Chapter 86: Heartbeat
"Eh? So does that mean I can go exercise outside now? I hope I'm not causing you any trouble... like affecting other people's impression of you or something..."
"That's impossible, Subaru, you're overthinking it. Even though you're a patient, you're also a guest.
It's normal to fulfill a guest's reasonable requests. So don't worry about being a burden. If there's anything you want, just tell me. If it's not possible, I'll clearly tell you no. So just relax."
"Oh... then I'll make some requests."
"Alright, go ahead, I'm listening."
Subaru looked at Felix's smiling face, thought for a moment, then said,
"First, I want a wooden sword."
"No problem. After all, when we first met, you were already sparring with Wilhelm."
"Then I also need some books, any kind of books will do!"
"Sure thing, I'll bring them to you tomorrow. It's getting late now, so I'll head back."
After exchanging farewells with Felix, Subaru was about to lie down and rest when he suddenly remembered Rem next door probably had her own needs too.
Standing in front of Rem's door outside his room, Subaru raised his hand but hesitated to knock—after all, they hadn't talked much since their last conversation.
During dinner, Rem had acted normally, but Subaru was the only one feeling awkward and said nothing.
Maybe sensing his embarrassment, Rem didn't try to start a conversation either.
Before Felix came to find him, Subaru had been pondering how to get along with Rem but hadn't come up with anything, and Felix's arrival interrupted his thoughts.
While hesitating at the door, thinking about how to talk to Rem, inside the room, Rem sat motionless on the bed staring toward the door.
Her eyes showed anticipation—she was waiting for the door to be knocked on.
And how did she know Subaru was right outside? Of course, it was the lingering scent of the witch from Subaru that told her.
Time ticked by, and Rem's hopeful expression slowly turned into disappointment.
She thought about opening the door herself, but... if Subaru didn't knock first, even if they talked then, their relationship probably wouldn't change the next day.
The wait wasn't long, but to Rem, it felt endless—like the agonizing time after confirming a first love, wishing time would just speed up.
Then came a knock on the door.
Hearing it, Rem's eyes widened and she stood up, ready to rush over to open it, but hesitated, worried she might have imagined it. After all, the knock was only two light taps, then silence.
"Rem, are you asleep?"
After hearing this voice, Rem confirmed she hadn't hallucinated, then quickly ran to the door and opened it.
She saw Subaru still holding his hand up in a knocking gesture, as if preparing to knock again because she hadn't responded—checking if she was asleep or not.
Surprised to see Rem open the door, Subaru froze a moment.
He didn't expect her to come open it herself, and awkwardly didn't know where to put his raised hand.
Finally, he rubbed his nose and said,
"Felix came to find me earlier and said if I had any requests, I could tell him. I already told him mine, but I wanted to ask if you had any. If you do, just tell me, I'll pass them on. By the way, I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
Rem gently shook her head,
"You're not disturbing me at all. And Rem doesn't have any requests either."
"Is that so..."
Subaru fell silent, his gaze moving around nervously, unable to look directly at Rem's face.
He glanced at her sideways with his peripheral vision. Her face carried a faint smile.
Since the troubles in the mansion were resolved, whenever he looked at Rem, he could see that faint smile on her face.
It wasn't a forced smile—it was a genuine expression from deep within her heart.
Like when you see your first love—though you might not think you're smiling, to others your face is full of warmth and happiness.
"Um, Rem, I have something I want to say to you."
"Okay, Rem's listening."
Having made up his mind, Subaru turned seriously toward Rem and said,
"Rem, I don't dislike you. Actually, I'm really happy to be liked by a cute girl like you. Thank you for liking me. If I'm honest, I like you too—not in a romantic way, but as a friend."
"I understand your feelings, Rem. Because I like you too, I can't accept your feelings lightly. There's something I can't explain to you, but I want you to know that rejecting you doesn't mean I dislike you."
Having said all this at once, Subaru's heart was pounding so hard he felt like it might burst.
Honestly, what he said sounded like he was dangling a girl along, like a jerk. But he had no choice—he couldn't tell Rem not to like him.
He hadn't figured out how to get home yet. If he really accepted Rem's confession, how would he bring her home? After going home, Rem would never see Ram again.
"I'm so happy."
"Huh?"
"Subaru-kun said he likes Rem."
"Uh... that's just as friends, Rem-san." Subaru was a bit dazed as he looked at Rem's blossoming smile. He wondered if he had explained himself clearly just now.
"I know, Subaru-kun's liking for Rem is just as friends." Saying this, Rem took a step forward, startling Subaru who instinctively wanted to back away but didn't actually put distance between them.
Subaru lowered his eyes and looked into Rem's, seeing only determination in her gaze.
"But even liking as a friend is still liking. Rem will work hard to make Subaru-kun's liking become a romantic kind of liking."
"..." Subaru was speechless as he stared into Rem's eyes. His heart was uncontrollably pounding, almost bursting out of his chest to prove it was alive.
"Rem knows Subaru-kun has thought about a lot, but Rem still wants to say to you: I like you, very, very much. You pushed Rem forward, you saved her from her past.
Rem likes you! Likes you so much she wants to be with you forever.
For this goal, Rem will absolutely make Subaru-kun fall in love with her!"
Hearing this with the seriousness in Rem's eyes, Subaru panicked.
He quickly took a few steps back. He didn't know what to say—should he cheer her on? Or reject her again?
"Ah! Suddenly I'm so sleepy. Well, I'll go rest now... good night."
With that, Subaru turned and ran to his own room, nervously opening the door and rushing inside, then closing it behind him under Rem's watchful gaze.
After hearing the door close, the smile on Rem's face deepened.
She took a deep breath, encouraged herself, closed the door, and went back to her room to think about how to make Subaru like her.
Meanwhile, Subaru was rolling around wildly on his bed.
"Ahhh! What should I do! Get it together, me!
I just said all that, and I might fall for her in less than a day!
Seriously, why is she so cute, so serious... How long can I hold out? If it was Kamijou, what would he do?"