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Meili sat in a chair, looking in a mirror. Rem stood behind the girl, humming softly to herself as she put the girl's hair into braids. Meili had always worn a ponytail, but wanting to appear formal for the dance she was going to, she had enlisted Rem to help.
Subaru was unavailable at the moment—he was getting ready by himself, and she did not trust any of the other residents of the mansion, leaving Rem to be the next in line after her adoptive father.
"Almost done," Rem said as she added the finishing touches and necessary bobby pins to hold the hairstyle.
Rem steps back and smiles, "There, all done!"
The braids in Meili's hair were juxtaposed with one another, and starting on the left side of her head, Rem curled the braids around Meili's scalp toward the back, ending the braids in a bun, that Rem had secured the braids with a blue broach from her collection of personal hair ties.
Rem held a mirror so Meili could gander at her handy work. Rem puffed her cheeks with pride as Meili turned her head side-to-side, inspecting the hairstyle.
"Whoa, Nice-Nee-san, you went all out? I'm glad I didn't ask Scary-Nee-san. I bet the most she could accomplish would be a lazy bun on the top of the head,"
"Nee-sama is good at a lot of things,"
"She is? News to me,"
"Eh, well, somethings," Rem backtracked, "But she can do at least three other hairstyles, but you are correct in your assessment. Rem is talented at doing hair,"
Meili turned to look at her, "Then why not do your hair? The bob cut is classic, but I bet Onii-san would appreciate it if you dressed up some?"
Rem blushed, "R-Rem wouldn't mind doing that if Subaru-kun asked Rem,"
"You always gonna wait on Onii-san to make a move, Rem?"
Rem's eyes widened, and she blushed, "W-Wait, Rem didn't—Meili! You shouldn't worry about such things!"
Meili shrugged, "I'm just sayin', you want to look nice for Subaru, then take initi~ative,"
Rem thought about what Meili said but then remembered that the dance Meili and Subaru were attending together would be starting in an hour.
"Meili, we should finish getting you ready. Did you bring your dress?"
"Yep!" Meili stood and walked to Rem's bed, where the dress lay.
The dress was indigo blue, with black polka dots decorating the skirt portion, and the top was silk. A black bow sat on the left strap, and around the waist of the dress was another black bow tied around in the back.
Subaru had designed and made the dress for Meili, with Rem assisting with her measurements.
Meili was surprised when she initially saw the dress. She knew Subaru was a talented seamstress, but a dress of this quality and how quickly he stitched it together had impressed the former assassin.
She had witnessed Suabru sewing the dress one day. She had gone to his room to fetch him for lunch at the behest of Rem and found him sitting on the bed, lost in thought while his hands rhythmically inserted a needle and pulled it out the opposite side. Beatrice lay asleep next to him, and for a moment, Meili could have sworn Subaru looked melancholic as he worked.
Meili crept in quietly to tell him about lunch. Subaru looked perplexed, only to realize what Meili was telling him. He then smiled and showed off the progress he was making. Meili couldn't tell what the dress was then, but once she saw the finished product, she stared in awe at Subaru's dress-making talent. Meili even commented how Subaru would do well starting a clothes-making business.
What's more, was the jealous looks Meili had received from several girls who worked alongside her. Petra especially was jealous of her friend, wishing Subaru had sewed her a dress, and Beatrice seethed with envy and commented that: 'Betty gets all the attention she would ever need from Subaru, in fact,' leading Meili to question how many dresses Subaru had made her. Beatrice didn't appreciate what Meili was implying, and before Subaru knew it, he was hard at work making clothes for Petra, Rem, Emilia, and Beatrice. Subaru did not mind, however, relaying how sewing was therapeutic to him.
Meili picked up the dress and marveled at it once more. Shaula crawled up her arm, her pincers moving excitedly. Meili smiled when Shaula remarked how her master was excellent at sewing.
Subaru had even made Shaula a black and orange ribbon to tie around her scorpion tail.
A knock came at Rem's door, and Emilia walked in. She saw Meili's hair and gushed at Rem's handiwork.
"OH MY STARS! Rem! You have to do my hair too!"
Rem giggled, "Of course, Emilia-sama, Rem would love to,"
Rem and Emilia weren't attending the dance with Subaru, Meili, and Shaula. The dance was for fathers with daughters only and was happening in Arlam.
Meili had heard about the dance from Petra, who was taking off to attend with her father. Meili thought nothing of the dance, but Subaru suggested he take her.
Meili had then asked:
'Why not Beatrice-chan?'
Subaru patted the girl's head and smiled, leading Meili to move his hand in mock annoyance as Subaru ruffled her hair. Subaru remarked that Beatrice was his sister and Meili was his adoptive daughter.
'Why not Spica-chan, then?'
Subaru stammered, 'Uh, well, I could take Spica, but her mother likes her in bed by a certain hour,'
Meili narrowed her eyes, 'The way you said that sounds like you like the idea of having a daughter with Rem,'
Subaru chuckled nervously. Meili grinned, 'Does mom know about your affair?'
Subaru paled, 'Hey! Don't make it so scandalous!'
Meli had laughed at how anxious Subaru had become. Meili saw Emilia as a mother, even though she believed her mentality was older than Emilia's.
As a side note, when Emilia had learned about the dance, she asked if she could go to it as Subaru's second daughter, prompting Subaru to clutch his heart to keep it from tearing to pieces. Emilia didn't realize the implications of such a naive comment. Subaru laughed it off and promised Emilia they would attend other dances together in the future, but not as a father and daughter.
Emilia pouted momentarily before relenting and promised Meili that she would do her make-up for the dance.
"Finished!" Emilia stood up and moved away from Meili, who inspected herself in the mirror.
Emilia had applied a small amount of blush to her cheeks and a tiny portion of mascara to her eyes. She finished applying the lipstick and moved away so Meili could see her reflection. Meili sat looking at herself, stunned by the stranger she saw in the mirror.
Emilia puffed out her chest in pride while Meili marveled at her reflection.
"Wow, Rem is impressed, Emilia-sama!"
"Yep! I'm pretty good at doing makeup!" Boasted Emilia,
"Emilia-sama, how about you do Rem's make-up, and Rem does your hair,"
Emilia grasped her hands, "Oh my, YES! Rem, let's have a slumber party! No boys allowed!"
Meili snorted to herself as she listened to Emilia suggest the childish idea. Meili grabbed the dress and went to change.
Subaru sat kneeling on the floor while Beatrice stood fixing his tie.
"Betty can't believe Subaru can sew and do many things but can't tie a simple knot,"
Subaru chuckled, "What can I say? My mom always put a clip-on tie on me when I dressed up. When I got older, I didn't wear many suits,"
Beatrice sighed, "Well, you have Betty here to do these simple things for you, in fact. So be grateful to Betty, I suppose,"
"I show my gratitude constantly! What more do you want, an allowance also?"
"Betty has no use for coin, unlike most humans. Betty is perfectly content, in fact,"
"Pffft-Says the girl who bums money off me when we go out shopping,"
"Then maybe Subaru should start paying Betty for taking care of him, in fact,"
"What! You make me sound like an old man who needs a caretaker to cook his meals!?"
Betty laughed, "Well, Subaru would be lost without Betty, so perhaps she will cook dinner for you next time, I suppose!"
"Eh, that's not a good idea. You tried that before and caught the kitchen on fire,"
"How should Betty have known that sand-witches didn't need to be cooked with oil?"
"Who the hell told you to cook sandwiches in oil? Also, why are you adding a hyphen to the word and pronouncing the last part in a way that brings mental images of a sandwich riding a broomstick with a pointy hat!"
"Betty doesn't understand the reference. Sand-witches is already a strange concept-"
"NO, it's not! It's literally two pieces of bread sandwiching something together. There is nothing strange about that!"
Beatrice finished tying Subaur's tie. After five tries, she got the knot correct, and the length of the tie was satisfactory.
"Okay! Betty is finished, fact,"
Subaru looked at himself in the mirror. He adjusted his tie, only for Beatrice to scold him, reminding Subaru to leave it alone.
Subaru's suit is black, with the undershirt being orange. His tie is black, and he wears polished black shoes with orange socks.
Subaru crosses his arms and turns to Beatrice. He strikes a pose.
"I look like a mob boss! Give me a coin! I suddenly have the urge to flip one,"
Beatrice crossed her arms, "If Subaru is suggesting a life of crime because he is wearing a suit, then Betty forbids you from ever wearing one again, in fact,"
Subaru laughed, "I'm not about to rob someplace,"
"Well, either way, Subaru should be careful,"
"Okay, mom,"
Beatrice growled, "For that comment, Subaru owes Betty a piggy-back ride,"
"What is with you and mundane demands?"
While the two go back and forth, Frederica knocks and enters Subaru's room. She looks at Subaru and smiles.
"You look very handsome, Subaru-sama,"
Subaru smiled and rubbed the back of his head.
"Betty's Subaru was considering joining a life of crime, in fact,"
"What? No, I wasn't!"
Frederica shook her head, "Subaru-sama, you shouldn't speak of such things, crime doesn't pay,"
"What is with the both of you? I never said I was looking to become a bank robber or something. Also, 'crime doesn't pay'? Who are you Emilia-tan?"
Frederica laughed, "Well, we have been spending an awful lot of time together,"
"Well, that's all good, but be careful not to catch her corny-joke virus. Emilia-tan is an angel, but she has the vernacular of an old man from yesteryear,"
Beatrice and Frederica traded glances. They were used to Subaru spouting oddities, but it never ceased to bewilder them.
"Uh, well, Subaru-sama, Meili is ready and waiting for you. Otto has gone to bring the carriage around and will meet you at the front,"
"Swell, Welp, we better go, I don't want to keep her waiting,"
"Betty must also see Meili and explain the ground rules!"
"Ground rules?"
Beatrice didn't respond and left for downstairs.
"And don't be getting Subaru into any trouble, and also be sure to have him home at a decent hour. Does Betty make herself clear, I suppose?
Meili rolled her eyes, "Geez, what are you, his dad? Do you want to take your daughter to the dance, Papa Beako?"
"Betty is Subaru's beloved sister, in fact! So don't forget it!"
Meili holds up her hands, "Alright, I get it,"
She looks toward Subaru, who is currently having his tie adjusted by Rem, who wasn't pleased with the length Beatrice had tied it.
"Yo, old man! Ya ready?"
Subaru snaps his head at her, "Old man?"
"Subaru-kun, stop moving so much!"
Subaru looks back at Rem and rubs his head, "Oh, sorry, Rem,"
Rem sighed and finished up, "There, perfect,"
"What was wrong with how Betty tied Subaru's tie, I wonder?"
Rem smiled, "Well, the length was all wrong. Rem fixed the tie where it sits half an inch above Subaru-kun's belt line,"
Beatrice growled, annoyed at Rem's skills at tying a tie.
Subaru looked at Emilia and asked, "What do you think, Emilia-tan, pretty handsome, right?"
Emilia smiled, "Yes, Subaru looks handsome, but what was that talk about becoming a crook, mister?"
"Crook?" Rem questioned,
Subaru looked at Frederica and Beatrice, "You squealers!"
Meili walked up and grabbed Subaru's arm. Shaula crawled down her arm and up Subaru's.
"Let's go, Onii-san!"
"Okay, Okay!" Subaru turned and waved goodbye,
"Alright! See you guys later!"
Meili and Subaru walked outside. Otto sat at the reins. Alongside him was Garfiel.
Garfiel whistles, "Whoa, lookin' sharp, Cap'n!"
Subaru lifts Meili into the carriage and climbs aboard, "Heh, thanks, Garfiel. I look like a mob boss, right?"
Garfiel nodded his head, "Hell yeah, you do!"
Otto shakes his head, "Natsuki-san, a life of crime doesn't fit you,"
Just as Subaru was going to respond that he was only joking, Ram, who was sitting in the carriage, cuts him off.
"Heh, Of course, Barusu would suggest turning to a life of crime. Ram can only feel sorry for her sister and Emilia-sama for hanging around such a bad influence, with scary eyes,"
Subaru looks at Ram, "Hey, I'm not a bad influence! And that last part you added was a jab at the jewels of the Natsuki household!"
Ram just harrumphed and looked at Meili in her dress.
"Ram is impressed. Rem has done an excellent job, and she has heard Emilia-sama did your makeup. Ram must compliment Emilia-sama for not making you look like a clown,"
"Well, I asked Emilia for that reason. If I were wantin' to look like a clown, I would have asked Roswaal,"
"Careful, even though Ram's feelings for Roswaal-sama have changed, she still respects him, and as his maid, so should you,"
Meili rolls her eyes as she looks at the knitting in Ram's hand.
"How's whatever the hell you are making comin' along?"
Ram looks at what should be a tiny pair of socks in her hand. She looks up, "Ram has improved, and pretty soon the baby will have a full wardrobe,"
"Why not ask Onii-san to make some clothes? He made this dress,"
Ram looked at the dress. She remembered when Subaru had made the outfit and was impressed, though she wasn't transparent with her compliment. Still, nonetheless, she admitted to herself that Subaru was talented at sewing.
"Heh, If Ram wasn't scared that her future adorable baby would contract Barusu's scary eyes and bad hair, she might consider it,"
"You make it sound like I'm diseased! Do I need to take my complaints upstairs?"
"If you are referring to Otto, you forget who wears the pants in our relationship,"
Subaru looked toward Otto, who didn't respond. Either out of fear or because he couldn't hear them, Subaru believed Otto wouldn't argue with her.
"Well, whenever you get over your 'Barusu-phobia,' I would love to make the kiddo a blanket. They could look at it and always think of their uncle Subaru,"
"Barusu, are you planning on giving my child nightmares already?"
"Already?! What do you take me for?"
"Ram would rather not answer that,"
She looked away from Subaru, leading to him actively refuting what her embarrassed expression was implying. They shortly arrived in Arlam, and Subaru got out of the carriage. He helped Meili down and looked at Otto
"Yo, cabby, I'll see you in a few hours,"
"Cabby? Natsuki-san, why do I feel like what you are calling me isn't a good thing?"
"Nonsense, Brotto! I have only said nice things about you,"
Otto sighs and looks at his friend, "Alright, have fun," he turns to Meili and looks at Shaula.
"Meili-chan, Shaula-chan, keep Natsuki-san out of trouble. You know how he gets,"
"Hey, wait-"
"Understood, Cabby-san!" Meili salutes, and Shaula holds up her pincer.
Subaru looks at the two traitors with betrayal.
Meili laughs and grabs his hand. Together, the two enter the barn, hosting the Arlam annual father-daughter dance.
Once inside, the two stood at the entrance. The dance was underway, and several father-daughter couples were tearing up the dance floor.
Meili looked at Subaru, "Yo, Onii-san, I never asked, but do you know how to dance?"
Subaru took a step back, "Exsqueeze me, bakin-powder? Do I know how to dance?" Subaru laughs, "Well, little lady, you just happen to be looking at the lord of the dance! There isn't a dance floor around that I couldn't conquer!"
Meili snorts and starts laughing to herself, and grabs his hand.
"Well, Pop's, why don't you show me?"
Subaru smiled, and the two walked onto the dance floor.
To Meili's surprise, Subaru was talented at dancing. She half-expected him to have two left feet and spend the night stepping on her toes, but the two glided across the dance floor with the grace of geese flying south in formation for the winter.
"Meili! Subaru-sama!"
The two looked to their left and saw Petra approaching. She looked at the two, her expression surprised at how well they cleaned up.
"Wow, Meili, you look great! And you look very handsome, Subaru-sama,"
Subaru smiled and started to speak, but Meili cut him off.
"He says he is going to quit being Emilia's night, move to Kararagi and start a mafia,"
Petra looks aghast and stares at Subaru.
Subaru stammers, nearly missing his step while Meili and him dance in place.
"Wait! That's not at all what I said! Don't believe her abnormally detailed lie! All I said is that I looked like a mob boss!"
Petra put her hands on her hips, "Subaru-sama, you shouldn't joke like that?"
"What is with the amount of mother hens hanging around me!"
Meili and Petra look at one another and laugh.
Petra's dad approached and said hello. They split off and returned to dancing, saying their goodbyes to Subaru and Meili.
The song ended, and Subaru and Meili stopped dancing.
Meili looked up at Subaru and smiled, "Onii-san,"
Subaru looked at Meili, "What's up?"
"Let's blow this joint!"
Subaru laughed, "Who are you, a high school delinquent?"
Meili laughed, and the three of them left.
They walked through the village—it was quiet, and the villagers were either at the dance or in their homes, settling in for the night.
Meili sat on the fountain and looked up at the stars. Shaula crawled up her arm and sat on top of her head.
Subaru sat next to her and looked up.
"Man, the stars sure are different here,"
He said to himself, Meili cocked her head and looked at him.
"Different, how?"
Subaru thought a moment before talking.
"Back home, I used to sneak out late and stare at the night sky. The city I lived in wasn't heavily populated, and I could see the stars. Where I'm from, there was a star formation called Pleiades. Subaru was another name for it,"
Meili creased her brow as she listened to him. Shaula also moved sideways, and they both stared at Subaru with confusion.
"I remembered when my mom and dad told me what my name meant, and ever since, I was obsessed with stars. I used to read about them and the origin of their names for fun,"
Subaru laughs, "It's funny; at the time, I believed being named after something so brilliant like a star was a sign that I was special. As I grew older, I wasn't so sure,"
Meili looks down and then looks at Subaru,
"You're special to me, Onii-san, and not just me, but Shaula, Onee-san, Nice-Nee-san, Scary Nee-san, Petra-chan, Frederica-san, Beatrice-chan, and those two other weirdos you call friends, oh and the creepy clown too,"
Subaru laughs and ruffles Meili's hair. The girl laughs and pushes his hand away playfully,
"Hey! Rem, worked hard on this hairstyle!"
Subaru chuckled, "Well, I'm sure Rem-rin won't care that I am the one who messed it up,"
"I don't know. You may have Rem's heart, but I'm confident she would be upset knowing you messed up the hairstyle she worked so hard on,"
Meili grinned devilishly, "Maybe I should find scary Nee-san to tell her?"
Subaru turned pale and looked at Meili, "You wouldn't?"
Meili smiled and took off running, "Scary-Nee-san! Onii-san says he is going to rob a bank!"
Subaru stood up and chased after Meili, "WAIT! No, I didn't say that!"
The two laughed as they chased one another throughout the town. Shaula did her best to hold on to Meili as the two spent the evening playing cat and mouse.