The scene changed to show all the soldiers of the section standing in front of one another from a few feet, Subaru being the closest to the camera, as a man with a brown hat entered the room.
"Who's this guy?" Mimi grimaced as she saw his face, "he doesn't look good at all…"
"He looks mean," Petra narrowed her eyes, "all of those that we saw until now were somehow bad to Subaru-kun…"
"Another bad guy?" Tivey replied, "ain't that enough already…"
"Mh…I wonder." Wilhelm mused in a hushed tone.
"Soldiers!"
Immediately after his shout, everyone raised their hands on their forehead and stomped the ground to salute.
The man with the hat then began to slowly walk in the space given to him as he spoke loud and clear for everyone to hear.
"I am your drill sergeant and instructor. From here on out, the first and last words that will come out of your stinky mouths will be 'sir'. You will only speak when given permission to, loud and clear, do you all understand!?"
"SIR, YES SIR."
"Oh, so he is their superior?" Crusch realized, "well he is certainly strict with his subordinates."
"It sounds unnecessarily mean…" Emilia commented with a frown, clearly disliking this way of doing things.
"It's not something sincere, Emilia-sama," the Duchess replied to her with a smile, "it is just a way to motivate the troops and somehow train them to remain calm. While this seems extreme, this way of training recruits is fairly present in every army."
"I-I see…" Not so familiar with how the military worked, Emilia only took Crusch's words as a given, "I still wonder how he is motivating anyone this way, though…"
"Soldiers! You are no longer black! Or red! Or yellow! Or white! You are now green! You didn't join the regular army or these lifeguard pussies! You joined the marine! If you survive this place, if you live through it, you will become a weapon! A war machine that takes the blood of his enemies as oxygen! Born to kill, trained to kill, and living for killing! But until then…You are all worthless! You don't even qualify as human beings! Am I understood?!"
"SIR, YES SIR!"
"Shouting, disgusting, rude…" Al laughed, "yeah that's cliché enough."
"It sounds also brutal…" Anastasia mused, not liking everything she heard.
"Are they adamant to kill the enemy…? This ain't the good way to prepare your men." Ricardo frowned upon these words, "even as a merc I know this."
"I mean…They're soldiers, what else would they be trained to…?" Felt demanded tilting her head in wonder.
"To protect, Felt-sama," Reinhard answered to her, "soldier's first duty is to protect…"
"Not these guys," Al continued, "they are trained to kill."
"This is disheartening then," Julius grunted, "a duty of a soldier is to protect. Now to kill."
"You take it the way you want bright knight, but in this world, conflicts aren't ended with a sword slash at light speed," Al spat, not caring if they didn't understand everything he said," if they aren't prepared for the worse, they aren't going to go far. Marines aren't just soldiers."
"Soldiers, Marines, special forces, CIA…" Tivey rumbled with a sigh, "this all is becoming complicated."
"So Subaru will receive this kind of training…" Emilia clenched her fists, feeling a pain rise in her chest, "then it explains a lot about what we saw…"
The man walks until stopping right in front of Subaru, looking at him with a grumpy face.
"Soldier, what is your name?"
"Sir, Subaru Natsuki, Sir!"
"May I be damned! I inherited the son of Kenichi in my ranks! How old are you son?!"
"His father really seems to be well known…" Reinhard uttered, keeping his eyes on Subaru's expression.
Something was off.
The man kept shouting while keeping a monotone voice and a straight expression.
"Sir, 20 years old, sir!"
"Outstanding! There's only a Natsuki to pass the marine selection at such young age, just like you damn father!"
"20 years old?!" Rem exclaimed, looking back and forth between the screen and her Subaru.
"B-But Subaru just reached 18 years old…" Petra began to breathe heavily, her hands trembling as she clenched Subaru's sleeve" Does…Does this mean…"
"This can't be, I suppose…" Beatrice began to tear up, "please…There has to be a better explanation…"
"20 years old…" Emilia whispered, looking back to the Subaru in front of her.
Just like rem, Petra and Beatrice…She came to the same dreadful possible conclusion that she hated. The conclusion that would doom her future.
But aside from these few members of the Emilia camp, the other seemed to not have understood the reality they now couldn't get out of their minds.
"Only a Natsuki to pass the selection?" Felt repeated in pleasant surprise, "so big bro's father build up his reputation?"
"It seems like something akin to that…But…" Crusch glanced to the black-haired boy in front of her, closing her eyes in thought, "It does not seem…"
As he heard those words, Subaru's expression didn't flinch. His eyes, however, reflected something else.
"Sir, thank you, sir!"
The camera switched to several other soldiers in the room who all harbored a grimace as they heard the drill sergeant, the one that Subaru met earlier, several others, and Griggs, who seemed more surprised than resentful.
"Oh yeah, they definitely didn't like this one…" Otto voiced in worry.
"They can't accept that capn' is the best!" Garfiel spat in disappointment, "what stupidity does to a man."
"…"
"Princess?" Al inquired, "you…Seem like you wanted to say something."
"The boy is resentful towards this man's comparison of him and his father," Priscilla voiced her thoughts, fanning herself as she moved her leg over the other, "I wonder what is the meaning of this…"
The drill sergeant continued on his walk as he glanced to left and right, carrying on his speech that grew to be inaudible for the cast, as the camera kept its focus on Subaru's face, narrowing his eyes and showing a clear distaste.
"Yep, you had it right…" Al cleared his throat, nodding his head to his lady's previous statements.
Priscilla didn't really react to it, knowing her statements couldn't be wrong. Yet…The reason behind such animosity was still unknown to her.
And she decided that it was an answer she had to know.
"Just why is he so…Unhappy?" Rem whined, resting her head to his shoulder, "is it because…"
"There is definitely something that pushes Natsuki Subaru to grow resentful about his situation in the army," Crusch shook her head, "but now the reason of his resentment…"
"There might be really something going on that is crucial information to his situation," Anastasia mused, "You people know him best. Perhaps you could answer this question?"
The targeted camp of people simply stayed silent, looking at each other to know if anyone could respond to the kararagian candidate, but in vain.
"I believe this might be one of the many secrets Subaru-sama kept for himself…" Sadness clear in her voice for the boy, Frederica voiced her thoughts.
"Well everyone has secrets, can't really blame him." Ricardo grunted, "but still this is rather…"
"Frustrating," Emilia replied in a cold tone.
"Yeah…Frustrating.." Ricardo replied once more, a bit weirded out by the elven princess' tone.
Crusch and Wilhelm looked at each other for a moment, both of them understanding that something was going on with Emilia, and both knew that if it came down to it in the worse case, they would be the first ones to intervene.
Even if such a thought truly hurt Crusch who wished to have a close relationship with the elven princess…Truth be told, she wanted to help her out of this darkness she was sinking in, but she knew that it wasn't a task for her to accomplish. Her words simply wouldn't reach her as efficiently as a certain person would.
Somehow, she was persuaded that this moment was coming…And that they just had to wait.
Wait for Subaru to save her.
"Come on ladies, what is this?! Do those pushups like real men!"
The scene changed to show the squadron outside, face down as they were doing pushups as the drill sergeant was seen walking near them, shouting and urging them to do more.
"Come on! Come on! One! Two!"
Subaru is seen doing pushups at a decent speed, his eyes showing a man lost in his thoughts, focused on nothing.
"What are they doing?" Priscilla tilted her head, truly confused by such activities.
"They're training princess, push-ups are a classic for army men," Al replied to her, wishing he could still do this.
Priscilla only looked to the screen with a rather surprised expression as she didn't understand the need to try to reach the ground this way, or rather to train in the first place.
"Why would I bother myself with such useless doings anyways…" She sighed.
"Capn' rocks these like he's breathin'" Garfiel roared in awe," I wanna do some!"
"Garfiel…" Frederica held his arm, urging him to sit down, "do not act so reckless now."
"They're all rather struggling…But Barusu isn't showing any issues," Ram commented before clicking her tongue, "the more I am learning about you, the more upset I become, scum."
As she spoke, Ram scouted closer from the back of his head whispering these words to his ear, hoping he would hear them.
"Maybe you should wake up now, so I could properly pass my anger towards you…" She whispered with a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it harder as she couldn't get a response.
Ram swiftly glanced towards her sister, Beatrice, Petra, and Emilia that were around her. All of them held rather…Sorrowful expressions.
They were hurt, they were in pain. Fortunately enough for Ram, what they came to realize was already something she made up her mind about since the beginning of the viewings.
Not that she wanted it, not at all…But she already accepted it as possible.
And yet she couldn't help but feel her own chest agonize by remembering what this sorrow as about.
"Please, Barusu…" She whispered once more, her head too low in the darkness of the theatre for anyone to see her tears, "Wake up…"
She was only met with silence.
The drills sergeant looked pleased with Subaru's performance and then resumed his shouting to the others.
"Come on you damn maggots! Raise that torso correctly!"
"If he keeps acting this way, there will definitely be some conflicts nya!" Felix lamented as he berated the man, "there is clearly favoritism!"
"I agree. This might only make their flame of jealousy grow wider," Julius continued for his friend, "Perhaps this is what will cause Subaru some issues."
"What do you mean…" Rem turned back to the purple-haired knight, "Y-You think Subaru-kun will be in trouble?"
"Rem-san…In each of these viewings, Subaru had to face something…" Crusch responded as she winced in sadness, "I believe this kind of event is only to be expected."
"This is unfair…" She uttered, leaning closer on the arm of her Subaru, "this is really unfair to you…"
At this point, it was fair to say that Rem lost the will to feel angry and growl towards anyone controlling the strings of destiny who inflicted this much to her hero. For now…She was just weakened by the sadness of the revelations crushing her heart.
For now, she only thought about one thing, and it was Subaru's wellbeing.
This was something she was prepared to protect as she would cherish all the time she shall have with him when he will be awake.
She will have to atone for all of her sins…And be sure that Subaru is the happiest in the world.
This was the blue Oni's wordless promise.
The scene changes to a shooting range, as all soldiers hold their rifles, an M16, and practice their shooting skills.
The drill sergeant is seen coming really close to a soldier's face, shouting near his ear, as the soldier stands still.
"What is this?! You call that shooting, soldier?!"
"Sir, no sir!"
"Then why the fuck are you still doing it?! Hold that rifle properly and hit the damn target you little shit!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Is such language really necessary?" Anastasia complained as she raised her hand in incomprehension to the man's attitude, "ya think your men will respect ya with that?"
"I think they don't have a choice boss…" Ricardo scoffed, "they're here to be bullied."
"Yeah, I couldn't take that, no way." Mimi nonchalantly replied, happy to be away from such training.
"Of course you wouldn't…" Tivey sighed, even if he somehow agreed with her on that.
"Were your training this…Well I mean, was your superior like that?" Felt asked her knight, who shook his head.
"Captain Marcos was harsh but respectful towards us. He didn't believe in this kind of way to teach, I believe." Reinhard smiled in nostalgia for his early days in the royal guards.
"He was especially towards you, Reinhard!" Felix exclaimed as he shook his head, "You're an Astrea after all nya!"
"Because you ever did any trainin'?" Garfiel glanced to his back with a suspicious gaze, "don' try and make us believe you eve' sweat."
"I am a knight nya! Can you say the same?!" Felix shot back to him, proud of his title.
"Yeah?! I'm the shield of the sanctuary! I protected all of my kin alone while all ya did was to wear yar white uniform to think of yarself as high!" Garfiel shouted at him, being held by his sister.
"Garfiel! It's enough, sit down!" She ordered, slapping the back of his head in anger of his actions.
"Such savagery nya..." Felix fakely whined.
"That kitty boy is getting too much on my nerves…" He growled as he obeyed, "I should kick him real good once…"
"I get that you dislike him for his behavior towards Natsuki-san…But you should control yourself," Otto explained as he put a hand on his shoulder, "what he said had nothing to do with us…"
Garfiel replied by sighing in frustration, looking back at the screen.
Nearby, Griggs is eyeing the sergeant and the soldier, before resuming his own target practice, hitting his target several times with good precision.
A few meters away, Subaru is seen doing the same, hitting the targets with the same precision, if not better, than Griggs.
"That's some fine shooting Natsuki! Ken didn't miss a single shot as well!" The sergeant laughed as he tapped his shoulder, only for Subaru to silently wince in distaste.
"Of course he'd succeed here too," Anastasia laughed as she began to find this amusing, "he's a 'natsuki' after all."
"Mh…A Natsuki…" Julius wondered in a hushed tone, focusing on Subaru's eyes.
"Could it be…" Crusch widened her eyes a bit as she began to pierce things together.
The scene changed to the entire squadron running side by side as the drill sergeant is shouting from the side.
"I don't want no teenage queen!"
"I don't want no teenage queen!"
"I just want my M16!"
"I just want my M16!"
"If I die in the combat zone!"
"If I die in the combat zone!"
"Box me up and ship me home!"
"Box me up and ship me home!"
"Pin my medals upon my chest!"
"Pin my medals upon my chest!"
"Tell my mom I've done my best!"
"Tell my mom I've done my best!"
"Come on boys! Keep this cadence!"
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Isn't it a bit morbid?" Frederica shivered at the lyrics.
"It really is, somehow…" Otto replied, "It's like they are taught that their life doesn't matter that much…"
"Would that fit in the mentality of a soldier?" Petra thought out loud, not letting go of Subaru's arm," Subaru…"
"Alas…" Wilhelm grunted with a grimace.
The scene changed to show an immense room with tables and kitchens, as soldiers are seen waiting their turn to be served a plate of food.
While numbers of soldiers are talking with each other around their tables in groups, the camera changed to Subaru, seated alone as he was eating his plate while using his phone in the other hand.
A black-skinned figure is seen coming closer to him from behind, making Subaru slowly raise his head from his phone.
"Yo, can I sit here?"
"No."
"Awesome!"
Ignoring Subaru's answer, Griggs took his seat near the black-haired boy with a chuckle, while Subaru did nothing but sigh tiredly.
"Oh? Something interesting happenin'?" Ricardo leaned closer along with the twins.
"This guy seems to want to be closer to Subaru," Otto sighed with a laugh.
"I think I'd too if I was there!" Garfiel tapped the merchant's shoulder, "don't ya think?"
"Probably…" he answered with a smile," I probably would."
"My man, you need to stop being that resentful towards everything and anything." Griggs laughed as he started to eat, "that's bad for the unit spirit."
"Because you think I care for the un-"
"Alright alright, let's just pretend you don't edge lord. What's the damn point in being so good at what you're doing here?"
Both Ricardo and Al couldn't stop laughing after hearing Griggs's sudden comment. In a way, this word was so good at describing Subaru in that viewing that they couldn't know if it was sad or worth laughing more.
"I-I can't believe this guy…" Al took his helmet a bit off to wipe his tears, "He really said it!"
"Man I should have seen this one coming!" Ricardo replied, holding his stomach.
"The boy's behavior is nothing to be laughed at," Priscilla sternly reprimanded, her voice loud enough for all to hear, "he is performant and reliable, and he does not involve with useless swine. I do not see any wrong in this."
"I mean it's wrong because it's just weird," Ricardo scoffed," he'd believe he's only doing this to give him a genre."
"But he is not," Priscilla replied, looking at the dogman with a pressuring gaze.
It was not that she was defending the boy on screen. Rather, she really thought his behavior to be a satisfactory one.
He was being completely autonomous and thriving without the help of anyone. This attitude was clearly commendable.
"Is it necessary though…" Emilia frowned in pity.
"It's even bad…As this man said, the unit spirit is at stake. Subaru-dono's behavior is not just unnecessary, but also a bad one." Wilhelm sighed with a shake of his head.
"Welp…" Ricardo turned back to the screen, "sorry for having a sense of humor I guess…"
"…"
"We all saw you. You're one of a fucking kind. Even the drill sergeant was impressed, and God only knows how hard it is to impress these dudes."
"What's your point here Griggs?" Subaru answered in a bitter voice.
"My point is that you're a good soldier. Though I see you say that you don't care about shit! You didn't even join the regular army, you're in the marines motherfucker don't tell me you don't care when you picked the hardest course!"
"The marines are the hardest?" Subaru repeated with raised eyebrows.
"Wha-…The fuck does that mean?!"
"Ah, he seems a bit hurt by this one!" Felt laughed along with Garfiel and Otto.
"Natsuki-san clearly knew what he was doing right now, this is clear as the day!" Otto cheerfully added, happy to see that Subaru wasn't all dark in this viewing.
"I…Don't think I got it?" Emilia whispered to Ram next to her, hoping that the maid would enlighten her.
"This man believes this course to be difficult as he struggles for it while Subaru is effortlessly overcoming it, Emilia-sama," Snorting to the black-haired boy, Ram continued," it seems like he was outraged by this statement. At least Barusu is good a something."
"Ram…" Emilia sighed in disappointment at her behavior…But smiled due to how nostalgic it felt.
This reminded her of the days in the manor…Something she only wished to have back right now.
Or anywhere else.
Anywhere else than this theatre. Where she could be with her knight, and her friends…Just living, and forgetting about all of this.
The smile of Emilia was about hope and a dream that she knew would never happen.
For the first time in a while, Griggs's outraged tone managed to earn a smile from the black-haired man, who laughed along with his comrade for the very first time.
This managed to make Griggs sigh in relief.
"Ain't that hard in the end, see?"
"Looks like he's as reassured as us," Felt nodded at him, "this guy's a good guy!"
"I believe that he holds good intentions as well, his first introduction tells as much." Reinhard voiced his own thoughts, remembering how Griggs stopped the first fight that could have happened.
"I don't know what to answer Griggs," Subaru sighed as he continued to eat, "I really had no specific goal when I joined."
"You have one now?"
"Nope."
"It's good to see him like that…" Petra murmured in relief, leaning in Subaru's warmth, "It's good to see him…"
"Natural, I suppose." Beatrice finished for her, "He's acting like always here…"
"It just shows that our Subaru is still somewhere near this one." Rem laughed gently, caressing the boy's arm.
"I have to agree that so far this viewing feels more relaxing than the ones we have been used to see until now," Crusch explained her relief, smiling to the interaction, "this is not half bad…"
"I mean…Still wanted to see the fight though," Mimi replied.
"Me too lil' one," Ricardo patter her head, "but you'll just look stupid if you say that so, avoid."
Mimi only pouted.
"I gotta say I'm still confused…Is it for the challenge then? To prove something to someone?"
"Maybe...I really can't tell."
"Oh got it. Yeah I think I understand now."
"Mh?" Subaru turned to him in curiosity.
"That's some kind of a spiritual journey? Like you needed answers about your life, where it was headed, what was the meaning…So you enlisted in the hope to obtain them in the end?"
"…"
"…"
"…What?" Otto uttered in confusion.
"Okay this guy's weird, I take back what I said," Felt said with a deadpanned face.
"What kind of bullshit is that…?" Subaru answered with wide eyes, trying to understand what Griggs meant.
"Welp, at least I tried."
"Ahahahah!" Al laughed once more, "Even bro was just staring wondering what the heck he heard!"
Crusch tried to hide her laughter behind her fist, feeling thankful for this interaction to bring more ease to the theatre.
"Oh, Subaru…" Emilia whispered with a smile of her own.
Griggs then continued to eat his plate, as Subaru glanced at him from the side wondering if he would go away.
He ultimately sighed with a slight shake of his head, turning his eyes back to his phone.
"So…Friend acquired?" Otto laughed alongside Garfiel, "Is this what this scene meant?"
"I think it gotta be something like that now yeah," Garfiel replied in joy," this is clearly something that could work with capn'"
"He always seems to gain friends with the most unusual ways possible…" Emilia warmly whispered as Ram nodded her head to this statement.
"Barusu naturally attracts people holding the same personality of a misfit as him," she snorted with a proud smile, "but at least…Generally, these people are good-natured."
"Aren't you one of his friends too?" Felix questioned in suspicion.
"And I have a good nature." Ram nodded with a smug, discretely passing her fingers in Subaru's hair.
The scene changed to show multiple images of the squadron training in an obstacle run as the drill sergeant is beside them.
"Come on! Come on! Faster soldier! Make each step count!" The Sergeant is shouting, as he watches his squadron making runs and sprints.
"You're falling behind Yankee," Subaru said in a disinterested tone, eyeing at Griggs who was hardly keeping up.
"S…Shut up! What the hell is up with you?! You have three lungs or something…?!" He said between heavy breathing.
"I didn't wait to enlist to start training." He simply answered.
"Fuck me…!" Griggs spat.
"It seems pretty draining…" Julius said with wide-opened eyes, "but he seems to hold up…"
"This is pretty different from a knight's training…" Crusch mused with a hand on her chin.
"I believe the way they fight demands for another type of training, Crusch-sama." Wilhelm mused as he observed.
"It seems fun!" Felt cheerfully exclaimed, "Man I'd beat them all if I was there! Going as fast as the wind!"
"I'm sure you would, my lady." Reinhard smiled.
"If I was there you would just eat the dust!" Garfiel retorqued, pointing himself with his finger.
"Yeah?! You wanna see that from yourself?!" Felt replied with a wide smile of self-assurance to the tiger boy.
"Anytime ya want!"
"Just you wait from being out of here then!" Felt laughed, "You won't even see my shadow!"
"Bet!"
Most of the people in the front row laughed to the childish, yet heartwarming banter between both Garfiel and Felt.
Emilia somehow felt like resting her mind a bit more…The atmosphere slowly becoming more and more relaxed…
Perhaps this viewing was shown for this? For everyone to have a little break and insight into Subaru's life?
Well, she didn't hate it as much as she thought for now.
The scene changes to show all of the squadron jumping in a large pool of water, as they have to reach the other side.
"Come on! Marines must fight everywhere! Come on!" the drill sergeant shouted.
Yet again, Subaru was near the top of the group, swimming flawlessly to the other side.
Arriving at the end, he got out of the pool and looked back, giving a hand to Griggs who was not far behind him.
"And what?! You were a mermaid or something in your childhood?!" He commented as he grabbed his hand.
"Hey, you kept up this time," Subaru replied with a smile.
"Because I did natation all my fucking life! Man, I was supposed to hand your ass to you this time! What's the damn deal with you Natsuki?!"
"They are training in the water?!" Ricardo exclaimed in shock.
"It seems they plan to be as versatile as possible," Wilhelm praised in great surprise, "Marines must fight everywhere…"
"I guess this is really the hardest course…" Garfiel uttered in awe, stars in his eyes, "I wanna do it so bad!"
"I wonder how good you'd do in water," Felt said as she nudged her knight's shoulder, "you never trained in it, right?"
"Indeed. I believe I wouldn't do much good." Reinhard shook his head as if to admit defeat.
"No, you wouldn't," Julius grunted in frustration, even jealousy.
"Yeah, you wouldn't," Felix repeated.
"Can't even deny them." Felt shrugged, as Reinhard held an uneasy face of how everyone seemed to overestimate him.
The scene changed to show the squadron climbing up a wall with their equipment and weapons.
Subaru was climbing the wall at a decent speed with agile hands, jumping from a rock to another like each of his fingers was a hook catching the rock.
Glancing under him, he could see Griggs having a hard time reaching the next position, seemingly too exhausted from his last exercises, much like the rest of the squadron.
Only a few managed to still be up for this one last training session, and Subaru was one of them.
"Go! Go soldiers, reach the top! There's your rest there, there's your breather! But you ain't getting any break if you don't reach it!" The drill sergeant shouted, urging the men to climb up.
Hearing him, Subaru turned his eyes up and continued to climb.
"Hey…Hey, what?" Petra exclaimed, "No! You wanted to help him!"
"It seems like he's more focused on himself." Ram thought out loud, narrowing her eyes as she leaned on Subaru's chair, "this isn't you."
"Ram...?" Emilia turned to her, feeling her heart skip a beat at her words.
"I cannot see Barusu turning his back to someone in need, Emilia-sama," Ram voiced her thoughts, poking the boy's head, "even if it's ordered. He isn't like that."
"…"
"So…Perhaps this is…"
"Ah…Fuck…" Griggs cursed, the tip of his fingers touching the ledge of the rock he had to grab, "Come on…!"
And just before he was about to lose balance and give up to reposition himself down, a hand extended from above grabbed his, pulling him up to grab the ledge.
Looking up to see his benefactor, Griggs saw the black-haired man nod at him wordlessly, before continuing to climb up, showing the way to Griggs.
"Thanks, bud…" He chuckled as he shook his head, "See you can have some unit spirit when you want to…"
"Mhm," Ram hummed in satisfaction as she caressed his hair, "this is better."
"I guess it is…" Emilia smiled.
Somehow, while she wished for them to be different…She quickly shifted her thinking when she saw Subaru helping Griggs. This was more like him…This was even reassuring.
"There we go!" Petra cooed as she hugged Subaru, "I knew you wouldn't leave him!"
"Rem's hero is too kind…" The blue-haired maid sighed with a warm smile on her face, looking up to him, "aren't you?"
"Hesitating that Betty's Subaru would do an act of kindness when he can, I wonder if you really know him, in fact!" Beatrice exclaimed from her seat.
"Dunno what kind of hesitation ya're talkin' about, I knew it all along!" Garfiel waved off.
"Indeed, please do not underestimate us, Beatrice-sama." Otto spoke out, smiling in proud of knowing his friend more than anyone could.
"I believe very few people would have doubted him to act this way," Crusch spoke out, a bit upset that they would claim her to not be observant enough of the boy, or rather for them to know more about him than her.
"Very few indeed," Priscilla uttered as she fanned herself.
When the training was over and all the marines took a break, Griggs walked up to the black-haired boy, drinking from a bottle of water.
"Hey Natsuki, thanks for the help earlier," Griggs said between heavy breathing, "feel like I would still be down there without you."
"Don't mention it." Subaru simply answered, getting up as he put his bottle on his belt.
"He's pretty humble," Julius smiled as he looked down the Subaru in front of him, "you should take notes."
"I know right?!" Otto whimpered, making all the members of his camp laugh in remembrance of their banter.
"Nah man, I think I need to mention that," he laughed, "you just couldn't bear to see your best friend over here struggling so you had to help!"
"Best friend?" Subaru scoffed as he raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, you're going too fast!" Garfiel growled in jealousy.
"Step back on the line." Otto shrugged, pointing towards Julius.
"I would remind you that I became his friend first, merchant," Julius answered with a deadpanned face, "you should step back on the line."
"Ah sorry, maybe I went ahead of myself too much," Griggs replied as he looked around him," after all the competition is pretty fierce!"
Subaru just chuckled as he shook his head.
"I mean there's that bush over here…The grass…Oh the rocks too, damn can't forget about them almost lost to one just now." Griggs continued as he laughed along with the Japanese marine.
"Oh fuck off." Subaru waved off as he walked towards the barracks followed by his 'friend' who kept laughing.
The theatre was quickly filled with laughter from all corners. Even Priscilla managed to giggle a bit over this little interaction.
"And now they became friends like it's official." Otto laughed, even if he was a bit saddened to see his friend away from him, at least he had other friends to rely on.
"Yep!" Garfiel replied.
"Mhm, this is good," Emilia acknowledged," you shouldn't be alone."
The scene changed to show nighttime where Subaru and Griggs were seated around a table with other soldiers, all speaking of everything and anything to simply pass time before the curfew.
"And what happened after?" One of the men asked with a laugh.
"What do you think happened after? It's Texas buddy, the guy got shot before he even understood what was happening to him!"
When most of them began to laugh, Subaru glanced at Griggs to his side who simply chuckled at the story.
He quickly noticed that Subaru wasn't laughing at all, and wordlessly apologized for the story that could truly seem special for anyone else than an American to hear.
"Seems like it wasn't funny for everyone nya," not liking the end of the story he heard, Felix couldn't help but scoff at how pitiful he found him to be.
"I really want to question these guys' sense of humor," Ricardo clicked his tongue, "but I guess it's about cultural preferences."
"Or they're just assholes," Mimi replied.
"That too."
"Hey, what's up with you Nagasaki?" One of them commented, directing towards Subaru.
"It's Natsuki." He corrected the man.
"Pretty sure that's what I said."
"And I'm sure it wasn't."
Glancing back and forth between Subaru and the other marine, several people could feel that something wasn't right.
"You…" Rem dangerously glared at the screen, wishing she could appear in there and punch this man in the face.
"Now this one's really looking for trouble ain't he?" Anastasia spat in disappointment, "what a fool."
"I don't think there's anyone against big bro shutting his mouth in now at least!" Felt exclaimed with a malicious smile, "he ain't going to take this! I can feel it, he's going to regret it!"
"It still wouldn't be a good idea," Otto grunted in worry, "remember what Wilhelm-san said about such behavior in an army…Natsuki-san could be in trouble."
"Let us see how he deals with it then," Priscilla advised, more to force them to remain silent than anything so she could see this situation unfold.
Chuckling haughtily, the man went a bit forward with a malicious smile on his face, staring right into the eyes of Subaru.
"Man, I really can't stomach you sometimes. Either you can't take a joke, or you always have to act like this…Like you're all superior…All tough…While you are in a US Marine camp."
Subaru simply narrowed his eyes.
"I know you gotta feel reeeaaally high knowing that the drill sergeant thinks great of you…Thanks do daddy uh? Is that Ken that amazing that we only hear about him when you're around?"
"Well, this feels familiar nya…" Felix widened his eyes as he looked to Julius, this scene making them remember the fiasco in the capital.
"It does…" Julius hardened his eyes, gripping his chair handles.
"He's taunting him…Mh," Ram clicked her tongue, "this will not end well."
"He was competent enough to be remembered in a US marine camp, it seems. It can't be said for everyone. And certainly not for morons who think nationality matters in an army."
"Did you just insult me Jap…?"
"And of course, it is the only thing you kept in mind from what I said." Subaru shook his head, "Is this what you were waiting for?"
"Oh you talk about a bitch," Al snorted.
"What a lowly dog," Priscilla glared dangerously, "I believe he will be put back in his place."
"I hope, bro doesn't look like he'll take it here," Aldebaran began to laugh in expectation, "let's see how he'll beat the shit out of him."
"He clearly just wished to fight with Subaru-dono," Crusch spoke with a threatening tone, "this man reeks an animosity directed towards him."
"But Subaru-kun didn't do anything to him!" Petra retorqued, "this is just evil!"
"Sometimes people are just evil, little one," Wilhelm grunted with a grimace.
"Damn right." He got up with a grin, taking off his shirt.
"Hey hey hey there's no need to do that!" Griggs yelled, going in between them.
"Subaru, come on man…" He pleaded to him, "let me handle this…"
Subaru simply nodded his head to Griggs, keeping an eye on the man.
"Griggs at the rescue!" Petra sighed in relief, "Thank you…"
"Ah, well ain't that bad if things end up like this I guess." Aldebaran nodded his head.
"He's really a good man…" Emilia whispered, smiling at Subaru for having such a good friend.
Thankfully nodding to him, Griggs stepped upfront.
"What the fuck are you trying to start Allen!?"
"Don't get involved Griggs! It's between Samurai Jack and me!"
"Samu-What?" Tivey repeated in confusion.
"This is an insult?" Mimi scoffed, "It sounds crap."
"I believe only them can understand it." Ricardo nodded his head.
"See this right there?" He said in a low voice to the man, "This is because of dickheads like you that the locals hate our guts…"
"The locals got their ass nuked and are lucky we didn't eradicate the shit out of them in the first place. Last thing they got the right to do would be to act all cocky like this one."
"So he thinks the 'nuke' was favorable…" Felix whispered with wide eyes, "he is truly a scum nya…"
"Yeah no doubts, this guy deserves to have his jaw getting kicked in!" Felt exclaimed with a heated glare, "I ain't against a pacifist way of doing things but sometimes people need a good beating."
"No."
Every eye turned towards Julius.
"Such a belief is what leads to an action with which I still hold deep regrets, Felt-sama," Julius explained as he closed his eyes," there is always another way. Acting on impulse and the heat of the moment…Can have great consequences."
"…"
"Not bad, Julius-kun," Anastasia smiled at her knight," not bad at all…"
"I guess one really learns from his mistakes," Ram acknowledged with a nod, "this is a good thing."
"You gotta be fucking kidding me…" Griggs growled, "so this is how it goes with you? You think Sheperd will want an asshat to join his ranks?"
"General Sheperd wants dedicated American soldiers, not disrespectful fucks from these wannabes of an empire of the rising sun." Allen snarled as he kept his stare to Subaru.
"You got nothing close to a soldier right now though, the only thing that comes off of you is a dickhead too full of himself." Griggs pointed out, " back up and avoid making your case even worse than it is."
"I'm tired of your sermons…" Allen growled, "Either you step aside or you're going to suffer the same shit."
"You little-"
"Griggs!" Subaru intervened, walking forward.
Everyone leaned forward, at the edge of their seats.
"Is it about to start…?" Crusch narrowed her eyes, tapping her foot in anxiety.
"It's about to go down…" Otto whispered, watching the scene attentively.
"Go, big bro…" Felt nodded her head, "come on…"
Both Griggs and Allen looked at Subaru coming closer to them.
"It's alright, let it go…" He told his friend, before turning to Allen, "I'm sorry. This is not the impression I wanted to give, nor disrespect you in any way."
"Capn'…"
"Subaru…"
"Subaru-kun…"
"…You did well…" Julius nodded his head with a smile, "you…Did really well."
Everyone just looked at Subaru, as he bowed his head in front of the man in a sign of apology.
Griggs was surprised but sighed in relief to his friend swallowing his pride to avoid a conflict, while the man narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah, it's alright," Allen said, presenting his hand with an open palm for Subaru to shake.
"…!"
"Princess-"
Subaru raised his hand to take it…Until Allen swiftly made his palm into a fist, and punched Subaru right in the face.
"SUBARU!" Griggs immediately tried to help him, as everyone else just stared at them from the side.
Everyone in the theatre gasped in fear of the sudden punch, glaring in anger towards Allen with such murderous intent, it could have nearly reached the man behind the screen.
"OH, YOU FUCKING!" Garfiel jumped off his seat with a roar.
"He gave you a chance," Julius grunted in disgust, clenching his fists, "you don't deserve any other."
"you damn bitch!" Felt exclaimed in fury, "I'll rip your head off!"
"The parlay is over," with a commanding tone, Crusch growled, "negotiations shall now take a more martial turn."
"You seem a bit excited," Emilia demanded to the Duchess, her amethyst eyes burning in wrath.
"I am," Crusch replied.
However, Subaru pushed Griggs back, touching the place where he was hit with his fingers.
"What now?! Come on pussy that's all you got?!" He laughed.
"He is not making his case any better." Reinhard shook his head before such stubbornness.
"He's too full of himself," Wilhelm spoke in distaste, "he will now pay for his mistakes."
With a glare, he approached his hand to her mouth before delicately running his fingers over his lower lip, and seeing them stained with a few drops of blood.
He then looked up at Allen and stepped closer to him.
"Soldiers!"
Everyone immediately lined up on either side of the room, Subaru and his opponent still face to face.
"WHAT?!" Garfiel and Felt both yelled in unison, seeing everyone disperse.
"His fate by his side?! What the hell!" Ricardo grunted with his hand raised towards the screen, "he's going to get away with that!"
"Boooooo!"
"Damn scum!"
"Well that's disappointing, ain't it princess?" seemingly upset about the situation, Al tapped the handle of his chair with his finger in frustration.
"One who indulges itself in such resentful behavior will only know a greater pain when his time will come," fanning herself with a cold stare to the screen, she abruptly closed her fan, "patience, Al. His punishment is coming, and it shall take a form far more important than we think."
"What's going on here huh?" He asks in a suspicious voice, walking slowly to inspect each marine, "I heard a lot of mayhem, and seen how you were positioned…"
However, the sergeant stopped questioning when he got to Subaru's level, noticing the bloodstains on his lip and his cheek having the mark of a sudden.
Following the young boy with his gaze, he turned to face the opponent, keeping his head held high to avoid contact.
"I see," he sighed, stepping closer to Subaru, "having trouble fitting in? Yeah, Ken had this concern too ..."
"Why is he constantly comparing Subaru-kun to his father?!" Petra pointed in outrage, "this is becoming upsetting!"
"…This is…" Julius widened his eyes.
"Julius-kun?" noticing her knight's whisper, Anastasia turned towards him with a raised eyebrow.
"Was it…Because of that…?" He looked down, his memories flashing before him.
"What you are talking about nya!" Felix yelled in frustration, only for Julius to stay silent.
"Did you see something that we did not?" Crusch asked, wanting to know more about his thoughts…But Julius simply didn't seem like he was willing to speak at the moment.
He was too lost in his thoughts. With a face that didn't inspire to any good.
It's like he had just made a shivering revelation.
He nodded before clearing his throat, considering what to say.
"We'll take care of it," he whispered, in a serious and sorry tone, "but you have to do something for me."
puzzled, Subaru turned his gaze to the sergeant.
"No retaliation." He concludes, in a firm manner, like an order.
"You expect me to simply brush this off?" Subaru replied with narrowed eyes.
"He clearly ain't scared of shit in these viewings!" Felt smiled wide.
"This is how he should be." Priscilla nodded in acknowledgment.
"That's my capn'!"
"There is not much you can do about this one, he is one of the few selected Sheperd to follow several pieces of training," he sighed, visibly disappointed to not be able to do more for the young black-haired man, " I'll do what I have to do…But you can't touch him."
"Oh, what?!" Petra watched slack-jawed, "He can't touch him?!"
"It seems he's some sort of a favorite of a higher up," Wilhelm sighed before this injustice, "of a general."
"So he has the right to do all he wants because he's a higher class's favorite?" Felt snorted with a heated glare, "ain't much different from our world in the end."
Subaru stared at his boss for a moment, without saying a word, before nodding and warning again.
"Ok ladies, now all in bed! I want you all ready tomorrow morning at dawn! Come on!"
The last thing Subaru saw as the drill sergeant left, was the grinning face of the man satisfied to not have been called out.
Most of the Emilia camp just glared at the man, wishing nothing but his demise.
"This smile…This damn smile…!" Rem growled dangerously, like an animal.
"Rem, please calm down," Ram tried to soothe her sister, even though her own mind was filled with nothing but disgust for Allen, "he is seemingly not worth this much attention from you."
"Thiis is disgusting." Al spat with an angered tone.
"Hmpf," Priscilla didn't comment much, waiting for her words to hold their truth once more.