6
“Was he all right?”
“Yeah, he should be okay. The physical wounds aside…it looks like he was able to take care of his emotional wounds himself.”
“I see… It’s stating the obvious, but he really is strong.”
Emilia’s purple eyes turned to the corner of the shelter where Wilhelm was standing. Subaru didn’t make the tactless mistake of looking back, but he nodded repeatedly at her statement.
Wilhelm was strong. He was awe-inspiring. As a fellow man, Subaru had nothing but respect for him.
Watching Subaru as he thought that, Emilia put her hand to her lips and giggled.
“When it comes to Wilhelm, you always get reeeally serious. It’s almost like you’re smitten with him.”
“You know, no one really says that anymore…”
He played it off like normal, but he understood what Emilia wanted to say. Subaru had noticed it about himself as well.
“He’s special. I can honestly respect him. And I’m happy to just do that.”
“Mm, I think that’s reeeally great. I’m sure it is a good thing for him, too.”
“Huh? I doubt it…but still, when I get older and turn into an elegant old man, I hope I have the same sort of dignified presence he does.”
“Yes, yes, I get it. You don’t have to get so bashful about it.”
Subaru couldn’t say for himself whether that was a joke to hide his embarrassment or not, but either way, it made Emilia smile. And that smile was cute enough to help Subaru set aside the vaguely gloomy feelings hanging over his heart.
Those feelings were the kind that didn’t need to be put into words.
“Betty thinks a beard like that wouldn’t suit you at all.”
“I don’t think that was really what we were talking about! But okay, I understand. I’ll hold off on a beard until you think it’ll look good on me.”
“Well, we will just have to wait and see if that time ever comes. Without at least Puckie’s level of talent, it might not be possible to maintain both charm and fur. You will have to do your best.”
“Aye, aye.”
Both Emilia’s natural response and Beatrice’s concern helped Subaru cheer up. Feeling blessed to have them by his side, Subaru took a long, deep breath and looked ahead.
“ ”
Like before, there was still a large number of people coming and going, and there were joyous reunions aplenty.
He could hear the music and cheers from outside the shelter as Liliana’s performance continued. She was surely driven by her own belief in the power of music to encourage people.
Of course, the city had been struck by a terrible disaster.
Both Liliana’s feelings and Subaru’s happiness at the scene before him were maybe just their own little efforts at finding a silver lining.
But even so, there was meaning in going through the motions. Both the joy and the grief people felt were real.
The reason for everything they had done was all around them in that moment—
“—Hmm?”
Just as he was thinking that, Subaru noticed a figure peeking in the entrance of the shelter.
Someone who was tall and slender, wearing nice white clothes. There was no mistaking that disgustingly handsome face and that alluringly lustrous purple hair.
Julius. One of the people he had been wanting to check on had shown his face.
“Hey! Jul—”
“—Ngh.”
He raised his hand to wave and call out, but as he started to say something, Julius immediately spun and fled the shelter.
“Huh?”
Subaru stared in shock at Julius’s unexpected reaction.
Julius had reacted with sarcasm and snide remarks before, but he had never straight up ignored Subaru.
He had not been worried about him, of course. But there was something wrong with that response.
“Subaru? What is it?”
“That jerk Julius just ignored me. Give me a sec, I’m gonna go catch him!”
“Eh?”
There was a bubbling anger in his voice as Subaru left Emilia behind and chased after Julius.
Running through the bustle of the shelter, he gave chase as Julius tried to disappear into the street. It was almost as if he was trying to avoid being seen. What was going on?
“Hey, you asshole! What are you doing hanging back here when everyone’s busy?! People’ll worry if you don’t at least show your face! That’s just common sense.”
“ ”
Turning the corner into an empty alley, Julius stopped. Only moving his head, he looked at Subaru, who shouted angrily at him.
Subaru felt something off about the knight’s silent gaze, but Julius remained unchanged.
“…Apologies. I was looking for someone, but they do not appear to be here. I want to check the next shelter as soon as possible. If you’ll excuse me.”
That response sounded an awful lot like brushing off a stranger, so Subaru grabbed his shoulder before he could get away.
“Wait, wait, wait. What are you saying? You’re looking for Anastasia, right? Everyone’s back there. You just didn’t notice them. This isn’t like you at all.”
“………”
Julius jerked dramatically and his yellow eyes shot open as he spun in shock toward Subaru.
“ ”
Subaru gulped, seeing an expression he had never seen on Julius’s face.
Shock—no, it wasn’t just shock. It was grief. Desperation. A plea for some sort of support.
It was a feeling so utterly alien coming from Julius that it made Subaru’s face tense up.
“…Subaru. You…remember me?”
“Wh-what do you mean? It’s only been a couple hours, and Mr. Finest Knight Julius Juukulius is not that forgettable. What a dumb thing for you to ask about…”
Subaru shrugged and fired back with a sarcastic response. But partway through, he realized just how stupid he was being.
Julius’s question was clearly strange. And if Subaru had stretched himself to just imagine a scenario that was only a single step removed from the worst-case scenario he had envisioned, he should have been able to notice it.
“Wait, di—?”
“Subaru! Don’t go running off by yourself like that!”
Subaru shuddered as he looked at Julius, who suddenly seemed so unsteady on his feet.
Meanwhile, Emilia and Beatrice, who had chased after them, burst into the alley. Watching the two of them standing silently there, Emilia blinked in confusion.
“Ummm…you’re busy, I guess?”
She noticed the strange mood and tension; her eyelashes trembled slightly. Judging from her reaction—especially the way she looked at Julius—Subaru had a sinking feeling.
Wanting to reject it, he pointed at Julius.
“…Yeah, sort of, but also not? Emilia-tan, Beako, umm…”
“—?”
Emilia and Beatrice had question marks hanging over their heads at Subaru’s awkward response.
He had to ask the decisive question. The sort that couldn’t be taken back or undone.
Julius had a look of resignation in his eyes as Subaru gazed at him and asked:
“I found Julius, so you don’t mind if I bring him back to talk, right?”
“—Julius?”
Beatrice looked at Julius. Beside her, Emilia’s beautiful purple eyes were filled with unease—
“Is Julius a friend of yours, Subaru?”
—and Subaru experienced an old nightmare once again.
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