Chapter 47 47: Seeing Only Half the Sky During a Lap Pillow Is Tradition

"Pfft... I've been here for quite a while, you know."

Emilia dabbed at her tear-streaked eyes with the back of her hand, her voice still warm with laughter.

"You two looked like you were having so much fun — I didn't have the heart to interrupt."

"That said, Subaru really got absolutely bullied by Puck, didn't he."

She said it with a fond, indulgent smile, glancing over at Puck, who had just floated down onto her lap and was rolling around in a huff to smooth his ruffled fur.

"I did not!"

Puck immediately flipped upright, planted his tiny paws on his hips, and did his level best to look dignified.

Unfortunately, his small stature and completely dishevelled fur made the attempt rather unconvincing.

"It was that little punk who threw the first punch! No sense of fair play whatsoever!"

"Ambushing a man of several hundred years — Lia, you have to stand up for me! Justice must be served!"

Puck fluttered up to Emilia's shoulder and rubbed his tiny head against her cheek, shamelessly fishing for sympathy.

"Yes, yes, I know."

Emilia gently combed through Puck's ruffled fur with her fingers, her touch feather-light and careful.

Her gaze drifted back and forth between Subaru and Puck.

A joy so pure it looked ready to overflow from those amethyst eyes of hers.

"Still — seeing you two get along like this... it really makes me happy."

Her voice was soft as a breeze, carrying a warmth of genuine relief and contentment.

Natsuki Subaru watched the unguarded, wholehearted delight blooming across Emilia's face — the joy she felt simply because he and Puck were getting along — and felt a quiet ache of nostalgia settle in his chest.

These moments. Scrapping and laughing and then drifting into easy silence.

Even in that future he carried in his memory, times like this had probably been rare.

"Subaru?"

Emilia's voice pulled him back. Natsuki Subaru blinked, steadied himself, and broke into a wide grin, thumping his chest with confidence.

"Of course! My bond with my dear father-in-law is unshakeable — solid as bedrock!"

"Right, father-in-law?"

Natsuki Subaru shot Puck an exaggerated wink.

"Who is your father-in-law?!"

Puck's fur bristled immediately, and he made a show of launching himself forward.

"Say that one more time and I'll scratch you raw!"

"Ahhh! Scary! So scary!"

Natsuki Subaru threw his hands over his head with theatrical terror and shuffled sideways toward Emilia, as if seeking refuge.

Emilia saw the two of them about to start up again and quickly spread her arms wide to intervene.

With one hand she gently pressed down on Puck before he could take flight.

With the other — in what felt like the most natural thing in the world — she reached toward Natsuki Subaru, who was right in front of her, and laced her fingers through his. Their hands locked together without a single gap between them.

That small, quiet touch — so full of trust and closeness — made Natsuki Subaru go still for just a moment.

He looked over at Emilia. Her ear tips had gone faintly pink, and she stole a quick glance at him from the corner of her eye before looking away.

The warmth at his fingertips felt, in that moment, like a thread connecting straight to her heart.

"Alright, alright — you two, behave."

Emilia laughed softly and played peacemaker, her gaze sweeping gently over Subaru's face.

"Look at you — you've been running wild, your clothes are all a mess."

"Let's take a little break. I'll go grab everyone something to eat and drink — sound good?"

She looked to Subaru as she asked, as though his nod were the permission she needed to act.

"Ah — yeah, please do. Thanks for the trouble, Emilia-tan."

Natsuki Subaru nodded quickly, his eyes following the light, easy way she rose to her feet and turned toward the manor.

He watched Emilia's retreating figure until she disappeared.

At some point Puck had drifted silently onto his shoulder. The little spirit gave him a single long, thoughtful look — then went limp and drowsy, sprawled out without a care.

A breeze passed through, carrying the smell of grass.

The smile on Natsuki Subaru's face gradually settled into something quieter, deeper.

He rubbed his fingertips together — they still felt warm — and noticed his heart was thumping steadily, insistently, against his ribs.

In that one moment just now, every thought he'd had about healing Emilia's wounded spirit had been swept completely from his mind.

Emilia was still so deeply reliant on him. Still so openly, unreservedly close.

That completely natural way she had of lacing her fingers through his — as though it were simply understood that they were close enough for that.

In the memories Subaru carried of the future, during this same stretch of time at the manor, he'd only ever managed to joke around with Emilia a little. He and Puck had roughhoused just like this, and the mood between the three of them had always been warm.

But there had always been something between him and Emilia, and him and Puck — some vague, nameless distance he couldn't quite name or close.

Nothing like now. Now, there was no distance left between the three of them at all.

Maybe... it wouldn't be so bad to just let things stay like this?

For the first time, Natsuki Subaru found himself questioning everything he'd thought he wanted.

This idea of his — healing Emilia's spirit — was it possible it had never been anything more than his own arrogance? His own presumption?

"Subaru — Puck — I'm back!"

Emilia came hurrying across the lawn, a tray of food and drinks balanced in one hand.

She waved toward them with her free hand as she called out, beaming.

And trailing behind her, also carrying a tray, was Ram.

"Welcome back, Emilia-tan!"

Natsuki Subaru gave Emilia a big thumbs-up and grinned.

Then he got to his feet and walked quickly over to Ram, lifting the tray straight out of her hands.

"Oh — and Ram-chan, thanks for carrying this~"

Ram had seen Natsuki Subaru coming and instinctively tried to pull back — but he already had the tray.

She curled her right hand loosely for a moment, as though trying to hold onto something, or as though there was something she wanted to say.

But Natsuki Subaru's cheerful "Ram-chan~" cut right through whatever it was.

Ram clicked her tongue.

"What kind of ridiculous nickname is that? It's revolting!"

She stayed rooted to the spot and turned her face pointedly to one side, as if silently fuming.

"It's a term of endearment — just for you, Ram!"

Natsuki Subaru called back over his shoulder as he walked toward where he'd been sitting.

"We're bound to get closer sooner or later, so I'm just borrowing a little familiarity in advance~"

But when he turned back around, Ram was still standing exactly where he'd left her, not having moved an inch.

He tilted his head, curious.

"Hm? Ram, was there something else?"

"The delivery's done — you can head back and rest now."

It seemed Ram hadn't expected to be dismissed quite like that. She blinked, caught off guard in the most endearingly confused way.

Her arm lifted instinctively, as if to reach out and catch hold of something.

But when she raised her eyes, all she saw was Natsuki Subaru's back, already walking away without a second glance.

Ram pressed her lips together. In the end, with a look that had gone quietly, unmistakably crestfallen, she turned and walked off the lawn in the direction of the manor.

The three of them already setting up camp on the grass — perfectly at ease, wrapped up in their own little world — didn't notice when she left.

"Subaru, come over here — your reserved spot is all ready for you."

Emilia had spread a long blanket out on the grass.

She was kneeling on it, and patted her smooth, fair thighs with an inviting smile, signalling Natsuki Subaru to come lie down.

"A l— a lap pillow?"

Natsuki Subaru had just set the tray down. He looked up at the sound of Emilia's voice — and then couldn't look away.

He sucked in a sharp breath — and then, without a moment's hesitation, jogged straight over and lay down with his head in Emilia's lap.

Ahhh —

That feeling.

There was nothing else like it. The moment he was resting in Emilia-tan's lap, every muscle in his body just... unknotted. Like coming home.

Natsuki Subaru gazed up at the blue, open sky.

Though, if he was being honest, his view of the sky was somewhat... obstructed. By a certain part of Emilia's anatomy directly above him.

Which meant, in practice, he could only see roughly half the sky.

But, well.

All things considered.

Not bad at all.

...

...

____

👻🔥Walnut-chan in "P" for more!🔥👻

🔥 New history: Danmachi: Summoning Ruri Gokou, And other Chuunibyou Brats

Help us unlock these community rewards:

🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone