Frederica gave a long sigh. Lips pursed deep in thought. Currently she was scrubbing all the muck and grime from the pile of dirty dishes given to her, while her brother lazed about behind her. She was scrubbing with an aggressive intensity, clearly upset about something. Garfiel meanwhile just had his hands behind his head, leaning against a chair.
Yet even with Frederica's back turned to him, Garfiel could still sense that something was bothering his sister. Turning his head to stare at the back of Frederica's, he cautiously opened his mouth to speak. Hesitating as he found the suitable words to speak.
"Oi Sis," he began. "Is somethin' th' matter wit'ya? Ya seem kinda down'n th' dumps," the blonde boy observed.
Frederica gave another heavy sigh. She put down the plate she had finished cleaning, and rested her palms on the sink. "I suppose I can't hide the fact, can I? Have I really been that obvious?"
Garfiel winced. "Well, y'have been givin' them plates a helluva time scrubbin'. So clearly somethin' must be wrong."
Frederica gave a mirthless chuckle. "It appears as though I can't hide anything from you, Garf," she said.
"Well, ya don't hafta worry no more! Cause I'm 'ere! We're siblin's, Sis! Y'can tell my amazin' self anyt'ing an' I won't judge ya one bit!" he said as he flashed a smile.
Frederica smiled at his willingness to help. "I'm grateful, Garf. You truly are a dependable little brother."
Garfiel smiled at the praise. "Aw thanks! Now c'mon, spill it! I wanna hear all about it!"
"Very well, then." Frederica leaned against the counter. "If I am to be completely honest, it is about Otto-sama."
Garfiel blinked a few times. "Eh? Brotto? What's wrong with 'em? Did he offend ya or somet'in'?" he said worriedly.
"No! Of course not," Frederica assured. She then uncharacteristically looked off to the side with a faint blush staining her cheeks. "Moreso, it has to do with…how I feel about him."
"Oh…" Garfiel's brows raised in realization. "Oh! You gots a lil' crush on Brotto now, dontcha?!" Garfiel asked as he grinned like a madman. "Well shucks! Never t'ought my amazin' self would see th' day where my big sis got love fever!"
"D-Don't tease me, Garf!" Frederica demanded flustered. "Besides, can you really blame me? Otto-sama is just so…kind. And gentle, and caring, and dependable. There's a reason Subaru-sama and Emilia-sama hold him in such high regards. He doesn't treat me badly or differently because of my demi-human blood, and is great with children. He's…exactly my type."
"Hmm…" Garfiel rubbed at his chin. "I didn't even know if ya had a type at all. T'is is quite th' surprise…" he murmured. "So lemme guess. You wanna know how t'confess y're feelin's?"
"N-Not yet!" Frederica shouted. She then clasped her hands over her mouth, surprised at her own outburst. "I just want to get closer to him at the moment, but I don't know how. I don't want to be too forward, but I also don't want our relationship to remain stagnant. Do you have any ideas?"
"I got a few!"
"Gah!" Shocked at the sudden entrance, Frederica turned to see her young student Petra, red bow and all. She saluted to Frederica with an angelic smile.
"Frederica-neesama, you should have told me you had a crush! That's so cute!" the girl squealed.
"Oi Petra! Y'said y'got some ideas f'r Brotto an' Sis to get together?" Garfiel said as he jumped right to the point.
Petra eagerly turned to face the blonde boy. "Yes! You see, there are many ways to show you care for someone without explicitly saying it! Just a bright smile can be enough to warm someone's heart. But if you want this to advance quickly, Frederica-neesama, then we'll have to go to stage three!"
"Stage three?" Frederica repeated. "What's that? If you don't mind me asking."
"There are five stages to show that you like somebody without outright stating it! Stage one is simple. Just smile at them! Like this!" Petra then gave a beaming smile that was bright enough to light up the night sky.
"But Brotto an' Sis smile to each other all th' time. What about th' others?" Garfiel inquired.
"Stage two is crucial. Talking to them! If the object of your affections notices how you always go out of your way to talk to and spend time with them, it'll be sure to make their heart flutter!" Petra exclaimed.
"Otto-sama and I talk quite frequently, but we are still stuck in a more friendship-like relationship. What about this stage three you were talking about?" Frederica asked curiously.
"Hehehe, stage three is where things get romantic! You have to give them a hug!"
"A hug?" Frederica gulped.
"Yes! A big, soft, warm hug. You wrap your arms around them and squeeeeeze real tight! This helps a lot with boys! Since many aren't that used to physical affection," Petra explained.
A sliver of pain etched itself into Garfiel's heart as he realized the auburn-haired girl's words were true.
"B-B-But…It's so sudden…" Frederica blushed. "Isn't there another way?"
"Well, stage four is holding hands. And stage five is kissing. So unless you want to do that…"
"Okay! Okay! I'll hug him! Just…Can I at least prepare?" Frederica asked.
Both Garfiel and Petra looked at each other, nodded, and turned to face Frederica.
"No!" they both shouted.
"Ehhhh?!" Frederica exclaimed.
"Y'gotta hug Brotto right now! Go track 'em down an' give him th' hug of his life!" Garfiel ordered.
"If you wait too long, Frederica-neesama, he might get stolen away! So hurry!" Petra encouraged.
Frederica grimaced, before she soun on her heels to face her obstacle. "Very well then!" she announced. "I will find Otto-sama! And I will give him a big hug!"
"Tha's my Sis!"
"Go get him!"
Thanks to the two's encouragement, Frederica was on her way to accomplish her mission. She didn't search for long, and was eventually greeted by the man in a signature green outfit.
"Oh! Good morning, Frederica-san," Otto greeted. "How are you feeling today?"
Frederica took a few seconds to answer his rather simple question. "O-Oh! I am feeling fine. Thank you for asking." She then looked down at the ground, unsure of what to do.
"Should I do it now? Or wait?" Frederica shook her head. "No no. I can't wait! Or else he may get taken away! I have to act on my feelings now!"
"Um…Frederica-san?" Otto smiled wryly. "Is everything all right? You're looking a bit pale."
Frederica was snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at Otto. She gave a blank expression before taking a step forward.
"F-Frederica-san?" Otto said again. "Umm…What is—"
Otto yelped as Frederica's hands firmly placed themselves on his shoulders. "Otto-sama…" Frederica said ominously. "I am going to hug you now."
"H-Huh?!" Otto exclaimed his surprise. Frederica however paid no mind to his adorable noises and face, and instead wrapped her arms around him.
"H-Hey! This is r-rather sudden, don't you think?" Otto nervously chuckled.
"I promised them…I would give you a big squeeze!"
"A squeeze?" Otto repeated weakly. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he realized just how nice this felt. She smelled good too. But then…
Frederica's hold tightened. At first it was just a tight grip, which Otto thought felt nice. But then it got a bit too tight.
"U-Umm hey. F-Frederica-san! W-Wait a mo—Wait a mom—Gahh!"
*CRACK*
"Otto-sama!" Frederica screamed in fright. Still holding onto Otto in her vice-like grip, she looked worriedly at Otto as it appeared as though he fainted with swirling eyes. She heard the sickening crunch and was worried that she may have hurt him.
"NO! OTTO-SAMAAAAA!"
Cut to an hour later, and an unconscious Otto was currently being given some healing treatment by Beatrice.
"The beast maid should perhaps account for her own strength next time she decides to be all affectionate, I suppose," Beatrice lectured. Frederica stood in the corner with a sad frown and an ashamed expression. A teardrop rolling down her cheek.
"D-Don't feel too bad, Frederica!" Emilia nervously comforted. "I'm sure it was an accident! And…I've had quite a few with Subaru myself!"
"My ribs still hurt," Subaru chuckled. Remembering all the times Emilia hugged him a bit too tight.
"Just remember to apologize to Otto when he wakes up," Emilia instructed. Petra and Garfiel looked guilty in another corner.
"I'm kinda to blame too…" Garfiel gulped.
"It was all my fault. I suggested it," Petra said, ashamed.
"Don't worry guys. Beako will fix Otto up in no time!" And as Subaru said that, Beatrice gave a sigh as she finished her work.
"Is he going to live?" Emilia asked.
"Of course he'll live, in fact! He just needs to rest for a few days, I suppose." As Beatrice made a few more lasting checkups, she left to let Otto rest. Garfiel and Petra apologized to him as they left as well, and Subaru and Emilia silently said their prayers.
Frederica was the only one who stayed.
She stayed the whole night, even sleeping in a chair upright. When morning came, she was awakened by Otto fervently shaking her.
"Frederica-san?" he announced. "Did you stay with me the whole time I was asleep?"
"O-Oh! Y-Yes. I did…I'm sorry…" Frederica apologized. Her green eyes shimmering with guilt.
"D-Don't worry about it! I've suffered worse. I appreciate your apology however. And…" Otto looked away from Frederica, a bit of red on his cheeks. "I wouldn't mind it if you did that again. Just…not hard enough to break my ribs."
Frederica's eyes widened with delight. She then gave Otto a gentle hug, a wide smile on her face.
"Ow ow ow!" But even with her being gentle, his ribs still hurt.
"Oh! Sorry. Hehe, I guess I should refrain from hugging you for the moment," Frederica blushed.
"W-Well…Yeah. For the time being…" The two dorks in love blushed red like appas.
"I guess I'll have to jump to stages four and five…" Frederica chuckled.
"Heh? Four and five?" Otto said, confused. Frederica then clasped Otto's hand, intertwining his fingers with his. If that didn't already make Otto's heart race, then what she did next would most certainly do the trick.
Leaning forward, she gave a quick peck to Otto's cheek. She then abruptly stood up before hurrying towards the exit.
"G-Goodbye, Otto-sama. I'll s-see you soon," she said before departing.
"Y-Yeah…" Otto said dumbly.
Both had the reddest faces after that, but also the biggest smiles.
All stages complete.