Chapter 6: Birthday Party
"Subaru-kun, are you free today?"
After the familiar treatment process ended, Rem suddenly asked.
Subaru, long immersed in gaming, instantly thought a storyline event had begun.
But maybe due to that strange idea yesterday, instead of an exciting harem scene, what popped into his mind was a certain man in heaven showing him a radiant smile.
"...Kun?"
Subaru shook his head, pushing away the absurd thought.
Even though it felt like he'd received a warning from another dimension, Subaru was the kind of person who always returned a favor, so he couldn't reject Rem's request, who healed him every day.
"Feels a little awkward to say, but just like usual, I'm completely free today."
He posed toward the sky to ease his nervousness.
"Then... could you accompany me for a bit?"
"No problem. Whether it's moving stuff or bargaining, leave it to me!"
.
.
.
"Ehhh~~~"
"What's wrong?"
Rem, carrying a huge wine barrel, asked curiously.
"It's just... a man's delusions and pride have been shattered to pieces."
Subaru admitted, though he understood his expectations were too unrealistic.
His brain must have been filled with hormones to think Rem was asking him out on a date.
"We're here."
Rem stopped in front of a large door.
"By the way, where is 'here' exactly?"
Subaru asked while helping her open the door.
Clap, clap, clap—
"Happy Birthday, Subaru!"
"Huh?"
In the center of the crowd, Reinhild smiled and answered Subaru's question.
"This is the Astrea family mansion in the royal capital."
A birthday party—something Subaru had never been associated with.
Back in Japan, he had no friends who would prepare gifts for him.
And now, in another world, he didn't even have parents to bless him.
So this sudden celebration caught him completely off guard.
"Did I remember wrong? I thought you said it was April 1st back then?"
Reinhild asked, a little puzzled.
Subaru suddenly remembered.
Back when he first met Reinhild, there was a sort of personal info survey-like conversation.
Did he mention his birthday then? He couldn't remember clearly.
He might've just blurted it out during an awkward moment.
"No, today is my birthday."
Subaru smiled—a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"Thank you all so much for coming. Even though... this isn't my home."
He bowed deeply, showing sincere gratitude to the friends in this new world who had planned such a birthday surprise.
Birthday parties in this world—especially for nobles—were typically social balls.
But Reinhild seemed to understand the customs of Subaru's world.
This party was small, and most of the attendees were familiar to Subaru.
"Did you prepare all this?"
Subaru looked at the food-packed table and asked.
"No, Rem, Bonn, and Miss Raksha (the fruit stall lady) also helped."
Bonn, who was setting the plates, and Raksha, taking care of her lost daughter Plum, nodded as they noticed Subaru's gaze.
Kadomon even flashed a fierce, killer-like grin.
"Oh, no wonder Rem rushed over today."
Subaru recalled Rem being late earlier.
"Aren't we cutting the cake yet? Felix-chan is gonna starve~!"
Felix suddenly clung to Subaru from behind.
"Ah, I've been abandoned by Subaru… even though I…"
"You came straight out of a love-triangle drama, didn't you?"
Subaru retorted, easing his own nervousness a little.
He didn't know if this friend did it intentionally, but he appreciated it.
—I hope this peaceful daily life can continue forever.
He made a wish, blew out the candles, and cut the cake with a knife handed over by Bonn.
The birthday party officially began.
A whipped cream battle eventually broke out, though it wasn't Subaru who started it.
Felix sneak-attacked him with something resembling cream—but actually not edible, something Reinhild had prepared in advance.
Subaru couldn't remember if he'd ever made cream fights a birthday tradition, but once he got a face full of it, he knew he couldn't just let it go.
Maybe because Reinhild gave tacit approval, the close friends who came to celebrate Subaru's birthday all joined the fray.
The mood grew increasingly lively—until that moment arrived.
Subaru watched in horror as Reinhild appeared from behind the dodging Felix.
Reinhild clearly noticed the flying cream pie Subaru threw and intended to dodge, but seeing little Plum behind her, she stopped.
With incredible technique, Reinhild snatched the plate—only the plate.
The "cream" flew out due to inertia and headed right for her.
"There are children here, so let's keep it in moderation."
With unimaginable flexibility, Reinhild bent down and avoided the flying cream, then spoke.
"Pfft—Reinhild, there's still a bit stuck on your face, nya~."
Reinhild's expression froze, then turned to Subaru.
"It's a birthday tradition. Everyone gets some cream on their face… right, Subaru?"
Subaru nodded instinctively.
"Dear."
"Subaru, we're leaving. Here's a gift."
Kadomon glanced at his drowsy daughter in Raksha's arms and nodded, then handed Subaru a box.
After bowing to Reinhild, they took towels from Bonn, wiped their faces, and left.
The cream war ended, but not long after, Subaru, egged on by Felix, started a King's Game. Felix, clearly very close with Reinhild, even dragged her into the game.
"Number 3 has to kiss Number 5, nya~!"
Felix was the most uninhibited of the otherworlders. Subaru, who was Number 5, nervously looked around.
Rem looked regretful, Bonn looked relieved… Subaru and Reinhild made eye contact.
The girl hesitated for a moment, then raised her card.
"I'm Number 3."
—@#%$^&@%#!!!
Seeing Reinhild walk toward him, Subaru's brain short-circuited.
As a knight, she'd probably follow the rules and kiss him, but… having his first kiss under these conditions? Was that really okay? Would this kind of Reinhild-kiss really be alright?
Surrounded by murderous glares, Subaru, after a fierce internal struggle, finally reached out his hand.
???
Maybe it was a trick of the light, but Subaru thought he saw Reinhild smile faintly.
Then she gave him a standard knight's kiss.
"—So lame."
Felix's eyes were full of disappointment.
Subaru didn't care anymore.