AUTHOR NOTES: ENJOY, I SUPPOSE...
INEXORABILITY CHAPTER FOUR
CURRENT TIME
Empty space?
He always wondered what death would feel like. Despite experiencing its taste hundreds of times, the idea of true death always scared him. Would it be an endless abyss in which he'd be stuck? Would a scream, no matter the volume or articulation, be fruitless within the realm? Would he lose his sense of touch, hearing, emotions and would simply end up drifting in an endless sea of nothingness?
That is what it must have felt like, or perhaps more accurately seemed like, for other people in the room.
So for Subaru when he emitted the words that he wouldn't deviate with the timeline, it seemed to cast as if he would be forever stuck in an abyss that he just couldn't stand anymore. They had already witnessed the insanity and instability of their sleeping Subaru. THEIR Subaru had been broken and betrayed to the point of hallucinating the better conditions and personalities of others. After all, what sane person could have possibly forgiven those who've wronged him and even have killed him? As such, how much more unstable was the Subaru in front of them, the cast thought.
Despite all that though, the cast still felt appalled and downright insulted when Subaru stated that the current condition of his world and their current circumstance was his sole fault. Such a statement just couldn't, in essence, be true. How could Subaru, both the sleeping and awake one, be at fault? After much consideration, even the cast could notice that if their Subaru had already had such amazing and downright impossible accomplishments then the Warden Subaru must be considered the epitome of a hero, a true legend that would forever permeate through history even greater than that of the Sage or Sword Saint.
If that was true, then such a hero and good man could not be at fault when all the evidence itself presented it to be otherwise. And with the Warden Subaru's intentions laid about, it was clear to the cast that he was, just like always, seeking to save others while neglecting himself and the status of his mental condition. He was willing to live in this wasteland of a country, seemingly filled with guilt, just to send the cast back to their time with their newfound knowledge on Return By Death in the mere hope, hope is not assurance mind you, and on the chance that it might just prevent the catastrophe which they had witnessed at the capital.
After witnessing the if stories after the initial viewings, the cast were amazed at how this Warden Subaru had not lost his touch with the world and submitted to insanity and hopelessness. Warden Subaru had bags under his eyes more so than the currently sleeping Subaru and he had clearly reduced the amount of energy he could have in his capacity. Regardless, he strived to show them the viewings and give them a chance for change and survival.
But they could not accept that. The man in front of them was not their Subaru but that did not stop their empathy. This Subaru was most likely a legend to his world's people, the epitome of what the light at the end of the tunnel must be.
"What do you mean you won't?" asked the worried Emilia, confused by future Emilia's Subaru.
"It's impossible. I can not go with you back into your time as this right here is my own. I know what you must feel but it is necessary towards your and your world's preservation."
.
.
.
"My amazing self can't accept that! This country has fallen to the dumps, can't you see that Cap'n," rejected the tiger-boy, refusing to believe that his Captain would be stuck in this wasteland of sorrow and failure.
"I agree with Garfiel-dono here. Why, Subaru-dono, do you insist that it is necessary to stay here? How can you be sure that you must?" asked the distraught Wilhelm, not wanting his "other" grandson to be stuck in a timeline of regret and displacement.
"I've tried before to replace another Subaru on a different timeline and it was simply shown to me to be impossible. It was selfish of me, what was I thinking? To deprive another one of me of the happiness I myself desired? That is something only those monsters in the if stories could do. Plus, this world may be disintegrating but if yours can be saved, then all would be worth it"
The cast stood there dumbfounded at the man's sacrifice and determination to end what he started and to see it all the way through, very much and sadly similar to the sleeping Subaru's growing ideology. There was no doubt that this man was the ever-reckless yet knowledgeable Subaru they all now admired. It was still sad though to see the boy seemingly degrading himself further.
It was also then when the cat-trap realized that the full story had still not been revealed or told in its fullest essence. Earlier, this Subaru had mentioned that the capital got attacked and it devastated the world. However, information on what exactly happened other than "it was an attack," was increasingly rare.
"I believe Subaru-Kyun owes us an explanyation nyan," asked Felix. He now admired and respected the raven-haired knight but there was no way he would let something as serious as a world-saving or world-destroying occurrence and information behind it all slip past his fingers.
"Felix is correct, how do you expect us to save our world when the only extra information we hold is in Subaru's experiences? If we were to know of the eventual threat then we can thoroughly plan it with our Subaru and other allies, couldn't we?" supported the green-haired military leader. She tried her best not to burst in anger at the man's previous claims of sacrificing himself but she had to know the full scope of what was being told.
"Trust me when I say that I will do anything to ensure that you can save yourselves. Me telling you some things will deviate things too much. What if you would have heard of the story and threat of the Pride Archbishop Subaru before meeting Subaru? Would you still feel the sympathy and urgency to help rather than the urgency to kill him?"
"But W-" said Felix, before having Julius touch his shoulder and affirm the belief that everyone had currently been refusing to really believe.
This Subaru had decided his fate far before they ever came here. His resolve was engrained in his skull and, as such, it would be almost impossible to dig it out of him.
However, many in the room refused to accept that all hope was lost. If they wanted to save their world, then it required collaboration, not the usage as a means to an end, with Subaru. And if their Subaru had to be ready and prepared for whatever threat their future selves would face, then perhaps training him would be best as well.
Who better to train Subaru on his unorthodox and brilliant tactics other than himself?
However, in all honesty, as these thoughts entered and passed within the cast's minds, it seemed as if they were simply trying to create reasons and excuses for saving this Subaru. It seemed as if they were passing and turning their guilt for not helping their Subaru into a want to help this one. At least, that is how it seemed to the Subaru sipping his delightful tea at the large wooden table, regardless of his actual distaste of tea. He looked at their eyes and saw nothing but sheet determination within. He understood that feeling quite well, a feeling that made one have the everlasting motivation to deny fate. They had seen their Subaru inflicted with such a feeling and now they were feeling it too.
Because of that feeling, most still couldn't accept it.
"Adding onto that Big Bro, you don't even know the end result! We can certainly find a way to bring you with us, right Rein?" desperately asked the short princess, begging her knight to take a stance alongside her. Her Big Bro had sacrificed so much to save them and if the logic applied even to the future, it was clear that he must have saved them many more times while the endless suffering and restrictions of Return By Death continued to degrade him.
"I don't understand why you guys care so much for me, I'm not your Subaru. And that attack, Crusch-san, is something that you can not prepare for."
"Then we can at least prepare ourselves to feel ready for it, mentally," commanded the duchess.
Seeing this conversation quite literally going nowhere, Subaru decided to give in even if still adamant about not telling the whole truth.
"The capital was attacked by the Witch Cult in a much different fashion than you saw on the theatre's screen. They distracted me while their strongest force attacked the rest. I don't see how this would help though, your knowledge of Return By Death has already changed the course of things. You likely won't face the same circumstances I did."
The cast nodded their head in acknowledgment. It seemed as if Subaru had escaped the endless interrogation put upon him by his past friends until a man looked at him right in the eyes with a perplexing and dastardly smile.
After all, it would be foolish if the questioning ended there… It just had to come up to the most heartless of monsters in the room, even if not entirely heartless, to address the inevitable question.
"Ah, Suuuuubaru-Kun, may I ask something?" asked the clown, his smirk hiding a desperate and panicking facade that lay underneath the make-up.
"Oh shut up you damn clo-"
"Of course, Roschi"
"What?" questioned the rest of the cast, somewhat surprised that Subaru showed such formality and calmness towards the despicable and seemingly irredeemable clown. Had something happened between them in the future? At least Subaru didn't forgive the clown for his downright deleterious and detrimental actions, right?
Roswaal then picked up a glass of tea and raised it up in the air, as if he was about to commence a cheer and celebration. Instead, he initiated his thoughtful question with a booming and almost accusatory voice.
"Why didn't you reset, Subaru-Kun?" asked Roswaal, dropping his demeanor and clownish attitude as the question dragged on syllable per syllable.
He dropped it for a specific reason though; it was in the effort to intimidate Subaru to see just how much the boy had changed in his poise. Unbeknownst to Roswaal, the question was loaded with some anger behind it as well. Roswaal was aware that Subaru would always loop back in the effort to save someone or something else. Through that logic, it was apparent that Return by Death must have screwed the boy over. But what about his teacher and what about the rest of Lugunica? There was no possible way the entire world was wiped and yet the boy appeared to have stayed in this cabin for quite a long time, isolating himself and refusing to go beyond the reaches of the capital. For what purpose?
There was no possible way the capital could be heavily attacked with cultists overwhelming the Royal Guards while others attacked those stationed at the other desolate villages and cities outside. Subaru may not have been able to save the capital, but why not the rest?
Perhaps he should rephrase his question…
"Have you given up, Subaru-Kun? On saving?"
"Hey clown, if ur trying to intimidate meh Cap'n, I'll punch your sku-"
"Shut your trap, Garf. Can't you see Barusu hesitating?" said the observant Ram, catching Garf off guard and causing him to turn his attention towards the older and more experienced Captain that he admired so much.
"... Let me think how to answer that Roschi,"
It was about time that Emilia was having enough of this…
"There is no way Subaru would stop being the hero he is, that's just Subaru! Can't you see that he's trying to save us, how can you say that he's giving up!?" spoke Emilia, quite agitated that some people in the room started doubting Subaru's character and strength.
It was true that she had witnessed the if stories and was now fully aware of the threat Subaru, by default even, posed. However, to her, such situations were simply false realities and to which, at least to her, were pointless to think too much about when the real deal was yet to be helped and assisted. She would not let others believe that Subaru had given up on the very characteristic he and she valued deepest in their hearts.
"Betty is confused how her contractor can be giving up when he is right here helping us, I suppose."
Roswaal started getting frustrated at how his question was seemingly being misunderstood but luckily had an assistant beside him to explain his question and its hidden vastness.
"Roswaal-sama is talking about this reality, not ours. The capital may have been attacked but what about the rest of the world? I think I should reword your rewording, Roswaal-sama, to narrow it all down," stated the pink-haired demon. After a few seconds of thinking, she thought of a set of questions incredibly simple and quick.
"Barusu, how long have you been staying here, and have you visited anyone at all?"
"That certainly is slightly better wording. I have visited other people outside of this cabin occasionally, but I like to believe I'm just humbly living out here. I've been staying here for the last 10 years really."
"Who have you visited?" said Ram, giving no room for rest or time to think of a deceitful way around the question.
"I've visited Reinhardt and Felt, Roswaal, and Garfiel."
"Not Emilia-sama or any of your other camp members?"
Subaru clicked his mouth in irritation, he was too used to being the one in control of the conversation. It was his only defining trait, wasn't it? Using people and the flow of information to misdirect, attack, and attain victory? If he couldn't do that then this conversation would not go the way he intends it to be. Telling a person too much of their future situations deviates everything off the proper flow he desired. He can not let that happen.
After viewing the if stories himself for the first time, Subaru had it permanently ingrained into his mind that a simple decision, like not asking for help or saying yes to a contract instead of thinking everything all out, could mean all the difference.
And so he answered, even it too was not exactly the truth.
"I have visited Emilia-tan and even Julius, believe it or not…"
Turning to look at the spirit-knight extraordinaire, one could see sparkling eyes in the knight's eyes. It was as if he had gained praise from some legendary hero like those during the Great Calamity. In an ironic twist, the legendary hero part was not that far off in all honesty.
It seemed like the cast was silent until the two lie detectors in the room affirmed the truth.
"Subaru is not lying."
It was then that Ram smirked with a sense of pride as if she had trapped someone into a corner even though she most certainly didn't. Was she so ignorant to believe that she could have tricked a man who had been dealing with her more years than she technically dealt with him? Subaru was simply trying to keep his profile low and was simply trying to ensure that they didn't grasp information that'd pull all of his effort from under him.
"Then Barusu, why is everything so dead when so many of us are present? Have you even called on us for help or do you still stubbornly refuse help and assistance?"
The cast started asking that too. This Subaru seemed to be contradicting himself if such a statement proved true. This Subaru had told them of Return By Death and constantly told them to help their Subaru in the effort to save themselves and yet had not even spared anytime to ask for his own personal allies for help to restore his own world. However, what bothered them more was the fact that he seemed unphased by the structure or meaning of the question. If this Subaru had acted like their's then they would have assumed that he may not be understanding the question presented.
That was simply untrue, however, as the Warden simply looked at them with observant eyes.
Unbeknownst to them, it was not the hypocrisy they initially believed it to be.
"Everything seems dead? Sure, everything around here seems empty and, for lack of a better word, dead but that's just some hasty generalization. I'm not refusing to call for help, I'm just waiting for the right opportunity and for the right time. Timing is everything after all, right Ram? As a man of perfect and brilliant timing, you should agree. Hell, parts of Lugunica are still running quite well and we seem to be on good terms with Vollachia."
Wilhelm perked up at this revelation. Hadn't Vollachia been in civil strife for power for a couple of years? For a nation built upon one's strength and respecting said strength, it didn't seem, according to Subaru, to have tried to conquer Lugunica despite its deplorable status either. Perhaps the civil strife was still occurring and had reached exponential levels of disagreement to the point of the nation not wanting to interact with another power? But Wilhelm then reminded himself that it had been 10 years, 10 years of civil conflict, and without any finish? In short, to say that two opposing countries who were in political turmoil and disagreement were not in any war was something unexpected to the old man.
And while Wilhelm had his thoughts, Ram glared at this Subaru as if insulted that her question had been answered yet avoided all the same.
(I still haven't read past Chapter 3 of Arc 7 mind you)
"Look, I understand that you want more information as this is supposedly your future but this is just a precaution. And back to your previous questions, no I have not given up. I am still trying to help people here."
"Daddy, look," said Louise, pointing out towards a window showcasing a setting sun, displaying multiple shades of red, orange, and pink.
"Ah, it looks like it's gotten pretty late. I don't have many rooms but I do have two guest rooms which will be certainly enough to house all of you. None of you are claustrophobic right?"
"Clu-tro-"
"It means scared of tight spaces,"
"Oh, no we're not," replied Reinhardt, aware that most in the room were more scared and focused on the viewings they recently watched rather than their own personal fears.
"Good, I've set up sleeping bags and whatnot. We'll continue this conversation tomorrow and then I'll wake up your Subaru before preparing to send you back."
"We're already going?" questioned Petra, wanting to know more of the future as the curiosity of a child was growing within her.
"Can I ask one quick thing, Subaru-sama? Can we visit one of our other versions?" asked the mischievous merchant queen, having caught onto something Subaru probably didn't want to be known.
Subaru, who had gotten up and had started walking to his room to catch up on some sleep, had stopped directly in his tracks.
"Why?"
"You can speak of Return By Death freely even in your world. Can't we ask our other selves for advice on helping you? You must have told them right?" said Anastasia, oddly being incredibly genuine with her statement.
Subaru's eyes went wide as in shock, though no one really noticed it as he quickly turned his face away to hide the apparent shame and surprise. He was getting more and more agitated as the seconds went by. Normally he would be calmer as the many years of Return by Death had made him, but he was not going to let this one chance slip past.
"Sure, though please don't mention Return by Death. Those words will affect them worse than you."
That wasn't the answer Anastasia expected but I suppose it would have to do.
"The closest to us right now should be Reinhard and Felt. We'll go there but, please, stop with the questions. My job of informing you on Return by Death is finished and I'm quite tired of this interrogation. I thought I'd get some rest after this, not stress!"
"Barusu, truly annoying as always."
"Just how the hell am I annoying?"
"Dad, Dad!? Wake up!"
"Ah!"
"Oh, it's you, Louise,"
It was the middle of the night where the soft winds blow nearby leaves and a cold sensation fills the air. To save for room, Subaru and Louise decided to sleep in the same room rather than separate beds.
As Subaru got up from his bed to access the situation, he had realized the reason why his supposed daughter had woken him up. No matter how long it was since its last usage, Return by Death would forever haunt Subaru. As such, the nightmares would most likely never stop as he was likely to be a puppet to them for all eternity.
Rubbing his daughter's head and prompting her to go back to sleep, as with any developing child, Subaru then walked out of his room to find an empty and messy living room. He was surprised at how much the rest ate, Louise certainly cooked a feast. He rubbed his eyes to get some flakes out and did some radio calisthenics, albeit in a quite silent and softer manner as to not wake up the others from their much-deserved slumber.
Subaru grabbed an orange scarf from a little rack and walked outside to have the cold breeze wipe his scrunched-up face. He never could and probably will never get used to the cold no matter the circumstance. Hey, at least it wasn't snowing.
Sitting on a nearby log, Subaru blankly stared up into the night sky as he did quite a lot back at Japan. Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea to resume that stress-reducing habit. He imagined how his world's stars would look if they were to be placed in Lugunica's skies. If his worlds and this world's stars overlaid each other, he wondered, would they form more elaborate and cooler formations? Perhaps the constellation of Orion would form in some other creature if a few more stars were to be added.
It was shocking to Subaru that the defeat of many of the archbishops was somewhat inspired by those stories told within the stars. But, of course, with any good memory, a bad one must always present itself.
Alphard, the brightest star in the Hydra Serpent constellation.
Subaru looked at the ground, hoping to be somehow enamered by some of its qualities in the attempt to forget Alphard. Nonetheless, all he saw was dirt and grime under him as was expected. Subaru wished he could be like the ground, taking in whatever matter thrown into it and using the said matter to do work on the surrounding environment. Subaru wished he had the power to do actual work in the first place. No, he already had power, just not the resolve to use it, not anymore.
Closing his eyes in a panicky fashion, he stayed more silent than ever until he opened his eyes again in a fashion as if checking if the danger was still present.
His eyes weren't blank per se, nor were his eyes glassy or necessarily caught in thought. Rather his eyes held the expression of wonder, wonder in how someone as legendary as other people assumed him to be, he couldn't even control the direction of the conversation earlier.
He missed that type of banter and, in general, having conversations with people about matters other than "how is your day going" or "weather sure looks nice today, doesn't it," is quite refreshing, to say the least. He missed conversations with Ram and the need to constantly pick on each other. He missed conversing with Emilia-tan and picking on her articulation. He, dare he say it, even missed conversing with Julius and picking on his constant knightliness while Julius picked on Subaru's rather rambunctious nature.
*crack
The sound of someone stepping on an autumn leaf as it freshly crisped up permeated in the air.
"Louise, you need to go to sleep. You know how cranky you get."
He expected to hear a door close, indicating that she had listened, but instead he heard the sound of footsteps getting nearer.
"Louise, please. I'll go back to sleep soon, don't worry."
"Don't compare me to a Gluttony, I suppose."
Subaru cocked his head backward, his vision was soon aware of a drill-haired loli holding the hem of her dress up in the attempt to not get it dirty. Walking slowly to the log that Subaru himself was seated, Beatrice stared at him as if she was disappointed. It reminded Subaru of how a mother would give one a glare when their child lied.
"I knew it. You detected it on her, didn't you?"
"Yes, I didn't notice the Witch Factor until the end of the conversation, in fact. I wonder, why did you keep her alive when she is obviously a part of the cult."
That was exactly what Subaru thought when he first met her, though that question was more directed towards an amnesic Rem and her desire to protect the child. Subaru initially detested Louise considering she could have ruined everything at the tower. His hatred started reigniting itself too when he witnessed the Gluttony If story for himself. However, his hatred, he learned, was less directed towards Louise and more towards his memory-less version's idiotic decisions.
It was then that Subaru learned that Louise, like any other human, was scared of both the concept of death and experiencing it for oneself. Plus, with the adventures that they had in Vollachia, his heart eventually warmed up to the girl.
That didn't mean that he'd let Beatrice's misunderstanding continue though.
"It's true that she has the Witch Factor still, but she isn't a cultist. I have the witch scent, don't I? I'm not a cultist though."
"That's no- hmph," spouted Beatrice, somewhat irritated that she was easily disproven.
But after the quick banter, she finally sat on the log with Subaru and stared at the stars with him, the beautiful stars that her actual contractor commonly taught her about. Regardless of whether or not the Subaru in front of her was her Subaru, it was still clear that he was Subaru in essence. As such, his Beako must have had a similar relationship and loved him very much.
"Betty's future contractor seems to have had another nightmare, you weren't going to hurt yourself when you have a delicate daughter, were you?"
"No, the temptation is still there though. This time was about Capella and her damn blood, remember her?"
Subaru looked at Beatrice with a sorrowful smile with the secret intent to simply open up to someone about a past event.
"Whose Capella, I suppose?"
Subaru's eyebrows scrunched up as he stood there in silence for a few seconds, at least until he recognized his blunder.
It hurt his heart to hear such words. It reminded him of being alone when Return by Death was impossible to speak about. To be isolated from others exerted much pressure and negatively on a person.
"Oh, you don't know about that yet. Sorry, ignore that."
"You don't have to hide it, you know."
"Beako, I'm serious. I did not hurt myself."
"Then what's this, I suppose!" said Beatrice, reaching out towards Subaru and pulling up his right sleeve.
Only to see the most disturbing, disgusting, deplorable, abhorrently smelling, and grotesque thing in her life. Subaru's arm was pitch black and though Beatrice at first believed it to simply be a lot of dried blood, that was immediately proved false as the thing, as if a snake itself lived within her contractor, had moved.
"KYAAA! There's something in your arm, I suppose! We'll have to amputate it quickly!" screamed Beatrice, raising her hands in the motion to cut off her contractor's arm. She also had tears drop from her eyelids for what she was about to do.
"Woah, WOAH! Calm down, it's not what you think or are imagining it to be!"
Beatrice stared at him with watery eyes while Subaru pulled his sleeves up again to reveal the black grotesqueness.
"Look, this is just what I get in the future. There is nothing to worry about, so calm down my sweet little Beako"
Beatrice put her hands down as if in shame, but then immediately looked back at Subaru.
"What kind of trouble did you get into to get THAT, I suppose."
"The Witch-cult kind, don't worry you'll get used to it."
Beatrice looked somewhat astounded by that and also somewhat angry at the cult. Nonetheless, it seemed as if she was more worried for Subaru's safety rather than what the arm actually was, the black blood of the dragon. Something once thought to be an incredible misfortune for Subaru actually had come out quite helpful for Subaru during his many adventures quite shockingly.
After that comment, the two simply sat there contemplating the presence of each other. Subaru questioned why Beatrice decided to stay with him and not her actual contractor while the ever caring and marvelous Beako questioned why this Subaru had continued to lie to himself.
It was somewhat irritating in a way. When the cast finished the viewings, they all felt three main things: (1) relief that the viewings were over and the continuation of Subaru's current suffering had calmed down, (2) sorrow and pity for the boy's adventures alongside the want to help him, and (3) pride for the fact that they now understood the enigma that was once Natsuki Subaru.
But meeting this Subaru was irritating because no knowledge of him after the events at Sanctuary was really known. Yes, it was true that they witnessed the if stories but the Warden, now revealed to be Subaru, had heavily restricted specific phrases and events, only giving vague explanations and certain scenes to truly react to. Not only that, but the Warden had limited the information and the amount of it when he spoke. Subaru was limiting their scope before they were even let out. It was that which irritated her., the fact that her contractor was doing everything in his power to keep them in the dark.
It was made apparent that this Subaru had the purposeful intent of limiting their knowledge of him and the full extent of the future. For what reason was still something Beatrice desired to find out.
For Beako, after a year of sitting idling by and doing nothing to help her contractor while he continued to harm himself, she now was invigorated with motivation to help her contractor and end the cycle of suffering that would eternally plague him otherwise. In a sense, she was both confused, angry, and thankful towards this Subaru and everything that he had given the cast. He, even if parts of his bright personality were no longer apparent, was still a light at the end of the tunnel.
However, if she was to help her Subaru then perhaps helping this one out first is the first step in understanding the truest description of his character.
"Why were you lying and hiding, I suppose?"
Subaru, whose eyes had now been stolen off from the skies, now looked towards the butterfly-eyed girl. He missed interactions such as these, at least he had his daughter to comfort him from time to time even if they didn't start on the right foot.
"Continue?"
"You said it has been 10 years, yet you still insist on doing things alone, in fact. The theatre, this cabin, that conversation, Betty's Subaru seems to be doing everything by himself with no other input, I suppose."
"Betty's Subaru must be so lonely without us, I suppose, because… we're gone, aren't we?"
Subaru, instead of widening his eyes in astoundment from her correct deduction, simply gave a small smile that at least one person in the group had noticed. He was even prouder and happier than it was a person he knew for a fact he could trust with anything, even the scars on his arm.
"Betty's Subaru must not visit other survivors that much does he, I suppose."
Subaru now had his full undivided attention on the loli.
"You must have felt lonely too after watching the viewings, correct?"
After all, it went against his past self.
He once said to his Beako that he'd make up for all the time she lost. Yet the time she spent with him was a speck, not because of her extended life that essentially made her unable to age, but because of his supposed incompetence.
Subaru did not view this as Beatrice simply caring for him and his current condition. With one question which he asked, he only reminded himself more of his ineptitude.
He had watched the viewings after losing them and every time his eyes snapped back into reality and off those screens, the reality of the situation hit him each time. They were gone and it was something he just couldn't change.
Beatrice looked him in his cold yet warm eyes, noticing that her future Subaru decided on continuing his legacy of being an enigma.
"Betty believes that is inconsequential in comparison to what her contractor can become. The if stories, in fact, showed Betty that her contractor can change in a split second, I suppose."
"And you guys plan to protect him with your lives when you get back? To prevent him from breaking?"
"That is what the half-elf plans, but Betty believes that it won't be enough. Betty knows that we won't see you once we get back but, for some reason, Betty believes that the only way to help Subaru is in you."
Subaru continued to gaze at her with questioning and skeptical eyes. A failure like him helping yet another not-as-big failure? How could the key to saving the sleeping Subaru be within him?
Ah, he got it now. Was what she was trying to say similar to "you failed and therefore we must learn from your failure?"
It must have been, there was no other way such things could make sense otherwise.
"In essence, Betty wants to know why you continue to lie and hide. We know Return by Death but Subaru refuses to talk about it. We know that Subaru can use his authority but he hasn't mentioned them at all. We also know that Subaru would never declare himself in front of someone and only call himself the Champion of the Witch and not the half-elf's knight instead."
.
.
.
.
She was far more clever than she looked as was expected from a spirit who had lived lifetimes worth of time.
.
.
.
.
"Beako… you can not change my nature as easily as you may think. If you're trying to learn from my mistakes, then just tell your Subaru to strategize and think about the long term more rather than just come up with unorthodox tactics."
"Betty isn't saying that changing her contractor's nature is the key. That idea was proven almost impossible each time she saw her contractor risk his life time and time again despite the terrible payback, in fact. Betty is also not trying to learn from your mistakes. Betty's Subaru is not much different from you, I suppose."
"I'm a failure, Beako. I thought that perhaps being a part of this world gave me a new beginning to create myself. I was too foolish to realize that even if that were true, saving everyone was still impossible."
"Betty wishes that her actual Subaru could understand that too, I suppose. Betty is tired of Subaru running into danger because of his wishes to save everyone. Can my contractor not see that the one who is in need of the most help is him, I suppose?"
Subaru looked further into the distance, trying to get his eyes off the loli. He truly did wonder what would occur if the slight shift in his ideology could have led him on a far easier path or perhaps even a happier one. He was sure it was possible but he continuously refused to accept it. He could have run away after his first death and perhaps could have started some sort of mini-business. Hell, he could have even asked the appa-man to be a part-time appa-seller just so that he could get by, appa diet or otherwise.
There was such a vast multitude of possibilities, but when he had seen the cast first appear in the theatre, he knew that they were the group to make everything right. If his plan went as he expected it to go or even if things went close enough to said plan then he'd be content with the work he'd have done.
"I still don't understand why you're really here. Is it out of habit?"
"Betty's Subaru constantly struggles during the night, you probably already know that though. Her contractor will even occasionally leave the room in silence to go outside and stare at the stars just you are right now, in fact."
Subaru remembered that…
"Betty is just sad and angry for her other self, I suppose. My other self would surely be crying if she saw her Subaru's state, in fact. After years of telling one another that you'd rely on each other and that the camp would be a backbone for you, it must have devastated Subaru to near insanity, I suppose, to see that promise shattered."
Subaru stayed silent for a while. As Beatrice watched, she could see the slight relaxation upon his shoulders and the lowering of his neck to a better position. He still didn't look at her but that was enough, simply being in the presence of an awake Subaru, hers or not, was gratifying.
She still deeply cared though, as if old parts of a contract were still there between the sleeping one and the Warden. She saw the despair in her Subaru's eyes and how the scars on his arms not only got worse but were more intricate in manner as to make healing and patching far more difficult. It was as if he begged death to reclaim him in full. He must have thought of a permanent death many times, Beatrice thought, but it was clear that his duty as a father and at the theatre must have continuously beckoned him. It was ironic that the thing that may just be keeping him alive was the people who had wronged him. His heart, no matter his current personality, had not changed.
Beatrice put her hand on her contractor's hand and pouted in an extremely low volume. She wondered how he must have reacted when he learned that he could bring the cast back and change the past. Was he happy? Or was he hesitant in any way?
"My Beako helped me get a suit once, you know."
Huh?
"It was my first actual date with Emilia-tan, one where we both loved each other undeniably. It was around a week after she had confessed to me, I still remember the butterflies in my stomach bursting out. Instead of blood, it was just pure joy and relief. I thought that my year in Voll- I thought that she may never love me after what I did at the time."
'I know this is really overdue but I think that you reeeeealy deserve it. It's now or never! I love you, Subaru!"
'Did my Emilia-tan just use a Subaru-ism!? I didn't think you'd ever catch on to my legendary phrases!'
'Subaru, did you not hear me?'
Emilia stared at him with a blank stare and a dumbfounded expression.
'Of course. You said it's now or never!'
'You dunderhead, I also said I love you! I love you, I love you, I love you!'
His head then exploded in red that was most certainly not blood.
"I was so embarrassed that I immediately requested for a vacation to the capital. I got there and just slept at an inn for the majority of the week until I realized that it wasn't a dream. I also had realized that her confession wasn't the only thing that made me happy. It was the fact that all the members stood beside her when they initially doubted her.
'The Cap'ns girlfriend has been waiting to say it ever since he got back.'
'Well, we must make sure that Natsuki-san's condition is in top-tier shape. That'll make their reunion heartwarming, don't you think Garf.'
'You two troublemakers, I suppose. Subaru obviously deserves what's coming to him and the half-elf… Emilia deserves it too, I suppose.'
'You believe in me too, Beako!'
Beatrice turned her head around to see a half-elf poking her head out of her room. Her ears seemed almost as if they were perked upwards and had the full intent of listening. Had she been eavesdropping on them?
'Don't worry, Emilia-sama. Barusu will surely be surprised when the one to bring his soup is his beloved, just make sure the disgusting pervert doesn't pounce on you.'
Emilia, whose ears had now gotten red, took the tray out of the oni's hands and rushed towards the room housing her favorite, even if only, knight. She, to the relief and surprise of the others, had not dropped the food.
"It was also when you convinced me, albeit kinda harshly, that I'd better scope the land for a date."
'Subaru's amazing spirit can't have you moping like this when the girl's already made it clear that she likes you, I suppose. What are you, stupid!? Betty's contractor must be stupid to believe that the girl is joking, in fact!'
'But Beako, she might just not understand it ye-'
'Enough, I suppose. Let's go and get you some clothes. What are you going to show up on your first dayte, in fact?'
'I do have this tracksui-'
'Shut up, I suppose.'
"So you took me on a shopping spree for suits, ties, and, much to my dismay, some dresses. I swear you always looked at me in awe whenever I wore a dress. You told me that I shouldn't just lay around when a reward is in such clear sight. She told me that, even if she didn't believe it to be enough compensation for my 'amazing lolimancer acts', that I deserved happiness in whatever way I personally saw fit."
'Betty's contractor has no concept of equivalent exchange, I suppose.'
'Is that a reference, Beako?'
"She always talked about me deserving peace and rest, you know. I never believed that until I revisited a certain alley in the middle of a certain market district. It was in the middle of the night much like this one and it was the quietest I've ever heard the capital. I snuck out of the inn to deal with… you know."
Beatrice, sitting on the log, knocked her head down. She knew how this was going to go. Her future, or perhaps more accurately alternate, self had probably found her Subaru self-harming as if there was no tomorrow. She knew her Subaru too well, he would believe that his happiness was not something he deserved. Considering her other self's lack of knowledge in Return by Death, it must have been confusing to the other Beatrice on why her Subaru believed himself to be constantly failing them.
Even then, his failing of them was untrue.
However, when the Warden Subaru had parted his mouth once again to continue the next arc of the story, her eyes glistened with hope and astoundment. She had thought she'd never hear the words depart from Subaru's mouth ever.
A facade was a facade. A facade was what Subaru poured most of his power and wit to uphold, especially in the face of others. It was when he continued with his story that he spoke with the most genuine tone she heard from him in all of the time she had ever spent with him.
"You came, of course, rushing in while holding your long dress and getting angry at me for having worried you. You, out of instinct, rolled up my sleeves and immediately started applying healing magic. I was so damn ashamed that I did it again. It was then that I realized that the air smelled suspiciously clear and pure rather than being infested with iron. My Beako's eyes lit up in both sorrow and in happy confusion."
...
...
...
...
...
...
..
.
"My arms were devoid of any fresh scars. Only the old ones remained, it seemed."
Beatrice looked at her contractor once again, scanning his face in the attempt to be like Crusch or Reinhardt and find if he was really telling the truth.
Beatrice, after realizing her fruitless attempts, gave up on understanding and instead decided to just feel. What she felt was the most intoxicating feeling in the world...hope. She understood the point of the story now. Subaru had accepted how much an impact tiny actions can have on the entirety of the world. Going back to that alley was not just an act of instinct or a yearning to reminisce on past memories, but, whatever it was, it saved Subaru.
The alley Subaru had visited that night far in the future showed him the progress he had made from being a hopeless and defenseless person begging for help to a person whose hard work and others' help had given him the title of Sage and hero.
That alleyway was grimey and disgusting, filled with dirt and trash as many had passed and littered all about. The bricks that made up the alley were also quite busted and the dust spraying from them permeated the atmosphere. When Subaru had first appeared, he saw himself as simply another person within the alley. He saw himself as part of the grime and filth, worthy of no admiration and one who hadn't necessarily earned anything yet.
It felt that as he returned to the crime-free and somewhat glorified alley, as many had known it as the start of the hero's journey, he now saw that his influence was much larger than anticipated. Make no mistake, however, he still saw himself as inferior to others and deserving of less praise than what was actually given to him, but the feeling was nice. That same alley and that moment when he witnessed the shock on his Beako's face was a moment he'd never forget.
"Did Subaru's Betty smile, I suppose?"
Subaru looked at her and, for the first time since the spirit and the Warden met, patted her head in affection. It gave him a shockwave of nostalgia. He remembered the times where tickle fights were common between the two, where patting one another's heads and constantly teasing each other made others see them as brother and sister rather than spirit and contractor.
For the first time in forever, he actually felt the tingling sensation in his throat that he had missed so much.
He laughed.
Otto woke up to the sound of ropes being tightened and the morning chirps of birds. It seemed like such an unnatural occurrence to hear such wildlife as just the day before, they were witnesses to a barren landscape. Otto also had stretched his back as the beds in this newfound cabin of Subarus were not as comfortable or soft as those in the theatre. Now that he thought about it, the beds at the theatre may have been the tippy top of all beds he'd ever slept on including those in the Roswaal Mansion.
Seeing how the sleeping bags in the room were empty except for those of Petra, Mimi, Tivey, and the amazing shield-using tiger, he got up and got his proper attire. Dropping his hat on his grey-ish hair, he walked out to notice many others eating blissfully within the kitchen.
"Ah, it looks like Otto has finally gotten up. I was quite scared for whether you or Garf was the heavier sleeper," spoke Frederica, smiling brightly towards the grey-haired merchant to which resulted in a rosy color on the merchant's cheeks.
As many others seemed to giggle in response to the shy merchant's response, they handed him a plate of food. To Otto's surprise, the food was delicious as was expected from anything created by the gracious hands of Frederica. Otto did wonder though when Frederica learned such a recipe.
The dish seemed to contain fine white grains mixed in with juicy meat and a soup-like substance. This gravy-like substance was used in perfect tandem with the meat in other vegetables. Though the dish was also quite spicy, it wasn't as spicy to be overly overwhelming or distract one from the meal itself. The flavor was both sweet and savory, however, which gave the dish even greater greatness!
"Frederica, this is amazing! How come you never made this back at the mansion?" questioned the craving Otto, saliva dripping off his lips as he hadn't tasted such amazing cooking in literal weeks considering the theatre's diet had gotten quite dull if eaten during long periods of time.
Frederica turned around to face the merchant and, much to his amazement had an even brighter smile than before.
"I didn't know how to make it at the mansion but this sweet young lady taught me the recipe and we made it together." stated the woman, moving her hand into a pointing-like motion towards the other end of the room.
Sitting on a chair munching on the same dish that the two supposedly had created was the same blonde-haired girl they met the other day. Next to her was another blonde-haired princess who, in tandem with her Big Bro, had her curiosity intrigued by the presence of another person.
"Hey, you! What's your name again?" asked the brash ex-thief.
"Lady Felt, I believe that you should be more respectful to Subaru's daught-"
"Shut it Rein. Sorry if I seemed loud, but what's your name? I'd really like to know more about you!" exclaimed the excited princess. In her mind, if her Big Bro had a daughter and loved her as much as they were led to believe, then why couldn't she be her friend too? In a way, did this technically make her a sort of Aunt?
It did upset her a tad bit though that this child may just grow taller than her.
"Louise."
"Cute name, I suppose," said Beatrice as she walked near, still somewhat cautious of the girl who seemed to possess an authority herself. Was she like Subaru in a sense, one who could contain a witch factor without being corrupted by them?
"Did Subaru name you that?" asked Felt, gaining the attention of most people within the room.
The girl cocked her head upwards as if in thought. She remembered the first time she had met Subaru to which he had immediately called her Louise. Had he named her at that moment? Well, it was only natural for a parent to name their child, correct?
"Yup, daddy named me that when we first met!"
"When you first met?"
"Had you ever seen your 'daddy' before that?"
"Nope!"
The room stayed silent at the revelation. To an outsider, such a statement must seem quite innocent and without any malicious intent or anything remotely similar to said emotions. However, to the group who were used to the intricacies of Return by Death, even if not the entire pain of it, they still understood what the girl's phrase meant.
"It seems like the commoner continues to get himself into deep trouble in the future. Did you hear that Al, the commoner builds his status more and more as time goes on? We must have him in our camp as mineself deserves," brashly stated that princess.
"Subaru-Kun… did he Return by Death again?"
It was the only explanation that made sense. Subaru appears to have Returned by Death before having met the girl which explained why he knew her actual name before their official meeting. However, in the minds of most of the other candidates who had become more perceptive than before, still questioned how Subaru supposedly named her yet could have learned of her name beforehand.
That was when the cast, or at least the majority of them had affirmed their belief that more knowledge of the future was required. If Subaru could do wonders with information of upcoming events then perhaps they, even if not as effective, could do the same. They did not have the same restrictions of Return by Death placed upon them and the collective effort of all the camps could really come in handy.
Crusch knew this all too well and understood that they needed to retrieve some proper intel and understand the current state of the Warden. What had led the Warden onto the path they saw now? Was the fate that befell the Warden so strong that Return by Death couldn't prevent it? Why had the Witch of Envy even done to have made him fail?
So Crusch, curious towards the origin of the child, kneeled in front of her and in an almost motherly tone, surprising many others and making Felix's eyes sparkle in awe, asked the sweet girl…
"Louise, was it? Where did you and Subaru meet?"
Louise, though being an innocent child, was not as dumb or gullible as they initially perceived her to be. It was always the young children who were so oddly perceptive and tricky.
"Papa said he doesn't want anyone to know about his amazing adventures. I don't want to be grounded again!"
'She gets grounded? What the hell did that mean?' thought the others, apart from Al who was laughing at Subaru's fatherly tactics.
Either way, at the refusal of the child, most had their curiosity burn even brighter.
"Crusch-sama, I suppose if the girl doesn't want to talk and Subaru doesn't want to either then we should just respect their choices and privacy," suggested the experienced sword demon.
Much to his dismay though, very little the room really agreed. This was especially true for the silver-haired half-elf who, for the first few hours after getting out of bed, had been playing with the hair of her sleepy beloved.
They all thought the same thing in a sense. Subaru would only continue to get himself into impossible situations and though the chance of him succeeding in miraculous ways was exponentially high, it was sure that he'd have to face much trauma and torment until he found the correct path. Even then, what really constituted the correct path when that same path was littered with the boy's blood? How could they stand by and let necessary information slip out of their hands? Would that not doom their Subaru to an even bloodier and terrible fate?
"Emilia-sama, I think you should stop caressing disgusting Barusu's hair like that. I'm sure he probably has bugs and his hair must be grimey considering he hasn't taken a bath in weeks," stated the harsh oni, worried for the state of the future and the mental sanity of the half-elf. Though the elf preserved a healthy and happy facade much like how Subaru did, she could still see how the half-elf was hurting.
To Emilia, she had failed her Subaru again, leaving him to a fate such as this one. Living alone with no one but his daughter to keep him company and with no other company as to properly understand his feelings and thoughts. Subaru couldn't dump information or emotions about Return by Death upon the girl as she was just that… a young innocent girl. It seems her future self continued to fail her beloved.
To Emilia, she felt as if her very being had enormously contributed to the terrible state she and the others were witnesses to. The Warden Subaru's facade had disappeared as many had wished it would, but the happy and genuine cheerfulness that their Subaru could occasionally emit was gone as well. Though the radio calisthenics enjoyer and brilliant strategist was still present, the charisma and almost inspiring nature he emitted had seemingly dulled. What happened to him was the primary question that echoed within the walls of their mind.
Emilia did not want her Subaru to befall a fate like this and, at the same time, could not endure the Warden befalling the same pain similar to that of her actual Subaru. Was it pity? Perhaps... but it was more accurately out of a sense of preservation and a yearning to help.
To gain information of the future and to understand the Warden was somewhat in an attempt to understand his true intentions. Learning the Warden's wants and intentions would allow them to pave and carve a path to take in the attempts to help Subaru. Learning those intentions was key towards the preservation of Natsuki Subaru in a sense.
Furthermore, the camps that once resided in the theatre had witnessed the boy go through unspeakable horrors and unfair trials. It was clear that they out of guilt, love, faithfulness, comradery, or any combination of the aforementioned characteristics, had been yearning to help the one who helped them. After all, what would happen if they didn't repay him back? Those filled with guilt would forever rot due to said guilt if they didn't help. Those yearning for his attention and happiness, those who loved him in a sense, would forever suffer the feeling of guilt and emptiness if they had failed to help him.
As such, it was necessary to help the two, sleeping-Baru and the Warden-Baru.
"Foolish mongrels, wouldn't you agree Al? Why help the mongrel when our problems are already so convoluted?"
"Well princess, I suppose you could put it that way. It still doesn't sit well with me that we'd just ignore the other Bro's suffering."
Priscilla, who did not want to hear a lick of Al's opinions, simply huffed at the situation.
Subaru had called the cast outside for he had seemingly gotten three carriages out from a stable. Calling for the cast to come with, Subaru then started to attach certain ground-dragons onto leashes as to pull the first carriage. After finishing such a task, he moved to the back of the cabin and walked back near the front with one of his most prized possessions.
"I cyan't believe it…" said Felix in astonishment from what he saw next.
Patrasche
The ground-dragon got a tad bit too giddy when she saw the cast and turned her head to face Subaru. Subaru, who nodded as if in approval, seemingly gave the dragon the incentive and permission to rush at mach speed towards them.
While Otto screamed in terror as he believed that he may just be run over, the others held a smile as a familiar sight had been found among the unusual atmosphere.
Much to Emilia's specific surprise, however, was the fact that the dragon had ran up to her and nuzzled her cheek as if in deep and sincere affection. It seemed to the cast that their relationship must have developed over the course of time. Many others simply viewed it as a wholesome moment in the middle of all the despair they witnessed in the theatre.
Patrasche is truly the best girl.
After setting up everything and tying the rein on Patrasche, Subaru called out to everyone to enter one of the carriages. Many of the candidates, save for Priscilla, had fought towards who got into the carriage with the sleeping Subaru as well.
The argument lasted for a few minutes of constant and unchanging reasoning.
"He's my knight, I think I should be the one to be next to him," reasoned the half-elf.
"Subaru-Kun saved Rem and Rem wants to repay him back. I'll make sure to give him a soft pillow!" proclaimed the determined oni.
"Sir Subaru needs rest and you too as well, please just be separated for a while," ordered the militant Duchess.
"Man, you guys are really fighting about this? I'm just getting in the same carriage because Julius is already in," said the greedy yet kind merchant.
What?
As the candidates turned towards the carriage, they witnessed the purple-haired knight sitting straight with legs crossed next to the laying Subaru. He looked at them with a smug yet knightly expression as if he held pride that he was in the same carriage with the living legend.
"Guys, we're not going to get to the other Reinhardt and Felt in time if you stall like this. Just do some classic rock, paper, scissors over it."
"Rock, paper, scizors?" said the group in confusion as to what rock and paper could possibly have to do with the current situation.
"Barusu, the beautiful Ram is getting tired of sitting here and moving nowhere. You better convince them," teased Ram.
"Yeah, I know Ram…"
He just can't escape from her insults, can he?
"Well you see, it's a game from where I come from. You make these gestures representing paper, rock, or scissors and…"
"Hold on, hold on Big Bro. Make the gestures again, I wasn't paying attention."
Subaru sighed and made the gestures again. As if teaching a group of kids, all those who desired to hop on the carriage with the sleeping Subaru watched with focused eyes as if expecting the game to have an added layer of intricacy and complexity.
"Okay, now that we got that down… The rock beats scissors, the scissors beat paper, and the paper beats rocks. There are twelve of you right now wanting to get on that carriage and we can only fit seven, including the other me, in that tinier carriage. We'll do a competition."
As if he was setting up a bracket, Subaru made it a six versus six with the six surviving members being the only ones to hop on the wagon with the rising hero. Raising up his hand, all participants bent their knees in heavy anticipation. As if glaring in their eyes would somehow allow them to predict their opponent's next move, each participant stared at their opponent as if facing their arch enemy.
Emilia v Anastasia
"My knight needs my lap pillows!"
"Well, I'm a greedy gal, so I just got to observe your knight a tiny bit more."
Julius v Garfiel
"My Cap'n needs his shield next to his side!"
"Subaru is yet to officially consider me a friend but watching his sleeping face gives me teasing rights, doesn't it?"
Otto v Felt
"I'm just doing this because Garf drove me into this…"
"Doesn't matter, I'm going for blood!"
Reinhardt v Al
"You sure you don't have a divine protection for mini-game winning?"
"Even if I did, I'd deactivate it. This will be a battle of honor."
"The other bro was right, you are way too nice…"
Crusch v Priscilla
"Mineself has already decided that losing is impossible."
"I wouldn't be so sure princess, maybe in the future your luck runs out."
"Preposterous!"
Rem v Frederica
"You know Rem, even if I won I will gladly give my spot to you as long as Garfiel loses. You know what chaos he'd cause in the same wagon as Priscilla-sama and Felt-sama, right?"
"Subaru-Kun is beckoning me…"
"Rem, did you listen to what I said?"
Subaru raised his hand and when at his command, everyone would summon their choice: rock, paper, or scissors.
Subaru then started the command with a yell the size of a boulder, catching everyone's attention.
"JAN!"
With a swift arm movement downwards like that of paper, many were preparing to demolish their enemy.
"KEN!"
Another quick movement upwards, preparing to smash with enormous strength and determination.
It was silent for a while, confusing a few of the cast, as Subaru was yet to call the last word in the command. Garfiel had sweat on his forehead and the suspense had increased over the seconds.
The second Subaru said scissors would be the time where they would achieve victory…
"PON!"
Their hands swept downwards at Mach speeds, most probably destroying the sound barrier as the multitude of hands formed various gestures. Subaru smiled as he expected exactly this, apart from two of them I guess.
The tiger boy had his pupils dilated as fate had appeared to be against him that day.
"NOOOO!" yelled Garfiel, falling to his knees as he was defeated where he stood.
"I respectfully apologize, Garfiel," said the formal knight where, much to his surprise, Garfiel actually gave him a handshake straight after.
It also seems that money can't buy anything.
"Damn, it seems I missed my opportunity, didn't I?" Anastasia sadly sighed.
"It was a nice match Anastasia-sama, I hope this doesn't make us enemies in the future," said Emilia before walking towards the carriage with great pride in her heart.
It looked like the ex-thief princess brutally defeated an Internal Affairs Minister.
"I applaud you, Lady Felt," clapped Otto, giving a nod of approval at his brutal loss.
"It seems that even destiny is telling me that Big Bro needs me!" exclaimed Felt, posing in a form similar to Subaru's iconic one. It was a victory!
It was then where Al learned that Reinhardt was just built differently.
"Damn man, you really go at the speed of light," said Al, sweat pouring from his helmet as he had never seen a man move so damn fast in his life.
"I'm sorry," whispered Reinhardt.
Jesus Christ, he's apologizing.
"Dude, really?"
"Um… Thank you…" restated the blissful Reinhardt.
It also seemed that, in an unexpected result, the princess just had outrageous luck.
"Didn't mineself tell you that it was inevitable?" bragged the self-absorbed yet efficient princess.
"I thought I made paper, why did I make scissors?" said Crusch, seemingly in complete denial.
And it seemed that a tragic character had been created...
"Sniff,...Sniff, Subaru-Kun. WHY!" screamed Rem. Her entire future is destroyed!
"Rem, it looks like Garfiel lost. I'll give you my spot then," calmly stated the head-maid.
"No Frederica-sama, you deserve to spend time with Subaru-Kun...Sniff. Beware I won't let this slide, I won't let you take away my Subaru-Kun!" exclaimed Rem, striding towards the other carriage housing her sister.
"Bu-"
"Well, that was interesting. Well… Come on! We're on a trip, let's go!"
Leaving no time for refusal or rejection, the winners entered the wagon with the sleeping hero.
Emilia, Julius, Felt, Frederica, Priscilla, and Reinhardt hopped on. Four had bright smiles, one had a fan covering their face, and the last one sat there confusingly as she had not really wanted this.
"Better rest up if you need to, it'll be a few hours."
And so they went.
Author Notes:
This one is yet another chapter where I just made stuff up while writing. I think that I did well enough and I hope that you readers agree with me, at least for the most part. Sorry that this chapter came in a bit late though, but I wanted to make it longer than the previous ones, and I accomplished that with this 11,593 worded chapter.
I hope you guys have a wonderful day or magnificent night, depending on when you read this of course.
Yorelis, signing out