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The mid-afternoon sun filtered through the intricate foliage of the trees in the mansion gardens, painting dancing patches of golden light onto the grassy path and the stone bench where Subaru and Reinhard sat. It was an unusually quiet afternoon, a rarity in Subaru's life since he had been summoned to this world. There were no imminent threats on the immediate horizon, no urgent meetings with scowling nobles, not even a particularly grumpy Beatrice demanding his attention for cuddles and hugs. Only the distant song of birds, the lazy buzz of some insect among the flowers, and the almost unrealistically perfect presence of the man sitting beside him.
Reinhard had arrived that very morning, a visit that had caused a slight stir. The Sword Saint didn't usually make social calls without a weighty reason or a formal invitation to the lord of the mansion. But this time, it had been different. He had specifically requested to see Subaru. He had arrived with his usual courteous smile but with a look that, Subaru had interpreted (or wanted to interpret), sought out his own with a particular intensity. They had spent the morning catching up, with Reinhard patiently listening to Subaru's exaggerated anecdotes about life at the mansion and Subaru trying to pry details about life in the capital, although Reinhard, as always, was discreet about knightly and courtly matters.
Now, sitting in the relative isolation of the gardens, a comfortable silence had settled between them. Subaru, however, felt anything but internal comfort. His heart hammered against his ribcage like a tribal war drum. For weeks, perhaps months, he had been fighting against the growing whirlwind of emotions that Reinhard awakened in him. Admiration, yes, that had always been there. Who wouldn't admire the guy who was basically the kingdom's "win" button? But it had transformed into something deeper, warmer, more... personal. He had found himself looking for excuses to be near him, analyzing every kind word, every serene look, searching for a sign of reciprocity that probably only existed in his head.
—So... did you really come all this way just to see me? —Subaru asked, breaking the silence, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. He scratched his cheek, feeling the heat that always seemed to betray him—. I mean, I know I'm amazing and all that, but you have important stuff to do, right? Save the kingdom, polish some sword, pose heroically... that kind of stuff.
Reinhard turned his head, and the sunlight caught the strands of his fiery red hair, making them gleam like threads of precious metal. His blue eyes, so clear and deep, fixed on Subaru with that undivided attention that always disarmed him. A slight smile curved his lips.
—My duties can always wait when it comes to important matters, Subaru —he replied, his voice as calm and melodious as ever—. And ensuring your well-being and enjoying your company has become a priority for me. Besides —he added with a slight playful twinkle in his eyes—, I heard rumors about a new type of mayonnaise you were trying to create. I considered it a matter of national security that I needed to investigate personally.
Subaru snorted, a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. —Hey! My experimental mayonnaise is revolutionary! Someday, all of Lugunica will know the glorious taste of roasted appa-flavored mayonnaise! Though Ram keeps confiscating my attempts... she says they're a "biological hazard." Ungrateful!
Reinhard let out a soft, genuine laugh, a sound that Subaru treasured whenever he managed to elicit it. It was so rare to see him completely relaxed, without the weight of the world on his perfect shoulders.
—Ram usually has good judgment about some things —Reinhard admitted—. But I value your innovative spirit, Subaru. It's one of the many things I admire about you. Your perseverance... and well, your strange obsession with mayonnaise.
—It's a superior condiment! Someday you'll understand! —Subaru protested, though the warmth of Reinhard's words made him feel dizzy. "One of the many things I admire about you." That phrase echoed in his head, fueling the small, stubborn flame of hope in his chest that he almost felt was making him "doki doki" as dramatically as an anime scene.
They chatted a little more, about Felt and old Rom, about Otto and Garfiel, and about the particular help he had been receiving from Ram to improve his inexperienced reading. But as they talked, Subaru's mind kept returning to the same things. To the way the light outlined Reinhard's jaw, to the small wrinkle that formed between his eyebrows when he concentrated, to the electric sensation that ran up his arm every time their shoulders accidentally brushed on the bench.
The air seemed to become charged with a new tension. Or perhaps it was just Subaru, projecting his own nerves onto the universe. Reinhard had also fallen silent, his gaze lost somewhere among the perfectly pruned roses. He seemed... thoughtful. More introspective than usual.
"It's now or never, Natsuki Subaru," he told himself. "Stop being a coward. You've faced crazy cultists, giant Mabeasts, and hellish death loops. Can't you just try to kiss the guy you like? What's the worst that could happen?" (A very small, experienced part of his brain whispered, "Don't ask that in this world," but he ignored it).
He took a deep breath, the sweet, heavy scent of the flowers filling his lungs. He turned slightly on the bench to face Reinhard more directly. The movement caught the Sword Saint's attention, his blue eyes meeting his. In that gaze, Subaru saw surprise, curiosity, and something else... something he couldn't decipher.
—Hey, Reinhard... —he began again, his voice barely a whisper this time, hoarse with emotion. The world seemed to shrink to just the two of them, to the intimate space between them on that stone bench. The sun, the flowers, the birdsong... everything faded into the background.
Slowly, very slowly, he began to lean forward. He saw Reinhard's eyes widen slightly, saw his lips part slightly, as if he was about to say something. Subaru's heart threatened to pound its way out of his chest. He was inches away, he could almost feel the warmth radiating from Reinhard, smell the faint scent of ozone and something clean and fresh that always accompanied him.
Just as the distance was almost non-existent, when their lips were about to meet in that longed-for first kiss, Reinhard moved. He didn't pull away abruptly, but there was a subtle shift in his posture, a sudden tension. He raised a hand, not to stop him yet, but the gesture was enough to make Subaru hesitate. Reinhard's expression had changed dramatically. The serene calm was gone, replaced by a deep uncertainty, a shadow of something that looked disturbingly like distress, perhaps even fear.
—Subaru... —Reinhard's voice was tense, laden with an emotion that sent a chill down Subaru's spine—. Wait a moment. There's... there's something I must ask you first. Something important.
Subaru's heart, which moments before had threatened to explode with anticipation and affection, lurched with confusion and a pang of disappointment. —Huh? Ask me what? Now? Can't it wait just a little bit? I was kind of... in the middle of something important. To me, at least.
Reinhard lowered the hand he had half-raised, but the deep turmoil on his face did not lessen. His blue eyes, usually as serene as an alpine lake, now seemed stormy, reflecting an internal struggle that Subaru rarely witnessed so openly.
—It is precisely because of that, Subaru. Because it is important... for both of us. Perhaps more so for you, in the long run —Reinhard's voice was low, serious, burdened with the weight of centuries of responsibility that seemed adhered to his soul—. Before... before we take this step, I need you to be absolutely honest with yourself, and with me. Are you sure, Subaru? Truly sure?
Subaru frowned, the fog of confusion beginning to thicken. —Sure about what? That I like you? That I want to kiss you? I'm more than sure! I thought that was clear with my... my attempt at unsolicited lip-assault.
—It's not just that —Reinhard shook his head, his gaze fixed on Subaru, searching for something in his eyes, perhaps a doubt he himself felt—. I mean what it entails to be... linked to me. To my existence. Subaru, you know I am not like others. The Divine Protections I possess, the strength that flows through me... sometimes I feel it separates me from humanity itself. That I am something... different. A tool, perhaps. Or... —he swallowed, the word coming out with difficulty, almost like a painful confession— ...or a monster. Are you truly prepared to tie your fate to someone like that?
Reinhard's speech fell upon Subaru like a heavy cloak. The raw vulnerability in the knight's voice, the deep insecurity that emanated from him, extinguished any remaining frustration in Subaru. He forgot the interrupted kiss, forgot his own embarrassment. All he saw was Reinhard, the incredibly powerful and universally admired man, revealing a deep wound, an existential doubt that gnawed at him from within. And Subaru's heart constricted, not with fear or doubt, but with an overwhelming surge of affection and an exasperation tinged with tenderness.
"This idiot... this amazing, perfect idiot!" Subaru thought. "Does he really think that's what I'm worried about?"
—Reinhard van Astrea! —Subaru exclaimed, his voice sounding stronger and firmer than he felt inside. He grabbed the knight's shoulders again, perhaps with a little more force than necessary, forcing him to maintain eye contact—. Listen carefully, because I'm not going to repeat myself a thousand times, though I probably will because you're as dense as a stone wall sometimes!
He felt the familiar heat rise up his neck to his ears, but this time it was the fire of conviction. —A monster? Seriously?! You?! The guy who literally stops wars with one hand and rescues animals from trees with the other! The only monstrous thing here is how ridiculously perfect you are and how unfair it is to the rest of us ugly mortals!
He took a deep breath, trying to organize his chaotic thoughts into something coherent. —Yes, you're different. Of course, you're different! You have the power of ten armies and the wardrobe of a fairy tale prince! I know that! And you think I care about that in the way you think? You think I see a "monster" or a "tool"? I see Reinhard! I see the guy who blushes when I give him a silly compliment! I see the guy who listens to my stupid stories as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world! I see the guy who, despite all his power, cares deeply about others, who carries a weight no one should have to carry alone!
His hands gently squeezed Reinhard's shoulders. —I don't care about your power, Reinhard. Or rather, I do care because it's part of you, like your red hair or your absurd ability to do everything right on the first try. But it doesn't define what I feel for you. It doesn't scare me. And it's not a burden to me. It's an honor. Do you understand? An honor to be by your side! I don't want a "normal life" if it means not having you in it! I choose you! With the whole package! Sword Saint, Divine Protections, existential insecurities and all! I choose you! So yes, I'm sure! Dammit, I'm sure!
He finished his rant breathless, his heart pounding, his cheeks and ears burning, but his gaze fixed on Reinhard, defiant and filled with unwavering sincerity.
Reinhard looked at him, his lips slightly parted, his blue eyes wide. The storm in them seemed to slowly calm, replaced by an emotion Subaru didn't dare name, but which closely resembled astonishment and a deep, overwhelming... gratitude. A very slow, genuine smile began to light up his face, one of those rare and precious smiles that made Subaru feel it was worth facing anything.
—Subaru... —Reinhard whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He raised a hand and gently brushed Subaru's cheek, right where the blush was most intense. The contact sent an electric jolt through Subaru—. No one... no one has ever spoken to me like that. You... you truly are...
He didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he leaned forward, closing the small distance between them.
The kiss was a soft collision, a meeting of lips that was both tentative and desperate. Subaru closed his eyes, feeling the softness of Reinhard's lips against his, the slight tremor that ran through the knight (or was it himself who was trembling?). It was sweet, it was warm, it was everything he had imagined and nothing he had expected. It lasted only an instant, a moment suspended in time where only they existed, the afternoon sun, and the shared beat of their hearts.
When they separated, both were breathless, their faces very close, their foreheads almost touching. Subaru opened his eyes slowly, a silly, absolutely radiant smile spreading across his face. He had done it. He had kissed Reinhard van Astrea. And Reinhard had kissed him. This world was a wonderful place.
But then, Reinhard's expression changed. The emotional smile vanished, replaced by a sudden, almost solemn seriousness, though with a slight hint of... nervousness? He cleared his throat, and his blue eyes, now clear again but with a different intensity, met Subaru's.
—Subaru —Reinhard began, his tone returning to that formality that Subaru found both endearing and exasperating—. Now that we have... confirmed our feelings in this rather... definitive way. There is a practical matter we must address.
Subaru blinked, still floating in the post-kiss cloud. —Practical matter? Like deciding who buys dinner next? Because I'm warning you, my wallet is still shivering from the last time...
—I mean —Reinhard interrupted, his seriousness unwavering—, the baby.
Subaru's smile froze. The Natsuki Subaru.exe core processor encountered an unexpected error and ceased functioning. —The... what? Say that again, slowly? I think the sun has affected my hearing.
Reinhard looked at him with disconcerting sincerity, the same sincerity with which he would discuss evacuation logistics. —The baby, Subaru. Our child. I know our kiss was... perhaps somewhat impulsive. And I perfectly understand if you feel that the prospect of a child arriving so soon in our relationship is... well, sudden. We didn't have time to prepare properly.
Subaru opened and closed his mouth several times, like a fish out of water. No sound came out. His brain was stuck in a loop: Baby. Our. Kiss. Child. Baby. Kiss. Our.
Reinhard, oblivious to the mental collapse he was witnessing, continued with quiet resolve. —But I want to assure you that I take full responsibility. The baby is not at fault for our... shared effusiveness. We will raise them together, of course. We will provide a stable and loving home. I must admit my experience with parenthood is non-existent, but I am a quick learner. We could consult my honorable grandfather, although perhaps his methods are somewhat old-fashioned... or perhaps ask for advice from Emilia-sama and the others at the mansion. The important thing is that we will be in this together.
—Wait, wait, wait —Subaru raised a hand, his mind racing a thousand miles an hour, trying to make sense of something that defied all known logic—. Reinhard. Buddy. Comrade. Sword Saint of my heart. What... the... hell... are you talking about?
Reinhard tilted his head, genuinely confused by Subaru's reaction. —About the baby, Subaru? The one that will result from our kiss. That's how children are conceived, isn't it? A kiss between two people who love each other... leads to the creation of a new life.
At that precise instant, Subaru's brain finally connected the dots. A wave of glacial cold ran through him, followed by a wave of hysterical heat. The deja vu hit him with the force of a Puck's Blizzard.
"NO! NOT AGAIN!" he screamed internally, as his face went through a range of expressions from absolute disbelief to comedic horror and the deepest despair. "IT'S EMILIA! IT'S THE SAME SPEECH! WORD FOR DAMN WORD! REINHARD VAN ASTREA, THE MOST POWERFUL, INTELLIGENT, AND ADMIRED MAN IN THE DAMN KINGDOM, THINKS... HE THINKS I JUST GOT HIM PREGNANT WITH A KISS!"
His mind went into full panic mode, compiling the list of absurdities:
"Goddammit! We're two guys! Two! Males! With the standard male plumbing! How?! Is there some alternative isekai biology based on the power of love or willpower that allows for kiss-induced male pregnancy?! Why doesn't anyone give me these manuals!?"
"AHGGG KISSES DO NOT CAUSE PREGNANCIES! Not here, not in Japan, not in any dimension known to man! Where did Reinhard get that idea and why the hell did he believe it?! Does he not have access to books?! Common sense!?"
"I ALREADY LIVED THIS! And now I have to repeat it?! Specifically with HIM?! I have to sit down the goddamn Sword Saint and explain the difference between a kiss and, well, the rest?! Is this my karmic punishment for something!?"
He put his hands over his face, covering his eyes, and let out a sound that was a strangled mixture of laughter, sob, and pure exhaustion. His life was a comedy of errors written by a god with a very twisted sense of humor.
—Reinhard... —he managed to say through his fingers, his voice trembling dangerously on the edge of hysteria—. Pal. My dear Sword Saint... I think... oh god, I think we need to have a conversation. A very, very long one. And detailed. And maybe... maybe we'll need some diagrams. And a lot of tea. Or alcohol. Probably alcohol. —Subaru didn't drink but he'd probably need a strong drink to not die of embarrassment.
Reinhard tilted his head, his expression now holding a slight confusion at Subaru's strange reaction. —Of course, Subaru. Whatever is necessary to ensure the well-being of our future child. Although I must say your reaction is... unexpected. Are you not happy with the news?
Subaru let out another choked groan. He was going to need all the alcohol Otto kept. And maybe a therapist. Definitely a therapist. His quiet afternoon had just turned into the most surreal and important sex education class of his life.