Pictures flicked across the dimly lit screen of a smartphone, his thumb moving almost mechanically. Each swipe unveiled a memory he could never reclaim: his family's laughter, the warmth of a home that now felt more like a dream than a past. He still hadn't come to terms with it—not fully. Acceptance was slow, uncertain, and fragile. For now, all he could do was carry it, heavy and unresolved.
Another picture slid into view. This one was brighter—Emilia, Beatrice, and Puck, crumbs of cake scattered on the table, frosting smudged on Beatrice's cheek while Emilia laughed behind her hand. The image lingered longer than the others.
And in that moment, he realized he was beginning—just beginning—to accept that this was his life now. That his place wasn't behind him, but here, in this world. The role wasn't clear, the path was vague, but the gist of it was enough: to protect them, to guide them, to make sure they found their way.
And if he was honest with himself… he liked it. No—he loved being around them. It wasn't just about duty. Maybe it was because, for the first time in a long time, he'd found somewhere he might actually belong.
"You're not smoking. That's new."
The voice broke through his thoughts. Subaru's voice. Tanaka looked up from where he lay sprawled against the roots of the colossal tree—Flugel's tree—its branches stretching into the star-studded sky. Subaru approached with that familiar grin, hands shoved into his pockets. "Usually when you're all alone, enjoying your solitude and acting all mysterious, you've always got that cancer stick hanging out of your mouth."
"I'm clean," Tanaka replied, raising a hand lazily. "I'm officially out of cigarettes. A symbol of commitment and self-restraint."
"Like hell you are!" Subaru barked back, dropping down beside him at the base of the tree.
A comfortable silence settled for a moment, filled only by the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the night. Then Subaru tilted his head. "So, how'd you manage to convince Anastasia's group to help us?"
"We struck a deal. Fifty-fifty contract." Tanaka's tone was casual, as if he were talking about something mundane. "She handles the businesses, sales, and distribution. I stick to creating. I might throw her an idea or two when needed, but that's about it."
"Fifty-fifty?" Subaru's eyes widened. "That's insane. To get an even split out of her of all people—do you realize what you pulled off?"
"Not really." Tanaka smirked, turning his gaze back up to the glittering constellations. "That number was fair. And I wouldn't have backed down anyway. After all… I'm going to be printing her money."
Subaru groaned dramatically. "Tch! Damn it, I wanted to use modern world knowledge to get rich too!"
"Tell you what," Tanaka deadpanned, "I'll give you the rights to mayonnaise."
The night carried their banter easily, the giant tree standing watch over them.
"We didn't have much time to talk," Subaru admitted after his laughter died down.
"Yeah," Tanaka replied quietly, "you're right."
Subaru shifted, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. "By the way… I think Crusch-San has a crush on you."
Tanaka sat up a little, staring at him in disbelief. "…How in the world did you come to that conclusion?"
"No, seriously!" Subaru insisted, waving his hands. "When I was selling her on the plan for the White Whale hunt, she was more worried about you than about the actual information. Like, genuinely worried."
"Ah…"
The sound left Tanaka's mouth softly, the realization clicking into place. Her concern must have been because of the misunderstanding—the one where she believed he was Lugunica royalty. A misconception, one he hadn't yet had the chance to clear up.
"It's a big misunderstanding," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Something I'll need to fix when all this is over."
He didn't like lying. But he disliked oversharing even more. And with everything else spiraling around them, correcting her perception had been shoved to the bottom of his list.
Subaru gave him a sidelong glance, his tone more serious now. "About all that stuff with the White Whale… how did you even know?"
Tanaka's eyes flickered, the question pulled him back—back to the Karsten estate, to the moment he'd returned.
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"I'm sorry about abruptly leaving," he had said the instant he was ushered into Crusch's study. His tone was calm, but there was no denying the fatigue in his posture.
Crusch's emerald eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger but in measured dissatisfaction. "Your actions were… disconcerting. Still, I'll ask plainly—how is your health? Is your body stable now?"
Her directness would have cut lesser men, but Tanaka only inclined his head, gratitude softening his voice. "Thank you for your concern. Yes… I'm fine now."
Silence lingered for a breath too long. Then, with a faint exhale, Tanaka broke it. "I know what you're about to say. You want to ask about the letter."
He raised his hand slightly, and as though responding to the call, faint motes of light swirled into the air around him. Dozens of tiny figures shimmered into view—minor spirits, their translucent bodies humming like faint bells as they circled him playfully.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Tanaka admitted, his lips curling into a faint, almost self-deprecating smile. "But these little ones aren't very good at keeping secrets. They spilled the beans."
Crusch's sharp gaze softened ever so slightly at the sight of the spirits, but her silence urged him onward.
"At first, I thought about staying quiet about your operation to hunt the white whale, pretending I didn't know." He lowered his eyes, voice heavy. "But after securing Anastasia's support, I returned here, only to find Subaru already sealing the negotiation with you. Since we're all on the same page now—since we share the same goal—there's no point in holding back.
His words carried a weight that filled the room.
"The White Whale was created four centuries ago by the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne. It inherited her power—her cruelty. Its body is covered in countless white hairs that scatter incoming mana, breaking apart magic before it can land with its full force. Resilient doesn't even begin to describe it."
He paused, the atmosphere tightening, the spirits dimming their glow as though sharing his tension.
"If you are engulfed by its mist…" His voice dropped lower, heavy with dread. "The world will forget you. Completely. Not just your name, not just your face—everything. You'd vanish from memory itself, as though you never existed at all."
Crusch's expression remained composed, but the subtle narrowing of her eyes and the faint furrow of her brow betrayed her deep contemplation. She could sense the truth in his words, or at least the conviction behind them.
Inside, Tanaka's heart pounded.Don't ask me where I knew this. Please, don't ask. Don't force me to explain…
Odglass. The visions. The knowledge he carried like a curse. He could explain—of course he could—but it would take hours, days even. And would they even believe him?
Crusch finally exhaled, her posture straightening as she spoke with the calm clarity of a commander. "I understand. Then we shall move accordingly."
Tanaka blinked, tension loosening in his shoulders.
"I trust you, Tanaka," she added, her voice sharp with resolve. "We have only thirty-two hours before the White Whale reveals itself. We must begin our preparations immediately."
Her words rang like steel in the air.
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Tanaka let out a small, quiet breath.
I'm glad she didn't press me about it… it would've taken ages to explain.
It was strange, though—strange that Crusch had been satisfied by simply confirming his information through her Divine Protection. Most people would have pressed, demanded, interrogated. But she hadn't.
Subaru broke the silence, his voice laced with mock indignation. "But to think you were watching us while you were unconscious… you're stacking up all these weird powers. Totally unfair."
Tanaka gave him a fraction of the truth, the fact he observed the how the loop unfolded when he was unconscious, that he was drifting, in a spirit form.
"Sorry about not being able to do anything, my body was recovering at the time."
Subaru shook his head, his expression darkening briefly. "I don't blame you. Honestly, I blame myself. If I'd just warned everyone properly, maybe it wouldn't have turned out that way. Instead… I froze. Got traumatized. Became dead weight."
Tanaka's eyes softened, his voice quiet but steady. "I'm sorry… But are you okay now?"
Subaru hesitated, then admitted, "To be completely honest? I'm still scared. But… I'll get by somehow." He tilted his head toward Tanaka. "What about you? Is your body fine now?"
"The same," Tanaka replied with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'll get by somehow."
For a moment, Subaru just stared at him, eyes narrowing. Then he spoke bluntly, cutting through the calm night air. "You're not telling me everything."
Tanaka's lips pressed into a thin line. It was a natural conclusion. Even if he had seen the White Whale in action, it was absurd to think he could describe its nature, its origins, its very abilities in such detail. Of course Subaru would suspect more.
He leaned back against the tree, gaze lifting toward the star-strewn sky. Thoughts churned. There was no rule that forbade him from speaking of the alternate realities. Odglass had never said he couldn't. As long as he didn't mention Return by Death, it should be fine to share the broader picture.
"Yes," he said at last, the word dragged out on a sigh. "There are things I'm hiding. A lot of things."
Subaru leaned forward, intent.
"It'll take a while to discuss everything," Tanaka continued, his tone turning more deliberate. "And right now… I shouldn't distract you guys. We're about to face an ancient beast that's terrorized this world for centuries. That's where our focus needs to be."
But even as he said it, he knew the truth.… He's just making excuses.
What he really feared was the discomfort, the weight of exposing everything he carried inside. He wanted to delay it, postpone the inevitable moment when his truths would no longer stay hidden.
"When this is all over," he said finally, lowering his voice to something almost solemn, "when we get back to the mansion… I'll sit you down and tell you everything."
His throat tightened as he added silently.
About the future he saw. About Subaru's marriage. About Rigel and Spica.
Subaru gave him a squinting look, suspicion mixing with curiosity. "Now that you're acting all serious, you're making me even more curious."
Tanaka snapped, fluster breaking through his calm facade. "Shut up! I said when we get home!"
"Why are you acting like some grumpy dad on the road all of a sudden!?" Subaru shot back.
Tanaka huffed, but before the argument could continue, soft footsteps approached.
"I was looking for you two," Rem's gentle voice floated over.
Tanaka's face lit up with sudden enthusiasm, latching onto the interruption like a lifeline. "Perfect timing! You came at the exact right moment."
He pulled out a device, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Anyway, enough with the boring talk. We might end up dying tomorrow, so let's take a picture."
Subaru groaned, exasperated. "That's the worst thing you could say right now."
Tanaka didn't falter, his smile crooked but firm.
That future is gone. Because he stopped it, because he chose to interfere, it's his fault.
"Say cheese!" he announced.
"That was really corny," Subaru muttered as Rem leaned in beside them.
"You sound like an old man."
Tanaka ignored his remark, merely chuckling.
If they resent me someday, so be it.
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Notes:
Since I wanted to finish asap, I left some stuff out that I decided to leave down here instead of adding an extra 2-3k words to fill the narrative:
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Tanaka and Subaru discussed their encounter with the witch cult, in particular their clash with Betelgeuse. Here Subaru found out that Tanaka was unable to see Betelgeuse's authority, the invisible hands.
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The name Aurora (Aurora Borealis, the Northern lights) was brought up, how the witch cult kept chanting that name as they attacked him, Subaru found the link of both the name Aurora (Constellation of the dawn) and Betelgeuse (a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion) , both being names of constellations but without reaching further conclusions.
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There was a scene where Crusch alone, she made a connection between the information regarding the white whale's abilities (The name eating ability was unknown to the world) and Tanaka's backstory.
Since he told her before that his mother was a princess and the fact there were no records mentioning her whatsoever, she came to the conclusion that Tanaka's parents found a way to use the white whale's power (The name eating ability) or something similar, to disappear from the world and start a new.
That was the reason why she didn't interrogate him or ask him for the source of his information.