Theater Of Despair (Old WHDAAA) :)

by Reactionist

This is the old version of Watching Him Die Again and Again. Chapters 1-14 before the rewrites looked like this. Have fun comparing how much I've changed between the old one and the new one. I also used the old name for Watching Him Die Again and Again. It used to be called Theater of Despair hence why the art says that name. Had fun using it again! Enjoy guys.

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Ep 3 Director's Cut

Season 1 Episode 3 Director's Cut

Begin.

Arc 4 and Season 2 cour 2 spoilers below.

Don't think I'm fucking with you.

The dark screen lights up on Subaru's sleeping face as he laid on a massive bed wearing robes.

He slowly opened his eyes and commented on the first thing he saw.

"I don't know that ceiling."

Subaru sat up straight and moved his robes to look at his naked belly.

"The wound is gone. Considering all this, it must've been her… Emilia's healing power, huh?"

Subaru got up and started walking out of the room, he looked at a weird forest painting on the wall next to his door.

"Well, at any rate, it seems I got out of using Return by Death this time… still, isn't it normal to wake up and see a girl by your bed. Asking, 'Are you awake?' after she'd cared for you the whole time? Feels kinda flawed, for a story about being summoned into another world."

"In his world, stories usually cater to a male audience so they make the protagonist a girl magnet. I suppose." Beatrice immediately explained while giggling at their confused faces.

"So he thinks that girls should fall all over him since he was summoned from another world?" Julius snorted at the stupid thought.

"What a jackass." Tivy nodded along with his sister.

"I mean… he grew up on such stories so he's inclined to believe these ideas."

Crush nodded slowly with Felt. "Yes, Natsuki's world had stories about heroes summoned from another reality. Like us, they thought it was impossible."

"So when Subaru-kun was transported her, he immediately began following the tropes and cliches of his world's fantasy stories." Anastasia kept looking at the screen as she concluded Crush's thought.

Emilia just kept silent as she thought about the first time they had a fight. Was it the first? How many realities did he go through where she was mad at him?

Wishing she could be closer to her own knight, Emilia kept silent as the other candidates were discussing about him. Her own knight.

She didn't know a thing about him.

Subaru continued walking and stopped when he noticed the same painting on another door. "A looping hallway? Is this one of those things where I can't get out until I find the right room?"

Subaru quickly moved to the door beside him. "The typical pattern dictates that the first door is likely the goal!"

"Hmph!" Priscilla snorted haughtily at the logic.

Honestly, he amused her greatly even if he was a buffoon.

Opening the door, Subaru was meet by a little girl sitting on a stool.

"What profoundly aggravating man you are, I suppose."

"He managed to find Beatrice-sama's library on his first try!" Frederica was shocked.

"My hero is skilled when it comes to puzzles like these." No one noticed Rem's sound was weak and whimpering.

No one… except for a certain clown.

"Subaru and Betty have always been connected, infact." Beatrice nodded her head and smirked smugly.

"First NPC found! You're gonna ruin your cute face with that cold attitude. Come on! Smile! Smile!"

"The only smile worth giving you is a derisive sneer."

"Are you mad because I guessed it right on the first try? I've always been a pretty lucky guesser. I can understand why game masters would want me in all the events, but sorry!"

Beatrice grips her book harder as he continued to talk. "So, what is this place, anyway?"

"Hmph! It's Betty's multi-purpose room, which serves as a library and bedroom, I suppose." she replied in anger.

"Talk about a typical response. Are you one of the manual girls everyone's into now?"

Beatrice closed her book and jumped down from her stool. "Betty has had just about enough."

The girl walked closer to Subaru until he was pinned to the door. "Time to teach you a lesson I suppose."

"Hey, what are you gonna do?" Subaru was startled when Beatrice glared up at him.

"Don't you dare move! Anything you'd like to say?"

"D-Don't hurt me."

"Wimp!" "Scardy cat!"

"Be a man!"

Garfiel glared at the trio of Ricardo, Mimi and Tivy.

Beatrice looked unimpressed and raised her hand at his belly.

Subaru looked confused at first.

Then he screamed as Beatrice sucked his mana dry.

Subaru fell down, paralyzed and in pain.

He looked up at Beatrice as she looked down at him.

"What did you do to me, you drill loli?" he asked in pain.

"I only collected the mana from you body, I suppose. It confirmed that you are not an enemy."

Subaru slowly looked up and smirked in exhaustion. "You're not human, are you? I don't mean your personality."

Beatrice is smiling smugly at him from above. "It took you long enough to notice, I suppose."

"Beatrice-sama used to be so mean!" Petra yelled at the distasteful attitude Beatrice was showing.

"Yes I don't think I have ever seen Beatrice-sama smile in all my years working for Roswaal-sama." Rem said as she recalled all the times she had interacted with the spirit.

"Beatrice-sama always was lonely in her library. Her attitude changed since she started going out more." Frederica explained to the two maids. Petra was a new maid so she didn't now anything. But Rem was already VERY familiar with the spirit since she's lived years with her in the same mansion.

"Beatrice-sama… started going out of her library?" Rem asked with piqued interest.

"It's because of Barusu's moronic plans."

Rem looked at her sister even more interested. "What did Subaru-kun do to Beatrice-sama?"

Otto and Garfiel laughed suddenly.

Rem looked at them in surprise, she was more confused when Emilia and Petra started giggling.

"What?" The frustrated Oni asked.

"Hehehe, Subaru-kun kind of forced Beatrice to contract with him." Emilia giggled at the conversation she had with him about it. She was happy to take her mind off his secret power so the giggles just came out from the distress.

"How did Subaru force a great spirit to contract with him?" Julius asked with great interest and a smile as he knew that the boy did something genius and equally reckless at the same time. He loved that trait in Subaru.

"Simple! Subaru-san knew that Beatrice-sama wasn't going to leave the library. So he decided to get rid of it." Otto explained with a tired smile at the memory.

"What do you mean get rid of it?" Crusch asked interested as well.

"Barusu had to deal with many threats at the time, one of them was that someone put a hit on the mansion and everyone in there was to be killed by the Bowel Hunter." Ram explained, omitting some details about who it was that put the hit and what dangers Subaru had to fight. She didn't want everyone to start thinking about how the boy dealt with the threats.

They didn't want to think about him dying again.

"So how did he deal with Elsa?" Reinhard asked with a guilty frown. He shouldn't have let her get away.

"Cap'n made my amazing selfs hold dat bitch off while he did 'is thing" Garfiel smirked at the memory while his sister shook her head in annoyance.

"You actually left the Sanctuary Garf?" Rem asked in surprise. The boy blushed at her calling him Garf.

"Barusu was responsible for that too."

"Yep, Cap'n held off in a fight against me and managed to impress me enough to join 'em." Garf still had pride not admit losing to his Captain. Not with that Sword Saint dickhead sitting around.

"Yeeees Subaru-kun managed aloooot of feats while you were in a coma, my dearest Rem-kun. It's why he has been officially declared Emilia-sama's Knight." Rem looked at her employer in shock. She smiled proudly and ruffled her hero's head.

"I knew you could do it." she softly said.

"Don't derail the conversation! What did big bro do to save Beako-chan." Felt asked annoyed that they changed the subject.

Everyone in the room was now looking at the Emilia camp with interest as to how the boy manged to save the mansion's residents.

"Hmph! He burned the mansion and the great library, Betty was protecting, I suppose! Coming into my library with tears in his eyes, begging Betty, infact! Asking for my help with one hand while burning the library with another. A sad sight of a pathetic boy, I suppose." Beatrice yelled in frustration which made those around her laugh harder since she started yelling the unfairness she was subjugated to by Subaru's rash decisions.

Julius and Reinhard just stared with shock at the laughing camp, their knightly code always taught to give the great spirits the utmost respect.

"Why am I surprised?"

"Yeah, that's something Subaru would do."

The two knights calmed down when they thought about the nasty eyed boy's personality.

Manhandling a spirit into a contract to save her was something expected from him. Both smiled at the image of an angry Subaru throwing books into a raging fire while screaming how he will save the girl. It was hilarious.

"Subaru burned the mansion, contracted Beatrice-sama, became a knight, and freed Garfiel?" Rem looked around sadly as she missed so much.

She forgot that the screen was gonna show her potentially…. (kill-)

The maid just prayed that nothing bad would happen to him… even if she knew that won't be the case. But her weak heart forced her into a state of denial. This discussion with her hero's camp made it more easy to forget the thought of…. What she might have done to him. But it did make her upset that so much happened in the short time she was in a coma.

Damn, gluttony.

"I take it back. Your personality isn't human, either."

"Do not measure a proud, noble being by your standards, human." Beatrice walked away from him as he fell into unconsciousness.

Darkness…

"And that… is how Sir. Natsuki caught his second loli." Al chuckled.

Ricardo laughed along with the twins.

"Who's the first?… why are you holding me so tight Reinhard?" Felt asked as the Sword Saint looked at the screen with determination.

He will beat the Lolimancer! Felt's his lady!

(Felt was Subaru's first Loli."

Opening theme 1: Redo.

"Again? This seems like a play more than a telling of Subaru-kun's story."

"Well, it does make it more enjoyable to watch." Crusch spoke to Anastasia.

Garfiel and Ricardo started nodding their head along to the music.

Everyone began enjoying the music even though the disturbing sight of their friend running for his life was playing.

They knew more distressing things are gonna be shown so they took the chance to rest and enjoy something.

Theme end.

The screen shows Subaru's sleeping form once again on the same bed.

He opens his eyes and comments on the first thing he sees once again. "I know that ceiling."

"Wow, you did a number on him Beatrice-san."

Otto shivered at the glaring girl.

Beatrice looked at the screen in sadness. She was thinking about something...

"How did you know about the curse, I wonder?" Beatrice softly asked. Her eyes dark from despair, she watched with a brave face. This was her contractor's burden. The thing that made him hate himself and hurt himself before he slept beside her everynight.

It's my duty to watch and live through this for him, I suppose.

Beatrice watched and waited... for the person she choose to die before her once again.

"Oh, he has awakened, Sister."

"Indeed, he has awakened, Rem."

Two voices spoke off screen as Subaru smiled to himself.

"Me, a denizen of the night, waking up in the morning? I'm getting all emotional. I'd better go sleep a second time. No, I woke up earlier, so this makes the third."

"My, what deadbeat thing to say. Did you hear that, sister?"

"Yes, truly the words of a loser. I heard him, Rem."

As the voices mocked him, Subaru quickly sat up and looked around with a glare.

"Alright! Who are these two voices that keep criticizing me in stereo?!"

Some of the watchers laughed loudly at the interactions.

Non noticed how the twins faces grow cold…

They had confirmation now. Rem had a few tears in the corner of her eyes and steeled herself to watch in silence. Her heart bounded. She wished to god that she didn't… do it.

Ram watched with a stern glare. How much will this boy suffer? She didn't care for him (lie) but this was too cruel.

The twins watched…. And waited…. For Subaru to die. Again.

(Rem and Ram never had those interactions with Subaru when they met. They understood that he Returned by Death.)

The screen shows two cut maid twins with pink and blue hair posing with each other.

"N-No way… Maid costumes exist in this world too?! Maids were always the very personification of elegance in my mind… "

Rem blushed a little and wished she would have been told this by her Subaru-kun.

Frederica giggled in delight while Ram glared at the screen. Stupid Barusu.

Petra smiled happily as she knew that choosing this job was the right way to earn her hero's attention.

Subaru looks away from the two and raises his fist in happiness. "This ain't so bad, either!"

"How terrible. You are being violated in the mind of our guest, sister." Rem said.

"It is terrible. It is terrible. You're experiencing the ultimate shame in the mind of our guest, Rem." Ram hugged her sister.

"We should talk like that!" Mimi told her little twin. Tivy sighed in frustration.

Subaru wiggled his fingers while looking at them with a creepy smirk. "Don't underestimate my capacity. You're both fair prey in my fantasies!"

"He's very gross." Julius grimaced at the disgusting attitude he saw on screen.

"Oh calm it, he was just joking!" Anastasia hit her knight on the shoulder.

"He is though." Felix nodded with Julius. He also hated Subaru's mannerisms.

They were knights, he was not.

A gentle knock on the door sounded and made him focus his attention elsewhere.

A beautiful half-elf was standing in the door way. "Can't you wake up more peacefully, Subaru?"

Subaru smiles warmly at Emilia. Then he looks at her outfit in surprise.

"Who ever picked that outfit totally gets it!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but the fact that I know it's something stupid is disappointing."

"She's got the Cap'n figured!" Garfiel chuckled along with Otto and Al at how quickly Subaru was shot down.

They didn't notice Emilia's eyes widening in horror.

"Listen to this, Emilia-sama. My dear sister was just violated by that man." Rem pointed at Subaru.

"Please listen to this, Emilia-sama. Rem was held prisoner and shamed by that man." Ram pointed at Subaru.

"My, what a cruel prank to play." Felix commented with a smile.

The twins remained silent…

Emilia smiled and walked towards Subaru's bed. "And you two, don't tease him too much."

Emilia closed her eyes in despair. She realized it. This wasn't what happened when she met him in the mansion.

"Yes, Emilia-sama. My sister is very sorry."

"Yes, Emilia-sama. Rem's sorry as well."

"Are you feeling all right? Does anything feel off?" Emilia asked Subaru as she smiled gently at him.

"Huh? Oh, I'm just a bit groggy from oversleeping. It was you who saved me wasn't it, Emilia-tan?"

"Huh? Tan? What does Tan mean?" Emilia tilted her head cutely.

"Uh, you can just ignore that one." Subaru looked away as he blushed then he bowed his head in gratitude. "Still, thank you for saving me."

"No, I'm the one who should thank you. You barely know me, but you risked your life to save me. It's only natural I'd heal your wounds after that." Emilia smiled warmly at him. Subaru nodded and smiled back.

"Well, then, It's time once again. I guess it's time to start a new day!"

The scene changes to Subaru and Emilia looking over the L. Mather's garden. "This place is huge! The yard isn't so much a yard as a field."

Subaru was doing warm ups on the grass while Emilia watched with a perplexed frown.

"What is he doing?" Julius asked as he watched the weird movements with preplexed eyes.

"That looks like the new tradition all the villages around the Mathers domain seem to be taking up, they say that it's become a national past time in the cities of Costule and the capital." Reinhard answered. He too wanted to learn more about these sudden dances that got popular. He hadn't seen anything sweep the nation's culture like this before.

"Those are Cap'n's train'ng warm ups."

"Warm ups?" Felix asked.

"Those are unusual movements. What are you doing?"

"My homeland's ancient practice of warm-up exercises." he stood up straight. "Come on, Emilia-tan, join me!"

Emilia looked up from her despaired state with sad shining eyes.

"Radio calisthenics, number 2! Bounce on both feet to loosen your body!" Subaru began bouncing in place while Emilia looked embarrassed.

Why hadn't she protected him?

"Huh? You're kidding! What is that?"

Subaru began stretching his arms in circles. "Just do what I do."

Emilia began moving her arms along with how Subaru is moving his.

"Damn those look fun!" Ricardo commented.

Emilia clenched her hands on her knees.

She brought him into the mansion and couldn't even save him.

"I'll drill the essence of radio calisthenics into you!"

Beatrice watched from the window as Emilia and Subaru moved their bodies in sink.

"Now, raise both arms and shout, Victory!"

"V-Victory!"

Puck suddenly flew out of Emilia's hair and shouted. "Victory!"

She lost Puck because of her weakness.

Puck looked at Subaru and winked. "Hi, Subaru! Great morning, isn't it?"

Subaru smiled at the cat. "Well, for me, it's been nothing but chaos since the wee hours of the morning. Looping hallways and a mean little girl on a rampage… and then shedding the sweat of passion with Emilia-tan."

She couldn't protect the boy that saved her…

that died for her….

That will die for her…

Emilia shook with frustration and anger as she watched with determined eyes, the memories that were taken away from her.

Memories no one but her knight remembered.

"You must've been so alone, Subaru." She softly whispered as she watched how happy he was with her.

How did he die? Why did he stay?

Emilia watched to understand her knight. To at least see his pain and sacrifice. But she was just a selfish girl, wanting to know the unknown about the boy from another world.

"Don't make it sound so scandalous! Good morning Puck, sorry I put you through so much yesterday."

Puck landed in Emilia's open palms. "Morning, Lia. I almost lost you yesterday. I can never thank Subaru enough. I must do something for him."

Subaru smiled cheekily, "Okay, then… "

"hmmm, Lets see how this goes. I hope that he asks for somethi-

"Let me pet your fur whenever I want!"

"-g valuable this time." Anastasia glared at the screen. She needed to teach this kid some life lessons about ambition. "Oh, how I wish to have him wake up and unleash Julius on him again." Anastasia giggled at her joke that no one heard.

Emilia's face changed with surprise. "Huh? That's all?"

"He is a simple man." Priscilla snorted.

"A simple man that did great things." Crusch snorted back and watched with a smile of amusement at Natsuki's interactions.

"For a first rate fur master such as myself, being able to love on the object of your petting affections at any time is worth just as much as a multimillionaire's riches! Oh, man, these ears!"

"I wish Bubby was here." Beatrice was happy to see her brother again… she was happy that something was taking her mind off what's to come.

Emilia nodded silently and stared at the two on screen. What a cruel joke.

The two she had failed the most.

Subaru is shown rubbing his cheek with Puck's while Puck enjoys the attention. "I'm in love with how soft you are!"

"I know you feel that way since I can somewhat read your mind, But I'm amazed you can actually say it! it's okay Lia. I can't find any malice, hostility or ill-intent in Subaru."

"It's so cute how you call her Lia too."

"Not as cute as your Emilia-tan!"

"Man, he gets along with spirits fast huh?" Al asked a little jealous of his affinity.

"Subaru-kun gets along with everyone he meets. Even if they hate him at first." Petra said with a smile.

"He does warm up to ya, eh Julius?" Felix bumped the huffing purple haired young man.

Emilia looked at the two with an unreadable expression.

"You really are strange, Subaru."

"Huh?" Subaru looked at a warmly smiling Emilia. He blushed.

"Oh? What brings you two here?" Emilia looked at the two maids.

Rem and Ram bowed down and spoke at the same time.

"Emilia-sama. Our lord, Roswaal-sama, has returned."

"Please come inside."

The scene changes to show Subaru entering through a doorway into a room with a big table at the center.

"I was watching you from upstairs, and you know what? It would seem you are quite dumb, I suppose." Beatrice greeted Subaru as she stood from beside the door.

"Awwwe, Beatrice-sama is jealous." Petra cooed from the back which made the spirit huff in denial.

"Where do you get off saying that, you loli?!"

Beatrice looked annoyed. "What does that word mean? I've never heard it before and it irritates me!"

Beatrice realized how much she missed arguing with him.

No one noticed how the little girl toke his sleeping hand in hers.

She kept watching and waiting… for a dark story to unfold… for this happy Subaru on the screen to change into the broken kid she saw every night when she pretended to sleep.

Emilia came in with Puck on her shoulder. He waved at Beatrice with a smile.

"Hey, Betty! I haven't seen in four days. Have you been staying ladylike?"

Beatrice's face changed into an excited cute smile. "Bubby! I've been waiting for you to come home! Will you stay with me today, do you suppose?"

"Sure, no problem." Puck jumped from Emilia's shoulder and into Beatrice's open palms. "Let's finally relax together today."

Beatrice spun around with a happy smile, giggling as she she held Puck and sat down on a chair.

"Yay!"

Subaru watched the scene with a confused look. Emilia giggled and smiled at him.

"Bewildered, aren't you? Beatrice is so taken with Puck."

"Who even says Bewildered nowadays?"

Emilia's heart gave a tug… she missed hearing him say that.

Subaru's other hand was held by a snow white one.

Subaru and Emilia's conversation was interrupted by a man suddenly entering the room.

"My, my! How unusual to see you here, Beatrice! I'm so happy that you decided to dine with me." Subaru looked at the weird man that dressed like a clown.

"In comes the truuuuue hero of this stoooory." Roswaal declared as he saw himself on the window.

"The only thing you're a hero of is those creeps that think clown makeup is cool!" Petra shouted in anger at her employer. She hated this clown.

"ooof!" "Godamnnnn!" "hahahahaha"

"…. That huuuuurts."

Frederica didn't have the heart to correct Petra on her behavior.

The clown almost killed all of them…

Likely killed all of them if what she was seeing on this window was any indication.

"That boy is more enough addle-brained fool for me, I suppose. Betty was only waiting for Bubby." Beatrice's glare at Subaru and the clown turned into a smile aimed at Puck as she held him against her cheek.

Subaru looked at the clown in confusion and smiled nervously.

"You guys hired a clown to entertain you before each meal? I'll never understand how rich folks think." Subaru patted the man's back and smiled.

"Oh, this guy is an idiot!" Felix shouted in shock.

Julius frowned at the screen and sighed. "He didn't know… "

Priscilla giggled a little and watched with a smile.

He's amusing….

But what interested her was something more..

Emilia looked at him with shock visible on her face. The clown just remained frozen and silent.

"Um, Subaru, that man is… " Emilia nervously spoke.

"Oh, no, it's quite all right, Emilia-sama." The clown assured her.

Subaru looked at the two confused. "What's going on?"

The clown smiled and glanced at Subaru. "Only that I am the lord of this maaaaanor, Roswaal L. Maaathers, Natsuki Subaru-kun."

"Hmmmm, I guess this is a failed loop." His eyes hardened, Roswaal watched with the silent two maids, the guilt ridden half-elf and the crushed spirit.

The Roswaal family have realized the truth about these events.

He dies soon.

So they watched…

They just watched and waited.

Subaru stepped back in shock as the clown stepped closer to stare into his eyes.

The scene changes to show the residents of the manor eating food with the maids sitting at Roswaal's sides.

Subaru sips the soap infront of him and his face lights up with delight. "This is way better than normal food!"

"mhhm, Despite her appearance, Rem's cooking is quite impressive." Roswaal spoke.

"What does that mean?" Crusch asked the clown. But she stopped demanding an answer when she saw the narrowed look in his eyes.

What was up with this guy?

Why was he smiling like that?

Crusch just looked to the screen and tried her best to keep her shiver from showing.

"So this was cooked by the one with blue hair… um… Rem-chan, right? You made this?" Subaru asked as he looked at the standing maid.

"Yes, sir. I do the cooking in this house. My sister is not very good at cooking."

"ah, twins who are good at different things! Is your sister good at cleaning, then?"

"Yes that is correct. My sister excels at housework, especially cleaning and laundry."

"So, Rem-rin, you're good at cooking but bad at cleaning and laundry?"

"No, I am generally good at all household tasks. I'm also better at laundry and cleaning than my sister."

"Does your sister even have a purpose?!"

"Harsh!" Otto trembled and looked at Ram, the pink haired Oni no doubt will be smacking the wannabe knight for such a comment, so he was prepared to jump in her way and protect his sleeping friend.

What he saw… was a calm, thoughtful looking Ram watching the screen with no reaction.

She's waiting for something.

Otto concluded and watched the screen with a skeptical eye.

What if… nah no way with Emilia-sama and Beatrice-sama around… Roswaal is there too!

Otto slowly sat down and calmed his nerves. He wouldn't see his friend die again and he was happy for that.

His panic made him forget that Ram was still waiting for something.

Subaru's death.

"You are truly a strange young man. You come to the mansion of Margrave Mathers, in the Kingdom of Lugunica, aaaand you saaay you don't understaaaand a thing."

Subaru looked perplexed at The lord of the manor. "Is something bad happening in this country?"

"Well, it it not in an agreeable state. After all, Lugunica's king is currently not present."

Subaru stopped eating and looked at Roswaal with surprise.

"No, there's no need to be concerned… Everyone is quite aware of the reality already."

"Really? I expected a 'Now that you know my secret I can't let you leave here alive' thing."

Beatrice is feeding Bubby with a smile on her face as Roswaal is talking.

"Around the same time the king went into hiding. An epidemic began to spread throughout the castle. The king and his children are the last of his line. The nation is currently being managed by a council of wise men, and they are now in the process of selecting a new king."

Subaru seemed to be in thought.

"I see. I'm starting to get the picture. On top of the king's absence, the royal selection is causing confusion in the kingdom. Then suddenly, I appear from another world-"

"Wait, I'm totally suspect here!" Subaru's face contorted to one of pure panic.

"It does seem a little suspicious that he would appear in such times and make contact with a candidate to the throne immediately upon arrival." Anastasia mused.

"Yeah but we saw how he arrived here. He had no say in coming to our world and he didn't know big sis was a candidate." Felt answered.

"Yeah, we know that Subaru-kun didn't have a say in coming here at such a crucial time. But we don't know who planned for those events to happen." Anastasia inquired.

"I don't think it's the Witch's Cult." Crusch voiced out.

"Why is that?" Priscilla asked, clearly interested.

"Subaru has been a very troublesome thorn at their side. I don't think they would put him here and give him such a powerful ability just to give themselves a challenge."

"And what if the boy wasn't given his power by the fiends of the cult?"

"Calling him boy now? What happened to commoner?"

Priscilla remained silent and looked at her fan in thought to Crushes musings.

"I guess, he has interested mine self."

Al recoiled in shock as he had never heard her speak this softly before.

"Pardon me for speaking without permission, Crusch-sama, Anastasia-sama, Felt-sama and Priscilla-sama." The conversing candidates looked at the knight that held the title of Sword Saint as he gazed thoughtfully at Subaru.

"Speak." Felt ordered.

He bowed. "Subaru has been given this ability by some evil means. I can't find such a divine blessing in old lagoon, infact, I can't create it so its not a blessing or a usable magic. Someone powerful and trained in ancient dark arts must have done this to him." Reinhard sat down and looked at the screen to let the room think on this.

"How utterly disgusting." Priscilla spoke softly as she watched the windows events with her mind in thought.

"Aaaand on top of aaaall that, you made contact with Emilia-sama, thus becoming connected to my household."

"Wait, why would the lord of the mansion call her Emilia-sama?" Subaru asked in confusion.

"It's only natural to address someone of higher status with due respect." Roswaal casually clarified.

Subaru looked nervous as he turned to the girl beside him.

"Um, so Emilia-tan would be… "

Emilia smiled sympathetically. "My current title would be a candidate to become the Kingdom of Lugunica's forty-second ruler, with the backing of Margrave Roswaal."

Subaru recoiled back. "What!?"

"Sorry to surprise you. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret." Emilia slowly placed her insignia on the table.

"Hey, its that insignia."

"This qualifies one to be a candidate for king. It's a touchstone for determining if one is worthy of the throne."

"Wait, Emilia-tan, you lost and insignia that qualifies you to rule the kingdom?!" Subaru looked at the half-elf ludicrously.

"Don't put it like that! I didn't lose it! It was stolen from me by a thief!"

"Sorry, again." Felt rubbed her head softly and tried not to remember that she had caused so much pain to Subaru.

She felt better when the half-elf girl smiled warmly at her.

"It's forgotten."

Felt frowned at her reaction. Emilia wasn't herself and she was looking distant.

"That's the same thing! And what happens if you lose that thing anyway? Will a government office issue another one?" Subaru almost fell off his chair.

"Oh, my! If you'd lost it, then there would be no doubt. If it's believed that one who can't even protect a tiny insignia can't be entrusted for the nation's rule, that would be the end of it." Roswaal explained still smiling.

Subaru looked satisfied with himself.

"Now that I think about it, I did a damn good job. This totally raises my expectations for a reward!" Subaru wiggled his fingers creepily.

"What a child." Julius snorted at the excitement shown on Subaru's face.

"Yeah, you're right. You're a true savior to me. So ask for anything." Emilia smiled at him not at all detoured by his finger wriggling.

Roswaal raised his hands wide. "You may have any reward you request. Just name your desire."

Crusch smirked and turned around to face the crowd. "Bet number three, Natsuki will ask for something small and stupid. The residents are not allowed to bet."

Everyone raised their hands while chuckles where heard.

Except for Anastasia. "I'm sure that Subaru-kun will ask for a hefty reward and be clever enough to use this carefully."

She didn't notice the warm smiles on the manor's residents.

Subaru chuckled darkly.

He stood up.

"In that case, I have but one request." as he smiled to keep them in suspense. Everyone in the room waited.

"Hire me to work in this mansion!"

Silence.

"Achoo." Ram sneezed.

Silence.

"When he wakes up… I need to have a talk with him."

Julius honestly felt kind of scared.

Anastasia was rubbing her fur coat with such a nasty glare on her cute face.

His lady was angry with Subaru! It was his duty as a knight to whoop his ass!

Sadly, he was asleep.

"You're safe for now Natsuki."

"I'm starting to think that he's an idiot." Felt spoke in shock at the stupid request.

Crusch just chuckled softly.

Priscilla snorted behind her fan at the boy's lack of ambition.

The scene changes to show Emilia and Subaru in a dressing room.

"That's not quite right…" Emilia stared at Subaru as he wore unfit clothes. "Wasn't there anything else that fit, Subaru?"

"Oddly, some of the girls' stuff fit me, but…"

"Our deepest apologies, sir… I mean, Subaru-kun." Rem said deadpanned.

"You look ridiculous, sir… I mean, Barusu."

"Um, Nee-sama, you just turned my name into a blinding curse."

Ram ignored him and looked at her sister.

"Rem, do you notice anything when looking at Barusu's ridiculous appearance?"

"His shoulders are shaped funny, his legs are short, and his eyes are scary?"

Subaru pointed at Rem, glaringly. "Two of those are things I can't do anything about!"

"We can't allow you to work here in such shady-looking attire. People would question Roswaal-sama's dignity. Let us alter the jacket at least. Rem, if you please."

Emilia started leaving the room and waved at Subaru. "All right, I gotta go study for the royal selection. Good luck with your work, too, Subaru."

"Yeah, leave it to me, Emilia-tan!"

Rem stepped closer to him and extended a measurement cord. "I will take your measurements. Stand still, with your back straight."

Subaru is standing while Rem is measuring him from behind. He yelps when she has her arms around him.

"Please don't make strange noises. It's unpleasant.

"That was beyond my control! This is awkward for a guy in various ways!"

Rem pouted a little and wanted more than nothing but to get in there and smack her other self in the face for wasting such a wonderful opportunity with her hero.

Subaru is walking with Ram now as she showed him around the mansion.

"In a mansion like this, the restroom must be huge."

Subaru stopped to open the door and take a peak but all he found was a little girl playing with a small cat on a bed. Definitely not bathroom.

"Again! How is he doing that?!" Frederica shouted in jealous surprise as Subaru astounded her. Those outside of Beatrice's circle just looked confused at the older maid's outburst.

"I guess Natsuki-san was always connected to Beatrice-san, huh?"

Beatrice didn't smile or react,

she just looked at the screen with an unreadable look.

What are they waiting for?

Otto asked. His mind was denying reality. His soul was forcing him to stop listening to the truth. His heart was trying as best it can to make him realize…

His friend is going to die.

"You're so great, Bubby! Your fur is the best!"

Beatrice stopped hugging Puck and looked at Subaru in alarm.

"Don't worry. I won't tell a soul. The feel of that fur would make anyone-"

Beatrice growled angrily and sent him flying out of the room, closing the door behind him as he fell on the carpeted hallway floor.

Subaru growled and got up to open the door. "Hey! Let me finish!"

Once opening the door, Subaru was faced with a small bathroom instead of the library and bed he expected.

"That was Beatrice-sama's Door Crossing."

"So it's a spell that can connect any door in the mansion to her own room?"

"Once Beatrice-sama has eliminated her presence, there's no way to find her without trying every door in the mansion." Subaru smiled at Ram and looked around.

"Bet number four, he fails miserably!" Felt called from her seat. No one raised their hands. Even Reinhard.

Felt pouted.

He quickly had his sights on a closed door down the hallway and ran to it.

"She's in here!"

"aahh!" Beatrice screamed in fright when a smirking Subaru burst the door open.

Puck waved at the boy with a surprised look. "That was impressive, Subaru!"

"You picked the right door again?!" Beatrice growled at him.

"That is impressive. But how did he do it?" Julius asked.

Subaru pointed at himself with a smug smirk. "What did I tell you? I'm a flag crusher who makes game masters cry."

"I don't understand your words, I suppose."

"I don't know who you are either, Ros-chi's little sister?"

Beatrice recoiled in disgust. "I'd never want to be his sister, I suppose! Hmph!"

"awe I though we were cloooooser than thaaaat."

"Hmph!"

"Betty is the librarian who oversees the Roswaal mansion's forbidden library." Puck explains.

"Roswaal-sama is the greatest magic user in the kingdom. He has many books that mustn't be seen by others. Beatrice-sama is contracted to protect them." Ram explained from behind him.

"And Natsuki Subaru just burned all that knowledge!" Felix shouted in horror while the others looked conflicted wither to feel angry or do nothing about it.

"If you get it now, then go away." Beatrice closed the door in his face."

Subaru and Ram are now standing outside of the manor.

"This concludes our tour of the mansion. Any questions?"

"I know it's no use saying this after it's over, but shouldn't Emilia-tan be the one with me for the tour event?"

"It's like he only thinks about her…" Petra fumed with jealousy.

Emilia frowned a little but blushed. Why was he so in love with her?

"If you have no questions, let's get to your actual job." Ram walked and ignored him. "You'll help me with my work, Barusu."

"This must be where my hidden skill as a butler reveals itself!"

"He's still under the delusion that this is a game, I suppose."

"What an idiot Barusu is."

"My work today is caring for the front yard and garden, helping to prepare lunch, polishing the silver, airing out the futons, laundry, bathroom cleaning, and the mansion's monthly soot cleaning." Subaru couldn't stop his eyes from twitching.

"You two do all of that?! Alone!" Felt shouted as she had seen hundreds of servants at Astrea's mansion.

Roswaal had a bigger Mansion than them so it was impossible for the two maids to be the ones taking care of it on their own.

The maids just stayed silent.

Petra and Frederica looked at them worriedly.

The scene showed an orange sky as the sun began setting. An exhausted looking Subaru wearing his tracksuit instead of his butler uniform dropped on his bed and breathed heavily.

"I'm exhausted."

Someone knocked on his door. "This is Rem. Do you have a moment, Subaru-kun?"

Rem's blood froze… her eyes widened and her sweat ran down her forehead.

Please god no… please don't make her the one that killed him.

Her other self is probably planning on killing him in his room. The blue haired girl was about to breakdown as the thought of herself killing her beloved was too much.

The only thing keeping her going was the fact that Subaru showed her the world with his smile. He wouldn't smile like that to the one that killed him, Right? So that means she must have not done the horrible deed to the boy.

Right?

(Poor, poor, little maid.)

Subaru slowly and tiredly sat up from his bed. "Sure, I'm good. I won't do anything weird so please come in."

"Your permission actually makes you sound less credible. Pardon me then." Rem entered carrying some clothes.

"That is true." Frederica giggled along with Petra, and Anastasia.

No one noticed the panicking Rem as she looked on with trembling hands.

Except for a certain clown.

"You finished that already?"

"When it's Roswaal-sama's clothing, my priority is to be careful but since this is yours…"

"Did you just imply that you cut corners?"

Subaru quickly put the suit on and looked at himself.

"I hate to admit it, but it's perfect. Well? Do I look good?"

"Combined with the rarity of gray clothes, no one in any kind of strange garment could rival you."

"Okay! Not a compliment at all!"

"So what should we do?" Rem asked as she looked at some cloth.

"This one's easy. Got a needle and thread?"

"I brought them. Shall I repair it now?"

"Nah, I'll do it. Don't underestimate my sewing skills."

Subaru is humming as he threads a needle through the pants.

"Subaru is really good at sewing he makes some weird but awesome looking toys."

Felt looked at Petra with interest.

Hhhhmmm, toys.

Felt was going to punch Reinhard so hard when he's sleeping, he might drop a few blessings.

Subaru could have made her toys in that boring big manor. He could have played with her! Had this stupid Knight not been so noble as to deny Emilia's request of taking Subaru with her, Felt would have been the one to house and have him serve under her.

Goddamn it, Reinhard!

"I'm surprised, I give you full marks for sewing skills." Rem is looking at the boy with a mysterious look.

"Like you, however, it does not seem very useful."

"You guys are bit harsh with him…" Ricardo was taken aback by all the abuse the twins were dishing at the new butler.

The twins watched, their minds worlds apart.

One was breathing heavily, thanking god under her breath for something.

And the other was watching her sister with a cold disappointed look.

Why was Ram disappointed in Rem?

Ricardo shrugged.

The scene changes to Subaru cutting a potato in the kitchen. Actually… he was failing as he cut his finger and began bleeding and screaming in pain.

"You may get full marks for sewing, but you're still useless with a knife, Barusu." Ram is peeling a potato like a pro while Subaru is holding his bleeding finger.

Rem was tasting some food when she turned around and smiled at her sister.

"As always, you make such a lovely image when peeling vegetables, sister."

Subaru glares at Rem. "Your bias is so blatant, it's almost comforting! I'd like a comment on my work, too!"

Rem looked at his plate of poorly cut potatoes. She blinked deadpanned.

"I pity the farmer who grew those vegetables."

"Me too." Julius smiled, liking the way they were treating Subaru.

"Stop! You're breaking my heart!"

"You don't know how to handle a knife, Barusu. You should hold the knife still and turn the vegetable."

Ram peeled a potato perfectly and held it proudly with a smile. "Frankly speaking, my best dish is steamed tatoes."

(Apples are called appas. Potatoes are called tatoes. I'm too lazy to go back and change all the potato I wrote.)

"How can you say that with such a triumphant look?! Damn it! Just you watch! My favorite blade, shooting star, will show you a thing or two!"

Subaru growled and picked up a potato (Fuck you Tatoes!) and began peeling it like a badass.

He cut himself and started screaming… also like a badass.

The power of the bro code truly is something not to be underestimated. For Garfiel and Otto have such a strong bond with Subaru, they began laughing at him even before he failed miserable. True friends.

"It sliced right through me!"

A montage plays where Subaru is shown to be attempting to get fired from his job as he turns everything he touches into a shitfest.

Washing dishes? He drops them atop each other, breaking every plate in the sink.

Cleaning the bathroom? He slips and begins wiping the floor with his newly made uniform as he slides across it.

Doing the female laundry? He injures his hand in water. How the fuck did he do that? Ladies and gentlemen this boy… is special.

Tending to the bushes? He cuts his finger by a scissor.

People could not contain their laughter in as some fell from their seats while holding their midsections.

"Oh god!"

"I can't stop!"

"hahahahahaha"

Even the Emilia camp were giggling and laughing along, happy that something other than their thoughts preoccupied their minds.

Emilia giggled softly and smiled. He was always so hard working. Maybe she would give him a lap pillow in this reality as wel-

Oh…

"That's why you cried so much, right?" Emilia asked her sleeping knight softly as the others laughed around her.

He cried from his inability to speak about his deaths. When she gave him his first lap pillow and softly comforted him that night. She wasn't helping a friend from a days work stress. No… she was receiving the frustrations of a confused boy in a land foreign to him that had known the horrors of death.

"Why don't you tell me? Why won't you speak to me?" Emilia looked at his sleeping face, tired and pathetic.

The scene showed the mansion surrounded by darkness as night time fell.

We go into Roswaal's office where the clown was sitting on a chair with a pink haired maid sitting on his lap.

Ram glared hatefully and blushed beet red at the private scene being displayed.

Everyone just watched in silence at the creepy scene.

"How has Subaru-kun been since then? It's been five days since his arrival. We should be seeing something by now."

"Cooking, laundry, cleaning… He is useless at all of them." Ram replied while sounding a bit flustered.

"How strict of you…" Roswaal mused as he rubbed Ram's head.

"And? What of his potential as a spy?" Roswaal narrowed his eyes.

Oh fuck…

Beatrice slowly looked at Roswaal eyes wide.

Had he…

"Oh, Subaru…" Beatrice was begging to what ever gods were out there to have saved the boy from being tortured by the clown.

She's seen him do it once.

Ram looked up as she nuzzled her head into his neck.

"I cannot deny it exists, but I believe the possibility is slim. For better or worse. For worse, in particular, he's too conspicuous." Ram closed her eyes and rested against the clown.

"And if he's too conspicuous… Despite that possibility he certainly is carefree. As I personally see it, it would be wise to interfere." Roswaal looked out of the window and inspected Subaru as the boy was sitting in the garden watching glowing spirits playing with Emilia.

"They're both only children. Even if we let them be, nothing well happen." Ram said to her master as she looked at the two from the window.

"You were suspicious of Subaru…" Emilia slowly looked at her sponsor with a cold warning look on her face.

"Of coooourse, your dear knight was too suspicious when he caaaame into my mansion."

"I brought him to the mansion because he saved me."

"True, buuuut there was a possibility that he was doing it to earn your favor and by advance miiiine."

"But you saw-"

"It doesn't matter what I have seeeeeen Emilia-sama. Back then I didn't have a screen that tells the future."

"But you had a book that did." Beatrice was glaring at Roswaal with wide eyes.

"You mean like a gospel?" Julius asked with a stern tone, making all combatants in the room look at the clown.

"You guys! Don't worry about him. Everything well be shown and all of you will understand."

People looked reluctant at Otto as he tried to defuse the situation.

"He's not a Witch Cultist I suppose." Beatrice said and looked at the screen with a sad look. Wishing she could have protected Subaru.

Emilia kept staring at Roswaal, she had a train of thought that would change everyone's lives would she go through with it.

In silence, the half-elf slowly sat down with an unreadable look and a shaking hand holding Subaru's… tightly.

The scene points at Emilia and shows many beautiful glowing lights around her while Subaru stared from the side with awe.

"It's not that fun to watch, is it?"

"Nothing is ever boring when I'm with you, Emilia-tan."

"That makes me happy, even if you're only flattering me."

Emilia stopped talking to the spirits and let them leave, making the area darken only lit by the moon above them.

"Besides, we haven't had a chance to just talk for the past few days." Subaru scratched his head nervously.

"That's right. It must have been difficult for you to learn your work here."

"Yes it was hard! I wish I could be comforted in your arms, your chest, and your lap, in rotation." Subaru rubbed his hands with a stupid smile on his face.

"Yeah, yeah. If you can joke around like that, you must be fine." Emilia poked his forehead and pushed him with her finger.

Subaru dropped on his back and stared at the moon while laying on the grass.

Emilia sat down and looked at Luna beside him.

"The moon sure is pretty tonight."

"Yes, it's far beyond our reach."

"I got a really touching response without even trying!"

"He trying so hard." Frederica cooed at the boy and routed for him to earn Emilia's affection.

Petra growled in jealousy. She wanted him to speak to her like that!

Emilia smiled warmly at him. "Still, don't you think you're a bit lacking in ambition? Like that time with Puck, and in the capital, when you asked for my name."

Subaru smiled softly. "You just don't get it, Emilia-tan. I want what I want at that exact moment and I want it from the bottom of my heart."

"Huh?"

Subaru looked at the sky with a thoughtful smile.

"At that time, I wanted to know your name. I had no expectations for tomorrow, and I was in a new land, nervous and uncertain of my future. When I think about it calmly, there were probably other things I should have wanted. But I can't lie to myself. "

Subaru stated remembering snippets from his past loops, smiling when he remembered Emilia's smile at the loot house.

Emilia just kept silent and listened to him with her eyes glued on his.

"I'm flat broke right now. I could cheat him out of a fortune and live it up, but I can just as easily obtain an ongoing source of livelihood, right?"

"He's just a boy that wants to do the best he can in a foreign land." Crusch smiled at Subaru's character.

"He has a big heart." Wilhelm spoke in a somewhat proud tone.

"In that case, couldn't you have become a permanent guest, rather than an employee?" Emilia smiled knowingly.

Subaru sat up with his head in his hands.

"I never thought of that!"

"Your captain is an idiot, blonde boy!" Mimi mocked from the back. Why did she aim at Garf.

It didn't matter to him since he watched the scene with proud tears as his brother had a moment with the love of his life.

He did give her the bird though…

Emilia's eyes widened when she noticed his hands. They were filled with bandages.

Subaru noticed this and looked at his palms and quickly jumped while hiding his wounds behind his back.

"Ah man, talk about pathetic. You should keep your efforts a secret, huh?"

"Do you want me to use my healing magic?" Emilia smiled at him.

"Nah, I'm fine like this."

"Why?"

"It's kind of hard to explain, but… this is proof of the effort I've put in. I don't actually dislike exerting myself, you know."

Subaru looked at his hands. "Learning to do something I couldn't before… well, it's not so bad."

Emilia blinked but then nodded in understanding.

"That's right… Yes, I think you're right. Really, Subaru, you idiot."

"Hey, what's with that reaction? This is where you fall for me all over again." Subaru smirked.

Emilia turned away from him and glared. "I never fell for you to begin with."

The half-elf girl dropped her stern expression and looked at the boy with a smile. "Honestly, you're so silly."

The wind around them blew and brought pink and white rose petals making a gorgeous scene with Emilia's smiling face.

Where the fuck did the petals come from? Don't ask me.

"EMA…" Subaru breathed as he stared at the image before him.

"Huh?" Emilia looked confused.

"It's short for 'Emilia-tan, major angel."

Emilia felt so robbed…

This wonderful moment…

It could have been hers.

"Man, I kind of want them to end up together now." Al admitted earning an annoyed look from his princess.

"Yeah man, come her and join the club." Ricardo pointed at him, Otto and Garf.

Emilia glared.

"I'm thanking you, and you're joking around again! Anyway, I know you're working hard, but how did your hands get so torn up?"

Subaru opened his palms and started counting.

"I cut this one with knives in the kitchen… and this is from when I went to town in the evening to shop, and a little animal some kids were playing with bit me."

Oh shit…. All of the manors residents immediately caught what he said.

And they knew what it implied…

"It wasn't the result of you effort?"

"Those kids were ruthless, hitting and kicking me, and wiping their runny noses on me… it sucked, damn it."

Petra giggled loudly at that.

Emilia smiled again. "You do seem like you'd be good with small children, Subaru."

"Yes he does." Crusch said to Emilia with a smile… but the elf girl was watching with panicking eyes…

Why was she so rude? This is the second time she spoke to her only to be ignored!

"I know! Wanna come with me tomorrow to get revenge… I mean, to watch the kids and that small animal?" Subaru's face lit up excitedly and stepped closer to Emilia.

"oooohhh, He's taking the quick route."

"What a pathetic way to court a girl." Felix sighed as he watched.

"I think he can land it." Reinhard smiled as he routed for the boy with nasty eyes.

Emilia looked down with a sad glint in her eye. "It's not that I don't want to come with you."

"Then lets go!"

"But if I'm with you, it might cause trouble for you."

"Okay, okay, got it! Lets go!"

Emilia glared at him. "Are you even listening to me?"

"I am! I hang on every word you say, Emilia-tan!" Subaru smiled excitedly.

"Sheesh…" Emilia dropped her glare and smiled.

"Only when I can take a break from studying and your work is done, all right?"

Subaru's eyes lit up like a kid and he began jumping in place. "All right! Roger that!"

Emilia giggled.

"Emilia-sama why are you crying?"

Every one looked at the half-elf to see what Otto was talking about.

Why was she crying?

"Oh."

"Please no…"

"oh god…"

"B-Big bro is going to-"

"he won't do that again right? There's no way he cou-"

"Cap'n will be fine. He will be fine. He will be fine. Right? Otto, Right?"

"Is there a limit to this! How many times will we see him di-"

As soon as they saw the grief and sorrow in Emilia's eyes as she cried for the moments she lost in a reality she didn't know existed, everyone put two and two together.

These were not memories Emilia remembered, which meant…. Yeah. Everyone was in a panic as Garfiel and Otto couldn't watch another death from their bro.

Petra looked around her as everyone panicked and threw curses at some unknown entity. She was scared. She was so scared.

For Subaru.

The scene changed to show Subaru walking down a dark hallway in the mansion with his hands in his pockets, humming to himself with a drugged smile on his face.

He suddenly stopped and opened a door to his side, revealing…

"Hey, Loli girl! you're still up?"

Beatrice looked annoyed.

"So now you can break through my door crossing like it's natural, I suppose."

Subaru entered the forbidden library with a smile. "Oh, I just wanted to say hello before going to bed."

He saw her playing with one of her drills and started pointing at them.

"Can I touch them?"

Beatrice glared. "Only Bubby may touch me, I suppose."

"No fair that only you get to have all the fun. Well, I'm in a good mood so I'll let it slide-"

"Enough! Just get out of here!"

Subaru was shot out the door and into the hallway.

Beatrice's eyes leaked a few tears as she wished she had treated him a little better.

The scene changes to Subaru getting into his bed.

"For our date tomorrow, I'll have to come up with an excuse to ditch the kids in the village. Oh! First, I've gotta find out where all the good views and flower fields and stuff are… "

Subaru sat upright with a disturbed look on his face.

"Crap! I can't sleep while I'm thinking about this! Oh, I know!"

Emilia cried and hugged him tight… he was so excited! She wanted to go on all the dates he asked her too… If only she could wake him up.

"One Puck… Two Pucks…

Scene change to the mansion.

A hundred and one Pucks…"

and Darkness….

Subaru's eyes opened up suddenly as he smirked on his bed.

"A new dawn has come! A dawn of hope!" Subaru jumped up on his bed to reveal himself standing in… robes.

"What?"

"Natsuki Subaru is going to make giant strides today!"

"How did he…?!"

He looked at the two maids that were present with him and hid behind the covers of his bed with a blushing face.

"What? You were in here?! I'm so embarrassed! You should've said something!"

He glared at the two maids. Rem and Ram looked down at him with deadpanned looks. "Sister, Sister… our guest appears to be confused."

"Rem, Rem… It looks as though our guest has gone crazy."

"Why are you calling me a guest? You two and your jokes…" Subaru froze.

His hands.

They were….

Subaru shook as he stared at his hands.

The wounds are… gone.

Title card:

The happy Roswaal Mansion Family

"This has to be some joke!"

Everyone was shocked, staring at the title card.

"Dying in his sleep… what a cruel way to go." Reinhard softly spoke as he looked at the boy with pity filling his blue eyes.

"Just how many times well this happen?" Otto yelled as the thought of dying in one's sleep not knowing who or what took you out and not giving you the chance to pray or recall your life's choices.

"C-Cap'n died again." Garf stared shocked at what Subaru went through.

"What happened to him?" Anastasia glared at Emilia's crowed demanding answers.

"It was the small dog's bite that most likely killed Barusu."

"It was a Mabeast?"

"Subaru-kun, saved the villagers of Irlam from a Mabeast invasion at this time. It was properly the puppy that bit him that killed him and that's how he managed to know about it." Rem finally spoke in a revealed yet crushed tone.

Her hero had to go through death yet again...but at least it wasn't because of her.

"I don't understand… why haven't you told us that he was going to die?" Crusch asked in anger.

She didn't know it but the manor's residents where all preoccupied with too much to tell the rest of them.

Rem was so worried about seeing herself harm the boy.

Ram was worried about her sister's suspicious behavior.

Beatrice was mourning in advance.

Emilia was wanted to soak everything her knight lived through into her mind and remember it so he wouldn't feel alone anymore.

Roswaal was… yeah.

"We were shocked to say anything I guess." Emilia answered softly from her place on Subaru's chest.

"Please alert us next time something seems different… it might make it easier for us all to go on knowing about the unexpected." Wilhelm softly asked of the camp, earning nods from the twins and Emilia.

The rest of the camp understood why non of them said anything so they didn't push any farther.

Everyone was jaded and broken as they watched Subaru on the screen.

Subaru looked at his hands in despair.

He had died.

Why?

His hands shook, his breathing sped up. He looked to his left in shock and confusion.

Ram. She didn't recognize him.

He looked to his left.

Rem. She didn't recognize him either.

Left to right. His eyes were filled with tears.

He put his hand on his face to hide the painful expression of despair.

He lost all his hard work and progress for nothing.

Why have I gone back?

"S-Subaru… " Petra was hurt by how sad and confused he felt.

"All of the effort and hard labor was erased in his sleep. This kid is living through hell." Ricardo looked sympathetic as he realized everything they had seen in the past half hour was gone.

"Sir, sir, you don't seem to be feeling well. Are you alright?"

"Sir, sir, you seem to have a stomachache. Did you perhaps soil yourself?"

Subaru, still hiding his face, took a heavy breath.

"You don't… remember me?"

The two maids looked dumbfounded by his question so that was all he needed.

"So it's like none of it ever happened?" Subaru shook with with sadness.

Rem and Ram looked at each other, confused and worried.

They looked at Subaru with pitying looks.

"Sir?" they asked in confusion.

"You shouldn't move so suddenly, Sir!" Rem spoke as Subaru slowly got out of his bed with a sad tearful look.

Subaru opened the door and ran… he just ran. Holding his sleeve up over his face as he cried, he ran.

What happened, damn it?!

Emilia gripped his hand so hard he might as well be dead because for sure she was breaking it!

Everything reset again!

"Goddamn it!" Otto yelled out in frustration and glared at the screen.

He was trying not to let the tears fall.

A memory from the night he was just living in. As Emilia sat next to him on the grass beneath the moonlight.

Including my promise with Emilia!

"I wish I can talk to you now Subaru…" Emilia softly closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his hand.

She wanted to comfort him.

She wanted to hug him. Tell him that she remembers.

Subaru cried and ran through a random door he opened.

He breathed heavily and shakily. He slumped against the door and lowered his head in despair. He had Returned by Death.

"You come in here without even knocking? What a rude one you are." Uninterested and unimpressed, Beatrice spoke while still reading through her book to the crouched boy in her library.

"Sorry. Just let me stay here please." Subaru begged softly as he placed his hands into a pleading position.

"There was last time, and again now… How are you breaking through my Door Crossing?"

Subaru looked up from his knees at the girl.

"Beatrice…"

"Addressing me with no title, I suppose?"

"You said I broke through your Door Crossing last time and now, Right?"

"I just teased you about it three or four hours ago for being so insensitive." Beatrice flipped through a page uninterested.

"If this is the second time I've woken up in the mansion… Then you remember me, right?"

"If I could, I'd rather erase you from my memory, I suppose."

Subaru slumped against the door in thought.

"So the conditions are different from last time… the save point's changed from near the guy with the appas. To the two angelic girls in maid uniforms. How did I die? Everything was normal before I fell asleep. Even after I fell asleep, I didn't get into any situations where I felt I might die… "

"That's something we haven't noticed as well." Frederica pointed out.

Crusch nodded her head.

"Yes it seems that he returns to a specific point in time that keeps changing with him instead of returning to just that moment at the appa stand."

Felt shivered at the thought. "Imagine if he had to go back to that rude salesman guy… he would have to do everything all over."

Everyone got the chills at this and thanked god for the small mercy of RBD moving time stamps that Subaru returns too.

Beatrice closed her book in annoyance.

"I wondered what you were muttering about, and I hear all this about living and dying. How boring and senseless to discuss such things by human standards, I suppose."

"In the end, you'll only come up with lies and abusive speech. "

Subaru looked up at her as she looked at him with a bored look.

He smiled.

"Thanks. You were a big help." he got up and dusted himself off.

"I didn't do anything."

"Somehow, seeing that never changing attitude of yours calmed me down."

"Only an ultimate pervert would be calmed by verbal abuse, I suppose."

Beatrice looked up in surprise as Subaru opened the library door.

"You're leaving, I suppose?"

"Yeah. There's something I want to make sure of. I'll wait until afterward to get depressed."

Beatrice looked at the boy sleeping beside her with a small smile on her face.

Maybe she was helping him with that attitude of hers. He never asked her to change afterall.

"You ultimate pervert." She whispered softly and caressed her contractor's cheek. A sad smile found its way on her lips.

"I should tell you now, I suppose."

Everyone looked at the little girl as she sat down and looked at the screen she uttered the words to the waiting crowds behind her.

"This is not the one."

Everyone's breathing hitched.

"That interaction never happened with Subaru and Betty, Infact."

Despair.

Subaru walked out of the mansion and smiled once he saw a familiar half-elf girl looking around the gigantic garden for him.

Yeah, I knew it.

"Subaru!" Emilia called out once she saw him.

"You're absolutely shining."

Emilia ran and stopped right in his face as she yelled at him.

"I was worried about you! Rem and Ram are running around in a frenzy looking for you saying you disappeared right after you woke up!"

"Sorry about that… I got held up by Beatrice for a bit."

"Again? I heard she played a trick on you before you woke up, too…" Emilia began checking him over in worry.

Subaru just smiled at how close she was.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?" Emilia began touching her face in fear.

"Yeah, your adorable eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. I'm glad you're okay."

Hopelessness.

Emilia smiled and began walking along the garden. "I'm fine. You protected me, after all. What about you how are you feeling?"

"I feel great! I'm a little low on blood, my mana was stolen, the shock of waking up sapped my strength, and I feel like my mind's been beaten to death with a bat, but I'm good!"

Morbid and obscene.

"He speaks as if it was just a game." Felix whispered with fear felling him at how easy the boy is talking about his own death.

"He's gotta cope somehow." Reinhard softly spoke.

"I see, that's go- wouldn't that mean you're hurt all over?"

Emilia turned to the boy in worry but something ruffled her hair and came out to sit on her shoulder.

"Hi, Subaru. Great morning, isn't it?" Puck yawned loudly. "I can't thank you enough for yesterday. I have to thank you somehow."

Guilt and Worry.

"Then let me pet your fur whenever I want!"

"That's all?" Emilia looked at Subaru ludicrously.

Subaru happily took the sleeping cat and rubbed him against his cheek.

"Okay let's go! Our time is limited, and our world is grand! And Emilia-tan's and my story has only just begun!"

Darkness was overwhelming the group as all of these emotions clogged their minds. While their were some that didn't feel these for the boy in this group, the atmosphere was described by these words.

"Okay… Listen to me everyone, please."

Sad and cold, teary and angry, bored and uninterested.

Those were the eyes looking at Otto as he stood from his chair and looked at them with a look full of conviction.

"We can't go on like this."

"We can't be afraid every time Subaru-san dies. "

"Ta' hell you mean?"

"I mean that Subaru-san's life in our world is a nightmare. A fucking horror tale and we need to accept that and watch with our hearts locked."

"Are you saying we shouldn't care about Subaru-kun?!" Rem asked in rage.

Otto looked at the blue haired maid with a tired glare. "I'm saying we shouldn't be surprised that something will go wrong and Natsuki-san will die. It's not what we're here for. If we despair and hang on to every time he encounters death, we might be more jaded than him."

"But… if we can't mourn his pain and sacrifice what else are we here to do?" Julius asked his yellow eyes tired and haunted.

Otto looked around and gave a small stern of conviction.

"We need to be angry."

"Huh?"

"We need to feel angry when he dies. We need to make sure we remember everything that happens in every reality or loop as he calls it. We have to keep watching with our hearts and mind coming through this intact to meet Subaru just the way he last seen us. If we become jaded and afriad of him, then he might as well be dead since that's not what he has been fighting for all this time."

Otto looked at everyone….

"Natsuki-san's sanity is broken. He has been through so much ever since he came into our world."

He looked down.

"We are what's holding him together. We need to make sure that we can smile when he wakes up. That's all he asks of us. So we need to watch through this without wallowing or crying about each and every reset."

"We need to stay ourselfs."

Everyone was shocked at the speech.

Otto sat down and looked tiredly at the screen.

"Wise words, Otto-kun." Emilia whispered to him softly with a tired smile.

The boy blushed and looked at the screen.

Everyone seem to have started picking themselves up after that.

Garfiel, who was about to have a second panic attack, softly and tiredly glared at the screen beside his bro.

He would watch and learn from his captain's suffering… so that captain never….ever...dies again.

"True… wait, what did you just say? Where did the Tan come from?"

I don't know whose idea of a prank this is, but I'm gonna make you sorry for all of it.

Memories of his first mansion loop played in his mind on repeat as he made his declaration of war.

Don't underestimate how vindictive I'll be.

After the smile that charmed me that night!

I'm going to keep my promise to Emilia! I'll get past that night!

For some odd reason. Maybe it was the late after charge of Otto's speech, or the sheer determination shown by Subaru's vindictive self. Or maybe these two combined. But for some reason.

They all began cheering.

They weren't even saying anything coherent they were just yelling.

From Ricardo to the twins beside him to Garfiel, even Al!

Julius and Reinhard steeled themselves and glared at the screen.

Emilia and Beatrice held both of the boy's hands and stared at the screen.

Felt and Petra as well as Frederica smiled at the determination soaring in the air.

Crusch and Anastasia watched with smiles on their faces.

Priscilla, Roswaal and Ram watched with indifferent expressions.

And Rem… she was scared.

She was just so scared about what they will do when they see her break their determination apart.

She knew it. As soon as Beatrice said that he well die again, the fear plagued her heart even more.

The fear of her potentially killing the man she loved.

Scene change.

"Juuuust name your deeeesiiiire!"

"In that case I have one request! Hire me to work in this mansion!"

"Hic."

"Again! Is this boy a moron?!" Anastasia was pissed that such an opportunity got wasted twice in a row.

Subaru is in the same changing room as the first loop as he was thinking.

it's how these looping plots work. Follow that same path and you'll end up in the same place.

"So he's trying to follow the same steps as the previous life to find out what exactly killed him." Crusch nodded seeing it as the most logical plan.

Subaru enthusiastically entered the room with Rem and Ram behind him. Rem was glaring at him.

Rem's eyes widened.

So it starts…

Subaru began picking up a uniform.

"That's too large for you, Barusu."

Subaru stopped and looked at Ram, startled that she changed the loop.

Ram looked around the closet. "Nothing well fit you here except for women's clothes. Rem, alter that one for him."

"Yes sister."

"Take my measurements, then. A man can withstand all kinds of awkwardness!"

"We'll measure you later."

"Huh?"

"Follow me, Barusu."

"Are you going to show me around?"

"That can wait, as well. You'll help me with my work first."

"Hey, wait!"

"W-Why are you different in this life?" Otto asked as he was startled by the sudden event change.

Ram shrugged coldly.

Scene change.

Subaru is taking a bath the large bathtub as he was thinking.

Retrace the same path I took yesterday.

That's what I meant to do, but… This is totally different from last time.

"It's like when you make a cheat sheet, but when you see the answers you realize it's the wrong subject. A total waste of effort."

"Hi, there! May I join-"

"No, you may not."

"ewww," the twins both cried out as their eyes were covered by both Ricardo and Julius.

Petra's eyes were covered by Frederica who was muttering something about it being extremely inappropriate to look at their master's junk.

Reinhard covered Felt's eyes and smiled as he managed to save his lady's innocence.

Only to have a heart attack once she told him, "It's nothing I haven't seen before." in a casual voice.

Emilia slowly and confidently crawled over Subaru's body and covered Beatrice's eyes.

"What are you doing, I suppose?"

"Shhh. I won't let Beako's innocence go."

"You're one to talk! Let me go! I'm four hundred years old, infact!"

Emilia ignored her and kept her palm on the little face of the loli spirit.

Subaru denied the naked Roswaal any place in the bathtub. The magi began moving his hips left to right making his tiny balls jiggle. (Thank god Subaru's head is blocking the tiny fuckers from view."

"This facility is part of my mansion, so it is my property. I'll do with it as I please."

"Why bother asking then? Take a bath if you want."

"My how harsh! And you don't seem to understand." Roswaal shook his head.

"Yes, this bath is my property…"

He opened his eyes and stared at Subaru. "But as part of my staff," he held Subaru's chin. "Are you not my property as well?"

Subaru simply looked at the man above him… and bit his hand. Like a badass.

"I respect him for that." Otto nodded as he covered Garfiel's eyes.

Don't ask… Bros just understand each other.

"No hesitation at all!"

"This is turning out different from what I'd expected, too."

"I do not know what's bothering you, but life is full of things that don't go your way. By the way, do you think you'll be able to get along with Ram and Rem?"

"I haven't spoken to Rem much yet, but I get along fine with Ram. In fact, I think she might be getting a little too friendly. I can't believe she can work as a maid that way."

"What a pathetic attempt to tarnish my reputation. Hmph! Guess I should have expected nothing more from a useless worker like Barusu."

"Well, Rem covers the things Ram is unable to do. As sisters, they must help each other. In that sense, I think the two of them are getting by quite well."

Subaru looked exasperated. "Ram is just the inferior version of her sister, and all Rem does is cover for her. And yet they insist that Ram is superior because she's older. it's scary how much nerve they have."

"Speaking of nerve, yours appears quite impressive, as well." Roswaal looks at Subaru.

Subaru is shown to come out of the bath. "Damn, that made me dizzy, Stupid Roswaal…"

"I just waaaaanted a frieeeend."

Subaru walked out and found Ram waiting right by the door.

Subaru was naked….

Ram was staring…. At his privates…

Our boy screamed and tried to cover up his manly parts.

"Cover up that sorry thing."

Laughter could be heard from many parts of the big room. Even Priscilla was snorting.

"Why are you here?!" Subaru asked embarrassed.

"I was only waiting here to help Roswaal-sama put on fresh clothes. I'm sorry to tell you that I've finished my bath, so I won't be changing."

"I wasn't thinking about that! Also, you spoil him too much! Let him dress himself!"

Ram glared at him. "I will not condone disrespect toward Roswaal-sama. Next time I will use force."

"Any more, and I'll stir up a hornet's nest…"

"By the way, Barusu do you have plans after this?"

"No, just going to sleep."

"Then please wait in you room. I'll come by later."

"Huh?"

"L-Lucky s'n of.." Garfiel crushed his palm from the unfairness. Why does his captain get all the girls?!

Scene change….

She didn't mean anything…

she didn't mean anything by it.

Clear my mind, clear my mind!

Emilia-tan is the only one for me!

Calm down, calm down…

One Emilia-tan, two Emilia-tans, three Emilia-tans…

"Am I in heaven?!" Subaru smiled with tears of happiness in his eyes.

Emilia giggled with a blush on her cheek, finally showing an emotion that showed her smile. "So silly no matter what happens… this boy is amazing." Emilia spoke in a soft gentle tone with some of the light returning into her eyes.

Suddenly, Ram enters.

"You're too noisy, Barusu. It's nighttime be quite."

"Eep!" The blushing boy crawled away to the corner of his bed and his his face.

"Barusu, come over here." Ram ordered as she placed something on the table.

"Wait! My heart's already set on someone, and her name is Emilia-tan!"

"What are you talking about? I'm telling you to sit over here so I can teach you to read and write."

"That's news to me!"

Ricardo and Al laughed.

Rem and Ram's eyes light up. "That's how Subaru-kun was able to read and write!"

"I guess it makes sense, what a horrid experience. Teaching animals takes godly effort."

"M-Maybe you shouldn't be so harsh on Natsuki-sa-"

Abiding by his bro, Garfiel quickly shut Otto's mouth and told him to shut the fuck up less he wants to die.

Had Otto looked back, he would have met Satan himself.

Scene change Subaru is now writing on his paper while Ram is observing from the side.

"Where's this coming from, though?" he asked as he continued to write.

"I could tell by watching you that you can't read or write. If you can't read or write I can't send you shopping, and you can't write down orders. We'll start with this collection of children's fairy tales. Starting tonight, I'll help you study every evening."

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Why else? It's so that I… No, it's so that I can get off easy."

"That wasn't correcting yourself! You're never out of character are you?"

Ram looks down at her student in with an evil cold calculating stare.

"Isn't it obvious? The more you can do, the less I have to do. And when I have less to do, so does Rem. It's Win-Win."

"That leaves me with piles of work, though!"

Ram explained that there are three glyphs he should memorize.

"There are thee Different types? Just hearing that is depressing…" Subaru was writing something in Japanese which Ram couldn't understand.

"You don't have time to waste on doodles. We have an early start tomorrow, we're short on time."

Ram yawned. "I'm sleepy, too."

"I can't say I dislike how you slip your own feelings in at the end, Senpai."

"I do believe my honesty is my most charming feature. Now, let's get started."

Scene change to Subaru writing many glyphs in his note book.

"It's so monotonous, I feel a Gestaltzerfall phenomenon coming on…"

"But still, even if you did it to make your life easier, it made me happy. Honestly I had a feeling you didn't like me much, and I'll probably cause more problems for you down the line. But I'll try to become useful as soon as I can… " Subaru turned around to find her sleeping on his bed.

He broke his quill in half.

"Excellent teaching sister."

"Thanks Rem."

"Poor guy." Al sighed as the twins smiled innocently.

Scene change to Subaru trying on his newly made outfit made by Rem. Said maid was standing at the door of the changing room with her eyes on him as he posed in the mirror.

"Hate to admit it… but it's perfect. Guess there is no need for my sewing skills this time."

"Do you like sewing?" Rem asked from her place at the door.

"Kinda. By the way, it looks like Ros-chi and

Emilia-tan have lots of outfits, but I don't see any for you and Ram." Subaru smiled happily as he showed Rem a measurement rope. "Want me to sew some for you? I'll take your measurements." Subaru asked excitedly.

"Awe, look how excited he is!" Felt cooed.

"That is unnecessary. These uniforms are all my sister and I need."

"How can you have nothing but those uniforms? Are all your clothes maid outfits?"

"They cause no problems when we accompany Roswaal-sama on business, or when we work in the mansion. They also eliminate the need to explain our place in the hierarchy, which makes them very logical."

"But it's not about being logical. I'm trying to say cute girls have a duty to dress up, so they please the eyes of others." Subaru tied his tie and smiled at Rem.

"My sister is one thing, but no one would be happy to see me dress up."

Ram glared at this.

"Well, I would."

"Would any good come of making you happy?" Rem looked at the smiling boy.

"I might take more pride in my work here,

which could boost my productivity."

"I have no idea what makes you say that."

"I'd also look forward to

seeing the differences in your sartorial choices... "

"That is none of your concern. Does my looking the same as my sister somehow inconvenience you?" Rem started walking away from the closet.

"You love your sister way too much." Subaru told her from inside the closet as she walked away.

"Why are you testy here?" Frederica asked with a confused look.

"It seems that the twins were able to derail the entire loop somehow." Crusch mused to herself.

Scene change… Subaru is shown in the kitchen peeling an APPLE (Fuck you Appa!)

"Ow!" Bitch boy cried like a bitch as he once again cut his finger and bleed.

"You don't know how to handle a knife, Barusu."

"I know! You hold the knife still and turn the vegetable, right?" Subaru is peeling the vegetables while Rem is staring at him from her place in the kitchen.

"Lord… please don't do this.." Rem whispered faintly and prayed as she watched her other self getting suspicious.

"It's embarrassing when you stare at me so intently…" Subaru tells Rem as he smiles sheepishly. Rem looked away from him.

"Your unsightly appearance stands out. Especially your hair. It's very unrefined." Ram said from the side.

"I thought I did a pretty good job

of cutting it by myself. ."

"By the way, in this mansion,

Rem sees to everyone's hair. She styles my hair and dresses me every morning, too. Isn't it nice?"

"Try to contribute a little, Sis!"

A montage is shown where Ram is working on some bushes, leaving them all in a horrendous state. Only for Rem to clean up after her sister and make beautiful bushes.

"Ram-san really is useless." Petra whispered to herself.

Frederica didn't disagree.

Subaru and Ram are working on cutting a bush while Rem is standing to the side, glancing at them from time to time. Ram and Subaru notice this and Subaru stops to look at Ram for help.

"Rem…" Seeing her sister call, the blue haired Oni looked at the two.

"If you like, you can tidy up Barusu's hair a bit."

"Sister?"

"Whoa, whoa… Having a girl mess with my hair will get me all worked up—"

"You keep looking at Barusu because

his hair bothers you, right?" The two sisters stared one another. Rem relented and fake smiled.

"Yes, that is correct. I think combing it and evening out the ends would make him more presentable."

Ram turned to the boy and smiled."You heard her. You should take her up on her offer. Her hands will take you to paradise."

Subaru glared at Ram "You make it sound so dirty... ."

He turned to Rem and smiled."If you don't want to, you should just tell her. Not that I don't want you to, but…"

Rem shook her head "No, that isn't it. The truth is that it did bother me a little… very much, a little... extremely, a little."

"Well, anyway, that proves the point that it bothers you."

Beatrice is shown watching the three from a window.

"What's the matter, Betty?"

"Nothing, Bubby. More importantly, I have delicious sweets today, I suppose. Eat them with me!"

"Yum!"

Scene change… (God I'm tired.)

Subaru is shown wiping the floor of the bathroom when he notices Rem standing at the door way.

"What's up? Here to help me?"

"No, this is about what we discussed at lunchtime."

"Lunchtime? Oh, about my hair? You'll really style it for me?"

"No, I felt that I said some things that were uncalled for." Rem bowed deeply. "I am very sorry. We may be colleagues, but as Emilia-sama's savior, your rank surpasses mine."

"That's how you feel? Sorry to put you through that."

"No, I should apologize for saying something so pointless. Please forget it." Rem looked away.

"I guess it's never that easy. That's what makes being human so hard. ." The boy began thinking about something to make her feel better as he stopped wiping the bath.

"Okay, I'll give you a condition, then! If you agree to it, I'll forget everything you just said." Subaru smiled at the confused maid.

"A condition? Very well, I shall hear you out."

Subaru smirked and did his favorite pose.

"If you comb my hair a bit and even out the ends, I'll let it slide!"

"I'll let that one slide since he's just being a good boy." Anastasia muttered.

Rem just stared at the boy in silence.

"When you respond with silence, it actually hurts even more…"

Rem quickly took off her shoes and socks and picked up the broom to help the boy clean the bath.

"It is just as Emilia-sama said. You have no ambition at all."

"It's weird… I'd think that'd make you fall for me all over again, not disgust you."

"My sister said your eyes take on an obscene

look when she's alone with you. So to be honest, I was prepared to hear you suggest that."

Subaru grounded his broom into the floor hard as he growled. "She's killing my reputation!"

"Silly, Barusu. I can't kill something you don't have."

"I accept your condition. . I shall do as you wish." Rem bowed in elegance.

Subaru chuckled nervously. "Then, after I keep my promise to Emilia-tan would be that'd be great."

"Promise?"

Subaru looked sheepish"Well, I haven't made the promise yet."

"Still thinking of her while looking for the ones that killed him. Man's in love."

"And I'm having a fun time watching it bloom."

Al and Ricardo nodded toward one another.

Scene changes to the Irlam Village. Subaru is scene walking around some beautiful locations around the village.

Scoping out our date destination before I

make the promise might be smart…

I've researched places with the best views!

That just leaves…

The screen zooms in on a distressed looking Subaru as he was hounded by kids, pulling him by both arms and climbing up his back.

...this.

"Subaru!"

"He's back!"

"And his face looks weird again!"

Subaru grimaces as the kid climbing his back starts rubbing his snotty nose on his butler jacket.

"I need to make sure these guys don't find us. ."

"What do you mean by find you?"

"Did you pee your pants?"

"We're playing hide-and-seek?"

"It's like they're bullying him." Julius snorted in amusement.

"He seems the time to let the kids do what they want unless it's harmful." Reinhard smiled at the sight.

Rem is seen carrying two brown bags of groceries and looking on at the kids playing with Subaru.

"Chill, brats! I played with you earlier!"

"Let's play more!"

"Play! Play!"

"Change your pants!"

"They seem to like him." Felt said in jealousy as they got to play with him.

"Subaru has the most fun games ever. We never had that much fun before he came to the village."

Felt kicked Reinhard. She just did.

"Lady, Felt-sama!"

Subaru gathers the kids and makes them form a circle around him as he spoke with them while kneeling to keep eye contact.

"All right, listen up. Next time I come here, I'll be on a date. Try to take a hint, okay? " Subaru smiles at the kids and notices a girl carrying a small puppy.

A blue haired girl….

An emerald eyed girl….

Fuck.

"That's Milie!" Petra growled.

"Who?" Cusch asked as she watched the Emilia camp either growl or snare at the girl.

Rem looked confused.

"That girl is an assassin that attacked us at the mansion." Otto explained.

"That girl? An assassin?" Julius asked with surprise.

"I know it seems improbable. But look at what she's holding."

Everyone's eyes went wide.

"I'll allow this little critter to play

with Emilia-tan, though." Subaru moved to to pat the animal, but the small pup moved away and bit his hand.

"Ow! Again?!" The kids laughed as Subaru held his hand in pain.

"Subaru-kun, so this is where you were. Are you all right?" Rem looked at the bleeding hand of the boy.

"Is that how he dies, I wonder?" Priscilla said from behind her fan.

Everyone was saddened to see their friend get cursed in such a casual manner. He will die. They already established that.

"At least it will be painless." Frederica tried to put some light in their eyes.

"I'm fine, I'm fine… All done shopping, Rem-rin?"

"Yes, it went quite smoothly. ."

As the sun began setting, Subaru and Rem began walking away from the kids while waving at them.

"Aw, you're leaving?"

"Don't go! "

"You have somewhere to go home to?"

The kids waved them goodbye in disappointment.

"You were quite popular with them." Rem decided to small talk while walking to the mansion.

"For some reason, kids have always liked me…" Subaru smiled tiredly.

"Like animals, children observe a hierarchy. They can tell if it's all right to belittle someone. ."

Subaru glared. "Those brats… They have no respect."

"Did you show them anything about you worth respecting?"

"That's a sound argument. Still, it doesn't seem right to belittle me from the start. Ram seems like she'd handle that kind of thing well." Subaru smiled. (This part is very boring.)

"My sister is wonderful, isn't she?" Rem smiled as she walked alongside him.

"Honestly, I'd think her personality would cause conflict more often than not."

"My sister's self-assured nature is what makes her so charming. I cannot be that way at all." Rem smiles sadly and looks at the ground.

"By the way, how are your studies progressing?"

"Let's just say I'm plugging along. . Ram is actually a pretty good teacher, too. Though I wish she wouldn't sleep on my bed in mid-lesson. It kinda kills my motivation."

"My sister only acts that way to stimulate your motivation."

"Why do you have such absolute

faith in your sister? That isn't normal… You're totally fanatical like a demon."

Rem's eyes are wide.

This is why he said them to her?! Those wonderful words.

This wonderful moment.

Why did have to be taken away from her?!

"Fanatical like a demon?"

"It's the demon version of divine possession. Sounds kinda cool, right? "

"It kinda does." Garfiel nodded his head.

"Do you like demons? "

"Well, gods generally don't do anything, but demons will laugh along when you talk about future plans. . Especially for next year and stuff. . They'll laugh their heads off."

Rem suddenly stops and looks at Subaru. He looks at her.

She smiles.

She truly smiles.

Subaru stares at her for a second. Then dances in place with a smirk. "That smile is a million volts!"

Rem walks away from him. "I'm going to tell Emilia-sama."

"I wasn't trying to hit on you!" He hurries after her.

"hehehe, you make a good pair." Frederica encouraged Rem… which made Emilia pout for some reason.

Scene change. It was now night time and Subaru was… da fuck was this boi doing?

He was clenching the chair while breathing through his nose, as if he was smelling crack in the air.

He had a blush on as he looked away from someone.

Oh… yeah that makes since.

Emilia was behind him.

"Some one's nervous! Hahaha" Some laughed at the way the poor boy looked.

While Emilia just sighed at his antics. Why would he be nervous around someone like her?

(I will make this bitch cry… give me a moment until I get to the scene.)

"Both Ram and Rem said they wouldn't

be coming to see you tonight, so I agreed to help with your studies. I'm afraid I can't do much, though."

Subaru was sweating profusely as he tried as hard as he could not to look at the lady behind him. "Right now, I'm writing the basic i-glyphs until I memorize them... ."

Emilia leaned over his shoulder with an impressed smile making him shake and blush even more.

"Wow! You're studying a lot more intensely than I imagined!"

Subaru stiffly and slowly moved a book between his face and Emilia's.

"S-Since these fairy tales are aimed at kids, it's mostly i-glyphs, or so they said… So my goal for now is to be able... to read this…"

Subaru suddenly stood up and began courting the half-elf. Stiffly and nervously, he began the process of asking her on a date.

"Bet five, He screws this up in a funny way." Otto was the one surprisingly hoping on his brother's downfall. What a backstabbing merchant.

Of course, everyone raised their hands up.

Including Emilia.

He could do this. He had a plan.

"Anyway, um… Th-The moon sure is pretty." Subaru looked up with a dreaming smile on his face…

Emilia looked up as well and blinked in confusion.

"Huh?"

"pfffttt!" Emilia chuckled while the girls giggled and the boys laughed.

Subaru quickly looked away from the ceiling of the room and changed the subject as fast as he could in hopes that he doesn't look retarded.

"No! I mean, um, I have a favor to ask you. Will you listen? Starting tomorrow, I'll work

hard, and I'll study, too!" Subaru gave his most charming smile. "Go on a date with me."

"What does a date entail?" Emilia asked confused by this retard that could see the moon through the ceiling of his room.

Subaru chuckled and posed his hands wide. "When a guy and a girl go out alone together, that's a date! Only the goddess of love knows what will happen during that time... ."

Emilia smiled and held her hands together at the sweet idea she had. "Then that means you went on a date with Rem today, right?"

By this point… everyone was on the floor rolling.

Rem was sad that she laughed as well.

Subaru began rolling around on his bed in despair. "Ugh! I didn't expect that response!"

Subaru began bowing up and down to Emilia. "That didn't count! Please don't count that!"

"I understand that you want us to

go out together, but where?"

"Actually, there's this really cute

little dog in the nearby village. There's a flower field, too. I want to see you in a field of flowers, and capture the image for

eternity with my metia!"

Emilia smiled nervously and looked away in thought. "Oh, um... The village, huh?"

"The dog is super cute! Let's go!"

"But it might cause trouble for

you. And for the villagers—"

"The kids are so pure and innocent,

they're like angels! Let's go!"

"Oh, all right. You leave me no choice. . I'll go with you."

"And the flower field is super colorful

and wonderfu— Really?"

"If that will motivate you to work hard

from tomorrow on, then I will."

"All right!"

Emilia looked out the window with a smile. "I bet the weather will be lovely tomorrow."

"Yeah... And it'll be a day I'll never forget." Subaru silently looked out the window beside her…

"There you go again with…" Emilia stopped her chuckling when she noticed him with a haunted look of battle in his eyes.

He quickly changed his expression and looked at her.

"He still doesn't know…" Emilia frowned in sadness.

"That boy is a fighter." many nodded at the old man's words.

"You were just… Never mind." Emilia smiled it off and began walking to the door while Subaru was looking at her all the way.

"You know, it makes a guy really anxious

when you don't finish your sentences."

Emilia kept her hand on the handle and saluted Subaru with a smile of encouragement.

"Okay, Subaru-kun the butler, remember to work hard. Only those who work hard are rewarded, so this will be a reward!" Emilia smiled.

And the screen turned black…

Ending song 1: Styx Helix

Snow icicles are dropping slowly over Subaru and Emilia's heads as they faced each other with their backs turned.

The camera shows Emilia closing her eyes as if she was displeased.

Then it shows Subaru looking up at something. Slowly, images of when he and Emilia helped the kid in his first loop play. Ending on Emilia's smile.

Subaru grits his teeth in anger.

Various characters from the story are shown, including the appa guy, Felt and Rom, Rienhard and the three thives, Beatrice, Puck and Roswaal, and finally Rem and Ram.

Elsa is shown with blood all around her, then the image of red eyes opening in the darkness plays.

The camera changes to show Emilia's hand with blood on it. Slowly, as it zooms out and reveals the pooling blood around Emilia, Subaru's hand comes in frame.

Subaru and Emilia held hands as death overtoke them.

A dark hand lowered down from the sky towards Subaru.

End of the outro.

The screen turns dark.

"That was a bit wierder than the first one." Petra said bewildered by the song.

"I liked it." Crusch commented.

"I guess you do have taste." Priscilla nodded at Crusch.

"Does any one know what that dark hand is?"

No, one answered Rem as-

The screen lights up again and shows the mansion in the night.

"It's still not over yet?" Mimi asked tired.

"I thought he wakes up after dying from the curse." Tivy lamented.

"No, Subaru-sama was planning something." Crusch spoke in a grim tone.

Subaru is sitting in his room with the light on, looking at the bite on his hand. He smiles nervously.

"All right, let's settle this, fate... . I won't sleep tonight, no matter what. I'll stay awake to greet the morning of my promise."

The silence of the night is overwhelming.

"Jeez... What am I, a grade schooler who can't sleep before a class outing? Reminds me of when I overslept on the day of the class trip… I wasn't able to retrace the same loop exactly, but I got along well with Ram and Rem. In fact, I think I did better than last time. ."

Subaru is struggling to stay awake. His eyes keep dropping.

"If there's anything I feel I missed, it's not saying goodnight to Beatrice. Each time I saw her, all we did was insult each other. But maybe I should have… at least… thanked her…"

Heartbeat slowing…

Eyelids closing…

Darkness…

Suddenly, he jumped out of his chair. The world around him started moving weirdly.

"The curse is taking effect, infact." Beatrice said in a somber tone.

"Let's stay strong guys." Otto spoke encouragingly.

"We owe it to him."

They watched… as their friend suffers a curse that will eventually kill him.

His strength taken from him, he had to fall on his knees.

"What is this? I'm so cold…"

"No... Could this be…" Subaru puked his guts out on the floor as the sickness overtook him.

Subaru used the walls for balance as he slowly walked out of the room. He walked down the hallway and puked.

"Someone…"

Emilia and Beatrice looked down, unable to keep watching as the shame built up.

He was begging for someone!

He was dying alone!

He crawled on the stairs and puked there too.

"Someone... Help. "

Subaru managed to crawl to the top and started walking down a hallway. He stopped to hold the puke in.

*Chain sounds were heard. *

"What was that?"

Everyone moved closer to watch closely. Something wasn't right. Julius narrowed his eyes.

Rem started crying… she really did do it.

The sweating Subaru looked back unable to keep steady from the sickness.

Suddenly…

He was attacked by something.

Subaru was sliding across the hallway carpet with blood coming out of him.

"Subaru!" "Big bro!"

Petra and Felt were horrified by the amount of blood.

Emilia and Beatrice watched with their mouths open in shock at the suffering their beloved had to endure.

Rem gasped and opened her eyes so wide to watch the torture she inflicted on the boy.

Her heart was breaking, her mind was going numb, her soul was tearing.

The screen showed Subaru's sick sweating face with drool coming out of his mouth as he gasped in pain. A pool of blood was forming beneath him.

"What just…" Subaru looked up at the chandelier of the hallway.

To find his arm resting up there.

"Good grief!"

"This poor kid…"

Ricardo and Al watched with wide eyes. They know the pain of being torn open.

Ricardo was torn in half by a whale and Al was missing an arm so they knew how much pain this boy was in.

Not to mention the killing curse.

The boy's face contorted from the excruciating pain. He held the place where his arm used to be and rolled around in pain.

The entire hall was a bloody mess from the walls to the carpet to the ceiling.

"Garfiel, breath, just breath."

He didn't listen to his sister.

He can't breath, can't breath, can't breath.

His Cap'n was dying. No. He was being murdered! And he could do nothing but watch!

Subaru screamed from the pain. His face was sinking into the pool of blood with only one eye able to stay open.

"Dear lords… " Crusch and Anastasia stared with wide eyes.

This wasn't real.

God…

He looked up unable to stop his mouth from screaming and puking.

* Chain sounds.*

*Chain sounds *

Suddenly, Subaru's twitching figure was shown with a chair leg hiding his face.

And in an instant, something dark was thrown at him, blowing his head into pieces. The explosion of blood and brains was shown but the sight itself was blocked by the chair leg.

All that could be seen, was Subaru's twitching body, stop.

A finale shot of blood splashing on the carpet and a lone human brown eye with the flesh cord rolling into view.

He was finally dead.

Second title card:

The Morning of Our Promise Is Still Distant

No credits.

Episode 3 Director's Cut End.

Screams….

Everyone was screaming.

Everyone was crying.

The sheer brutality of the scene made the most hardened in the room close their eyes in respect to the boy that was still smiling after such a horrible experience.

Emilia and Beatrice cried while holding Subaru as if he was about to disappear. They couldn't believe that he lived through that and was still able to stay himself. Beatrice understood the reason of Subaru's nightly habits now. No wonder he was pissed off at her when she told him about her wish to die.

Otto and Garfiel actually began crying too while looking at their feet in despair, the sight of the man that had saved them both getting killed in such a brutal way made them queasy.

Petra fainted in place.

Felt cried while holding on to a shell-shocked Reinhard. Even if she was a candidate. She was still a kid. Reinhard was so taken aback by how cruelly his friend was killed. The Sword Saint just stared at the blank screen.

Anastasia slipped a few tears from the sheer brutality of the scene. Julius was looking down with a haunted look. How can someone continue to live through such an experience?

Ricardo had his eyes closed in solemn respect. He's seen this sight too many times… but it never gets easier to watch.

The twins were crying from the scene of their friend so brutally murdered.

Ram was looking at her sister with eyes wide.

Roswaal sat in silence… he had no smile on.

Priscilla and her knight sat in silence without showing any emotion.

As for Rem…

A shaking body, wide blood red eyes leaking a stream of tears form each one. Her hands gripping the him of her skirt so hard it tore. Her mouth wide open making pained unintelligible noises.

Rem was fine. /

Apologies.

A click sounded out and suddenly bottles filled with water, Piles of snacks, and a few doors opened.

Take a break. Bathrooms, food and water have been provided to you.

Once you're ready the screen will play.

Episode 4… Arc 2's continuation…

On hold until they get their shit together.

CRACK COCAAAAAINE!

First, let me start by thanking all of you guys in the reviews and on Reddit. I'm touched by fast this story is blowing up because of you all.

Thank you.

Second, I understand why most writers stop at this part of the series now. most reaction fics stop when they reach this episode. Now I understand why...

This is Episode is great to watch... but it's a chore to fucking write.

I had to stop writing multiple times just to rest from how bored I was.

Third, not only was this boring to write. I had to double check the reactions all over. I'm sorry if they're growing stale or boring or repititive. Please, please tell me if they do.

Fourth, I wrote over 10,000 words for the episode alone, the reactions took 7,800 words. Damn, almost got 20,000 word chapter under my belt. oh well, :) 17,800 is a record for me.

Thank you again for reading this, please tell me where I mess up. I promise to reply to the reviews when I can.

Now wait for me please...as I finish Episode 4.

Catch that fucking pillow, Joseff! Don't let it run!