Natsuki Subaru was left alone in the darkness.

His vision was engulfed by shadows. No sound reached his ears, nor could he see anyone’s figure. Even when he reached out to touch, he couldn’t tell if it was the ground or a wall—an enforced misunderstanding lingered there.

Unbeknownst to him, his throat trembled, letting out a scream.

He wished for his voice to reach far, far away to the desolate void and thus shout louder.

“—Ru!”

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the other side of the darkness.

A change born from the ‘nothingness’ drew him in, and he clung to it.

He flailed his hands and moved his feet towards the sound.

“Subaru—”

Forward, forward—!!

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“To put it simply, Subaru’s gate isn’t one that can be controlled, so it’s better not to push yourself too hard.”

“Is that really the first thing that comes to mind when you see this state, you jerk?”

“Tehe.”

“That’s not cute!?”

Spitting curses at Pack, who floated with arms crossed and gave an overall review, Subaru was fully tasting the cold, hard feel of the grass beneath him.

Face down on the grass, Subaru was gasping for air, feeling an overwhelming fatigue. The fatigue that coursed through him felt like a high fever, with a lack of fighting spirit in his limbs.

It was a sensation he was somewhat familiar with.

On the first day of his summoning, when Pack drained his mana, or when Beatrice collected mana from Subaru during various occasions.

In short, Subaru was in a complete empty tank state.

“Good or bad, Subaru’s gate is rough around the edges. That’s why it disregarded the intentions of the user and dumped everything out.”

“So… don’t talk about people… like they’re screens…”

His breath hitched. How much energy had he wasted just uttering that little retort?

Trying desperately to stand, he found no strength anywhere in his body, and instead ended up groaning while still lying down.

In such a state, Emilia lowered her stance to meet his gaze and said,

“Don’t move. You’ve exhausted all the mana in your body, so just stay still. —You might not be able to work today either.”

“—That would be a problem!”

Subaru spoke sharply, like a mother scolding her reckless son, in response to Emilia’s attitude.

Glancing at Emilia, who looked stunned with wide eyes, Subaru was genuinely regretting his own carelessness.

If today was to be spent idly, it would mean throwing away the day he gained for the loop.

That was way too foolish. Catastrophic.

Tripping over the rust caused by his own actions couldn’t happen.

“Urgh…!”

Turning his self-loathing into determination, he struggled to stand.

If he could at least sit up, things would improve a bit. From there, he could gradually regain control and make a comeback.

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“This is exactly the time to push myself! If I don’t do it now, I’ll regret it like crazy…”

It wasn’t rare for Subaru to face the consequences of his own actions, but the timing and situation were the worst possible.

Gasping and sweating, Emilia shrugged slightly at Subaru’s desperate demeanor and said,

“You can’t help it, honestly.”

She lowered herself again, uttering such things.

Not understanding the intent behind her words, Subaru looked up with just his gaze.

“—? Emilia-tan, what are you—”

Suddenly, he felt something pressed against his face as Subaru tilted up, her hand shoving something into his mouth.

There was something round, a soft texture against his tongue.

Confused, Subaru looked at her, and Emilia nodded while covering his mouth with her palm.

“Chew.”

“—?”

“Chew and swallow. Now, go.”

Overwhelmed by her insistence, Subaru bit down on the sensation in his mouth—he did it with all his might.

Gradually, a sweet and sour taste spread within him. It turned out to be something fruity; soon afterward—

“Fwooooooah!?”

A blazing heat surged through his whole body, and Subaru practically leaped up from where he was.

It felt like his blood was boiling inside, excitement coursing through him, heating up his fingers and nails with fiery fervor. His breathing became erratic, feeling an instinctive urge to expel the excess heat, his legs involuntarily lifting as if bouncing up.

Yet, amid all this, Subaru finally realized he had regained the energy to stand.

In disbelief, he stared at his hands, opening and closing his fists to confirm the sensation.

Although the heat within hadn’t fully abated, and he could still feel dull fatigue throughout his joints, it was no longer to the point where he couldn’t move.

“W-What was that…?”

“That’s a fruit called Bocca. Eating it activates the mana in your body, and while it’s just a minor relief, it helps your gate regain its strength.”

The fruit he could identify was indeed the same one he had received from the elderly woman living in the Poor District on the first day of the first loop.

He remembered that he had experienced a similar reaction eating it back then—but afterwards, Pack’s mana drain had saved him from it. This time, it was the reverse of that.

In any case,

“Ahh, what a relief. If I had dove straight into a BAD route, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself. Thank you, Emilia-tan.”

“I didn’t want to use it much since it’s in short supply and isn’t as good for your body… But that wasn’t just bragging, right?”

It might have been her willingness to use something precious that prompted Subaru to be truly sincere about his plight earlier.

In response to her inquisitive tone, Subaru raised his face.

“Of course.”

He replied firmly.

After that, he wiped his forehead and added,

“But that was pretty dumb… If it had ended there, I would have died from self-loathing worse than last time.”

He prided himself on having experienced many ways to die, which was a unique experience that others couldn’t often relate to.

“Dying out of humiliation is something I really want to avoid.”

To begin with, he hoped that the last time—the time of his leap into despair—would be the last. That was one he couldn’t describe in words, and it had been very painful.

One death was enough. And if it was going to happen, he wanted it to be at home, fulfilling his life’s span. Alternatively, it would be best to die fulfill all sorts of grand and cool flags in Emilia’s arms.

“I mean, I can’t help but think of that with my small stature, huh?”

Even if said lightly, he couldn’t speak so easily about ‘death’ anymore.

To laugh about becoming a coward was something only those who had truly experienced it alongside Subaru could manage.

He twisted his body, reassessing his physical condition.

He was far from being in top shape; there were still many lingering concerns about his body.

But Subaru didn’t have the luxury to postpone his plans for that reason.

“You good? Think you can handle work?”

“I’ll get to work, and besides, I’ll get all the other stuff done too. Just think of me as the unsinkable ship, Subaru Kai, and relax!”

“You’re calling your ship unsinkable, yet you’ve sunk once…”

If they noticed that, the reassurance factors could evaporate.

To be honest, he had sunk not once but seven times, but there was no need to point that out and spoil the morning atmosphere. Subaru learned that much.

Ignoring Emilia’s comment, he began to stretch.

“Well, then, shall we face the seniors with renewed feelings!”

“Right. They probably haven’t heard anything about Subaru since yesterday…”

“—Ah.”

As he stretched, he suddenly felt a dull sound misfire from his lower back.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Sister, sister. A heartless person named Subaru-kun has come.”

“Rem, Rem. A salary-thieving scoundrel named Balus has appeared.”

“I’m really sorry about yesterday! So please forgive me!”

Bowing his head, he repeatedly apologized.

It felt as if he had been bowing his head for half the day. Everyone in the mansion, excluding Roswaal, had received his heartfelt apology—most of them were women.

“My route for being looked down on by girls has ended—man, I’m deep in it.”

“Sister, sister. Subaru-kun is nothing but a pervert!”

“Rem, Rem. Balus is nothing but a pathetic masochist!”

“That’s too far, especially, sister!”

Exhibiting the ultimate DOGEZA patented by Japanese, Subaru shouted while transitioning from that position to a handstand, smoothly flipping up.

“Nonetheless, I was shameless yesterday and obnoxious the day before that. …Well, there were various things going on that got to me, but with a fresh start, I’ll be News Subaru from today!”

“Knee pillow then.”

“Knee pillows, indeed.”

“I wonder if everyone knows… that’s embarrassing!?”

Covering his face out of shame, Subaru crumbled as the twin maids exchanged glances.

“Should we start the morning tasks, sister?”

“It’s about time we begin our morning duties, Rem.”

“No comment is also somewhat disheartening!”

The two cut through Subaru’s comment with motions.

Sticking out his tongue and reacting with a pained “Ouch,” Subaru observed them as they hurriedly began to disperse into their work.

“Wait a moment! I have a request before you start the morning tasks!”

At Subaru’s call, the two halted and turned around, tilting their heads in unison.

“A request?”

“A troublesome matter?”

“I was just feeling joyously calm interacting like this, yet these feelings bubbling up in my chest are so puzzling… Humans are fascinating.”

While he was happy to engage in such banter, the sister’s more visibly pained expression compared to Rem’s, who still looks annoyed, made him chuckle despite the awkwardness.

Sighing, he lightly let his anger about the absurdities drift away.

“Actually, I’d like to go to the village. Isn’t there one nearby? Do you have any plans for shopping?”

To confirm his speculation from the Forbidden Library last night, he wanted to head to the village today. In response to Subaru’s intentions, Rem placed a hand on her chin.

“We were actually thinking of going to the village for spices, since we’re running low…”

“So how about moving that plan to today? If we run out, we’d best act quickly, and our neighbors won’t simply let us borrow their miso, right?”

There’s no way to have friendly neighborhood relations when there’s hardly a neighboring estate standing.

Rem hesitated a bit at Subaru’s suggestion.

But then,

“That sounds fine, at least.”

“Sister?”

The one who easily concurred instead of the pondering Rem was Ram, lightly touching her peach-hued hair while winking.

She turned her gaze at Rem’s question and added,

“We have to go for the shopping, and it’s not urgent. We have a baggage carrier named Balus, so we should make good use of this chance.”

“Considering I’m fresh off a three-day recovery from being seriously injured, it would be nice if you took that into account too!”

Subaru responded to Ram’s pretty blunt statement, but internally he had to tilt his head at her support.

After all, considering their condition at this juncture, it felt like Ram and Rem had different opinions.

Based on the past loops and how things went, both maids should generally be in a position where they would eliminate Subaru if the conditions were right.

That something was causing a discrepancy in their opinions was a sense of discord that Subaru, who had experienced death before, couldn’t simply disregard.

Nonetheless, he appreciated the backup.

Considering how to persuade the two of them, Subaru planned with genuine intention to plot seriously.

“…If sister says so…”

After a moment’s thoughtful silence, Rem also voiced her agreement.

Though Rem generally led the initiative, it was apparent from their past interactions that she favored her sister’s opinions.

With Ram’s coincidental assistance confirmed, it could be said that the negotiations were already set.

After discreetly making a triumphant fist pump, Rem wiped the serious look off her face.

“However, we can only go to the village after lunch. Around two in the sunlight—before then, we should at least finish our usual tasks.”

“That’s fine. The one who proposed this, Balus, will work his fingers to the bone. So you can take it easy.”

“It would be nice if sister, who was supportive at the start, helped out too… If I’m pouring my heart into this.”

“You should really put your body on the line doing that.”

Subaru was corrected as they both replied in stereo voice, scratching his head.

The negotiations had been surprisingly successful.

With the shopping promise sealed, it was finally the start of the servant time. As Rem hurriedly took out her daily schedule including their upcoming shopping, Subaru saw her off.

He turned to look at Ram, who was assigned as his caretaker today, as she would accompany him for his unaccustomed life as a servant.

Remembering yesterday—or rather, the day before, it felt safer to avoid quirky interactions like back then. Rather than that, he was now in a state of reflection and self-examination, making it difficult to imitate such things.

“Realizing one’s own personal dark history in such a short time is terrifying. This is like the pseudo-sage time for me now. …That’s pointless to dwell on, let’s get to work, senior.”

“Before that…”

Just as he began to walk, Ram stopped him in return, placing her foot before his, turning slightly and looking back.

Ram, arms crossed, gazed up at Subaru challenging him.

“About that magic you tried in the garden…”

“Yeah, sorry about that. It was completely useless. I’ll seal that for now. Apparently, it’ll take about twenty years to master.”

“It’s not just useless, but try not to provoke Rem too much.”

“—?”

Unclear on the meaning behind Ram’s comment, a question mark floated in Subaru’s mind.

As he wore a puzzled expression, Ram chuckled softly through her nose.

“With Shamak used to confuse the surroundings, including Emilia-sama, Balus should thank Ram for stopping Rem from taking immediate action.”

“Ah… Ah, ah, I see.”

Caught up in shock from his magical blunder, he hadn’t realized that, from the outside perspective, it could easily look like “that kind of situation.”

He genuinely had to thank Ram, who had stopped himself from acting too hastily. In contrast, her tendency to act impulsively made him shudder.

“There’s no way I can afford to act thoughtlessly… After continuing to come back for the fourth time, I genuinely dread what lies ahead.”

“What are you mumbling about? You need to get to work, or you won’t finish breakfast or lunch.”

“Yes, yes. But hey, I’m curious who’s going to accompany me for this afternoon’s shopping.”

Thinking about today’s exhaustion, the prospect of tagging along with Rem felt a bit strenuous.

Nevertheless, considering the objectives at the village, Rem was perhaps the more fitting companion. He still had this inquiry regarding who might accompany him, either Ram or Rem, without knowing the sorting conditions—

“What nonsense are you stating?”

“Huh?”

Subaru tilted his head, and for the first time, he saw Ram smile, an unusual, mischievous smile that sent shivers down his spine.

“Both Ram and Rem are going. It’s a bouquet of flowers in both hands, Balus.”

—Let’s hope those flowers aren’t poisonous.

Subaru, who hadn’t anticipated the situation where negotiations turned too successful, covered his face with his palm and looked upwards, muttering quietly in his heart.