"——Look, morning's here! Time to wake up!"
"Bonjou-rasu!"
With a heavy thud, my morning arrives once more.
I cough and sputter my eyes open, and there, just as she is every single day, is the face of my sister whose cuteness knows no bounds—
"No, calling it a 'face' doesn't even begin to capture this level of adorable… Cute, lovely, so cuuute… I'm gonna call it an ultra-visage."
"Hmph, that ultra-visaged Betty is here to announce morning. Now, today is going to be a super important day, so hop up quick and go greet the day, k?"
And so Beatrice shows off her poetic side—one can only imagine what bright future awaits her.
My family's Beatrice isn't just cute on the outside—she displays versatile talent in every conceivable direction, leaving her big brother's heart aflutter with too many possible futures to choose from.
"Ngh… Beako's gonna become someone out of my reach. I wish you'd keep blocking my oversleeping self every morning forever…"
"Betty wants to keep contributing to Nii-cha's—Subaru's—comfortable mornings forever too, but that just won't be possible. Because Betty is growing every day, you see?"
"Nwaaah, stay forever as the cute little Beako who fits inside my backpack!"
"I'm way past the age of fitting into a bag, you know!"
On the bed, I insist on continuing this pointless conversation until Beatrice smacks me with a pillow.
Fine. I'd have loved to keep exchanging morning affection with my little sister a while longer, but since today really is an important day, I'll obediently get up.
Because today is— "The annual Cherry Blossom Festival!"
"It is, k!"
The one event an excitable pair of siblings like us can't miss.
◇◇◇ "My, my, big brother, your bedhead is something else."
"M-Meili."
After my energetic exchange with Beatrice in the room, I head downstairs changed and ready—and the one greeting me at the dining table, gnawing on toast, is a girl.
This girl with dark blue hair braided into three plaits goes to the same elementary school as Beako—Meili, one of the girls who's on good terms with my sister.
Naturally, since I know her too, I casually ruffle the elementary schooler's head.
"What's this, eating our toast first thing in the morning? Don't tell me you've finally made up your mind to become my little sister?"
"Don't say dumb things. I just ran out of bread at home this morning, so I couldn't eat breakfast. I'm a toast-in-the-morning person, y'know?"
"Noted, though I didn't know that. Morning toast… strawberry jam? Peanut butter?"
"I like ham toast, ny."
"A meat person, huh. Alright, I'll write that in my mental notes then."
She's someone who's good with Beako, and she might come over for breakfast again sometime. Mom would probably handle it anyway, but I should remember it too.
Incidentally, Meili's languid way of speaking doesn't quite match a kid's age, but I've learned that her attitude is heavily influenced by her family—and knowing that makes it rather endearing.
As for that family, the world really is a small place— "Either way, wanting me to be your sister is pretty bold, big brother. You proposing to marry Elsa, are you?"
"Oh ho, so that's where you're going with it. Teacher Elsa is gorgeous with an incredible figure, sure, but she's got that scary vibe you don't want to mess with. So, should I go that route, or find some way outside the law to make you my sister? I'm still in trial-and-error mode."
"Hmm, just make sure you don't make Beatrice-chan mad while you're at it."
"Hey, hey—even if I gain more sisters, the love I pour into each of them won't decrease. If anything, love multiplies with each new sister… That's Siscon Dynamics, Second Law. They teach it in middle school."
Meili lets me ruffle her head while she eats her toast, then lets out an exasperated sigh.
Her reaction is different from Beako's and it's adorable, but if I get too carried away, Beako will bite my hand, so I'll table the siscon talk for now.
"They definitely don't teach that. Subaru-onii-san, please don't say weird things."
"Oh, Petra was here too."
"Yes, Petra was here too. In Beatrice-chan's room."
Looking up at me as I play with Meili is Petra, wearing a big ribbon on her head—absolutely adorable.
Beako, Meili, and Petra—the trio is a familiar bunch. Even setting aside the family bias toward Beatrice, I'd say all three are off the charts in the looks department.
If all three are in the same class, the elementary school kids must have it rough.
"Who's the most popular one, I wonder… I'd like to say it's our Beako, but she can be a little shy and her mouth runs a bit…"
"Oh, big brother is sharp! At school too, Beatrice-chan sometimes just blurts things right out at boys. Turns out, the most popular one is Petra-chan, no contest."
"Me-Meili-chan, don't say that."
With arms folded, I analyze the situation while Meili digs into her second piece of toast. At her explanation, Petra's cheeks flush red, but I had to agree.
"APP-wise, it's hard to rank the three of them, but Petra wins on the strength of her approachable, no-fuss personality?"
"Subaru-onii-san too… But having popularity with boys doesn't really mean much, you know. The boys in our class are still so childish."
"Ohh, the theory that girls mature faster than boys! First time I've heard it said so directly—got me a little hyped. That's the spirit, Petra. Keep those classmates on their toes."
"Mmm, that wasn't really the important part of the conversation, though…"
"Hm?"
I meant to praise Petra's remarkably devilish growth, but seeing her cheeks puffed out like that, it seems my answer wasn't quite what she wanted.
"Seriously, hopeless…"
That's how exasperated Meili is, sighing from behind me.
Hmph, the hearts of modern elementary school girls are a mystery.
"On that note, Beako is straightforward, and as her brother, I really appreciate that."
"Subaru-onii-san, you should try to understand girls' hearts a little better. How about reading some of the shoujo manga in Beatrice-chan's room?"
"Hey, hey—I'm always starving for fresh stories, so naturally I've already read through every manga on Beako's shelf. The classics like 'From Me to You' and 'The Groom' and everything."
"Well then, you haven't applied any of it!"
"Harsh!"
My personal philosophy is that manga is meant to be enjoyed, not studied.
Of course, if enjoyment leads to self-improvement, that's even better.
"But hey, enough about that. The conversation's going against me, so let's change the subject. —What about you and Meili for today's Cherry Blossom Festival?"
"I'm not that interested, really…"
"We're going too. Beatrice-chan is coming with us. Um, Subaru-onii-san, if you'd like…"
"Oh? Are you inviting me?"
Petra asks hesitantly, and her thoughtfulness hits me right in the chest.
She's probably worried about me—someone who can't even read the hearts of elementary school girls—floating aimlessly around high school with no friends.
Having no friends in high school and hanging out with elementary schoolers does make for a somewhat lonely picture, but that concern of hers really does make me happy.
"Don't worry about me, though. Maybe in a different world line there's a lonely version of me like that, but in this thrilling, heart-pounding world line, I'm not alone."
"
"Huh? That concern went in a completely different direction!"
"And one of those flowers is me. Scary, so stop it."
In any case, Petra's invitation makes me really happy, but I already have prior plans.
Because today's Cherry Blossom Festival already has a date scheduled with a drop-dead gorgeous beauty.
"So here's the thing—I can only hang out with you and Petra for about the first hour of the festival. Sorry about that."
"Still, you're making an hour for us…"
"Of course. I want to have fun at the festival with Beako, and I want to see you and Meili having fun at the festival too. It's important, right?"
If this were a summer festival, I'd love to take photos of Beako in a yukata, but that'll have to wait today.
Seeing Beako simply enjoy the festival, and seeing the two of you getting along so well with her—that's an event I can't miss either.
"So after school, I'll come straight to you guys. Can you forgive me for that?"
"Mmm… fine. I'll settle for that. But you absolutely have to come, okay?"
"Yeah, absolutely. I'd come even if I had to pawn Beako."
"You don't pawn people! What if you can't buy her back at some outrageous price!"
Petra offers her pinky, and I link mine with hers—pinky promise.
The promise made, Beako finishes getting ready for school and joins us. And with that, I send off my little sister—the one who carries a randoseru better than anyone in the world—and the two who are tied for the number-one randoseru rating, and
◇◇◇ "Don't make me repeat myself. Subaru-kun's mornings belong to Rem."
"And don't you keep making me say the same thing over and over! The master's mornings are going to be mine from here on out, nya! You've worked hard up to now—good kitty, good kitty."
"No 'kitty'!"
After seeing the elementary trio off that morning, I step out the front door in my uniform—and find an absolutely ferocious catfight already in progress.
It was rare for Rem not to ring the intercom in the morning, so I'd been worried something was up—but— "I never thought it'd come to this. Don't underestimate him, son."
"Ugh, Dad…"
"My my, not just Rem-chan, but that girl is—oh, is that who I think it is?"
"Huh? Mom, you know her?"
Behind me at the doorway, my parents appear side by side. I ignore Dad's usual commentary and zero in on Mom's remark.
The ones arguing at the front door are my childhood friend Rem, and
Shaula had blown my mind during morning homeroom with her transfer student introduction, and ever since, she's been acting overly familiar with me at every opportunity, pushing Rem's voltage to MAX.
However, behind Shaula's familiar attitude, there were hints of memories with me that I don't know about—glimpsed in her offhand remarks.
"So the mystery is finally being solved? Mom, you know Shaula?"
"Well, you see, when Subaru was still small, Mom went to her father's place, right? There was a kid who played near Grandpa's house at the time… Oh yes, come to think of it, the scar on Subaru's forehead—that's where he got it, when he fell there."
"I don't care about my old scar, and you're mixing 'Mom's dad' and 'Grandpa' in the same sentence so it's hard to follow… The kid who played there?"
If so, she's practically a character straight out of a dating sim setup.
Could it be that I actually exchanged some kind of troublesome promise with her when we were little? The question bubbles up inside me.
"If that's the case, then I owe Shaula…"
"Wait, though—doesn't that seem off? I think the one who was playing with Subaru at Grandpa's house was Rem-chan, who snuck in by hiding in a trunk."
"Oh? Is that right?"
"Wait, wait, wait—I'm getting confused! Which one is it in the end?!"
"Sorry, dear—Mom might have gotten it wrong."
She always has that mysterious air about her, but this time Mom's mix-up has completely deflated me.
It looks like the mystery of Shaula will remain unsolved as the story continues into the second half.
"Forget the second half—I haven't even left the house yet! It's the day of the Cherry Blossom Festival!"
"That's right. Go do what you need to do, my son. Oh, and just so you know, your mother and I are going to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival together, so don't worry about your parents!"
"Shut it! Happy marriage is all that matters!"
With a nudge, both verbal and physical, I head toward the two still arguing at the front door.
They notice me right away and instantly change expressions.
"Subaru-kun, good morning! Now, let's go to school together with Rem!"
"Master, good morn-iing! The weather's warm and lovely this morning, so how about we skip school and go make some heart-fluttering, blush-worthy memories, nya?"
"Hmm—Rem wins."
"Why, nya?!"
"Yes!"
The victor and the vanquished: Rem and Shaula.
It's not that I dislike Shaula or anything, but— "I'm the rare type of student who actually likes school in this day and age. So I can't just go along with an invitation to skip. Sorry about that."
"Yes. Rem understands that aspect of Subaru-kun perfectly. That's where Shaula-san and I differ—because of the gap in our childhood friend history."
"So that's… the verdict, huh?"
It feels like a slightly distant comparison, but since Shaula was the one who played the far-away childhood friend card against Rem first, there's a contest between them that only the two of them understand.
In any case— "Well, don't let it get you down. Besides, you're talking about some promise, right? I don't even remember it, and I don't remember where we met before either. Forgetting someone who treats you that badly is probably for the best."
"Master…"
Guh… Shaula crumples, sinking to her knees and looking up at me with glistening eyes.
Honestly, I'm weak against eyes like that. But even so, I need to steel my heart here. What I told Shaula is genuinely how I feel.
Shaula is beautiful and practically overflowing with the potential for happiness.
It'd be better for her to quickly forget about stumbling over some odd little rock and move on.
"So from now on, let's just be good fri—"
"Meaning, Master wants me to look not at the past me, but the me of right now, nya?!"
"That's how you took it?!"
No—Shaula's image of my masculinity knows no bounds.
If she'd said it seriously, it'd be incredibly cool, but it also feels like it's justifying me forgetting the promise… I can't deny there's something distasteful about the worst interpretation.
"Hey, Rem, tell her too. Coming from you, she might… Rem?"
"I-I never even thought of that…! It was Rem's blind spot! I've been relying on being a childhood friend, using only my memories with Subaru-kun as a weapon…"
"Rem-san? Oy, Rem-san!"
Trembling, Rem stares down at her own hands in shock.
Looking back at this exchange, I have no idea where Rem found cause for such a blow, but she seems to have had some kind of epiphany—clenching her fists tight.
"Rem must also look not only at Subaru-kun of the past, but at the Subaru-kun of the present and future! Shaula-san, I am deeply impressed by your way of thinking!"
"Hmm!? Could it be… you're someone who gets it!? You want to keep Master's radiance locked in your eyes for all eternity, nya!?"
"Yes!"
Happily, Rem and Shaula clasp each other's hands.
I've been completely left out, but it seems like the two of them have reached some kind of understanding. And if it means no more morning arguments, I'm not about to complain.
I'm not about to complain, but— "Uh, you two? I think we should head to school soon…"
"Ah, you're right. Well then, Shaula-san—today I'll take the right side."
"I get the left side, nya? Fine—if you switch tomorrow, I'll let it slide for now!"
With that, Rem and Shaula fall into a formation bracketing me on either side. Despite just having been at each other's throats, their coordination was almost beautiful.
Rubbing my cheek, I cast a glance backward with a bad feeling.
Mom and Dad were at the front door, watching the scene with warm, knowing smiles. Mortified, I bolted from the spot.
◇◇◇ "Wh-whoa, Subaru, you're absolutely drenched in sweat. Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine, fine… Just went a little too hard this morning."
"Is that so… Do you want a handkerchief? I made sure to clean it properly."
With that,
True to her word about it being clean, the handkerchief is neatly folded and even ironed. Making her wipe my sweat with it felt way too cruel.
"No, no, I'm good. I've got my own towel. Let's see, it's in here…"
"Here you go, Subaru-kun. Rem washed it for you."
"Oh, perfect. Thanks, Rem."
Rem hands me my towel, and I gratefully use it to wipe off the sweat.
I ran all the way from home without stopping, so while I'm a sweaty, exhausted mess, Rem and Shaula—who kept up with me the whole way—look completely fresh.
"Rem-san and Shaula-san are both amazing. Subaru's totally wiped, but you two look fine."
"Rem jogs with her sister every morning. So if anything happens to Subaru-kun, she can always run to the hospital."
"Just take a taxi…"
"Me too! Me too—I've got some confidence in my athletics, nya! You'd be surprised, but over there I was actually a pretty well-known sportswoman, nya!"
As I finally catch my breath, something in Shaula's energetic words catches my attention.
I'd heard that Shaula, the transfer student, had lived overseas, but I hadn't yet heard what she actually did over there.
But— "'Sportswoman,' huh—seeing you out of breath and all, that actually checks out."
"Totally for real, mega real, nya! They told me I could've even gone for the gold medal, my coach said. But it didn't work out like that, nya."
"Because you came back to Japan?"
"Mm."
At Emilia's offhand question, a flicker of unease runs through me.
It's not that I'm full of myself, but I can't deny that part of Shaula's reason for returning to Japan might be me. Which means—could it be that Shaula gave up a shot at a gold medal to come back to Japan…
"…It's not for my sake, right?"
"Of course it's for you, Master! I couldn't sleep at night thinking about you, and I totally stopped listening to my teachers and coaches, my grades tanked, and they kicked me out, nya!"
"That's not 'for my sake'—that's 'because of me'—and even then it's not my fault, is it?!"
It was such an extreme case of self-inflicted disaster that my worry was completely misplaced. Well, in a sense my suspicion wasn't wrong, but that's firmly in the realm of personal responsibility, right?
"Ugh, I've already burned through a crazy amount of physical and mental energy this morning… Today's supposed to be all about having fun at the Cherry Blossom Festival, but this one little slice of daily life is draining me."
"Oh, the Cherry Blossom Festival! Right, right, that's today. I almost forgot."
Saying that, Emilia sticks out her tiny red tongue in a show of self-reproach.
The gesture was so devastating on a gorgeous girl that it could have wiped me out, but thanks to years of being around cute childhood friends and a promising little sister and her friends, I've built up an immunity.
"If it weren't for that, I'd be a vegetable by now. Be careful, Emilia-tan—your smile is a weapon of mass destruction that can either bring world peace or obliterate everything."
"Sorry, I have no idea what you're saying."
"Is that so. …Wait, a cellphone?"
I get a devastatingly blunt reply, and clutching the wound to my heart, I look at what Emilia has taken out. It's old. No—not old, more like a very modest design.
Not a smartphone—more like a Rakuraku phone.
"Huh? Did you pick up someone's lost item?"
"Huh? No, this is my phone. Come to think of it, I was waiting because I wanted to ask for your contact info. We agreed to go to the festival together today, and I thought it'd be a problem if we couldn't reach each other."
"Oh, right, right. Calling it 'old-fashioned' might be harsh—more like 'a unique design philosophy'—but yeah, we should definitely exchange numbers."
"Right. I already registered your home number in my contacts, though…"
"Please, for the love of God, don't call that one."
"Huh? O-okay, I won't."
Emilia taps away registering my number from the contact sheet, which I'm grateful for—if that number rang and one of my parents picked up, they'd probably interrogate me about our relationship, and I'd be emotionally devastated. So I'm preemptively removing that option.
"If we're at it, you should exchange numbers with Rem and Shaula too. Rem and I are going to the festival together, and… Shaula, what about you?"
"Huh? Me, nya?"
"Yeah, there's a festival today. We're going—so you're coming too, right?"
"You confessed, nya!"
"I didn't confess anything!? Emilia-tan and Rem are coming too, I just said—!"
I'm exasperated by Shaula's dramatic interpretations, but I pull out my own phone and, despite some awkwardness with Emilia's unfamiliar device, manage to register everyone's numbers.
"Sorry about that—I just went ahead and did it. People probably don't want strangers messing with their phone."
"No, it's fine. I don't really know how to use it well myself, so when I contact my family, I mostly just stab at the buttons and hope for the best."
"If it connects, it connects, I guess—but to master the basics, I'd recommend not skipping the tutorial on your first playthrough."
These days, games tend to be packed with features, so most of them include an operations tutorial early on. Gamers might find it tedious, but you can't choose your gaming history as a player, so you can appreciate the developers' dilemma.
Anyway, back on track.
"Okay, I've got Rem's number memorized so I typed it in. Shaula, yours?"
"I want you to input it, Master! It's 080—"
"Wait, wait, wait—for privacy's sake, be more careful! You're beautiful—if you're not careful, some weirdo will start stalking you."
"You confessed, nya!"
"I said I didn't confess!"
After a bit of a tussle, I successfully register three numbers on Emilia's phone. Since Shaula was being so loud, I also memorized and saved Shaula's number on my own phone. It looks like Shaula will be joining the festival party too.
"At this rate, it wouldn't matter how many more people we add… Rem, what about your sister's schedule?"
"She's visiting Roswaal-san's house, apparently. As for the Cherry Blossom Festival, it depends on how much work she gets done…"
"Hmm, I don't want to interfere with anyone's love life, but the Cherry Blossom Festival without
"Rem feels the same. She'll ask her."
Rem clasps her hands tightly in front of her chest—the fact that she's volunteering to ask means Ram's attendance is virtually guaranteed.
Ram dotes on Rem. She has never once turned down a request from her little sister. At least, in my experience, not a single time.
"Meaning, zero times in my life."
"Wow, that's a lot of confidence. I know Subaru and Rem-san are close, but Ram-san too?"
"Yes. Subaru-kun and my sister have been close since the natal bath."
"That was Rem in the bath, not me."
"My mistake. Since the baby clothes."
"And that was Rem too."
We literally just did this gag a little while ago. Feels like it was about a year ago, though.
Anyway, loitering in front of the school gate forever isn't great. With me surrounded by three beautiful girls, I'm drawing way too much attention—time to head inside.
"Oh, while we're at it, let's invite some others too. I can also help expand Emilia-tan's contacts list."
"Transfer student discrimination, nya! I'm a transfer student too—same as that girl! Master, I want you to show me the same love! In fact, I want something big and strong, nya!"
"Big and strong love? Like a giant teddy bear?"
Incidentally, as a display of big and strong affection, there is a huge teddy bear sitting in Beako's room. Dad and I both got one, so there are two. Seeing Beako sleep squished between them, like a guardian and a ward, is a little thrilling.
"————"
"Huh? What's wrong, Emilia-tan, why the serious face? …Could it be you don't want to add more people to the festival? You'd rather it be just the two of us?"
"No, that's absolutely not it."
I was just saying it, but getting shut down so cleanly still stings.
Setting my feelings aside, Emilia cautiously speaks up to me.
And then— "Um, Subaru, I appreciate the thought, but I don't have a contacts list. All I really have is a diary and a vocabulary notebook…"
"I meant on your phone!"
The obligatory joke, met with the obligatory straight-man retort. I delivered it with gusto.
◇◇◇ "Ooh, a festival? Sounds fun—let's go together!"
Sitting next to me, poking at her phone screen,
As discussed at the gate, we're working on expanding the festival party.
So I caught Felt—who for once was in the classroom early—and pitched both the festival idea and swapping numbers with Emilia.
"Man, you're enthusiastic. Honestly, I'm surprised."
"Huh? Surprised? Why? Did someone tell you I'm the type to turn down invitations?"
"No, I'm talking about the guest list. Because I'm going to invite Reinhard too. You'd outwardly resist that, right?"
"What do you mean 'outwardly'!? I resist it inside and out!"
Rocking back in her chair, Felt tries to kick me with the sole of her indoor shoe. I dodge it, but the angle is wide open thanks to her skirt—no hesitation at all.
Well, Felt is the type of girl who'll leap right onto top of the shoe lockers to escape Reinhard, so this level of sloppiness is standard.
"Lately, running around avoiding him has been getting exhausting. No matter how far I go, he finds me, and the class isn't exactly on my side…"
"So you've given up and decided to just stay in the classroom? Surrender?"
"Like hell I've surrendered! My iron will deflects everything he throws at me—it all comes down to my resolve, end of story."
Arms crossed, legs crossed—Felt's posture is valiant and manly.
She's right, of course. Romance takes two willing parties to truly work. That said, as a classmate who's watched their mutual draw, her obliviousness to how much she's already being pulled in is frustrating.
"Does Reinhard like Felt?"
"Wha—"
And just like that, Emilia drops a bomb into the delicate matter of romance.
She'd been focused on her phone but listening to our conversation. With a satisfied "There, done," she folds up her phone and hands it back to Felt.
"The other day, weren't you walking a dog together on the riverbank? I thought you two were super close…"
"Damn it… That's why I told you back then—I've got Romi, so I was only hanging out with that guy because I had no choice…"
"But that's your precious dog, right? Leaving it with someone you really dislike feels wrong. I treasure
Saying that, Emilia looks toward the window.
Wondering what she's looking at, I follow her gaze—and sitting on the power pole outside the window is a grey cat. I nearly fall over in shock. "Can't let go"—was she talking about a literal, physical sense?
『——Well, well, just chalk it up to one of Lia's cute little quirks. Puck is only following her because Puck wants to, that's all.』
"This cat is literally sending telepathy into my brain now…!"
"Hey, Subaru—you're muttering to yourself and you look kinda creepy. Also, explain things to the transfer student. I can't get through to her no matter what I do."
Emilia's pet cat Puck is a talking cat-to-be who sends voices only I can hear.
I don't even know what I'm saying anymore, but it's real, so there's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, talking to Puck tends to make people think I'm a weirdo, so caution is advised.
I clear my throat and steer the conversation back to Emilia and Felt.
"Emilia-tan, there's not much I can say here. Reinhard genuinely likes Felt, and Felt really has been running from him."
"I knew it! I thought that was the case. Hehe, sharp, right?"
"Yeah—about as sharp as an HB pencil."
The confidence is brittle enough to snap at any moment, so I'll cherish it for now.
Well, Reinhard's feelings are set in stone, and the classmates all take it as a given that it's only a matter of time before the two of them progress.
Of course, for Felt, being treated like a spectacle isn't exactly ideal.
"But isn't she like Cinderella? A fairy tale?"
"There's a huge difference between a spectacle and a fairy tale! I'm not about to become someone's show!"
"So if nobody were watching, it'd be different?"
"Guh…!"
Felt falls silent, looking like someone just hit a sore spot.
She narrows her red eyes and glares at Emilia, but Emilia just looks puzzled. It didn't seem intentional, so Felt is the one at a disadvantage here.
Felt does have a cat-like quality to her—maybe she does have two sides. She can't be openly affectionate when people are watching, but— "Alone together, she's sweet as a little kitten… te-igri-ss…"
"Shut up!"
The instant I touch on even a sliver of the truth, Felt's merciless front kick drives into me.
I was fully in idle-chat mode and couldn't dodge—right in the gut, KO. Emilia rushes over and pats my back.
"Subaru, Subaru! Honestly, Felt-chan—being embarrassed is one thing, but that was too much."
"I'm not embarrassed! Anyway! I'm going to the festival! I'm not gonna stop you from inviting that Reinhard creep either! He's coming no matter what, so I'll beat him at his own game!"
"What… what do you think Reinhard would even do to you…"
"Who knows!" Felt flips me off, snorting as she storms out of the classroom.
In the end, it was Reinhard-related, but she left because of an indirect reason rather than a direct one. She probably won't be back for homeroom.
"Ugh, damn—I messed up. Teased her too hard. I should apologize later."
"Wait, were you teasing her?"
"Emilia-tan, I'm amazed you had no idea—but the result is the same either way. …Look, at the very least, I'm rooting for Reinhard's love life."
That's partly because I have a bet with Otto on whether the two of them will get together in football pools, but mostly it's simply because Reinhard and I are friends.
He's tall, handsome, a genius at everything—flawless in every way. But his approach to Felt is his first love, and his methods are so awkward it's painful to watch.
"But there's this bittersweet quality to peeking through your fingers at it, you know? You get it?"
"I sort of get it, sort of don't… But I understand what you mean. You want two people who like each other to get along. I feel the same—I wish Father and Mother would get along forever and ever, too."
"Hm? Hm~… yeah, that's fair."
Comparing it to a marital problem shifts the nuance a bit, but it's not wrong in the broadest sense, so Subaru doesn't deny it.
Still, respecting Reinhard's feelings doesn't mean it's okay to disregard Felt's. That's something I need to反省 on.
"Felt is the type to take physical action when she doesn't like something. I don't think she truly dislikes him, though."
At the end of the day, Felt only lets through attacks she can handle from Reinhard. I think that's a sign of her hesitation, so all I can do is cheer for my friend's first love to bear fruit.
"So, I'd like to invite Reinhard to the festival as well."
"Sure, I have no objections. I'd like to become friends with Reinhard too."
"Man, that big heart of yours is something else, Emilia-tan. Hey, you hear that, Otto?"
"I've been treated as nonexistent this whole time and NOW you call on me!?"
With an exaggerated reaction, Otto—sitting at the edge of the frame—jumps into the conversation.
Incidentally, Otto, who despite his looks is the soccer team's ace, often sleeps at his desk after morning practice until homeroom.
Still, when he's needed, he responds reliably—convenient to have around.
"From Felt's vibe, it seems like Reinhard hasn't invited her to the festival yet. It's unusual—do you know what's up with him?"
"No, I don't. Reinhard-san and I aren't even on the same team."
"Come on, you're useless. If you were the best friend character in a dating sim, you'd need to be the info broker who answers everything smoothly when the protagonist asks!"
"Putting yourself in the protagonist role is pretty presumptuous, you know. And even dating sim best friends are only expected to know about girls, not male classmates."
"Otto of all people making sense…"
"Am I not even allowed to make sense now?!"
But Otto's point is spot-on.
A dating sim best friend character is never designed to provide intel on male classmates—they're the confidant for the heroine's route.
"No, but if he were a dating sim best friend…"
"What is this boundless trust in dating sim best friends about!?"
"That 'dating sim' thing—I don't really get it, but… Otto, you're coming to the festival today too, right? Want to go together?"
And just like that, Emilia's invitation to Otto puts an end to the dating-sim-best-friend positioning debate.
Hearing this, Otto's eyes go wide, and I cover my face with my palm.
"Oh? Did I say something weird?"
"Yeah, Emilia-tan—you need to play Otto a lot harder to get…"
"You JUST had a revelation about how you treat Felt! Why not apply that same reflection to your attitude toward me!? "
"Fine, fine. Then: under the legendary cherry tree, I make my promise."
"You're STILL pulling dating sim references!"
The occasional display of knowledge is exactly what makes him unable to shake the dating-sim-best-friend vibe. Sadly, that's just who
And so, Otto joins the Cherry Blossom Festival party—the adventure continues.
"That's right—our festival starts here!"
"It looks like it's about to end here!"
"Wow, we're in perfect sync."
That's Otto Suwen for you.
◇◇◇ "As you all know, today the Cherry Blossom Festival will be held. I imagine many of you will be attending, but please don't let things get too carried away. As students, please maintain a sense of propriety in your behavior."
"Nobody asked, Frederica-sensei. We're high schoolers, you know?"
"That is precisely why I am speaking to you, Natsuki-kun."
"Huh!?"
End-of-day homeroom, with the Cherry Blossom Festival on the horizon, everyone's a little restless—and I'm the one singled out by our Frederica-sensei for a warning.
A sense of propriety as a student—there's absolutely no reason for me to be warned about that.
"Frederica-sensei, why me?"
"It has reached my ears. Apparently, a grand alliance is forming to head to the Cherry Blossom Festival. The instigators are said to be Natsuki-kun and Emilia-san."
"Grand alliance—that's way too dramatic."
I admit, it was my idea to gather a Cherry Blossom Festival party under the banner of "Emilia's plan to make more friends."
Then it grew to include Shaula's cause—the transfer student discrimination angle—and while I was at it, I casually told classmates to invite whoever they wanted. All true, but— "That's not a weird thing to say, though?"
"Oh my, Subaru-kyun, you don't even understand what you asked people to do, nya~!"
As I tilt my head in confusion,
The classmate's coquettish gesture prompts me to ask, "What?"
Of course, Ferris was one of the people I invited to the Cherry Blossom Festival. She agreed without hesitation, and I don't see the problem.
"Something the matter?"
"Feli isn't saying anything in particular~ But, but—since you invited Feli, naturally you must have also invited Crusch-san, right?"
"That… oh, don't tell me—?"
I finally understand what Ferris is getting at, and I look past her to the other side of the classroom at Crusch.
Sharply dressed in her uniform, Crusch notices my gaze and gives a deep nod.
"Fear not. You said the more people the better, correct? So I reached out to everyone I could. We should have a respectable turnout."
"I didn't mean I needed a labor force!"
Crusch's answer is slightly off the mark, but she's the student council president. Not only that, her family is one of the most prominent in town, so she's got connections everywhere.
Judging from Crusch's misunderstanding, the people she's invited probably aren't limited to students at this school.
"So Subaru-kyun, it might be a bigger affair than you're imagining, nya."
"Bigger than I'm imagining—then why didn't you stop me if you knew!?"
"Nyo reason for Feli to stop it~ Crusch-san worked really hard on the preparations, and her profile while doing so was just so beautiful…"
"Oh great, I was a fool to expect anything from you."
"Subaru-kyun is a fool, nya."
"What was that!? "
Provoked by Ferris's taunting, I can't help but bite back.
Our little animal-top-of-the-food-chain showdown is cut short by Frederica-sensei clapping from the podium.
"That's enough! Your squabbling aside, Natsuki-kun—that's not all."
"Huh, there's more?"
"Of course. Did you forget that you invited me as well, you little brat?"
At the sound of that voice, all I can manage is a strangled "Ugh."
Turning around, there she is—sitting regally in her seat in a customized uniform, Priscilla's smug grin seared into my vision.
Priscilla fans herself with a folding fan, hiding the lower half of her face.
"Such a common festival holds little interest for me. That said, to refuse when asked would call my magnanimity into question. So I, too, pulled a few strings."
"O-oh, pulled strings. A high schooler saying that really hits different."
"There's no need to worry. I take no pleasure in pleasing that fox, but with even the stiff-necked student council president making moves, I could hardly be shown up. That's all it was."
"Hmm. How noble. But you're essentially saying you intend to compete with me?"
Crusch takes the bait effortlessly, drawn in by Priscilla's provocations.
This is bad. If the two of them clash—two of the three great terrors of this class—I'll be in serious trouble. I rush to interject.
"Wait, wait, wait, both of you! Don't fight over me—!"
"Who would fight over you, you fool."
"We merely stake our names upon ourselves."
"There's no need for any of that! Also, if homeroom drags on any longer…"
Crusch and Priscilla aren't listening. I try to convey the situation to them, but before I can, the worst problem of all wakes up.
It is— "Hey, you three. You know today is important for us too, right?"
"————"
"Yet here you are, dawdling on and on… We just want to wrap up school and get to the venue already. Get it?"
Rising with her usual soft smile—though her eyes are anything but soft—is the third member of the class's three great terrors: Anastasia.
She's rumored to come and go from the town's merchant guild as she pleases and to pull strings from behind the scenes. For today's Cherry Blossom Festival, she's been working hard for ages, running around making arrangements. I've heard all this—and she told me herself.
So on the actual day, she'd naturally want to get to the venue as fast as possible.
"A lady's whims are perfectly welcome. But you'd better learn to read the room. You'll have a hard time as an adult if you can't. Even in high school, you don't get that?"
"You think you have the upper hand just because you hang around a common merchant guild? The power of a proper station is wielded in a proper place. The fact that you have to cavort in low places means you're selling yourself at a bargain—no different from any common merchant."
"That's rich. But Priscilla's point has merit. Anastasia, I too know of the efforts you've made on behalf of the student council. However, a student's true place is the classroom. To dismiss that reflects rather poorly."
"Enough already! Frederica-sensei! I'll be good—I promise! And I'll take responsibility for my actions! So please, let's end homeroom!"
Standing at the center of the classroom, the three great terrors glare at each other, sparks flying between them. Caught in the crossfire, I desperately appeal to Frederica-sensei to mediate.
It was like crying out to God for mercy to stop a war—but luckily, unlike God, Frederica-sensei was physically present before me, so my desperate plea actually worked.
"Very well! But at the festival, make sure you don't let things get out of hand! I don't want a wonderful festival memory to be ruined by something unpleasant!"
"————"
"What's your answer?!"
"Yes!!"
My thunderous reply, representative of the entire class, echoes through the room—and homeroom ends.
Finally, the Cherry Blossom Festival could begin.
◇◇◇ And so the main event arrived.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is an event where numerous stalls are set up along an avenue of cherry trees in full bloom—a simple spring festival, one might say.
School ends, I head home and change into casual clothes, then everyone converges at the festival entrance.
The loose rule is that even if you can't all arrive at the agreed-upon time, you can just join up later—and with that, we decide to have fun while keeping Frederica-sensei from getting angry.
At the very least, if something happens, I'm the one most likely to get strung up.
"Seriously, how did it even come to this… Oh?"
Harboring a vague sense of dissatisfaction, I head to the meeting spot—where Emilia is already waiting.
However, Emilia is not alone.
"Don't tell me some pickup artist showed up…"
"——Just let go of me, would you? Being seen like this wouldn't set a good example for the other teachers."
"So what? I don't think you need to worry so much—we could just walk around together.
"Wait—is Emilia-tan doing the pickup!? "
I roll up my sleeves and ready myself to rush in—only to whiff completely.
I'd assumed some textbook delinquant was clinging to the beautiful Emilia, but the one doing the pulling and the one being pulled were reversed.
And the one Emilia is pulling along is a white-haired beauty— "It's Echidna-san. …No—Echidna-sensei."
"Natsuki-kun. …Being called 'sensei' by you feels a bit strange."
"You'll have to get used to it. I didn't drag you into being a student teacher—you chose that yourself. Still…"
Echidna-sensei, with her troubled brow and slightly flushed cheeks, is currently working as a student teacher at our Lugunica Academy.
To me, she's one of the pretty ladies from the neighborhood, so the correct school protocol is a bit of a dilemma—but I keep that to myself.
It's more fun watching her squirm.
"Emilia-tan, are you trying to make Echidna-sensei stay?"
"Yeah. Natsuki-kun, could you help convince her? My position is technically that of a teacher, and I came here to supervise the students at the festival."
"I've heard that like a hundred times. But it's sad if you go and leave. Subaru thinks so too, right? We should all go together."
"Ah…"
Comparing Emilia's face and Echidna-sensei's face, I scratch my cheek.
Well, both sides make a fair point. Echidna-sensei is on the job, and as a student teacher, she probably needs to maintain proper boundaries with the students.
From Emilia's perspective, though, she knows someone is right there, and even though that person is watching them from afar, not joining in would be strange—that makes sense too.
"Hmm, if I had the casting vote, I'd give it to Emilia-tan. I want to hang out with Echidna-sensei too."
"See! Even Subaru says so!"
"Natsuki-kun too… You don't mind if my student teaching fails and I can't establish myself as a female teacher?"
"'Female teacher' sounds kind of suggestive, but I don't mean it that far. I get Emilia-tan's point, and honestly, I think we might end up being the biggest faction in our school's festival delegation."
"Hmm…"
In truth, between Crusch's and Priscilla's connections, plus Otto, Reinhard, Ram joining after Rem's request, and all the related parties—the scale is honestly beyond what even I can fully track.
We may not be at the level of the entire student body, but two digits approaching three isn't out of the question.
Echidna-sensei seemed to have heard a similar story from Frederica-sensei.
Apparently deciding my numbers had some credibility, she sighs deeply—more than I've ever seen from her—and says: "You're good at persuading me. Truly a genius of Echidna."
"Wow, impressive. I want one of those too."
"Hmm, I can't even tell if this is something to be happy about."
Setting Echidna-sensei's attitude aside, Emilia is remarkably attached to her.
Curious, I ask about it, and Emilia touches her finger to her lip and goes: "I'm not sure why either, but I felt like I wanted to get along with Echidna-sensei. No—I felt like I could get along with her."
"I see. By the way, Echidna-sensei and I are neighbors, so if you become close with me, you'll inevitably get more chances to interact with her—"
"Could you please stop using me as a way to get closer to her? It hurts a little."
"Uh—sorry. I got a little too greedy there."
I genuinely reflect on that.
Afterward, our persuasion apparently worked, and Echidna-sensei says, "I'll contact Frederica-sensei," and steps away with her phone.
I thought it might be an excuse to escape, but she seems to have genuinely resigned herself—she's making the call within sight, so it should be fine.
"Hey, Subaru—did you go to the festival early without us?"
"Ah, well, kind of. It wasn't really sneaking ahead, but I had a prior promise with my little sister and her friends. Y'know, elementary schoolers finish early."
"Oh, so that's why you bolted out of here at full speed after homeroom ended."
"Yeah, yeah."
For the record, with homeroom running late, I pushed myself pretty hard to make it on time for Beako and the others. I took shortcuts and back routes everywhere, nearly wrecked my knees, and eventually grabbed a taxi—the details of which I'll keep between us. Dad, reading my panic, paid for it.
"Anyway, I met up with the little ones and hung out for a bit. Beako of course, but Meili and Petra were having a blast too. Petra especially was dressed up a little fancier than usual… that girl is something."
"Huh? Subaru, your sister is in elementary school, right?"
"Yeah. But kids these days are way ahead. When I was that age, game graphics were night and day compared to now."
With next-gen consoles, graphics that I thought couldn't possibly get better keep evolving—it really shows the limitless potential of human technology.
As I shudder over the children's future like that, Emilia murmurs: "I'd like to meet your sister too, Subaru."
"Oh…"
"Huh? Did I say something weird?"
Surprised by the unexpected remark, Emilia tilts her head at my wide-eyed expression. I immediately shake my hands, head, and knees side to side.
"No no no, nothing weird at all—nothing weird. Yeah, I'd love to introduce Emilia-tan to Beako. I'm sure you two would get along."
"Hehe, I'm looking forward to it! I'll bring Puck too."
"Yeah, great idea. I've got a feeling Beako and Puck would get along."
Well, my Beako's cuteness is a black hole that swallows everything, so there's nothing in this world that doesn't mesh with her.
"Thank you, Subaru. For everything you've done."
"Hm?"
"I was nervous about fitting in after transferring. But Subaru, Rem-san, everyone has been so incredibly kind to me…"
Saying that, Emilia turns to face me.
In that instant, a slightly stronger gust of wind blows, and cherry blossom petals swirl in greater numbers from the trees along the avenue. They flutter and dance across Emilia's smile, drifting past— "————"
I think this is what they mean by having your gaze stolen.
"Thank you, Subaru."
"…You're welcome. I'm glad you're happy, Emilia-tan."
Somehow, I keep my composure as I answer.
In that one instant, I was so naturally captivated that I didn't want my strange behavior to ruin her natural grace.
That was because this unassuming moment felt incredibly precious.
"——Subaru-kun! Sorry for the wait!"
"Here she is, Master!!"
At that moment, I hear the voices of Rem and Shaula, who were also part of the meeting.
But it's not just the two of them—here they come, a whole procession of reliable friends who showed up to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival to the fullest.
"The Cherry Blossom Festival is great and all," I say, watching them approach.
"Hm?"
"But from here on out, there's still tons of fun to be had. Get ready, Emilia-tan."
As everyone arrives, I give Emilia a wink.
Flash my teeth, put on my most dazzlingly cheesy smile, and zero in on the girl I can't stop thinking about.
To my words, Emilia blinks in surprise—then smiles again.
She smiles, and— "Oh, I'm looking forward to it so, so much!"
She showed me a smile so radiant, it rivaled the cherry blossoms in full bloom lining the avenue.
——The festival begins.
But it's not just the Cherry Blossom Festival—every day is a festival when life is this fun.
So the festival begins, and it goes on.
——The festival continues. The festival never ends.
Because the fun days are still just getting started.
*School Re:Zero! continues in Period 5!*