Chapter Text
Ever since sealing Al back at the Watchtower, Subaru has spent the past few weeks delving into his studies about the world. He needed to figure out why Al had turned against him. Surely if he could just learn about the origin of ‘Ol Shamak’, he could begin to figure it out. There had to be a good reason. There was no way that all their interactions were faked… right?
On top of having read all the books on Yin Magic in the Miload Manor, Subaru had even spent the whole day learning more than he ever wanted to know about the Royal Family of Lugunica. Even if he had already forgotten the names of most of them.
“Why do half of their names start with ‘F’ anyway? That’s just asking to get them confused…”
Focusing back on the history book in front of him, Subaru can’t shake a sense of hopelessness that comes about. Suddenly having enough of his studies, Subaru kicks his legs about.
“Aargh! If only I had focused more on school! Getting back into studies later in life is seriously tough!”
“Would you keep it down, I suppose! You aren’t the only one reading, in fact!”
His sudden outburst having disturbed his adorable spirit, Subaru immediately switches into appeasement mode.
“Sorry Beako, it’s just so frustrating! How am I meant to learn anything about Al when I can’t even find the smallest lead!” Subaru grips his hair in frustration. “However, I have learned my lesson—no more outbursts—so please don’t send me flying!”
Sitting on their bed across from the desk Subaru was studying at, Beatrice crosses her arms in a charming pout.
“Hmmph! Our relationship was completely different when I last did something of that sort, in fact! Besides, this room belongs to both of us, so there is no reason for Betty’s Subaru to be sent flying out of it, I suppose.”
“My Beako is truly benevolent. All my hard work raising her has truly paid off—! I’m so proud!” Subaru teases as he brings his hand to his eyes, pretending to shed a tear.
“Geez—since it is doubtful that you actually learned your lesson—Betty demands headpats as compensation, I suppose.”
Reaching across without hesitation, Subaru immediately pulls Beatrice into his lap and starts roughly playing with her hair.
“S-Subaruuu~! You’re being too rough, I suppose!”
Upon being called out, Subaru’s movements calm to a more gentle caressing of her head. “Hehe~, sorry, sorry, but I just can’t help it when you’re so cute.”
“Betty’s cuteness is a blessing and a curse, in fact. I have no choice but to forgive you, I suppose.”
As the teasing dies out and the room finally quiets down, Subaru pulls Beatrice close, resting his chin on her head, and lets out a heavy sigh.
“Hahh, Beako…”
“Betty knows, but you shouldn't be too harsh on yourself, I suppose. You’ve been trying your best, in fact.”
“I know… I even resorted to asking Roswaal about ‘Ol Shamak’” Subaru laments in a strained tone.
“If you have gone as far as to ask that man, you must have been truly desperate, I suppose… Betty is sorry that her knowledge is insufficient, in fact.”
“Nah, it’s not your fault… I’m not sure if there’s anyone left alive who knows anything.”
At this rate, Subaru almost wishes he had contracted with Echidna back at the sanctuary. Feeling hopeless, he indulges in Beatrice’s warmth for a moment.
“What am I even talking about?! Beako is the only one for me!” Subaru proclaims as he brings his hands up to her face.
“Natuwawy, I shuppojje.” Beatrice responds with pinched cheeks.
After brushing away the hands that were molesting her face, Beatrice hops off of Subaru’s lap and clears her throat.
“Ahem, back to the main topic, Betty really thinks you should give it a rest, I suppose.”
“Give it a rest?! I’ve been slacking off my whole life! I can’t afford to take it easy any longer!”
“Disregarding the time before you became Betty’s Subaru, I would hardly say you have been taking it easy, I suppose. If you had, it would’ve caused a lot fewer problems for Betty, in fact.”
It was true that if you ignored B.C.E. (Before Contracted Era) and only focused on C.E. (Contracted Era), it would be much more difficult to say that Subaru had been taking it easy. Even so, if Subaru didn’t put his full effort in now, then Al might stay an enemy forevermore. Subaru was just about to argue back when—
“Betty just wants Subaru to be happy, I suppose.”
“Hahh… There’s no way I could ignore such an earnest plea…”
Reaching over to pat her head, Subaru instates one addendum, “But if we do come across something that seems promising, I’m definitely going after it.”
“Geez, what a troublesome contractor, in fact. That’s the most Betty could hope for, I suppose.” Beatrice complains with a wry smile on her face.
Later that night, after the contractor-spirit duo had gotten ready for bed, Subaru found himself staring at the ceiling of their room, unsure of what to do. He had spent all of his free time for the past few weeks researching and before that he had made his second excursion to the Pleiadies Watchtower and before that there had been the whole situation with Abel in Vollachia and before that he had made his first excursion to the Pleiades Watchtower and before that there had been Priestella…
“Thinking back on it, isn’t that way too much?!”
Regardless of whatever god Subaru had offended, the end result was the same. He had absolutely lost the concept of what he was supposed to do to relax.
“What am I even supposed to do with so much free time?!”
A high-pitched voice suddenly cuts in, “Is playing with Betty not enough for you, I suppose?”
“Ehh, no… umm…” Subaru stammers, trying not to offend his partner.
“Hihi~ It was just one of Betty’s funny jokes, I suppose. Betty has already thought of a solution to this very problem, in fact.”
“Huh, really?! You’ve already come up with a plan?! What is it?!”
“S-settle down, I suppose! Betty overheard from the merchant that, tomorrow night, there was a celebration being held in the territory just south of here, in fact. I think you should go, I suppose.”
A party, huh? Subaru could only think of four of those sorts of celebrations that he had been to since coming to this world. Although, just those scant few already exceeded the amount he had previously been to.
But, did it really make sense for him to go to this party? Subaru didn’t even know who it was for. Was anyone else even going?
“Surely I can’t just crash some random person’s party, right?! And wouldn’t it be strange for a candidate’s knight to show up unannounced?”
“You underestimate Betty far too much, in fact. Betty has already come up with a solution, I suppose. The party is open to those of the domain, so you should just go as your ‘Natsumi Schwartz’, in fact.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Hmm, how strange, I suppose. I thought that would’ve convinced you, in fact.”
“Why would THAT have convinced me?!”
Natsumi Schwartz was Subaru’s alter-ego who had seen a lot of action in Vollachia. Even before that, she had been unveiled a number of times since he had arrived in Lugunica, but each of those times, it had been absolutely necessary to ensure the best possible outcome. There was no pleasure involved at all.
Shrugging her shoulders, Beatrice responds, “Betty had just assumed that you were the type who enjoyed wearing women’s clothing, I suppose.”
Flustered at the accusation, Subaru begins to wave his hands wildly, while his face turns completely red.
“Wait, wait, wait! Natsumi was strictly necessary all of those times. I'm not some sort of pervert! I’m not!”
“Betty isn’t sure what to say since you brought that word up by yourself… but Betty will love you even if you are a deviant, I suppose.”
“That’s sweet… But, Goddammit! I’m not a fucking pervert!”
By the end of his outburst, tears of frustration begin to well up in Subaru’s eyes as his whole body tenses up.
Beatrice quickly runs to his side and grabs one of his hands with both of hers.
“Subaru, calm down, I suppose. Betty is sorry, in fact. It was a silly suggestion in the first place, I suppose.”
Beatrice having calmed him down, Subaru is quickly overcome by shame at his unnecessary outburst. He had gotten too worked up and started thinking about his high school debut. Nothing good could come out of Subaru reminiscing on that.
“Sorry Bea—”
“There is no need to apologize, in fact,” Beatrice cuts him off. “Betty shouldn’t have joked around so much, I suppose,” she continues.
“It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up,” Subaru mumbles as he fidgets with his hands.
Beatrice looks up at him, her gaze filled with concern.
“Betty is here if you want to talk about it, I suppose.”
Able to properly reflect on the situation, Subaru doesn’t think that there is much to talk about. He had overreacted while thinking about the shameful past that he should not think about. There wasn’t anything more to it. At all. Whatsoever.
Quickly shifting his thoughts back to the actual proposal, going to a party did seem like it could be fun. If Natsumi Schwartz just so happened to be the most efficient way to go about it, then so be it.
“There’s nothing to talk about… But going to a party does sound like it could be fun.”
Beatrice perks up at his decision, a determined look crossing her face.
“Betty will get everything ready, I suppose. We should go to bed right away, in fact.”
“... Get everything ready?”
The next morning, Subaru woke up to makeup supplies in their bathroom, a dress in his wardrobe, and a black pair of women’s underwear set on his desk chair.