Subaru sat in his seat, drinking a cup of cold milk as he thought about his life.
Subaru: (Even with Return By Death, not everything will go well, but I know that in this world, at least reaching a happy ending should be easier than over there.)
Subaru sighed.
Subaru: (I wanted to be there for the moment that Rem woke up. I still want to have her beside me, but I know that's not possible, so I'll focus on making Emilia and Beako as happy as possible.)
Emilia walked down the stairs.
Subaru: [Hey Mili. Good morning.]
Emilia yawned.
Emilia: [Good morning... what's for breakfast?]
Suabru: [Oh. Right.]
Subaru placed his milk down and got up. He opened the fridge and took out a carton. Emilia looked to the fridge incredulously.
Emilia: [Um... what is this?]
Subaru: [It's a Fridge. It keeps the things inside it cold.]
Subaru poured the milk into a cup and put it into the microwave.
Emilia: [And this?]
Subaru: [A Microwave. It heats food. Emilia-tan. Just a warning. If you put metal in it, it'll explode.]
Emilia: [Eh? Why?]
Subaru: [It's not made to heat metal.]
Emilia: [Hm... I don't get it.]
Subaru: [That's fine. It's not like I do either. I just know not to put metal in it.]
Subaru pressed 2, 0, 0, and then the start button as the clock on the microwave read 2:00... 1:59... He pressed the start button again as the clock read 2:29... 2:28...
Subaru: [Just give it 2 minutes. I'll make everyone something to eat now.]
Subaru was not a 5 star chef, but his work as a butler made him decently good at all household tasks. Naoko went over to the kitchen with a surprised expression.
Naoko: [You're up already, Subaru?]
Subaru: [Yeah. I'm making omelettes.]
Naoko: [You're... cooking?]
Subaru: [Yeah. I told you I worked as a butler, remember?]
Naoko: [It's just surreal to see you all grown up.]
Subaru: [Sit down. It'll be ready in a while.]
Naoko sat next to Emilia.
Naoko: [Can I ask... what made you love Subaru?]
Kenichi walked over.
Kenichi: [I want in on this.]
He sat down next to his wife.
Emilia: [When I first met Subaru. Well. The time that I remember I thought he was reaaally strange.]
Subaru: [My heart's breaking, Emilia-tan.]
Emilia: [But I knew he was a really good boy.]
Subaru: [My heart's breaking in a different way now.]
Kenichi laughed his ass off.
Kenichi: [She thought... haha... you... were a good boy... haha.]
However, his laughter died out when he saw Naoko and Subaru both glaring at him.
Kenichi: [Ehem... So then what?]
Emilia: [Subaru was always joking around with me all the time in the mansion. I was surprised he was so friendly with me. Because of the fact that I'm a half-elf, I...]
Kenichi: [Get discriminated against? That's nothing new in our world either. We just got it through our heads that it's wrong.]
Emilia: [I see...]
Naoko: [It's just horrible the way they treated you.]
Emilia was stunned for a second before smiling.
Emilia: (They're definitely Subaru's parents. Only people this kind could be his parents.)
Emilia: [He always treated me well. Like I was a friend. I'd never had one before. For the longest time, I'd only ever had Puck, so when Subaru came into my life, it was hard for me to believe that I wasn't dreaming.]
Subaru's face was red as he heard this. However, Emilia's face was also going red from what she was about to say.
Emilia: [When the With Cult attacked, he led an entire army to save me. I couldn't understand it. Why did he go so far for me? That's when he confessed to me. I told him that he could find someone better. I was a Half-elf, so I'd make things difficult for him, but he told me that if I told him a hundred things I hated about myself, he would tell me a thousand things that I loved about myself.]
Naoko: [Oh my...]
Naoko looked shocked. She feared what her son would be capable of if he decided to become a Playboy.
Kenichi: [Holy crap. Since when did you have such a way with words, Subaru?]
Subaru: [The power of true love was flowing through me.]
Subaru said this as he made a pose with the spatula in his hand.
Naoko: [You're going to burn the eggs. Pay attention, Subaru.]
Subaru: [Right.]
He turned back to the eggs as Emilia giggled a little.
Emilia: [In the sanctuary, I had to face my past...]
Naoko: [Was it difficult for you?]
Emilia nodded.
Emilia: [There was so much I didn't understand because I couldn't remember properly. Subaru pushed me forward. That's why I was able to pass the trials. I was so convinced that I couldn't do it, but he told me that he believed in me. He told me he believed in me because he loved me. I couldn't believe him at the beginning, but then he kissed me and my doubts went away.]
Kenichi: (Holy crap. Nice going, son.)
Naoko smiled at her son.
Naoko: (I'm really proud of you.)
Kenichi: (Damn, my son was really downplaying his part in everything.)
Subaru finished the omelettes and plated them.
Subaru: [All done.]
They started eating together.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru was at his laptop when Naoko called out to him.
Naoko: [What are you doing, Subaru?]
Subaru: [I'm trying to find a job. I can't stay inside all day. I need to start making money.]
Naoko's eyes shrank slightly.
Naoko: [There's no need, and you can stay inside.]
Subaru: [What?]
Naoko closed his laptop.
Naoko: [You don't need to get a job. Just stay here.]
Subaru: [... Mom?]
The look she was giving him. Fear. As if he would disappear if she ever let him leave the house.
Subaru: (Damn it. How bad has it gotten?)
Subaru: [I can't just stay at home all day.]
Naoko: [Yes, you can!]
Naoko snapped at him.
Naoko: [Just stay here. We'll handle the rest. You don't need to go anywhere anymore. You can just stay here with us.]
Subaru grimaced.
Subaru: (I caused this. I disappeared on them, and this is the result.)
Subaru gritted his teeth.
Subaru: [It's alright, Mom. I...]
Naoko: [No, it's not okay!]
Subaru looked shocked for a second.
Naoko: [You left us for almost 2 years... you...]
Tears filled her eyes as she sank to her knees. Subaru hugged his mother to his chest as her tears stained his shirt.
Subaru: [I'm sorry. I really am. For leaving you behind.]
Naoko: [I thought you hated us. I thought I failed you somehow. But I did fail, you didn't, I? I...]
Subaru: [No. You didn't. I was lucky to have parents as amazing as you. I was the one who was being stupid.]
Naoko gripped his shirt, her crying louder than before.
Subaru: [I'm sorry for holding it all in. I'm sorry for not talking to you.]
Naoko: [I didn't know what to do for so long. I didn't know how to help you, but I wanted to help you so badly! I...]
Subaru: [I'm sorry for leaving you here for so long.]
Naoko: [I thought you might be dead. I...]
Subaru: [I promise that no matter where I go from now on, I'll always come home to you two.]
Naoko cried more in his arms as Kenichi watched from the side.
Kenichi: (You better keep that promise, Subaru. Your mother can't take any more.)
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru was in the yard when Emilia walked over to him.
Emilia: [I heard your mother crying. Is she okay?]
Subaru: [No. Not really, but I think she'll get better with time.]
Emilia: [She must have been so worried for you.]
Subaru: [Yeah.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru approached Emilia.
Subaru: [Hey Mili. How about we go buy you some new clothes?]
Emilia: [Eh?]
Subaru: [I mean, you look beautiful in that, but people will look at you funny if you wear it since it's not normal for this world.]
Emilia: [Okay.]
Subaru, Emilia and Beatrice started walking down the street as some people looked at them. Then they passed by some young men. They were alumni from Suabru's high school.
???: [Is that Natsuki? Didn't he go missing?]
???: [Right. I remember. His parents were looking for him everywhere.]
???: [Nah. He's probably been hiding in his room all this time. Weirdo.]
???: [Yeah, what a loser.]
Emilia and Beatrice both glared at the voices that said that.
???: [Huh? Scary. Who are they?]
???: [Who are those girls?]
???: [Damn, she's gorgeous.]
Subaru sighed.
Subaru: [You can calm down. This is just the reputation I built up when I was here.]
Beatrice: [They should learn to hold their tongue about Betty's Subaru, I suppose.]
Emilia: [I can't stand it. How dare they talk abotu my knight like that!?]
Subaru: [It's fine. Really. I know I can turn things around.]
Emilia smiled as Beatrice sighed.
Beatrice: [Betty's contractor is far too forgiving, I suppose.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
They ended up in the mall as a guy walked up to Subaru.
???: [Subaru?]
Subaru looked to him.
Subaru: [Takeshi?]
Takeshi: [Yeah, it's me...]
Emilia: [Who is this Suabru?]
Subaru: [He was a friend of mine when we were kids.]
Subaru: (Were we really friends?)
Takeshi: [Where have you been, man?]
Subaru: [I can't really talk about it. Um... how have you been?
Takeshi: [You've been missing for almost 2 years. I'm more worried about you.]
Subaru: [I'm fine. I just want to know how you've been.]
Takeshi then sighed.
Takeshi: [Well, um... not great.]
Subaru: [What happened?]
Takeshi: [I um it's nothing.... I want to apologise.]
Subaru: [Huh? What for?]
Takeshi: [I'm sorry about... well... not hanging out with you. You were lonely, right? That's why you shut yourself away in your house? Why you ran away?]
Subaru: [I was lonely, but I didn't run away.]
Takeshi: [You... didn't?]
Subaru: [I guess it would be accurate to say that I was kidnapped?]
Takeshi: [What?!!!]
Subaru: [I mean, in the place I ended up, I had no money to my name. Even my heart was stolen from me.]
Takeshi: [What?]
Subaru smiled at Emilia.
Emilia: [Subaru, you dunderhead. I didn't steal your heart. If I did, you wouldn't be alive right now.]
Subaru and Takeshi's sweat dropped.
Takeshi: [She's really innocent, isn't she?]
Subaru: [Yep. Emilia-tan is an angel.]
Takeshi: [You're serious about her?]
Subaru: [Yep.]
Takeshi: [And she's...]
Subaru smirked.
Subaru: [Yep. How's your love life?]
Takeshi: [You lucky bastard!]
Subaru laughed triumphantly as Emilia looked confused.
Takeshi: [And who's this little girl?]
Subaru: [This is Beako.]
Takeshi: [It's nice to meet you.]
Beatrice: [Betty doesn't have a good first impression of you, I suppose.]
Takeshi: (That's fair.)
Emilia: [Come now, Beatrice. He apologised for it, right?]
Takeshi: (I wanted to apologise so badly. I wanted to try being a real friend to him. But... he's found real friends. He doesn't need me.)
Takeshi smiled with a sigh.
Takeshi: (I'm really glad, though. That he's found people who love him. I didn't realise it until I grew up a little, but Subaru's the kindest guy I've ever known. He deserves better friends than me. Even still, would you be willing to... eventually call me your friend again?)
Takeshi shook his head for a second, shaking off the thought.
Takeshi: [Hey, I got stuff to do, so I'll talk to you later, okay?]
Subaru: [Huh? Um, sure.]
Takeshi left as Subaru, Emilia, and Beatrice walked towards a store, as he fished his wallet out of his pocket.
Subaru: (Well, these are all my savings from before I got Isekai'd.)
They entered the store as Emilia looked around.
Emilia: [So many clothes.]
Subaru looked around, checking many dresses before rejecting them. Then he reached out, picking a dress.
Subaru: [What do you think of this?]
Emilia: [It's reaaally pretty.]
Subaru: [Here. Try it on in the changing room.]
Emilia: [Eh? Um...]
Subaru led her there.
Subaru: [Just give me one second.]
He went in first and looked around.
Subaru: (No cameras or anything.)
Subaru walked back out.
Subaru: [It's all good. Try it on.]
Emilia walked in.
Emilia: [I get changed? In here?]
Subaru: [Don't worry. Beako and I are right outside.]
Emilia: [Well, alright.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
After a minute, Emilia walked out in the dress as Subaru blushed.
Subaru: [Whoa... Just... whoa.]
Beatrice: [Betty must say that she is impressed, I suppose.]
She looked to her contractor.
Beatrice: [You may have a talent for this sort of thing, in fact.]
Subaru: [You think so, Beako?]
Subaru: (Could it really be true? Nah. Emilia-tan is so beautiful that I... but I did put effort into my choice.)
Subaru smiled a little.
Subaru: (Just maybe...)
Subaru: [10 out of 10.]
Emilia: [Of course you would say that, Subaru.]
Beatrice: [Betty agrees with Subaru's assessment, I suppose.]
Emilia blushed.
Emilia: [Eh?]
Beatrice nods.
Subaru: [Alright. I'll find some more stuff for you to try on.]
Emilia: [Eh Subaru. Wait...]
He was already gone as Emilia sighed.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Later, Subaru was in his room as he had a piece of paper in front of him. He began drawing the outline of a dress.
Subaru: (What would make Emilia-tan stand out the most?)
Subaru began drawing designs. He scrunched up many pieces of paper as he tried to get the right design. He settled on one. It was a navy blue hem skirt with a white dress with purple in key areas of the dress.
Subaru: [This is good.]
Subaru sat back in his chair. It was nighttime.
Subaru: (I'll need some fabric)
Subaru began working on it.
Subaru: (If there's anything I can be confident about, it's making cute outfits for a crossdressing, so I should be able to translate into making something for Emilia-tan.)
Subaru worked all through the night. Time passed as the sun shone directly onto his face, and Subaru felt someone poking his face.
Emilia: [Subaru. Wake up. It's morning.]
She was in the dress Subaru had bought for her yesterday. Subaru jolted up from the bed as he got up and looked at his workbench. The dress was gone. Then he saw a note.
I put it away so she wouldn't see it. You wanted to surprise her, right? Tell me when you want to start working on it again. I'll give it back.
Emilia: [What were you working on?]
Subaru: [Um... It's nothing. Uh... didn't you sleep here last night? Why am I in the bed?]
Emilia shook her head.
Emilia: [You looked so tired, so I...]
Subaru: [You didn't have to do that, but... thank you.]
Emilia smiled.
Emilia: [I promised to take care of you, right?]
Subaru nodded with a smile.
Subaru: [I'll return the favour to you.]
Emilia: [Dunderhead. You don't have to return favours to me.]
Emilia placed a plate on the workbench.
Subaru: [Is that... an omelette?]
Emilia: [I um... I worked really hard trying to learn how to make it.]
She said this with a slight blush as Subaru smiled widely.
Subaru: [Emilia-tan made an omelette for me? I'm so happy.]
Subaru began eating it as he almost choked.
Emilia: [Eh? Subaru?]
Subaru: [I'm alright. Just ate too quickly.]
Subaru: (It's burned... and she put too much salt. Still, Emilia-tan tried her best.)
Subaru: [Thanks for the food, Emilia-tan.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru continued working through the day as Beatrice sat down next to him.
Beatrice: [It's an interesting contraption, I suppose. Can Betty's Subaru tell Betty how it works?]
Subaru: [I can't right now, but I can help you understand.]
Subaru got up and took his laptop, turning it on. He typed "How a Sewing Machine Works" and clicked on a video, placing it in front of Beatrice as he sat back down and continued working.
Beatrice: [How interesting, I suppose.]
Beatrice watched the video with intrigue.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The next day, Subaru saw Emilia walking to the fridge and stuck up behind her, holding his hands over her eyes.
Emilia: [Eh?]
Subaru: [Guess who?]
Emilia: [Subaru... what are you doing?]
Subaru uncovered her eyes and smiled as she turned around.
Subaru: [I got a present for you.]
Emilia: [Eh? But you already spent so much money on me with those dresses!]
Subaru: [I made it with my own two hands.]
Subaru smiled as he led her to his room and handed her a box.
Emilia: [Subaru... this is sweet but...]
She looked to him, and she sighed as she opened it to see the dress.
Emilia: [Subaru... you made this? For me?]
Subaru: [Yeah. I did.]
Emilia: [Um. I want to try it on!]
Emilia was excited as Subaru blushed.
Subaru: [Oh, sure. I'll leave the room.]
Subaru stepped outside. After a few minutes, he heard her voice.
Emilia: [Come inside, Subaru.]
He opened the door to see Emilia as he felt his heart rate skyrocket.
Subaru: (Oh, crap. This is no joke. She's so beautiful. My heart can't take it... I might Return By Death at this point.)
Emilia: [I'm so happy. Thank you, Subaru.]
Subaru smiled as she hugged him tightly.
Emilia: [You always make me feel like the happiest person alive. I love you, Subaru.]
Subaru: [I love you too, Emilia-tan.]
Subaru: (I did this. That smile on her face... I put it there with that dress. Maybe... maybe I really do have a talent for this.)
Subaru smiled to himself.
Subaru: [Let's go show Mom and Dad.]
Emilia: [Yes. Let's go show them.]
Subaru took her hand, guiding her toward his parents.
—————————————————————————————————————
To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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