Subaru.

"Thanks for saving him, those thugs were armed and I couldn't do anything to help him, who knows what would have happened if you two didn't show up," I say with a grin.

"We're happy to help," Puck says flying near me.

"Wait! I did it just to have information about the thief of my insignia nothing more! Emilia states defensively.

"I think I know who this thief is but... could you help Subaru out first? He's not in the best conditions as you can see and I saw you use magic a moment ago".

Emilia seems to ponder this, even if I know for sure that she'll accept.

"Is my head... on someone's lap?" Subaru asks just as his eyes open.

"Are you awake?"

"I didn't know cute girls were this hairy...Wait this can't be right!" Subaru yells throwing his head up and discovering who he was really lying on. He jolts up horrified.

"We were just trying to make you happy and comfortable until you woke up~" Puck says faking a female voice and moving his paw up and down suggestively.

"First of all don't talk in that high pitch voice!".

I burst out laughing, after all this is pretty funny.

"YOU! You left me alone just as the fight started you traitor!" Subaru yells pointing an accusatory finger at me.

"Hey, it was you who charged an armed man by himself! You could have escaped with me after the other two were down, what could I have done anyway?!." I say hoping to not sound like a coward.

"I... that doesn't...! Sigh, fine you're right, I guess I was a little impulsive" Subaru admits.

"I'm sorry about this. You stayed with me the whole time I was unconscious." Subaru adds turning towards Emilia.

"Don't get the wrong idea." Emilia states "I only stuck around because there are some things I want to ask your friend." She continues.

"I took the time and trouble to heal your wounds for you. I also made Puck act as your pillow until you finally woke up. This was for my own benefit. But now that you're up," She turns towards me" I need you to repay me as you promised".