I strangely found this harder to write than the first chapter. I hope that you enjoy!

Chapter 2: A New Realization

When Pandora awoke, she felt strange.

Oddly enough, it wasn't a bad feeling. It just seemed strange because it was something that she was unused to.

In truth, Pandora fully expected to be dead. She'd accepted death's inevitable arrival, but it seemed as though fate had other plans for her.

There was an overwhelming sense of comfort that encompassed her. After being on the streets for so long, comfort felt foreign. It seemed like a luxury, one that she didn't deserve to have.

Soon enough, she realized that she was lying on something soft and cushiony. It was a nice feeling, one that inhibited her will to move.

It reminded her of a bed. Maybe she really is on a bed. She hadn't slept in one of those since her stay at the "hospital."

As her mind steadily focused, she became aware of the blankets which covered her body. She felt cozy beneath them, tempted to snuggle further into their warm embrace.

Pandora gradually opened her eyes. Her gaze immediately met a ceiling, one which she didn't recognize. It was apparent that she was indoors. In a home, to be precise. That felt like another luxury to her. It's been a while since she was comfortably indoors.

She blinked a few times, adjusting her eyes as she further awoke. She reluctantly relinquished her arm from beneath the covers, using her hand to rub her eyes.

A small groan escaped from her lips. It was unintentional, but she couldn't help herself.

Moving felt difficult. She didn't gain much of her strength back, it seemed. Her body was still weak and her stomach tore itself apart.

At the very least, she had some good rest. It has certainly been a while since she last slept so soundly.

"You're finally awake."

Pandora froze. There was someone else here.

Her head turned on the pillow, directing her gaze to the source of the voice. It was a raven-haired boy with rather nasty-looking eyes. She remained indifferent in her expression, even as he gave her a weird look.

Pandora had a knack for reading people. She was unnaturally perceptive. Because of that, she knew that this boy was harboring rather dark thoughts about himself. His expression conveyed how miserable he was while his eyes showed how tired he seemed to be.

She could only wonder about the cause of such details.

"Sorry if I startled you there," he said. His eyes moved to the side, awkwardly avoiding her own. "This is probably all new for you."

Pandora just blinked at him. He was right in that sense.

Her eyes wandered around the room, allowing her to both marvel and perplex at the sights. There were so many objects that she didn't know the purpose of or understand.

"I'm not sure if you remember, but you kinda fell into my arms before. It was in front of the convenience store," he continued. Their eyes finally met, allowing them both to see the other's colors. "I couldn't just leave you there, so I brought you to my house. My mom bathed you for a while, gave you a change of clothes, and let you rest here in my room."

Pandora wasn't quite sure what he meant by "convenience store," but she recalled the events that he spoke of. She remembered walking aimlessly that day, hardly able to stay conscious. Someone called out to her before she passed out. Had that been this boy?

"I'll be right back. Try not to move too much, you're still weak."

He gave her no time to speak, standing from his seat and promptly leaving the room. He left in a bit of a rush, as well. Pandora wondered if awkwardness was the cause.

Her eyes followed his retreating back up until he closed the door. Even once it was shut, she couldn't help but stare at it for a while. She didn't know why.

After giving it some thought, Pandora realized that she felt different. She brought her arms out from under the blanket, studying herself.

She no longer had the power of Vainglory to preserve her appearance. Without her Authority, she was just an ordinary human.

Because of that, she was also susceptible to dirt and grime, just like anybody else. It stuck on her like glue. Not even the rain was able to wash it away. The rain additionally served as a detriment, only making her condition worse in certain places, such as her hair.

That was why Pandora was surprised. Her skin was clean, spotless even. There was no longer any dirt stuck beneath her nails. Her hair also felt silky and smooth, unlike how greasy and gross it had been before.

Her feet, however, were still sore. Be that as it may, Pandora was by no means shocked. She never was one to wear footwear, not that she ever needed to, but the lack thereof only served to cause injury in this world. That was especially true in her case, given her most recent lifestyle.

The bottoms of her feet were cut and bruised, worn down due to living on the streets for so long. Before, it hurt to walk even a single step. Now, something felt different. It felt like they were healing.

Perhaps it would be wise to stay off of them for a while, if only to let them heal completely.

In a way, Pandora was starting to feel like herself again, even if it was just minorly so. Whoever bathed her had been exceptionally thorough in taking care of her.

According to the boy, it was his mother who had done it.

Pandora didn't know how to feel. Some part of her wanted to be appreciative of the effort, but another part of her felt indifferent. She wasn't one to feel disdain or contempt, but Pandora also wasn't known to be the most thankful person, either.

There was a lot of contemplation which ran rampant in her mind.

Before long, there was a knock at the door. There were a few moments of silence before it opened. Pandora assumed that the given time was a forewarning, allowing her to compose herself before the inevitable entry.

She expected to see the boy again, but she saw a woman instead. Pandora immediately knew that this was the boy's mother. They shared the same eyes.

"Hello," the woman greeted, waving a hand. There was a sweet smile on her face. Pandora could see that this woman was genuine, really seeming to care about her well-being. "I'm sorry for intruding, but Subaru told me that you were awake, so I decided to check on you again."

So "Subaru" was the boy's name? She made a note of that.

Regarding the woman's words, Pandora was rather indifferent about her intrusion. It wasn't that Pandora particularly minded, she was just unsure about what was going on. She was more confused now than she'd ever been throughout her entire four-hundred years of life.

In essence, she was no longer the Witch of Vainglory, meaning that she was vulnerable and weak. Living homeless on the streets taught Pandora that much, at least.

"First and foremost, I'd like to welcome you to the Natsuki household," she continued, performing a polite bow. "I am Natsuki Naoko. May I ask what your name is?"

She was hesitant to speak, unsure as to exactly why. Was it because her throat bothered her, or was it because of her complex, innermost feelings?

Never before had she been in a situation like this. She wasn't knowledgeable on how to approach the situation at hand. To her, such genuine hospitality felt peculiar.

Despite that, she felt as though it was only fair to reciprocate their kind gestures. She always had an unnaturally polite nature, as unsettling as it may have been to others.

With a low, slightly scratched voice, she spoke, "... Pandora."

Surprisingly, her throat didn't hurt too much. It was dry, but that seemed to be the only fault.

Naoko smiled at her. It was bright, conveying genuine appreciation and a profuse sense of kindness. It nearly overwhelmed Pandora's eyes. "I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Pandora. I hope that you're comfortable here."

Unbeknownst to Pandora, Naoko was having thoughts of her own.

Naoko assumed that Pandora may not have a family, given the lack of a provided family name. If that suspicion turned out to be true, then the situation was a bit more dire than she'd initially believed.

Was Pandora truly all alone? Did she really have no family to go back to?

Naoko kept herself composed, her smile as strong and resolved as ever. "I'll be sure to make you a full meal. It'll help nourish you and get your strength back. When it's done, I'll have Subaru bring it in for you. Please be sure to eat as much as you want."

Pandora only gave her an incredulous look. Even if she wanted to speak, she wouldn't know what to say. Something weird even panged against her chest. It was foreign to her, something she couldn't quite describe.

"It shouldn't take too long, so I'll have it ready for you soon," Naoko said. "Please keep resting in the meantime. If you ever need help with using the bathroom or anything, I'll be more than happy to help you."

She left, after that, leaving Pandora alone with her thoughts for a second time.

It was also the second time that she was told to rest. She felt herself faintly irked by that. Did they believe that she didn't understand? She didn't need to be told so many times.

Strangely, Pandora found herself embarrassed by Naoko's final words. She never had to rely on people in such a way before. Being dependent on others was another new, external concept. It was one that she'd be forced to adapt to, whether she liked it or not.

Even with her mixed feelings about it, Pandora still found herself appreciating the gesture. These people seemed to be exceptionally kind-hearted.

Before long, the door opened again. This time, the boy — Subaru — was the one who entered, carrying an entire entrée of food in his hands. Pandora couldn't deny how delicious it looked.

She made an effort to sit herself up, but her lack of strength caused her downfall. Subaru acted quickly, setting the food down on his desk before doing his best to assist her. With his aid, Pandora was able to sit up straight.

He brought the food over to her, along with a glass of water, which she graciously accepted. Pandora gently grabbed at the plate, setting it down softly upon her lap. She did the same for the next two plates, gently putting them at her sides. She took a sip of the water he provided her, which helped to ease the dryness of her throat, before getting started with her meal.

The food itself was unlike anything that she'd ever seen. Of course she'd seen similar things during her time on the street, but seeing such a well-cooked meal, one that was made just for her no less, was a different sight to behold.

Eating felt abnormal, especially after so long. Pandora determined that the likely root of that feeling was her malnutrition. She would need to take things slow.

Subaru watched Pandora as she ate. It was clear that she couldn't wait to dig in, but she was dignified and polite with her mannerisms. She didn't rush, instead choosing to take her time with each and every bite that she took.

For the most part, she only kept to herself. She hardly paid any attention to Subaru throughout the course of her meal.

Halfway through, however, she chose to spare a glance at him. While Subaru had a small smile on his face, it conveyed nothing but his withheld sadness and misery. His whole expression was forlorn, his eyes similarly despondent. He did his best to hide it but, to her, it was as clear as day.

It was such a deplorable sight. Pandora couldn't stand it.

"Natsuki Subaru."

He jolted. Her words seemed to have taken him aback.

"That is your name, yes?"

He blinked a few times, stunned by her words. "Y-Yeah. It is."

"Why do you insist on being dishonest with yourself?"

Subaru felt his heart skip a beat. He felty totally bare, like he'd just been completely seen through, without the faintest clue as to why. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do," she said, taking another bite of her food. She let Subaru digest those words as she chewed and swallowed. "You may be able to fool others with that pitiful mask, but you cannot fool me."

He was stupefied. After a moment, he finally relinquished his posture, letting his body fall with his expression. "Why does it even matter to you?"

She didn't reply right away, choosing to take a small sip of water. "You present yourself as being happy, yet you are so clearly shattered within. So, I ask again, why are you so blatantly dishonest with yourself?"

Pandora didn't answer his question, instead prodding deeper into his psyche. His expression hardened, narrowing his gaze at nothing in particular. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Her eyes remained on him, even as she took another bite of her food. "But you know the answer," she surmised. "Even if you do not wish to tell me, you can tell yourself."

Subaru brooded in silence. He felt exposed, like his deepest feeling laid out for everyone to bear witness to.

What was with this girl? This was their first real conversation and this was how she chose to act?

For some reason, that question felt hypocritical of him to think.

He turned around, mumbling under his breath, "I have to go. I'll have my mom come back in soon."

She watched him leave, her gaze following his back until he shut the door.

Perhaps it was due to her personal experience with Vainglory that prompted her to speak in such a way. Maybe it was her personal grudge against such shameful things.

Or, perhaps, it was a hidden desire to repay him for his act of virtue. He did save her, after all. She could, at the very least, guide him just a little bit.

Pandora wasn't quite positive of the exact reason, but she felt oddly satisfied with the result nonetheless.

Either way, one thing was certain: Pandora absolutely loved her meal.

Subaru exited his room, his mood soured by his most recent conversation. He simply told his mother that Pandora was eating, in which she promptly thanked him for the update, before he made his way into the living room. Whether his mother noticed his change in mood or not, he didn't know.

He practically flopped himself onto the couch's cushioned surface. He did his best to relax, but no matter how much he tried, he still felt stressed. Taking deep breaths didn't seem to help, either.

Honestly, just who did that girl think she was? He helped her, yet she had the gall to call him out on how he lived his life? Was that really how she was choosing to repay him?

He narrowed his eyes, taking another breath to help sharpen his focus. He pondered for a moment.

Subaru wasn't mad, not in the slightest. He wanted to be angry, but the emotions never seemed to stir. Instead, he felt anxious and perplexed. A lot of thoughts plagued his head, pushed to the forefront of his mind by Pandora's words.

Quite frankly, he didn't know what to think. He simply lacked an understanding of what to do, or how to feel.

So, Subaru asked himself: Why?

He remembered her words: "You may be able to fool others with that pitiful mask, but you cannot fool me."

Just what did she mean by that? Why did she say all of those things to him?

She preached that he was being dishonest with himself. She said that he wore a mask. Despite wanting to deny it, Subaru was inclined to believe her.

If he were to look into a mirror right at that moment, his reflection wouldn't feel like him. In truth, that was how he always felt.

In his mind, Natsuki Subaru was nothing but a shadow of his father. While Subaru wanted to be like him, he knew that, as a person, he wasn't special. He never was and never would be.

Because of that, he became something of a shut-in, holed up in his room for nearly all hours of every day.

He never went to school. He didn't even properly appreciate them, never giving his parents the right time of day.

Subaru hated himself. He wanted his parents to hate him too. He wanted them to reprimand him for everything that he's done, but they never did. They were always endlessly supportive of him, no matter what he chose to do.

Ironically, he hated it. Why wouldn't they question him? Why did they always choose to support him?

Taking a breath, he relinquished himself to looking up at the ceiling. Was this what Pandora was talking about? Was this what she wanted him to admit, to be honest about?

The front door to the house suddenly opened. Subaru hardly showed any reaction, only slouching his back as he waited for what was to inevitably come.

As if on cue, his father moonwalked into the room, sporting a sly look. "Ah, Subaru! How's the couch been treating you?"

True to his character, Natsuki Kenichi made a dramatic entrance, performing his signature poses and all. His voice was loud, excitable, and exaggerated, matching the huge grin that was plastered on his face. It all coincided well with his rather eccentric personality.

Subaru didn't answer, so Kenichi patiently waited. The man's hands went to his hips as he confidently stood, his expression remaining steady and unwavering while his eyes seemed to drill straight into his son.

Eventually, Subaru sighed. He glanced back at his father, an unamused look on his face. "So, what do you want?"

Kenichi gave him a wink and a thumbs up. "Well, it's still a pretty nice night, so let's go for a little walk."

At that, Subaru stiffened. What prompted this?

"W-Well, actually, there's—"

"Don't worry about any of that, Subaru! Your mother has things covered here, so let's head out for a little bit. It won't be too long, I promise!"

Kenichi immediately shut down Subaru's attempt to flee. He dismissively waved a hand, using the other to dramatically cover his face. Subaru couldn't hold back a malcontent grumble.

He didn't understand why his father was suddenly being so pushy. There had to be a reason for it, but what could it be?

Once again, he asked himself: Why?

Subaru had no time to think about it. With a jab of his thumb, Kenichi gestured to the front door. "Let's go have a father-son talk outside."