Master of illusions - Natsuki Subaru

Side stories 4 & 5 / 12

Week 4 - Snowball

"Here's a perfect spot to rest for a bit!"

Subaru brushed a thick layer of snow off a lonely wooden bench outside a shuttered shop. The legs creaked faintly as he sat down, leaving a trail of damp prints where his hands had cleared the snow. He turned, patting the spot beside him with a grin.

She hesitated, glancing around as if making sure no one was watching, then gathered the hem of her cloak and quietly sat beside him. The hood of her tan sweater cast a soft shadow across her face, hiding most of her features, but Subaru could still catch glimpses of pale skin and a faint shimmer of hair peeking out whenever the light hit just right.

Subaru slumped back dramatically, exhaling like he'd just finished running a marathon."Man, he really doesn't let me take any breaks unless you're around."

A soft giggle escaped her lips, muffled by the hood. "You're a reaaaally hard worker, Subaru."

Her gentle praise sent a jolt through him. He snapped upright, clenching his fists as if summoning inner resolve."If I keep getting praised by Mili, then I think it's worth it!"

She tilted her head beneath the hood, and though he couldn't quite see her expression, he could feel the warmth of her smile. "You're so silly."

The quiet street suddenly came alive with laughter as a group of children dashed past, scattering snow with every step. Their shrill voices rang out as they hurled snowballs at each other. Some struck their targets with soft thuds, others burst apart against walls or missed entirely. Their chaotic joy lingered for only a moment before fading down the road, leaving the world still and hushed once again.

"Mili," Subaru asked, still smiling from the scene, "cute kids, huh?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, her soft voice came hesitantly:"Why were they… throwing snow at each other? Were they fighting?"

Her words made Subaru pause. Slowly, he turned to her."You mean… you've never had a snowball fight?"

Her hood shifted slightly as she tilted her head. "What's a snowball fight?"

For a long second, Subaru could only stare. She's serious. The snowy village had been her world for who knows how long, and she'd never even done something as simple as throwing snow for fun. A pang of pity stirred in his chest.

"Well, uh…" He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "It's a game. You chase each other and throw snow until you're too tired to keep going. Sounds kinda dumb when I explain it like that, but trust me—it's way more fun than it sounds."

"So… they throw snow at each other, and… it's fun?"

Her uncertainty only made Subaru lean forward, determination sparking in his eyes."Exactly! You'll get it once you try. We should totally have one sometime—you and me. Promise, you'll love it."

Her hands folded in her lap, the fabric of her cloak shifting as her posture grew quieter. "…It'll probably have to wait."

"Why's that?" Subaru asked, trying to catch her expression beneath the hood.

She hesitated before replying, her voice tinged with both fondness and a trace of sadness. "I feel like… my father is calling for me."

That made Subaru stiffen slightly. "Your… father?" Images of some hulking, overprotective parent ready to throttle him at the first wrong word flickered through his head.

Still, she continued softly, "I live with him. Deep in the forest. We… have a special connection."

Something about the way she said it—calm, certain, a touch proud—made Subaru swallow his nervous jokes. He tried for a grin anyway."Well, I'd like to meet this mysterious father of yours someday."

Her hood dipped lower, shadowing her face further. "…I don't think that's a good idea." The words were so quiet he barely caught them.

Subaru crossed his arms and nodded sagely, though his grin remained. "Right. Meeting the parents comes after the confession scene. Gotta respect the story pacing."

"…I don't really understand what that means," she admitted softly, "but… maybe one day, you'll get to meet him."

His eyes lit up instantly. "So you're saying I have a chance!" He threw his arms up toward the gray sky, earning a startled laugh that she quickly muffled behind her sleeve.

Rising from the bench, she turned back toward him, the edge of her hood shifting just enough for him to catch the faintest glimpse of a smile. "Bye, Subaru. I'm looking forward to next week."

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to pause. That gentle curve of her lips, framed by the hood's shadow, was enough to make Subaru's chest tighten and his breath hitch. He couldn't see her eyes, couldn't make out her full expression—but the warmth in her voice was more than enough.

"EMT…" he muttered under his breath before catching himself. "Ah—right!" He grinned wide, standing to wave at her. "Bye, Mili! Let's talk lots next time, okay?"

Her smile deepened, a soft glow of warmth hidden beneath the hood. "Oh-kay."

Week Five — Joshua

Subaru was bored out of his mind in the shop. Rina and Lucas had dropped by just to see him, and a few other girls wandered in to chat, but when it came to actual customers—there were none. The quiet hum of the day felt endless.

"Man, today's gonna be another slow one," he sighed, resting his cheek on an open palm. "Times like these, I wish I'd bought that Jujutsu Kaisen manga before coming in. Then again… if I had and actually liked it, that'd just make this even worse." He muttered the complaint to the empty room.

Feeling restless, Subaru decided it was time to make the rounds. It had been nearly an hour since he'd last tidied up, and without something to do, he felt like he might go insane. Alongside the usual products, his 'new' creation—mayonnaise—was now neatly displayed in glass jars on the shelves. He picked one up, inspecting the craftsmanship with a small measure of pride.

"Brat!" a voice shouted behind him, nearly making him drop the jar.

"Hey! Don't sneak up on people like that!" Subaru snapped, whirling around.

"Someone's lookin' fer ya," came the reply, teasing.

"Why? Am I being rescued from this insane asylum?!" Subaru's eyes lit up at the thought of escape. He was only keeping up the act of enjoying this part-time job for so long. Soon, he feared, he might slip back into his old ways.

"Dunno, just follow me."

He followed Ludwig through the back door to the house, where a man Subaru had never seen before sat calmly in the kitchen. The man exuded an air of elegance and refined confidence. His long, slender face was framed by uniquely colored short purple hair tied into a neat tail. A polite smile curved his lips, though his calculating golden eyes betrayed a sharper mind. His perfectly tailored black suit and monocle made him look like a nobleman who enjoyed literature and diplomacy.

"Will you join me for tea?" the man asked, still smiling.

"If it's Ludwig's brew, I'd rather not," Subaru replied flatly. He had learned the hard way that Ludwig wasn't the best at making a quality drink.

"I didn't make it, you jackass," Ludwig snapped, clearly annoyed.

"I brought these leaves and brewed the tea here while we discuss business," the man said, calm and serious. Subaru felt an instant dislike. Not because of his good looks or polished demeanor, but something deeper — though, he reasoned, there were worse people in the world than this one.

Elsewhere

A knight and a royal candidate sat across from each other in tense silence. The kingdom was anything but peaceful after the recent passing of the royal family. Two of the five candidates had still not been found. She had traveled to Lugunica to check on her businesses and visit the royal castle to speak with the council. Now, they were on the road back to Kararagi.

She was growing impatient with the delay in the royal selection—waiting on the two missing candidates had dragged the process out far longer than she wanted. To make matters worse, the royal court mage, Roswaal L Mathers, had yet to choose a side among the three existing parties. Her spies confirmed this.

She had even crossed paths with Roswaal and tried recruiting him. Gaining the support of the kingdom's strongest mage would make her victory almost certain. But he had simply said:

"I'm sorry, Miss Anastasia, but I simply canoooot join you~"

She couldn't understand why. It was as if something held him back, some invisible leash or waiting for instructions. Call it a merchant's intuition.

Julius sat ramrod straight, eyes closed, his arm extended with six orbs of light circling above his open palm. He was communing with his spirits, as usual, to deepen their bond. Suddenly, his face scrunched.

"Achoo!"

Anastasia, looking out the carriage window, turned in surprise.

"Wow, Julius, I think that's the first time I've ever heard you sneeze!"

"My apologies, my lady. I don't know what came over me." He placed a hand on his chest, his white knight uniform impeccable, and gave a respectful bow.

"You don't hafta be so uptight," she giggled, turning back to the passing scenery.

Back to Subaru

"So… what do you want to see me for?" Subaru asked, sipping the tea the noble had prepared.

"We should introduce ourselves first." The man placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly. "My name is Joshua Juukulius. May I know yours?"

"My name…" Subaru hesitated. If someone this important was looking for him, maybe it was safer not to say his real name. He didn't want unwanted attention from his name spreading around.

"Call me Pleiades. Now, why are you here?"

Subaru remained suspicious. No one just… came to this place. It had been nearly five weeks since he'd arrived. He kept track of the time by Emilia's visits—and there had been zero people coming here until now. Suddenly, someone was looking for him specifically, and he didn't even exist in this world a month ago.

"Using a fake name? That's alright with me."

"Can't blame me. You give me bad vibes."

"Vibes?" Joshua's expression flickered from its usual serious calm to confusion at the unfamiliar word.

"You're getting off topic," Ludwig, who'd been silently listening, said, ready to step in if needed. The Hoshin Company was relentless—they always got what they wanted, one way or another.

"You're right, my apologies." Joshua bowed slightly to Ludwig, then turned back to Subaru, who was still wary. Ludwig relaxed and leaned against the wall behind Joshua, listening quietly.

"I'm here on behalf of the Hoshin Company, led by our lady Anastasia Hoshin, to discuss your product."

Subaru rested his chin on his fist, thinking.

"Hoshin…"

He glanced at Ludwig. "Didn't you say I wasn't like Hoshin or something when we met? Wait—were you comparing me to a girl!?" Subaru pointed accusingly.

"You're sure acting like one now."

"No. My lady Anastasia adopted the Hoshin name out of respect for the long-deceased Hoshin on the Wild—the inventor of many things that shape Kararagi's culture."

"So this big shot wants to talk to me about mayo? Wait, how do you even know about it?" Subaru was under the impression the mayonnaise was only sold within the village and sometimes exported in bulk to neighboring towns.

"Well, it's become quite famous."

"Pleiades, the Mayo Man," Ludwig snorted.

"Hey! That's a great title!" Subaru tried to argue but knew it was useless.

"We have a proposition for you."

"Alright, let's hear it."

"We'll handle everything—from creation to distribution. You just have to give us the recipe. It will be known as a joint creation, both yours and the Hoshin Company's. You'll sell this information exclusively to us. In return, we'll support any other inventions you develop, as long as we have sole rights to sell them."

Joshua listed off various terms and perks of the contract, promising a generous share of profits. Once he finished, he placed a paper on the table along with a quill dipped in ink.

"If you agree, please sign here."

Subaru thought for a moment. The contract would bind him in several ways, but the mayo lover in him wanted everyone to try his favorite condiment. Plus, the pay wasn't bad at all. He could easily pay off his debt to Ludwig in a matter of days, maybe weeks.

"You've got yourself a deal!"

He signed the paper as 'Pleiades' and shook Joshua's hand. Joshua gave one last bow, donned his coat, and exited the house. Subaru didn't know it yet, but the name Pleiades would become known far and wide before he even left the forest.