Emilia watched Subaru with a troubled expression.
Emilia: [Um... Are you sure you're going to be okay?]
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: [I'll be okay.]
Emilia: [But after the...]
Subaru: [It's okay, Mili. I'll be fine.]
Emilia made an unconvinced expression.
Subaru: [You okay, Mili?]
Emilia: [Eh? I'm fine.]
Emilia: (I'm reaaally worried, though. This is definitely not a good idea.)
Emilia went to Kenichi and Naoko's room as Kenichi saw her.
Kenichi: [Dear. Emilia-chan is here.]
Naoko: [Oh? Come in.]
Kenichi: [I'll leave so you can try on Yukatas for New Year's.]
Kenichi left the room.
Naoko: [Come here, Emilia-chan. You and Beatrice-chan need to try these Yukatas on. Since you're here right now, I'll help you first.]
Emilia nodded as she put on the Yukata.
Naoko: [What do you think, Emilia-chan?]
Emilia: [This reminds me of the time we spent in Pristella.]
Naoko: [Pristella... the... watergate city right? The one with the Ryokan?]
Emilia nodded.
Emilia: [I remember Subaru being reaaally happy to see me in one of these.]
Emilia: (I wonder if... he'll smile like that again.)
Naoko giggled a little.
Naoko: [I can imagine that.]
Emilia: [I wanted to tell you something.]
Naoko: [Yes?]
Emilia: [Subaru um... I think he might have problems with the celebrations tomorrow.]
Naoko: [Problems?]
Emilia: [I know we can't stop him, so I need to keep an eye on him tomorrow.]
Naoko: [I... see.]
Emilia: [Maybe it would be better if you and Father spent some time with Natsumi. I'm sure that his reaction won't be good, so it could cause problems with Natsumi.]
Naoko: [But Subaru needs...]
Emilia held Naoko's hand.
Emilia: [Beako and I will take care of him. I promise.]
Naoko: [O...okay.]
She was hesitant but chose to trust Emilia.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The day arrived, as Subaru walked down in a Yukata to see His parents, Emilia and Beatrice, in Yukatas as well.
Subaru: [Oh my god! EMT! Beako is so cute! Both of you are so cute! I can't!]
Subaru began with his exaggerated movements again as Emilia smiled at this.
Emilia: (That same smile but...)
Deep down, Emilia was still troubled about them going to the festival. Beatrice seemed to feel the same as the two girls looked at each other.
Beatrice: (Betty doesn't think things will go well today, I suppose, but if we do that, we should be able to avoid it, I suppose...)
Kenichi and Naoko looked at each other apprehensively.
Kenichi: [Hey Subaru. If you're not up to it, we can celebrate at home.]
Subaru: [Nah, I'll be fine.]
Beatrice: (That's not the way to do it, in fact.)
Emilia: [Actually, it feels like a waste to go all that way just to go to a festival we can go to anytime.]
Beatrice's eyebrow raised at Emilia, somehow perfectly understanding the correct way to do things.
Subaru: [Eh? Emilia-tan. You shouldn't miss out on the festival. It's really amazing!]
Emilia: [I think I've seen something like it before. I'm not reaaally interested.]
Subaru: [Eh? Seriously?]
Emilia: [Um... yeah.]
Subaru: [Well, let's go anyway. I'm sure you'll love it.]
Beatrice: (There really is no way to stop him, is there, I suppose?)
Emilia: (I don't like this, but I can't stop him, so... I'll make sure I'm with him at all times. That way... even if something happens, I can help him.)
They relented as the family went to the car.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
They arrived at the festival as they walked around.
Emilia: [Wow, there are a lot of people.]
Subaru: [Yeah, these festivals are usually really crowded.]
Emilia looked at all the stalls.
Emilia: (So many stalls... maybe I can make the best of today with Subaru.)
Emilia wrapped her arm around Subaru's, leaning her head on his shoulder as Subaru blushed.
Subaru: [Mili?]
Emilia: [This is okay, right?]
Subaru: (So cute!)
Subaru had a smug smile on his face. His girlfriend was clinging to his right arm, and his Beako was holding his left hand. What man wouldn't be smug in such a circumstance?
Kenichi: (Getting all clingy, huh? Ah, young love.)
That's when a man called out to Subaru.
Man: [Hey, young man! Care to try your luck?]
Subaru turned around to see a man behind a stall with goldfish in a pool of water.
Stall Owner: [Take a bag and a net. If you can get the goldfish into the bag with the net, you win.]
Subaru: [Oh, it's one of these stalls.]
Subaru took out his wallet and paid the man.
Subaru: [Which one do you want, Emilia-tan?]
Emilia looked at the fish closely and picked one.
Emilia: [That one looks reaaally cute!]
Subaru: [Alright.]
Subaru dipped the net into the water as the fish was in place, but the net broke.
Emilia: [Eh?!!]
Subaru: [Relax Mili. That's the way the game is. You have to be fast enough to get it, but you also have to make sure you don't tear the net.]
Subaru made a few more attempts, slightly adjusting his speed until...
Subaru: [Got it!]
Subaru got the fish into the net and then moved it into the bag full of water.
Stall Owner: [Nice! You win!]
Subaru held it out to Emilia.
Kenichi: [How about we hold on to it for you, Emilia-chan?]
Emilia nods without hesitation.
Emilia: (I have to focus on Subaru. He'll need me today.)
Kenichi: [Hey Subaru. Me and your mom are gonna go have some alone time, okay? We can meet up in the parking lot after the fireworks.]
Subaru: [Huh? Well, alright. How about you take Beako with you? I want some alone time with my Emilia-tan too.]
Beatrice and Emilia exchanged worried looks.
Naoko: [O... Okay.]
Emilia: (Beako won't be there to help me...)
Beatrice held Emilia's hand.
Beatrice: [It'll be fine. You can handle it, I suppose.]
Beatrice let go of Subaru's hand and went with Kenichi and Naoko. She was worried about her contractor but knew there would be no convincing him otherwise.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru and Emilia walked around until they found a spot to see the fireworks clearly. It was a spot above the crowds, yet oddly empty. Like this moment was meant for them. It was only later that they would realise the reason it was empty was that the area was sectioned off for renovations. They had completely missed the signs that were placed there to stop them from going there.
Emilia: [There's no one around.]
Subaru: [It's wierd. I mean, this has got to be the best spot, so why isn't anyone here?]
The two were utterly clueless.
Emilia: [Everyone else is down there.]
Subaru: [Well, more room for us.]
Emilia smiled.
Emilia: (Maybe... Subaru will be okay.)
Subaru: (It's almost time.)
Subaru sweated as Emilia held his hand firmly. The first firework, marking the new year, rose into the sky as Subaru watched.
As the firework exploded, Subaru crouched down, grabbing his shoulders and trembling. Even if his body did not remember, his soul recalled.
"'Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]
The memory bled from his soul into his mind.
Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]
The memory bled from his mind into his heart.
Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]
From his mind into his ears.
Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]
From his mind into his eyes.
Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]
From his organs into his body.
Olbart: [I've heard it said that'cha and the folks of this city are awfully tough, but... Are ya tougher than the folks of my village were?]
Yorna: [――You lowlife!]'"
From his body back into his soul. An endless cycle of torment all within the span of 10 seconds.
Subaru: (No...)
Subaru gasped. He couldn't hear. His ears were burst. He couldn't see. His eyes were gone from their sockets. There was no hope in his heart. Only despair. There was no reason in his mind. Only desperation. There was no will in his existence, only meaningless persistence.
Subaru: (... No! Make it stop. Please!)
From his skin, he could feel no warmth? No, there was warmth. But from where?
Emilia: [Subaru! Hey Subaru! Please! Look at me! You're okay!]
Subaru regained his senses as the first round of fireworks ended. He looked to see that Emilia was hugging him. She was trying to get him to respond.
Subaru: [So... sorry. I just um...]
Subaru got up.
Subaru: [I'm really sorry about all of this.]
Subaru: (My reaction wasn't as bad as I thought it would be... it only took me a few seconds to recover. Maybe the night isn't ruined.)
Emilia was more concerned about him than anything else.
Emilia: [If you want to leave, we can go while they prepare the second round of fireworks. We still have time. I can cover your ears too.]
Emilia covered Subaru's ears, but Subaru gently held her wrists and pulled her hands away from his ears.
Subaru: [No. I'm alright.]
Subaru: (If I don't face this now, I'll never get over it. I can't spend my entire life scared of things like this.)
Subaru held Emilia's hand.
Subaru: (But it's okay if I lean on you a little, though, right? Just this once.)
Emilia responded to his touch, holding his hand tightly as well.
Emilia: (You can lean on me.)
That's when a firework exploded. Subaru flinched as it formed a purple pattern in the sky. Subaru looked at it and smiled, thinking of Emilia's eyes as he saw the pattern.
Subaru: (Why... was I so scared of these?)
Subaru laughed to himself.
Emilia: [Subaru?]
Subaru: [Sorry. I'm just laughing at myself for being so dumb as to be afraid of fireworks.]
Emilia: [Subaru. You... got over it?]
Subaru: [Yeah. I'm still going to flinch every once in a while, but I'll be okay. So I guess we can say today was a good day?]
Emilia nodded, smiling.
Emilia: [If you feel better, then today was a reaaally good day.]
Subaru scratched the back of his head.
Subaru: [Sorry for being so forceful about coming here today. I know you guys didn't want me to come because you were worried about me. I was pretty sure it would be rough for me to be honest, but I needed to get over this. From back then, I've learnt that I can't run from my problems or fears. Still, you were the reason I could manage to face them today.]
Emilia: [Subaru...]
Emilia: (I was the reason?)
Subaru: [Thank you for holding my hand, Emilia.]
Emilia felt herself getting emotional.
Emilia: (I managed to help him.)
She smiled at this thought.
Subaru: [Happy New Year, Emilia.]
Emilia: [Happy New Year, Subaru.]
Subaru: [Hey, can you close your eyes for a second?]
Emilia: [Um, sure. I can do that.]
Emilia closed her eyes for a few seconds as he asked.
Subaru: [Open your eyes, Mili.]
Emilia opened her eyes to see Subaru on one knee, a ring in a box presented to her as her heart skipped a beat.
Subaru: [Emilia Ellior, will you marry me?]
Emilia: [Su... baru...]
Emilia was shocked for a second. Subaru fell to the floor as Emilia jumped at him, hugging him with the biggest smile on her face he'd ever seen.
Emilia: [I will! I will! I will! I will! I will! I will!]
Subaru: (She's that happy? I've... never seen her so happy.)
Subaru smiled to himself.
Subaru: (Is this really happening? Are things really going my way this easily? It's... hard to believe. After everything...)
Emilia didn't seem to want to let go of him, hugging him tighter. Slowly, she let go with tears in her eyes from happiness as Subaru wiped them away.
Subaru: [I promise that I'm going to make sure you and our child are happy. I'm going to spend every day making sure of it.]
Emilia: [Subaru. I'm going to make sure you're happy. Both you and our child. I promise.]
This was the promise the two made on the birth of a new year. Subaru put the ring on Emilia's finger as he lifted her up into his arms. They were both laughing with smiles on their faces.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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