In the hallway of a middle school, Subaru stood uneasily before a graceful blonde girl. Her radiant smile left her at a loss.
"Shall we be friends?"
"Wh-why do you want to be friends with me?"
The blonde girl tilted her head playfully. "Hmm... probably because you're just my type? You're pretty and have excellent grades, how could someone like you not have any friends?"
These words made Subaru's heart flutter slightly.
Since childhood, only her parents would gently say, "It's okay, everything will be alright."
"Are you unwilling?"
Subaru answered hurriedly, "No! That's not it! I'd love to."
The blonde girl beamed with a joyful smile.
Subaru was immersed in the joy of making her first friend, believing this friendship would last forever.
Until one day, when it was Subaru's turn for duty, she left school later than usual.
Just as she was about to go downstairs, she heard a familiar conversation—
"Who would like someone like that? I'm only friends with her out of pity. If it weren't for the fact that Kiyotaka is interested in her, I wouldn't even look at her twice."
"So you were the one spreading those rumors? That's interesting. She actually never defends herself, could it be that she really did those things?"
"Anyway, she never refutes them. And I, standing by her side, have become the 'kind, good friend' instead."
That familiar voice carried a sneer. "Besides being good-looking and having decent grades, I really don't get what Kiyotaka sees in her. But it doesn't matter, Kiyotaka's attention has already shifted to me—the 'devoted best friend' who will stand by her side no matter how much the 'good friend' is slandered."
"Hahaha! What a perfect tool. She even does my homework and does everything for me."
"Teach me, I want to go be her 'good friend' too."
Harsh laughter echoed in the stairwell, lasting for a full two minutes.
The knitting in Subaru's hands fell to the ground—it was the half-finished scarf she had stayed up all night knitting for her "good friend."
—
The next morning.
The sunlight was still bright, and the scent of flowers and grass drifted through the air.
However, unlike usual, Subaru, who should have been smiling brightly and bantering with Tsukasa, who was floating in the air or sitting on a chair with his legs crossed, was lying motionless on the bed.
Touching the dried tear stains beneath her right eye with her fingertips, Subaru didn't understand what was wrong with her. Her heart felt like it was being pressed by a heavy boulder, making it hard to breathe, yet in her memory, she had just slept normally.
Tsukasa, floating in the air, watched her quietly. He could clearly sense her low mood, and what concerned him even more was that—as Subaru woke up, an indescribable, strange aura permeated the air.
He asked, "What happened?"
"Nothing... probably nothing, right?"
Subaru sat up from the bed, forcibly suppressing her chaotic thoughts, and squeezed out a smile.
In her view, this was probably what they called "transmigration syndrome"—perhaps she just missed her parents too much.
Thinking of it this way, her mood seemed to calm down a bit.
This explanation clearly didn't convince Tsukasa. Aside from the earthquake-like emotional fluctuation in the Consciousness Space last night, he hadn't sensed any external aura.
"If you're too tired, just get some rest today."
Unexpectedly, this concern caused a trace of inexplicable resistance to rise in Subaru's heart.
"No... no need."
She shook her head. "Let's go practice today, shall we? Let's practice Mana Coverage."
Recalling that she had already helped the maids share a lot of the work yesterday, she continued, "And while we're at it, let's boost Lia's favorability."
With that, Subaru quickly got up to wash and tidy her clothes.
Just as she was about to open the door—
Knock, knock.
The knocking sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Subaru, who was about to open the door, suddenly froze in place, a wave of inexplicable resistance rising within her.
Just as she was hesitating, Tsukasa's voice rang out. "What's wrong? Not opening the door? Weren't you just about to go out?"
As if pushed by these words, Subaru's hand uncontrollably turned the doorknob.
Click.
Standing outside the door was Rem, who had hurriedly said goodbye last night. She was still dressed in her maid outfit, but the suddenly opened door and Subaru appearing before her made her pause slightly, her brows knitting together almost imperceptibly.
"Rem? Is something the matter?"
Hearing the voice that was no different from last night, Rem hesitated, but quickly returned to normal, a fake smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Subaru, are you free at noon? If it's convenient, could you come to the kitchen to help?"
This request made Subaru freeze for a moment, then she immediately raised a smile. "Mm. Of course, I'll come over at noon."
After receiving a positive reply, Rem took a deep look at Subaru and turned to leave.
However, after Rem left, the conversation just now echoed in Subaru's mind.
Unconsciously, a word surfaced in his heart—tool.
That was the word she least wanted to recall.
Thinking of this, her expression gradually twisted, and she screamed frantically in his heart, 'So disgusting, so disgusting, Subaru, you really are so disgusting.'
"Subaru!"
A warmth came from her shoulder, and accompanied by Tsukasa's urgent call, Subaru broke free from the vortex of pain, gasping for breath.
"What exactly happened? Tell me, will you?"
Listening to the caring words, Subaru opened her mouth, but eventually just said softly, "It's okay. I probably just miss home."
Tsukasa had never experienced the warmth of a "home," so he could only respond clumsily: "Although I don't understand what that feeling is, it looks very painful."
"Tsukasa, you..."
Subaru's words were unfinished when Tsukasa nodded.
Feeling the pitying gaze she cast, he helplessly changed the subject, "Let's go, aren't you going to help at noon?"
The two walked silently toward the mansion's courtyard.
The sunlight shone unreservedly on the troubled Subaru, and she gently smoothed out the wrinkles on her robe—although it was her first time wearing it, the material was unexpectedly soft and comfortable.
"Looks like I have the potential to be an international model." She muttered to herself at his reflection in the window glass.
Tsukasa, floating to the side, retorted with a sharp tongue, "More like a landlady collecting rent on the street."
"If you can't speak properly, you can keep your mouth shut."
Subaru rolled her eyes at him and walked straight through the gate, toward Emilia by the gazebo.
Emilia was bathing in the sunlight, surrounded by specks of green light.
This dreamlike scene made Subaru and Tsukasa stop in their tracks simultaneously, unable to bear disturbing her.
Seemingly sensing Subaru's presence, Emilia slowly opened her eyes, accurately capturing the approaching figure.
"Lia, did we disturb you?"