Subaru had always admired Crusch's strength and leadership, and after several successful missions together, he thought maybe—just maybe—he'd earned a place in her heart. Emboldened by his feelings, he decided to confess. "Crusch-sama, I've admired you for a long time. I think we could—"

But before he could finish, Ferris, Crusch's loyal knight, slid up beside her, a teasing grin on his face. "Oh, Subaru-kyun, don't be silly. Crusch-sama is too strong for weak little boys like you." Crusch gave Subaru a small smile but said nothing to disagree with Ferris's cutting remark. Her silence spoke louder than words.

Heartbroken and humiliated, Subaru turned to leave, only to walk straight into a low-hanging chandelier. The impact sent him crashing to the floor in front of the entire Crusch camp, knocking him out cold as Ferris laughed playfully, leaning into Crusch as they walked away.