Inside a quiet bedroom nestled deep within the mansion, the dim glow of magical lanterns cast soft shadows on the walls. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Subaru held a softly glowing rectangular device to his face—a relic from a world far different than the one he now called home.
On the screen, the image of a middle-aged woman flickered into view. Her voice, warm and familiar, crackled faintly through the device.
#Really? You're not lying, are you?#
"I'm not, Mom. I haven't died yet since I came here."
#Don't say yet like that! You're setting up a flag!#
Subaru let out a dry chuckle, leaning back against the bedpost with a sigh.
"Well, I wanted to be optimistic and say I'm not going to die, but let's be real here—I live in a world where people have powers so broken they could wipe out a city just because they felt like it. What am I supposed to do against that?"
He laughed, but there was a flicker of unease buried in his voice—an edge of fear that slipped through despite his smile.
The screen shifted. The woman's image disappeared, replaced by a man with a calm, steady gaze and a deeper voice.
#We know, son. Just try your best—and don't feel like you have to handle everything alone. Ask for help from those around you. And if something's ever weighing on your mind… we'll always be here for you.#
"I know, Dad. I've seen Arc 3 and 4—I know just how weak I am compared to the monsters of this world," Subaru said with a knowing smile. He had long since come to terms with his own powerlessness. "But I also know that no matter what, I'll end up winning. So everything's good."
He leaned forward a little, his eyes lighting up.
"Oh! And also—I got Roswaal to teach me magic sooner than in canon. So that's something."
The two figures on the screen blinked in surprise.
#Really? That's great! Oh, but be careful, okay? We don't want you breaking your magic or whatever like in the story.# said his mother
#It's the Gate, honey. We don't want him breaking his Gate.#
#Oh, shut it, you!#
The couple broke into lighthearted bickering, their familiar banter filling the room. Subaru couldn't help but smile at the sight—warmth bubbling in his chest as he watched them argue like they always did.
For a moment, the weight of the world outside that bedroom felt just a little lighter.
#But oh yeah, Subaru...#
His mother's voice suddenly dropped several degrees in warmth, turning icy.
#We tried calling you last night, but you didn't answer. Why is that?#
It wasn't so much a question as it was a threat.
Subaru stiffened. "W-well… there's a time difference, you know! Nighttime for you is daytime here! And I didn't even get a chance to check my phone this morning. I woke up and was immediately ushered to breakfast with the lady of the house."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"Oh right—Roswaal is a woman here."
#WHAT?!#
Both parents shouted in unison, their faces practically pressing into the screen in shock.
"And then I became a butler and did chores all day! So I haven't even touched my phone since this morning!"
His father waved a hand, still stuck on the bombshell.
#No no no—back up. Roswaal is a woman?! How?!#
His voice shot up in confused outrage, as if the very foundation of his Re:Zero knowledge had just been shattered.
Subaru's plan to deflect from the real issue—why he ignored their calls—had worked flawlessly. Throwing the "Roswaal is a woman" bomb was enough to derail the entire conversation.
"Oh yeah, things are all kinds of funky here," he told his parents casually, waving a hand in the air like he still hadn't processed it himself. "I don't think the plot's gonna follow canon anymore. I mean—what the hell? The clown is a woman now? Even I was shocked."
He leaned a little closer to the camera with a wry smile.
"But everything's fine. I'm alive, Roswaal is... weirdly flirty now. I think she's trying to molest me, but I dunno—I haven't stayed alone in a room with her, and I'm planning to keep it that way."
He leaned back with a shrug, completely unfazed. "Either Ram or Rem should be barging in any minute now to give me my first-ever literature class in this world."
He lifted the glowing device slightly. "Even if they speak Japanese, the written language here is completely different, remember?"
#Oh right, there were those problems in Arc 2, huh? Well, good luck, son! I'm sure you can do it!# Subaru's dad gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up through the screen.
Subaru smiled. It was comforting to know that even if he was in a different world, his dad still believed in him like always.
Then his mom's voice cut in, suddenly back on the real world's concerns.
#Oh, by the way—we were about to report you missing,# his mom said, her tone shifting into something more serious, #but since you're not actually missing—just got Isekai'd—we need you as proof so the police don't think we've lost our minds. Since we couldn't call you last night, what about tonight? Around 9 p.m. here? That should be 9 a.m. over there, right?#
Subaru winced a little, already calculating what that would mean for his morning.
"Ehh… 9 a.m. is when I usually start chores. What about a little earlier? Like, say, 6 a.m.? I'll be sleepy, but I'll set an alarm tonight so I'll be good"
#Sure. Oh! And when Rem or Ram come in, don't hang up, okay? We need to talk to them.#
#More like your mom needs to talk to them,# his dad muttered under his breath.
Subaru blinked, sensing the storm before it hit.
#Oh? What's that? Did I just hear someone say they don't want to sleep in their own bed tonight?# his mother's voice turned cold and commanding.
#N-Nothing, ma'am.# came the immediate reply, followed by an awkward silence on the other end of the call.
Subaru snorted back a laugh, covering his mouth as he leaned into the warm familiarity of home, even from across worlds.
"Haha... Naaah, not right now. I don't think it's time for you to talk to them yet," Subaru said with an awkward laugh, glancing nervously toward the door.
On the glowing screen, his parents squinted at him in unison.
#Why?#
His mom's voice was sharp with suspicion.
"Because they're still suspicious of me, obviously! And besides, there's nothing going on between us anyway! Just because story–me and story–Rem had something doesn't mean it'll be the same here!"
He threw his hands up in exasperation, trying to defend himself—less against their teasing, and more against the implication behind their tone.
#What about Emilia? Is she good with you?# his mom asked with a hint of teasing in her voice. #You always did like her, even as a kid.#
"I liked her design and how she was portrayed," Subaru huffed, waving a hand. "Fiction and reality are two different things. But yes—she's great. It's nice knowing there's at least one person in this mansion who's not out to kill me or enslave me."
#Is Roswaal still doing that? Even as a woman?# his dad chimed in, confused but curious.
"I don't know! That's the most annoying part about her!" Subaru snapped, tossing his head back in frustration. "She's unpredictable! She's still got that smug aura and now she's flirty?! What am I supposed to do with that?!"
#Alright, let's put this Roswaal business aside. What about Beako? Have you talked to her about the contract yet?# his dad asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.
Subaru let out a long, weary sigh. "It's not that easy Dad. She's been waiting for so long... I can't just waltz in and tell her it was all for nothing."
His voice dipped lower, heavier. "That's... actually why I've been avoiding her."
#You're avoiding her?# his mom asked, surprised and a little disappointed.
"I know! I know… I should try to get close to her, be her friend, try to... do something about her loneliness. But now that I'm here, actually in front of her—I have to admit, I'm scared."
He looked away from the glowing screen, eyes distant.
"What if I'm not good enough, Mom? What if I can't make the same impact as story–me did? What if… being with me is actually worse than staying alone in that library for eternity?"
His voice shook a little.
"I can't risk that. What am I even supposed to say to her? What would we talk about? How do I even connect with someone like Beako? She is four hundred years old! Am I supposed to just repeat the lines from the story and hope it all works out?"
He shook his head, frustration twisting his expression.
"It would feel fake. I'd feel fake. I don't know what I'm supposed to do."
His parents listened in silence, their son's voice filled with uncertainty and frustration as he talked about the great spirit who'd spent four hundred years locked away in a library.
He sounded anxious—not unlike that time before middle school, when he had to part ways with his childhood friends. He wanted to make new ones. He just didn't know how.
#Subaru…# his mother finally spoke, her tone gentle but firm. #You are not Natsuki Subaru.#
"...Huh?" Subaru blinked, caught off guard. "What are you talking about? I am Natsuki Subaru."
#No. You're not. You are not the Subaru who shut himself away from the world. You're not the boy who was forced to hide his problems until everything explodes and is forced to carry it all on his own.#
Her voice was steady, each word digging into the heart of what he hadn't been able to say out loud.
#You don't have to be him. You're not that Natsuki Subaru. So don't force yourself to follow his footsteps. Don't pretend to be someone you're not.#
Subaru felt a knot loosen in his chest, something subtle but deep. She was right. Ever since he landed in this world and saw how different things were—even just Roswaal being a woman—he'd been obsessing over the question: What would Subaru do?
And it had left him paralyzed. Like he had to match the actions of a version of himself from a story. A story he wasn't actually in.
#You can be friends with her the same way you'd be friends with anyone else. Talk to her when you feel like it. Play with her if it feels right. Just be honest. No one is holding a script to your head.#
Her words struck a chord. A simple truth that had been lost beneath the weight of expectations—his own expectations of himself.
#Even if you don't end up saving her... that's okay. You tried. You cared. And if things don't turn out the way you hoped, you'll learn from it. That's all anyone can do.#
#Just be yourself. Do the best you can. The 'what if' isn't something you need to fear. We're always here, Subaru. Just stay safe... and don't forget, we're proud of you. Always.#
Subaru fell quiet for a moment, his mother's words echoing in his mind. He stared off into the dim corner of the room, his expression soft and thoughtful.
Then he exhaled, a small smile forming on his lips.
"...Actually, the 'what if' is something I need to fear. Especially the Re: Forgotten One," he said with a playful smirk, throwing in a joke only he understood.
His parents blinked, exchanging a confused glance, but smiled anyway. Even if they had no clue what he was talking about, they were just glad to hear that lighter tone in his voice again.
"But anyway—thanks, I guess," Subaru added, his voice steady now. "I guess I just needed someone to actually say it to my face."
He leaned back against the headboard with a sigh that sounded more like relief than exhaustion.
"I don't know what I was so scared about. This isn't all that different from living a normal life, is it? No one knows what the future holds… so why should I be afraid of that?"
His parents beamed at him from the other side of the screen, proud and relieved. Their son had found a bit of clarity in a chaotic new world.
"I'll try to be more like myself—stay safe, and do what I want to do, not what story-me did," Subaru said with a soft smile.
His parents smiled back at him through the screen, proud.
They chatted for a few more minutes, exchanging lighter banter before finally ending the call.
Just in time, the door to his room creaked open, and in stepped a familiar figure in a maid outfit, blue hair swaying slightly with her movement.
"Oh, you're here," Subaru said, looking up. He paused, narrowing his eyes slightly at the timing. "...Have you been standing outside my room this whole time?"
"Yes," Rem replied plainly. No hint of embarrassment. No hesitation.
"Well, guess privacy hasn't been invented yet. Just like everything else," Subaru muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
He stood up and started straightening his bed and clearing space on the table, trying to make the room somewhat more presentable for what was apparently going to be a late-night tutoring session.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In another room of the mansion, a white-haired half-elf sat patiently while her hair was being combed by a small, floating, bipedal, cat-like spirit—her overly protective stepdad, in a way.
It was a tradition at this point. Sure, she could comb her own hair, but the little furball loved doing it for her. Definitely not weird at all for a magical flying cat to adopt a half-elf and pamper her for years to the point where he refused to let her handle even the simplest tasks herself.
Totally normal.
But tonight felt... different.
Emilia stared into the mirror, eyes unfocused, her usual brightness nowhere to be found. She'd been quiet the entire time—no humming, no idle chatter, no dreamy sighs about the weather.
Just silence.
It didn't take long for Puck to notice. His paw slowed, then stopped entirely as he tilted his head in concern, one ear flicking gently.
"…You're awfully quiet tonight, Lia," the cat said, his paw slowing. "Is something on your mind?"
"Mm?" The half-elf blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "No, nothing. It's nothing important," she replied, brushing it off with a soft shake of her head.
"You know you can talk to me, right? I'll listen to whatever's in that head of yours," the cat offered gently, hoping to coax the truth out of her.
Because here's the thing about this cat—he could feel emotions. Not read minds, not see thoughts, but sense the emotional current flowing through the people around him. And right now, the feelings radiating off his daughter were… concerning.
Unease. Confusion. A faint flicker of fear.
But most of all—curiosity. Longing. Hope.
Hope? That one stood out. Stronger than the rest, buzzing just beneath the surface.
Puck narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head in thought.
What in the world is she hoping for?
"It's nothing, Puck. I was just thinking about what Subaru said this morning," the half-elf finally responded, her eyes still fixed on her reflection.
"About the witch cult stuff?" the cat asked, ears twitching. "It is weird that he knows so much, but his alibi checks out. So, what's there to think about?"
"No… not that." Emilia's voice was quieter now, almost uncertain. "I was thinking about how he said he's read stories about us. If that's true… then why is he here?"
Puck blinked and floated slightly lower. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… why me?" she said, eyes flickering downward. "He's seen the story, right? He knows what I am… who I look like. So why did he choose to come with me? To live here? As a butler, even. It's not like he didn't have other choices—the Sword Saint offered him a place. And still… he decided to come here. With me."
The question hung in the air, soft and fragile—yet heavy with emotion.
From the very first moment Subaru spoke to her, Emilia sensed something strange in his voice.
There was no fear. No disgust. No condescension or pretentious tone that always—always—came from people the moment they saw her ears or realized who she looked like.
At first, she thought he was simply ignorant. Maybe his parents never told him the tale of the Witch of Envy, never warned him about the silver-haired half-elf to be wary of.
But then he told her. He'd read about her world—like it was a story. And today, he proved it. He knew more about her world and its secrets than anyone had any right to. He wasn't ignorant at all.
So… if he knew, then why?
Why did he speak to her like she was just another person?
Where was the fear? The disgust? The cautious stares and muttered prayers? Where was the hesitation?
The normal reaction to her was always the same—run, glare, or attack. No one just… talked to her. Not like he did. Subaru didn't even hesitate. He spoke to her casually, encouraged her even, the very first time they met.
It was weird. He was weird. And Emilia had no idea what to do with that.
And it wasn't like Subaru was fearless, either.
She saw how he reacted to Roswaal this morning—tense, guarded, cautious like a cornered animal. That wasn't the behavior of someone bold or reckless. He was afraid. Just… not of her.
Roswaal. Roswaal L. Mathers. Head of the Mathers household. One of the most respected noble families in the kingdom—known for their mastery of magic and their long-standing influence.
And Roswaal herself? She was the most powerful magic user in the kingdom. Brilliant. Dangerous. Beautiful.
Emilia had seen how people looked at her. How men tried to court her with flattery and reverence—only to be turned away with a dismissive flick of the eye. Roswaal didn't entertain attention. Not romantic, not casual, not anything.
But this morning… she was weird.
There was a different air around her. The way she spoke to Subaru. The way she teased him. Joked. Even lingered.
Emilia had never seen her act that way before. Especially not with a man.
What did she want from him?
Why was Subaru so scared of her?
The more Emilia thought about it… the less sense it made.
"Maybe he just fancies you," Puck's voice cut gently through her thoughts, casual and teasing.
"He is a growing boy, after all."
"Don't be ridiculous, Puck," she replied almost instantly, shaking her head.
Her? Really? Emilia?
Out of everyone in the mansion—Rem, Ram, Roswaal of all people—she was the one he fancied?
That was… stupid.
Even to her.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her own silver hair and violet eyes staring back at her. A face that reminded people of the Witch. A face that had gotten her cursed stares and cold shoulders for most of her life.
How could anyone look at that and feel anything but fear?
She wasn't being modest. She was being realistic.
That kind of attention… wasn't meant for her.
Certainly not from someone like Subaru.
"Well!" Puck chimed again, his voice lighter now, "Whatever the reason, at least he's nice. Let's just put the why aside and see how he does from now on."
With a satisfied flick of his paw, he floated back to admire his handiwork.
"Anyway, your hair is done! Let's get you to bed now."
The spirit began to glow softly, his small form dissipating into light as he returned to the pendant resting gently on Emilia's chest.
She reached up and touched it with her fingers, feeling the warmth lingering in the metal.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe it didn't matter why Subaru was here. Not right now. Not tonight.
Maybe, for now, it was enough just to wait and see.
With that thought, Emilia climbed into bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and let her eyes fall shut.
Whatever happens next… she'll face it when it comes.
End of Chapter