It was a tiresome day for Subaru Natsuki.

After dealing with his produce trade as well as buying other necessities for their own usage, the raven-haired farmer slightly dragged his body towards his bed.

The day was a fruitful one. Not only he gained enough profit to survive the month, he also bargained and haggled a good amount of produce as well from the farmer's market— which in turn saving up their money for emergency use. As the day went on, he went from shop to shop, looking for great deals in produce — not noticing the pace of the time.

As he finished arranging his newly-bought groceries, took a quick bite, and washing the fatigue away with a long bath, the black-haired ex-knight made his was to his bedroom — where he met the sleeping visage of his beloved.

Her long green hair, which is usually tied into a ponytail, flowed down at the sides of her shoulders, her body steady rising and falling, and her peaceful face towards the side of the wall. He sighed as he lamented on arriving late and not hear her greeting him home.

Gently, he positioned himself on their bed and moving as to not wake the sleeping elf, he made his way to his side of the bed. Slowly, he leaned towards her ear and:

"I'm home, Shion-tan." he whispered through her elven ears as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. After caressing and placing some of her hair behind her ear, Subaru moved to his side of the bed and started to drift off to slumber.

Suddenly, he felt some rustling on the mattress and was also surprised by a sudden swatting of his arm. As soon as those silky smooth arms found his own, more movement was observed as Shion shimmied her body towards Subaru's until she was close to his. She laid her head at his shoulder and after some adjustments snuggled at his side.

"Mmmm...Subaru...welcome home..." she mumbled as she continued her sleep as her breathing could be felt at Subaru's neck.

"Damn..."

...was all could Subaru could say as such warmth emitted both from within him and from the sleeping elf.

As he wrapped his arms around Shion, the green-haired elf pressed further her body to his until there was no space between them.

"I am home, Shion-tan..."

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"Mmm...yeah. Love you..."

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...with a final kiss on her forehead, Subaru let his fatigue took over him— as he slowly drifted to unconsciousness— with Shion in his arms...

Sleep never felt great that night...


"Subaru, why didn't you finished your tea?"

The couple just finished their lunch at a local cafe near their home. Nearing the end of their meal, Shion noticed that Subaru didn't emptied his cup of tea.

When she first noticed this, she didn't mind this as she thought at maybe he either didn't like it or he's full from his meal...

...but this continued each time they decided to eat outside...

Tea is very important for the illusionist as during her childhood. Together with rice — she prepared them for her family. Due to her heritage and lack of social skills, she mostly drink tea by herself.

This all changed when she met Subaru...

Tea became a staple in their lovely abode as they spend their quality time together — chatting, debating, cracking jokes, venting, and overall talking about anything that comes to mind. The green-haired elf cherished such fine moments as finally, she can spend quality time with someone precious over something she hold sacred with...

And that's why she's a bit peeved when someone wasted on such precious liquid— even if that someone is her most beloved.

"Subaru, love. Why didn't you finished your tea? I know it's a little issue but lately I noticed that when we go out to eat lunch, you always leave a quarter of yours and just leave. So why?"

The lovable goofball knows that she's might be a bit too harsh to him but she couldn't help it. "Tea is the most important meal of the day..." she would preach and slightly raised her cup towards him.

"Wow, never knew my goofball of a girlfriend is so British..." the nasty-eyed boy mumbled as he lightly chuckled to himself — which unfortunately made Shion a bit more mad...

"Su~ba~ru! I'm being serious! You know tea is very important to me. That's why I'm upset about this issue..."

Sensing that the situation might turn south, Subaru raised his hands to try to calm down his girlfriend.

"Sorry, sorry. Bad joke." he scratched the back of his head while consoling and calming the green-haired elf. "It's just, the tea doesn't taste the same way as how you made it, Shion-tan. I know it's a bit exaggerated, but I love your tea more than any other ones..."

As Subaru continued babbling on the difference of the two by its brew, temperature settings, type of cream or milk she used, etc. , he didn't noticed Shion —who was both completely stunned and flattered at the compliment.

"...and so, that's why your tea taste better than anything else. Ehhh? Shion-tan, are you okay? You're a bit red, aren't you? Are you sick?" he frantically asked as he now realized his lover's quiet demeanor.

"Shut up...you nincompoop. Let's just go home already...and I'll might serve you my tea when we get there..." the elf replied as she was left as a flustered blabbering mess.

Despite not knowing the reason why, Subaru could only chuckle and wrapped his hands around the green-haired elf's and walked together home.



"Subaru, are you okay?"

It was at the middle of the night when Shion was suddenly awake from her slumber. The lovable goofball was jolted from her sleep when her partner suddenly rose and let our a horrified scream.

As soon as her warm orange eyes gaze to his own hazel-brown, the black-haired boy broke down and cried his heart out. Even though she was still slightly dazed from sleep and confused, Shion hugged Subaru tight and tried her best to console him...

...this continued for a while as Subaru clung on to Shion— shamelessly crying on her chest.

After a while as he finally calmed down, Subaru stared downcasted on his hands as Shion repeated her question.

"Subaru, are you okay? Please tell me..."

As the green-haired elf poured her concern to her lover, said lover could only grip his blanket tightly as he was left tongue-tied — but not because that he didn't know the reason why he had these nightmares...

...it's because that he simply couldn't share and pour his heart out because of the penalty of Return by Death...

"Damn it! Why can't I just tell her!? Why am I must be cursed?" the former knight could only lament as frustration started to built up with in him.

"Please...tell me, love. Please tell me so I can help you..."

Shion knows that she shouldn't forced Subaru to tell her as it may pressure and agitate him even further. But she couldn't help be too concern for him.

"Please, love..."

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Shion took the initiative and slowly cupped her hands on his face. She let her thumbs wipe the leftover tears on his face — as his swollen, empty, and despaired eyes breaks her heart.

" Please, Subaru. Speak to me...You can always lean on me, love..."

Her simple actions only frustrates Subaru even further as he cannot tell anything to her. He could only lower his gaze from her and looked at the side.

If he could, he would tell her. Tell her everything...

Tell her that he can return to a certain point by death...

That he has seen hell and basically run lapses on it...

The pain.

The suffering.

The deaths...

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The reasons why he was currently mentally and emotionally tortured:

The betrayal from his "cherished" and "trusted" friends...

The moment Emilia broke his heart and relinquishing him from knighthood...

The distaste of Beatrice, Rem, Garfiel, and Ram as they gazed scornfully at him while they either attacked or killed him...

The bloody chase...

The exhaustion and fatigue from running away from his captors...

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...as Subaru was contemplating about his own accursed conundrum, he was shock when something soft was pressed on his forehead. Surprised, his trance was snapped when he realized that Shion leaned forward and planted a kiss.

As the elf caressed his tear-stained cheeks, she looked at Subaru in the eye and with a gentle and reassuring voice, she spoke to him — hoping that her message will go through him.

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"Subaru Natsuki. Sweetie. Honey. Love."

"Please don't make that face, it doesn't suit you..."

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"Trying to shoulder the burden all by yourself again?"

"I may not know why you have this 'nightly excursions' but please know that I'm always here for you, love."

"So please, don't be such a stranger..."

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"Weep and ask for help. Lean on me with your running nose..."

"Cry when you feel like crying."

"Laugh when you feel like laughing."

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When your tearing up with an ugly face, I'll give you a good cry with an uglier face."

"When your laughing so hard that your stomach hurts, I'll laugh in a louder voice."

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"That's how it should be..."

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"I love you, no matter what..."

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As Shion was delivering her heartful speech, Subaru continued to sob as tears continued to pour out from his eyes.

This warmth...

Such warmth heats up the freezing isolation he was feeling due to his cursed fate.

Her eyes...

Her orange-colored eyes that pierced through his soul and melts his fears away.

That smile...

Such precious thing that washes away his worries.

Such gentleness...

The type of gentle spirit that soothes his restless heart.

Her touch...

A single contact from her fingertips sent shivers to his spine and makes the hair all over his body stand up.

This love...

Love that gave him light from the abyss of despair and suffering.

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Yes, he was crying, but not from his hellish nightmares...

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No...

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He was crying...because of such pure joy that he's feeling right now —as it's too unbelievable for him to imagine...

"T-thank you...thank you so m-much, Shion-tan...I can't...I can't..." Subaru stuttered he couldn't believe that someone could make him an emotional mess in a matter of seconds...

Giggling softly, the green-haired elf could only smile as her love could only give incorherent words to her. Again, she leaned and closed their distance as such their forehead touched each other and their breath could be felt from one another.

"Dummy...I'm always here for you, no matter what... So, lean on me...Okay?"

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"I love you, my dummy Subaru..."

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...and with that, the distance between them became zero as the lovable goofball took Subaru's lips with her own...

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The night could never be more sweeter than this...


Author's note:

Hi, it's been a while, huh?

First, I would like to apologize for laying low for a while. Work and real life have been both a joy and a pain to handle now. But nevertheless, I would never trade it for anything as I'm both coping and having fun with them.

Second, I would like to personally thank everyone for supporting, commenting, and liking my stories. Seriously, I cannot believe that there are people that love my own stories. I can't still believe that care and support you guys give me. Also, thanks for the awesome guys at Reactionist's discord server for being great friends. I wouldn't imagine to be a fanfic writer in the beginning and now I'm enjoying doing it as a hobby. So thank you Reactionist, James Sider, Dorugi, and others :)

Third, no, I'm not stop in writing my stories. But it will be not as much frequent like the past six months as stuff needs to be done. Don't worry, I'll update my stories, the question is when I'll update. Hehehe

Lastly, thank you so much for reading this story. Please tell me how what you think about it at the comments.

With that, thank you and see you in the next story/update...

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...I hope you like it?