EXTRA 1

First Date in Another World

The rhythmic sound of a damp cloth rubbing against glass filled the hallway. Subaru pressed against the windowpane, wiping in slow circles, watching as Ram, a door away from him, dusted an expensive-looking vase with her usual air of complete indifference.

He hesitated before speaking, well aware that asking for her help was a gamble. "Oi, Ram. Hypothetically speaking—"

"No."

"You didn't even let me finish!"

"I saved you time." Ram said flatly, flicking her duster over the vase with practiced ease, and finally turned to him. "But since I'm feeling generous, I'll humor you. What do you want?"

He crossed his arms and straightened up, clearing his throat. "I–I need advice. You know, about courtship. Noble-style courtship."

Ram blinked. Then, slowly, she smiled. Subaru immediately regretted everything.

"The best way to impress a woman is to be born with noble blood, excessive wealth, or overwhelming strength," she said smoothly. "Since you lack all three, give up."

Subaru recoiled. "That's your advice?! To quit?"

"You asked. I answered." She returned to dusting as if the conversation was already over.

Subaru dragged a hand down his face. "Fine, fine, let's pretend I do have a shot. What would a proper nobleman do on a date?"

Ram sighed as if indulging a hopeless cause. "In noble society, a man is expected to present his partner with a symbolic gift. A gesture of wealth, dedication, and his ability to provide."

Subaru processed that, nodding thoughtfully. "So… get her something fancy."

"If that's what you understood, I won't correct you."

"Wait, wait, what is considered symbolic, exactly? Like, should it be jewelry? A dress? A pet dragon?"

Ram picked up the tray and walked past him. "Figure it out yourself, Barusu. Less talking, more wiping."

Subaru slumped against the counter. "Come on Ram-chi, I'm serious. I need advice on how to take a girl on a date, fantasy-world style."

Ram's hands didn't pause, but the faintest smirk touched her lips. "I never expected you to have such high aspirations."

"Hey, I'm setting a new standard here! A modern man has to aim high."

"Perhaps you should aim for competence first," Ram retorted.

Subaru groaned. "You're impossible."

As he lamented his fate and moved to another window, a familiar, sing-song voice echoed down the hall. "Ohhh my, what an interesting tooopic, Subaru-kun~!"

Subaru nearly flinched before turning to see Roswaal standing behind him, clad in his usual flamboyant attire, his painted lips curled into an amused smile. The margrave placed a hand to his cheek, feigning curiosity.

"You seem perplexed, my dear butler. Would you be perchaaance trying to woo a certain silveeer-haired maiden? I must say, your audacity is truuuly inspiring."

Subaru narrowed his eyes. "Ros-chi! How much did you hear?"

Roswaal chuckled. "Enough to know you neeed proper advice~."

Subaru exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Hit me with it. What does a fancy nobleman do to win a girl's heart?"

Roswaal held up a gloved finger. "A poem."

Subaru blinked. "...A what now?"

"In Lugunica, poetry is a classic romantiiic gesture among the nobility," Roswaal explained, voice dripping with amusement. "A heeeaartfelt verse, eloquently crafted, can stir the heart of aaany lady."

Subaru cringed. "Yeah, uh… let's not bet on my writing skills. Next!"

Roswaal smiled wider. "Then perhaps a grand duel!"

"A what?"

"A display of strength is quite effective," Roswaal mused. "Many warriors win the hearts of their beloved by triumphing in a battle fought in their name."

Ram, catching on to the game, added smoothly, "A duel between two men over a woman's hand is the height of romance."

"Yeah, hard pass. If I start challenging random guys to fights, I'll get my head kicked in before the date even starts, and lose charm points," Subaru said, waving a hand. "Any normal suggestions?"

"Unfortunate." Ram sighed, and, with a stoic expression, she advised, "Then a simple sack of gold will suffice."

Subaru stared. "What? That's not even romantic! That's just giving her money!"

Roswaal spread his arms dramatically. "Status is wealth, Subaru-kun~! A large enough sum of money demonstrates financial stability and cooommitment. A simple, eeelegant solution."

"Okay, this is turning into a business transaction."

Ram nodded sagely. "If Barusu tried, it might be the only way to make himself appealing."

"Hey!" Subaru shouted.

Ram took a serious expression. "That's reality. Love and finance are deeply linked in noble society."

Subaru groaned, hand under the chin. "Eh? Really? Hm… But I don't really like how that sounds."

Roswaal, entirely too entertained, pressed on. "Ah, but if you truly wish to impress her, there are other methods~."

He raised another finger. "Commission a bard to compooose a song about your looove~!"

Subaru twitched. "Where the hell am I supposed to find a bard?!"

Ram tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The village might have someone who plays the flute."

"Hmm… But I don't remember having met a musician there," Subaru muttered, seriously considering the idea as he scrolled through his past loops' memories.

"Then present her with a rare, exotic beast." Ram simply declared.

Subaru gawked. "Why would I do that?! What if it eats her, or me?!"

"Write her name in the skyyy with magic~," Roswaal suggested.

"I can't even use magic… Other options?"

Ram sighed, as if disappointed. "A shame. If you were capable of grand displays, you might have had some charm."

Subaru's eyes twitched. A long silence stretched between them.

Then he deadpanned. "Wait a second…" Subaru slowly looked between the two of them, piecing it together. "You guys are just messing with me, aren't you?"

Ram and Roswaal exchanged a look, and the margrave chuckled. "Took you looong enough~."

Ram smirked. "Hah! It was too easy. Watching Barusu take it seriously was too tempting."

"Unbearably sooo," Roswaal agreed.

Subaru groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I knew it! I knew you were playing with me!"

Roswaal smiled, entirely unrepentant. "And yet, you listened so earnestly~. How could we resist?"

Ram nodded. "Barusu, you're always so confidently ignorant. The opportunity was too good to pass up."

Subaru scowled. "Tch. At least you guys had fun."

Before Subaru could react, Roswaal tossed something through the air—a small leather pouch. Subaru caught it instinctively, the weight of the contents making his fingers tighten around the drawstrings. "What's this?"

"Funds," Roswaal said simply.

Subaru blinked. "Funds?"

Roswaal chuckled. "A date without money is merely a walk, is it nooot?"

"I mean… I—I was kinda planning on that…"

"Unacceptable!" Roswaal declared. "Courtship requires a ceeertain level of elegance. Consider this an advance payment for your wooork, Subaru-kun."

He pulled the strings apart and peeked inside—copper and silver coins.

Subaru stared. Then stared harder. "…Wait. Advance payment? As in… money? As in… You're paying me?!"

Roswaal tilted his head. "Why wouldn't I?"

Subaru clutched the pouch in both hands, staring at it with an expression of betrayed enlightenment, his mouth opened and closed like a fish freshly pulled out of water.

"I—actually, that makes total sense, huh." He paused, then furrowed his brows. "Wow… If I'm getting paid… Why am I surprised by that? I should actually be angry if I wasn't getting paid. But here I am, feeling like I just discovered fire."

Ram sighed. "Here you are, discovering how employment functions. But I'm barely surprised, Barusu, while I should, which speaks volumes about your foolishness."

"Hehe… I can't defend myself on this…" Subaru chuckled, then eyed the pouch again. "…I could pay for a nice date now," he admitted.

He glanced back at Roswaal, suspicion creeping in. "What's the catch?"

Roswaal only chuckled. Then Subaru straightened, shaking his head. "This still feels weird! Like I just got funding from a shady sponsor."

Roswaal chuckled, tilting his head. "Consider it an investment. A young man must have the means to pursue romance, after all."

Subaru narrowed his eyes. "You enjoy watching me struggle, don't you?"

Roswaal's grin widened. "Immensely~."

Ram smirked. "Likewise."

Subaru sighed, pocketing the money. "...I walked right into that, huh?"

"Yes," Ram and Roswaal said in unison.


Emilia sat on the edge of her bed, absently smoothing out the fabric of her outfit, her fingers tracing the details as if searching for some invisible flaw.

She wasn't particularly fussy about what she wore, or about how she looked like, she never had been.

But today, for some reason, she found herself smoothing out every wrinkle, adjusting the hem just a little, and making sure everything sat just right.

Why was she doing this? She had no idea. And she certainly wasn't about to ask Puck.

"A date, huh?" Puck's voice hummed in her ear as he stretched lazily, balancing on her shoulder. His tiny paws kneaded into her silver hair as he nestled against her. "I must say, Lia, I didn't see this one coming."

Emilia blinked. "Really? But Subaru talked about it in front of me a few times."

"Yep. And I was asleep every time," the cat spirit said with an exaggerated yawn, his fluffy tail swishing. "So… What exactly did that boy say to get you to agree?"

Emilia straightened her back, hands placed neatly on her lap. "He said it's a special occasion where two people spend time together, walking around, and having fun!" She gave a confident nod. "That's why I want to make sure Subaru has as much fun as possible!"

"That's what worries me," Puck muttered, rubbing his tiny chin. "You've known him for what—less than two weeks? And now you're going on a date? While I was peacefully resting, this little rascal was plotting to take my precious girl on a date behind my back?"

Emilia giggled. "It wasn't behind your back, Puck. Besides, it's not like Subaru tricked me into this."

"I know that," Puck said begrudgingly. "But still… This is too fast! I haven't even had time to prepare my protective dad speech! Should I warn him? Maybe send a few ice shards grazing inches by his face? Just a little reminder not to get too close?"

"Puck," Emilia pouted, hands on her hips. "Be nice."

"I am being nice," he huffed. "I'm letting him take you on this date."

Emilia let out a soft laugh. But as she glanced down at her dress again, she caught herself fussing over it. Again. She let out a small huff, forcing her hands to stop.

Puck, meanwhile, was watching her with a knowing glint in his eye. "Alright, then. Since this is a special occasion, let's make sure you look extra cute for it!" He floated closer, brushing imaginary dust off her shoulder and straightening the folds of her sleeves.

Emilia stiffened. She wasn't usually concerned with this kind of thing. Puck had always been the one to fuss—"Lia, your hair's a mess!" or "That color suits you better!"—but lately, she found herself paying closer attention. Not that she'd ever admit it.

"Hmm… Something's missing." Puck suddenly clapped his tiny paws together. "Ah! I know!"

Before Emilia could ask what he meant, Puck's small paws reached for the left side of her hair, his tiny claws combing through the silky strands. With delicate precision, he began braiding a small section of her bangs, his fluffy tail swaying as he worked.

Emilia blinked in surprise. "Puck…?"

"Shh, hold still," Puck murmured, his ears twitching in concentration. "This is serious business."

"Yes, yes," she obeyed, feeling the light tug of his tiny paws as he carefully weaved the braid.

"There!" Puck floated back, admiring his work. "A little extra charm never hurts."

Emilia reached up, her fingers brushing over the braid.

She liked it.

It was a simple thing, nothing extravagant, but… it made her feel a little different. She pressed her lips together, willing herself not to smile too much.

"Thank you, Puck," she said softly.

Puck puffed out his chest. "Of course! Who else but your number-one spirit could make sure you're looking this good?"

Emilia rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her chest didn't fade.

Just as she was getting too comfortable, Puck's expression turned serious. He wagged a tiny paw at her. "Alright, now listen up. I want you to be careful out there."

Emilia raised an eyebrow. "Careful of what?"

"You never know with that boy. Humans can be unpredictable. So no hand-holding or anything funny, alright?"

Emilia blinked. "Why not?"

Puck coughed into his paw. "B-Because! It's just… one thing leads to another! First, it's hands, then it's hugs, then suddenly you're—"

Emilia stared at him expectantly. "Then suddenly we're…?"

Puck hesitated. "—getting too close, that's what! Subaru is a bold one, Lia. You must keep a respectful distance! At least one arm's length away at all times."

"Alright, alright. But I really don't think anything weird will happen, Puck," Emilia tried to reassure the feline spirit.

"I'm being cautious!" Puck groaned. "Ugh, never mind. Just be prudent, okay? If he tries anything funny, I'll know, even in my sleep. I expect a full report when I wake up!"

Emilia shook her head with a smile. "Subaru's already been so kind to me. I want to do something nice for him too…hm? When you wake up?"

"Well… that boy has guts, I'll give him that," he murmured. "That's why… I'll stay out of this one."

Emilia tilted her head. "Huh?"

"I won't interfere," Puck clarified. "A date is something between the two of you. And Subaru's got a lot of nerve asking you out like this. He's earned my respect as a male, so I'll stay out of his way, and sleep for the day."

He wouldn't tell her, but it wasn't just out of respect for Subaru. He needed as much time as he needed to recover; keeping that little magic outburst of hers was more taxing than he'd thought.

"Ghk—go…go now…before I change my mind…while I can still hold myself back—" he added, dramatically clutching his chest.

Emilia giggled. "Puck, you're being silly."

"—Remember Lia, don't hesitate to call me whenever you need me, alright?"

Emilia pressed her lips together, but in the end, she just sighed. "Alright. Rest well, Puck."

"Hm! Have fun, Lia! But not too much fun!" With that final teasing remark, his form flickered and faded into his crystal.

Emilia exhaled, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

She reached up to touch the small braid once more. And for some reason, she really hoped Subaru would notice.

She was ready. Now, all she had to do was make this the most fun 'date' for Subaru ever.

Subaru stood beneath a large tree outside the manor, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He tugged at his butler uniform, suddenly self-conscious about not having anything special to wear. Maybe he should've asked for another advance to get better clothes—wait, no, that was just the capitalism trap.

Before he could overthink further, soft footsteps approached, and he looked up—And immediately felt his brain short-circuit at the sight of Emilia.

"Did I keep you waiting?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Subaru forced himself to breathe, straightening up. "No, I've only just gotten here myself."

Emilia blinked. "Is that important? To say that stuff we just said… Or to meet outside the mansion…"

He nodded sagely. "It's essential. Every good date starts like this."

She hummed in thought before nodding. "Alright. I'll remember that."

Subaru chuckled before suddenly stiffening—he had already messed up! He forgot to compliment her outfit! Internally cursing, he cleared his throat. "By the way, you look… different than usual."

Emilia blinked. "Different?"

He nearly smacked himself. "I mean—you look really beautiful."

A slight flush colored Emilia's cheeks, but she simply smiled. "Thank you, Subaru. You don't look that different, but… I think you're handsome too."

Subaru felt his soul momentarily leave his body. "EMT"

After a long pause, he coughed into his hand. "A-Anyway! Let's get going."

Emilia nodded cheerfully, as she pulled on her concealing cloak. "Yes! I'm excited. I'll make sure you have lots of fun."

Subaru frowned. "Wait, aren't I supposed to be the one making sure you have fun?"

Emilia tilted her head. "Huh? But you said a date is about enjoying each other's company, so that means making sure you enjoy yourself, right?"

Subaru opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed. "…You know what? Sure. Let's go with that."

As they walked toward the village, he had a feeling this date was already spiraling out of his control.


The plan was simple.

Step 0: Compliment her outfit. and take the lead. (Almost messed this up.)

Step 1: Impress Emilia by confidently guiding her around like a proper gentleman.

Step 2: Buy her something nice, subtly demonstrating his generosity.

Step 3: Take her to a scenic spot—the flower field he'd scouted—drop a smooth line, and bask in her blushing reaction.

Step 4: Make memories.

Step 5: Profit.

Subaru mentally reviewed his steps again as they made their way down the dirt path to Arlam Village. Everything should have been going smoothly… except it wasn't.

Because, just as they reached the village entrance—Emilia, bright-eyed and enthusiastic, had taken his hand without a care for Puck's warnings, and was now leading him.

"Subaru! Over here!" she called, tugging him along with unexpected strength. "There's a bakery I found last time that makes excellent pastries!"

"Hold on, hold on!" Subaru protested, jogging to keep up. "Aren't I supposed to be the one showing you around?"

Emilia turned back, tilting her head. "Oh? But, thanks to my patrols, I already know the village veeery well. This way, we won't get lost!"

That wasn't the issue at all!

Subaru could feel his carefully structured date plans crumbling like a sandcastle against the tide of Emilia's enthusiasm.

Step 1 was already failing due to an unexpected lack of preparation. Emilia had spent hours patrolling in this village, and he hadn't enough time to close their knowledge gap.

"Damn it, I should've anticipated that she'd be a local expert!"

"This isn't how it's supposed to go! I was supposed to be the cool one today!"

Yet as he looked at Emilia, practically glowing as she led him ahead, he couldn't bring himself to stop her.

At the bakery stall, the smell of freshly baked goods filled the air. Emilia, still holding Subaru's wrist, eagerly peered over the counter.

"Two honey breads, please!" she said, pointing at the golden pastries on display.

Subaru reached for his coin pouch, determined to at least assert some control. "Wait, wait, I should—"

"Here you go!" Emilia cheerfully handed the vendor a coin before Subaru could even finish.

Subaru froze mid-motion, his fingers twitching over his pouch. His lips parted, then closed. He turned to Emilia with an unreadable expression.

"You... you just—"

"Here, Subaru!" She held out the pastry to him, smiling. "Eat up before it gets cold!"

He took it numbly. "This is backwards…"

Subaru sighed, taking a bite of the warm pastry. Damn it. It was delicious. The crispy, flaky crust and the thick honey filling melted in his mouth.

"...Fine, but next stop, I'm paying," Subaru muttered, accepting his defeat.

"Okay!" Emilia said, beaming. She had clearly already moved on.

Meanwhile, Subaru's sharp eyes flickered around.

He'd been feeling eyes on them since they entered the village, and a quick glance confirmed his suspicion—tiny figures were darting between barrels and crates, whispering furiously.

The village kids were watching them.

Petra, in particular, had her arms crossed, glaring at Emilia like she was a newly arrived villain. Subaru's mouth twitched. "What the hell are they planning? I just hope they won't disturb my date…"

Emilia, oblivious, simply hummed as she licked a bit of honey off her thumb.


The next stop was a small tailor's shop displaying a variety of handmade scarves and gloves. Subaru immediately saw this as his chance.

His eyes flickered across them until they landed on a particular shade—a soft, light violet scarf that immediately reminded him of Emilia.

"Alright! Now's my time to shine! That one would suit her perfectly."

A plan formed in his mind. He reached for the scarf, ready to surprise Emilia with a thoughtful gift.

But just as he was about to turn to her—

"I'd like this one, please!"

Emilia suddenly stood before him, holding an orange scarf.

Subaru froze mid-motion, blinking rapidly. "Huh? What? When?"

His brain struggled to process the scene as the shopkeeper took her coin and handed over the purchase.

"Subaru, look! This one matches your vest! And your strange clothes too!" she said, practically glowing with satisfaction.

Subaru stared at her. Then at the scarf. Then at the clerk taking her money.

"What. Just. Happened?"

She wrapped the scarf around his neck with careful hands, making sure it sat neatly against him. Then she took a step back, nodding in satisfaction. "There! Now you won't be cold."

Subaru felt his face heat up. His planned cool moment had just been stolen, but somehow, this was worse. "You—wait—I was supposed to—!"

"Hmm?" Emilia tilted her head innocently.

"I was supposed to be the one buying you something!" Subaru protested, gesturing wildly. "That's how these things go! I see something that would look great on you, I buy it, you act all flustered, we get a cute moment—it was all planned!"

Emilia looked confused. "I'm sorry. I don't understand what you mean, Subaru. You said a date is about having fun together, right?"

Subaru blinked. "Ah?"

"...Are you having fun, Subaru?" Emilia asked, eyes pleading.

"Ghk—I messed up." He cursed himself, and hastily tried to reassure her. "Yes! Of course I am, Emilia-tan—"

"That's great! Because right now, I'm having a lot of fun!" Emilia beamed, taking him by surprise again.

"Abort mission. There's no counterattack for this level of sincerity."

He smiled softly, and gave her the violet scarf. "I think this one would look amazing on you."

"Oh! It's so pretty!" Emilia's eyes lit up.

"This way, we both get a gift," Subaru said, grinning as he handed the shopkeeper his coins before Emilia could protest.

For a moment, she just stared at him. Then her smile widened into something warmer—something brighter.

"Okay!" she said cheerfully.

She immediately wrapped the violet scarf around herself, over the hood of her concealing cloak, adjusting it neatly. Then, she turned back to Subaru, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight.

"Thank you, Subaru. I love it."

Subaru felt an unfamiliar warmth settle in his chest—one that had nothing to do with the scarf.

"She's too cute!"


Meanwhile, behind barrels, carts, and stacks of crates, a group of small heads peeked out.

"Did you see that? She bought him something," one of the village boys whispered.

"Isn't that backwards?" another asked, mirroring Subaru's thoughts.

"No, no, this is bad," Petra murmured, arms crossed. Her usual warm admiration for Subaru was now mixed with a strange, unfamiliar tension. "She's stealing our village hero. We must protect him, this is a battle!"

The other children nodded seriously, even though they didn't quite understand what she meant. "So what do we do?"

Petra adjusted her red ribbon with determination. "We sabotage their date."

The kids gasped. One of them, snot on his nose, raised a hand. "...What's sabotage?"

"Nothing too bad!" Petra added quickly, smirking. "Now listen to me."


The first attempt was at a food stall. The warm scent of grilled meat and sizzling spices filled the air as Petra lurked around, watching her plan unfold.

"They should be releasing it right about now."

"Here!" Emilia said, handing Subaru a skewer of grilled meat. Subaru took a confident bite. The flavor hit him instantly.

"So," he said, between bites, "not to be dramatic, but this might be among the best skewers I've ever had. Emilia-tan, what do you think?"

Emilia, who had just finished a bite, smiled. "Mm, it's really good! The seasoning is nice."

Petra wanted to roll her eyes. "Ugh. Of course she likes it. Nobles are supposed to be picky about food. That was supposed to be the root of my plan B!"

Before she could think of another complaint, a commotion started nearby. "Fox! Fox loose!"

Perfect timing.

The small fox darted between stalls, yelping and scattering the crowd. It scampered toward their table, dodging feet and knocking over a basket of appas.

Subaru stood up. "Whoa, seriously?! That's not what I thought would show up!"

Petra sat back, waiting for the moment when Emilia—who she knew was some noble lady—would scream or jump away.

But Emilia only tilted her head, calm. "Is it hurt?" she asked gently.

She stepped away from the table and slowly knelt, holding out a hand as the fox skidded to a stop in front of her. "Hey there, it's okay. You're safe now."

The fox blinked, trembled… and sniffed her hand.

Then, to Petra's complete horror, Emilia broke a piece off her own skewer and laid it down in front of the animal.

The fox ate it in three bites.

Petra gawked. "What kind of lady hand-feeds street animals?!"

Emilia smiled, scratching it gently behind the ears. "Good boy. Or girl? It's hard to tell with foxes."

Petra facepalmed. "Oh, come on!"


Petra crouched behind a crate, fuming. The noble lady hadn't flinched at the fox prank. She hadn't hesitated to share her food with the little beast.

Instead of recoiling or showing any sign of "proper" noble disgust, she had smiled and hand-fed the creature like some kind of fairytale princess.

Petra scowled. This wasn't going as planned.

Then, finally, an opportunity fell right into her lap. A small girl ran up to Subaru, tugging his sleeve and sobbing.

"M-My kitty…! S-She climbed up the tree, and now she won't come down!"

Petra almost gasped.

Oh.

Oh-ho.

This was perfect.

She stole a glance at the cloaked woman. This would be the moment where her true nature slipped through.

The formula was simple: nobles didn't care about peasant problems. A cat in a tree? No chance.

She'll scoff. She'll sneer. She'll call it a waste of time. And Subaru would finally see.

Petra could already picture it:

"Ha... I should've known better." Subaru would step away from the noble woman, eyes shimmering with disappointment. "Nobles aren't worthy of trust… but you, Petra—the cutest girl in the village!"

Yes. Yes, this was it.

"You're strong, wise beyond your years! If only I had seen it sooner!"

Then he'd clutch her hands, as Emilia gasped in the background, fully exposed as the heartless noble she was.

"Petra, my only light in this dark world, thank you for opening my eyes!"

Petra hugged herself, a smirk creeping up, only for reality to slap her in the face.

"Oh no," Emilia said softly, already moving toward the girl. "Where is she?"

Petra blinked. "Wait. That's not disdain."

The girl sniffled and pointed toward a nearby tree. High in the branches, a small cat clung to a limb, fur bristling, tail puffed like a dandelion.

Subaru sighed, scratching his cheek. "Well, that's a tricky spot. Guess I'll—"

"I'll help you up," Emilia said.

Petra frowned. "Wait, what?"

Subaru turned to her. "Huh?"

"I'll lift you," Emilia repeated matter-of-factly, already stepping behind him.

Subaru took a slow step back, eyes wide. "Wait, wait, wait—"

Too late.

Emilia bent slightly, hands under his arms—then, effortlessly, lifted him off the ground.

Subaru flailed. "W-Whoa! Hold on—!"

It looked too easy for her. Like if he was weightless in her grasp. She hoisted him higher, guiding his feet toward the branch.

One of the kids watching giggled. "Whoa! He's like a little brother!"

Petra nearly choked. That was not what was supposed to happen. She had expected disgrace, humiliation, rejection. Not… this.

Subaru awkwardly clung to the branch, twisting around to look down at Emilia, eyes wild with disbelief. "Emilia-tan, you can't just—"

She smiled up at him. "I knew you'd want to help."

Something in Subaru's face broke, and Petra felt the moment her fantasy collapsed.

Instead of disgrace, Subaru was swooning. Instead of realization, he was falling deeper.

Petra clutched at her chest. "Kh— She's good…"

Above, Subaru sighed in defeat, adjusting his grip on the branch. "You really don't know how to handle a man's pride, do you?"

Emilia tilted her head. "You looked like you wanted to go up, so I helped."

"Yeah, I appreciate that, but—"

"Can you reach the kitty?"

Subaru groaned but turned toward the cat, who was staring at him with wide, suspicious eyes.

"Alright, buddy, let's not make this harder than it needs to be…"

Petra, still paralyzed, watched in horror as Subaru gently reached out and, after a few hesitant seconds, managed to grab the cat.

"Okay, I got her—now how do I get down?"

Emilia smiled, already holding out her arms. "I'll catch you."

Petra's soul left her body.

The kids watching cheered.

Subaru sighed dramatically, then dropped down in a leap of faith, landing right in Emilia's waiting arms.

A perfect, graceful landing. A full, glowing smile from Emilia. A soft "Thanks" from Subaru, cheeks tinged red.

This was supposed to expose Emilia. This was supposed to be the moment Subaru saw the truth. Not… whatever this was.


Desperate times called for desperate measures. Petra whistled—just once—and a horde of village kids erupted from behind crates and barrels.

"GET HIM!"

Subaru barely had time to react before a stampede of kids tackled him.

"GAH—WAIT—THERE'S TOO MANY OF YOU—!"

Petra grinned. "That's right, play with Subaru! Keep them too busy to be romantic!"

Within seconds, he was buried under a pile of laughing children, arms and legs sticking out like a defeated octopus.

Petra smirked. This was her turf. These were her allies. Emilia couldn't charm her way out of this.

But then—One of the smallest boys tripped and fell with a hard thud.

He whimpered, his knee scraped raw. Subaru immediately reached out. "Hey buddy, you okay?"

Petra hesitated, shifting her weight. It wasn't that bad… just a little scrape… right?

But Emilia was faster. She dropped to her knees and took the child's hand in hers. "Oh, that looks painful," she said softly.

The boy sniffled, wiping his face with his sleeve.

"Don't worry. Let's fix that."

Shimmering orbs of light appeared, and a faint white glow bloomed in her palm, warming the air between them. The cut sealed over, fresh skin forming where blood had been.

The child's eyes went wide. "It's… it's all gone!"

Emilia smiled. "Told you."

Petra stared, frozen.

It wasn't just that she was graceful, or pretty, or even gentle. She cared. Not politely. Not performatively. It came from somewhere real.

"She's… kind", Petra realized. Watching the way the villagers—who hadn't recognized who Emilia was under her robe—smiled at her, something clicked.

"Maybe it's not about being cute or impressive... Maybe I need to be nice too."

Finally, Subaru sighed. "Alright, guys, listen up. I told you already—I'm on a date today. You shouldn't be bothering us like this."

"But Subaru—" Petra started.

"It's okay," Emilia interrupted, smiling. "They haven't been a bother."

Petra stiffened. Emilia's gaze was gentle. Not mocking, not dismissive—understanding.

Petra turned away, fists clenched. "...Fine. You win. For now."

As she walked away, she turned back once more—then stuck her tongue out at Emilia.


Subaru had expected to lead the date. He'd planned it out, visualized it, even prepared back-up ideas in case of failure.

And yet—

"Alright, follow me!" Emilia chirped, already a few steps ahead, looking back with a radiant smile.

He followed, his lips curved into a wry smile. By this point, there was no denying it—he wasn't the one leading this date. Not even close.

He had been following her this entire time, listening to her excited explanations, watching the way she lit up as she guided him through Arlam village.

It wasn't a bad feeling. Not at all. But it was strange. Wasn't this supposed to be the other way around?

His expression slumped slightly, just for a moment.

Emilia, ever perceptive, slowed her steps and glanced back at him. "Oh… Subaru? Am I being too pushy?" She tilted her head, suddenly looking self-conscious. "I didn't mean to take over. I just got excited…"

She looked away, fiddling with the end of her sleeve. Subaru felt a pang of guilt at how quickly her enthusiasm had dimmed.

"Ah, no, no, nothing like that!" He waved his hands. "It's great! Really! It's just that, you know—I'd like to impress you a little, too."

Emilia blinked. Then her lips curled into a small, playful smile.

"Oh? So we'll take turns, then?"

"Exactly!" Subaru grinned, placing a hand on his hip. "You lead, I lead, you lead, I lead—it's only fair."

Emilia hummed, considering, then nodded. "Okay! That sounds fun."

"Crisis averted." Subaru let out a breath, feeling triumphant.

"Alright, I'll go along with her for now." But soon, he'd take the reins. "Once she's done, I'll guide her to the flower bed." That was his trump card, his ace in the hole. A place so breathtaking it'd guarantee she'd be impressed.

It was a solid plan. He just had to bide his time.

And so, Emilia led the way. Subaru followed along, half-distracted— appreciating her enthusiasm, yes, but still holding onto his strategy.

But then, as they walked, something started nagging at him. "This path… this scenery… this direction…wait."

A creeping suspicion formed in his gut.

As Emilia joyfully guided him forward, the landscape became increasingly familiar.

No. No way. He knew where she was taking him. "My final card!"

Subaru slowed his steps, a deep sense of betrayal—no, defeat—sinking in.

The flower bed stretched out before them like a living painting.

A sea of colors danced in perfect harmony, from soft pastels to vibrant bursts of red, gold, and violet. The petals swayed gently in the breeze, carrying a light, fragrant scent that filled the air with something almost dreamlike.

The colors shimmered in the sunlight's embrace, blending and shifting as though nature itself had painted this place with a careful, loving hand.

Even Emilia, who had led them here, looked just as dazzled. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted slightly in awe.

"This place is beautiful, isn't it?" she whispered.

Subaru stood there watching her, stunned.

The way the flowers reflected in her violet eyes. The way she stood still, her fingers lightly brushing over a petal as if afraid it might disappear. The quiet wonder in her expression—

Something in his chest twisted…And just like that, he surrendered.

"Alright, fine. I lost."

There was no saving his "leader" role now. He had completely, utterly "lost".

But if losing meant seeing Emilia look like this—completely at peace, completely happy—then he didn't mind one bit.

Emilia turned to him with a bright smile, oblivious to his spiraling thoughts. "Your turn, Subaru. Where do you want to take me?"

For a moment, Subaru didn't answer.

Then, with a resigned chuckle, he reached behind his back and carefully placed something atop Emilia's head. A flower crown.

Emilia blinked, reaching up to touch the delicate woven petals. "Oh…!"

"It's just a rehearsal," Subaru said, smirking despite himself. "For the day you get your real crown. Also, for the day I get you even more beautiful high-cost jewelry. Hehe, right now, that's the best I can do."

Her fingers stilled. Her heart skipped a beat.

She didn't know why.

The meaning of his words sat in the air between them, light yet oddly heavy, before she finally smiled—so bright it rivaled the sun. "Thank you, Subaru."

He beamed in response. "I don't have more ideas, so I think I'll leave it to you, Emilia-tan! Where do we go next?"

And with that, she took his hand and led him forward once again.


Eventually, Emilia stopped at the edge of a wide riverbank, the water glistening under the sun.

Subaru took a glance around. "Looks nice, but uh… we didn't bring any food for a picnic."

"You'll see," Emilia giggled.

She knelt down, closing her eyes. The air shimmered as small wisps of light—lesser spirits—gathered around her fingertips. Then, with a gentle motion, she swept her hand across the water's surface.

In moments, the river's surface froze. A clear, shimmering sheet of ice stretched over it, pristine and smooth as glass.

Subaru's eyes widened. "No way…"

Emilia turned, beaming, and extended her hand. "Come with me?"

The way she said it—soft, hopeful—made his heart flutter. "Y-Yeah, of course."

Taking his hand, Emilia guided him onto the ice. With another wave of her hand, two pairs of ice skates formed beneath their feet, seamlessly adjusting to fit.

Subaru wobbled immediately. "Oh—whoa—okay, this is harder than it looks."

Emilia giggled. "You'll get the hang of it! Here, I'll help."

"I'm fine! Totally fine!" he barked, wobbling dangerously before regaining his footing. Then, puffing up his chest, he added with a dramatic flourish, "I'll have you know, Emilia-tan, back in my world, I was a genius at it!"

Emilia tilted her head, curious. "Really? You don't look like it…"

Subaru's mouth dropped open, wounded. "Oi, that's because these things—" he lifted one foot and wobbled dramatically, "—are basically bricks of ice strapped to my boots! It's like trying to skate with flat shoes!"

He wasn't wrong; Emilia's "ice skates" looked more like rough pads of ice under the shoes. She gazed down at their makeshift skates and frowned thoughtfully. "They're not right?"

"Isekai lesson time!" Subaru shouted, crossing his arms like a wise sage. "See, in my world, real ice skates have…hmm… blades under them. Think of it like thin, sharp knives that cut into the ice, so you can glide and control properly."

Emilia's eyes widened, fascinated. "Knives under your feet? That sounds dangerous!"

Subaru grinned. "Hehe. Here, let me show you—can you tweak these a bit?"

Eagerly, Emilia crouched down and reshaped the ice under their shoes, condensing them into thin, blade-like runners at his suggestion. It was a bit crude, but it would do.

Subaru set one foot tentatively on the ice—and then, with a confident push, he glided forward effortlessly, picking up speed in a clean, elegant arc.

He let out a laugh, exhilarated. "Hah! This is what I'm talking about!"

Emilia clapped her hands in delight. "Wow! Subaru, you're amazing!"

Spinning lazily around her, he threw her a smug grin over his shoulder. "Told ya! You're lookin' at the man who was once called 'the ice princess'!"

Subaru's eyes were full of mischief, feeling a surge of triumph. Finally! An unexpected opportunity to assert some control over this chaotic date.

Holding out a hand to help her to stand, he said, "I guess you're not used to proper skates, huh… Don't worry Emilia-tan, your knightly escort will teach you the right way—Eh?"

Only to watch, dumbfounded, as Emilia copied his movements almost instantly.

She wobbled at first, then adjusted her balance—and started skating around with surprising grace.

"Wha—?!" Subaru's jaw dropped.

"This is way easier than before!" Emilia said brightly, twirling clumsily but happily across the ice.

Subaru stood there frozen, blank-faced. "Of course," he thought bitterly. "Too good to be true."

Still, seeing her smiling so brightly, he barely felt defeated. Subaru chuckled to himself, shook off his fake despair, and pushed off to join her, racing up by her side.

As they glided across the ice, Emilia led the way with graceful confidence. He marveled at her ease, at how every movement she made on the ice seemed effortless, like she belonged there.

Watching her spin lightly and skate backward to face him, hands outstretched with playful mischief in her eyes, a small thought formed in the back of his mind.

She looked… so natural. So comfortable doing this kind of thing. Like she'd done it a hundred times before—with someone else.

The idea sat in his stomach, cold and uneasy. He hated that it even crossed his mind, but still… Was she always this bold with others?

He knew it was stupid, ridiculous even, but the thought wouldn't go away.

Trying to sound casual, he asked, "You seem pretty good at this, Emilia-tan. You, uh… used to ice-skate like this with other… people?"

She blinked. Then, after a brief pause, she smiled. "Oh, no, no," she said cheerfully. "I used to play like this alone."

Subaru tilted his head. "Alone… by yourself?"

Emilia nodded. "Back in my… homeland, when I had to travel through the snow, it was easier this way. It was… fun, in a way. I used to make little games out of it, or challenge myself to go faster, or do little twirls…"

She looked away, sheepish. "But no one… could play with me. So this—" she looked back at him, her smile bright and sincere, "this is my first time doing it with a friend. I'm reeeally happy to do this with you, Subaru."

For a moment, Subaru didn't know what to say.

His ridiculous fears vanished instantly, replaced by something warm in his chest.

A strange embarrassment crept over him—like he had just been caught thinking something incredibly dumb.

He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "W-Well, uh… then, I guess we'll just have to make up for lost time, huh?"

Emilia giggled. "Yeah!"

Subaru smiled. His grip on her hand tightened, just slightly. No matter what, he'd make sure she never had to play alone again.

And with that, they skated on—hand in hand, the sunset light shimmering around them like a dream made real.

"Emilia-tan, you have now surpassed the master. I have nothing else to teach you!"

"Subaru, you're silly," she chuckled and pushed herself to skate faster. Emboldened, she tried to spin—

—and her blade caught awkwardly against the ice.

"Eep—!"

"Whoa—!"

Subaru reached out instinctively to catch her, but their momentum sent them tumbling down together.

The next thing he knew, he was pinned against the ice, Emilia lying directly on top of him. He could barely care about the cold from the ice track.

Their faces were way too close.

Emilia's breath caught. Her heart pounded wildly, and she didn't understand why.

Subaru's brain completely shut down. "…Uh."

Emilia blinked, suddenly flustered, and quickly scrambled off. Subaru followed suit, both of them sitting up awkwardly.

"S-sorry!" Emilia mumbled.

Subaru laughed breathlessly. "No, no, it's fine. Totally my fault. Clearly, my lessons are too advanced for a beginner."

Emilia pouted. "But I was doing so well!"

"You were," Subaru admitted, giving her a sheepish smile.

As she finally managed to sit up properly, brushing snowflakes from her hair, Subaru found himself gazing at her a little longer than he meant to.

Then, unexpectedly, "Pfft—"

Emilia laughed.

"Emilia-tan?" Subaru tilted his head.

She laid back against the ice, giggling uncontrollably, her silver hair fanning around her.

"This was really fun," she said cheerfully, turning to him. "Let's do this again sometime, Subaru!"

Subaru just stared at her. "Wait… Did she just say… Another date?!"

Completely oblivious to his turmoil, Emilia smiled at him, happy and carefree.

There was no way he could say no to that. With a beaming smile, he felt completely satisfied and fulfilled. Nothing went as planned, but for him, it was the best date ever.

"Yeah! Let's do more dates, Emilia-tan!"

== END OF EXTRA 1 ==

Author's Notes :

Emilia locked in and carried the game. She doesn't even realize she's being a goated BOYfriend lmao.

Next : Frankly I dunno yet, sthg with Rem? or lessons with Beatrice? Or both…

Already know what I want to write with Betty and Rem tho.

Meanwhile, I still don't know how to start arc 3 in a way I'd personally love. Lol I had all planned but the beginning XD. I've only blurry guidelines.

I think I might be a pantser…frankly, I don't even get how plotters could exist. I get and select most of my ideas "in real time", while writing, but whenever I try to plan them long before, my brain goes blank most of the time, and I feel like I'm losing time.

Plotters are incredible, ngl.

That was exactly the same for arc 2, I was improvising for the start, with only vague restrictions, like setting Puck as the antagonist… Then from the Painkiller streak, everything else was (again, vaguely) planned long before. Anyway, that is a problem for my future self.

DISCLAIMER : I don't own Re:Zero, it belongs to Tappei Nagatsuki.