Chapter Text
The halls of the Library of the Dead were as stale as ever. Books numbered in the millions were placed all around. At the moment, two men and one child-like spirit were searching through these books, trying to find a certain one. To pass the time, they would converse in random small talk, as the search had truly become boring after a few hours.
"If we return later than expected, we’ll get a severe scolding from Emilia, I suppose." Beatrice broke the silence.
"A severe scolding from Emilia-tan…! Though, that would still be an adorable sight in and of itself."
Subaru’s mind traveled just thinking of the silver haired half-elf. No matter what emotions, what expression, or what angle, Emilia was so cute that his eyes would cease all functionality, but he had already worried her enough. If possible, he only wanted to see positive faces such as smiles and bashful expressions from here on out.
"Well, no matter the expression, the truth of EMT shall never waver, but…"
As Subaru said that, he shrugged his shoulders at Beatrice’s dumbfounded expression, and looked back at Al.
Then, meeting Subaru’s gaze head-on, Al nodded, and-,
"...Ol Shamak."
The next instant, the world of Natsuki Subaru and his contracted spirit cut to black.
— — — — —
“Auughh…”
The groan was the first sign of his waking, as Subaru stretched his limbs to get rid of the stiffness. It felt as if he was asleep for a whole day on the rough floor, and his back definitely reflected that.
“Mhh… Subaru…”
His eyes snapped awake at the small voice beside him. He turned around to see Beatrice also just waking up, blinking her butterfly eyes to adjust them to the moonlight.
“It’s night, we passed out for too long. Beako, we have to go…”
Beatrice looked over at him, wondering why his sentence trailed off. The answer came to her as she saw not only his wide shocked eyes, but where they were pointed at. The world was nothing like where she lived or traveled to. Grey paths with markings paved the roads, thin and tall towers of what looked like metal brought light without magic, and most of all… the buildings and signs were so bright and tall that it looked like a crowded future of their own world. She looked at him, expecting wariness and curiosity, but she saw tears forming in his eyes.
“Subaru… Subaru! Why are you crying, I wonder?”
Subaru collapsed back onto his butt, looking around with familiarity at the place he thought he would never see in his life. He looked at Beatrice who was now gripping his arm tight with worry.
He supposed she thought he was crazy with what his reaction was. But the tears kept coming and he didn’t have the willpower to resist them. It already took all his willpower to keep the traumatic events all the way back from Priestella and onwards to the back of his mind, and this moment couldn’t be squeezed in.
A few minutes passed as Subaru silently cried, calming down through Beatrice’s constant soothing rubs.
“Heh… sorry Beako.” He sniffed, wiping his tears away with his arm. “Come on. We have to go fast. We don’t want to be hanging around in an open place.”
Beatrice knew he was withholding something from her. She could tell every day since he came to the Mather’s Mansion. But she trusted him, so she did not protest and gripped his arm so he could lead the way.
“You must be confused, Beako. Remember a year ago, when I told you I came from beyond the Great Waterfall?”
A nod allowed him to continue. “Well… this is that world. This is my world, Beako.”
“Your world… a whole new world that no one knows about. That’s…”
“Hard to believe? Trust me, I could barely believe it when I came over to yours.”
His voice cracked as he kept trying to wipe more and more tears away. Unlike how he usually was, he seemed so… small, as if he was finally allowed to see something he was denied all his life. Through their contract, she could feel his emotions. Sadness, Happiness, Hesitation, Worry, Excitement, and an overwhelming sense of Guilt.
“You lost everything, didn’t you? When you came to me, you had to leave everything behind, I suppose” Beatrice tightened her grip. “You’re back home now. And this time… I’m here with you. You won’t hurt again.” Her cute eyebrows furrowed with determination, and a small pout crept to her face.
“Pouting Beako cute…”
“S-shut up, I suppose!”
“Hehe~!”
— — — — —
“That’s weird…”
After walking in silence for a few minutes, Subaru was staring at a roadside marking. It featured a human figure with ears above their heads, and even a tail.
“What is it, I suppose? That looks like a marking for a demi-human, or at least I assume so.”
Beatrice’s explanation only made Subaru more worried, holding a hand to his chin.
“That’s the problem. My world doesn’t have any demi-humans. Only humans exist here.”
“Eh? No other species, I wonder?”
“Oh, no worries. It’s probably just an anime convention thing or something. Before I came to your world, I heard some roads or buildings would change their look to celebrate some event or plan.”
“Anime… convention… you really need to explain those words some time, I suppose.”
“Oh~ is my cute Beako pouty because I know more stuff than her now?”
“Urrgh… Subawu!”
Subaru laughed as Beatrice kept punching his chest lightly, her cheeks puffed up with annoyance. At that moment, a girl passed by at a fast speed. With her, a tail waved in the noon air and horse ears twitched at the sounds in the air. Subaru and Beatrice didn’t notice, too caught up in their moment.
“I need to introduce you to the internet. And my computer… and my room…” Subaru blinked as he remembered something. “Oh man! I need to introduce you to my parents! They’d be so excited to see me, and especially a little sister like you now!”
His voice faltered. “Well, if they want to see me. I… I did abandon them, huh.”
A pinch on his hand snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Ouch! What was that for!?...”
“If your parents are as amazing as you say they are… they would accept you back without hesitation. Don’t doubt them, my contractor. And… if they would accept me, it better be as their family guardian! I’m not a child!”
“...Right. Let’s keep going.”
With a chuckle from him and a small “hmph…” from her, the duo finally started jogging to Subaru’s home. Subaru’s eyes softened, thinking about how he could finally reunite with his parents and… what about his friends-
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He hadn’t neglected the thoughts of the world he was just at until a few minutes ago. He HAD to figure out a way to go back, or at least visit. He had unfinished business with Al, considering what he did. Not to mention that he was already missing Emilia and the others.
“Subaru… you said your house was on this street, right?”
“Yep! That’s where my house is.”
Beatrice looked at him with worry.
“Then… I don’t see any of these houses you’re talking about.”
Subaru looked up, finally paying attention to the surroundings. Instead of the apartments and houses he expected, he saw small buildings and shops. His house was replaced by a shabby repair shop meant for motorcycles.
Before he opened his mouth, he saw someone coming out of the shop. It was a middle-aged woman with olive, long hair, and matching colored ears on top of her hair. Those ears twitched with the wind, looking like the same ones Subaru had seen on horses. Behind her flowed a long tail of the same color swaying behind her.
Subaru slowly turned to Beatrice, who was looking back at him with a mix of confusion and annoyance.
“I… don’t think this is my world after all.”