Envy's Greed Chapter 2, a re:zero fanfic

"I've been summoned to an alternate timeline!?"

A loud yell broke the tranquil silence of the hallway, where a young man in noble attire stood. His right hand shot up to cover his mouth. He didn't want anyone to hear what he said. It might draw suspicion.

The words that flew out of his mouth felt surreal to Subaru. There was no way that was possible... right?

Then again, Subaru time lept every time he died. Was being transported to a parallel universe really that outlandish of an occurrence?

Plus, nothing else could really explain Subaru's current situation. This type of memory erasure and alteration was something only Gluttony was capable of.

Louise had been reduced to an infantile state, so she definitely couldn't do this.

Lye was currently headless, courtesy of Ram.

Roy most likely had been locked up, similar to Sirius.

But if Subaru was in an alternate universe, that begged the question: Why?

Why would Satella do this? Why would she summon him to this weird timeline? Was she even capable of doing that...?

Wait! Come to think of it, while he was in the Shadow Garden, she told him to 'stop doing this to himself," the statement itself was not out of the ordinary; Satella deeply cared about him and his well-being. The problem was Subaru had no idea what she was talking about.

Was she referring to the 'other' him? But if Satella was the one to summon him, why wouldn't she know that he wasn't technically 'her' Subaru?

The answer was simple: somebody else brought him to this timeline. Who; he couldn't say for sure, but one thing was clear: there had to be a reason. There had to be a reason for his arrival.

He needed to find out what that was, and if there was one thing Natsuki Subaru was good at, it was information gathering.

Subaru made a sad smile to himself. Was he ever going to see his friends again? How long would he remain in this world? He didn't know.

The slayer of the White Whale stood silent, contemplating his new circumstances. The seeming stillness of time in the ornately decorated halls of the manor unnerved Subaru. It was... too quiet.

He didn't like it. Things should be lively. All of his friends were here... except for one. An ashen-haired merchant in green garb. His brother in arms. Why wasn't he here? Was he kidnapped or... murdered? Perhaps, he ran away?

What would cause him to do that? Where was the camp's minister of internal affairs?

A memory from the previous loop surfaced like an air bubble in a pool of water.

Subaru remembered a brief discussion with a white-haired sociopathic witch.

"Echidna?" Subaru didn't try and hide the venom in his voice.

"Yes, that's my name," Echidna snarkily answered, "What is it you desire with this young maiden?"

'Holy fuck, I hate this... witch." Subaru trembled with irritation. If his hunch was correct, there had to be a point at which this timeline and his branched off from each other, and judging by the presence of Garfiel, Frederica, and Rem's comatose state, it was after the subjugation of the White Whale and Sloth.

That left Prisetella and the Sanctuary. But considering Garf was acting as he did back at the latter, the events of the Sanctuary were the divergence point. What caused things to branch at the Sanctuary? The explanation had been spelled out to him in that last cursed loop: he took her hand, the hand of the ever disturbingly curious Witch of Greed, Echidna.

"You wound my poor maidenly heart with your cruel remarks," Echidna feigned a hurt tone... Wait, could she read his thoughts? That's a gross invasion of privacy, "What do you wish to ask your dearest companion?"

"Dearest companion... don't make me laugh," Subaru insulted the curious voice in his head, "You're just an annoying bug buzzing in my ear."

"As the bowel hunter said, you're somewhat lively this loop. Might I ask what inspired such a shift in your outlook?"

"Echidna, since contracting with you," Subaru brushed aside the greedy woman's question. He didn't want to indulge her insatiable curiosity, "How many times have I died and come back?"

Subaru had a sharp memory; according to every witch of sin at the tea party, Echidna's contract would only lead to suffering. She wasn't motivated by the well-being of Subaru or his friends but by greed.

Echidna wanted to use him as a lab rat for Return by Death. She saw him as a tool, nothing more and nothing less.

"You lost count at one-hundred-million loops," Subaru's jaw dropped to the floor, but Echidna continued calmly, "I kept keeping track, though. You have died roughly one-hundred-fifty-eight million times, not including your deaths before our contract."

One-hundred-fifty-eight-million times...

What the fuck!

Subaru could barely handle ten deaths without having some emotional breakdown. Entire civilizations, countries, cultures, and continents could rise and fall in that time. How old was he?

Was the other him... still human?

No, how could anyone who lived through that be considered human?

In this new same world, Subaru found himself confronted by a possibility he had always feared.

That one day, he would stop caring about dying. That one day, he would use Return by Death as a mere tool.

Subaru knew the power he held in his hands was monstrous. If he wanted, Subaru could topple governments, burn the entire kingdom to the ground, slaughter thousands based on the flip of a coin, kill this world's greatest heroes, become this world's greatest hero, and generally accomplish whatever he liked. What held him back from realizing the frightening potential of Return by Death was his ironic fear of his accursed ability's trigger, death.

Natsuki Subaru was afraid of death. He never wanted to get used to the pain. Yet, if he did, how many people could he save? How perfect of a happy ending would he achieve? Anything was possible...

So Why...?

So why was Rem still comatose? Why was Elsa still alive instead of being a pile of ashes? Why had Reinhard been abandoned by his lady? Why was Emilia-tan clearly suffering!?

Why!? WHY!? WHY DIDN'T HE HAVE HIS HAPPY ENDING YET!?

Why was... Otto gone? Why was his best friend, who inspired him to stand in the face of fate, gone?

"Echidna," Subaru's voice was a faint whisper, barely audible to any, "What happened to Otto?"

"Odd... you don't remember," The witch of sin was genuinely surprised, "Are you, perhaps, not my Natsuki Subaru?"

The half-elf's knight couldn't care less that she'd figured out that little detail. Took her long enough. How was this the wisest woman in history? He had blurted that out not even five minutes ago.

"Echidna! Tell me," Subaru whisper-shouted, still holding onto a tiny sliver of restraint, "What happened to Otto?"

"Oh, the merchant with the divine protection, he left after you killed the Great Rabbit," Echidna was obviously disinterested in talking about his friend. Subaru felt his blood boil, "Apparently, he had no reason to stay because you solved everyone's problems on your own. You haven't seen him since. Honestly, it's quite a blessing since you have fewer people to worry about."

"..."

Abruptly, Subaru forcefully yanked the eerie black mana crystal off his neck, hurling it to the spotless wooden floor. Subaru's face was burning with rage, his breathing irregular and deep.

STOMP

Subaru, using all his strength, stomped over and over again on the pitch-dark pendant. His eyes were wide with fury. He was determined to pound the symbol of eternal suffering into oblivion. No matter how crazy he'd look to others.

STOMP

"THIS IS WHAT I THINK OF OUR 'CONTRACT!'"

STOMP

"YOU INSANE FUCKING BITCH!"

STOMP

"I'D RATHER CONTRACT WITH HER!"

STOMP

"SHE CARES ABOUT ME, UNLIKE YOU!"

STOMP

"I HOPE YOU SUFFER AS HE SUFFERED! DYING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL THE END OF FUCKING TIME!"

STOMP

"BEAKO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

STOMP

"I HATE YOU, ECHIDNA! YOU TOOK AWAY HIS HAPPY ENDING!"

STOMp

Subaru's breathing started to even out.

STOmp

The crimson hue that engulfed his face slowly dissipated.

STomp

His anger faded.

Stomp

His constant blows lost their vigour, and he eventually stopped.

The object of Subaru's vehement hate stayed unfazed by his rapid bombardment.

Not a single scratch...

All that effort, and for what?

Wrath threatened to consume him again.

"What th' fuck y' yellin' about?" A scratchy voice called out in bitter-infused confusion. Subaru already knew who it was: Garfiel Tinsel, the Shield of the Sanctuary.

As much as Subaru wished to continue his verbal thrashing of the white-haired monster, he knew now was not the time.

Now was the time to gather information. Sure, Subaru could ask Echidna, but he never wanted to hear that... thing's voice again. Subaru would do it without her as he had before.

He would get his happy ending!

"Garf, what's the Shield of the Sanctuary doing here at this hour?" Subaru offered a toothy smile. He was legitimately happy to see his bro.

Garf's expression changed from one of mild disdain to furious. The blond-haired demi-human gritted his razor-sharp teeth and narrowed his jade eyes into a hostile glare.

It was at this moment... Subaru knew... he fucked up.

The Slayer of Sloth had underestimated the kid's newfound contempt for him.

"What d' ya' say to my amazin' self!" The warrior growled, a fiery red aura surrounding him.

Subaru noticed a glint down near his feet. He leaned down, grabbed the crystal, and chucked it at a nearby window. The ebony diamond flew at terminal velocity toward the glass, shattering it as it went out of view.

Subaru sighed in relief, momentarily forgetting the enraged demi-human before him.

"Don't ya forget about me!" The well-built fifteen-year-old shouted.

'So Garf hates me this much... Why? What did this Subaru do to him?' Subaru needed more info.

"Calm down, bro," Subaru tried to reason, remembering how terrifying Garfiel was when angry, "Tell me, what's got you so upset?"

The aura around Garfiel grew in intensity as he curled his fists.

"You're askin' my amazin' self, what got m' upset," Garfiel snarled with animalistic anger, "Because of you, I failed to be t' Shield of the Sanctuary. Ya turned all o' them agains' me!"

Subaru furrowed his brow, letting his gaze drop to the floor as he stroked his chin in deep consideration of Garfiel's words.

'Garf, I'm so sorry. You're one of the bravest people I know. What with you always trying to save people, to be a hero. I respect the hell out of you. I promise I'll make it up to you.' Subaru turned away from his friend, taking a few steps forward before he heard a roar behind him. A little bit annoyed, Subaru spun his head around.

"Why are ya ignorin' me, ya... bastard..." Garf said, resentful at the perceived disrespect shown to him by the raven-haired knight. Yet, his voice shrank at what he saw in front of him.

Subaru was staring at him with determined hazel orbs alongside the face of someone who had suffered great pain and lived to tell the tale. His eyes commanded an unusual amount of authority. The previously insensed demi-human shrank under the pressure of Subaru's glare.

It made Garfiel feel conflicted. On the one hand, he was pissed off that Subaru would disregard him, but at the same time, something about that look made him respect the guy's guts.

"Garfiel Tinsel," Garf flinched at Subaru's use of his full name, "You're a true hero, brave and caring for the people around you. But you have to wake up and stop running away from reality!"

Garfiel was at a loss for words. Who was this guy? He was nothing like the little shit from before. Sure, he had the same infuriating grating voice and attitude, but his demeanour had changed significantly.

While he always wore a smile, Subaru came off as lifeless to the self-proclaimed shield. His sunken eyes had no shine to them. Despite wearing the same tired expression, this guy was teeming with vitality. His brown eyes reflected the desire to fight for his life no matter the odds.

"See you around, Garf..." Subaru cooly walked away, hands in his pockets.

Garfiel stood silently in the middle of the corridor, stunned by what he witnessed, the crisp golden rays of the sun passing through the ornately designed windows and reflecting off his yellow hair.

What was this sensation?

As Subaru slowly traversed the winding halls of the Mather's manor, his gaze went up to the familiar pristinely white ceiling.

'Talking to Garfiel took longer than I thought. I ought to be by her side.' Subaru's pace picked up as he rushed toward her room.

"Mr. Subaru? Is there something wrong?" A short maid with amber hair asked him as he passed by. Subaru stopped right in his tracks upon hearing her voice.

Petra Leyte: a small girl from the village of Arlam and maid of the Mather's mansion. Subaru missed her greatly, so he gave her a quick head pat, making the village girl yelp at the surprise touch.

"Petra! How's my second favourite maid doing," He cheerfully asked, "I hope you're not making Frederica mad." Petra's face adopted a soft vermillion tint... odd... Did she have a fever?

"Mr. Subaru, stop teasing me," Petra pouted, "And what do you mean I'm your 'second favourite maid?'"

"Well, Rem-rin is and always will be my favourite." Subaru answered the pouting child's question with a faint bit of somberness in his tone.

"Not for long..." Petra whispered to herself quietly.

"What did you say, Petra?" Was there something wrong?

"Nothing!" Petra hurriedly ran away from him, a flustered expression on her face.

O...K...

'Well, that was weird... Wonder what's got her all worked up? Never mind, it can't be that important. Besides, I have to go see Rem!' Subaru resumed his journey to the blue-haired sleeping beauty's room, filled with repeating remembrances of the past.

An eventful speech in the capital, just as all seemed lost.

'You're my hero, Subaru-kun.' Again.

An azure-haired maid's final words to him in a dark cavern as she lay dying in his arms.

'Live...' Again.

Those words inspired him to step up and be a hero.

'My hero wouldn't run away.' And Again.

He would save her. Subaru would rescue them all: Otto, Ram, Petra, Frederica, Meili, Beako, Emilia-tan, and Rem.

Subaru halted outside Rem's door. Beads of sweat skated down his forehead. Why was he so anxious?

Giving his head a good shake, Subaru placed his hand on the cold metal doorknob, twisting it and slowly nudging the door open.

Rem was sleeping peacefully, her face blissful, much to his relief. Beams of light, dampened by the fabric of the curtains, made her blue hair shine ever so slightly. Subaru could only smile at her sight. Quickly taking a seat beside her, Subaru began as he always did.

"Rem, things are so weird now," Subaru caressed her soft hair, a joyless grin plastered on his lips, "It's all so familiar, and yet, so different. But knowing that you believe in me. I'll keep moving forward."

Subaru would put Gluttony back into his grave.

"I don't know how long it'll last, but I'll try to fix this place; when I return to my time, I'll have a pretty good story to tell everyone."

The sound of footsteps approached him. Subaru had been in this situation once before, so he already knew who it was.

"Subaru-sama, Ram heard you broke a window," The pink-haired twin asked in a monotone, "Might Ram ask what drove you to do such a thing?"

Where were the insults, the playful banter? What happened to you, Ram? Why do you sound like the life has been drained from you? That won't do...

'Never thought I'd miss hearing someone calling me a pervert.'

"Ram-san, as much as I appreciate the super respectful tone," Subaru playfully stated, adorning a goofy grin that betrayed his discomfort at her demeanour, "Loosen up a little bit. Call me a perverted scum-bag or something like that. Or what, are you too preoccupied with thinking about a romantic dinner with Ros-chi to insult your old friend?"

Ram's face briefly lost its composure at his mention of margrave Mathers. When did he learn about her feelings; was it that obvious?

"Subaru-sama, as the royal knight of Emilia-san, you must be respected. Now, is there anything you need?" Ram robotically uttered, having regained her composure. However, Subaru was determined.

"Actually, Ram, I do need your help with something," Subaru walked over to Ram, whispering into her ear conspiratorially, "You see, I have this maid friend with pink hair that needs to unwind a little. What should I do?"

As Subaru finished, Ram's mouth was left slightly agape. He was unusually insistent. Typically he would only ask her respectfully once to treat him like she used to and then not again for a while. Was this the same Baru- Subaru?

"W-Who are you?" Ram backed away from the man wearing Subaru's face and clothes, shaking with fear. Who knew what he was capable of?

The imposter wrinkled his brow in bewilderment before adopting an authentically happy upwards frown. The fake Subaru broadened his footing and shot his hand up, extending his index finger.

"We~ll, I'm glad you asked, Nee-sama," Subaru loudly declared, "My name is Natsuki Subaru: Emilia's one and only knight, Rem's hero, and your friend!"

Ram's trembling ceased, her previously blank expression morphing into a faint grin. Only Natsuki Subaru could produce such a stupid-looking pose.

"Your next line is: 'Ram, friends with a perverse man like Barusu, absolutely preposterous.'" Subaru smugly predicted, but she failed to notice.

"Ram, friends with a perverse man like Barusu, absolutely preposterous." Ram mocked, secretly feeling elation that Barusu was back to his old self.

Wait... How did he...?

"Huh..." Ram had been rendered speechless by Subaru's accurate prediction.

"Holy shit, I've always wanted to do that!" Subaru pumped his fist in delight.

" Hmph, Only a man as disgusting as Barusu would resort to such cheap tricks." Seriously though, how did he do that? More importantly, why was he acting genuinely laidback? For the whole year, everything about him was disingenuous. His smile, laughter, and happiness were all fake, but now it all felt as natural as before the Sanctuary.

However, even though he was obviously Barusu, something was off...

Ram pushed it to the back of her mind.

"I thought we were friends, Ram," Subaru feigned feelings of betrayal, dramatically clenching his chest, "How could you do this to me."

"The thought of being Barusu's friend," Ram hadn't realized how much she missed their old banter, "Makes Ram want to leap off a cliff and be impaled by spikes."

Subaru's smile faltered a bit at the mention of death by cliff jumping, as it caused him to reminisce about the first time he committed 'tactical suicide.'

"Ouch, nee-sama's words are like a dagger to the heart," Subaru exclaimed in phony sadness, yet he couldn't help but beam at Ram's insults, "What did I do to deserve being treated like filth?"

"It's so simple that Ram is shocked that even your minuscule brain can't comprehend it-"

" Ghkk."

"-You were born."

Subaru sighed. How could he find those words so relieving? Was he becoming a masochist? Oh no, what would Emilia-tan think of him?

"Welp, I'm going to check on Emilia-tan," Ram visibly tensed up, something Subaru failed to catch, "Take care of Rem for me, alright?"

Ram only nodded as Subaru strode out of the room in a hurry.

"Bye... Subaru." She mumbled under her breath.

Subaru raced across the mansion. In the last loop, Elsa was there, but he couldn't discern why. Damn, he should've asked that conniving witch. As Subaru turned a corner, it looked like he didn't have to wait that long for an answer.

Standing before him was a beautiful, scantly clad woman wearing an outfit revealing much of her voluptuous figure, exposing almost her entire torse from the abdomen up. The woman's dark hair was relatively short, only extending to her uncovered shoulders, and adorned with a purple flower. A simple black cloak clung to the lady's shoulders. Her cold, calculating, pitch-dark eyes pierced deep into Subaru's soul.

"Elsa Granhiert, the gut-hunter," Subaru felt chills all over his scar-ridden body, yet he tried to keep a stoic front, saying her name with disdain, "What are you doing here?"

The bowel-obsessed assassin stared into Subaru's sharp, hazel-brown eyes, their gazes meeting. She deviously licked her lips. Elsa's tongue was atypically long, almost like a viper's.

"I have come to report on the location of Gluttony," Elsa's voice threw Subaru into a cold sweat. Why was she tracking the movements of Gluttony? Nothing about that made sense. Elsa continued, "As you instructed me to. Though, I regret to inform you that nothing on his where about has been found. Now, will you give me a peek at your bowels, dear contractor?"

Contractor... Contractor... Contractor... Contractor... That word clung to Subaru's mind like a parasitic fungus.

Only one person could call Subaru their 'contractor,' and it certainly wasn't the Bitch in Black.

'What were you thinking, Natsuki Subaru? Hiring Elsa to do your job for you. That's just fucking gross.'

"I don't have time for your bullshit," Subaru couldn't care less if he pissed off this... thing, "Leave me alone."

"You're no fun," Elsa cooed, "Fine, I'll leave. Just make sure to keep your bowels safe for me."

Subaru blinked, and the Bowel Hunter vanished from sight.

'This monster,' Subaru tightly clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms, causing blood to be drawn from them, 'I swear, Elsa Granhiert, I'll put you back in a grave as well...'

"Have to admit, though, that was a pretty cool trick," He talked to himself, "I wonder if she's actually gone or if she's just hiding." A shiver ran down Subaru's spine at the thought of Elsa stalking him from the shadows.

Subaru's gaze fell to his chest; he'd forgotten he was now sporting noble garbs. A fancy white dress shirt with a black vest over top of it. The conqueror of the Pleiades Tower had to recognize: it did look quite good on him.

Subaru imagined what Julius would say about it:

'Subaru, it seems you're finally taking your role as a knight seriously.'

Suddenly, Subaru really wanted to rip out of the disgustingly fancy outfit.

Maybe this Subaru kept his old track-suit. It was worth a shot. Plus, Emilia-tan could wait... right? Recollections of a freezing mansion flashed through Subaru's mind.

No, she really can't...

An epiphany hit Subaru like one of Zeus' lightning bolts.

'Not that bad of an idea...'

Emilia sat at her desk, gaping at the textbook provided to her by the margrave, dutifully studying for the upcoming Royal Selection. However, despite how hard the half-elf tried, she couldn't pay attention to the book's teachings; and how could she?

The silver-haired princess was in love. Her mind was constantly bombarded by images of his handsome face.

She longed to gaze into his eyes.

His sharp yet gentle eyes of his reminded her of Mother Fortu- Aaah, a flare of pain shot through Emilia's head. What was she thinking about before?

Oh, yes, her sublime knight. She had to study for her knight.

'Concentrate, Emilia! Subaru told me to study, so I must try my hardest to do that, to make my Subaru happy. Subaru's always taking on my burdens, so he'll be re~ally glum if I fail now.' Contrary to her previous assertion, Emilia found herself unable to continue.

The so-called Witch of Glaciation suffered from sleep deprivation spurred on by the nightmarish dreams that plagued her every night.

And ever since the Sanctuary, her nightmares had been getting worse and worse. Dreams of familiar faces she, for whatever reason, couldn't recall. Snow falling in a frozen forest as a woman with short silver hair told her how much she loved Emilia. It was all so... realistic that Emilia often couldn't separate it from reality.

Maybe because... No... It simply couldn't be real; Subaru had told her so, and he was never wrong. Yup, Emilia could rely on Subaru for everything. He was kind, like that... Emilia's watchful eye fell on the nearby timestone...

A sudden cold washed over Emilia, her gemstones blinking rapidly. Subaru was usually there at that time.

Her thoughts spiralled into despair.

'What if Subaru got tired of me?! What if he doesn't love me anymore!?' Emilia desired nothing more than to deny it with all her being. After all, Subaru loving her was a universal fact.

Everyone in the whole wide world had left Emilia behind, but not Subaru. Her knight promised he would stay by her side, holding her hand. Puck, the one she viewed as a father, abandoned her. He was nothing but a liar. Only Subaru had stuck by Emilia's side.

'I re~ally shouldn't doubt my Subaru, but... No! Subaru loves me! Me and nobody else. I've been a good girl. My knight will never stop loving me.' Emilia asserted, yet the thought lingered in the back of consciousness.

A knock resounded through the slightly frigid air. Emilia shot up from her chair instantly, rushing to open the door. For she knew who was behind it.

She spread open the door, and sure enough, Subaru was there, giving an unburdened smile. Emilia responded in kind, her heart temporarily freed of the gloom and sorrow that weighed it down.

The royal selection candidate leaped right into his arms, tightly embracing him. Etched onto Subaru's face was a shocked expression.

"Jeez, Subaru, I re~ally missed you," Like a cat, Emilia nuzzled her head against Subaru's well-toned chest, "Subaru is always busy, and I thought you had gotten sick of me. I was scared... that you would leave me."

Subaru threw his arms around her back, tightening their embrace. Emilia, swallowed up by her flustered emotions, didn't detect the intense anguish deep in his eyes.

"I could never leave you, Emilia-tan," Subaru consoled the nervous half-elf, his voice a bit shakey, "Not when I'm so madly in love with you."

Emilia reddened at his declaration of love. Her nerves eased by Subaru's kindness. Moving ever so slightly away from him, she released the embrace and clasped her hands together.

" Aww , Subaru, hmm , I think I'm better now," Emilia calmed, "So, what should I do today? If Subaru tells me to do something, surely I can do it."

What was left of Subaru's brilliant smile vanished, leaving only a look of concern on his countenance. Had Emilia done something wrong? No, no, no, no, no! Her mind was playing tricks on her, that was all. Yup, just a deception of the senses. Emilia was a good girl! Subaru told her so!

"Emilia-tan, why don't we go on a small date," Emilia's mood brightened. A date with her Subaru was a fantastic idea, "And I already have an idea of what we should do. Emilia-tan, do you remember my old track-suit?"

Subaru wasn't aware that he had lost Emilia at the word date. She was too busy being consumed by her fantasies.

Pictures of Subaru holding her in his burly arms as he saved her from monster after monster. Him sweeping her off her feet, proclaiming her to be his. Emilia was caught up in a fanciful flight from reality. A common occurrence for the silver-haired woman.

Following the trials at the Sanctuary, where Emilia failed time and time again, she was abandoned by everyone around her: Ram, Garfiel, Roswaal, Otto, Frederica, and even... Puck. Only Subaru stuck with her, and naturally, emotionally unstable as she was, Emilia's heart latched onto him.

Emilia was running away from reality. Not wanting to be confronted by hardship, she relied on Subaru to do most things for her, such as deciding on her daily schedule.

"Uh, Emilia-tan?" Subaru gently poked her cheek.

"Aaah, Oh, Subaru," Emilia's face went up in flames at the sudden contact, "Sorry, I was just thinking about something. What did you say?"

"Remember my old track-suit?"

Emilia nodded. She recalled the old garments Subaru used to wear. The half-elf had fond memories of those clothes. After all, he had worn them the day he confessed his undying love for her.

"I thought we could go look for them; together," Subaru explained, "It'll be like a treasure hunt! Do you have any idea where it could be?"

Emilia was confused. Subaru already knew where it was.

"Silly Subaru, did you forget you left it in the library?" Emilia giggled.

Silence...

Absolute Silence...