Chapter 164: I Love You, I Love You, I Love You...

Rem was still kneeling on the ground, tangled up in her own spiraling thoughts.

On the other side, the story on the screen went on.

["I don't really get what you're saying. Honestly, I still don't understand the situation at all, but—"

Natsuki Subaru spoke to Rem with complete seriousness.

"Stop tying yourself in knots all by yourself. Lean on the people around you more!"

]

Outside the screen, Rem shivered at those words, visibly moved—only to sink back into dejection a moment later.

Someone like Rem... if she leaned on the people around her, all it would bring them was misfortune.

Just like on the screen. Her sister, the most important person in the world to her, and Subaru—both of them wounded, both of them trapped in danger.

["There are Mabeasts everywhere out there. What does Barusu intend to do?"

Ram poked her head out of the underbrush alongside Natsuki Subaru, surveyed the situation, and asked.

"How about I dump Rem on Ram and run for it by myself?" Natsuki Subaru let out a dark, cackling laugh.

"You mean you'll draw the Mabeasts away alone so Ram can take Rem and escape while they're distracted?" Ram translated his words on the spot.

"Don't blow the lid off my tsundere act!" Natsuki Subaru groaned.

"Subaru, why would you go this far for us?" Rem asked, her eyes full of sorrow. In a situation like this, surely it was better if only she was sacrificed?

"Hm, well, let me think..."

A reminiscent light came into Natsuki Subaru's eyes. Then he held up a single finger in front of Rem and said,

"Because—you're the first date of my life."

"So there's no way I could just leave you behind, is there?"

He gave her a comforting smile and laid his broad, warm hand on top of Rem's head.]

That one line from Natsuki Subaru on the screen seemed to reach across time and space and settle over the same line that lived in the memory Rem had lived through herself, the two of them ringing in her ears at once.

As if, in this very moment, Natsuki Subaru truly stood before her, saying:

"Because the first one in my life was you... it was you!"

In an instant, the storm clouds scattered and the sky cleared.

The Rem kneeling on the ground had entered a rather strange state.

She cupped her own cheeks in both hands—cheeks flushed so red they were practically steaming—while tenderness, mortification, and emotion braided together in her eyes into little hearts that kept bubbling up.

As one of the hopeless lovesick fools, she had no need for repeated verbal reassurances.

One sentence was enough. That one sentence from Natsuki Subaru on the screen:

She was the first date of Subaru's life!

And beyond that, she was the only woman Subaru had ever taken as his wife. In that whole lifetime she and Subaru had spent together, each of them had eyes for no one but the other, and loved no one but the other.

It began with her, and it ended with her!

With a husband like that, what more could a wife ask for?

As for the knots still tied in her heart—perhaps some remained, but none of them mattered now.

The only thoughts left in Rem's head were that she absolutely had to make Subaru happy, that she wanted to bear him a few children, and that if it were possible, in this life she wanted her sister to join them too.

Then their whole family could live together, happy and at peace!

But just then, a few discordant notes sounded nearby. Someone was reacting with astonishment to the line Natsuki Subaru had just dropped on the screen.

"First date? Oh, I remember now. He means that time he went shopping in the village with Rem, doesn't he?"

"Say, Big Brother's affection for that little maid Rem is awfully high, isn't it? If the one who'd died in the Wrath-if line had been Ram instead of Rem, Big Brother might not have gone dark at all~"

Giggling chatter and mocking voices rose through the area, luring people toward ruin and madness like the whispers of demons.

Rem's stomach lurched at the words, and panic churned inside her.

This was bad. This time it wasn't her losing affection points—it was her sister's turn to lose them?!

Th-this—wasn't saying that the same as hoisting her sister up over an open fire?

Rem spun around and threw her arms around Ram from behind, but Ram shrugged her off with the lightest twist.

"Ram isn't so fragile that she'd quietly break her heart over some outsider trying to sow discord."

Rem stared blankly up at her sister's face, and only then noticed how expressionless it was, as if not a ripple had passed through her.

"As expected of Lady Sister!"

The realization came to Rem slowly, and then her face lit up with excitement, eyes shining as she gazed at Ram with open admiration.

"Rem, as long as you're all right, that's what matters."

Ram's eyes softened, and she gently stroked Rem's hair.

For a moment, the sight of the two sisters' deep affection became a lovely piece of scenery in the viewing area.

In stark contrast, however, Emilia over on the other side had all but collapsed into a black hole, as though she were swallowing the surrounding light, sound, and everything else besides.

Not one person dared speak to the Emilia who had just heard Natsuki Subaru admit, in his own words, that Rem was the first date of his life—everyone terrified of being last-hit like a stray minion on the spot.

—Why? Why would you say that, Subaru?

The first woman you ever went on a date with was me. Have you forgotten?

Emilia covered her face and lowered her head. Silver-white strands slipped down, and the shadow that fell across her features hid her face from view.

Is what we went through together just not as vivid to you as your memories with Rem?

Was it because I didn't show you my love back then, and that made you waver?

Emilia murmured it all to herself. She would never blame Subaru; she only ever looked for the fault in herself.

Their relationship needed to take another step forward...

Because I love you, Subaru. That's why I don't want your gaze shared with anyone else...

"I love you, I love you, I love you..."

With Natsuki Subaru absent, all Emilia could do was repeat that line over and over, devout and single-minded, even if... he might not be able to hear it.

At some point Puck, who by rights should have been curled in Emilia's arms, had quietly relocated to the far side—and even at that distance he was trembling all over, shaking like a leaf.

[After that, Natsuki Subaru succeeded as bait in tying down the whole horde of monsters, holding out until Roswaal arrived.

And so, bit by bit, the curtain came down.]

"Ha! Roz, who knew there'd ever be a time you actually served some purpose!"

Garfiel laughed in exasperation, arms folded, contempt plain in his voice as he spoke to Roswaal.

Only deigning to show up at the very end—who knows how long he'd been peeping from the sidelines?

He rescues you from calamity. Just don't ask where the calamity came from.

"Now that is—a most unjuuust accusation."

Roswaal spread both hands in reply, his attention fixed on the screen all the while, his face full of appreciation, admiration glinting in his eyes.

Natsuki Subaru had cleared the first trial right here. What a magnificent performance.

[When Natsuki Subaru woke again, he was back at the manor, staring at the same familiar ceiling—except this time he had achieved his goal, with no Return by Death!

When he woke, Rem was at his side, gripping the hand he had slept through the night with.

The gentleness Natsuki Subaru had shown in the forest had long since captured this blue-haired maid's heart, and so the two of them began to speak honestly with each other.

"Rem is nothing but a substitute for her sister, and a worthless one who can't even come close!"

"Why was her sister born with only one horn? Why are her sister and Rem twins? If her sister hadn't been dragged down by Rem, she would surely have been so much more!"

"The real sister could have done better."

"Maybe so. But the one here with me right now is Rem!"

"But..."

"Back in my hometown, we say, 'Talk about next year, and the oni will laugh.'"

"So laugh, Rem. Laugh, and talk about the future!"

"We all just lean on each other and keep moving forward."

"And besides... laughing with an oni while we talk about next year happens to be a dream of mine!"

Tears gathered at the corners of Rem's eyes. Wind blew in through the window and lifted the fringe covering one eye, revealing her whole, adorable face.

"You really are... possessed by an oni!"

She laughed, moved and happy, and offered a perfect smile as the closing note.]

Outside the screen, meanwhile, everyone in the viewing seats had been force-fed sugary lovebird nonsense until they were absolutely stuffed.

...

[Author's Note: I want monthly tickets, nyaa. Why won't you vote monthly tickets for me? I'll stab you to death, nyaa, stab you to death, nyaa, stab you to death nyaa stab you to death nyaa...]

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