[ "Hey, hey, between you and me, with the unbreakable bond of father and son, is this really necessary? …No, wait, it is! Sorry, you're at that age, aren't you? My apologies, I'll come back in ten minutes!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Hm? What does that mean?"
Emilia was bewildered by Subaru's father's outburst.
"Sigh, the primal desires of humanity,"
Puck remarked.
"Hmm… ohhh, I seeeeee,"
Felt teased, dragging out the syllables with a mischievous smirk. Then he continued:
"Though, is ten minutes really enough—or not?"
"Eh? What? Is this something that takes a long time?"
Emilia asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but are you looking down on the Boss?! It should be at least a month!"
"That's even worse than ten minutes, nyaa."
Felt retorted to Garfiel.
"Actually, ten minutes is probably quite respectable. We usually take a long time to prepare… wait, what am I saying? Hey!"
Otto stammered.
"How lewd~"
Ram glanced sideways at Otto with disdain.
—
[ "Don't go giving me serious, realistic conclusions! I didn't do anything!"
"Really? Fine, let's just keep what just happened a secret between the two of us."
"There's no secret! There's nothing to keep secret! You just ambushed me while I was trying to sleep in!"
"Alright, alright—anyway, I'm getting to the point. Here's the thing, Subaru: I'm off today, not going to work. Surprised?"
"Yeah, I know. It's rare for Dad to be home on a Monday morning. So, what is it?"
"Don't be in such a rush for the conclusion. A father-son conversation is just like boxing; you have to start with a jab."
Then…
Szzzt—
The screen distorted again. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Hm? The screen is distorting. What's the cause this time?"
Anastasia asked.
At this point, even the most knowledgeable among them—Roswaal, Puck, and Beatrice—had no idea why.
"Monday… that's a unit of time, a date, right? That would mean it's not rare for Subaru's father to be home on a Monday morning, but since Subaru said it was rare, there's a contradiction, causing a headache?"
Puck could only guess.
"We'll just have to keep watching,"
Otto said.
The others offered no objections and kept their eyes fixed on the screen.
—
[ "Ow. And then? Let's consider the jab finished. Dad, do you have a topic to replace the right cross?" Subaru seemed to be using a joke to mask his genuine headache, trying to avoid worrying his father.
"Hmm, well then. Subaru, is there someone you like?" Subaru's father asked him. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh? A father's inquiry, is it?"
Felt smirked, glancing at the girls nearby.
"Subaru-kun… someone he likes?"
Rem blushed deeply, anticipating Subaru's response.
"Subaru… someone he likes…"
Emilia and Beatrice also blushed slightly, waiting for the answer.
The person Subaru likes is...
—
[ "Are you a middle schooler?" Subaru replied. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Uh… middle school…"
"er?"
Emilia and Rem tilted their heads in confusion.
"What the hell? Sounds like a guy's name,"
Garfiel said.
Regardless, Subaru's answer satisfied no one.
—
[ "Oh, such a big reaction just confirms you do, right?"
"What are you looking so smug about? I'm so speechless and saddened that I can't even speak. So? In the end, what is the point? I have an important mission to go back to sleep, and then sleep again."
"Don't just naturally try to kick me out. It's just that the weather is so nice—let's go outside and have a proper father-son conversation."
.....
"Oh, Ken-chan, seeing you in the morning is rare. Did you finally get fired?"
The scene shifted. Subaru's father was riding a strange device that seemed to have a seat, with Subaru sitting on it.
Someone said this to Subaru's father.
"Don't say silly things. If not for me, everything would have fallen into chaos long ago. If I were too diligent, I'd steal everyone's work, so I have to slack off and rest occasionally." Subaru's father replied. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
It seems they had already gone out.
This strange device functioned like a Ground Dragon, but it had no life.
There were two wheels beneath the device.
"Hmm… this device… It's quite interesting."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes, observing the strange contraption closely.
"Based on the conversation, the Boss's old man must be really capable. Saying things like 'if not for me, everything would have fallen into chaos'—truly the Boss's father!"
Garfiel said from the other side.
—
[ "Ken-chan, what are you doing out so early? If you're going to play Pachinko, you're moving way too slowly."
"Yo, Kenichi-san. You aren't being lured here by the smell of lunch curry, are you?"
"No way, Ken-chan is actually here? Seriously funny. That's absurd, isn't it? Hilarious."
After getting off the strange device, Subaru and his father walked down the street.
People greeted them constantly along the way. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…Kenichi? If Subaru's world also follows the custom of taking the father's surname, then Subaru's father's name is… Natsuki Kenichi?"
Yuriusu speculated.
That must be it.
"Natsuki-san's father is so popular,"
Otto couldn't help but say from the other side.
—
[ "Here, take it. Ice-cold and filled with love, this cola. To make it taste even better, I shook it hard… although I'd like to say that, I didn't have time."
After greeting everyone, Subaru and Kenichi sat on a bench.
Kenichi handed Subaru a red can labeled "Cola."
"There was absolutely no process of adding love while you walked from the vending machine to here. Thanks." Subaru took the cola, then seemed to think of something, pointed the opening of the can toward an empty spot, and pulled the tab.
Then…
Pfft!
Black-red liquid sprayed out from the cola.
"Tch." Subaru clicked his tongue.
"Don't click your tongue! You saw through my trick! Ah, your hand is all sticky!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"'Cola,' is that some kind of prank item?"
Otto asked.
"What's inside the 'cola'? Why did it spray out?"
Emilia wondered.
"Oh, that's the Coca-Cola variety. I miss that taste,"
Al said.
—
[ "Now, have you calmed down?" Natsuki Kenichi took a sip of the black beverage from the can.
"A little subtle."
"Hey… Subaru. Let's change the subject—is there someone you like?"
Facing this question, Subaru fell silent and gave a wry smile.
But suddenly, the screen distorted again, and a disembodied female voice echoed—
"Subaru…"
"Huh?" Subaru lifted his head, seemingly trying to find the source of the voice, but no one was calling him. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"My… voice?"
Emilia reached out and covered her mouth.
Yes, the female voice was Emilia's.
—