Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World Co-op Route

The dining hall of Roswaal's mansion was bathed in the gentle glow of the morning sun, its golden rays filtering through tall windows adorned with elegant drapes. 

At the far end of the long table, Emilia paused mid-bite and turned toward the window. Her violet eyes widened slightly as she observed the outside world, snowflakes drifting lazily beyond the glass.

"How unusual… It's rare for it to snow at this time of the year," she murmured, tilting her head as if expecting the scene to change.

Her quiet observation barely had time to settle before—

"—I can't take it anymore! I've reached my limit! I'm going back to my parents' house!"

With that declaration, Subaru slammed the dining table and stood up abruptly.

The sudden outburst interrupted the quiet breakfast, and everyone present turned their gazes toward Subaru.

Standing under the weight of everyone's attention, Subaru spread his arms wide and weakly muttered, "Ah, it's no use anymore…"

He collapsed back into his chair, pressing a hand against his forehead in exaggerated defeat.

Quickly reacting to catch him was Rem, who had been seated to his left. She skillfully pulled the chair back in time to support Subaru as he fell.

"Careful, Subaru-Kun. You've just recovered, so please don't overexert yourself and make us worry more than we already are," she said gently, patting his slumped shoulders and brushing her fingers along his jawline from behind.

Her gestures were slightly over-familiar, but this was normal for Rem these past few days. She had taken it upon herself to be his personal caregiver, going as far as to declare herself "the official in charge of looking after Subaru-kun, who still isn't fully recovered."

Despite this display of devotion from the lovely maid, Subaru brushed her hand off his jaw with a shake of his head and muttered, "No, that's not it… This is way more serious than you think."

His tone was heavy as he slumped forward onto the dining table. Though, ever mindful of his surroundings, he cleared the plates out of the way before collapsing onto the space.

Emilia, now accustomed to Subaru's dramatic behavior, took another bite of her salad, clearly unconcerned.

"Are you okay? If something's bothering you, just tell us. I mean, I won't say something cliché like, 'I'll do anything for you,' but still…"

"Emilia-tan, not reacting to my every move is just going to make me feel neglected. Keep that up, and no one will want to deal with me anymore!"

"Wow, so self-aware," Emilia replied, slicing through his words without hesitation.

"Ugh, harsh… But you're still so cute. Dammit…" Subaru muttered, resting his face on the table and glancing up at her like a wounded puppy.

Before Subaru could wallow any further, Rem raised her hand energetically.

"Yes! Yes! Rem will listen to anything! Just say the word, and I'll do it! And if I do a good job, you can even pat my head as a reward!"

Rem's eagerness was almost palpable, her demeanor reminiscent of an overenthusiastic puppy wagging its tail. Subaru reached a trembling finger toward her as if moved by her enthusiasm.

But before he could respond, Emilia tilted her head in genuine concern.

"Still, you really do look unwell," she said, noting Subaru's pale face and the beads of sweat on his forehead.

His trembling fingers and shallow breaths were undeniably abnormal.

"Could it be… lingering effects from the curse?"

Worry crept into her voice as she exchanged a glance with Rem. Then, with a determined nod, Emilia reached into her silver hair and pulled out a small gray cat.

The sleepy little creature, who had apparently been napping, was plucked from her hair and placed on the table.

Puck rubbed his eyes and sat before Subaru's face, sniffing the air with his pink nose.

"Hmm, I don't sense anything for you to worry about, Lia. His mana's still pretty drained, so he's weak, but other than that, he's the same as always," Puck said in his usual relaxed tone, gently patting Subaru's cheek with his paw.

Subaru's trembling hand reached out to scoop Puck up, immediately starting a session of intense fluffing.

As Puck let out a resigned "Auuuu…" under Subaru's relentless affection, Emilia sighed in relief.

But this relief only deepened the mystery behind Subaru's condition.

"Shaking fingers, shallow breathing… It's almost like withdrawal symptoms from a highly addictive drug," Roswaal remarked from his seat at the head of the table, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin.

He glanced at Subaru's condition before continuing, "Such drugs can cause these symptoms when their effects wear off. Even in the royal capital, their use is strictly prohibited."

"You're telling me this guy was using illegal drugs? I always thought Barusu was shady, but this proves it. Rem, move aside so I can finish him off," Ram said, leaning into the opportunity with her usual sharp tongue.

"Wow, Ram, you ditched me fast. That's very on-brand for you, though," Subaru retorted weakly, managing a bitter smile.

Of course, Subaru had never lived the kind of underground life that involved drugs, whether in this world or his own. If anything, his struggles had been more about loneliness than anything criminal.

Still, Roswaal's mention of withdrawal symptoms hit uncomfortably close to home.

In truth, this was a kind of withdrawal—though not from drugs.

Subaru's body, his very soul, was craving something.

"…There's not enough…"

As everyone stared at him, Subaru, still sprawled on the table and clutching Puck, murmured something faintly under his breath.

"—Huh?"

Only Emilia, who was closest to him, managed to catch his faint whisper. Leaning closer to his mouth, she strained to hear.

Suddenly, Subaru's eyes snapped open wide, and he sprang upright with an explosive shout.

"—There's not enough mayonnaise!!"

The unfamiliar word left everyone baffled, their heads tilting in confusion.

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"So, basically, you're just throwing a tantrum because you don't have your favorite spice?"

"You don't get it, Emilia-tan!"

Subaru slammed the table in outrage. The packet he held in his hand let out a faint, squishy sound, but lost in his fiery emotions, Subaru failed to notice.

"Do you have any idea how much pain it is for a mayolover to go without mayonnaise for over... well, let's say a week? Any normal person would've lost their mind by now. It's only thanks to my unyielding mental strength that I'm holding on... but I'm at my limit."

"Isn't that just a bit... dramatic? Losing your mind, really?"

"Do you think these trembling hands are for show?! Please, believe me, Emilia-tan. My body can't survive without mayonnaise."

It's often said that the oil content in mayonnaise can trigger endorphin release in the brain—a potential cause of mayo lover addiction.

In this regard, Roswaal's earlier comment wasn't entirely off-base. For Subaru, losing access to mayonnaise was akin to slipping into a state of withdrawal.

Subaru's unprecedented intensity left even Emilia at a loss for words. Subaru, who normally carried himself with an air of carefree frivolity in her presence, was now passionately pleading with a desperate fervor. For a moment, Emilia felt guilty for brushing off his concerns as overblown. Subaru had completely captured the stage.

"Sure, food tastes great without mayonnaise. This bread-like thing, this soupy liquid, this salad-like medley—they're all fantastic, paired with that suspiciously water-like drink. But... they're not mayonnaise."

He gestured to the luxurious dishes laid out on the table before cradling his head in his hands. The packet in his grip poked at his short hair, eliciting a muffled complaint: "This hurts!" Yet Subaru's sorrow drowned it out entirely.

Human desire knows no bounds.

In this world, Subaru sought only a simple life. He wanted peaceful days spent by Emilia's side, surrounded by smiling companions, leading a plain and uneventful existence. That wish, born of his innate slacker tendencies, drove him through even the most harrowing times.

But when he finally reached the peaceful days he had fought so hard for, he was struck by an insatiable hunger—a yearning for something more.

This is hopeless. Humanity's greed is truly hopeless.

Wasn't it enough? Wasn't it enough to have achieved what he sought? Now, having gained what he desired, he was supposed to rest content, surrendering to the bliss of indolence.

No. Absolutely not.

A voice called out, stopping Subaru from sinking into the sea of monotony.

Whose voice? It was his own. Deep in his chest, it burned, strong and fierce, urging him to keep seeking.

Move forward. Forward. Forward. If you reach what you seek, then aim even higher.

Thus, Natsuki Subaru refused to stop seeking.

Escaping the loop of death, ensuring the safety of the twins and Roswaal's group, and finally securing a date with Emilia—all of it was done.

So now, it was time to dream of the next goal.

"For someone with no purpose or reason to live, my next dream... is to bring mayonnaise to this world. What's wrong with that?"

To bring the white fairy to the dining table—that was Subaru's new purpose.

Moved by his resolve, the one who spoke up with a firm pat on her chest was...

"Understood. Leave it to me, Subaru-Kun."

It was Rem, her blue hair swaying as her eyes sparkled with determination.

Recently, she had taken to supporting Subaru's every request without hesitation. Whether it was out of gratitude or something else, abandoning Subaru in his struggles was no longer an option for her.

"As the one responsible for the mansion's kitchen, it's my duty to meet the needs of those I serve. Isn't that right?"

"You understand me... Wait, you're really going to do it, Rem?!"

Moved to tears, Subaru looked up at her, and Rem nodded resolutely before spreading her arms wide.

"Of course. Now, Subaru-Kun, please share the recipe for that spice—"

"...What?"

"...What?"

Frozen, the two stared at each other, mouths agape, as if struck dumb.

Underneath Subaru's hand, crushed and muffled, came a faint complaint from Pack:

"This is heavy..."

And with that, an awkward silence fell over the dining table.

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"You say you can't live without it, yet you don't even know how to make it? That's a ridiculous statement."

"Yeah, but let me ask you this—do you know the recipe for every single thing you love so much that it's to die for? Don't swallow your words now."

"Ram's favorite thing is everything Rem cooks. If Rem knows the recipe, there's no need for Ram to know it. That's different from Barusu demanding some mysterious mayo-whatever that no one knows about."

Subaru opened his mouth to fire back but found himself crushed under the weight of an undeniable truth—he was an only child. He had no doting sibling to fall back on, no personal chef willing to cater to his whims. Truly, this was the tragedy of his existence.

Abandoning the battle, he turned to Emilia, his last beacon of solace.

"Emilia-tan, my world is crumbling before my very eyes! Please, give me a hug to hold it together!" He threw his arms wide, an exaggerated display of neediness.

Emilia's expression softened into an awkward smile. "As much as I don't want to entertain your childish tantrum, I have to go and study, Subaru."

"Immediate rejection!" Subaru clutched his chest as if struck by an arrow.

Emilia giggled at his theatrics but then paused, a thought surfacing in her mind. "By the way, have any of you seen Tanaka lately?"

At her question, Subaru tensed, his bravado momentarily cracking. He swallowed hard, scrambling for an answer before Rem smoothly stepped in.

"He is assisting Beatrice-Sama in the forbidden library," she explained, her voice filled with gentle concern. "I hope Beatrice-Sama isn't being too strict with Tanaka-kun. He only just recovered from the forest incident, after all."

Crossing her arms, she scoffed. "Your worry is unnecessary, Rem. Tanuki is most likely slacking off—hiding away so that Ram doesn't assign him any mansion chores."

After the events that occurred, Ram recapped everything back to Roswaal, from her expelling Tanaka to her offering his job back, to the astonishing fact that Beatrice ordered for him to start working at the library. When presented with Beatrice's position in the mansion, there wasn't much room for debate. Regardless, the lord of the mansion wasn't bothered by the sudden change.

But in the contrary, he was amused. 

Emilia let out a small, amused laugh. "It was surprising, though. I've never seen Beatrice get along with anyone besides Puck."

Her violet eyes shimmered with something close to curiosity. It wasn't just that Beatrice tolerated Tanaka's presence—she had genuinely taken a liking to him. Emilia still remembered the way Beatrice had protested when Tanaka insisted on going back to the forest. The little spirit, usually aloof and haughty, had been visibly unsettled by the idea of losing him again.

"Well," Emilia said, shaking off her thoughts. "I'll be going now. Give it your best at work, Subaru."

"Emilia-tan giving me encouragement! My motivation has reached its absolute peak!" Subaru pumped his fists in the air, his spirit instantly revitalized.

With a final amused glance, Emilia turned and made her way out of the dining hall, leaving the rest of them to their conversation.

The time was shortly after breakfast, and the setting remained in the dining hall with fewer people present.

While tidying up the dining table after the meal, Subaru and Ram engaged in a lighthearted, low-stakes argument that didn't quite qualify as a quarrel.

Subaru collected the dishes from the table and handed them to Ram, who stood behind him pushing a cart. She moved the plates onto the cart with practiced ease, and while she didn't openly criticize Subaru's sluggish pace, she silently kept him company.

From an outsider's perspective, their interaction was highly inefficient, but it was part of Subaru's rehabilitation. Moreover, Ram had volunteered to assist him with this work.

Originally, Rem had eagerly volunteered to help Subaru in this role. However, her offer was rejected due to concerns about the mansion's operations grinding to a halt without her.

When comparing the downsides of having Ram assist Subaru to the downsides of having Rem do so, the latter was overwhelmingly worse. With nine-tenths of the mansion's workload resting on Rem's shoulders, her absence would reduce the completion rate of the household's tasks to just 10%.

It was no surprise her proposal was promptly denied.

"That awareness, if it improved a bit, would give you more confidence, don't you think?"

As Subaru collected the dishes and wiped the table with a cloth, he sighed lightly.

The mansion's workload relied heavily on Rem. While Ram wasn't slacking off, there was no denying the significant difference in their abilities.

Even so, Rem's tendency to undervalue herself hadn't changed much. She had started seeking some validation from others—mainly Subaru—which might be considered a step forward. Still...

"Even so, being bombarded 24/7 with questions like, 'How am I doing?', 'Am I doing this right?', 'Does it taste good?', 'Would you praise me?', 'Praise me, praise me, praise me!' gets mentally exhausting, you know?"

Subaru couldn't take back his own words, but the way Rem leaned on him emotionally was no joke.

He could only hope that this overwhelming intensity was just the result of her pent-up emotions spilling out all at once and that it would subside over time. If not, his post-recovery body wouldn't be able to keep up.

That said, Subaru had grown far too attached to Rem to dismiss her outright.

"That girl's stubborn self-deprecation runs deep. It's because Ram was too exceptional as a child."

"Doesn't it hurt to talk about yourself in the past tense and call yourself a genius? How full of yourself do you have to be to say something like that?"

"If you were facing the old Ram, Barusu, your head would already be separated from your shoulders. …Honestly, why must I have hope in someone like you?"

Ram sighed, exasperated. Subaru tilted his head, prompting her to continue.

Ram glanced at him with a pointed, disdainful look before elaborating.

"The narrow world Rem used to live in—Barusu and Tanuki, you two are foreign elements that entered it. That foreign elements might just shake things up and expand her world a little. That faint hope is what this beautiful girl, Ram, has dared to entertain."

"Your act is starting to overlap with mine, so watch out. Also Tanaka aside, don't put too much faith in me. I only do what I can, and even then, I often don't bother."

Subaru's motto was, "When in doubt, don't."

"You couldn't even abandon the village children, nor could you leave Rem alone. You even volunteered to act as bait so that Rem and I could escape. Stop pretending to be bad—it's giving me chills."

"Don't list my accomplishments! It's embarrassing to think back on them!"

Red-faced, Subaru crouched down and buried his face in his hands.

Although he had poured everything into breaking through the second loop, looking back, his actions felt out of character.

"That said, as her sister, I can't say I feel great about Rem's workload increasing all for the sake of that mayo-whatever, you know?"

"Well, Rem's a bit lost in terms of direction right now. She's trying too hard on every front, and at this rate, she's going to burn herself out. If we give her just one clear goal, at least she'll focus on that alone. She's a bit narrow-minded like that."

Despite her cool and composed demeanor, Rem was the type to go straight ahead once she fixated on something.

Conversations with Ram, where there was no need to worry about burdens or showing weakness, were refreshingly easy.

With a pleasant sense of fatigue and the satisfaction of enjoying the chat, Subaru removed his hands from the table where he had been leaning and straightened up.

"Well then, time to tackle the next task. After this—"

Just as he thought about helping with Rem's chores after finishing up in the cafeteria, the door to the dining hall burst open violently.

"Subaru-Kun! Sister!"

Standing in the doorway, breathing heavily and with a bright, glowing expression on her face, was Rem.

Her shoulders heaving from exertion, Rem looked over the tidied cafeteria with satisfaction and nodded.

"The cafeteria's cleanup is already finished. —With that, the morning chores are complete."

There were still nearly two hours left until the scheduled time for completing the morning tasks. Her statement subtly conveyed that she had worked so efficiently that she had skipped over all of it.

Imagining her whirlwind-like speed, Subaru and Ram couldn't help but shudder internally.

With the same radiant smile as always, Rem spread her arms wide in front of the two,

"Now then, it's finally time to make the 'mayonnaise'! Since we've finished everything early, we can try as many times as we want until lunch!"

The blue-haired girl clapped her hands eagerly, clearly brimming with excitement.

Above her beaming face, peeking out from behind her white headdress, was a pristine white horn gleaming with a beautiful luster.

"To think she even entered her Oni mode… What a joke, claiming this is a method to keep her from overworking."

"No, this is partly your fault for how you raised her, you know."

Subaru and Ram turned to each other, pointing out each other's shortcomings with petty stubbornness.

Meanwhile, in front of their bickering, Rem clasped her hands together and tilted her head quizzically.

From the top of her tilted head, her white horn sparkled brilliantly, reflecting the light.

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Everyone finished their work and embarked on the journey of trying to figure out the ingredients for mayonnaise. Suddenly, they hear the sharp crash of dishes falling in the kitchen. Alarmed and curious, they head toward the source of the noise. Upon entering, they find Beatrice in a flustered state, her usually composed demeanor cracked by panic, while Tanaka sits slumped in a chair, completely motionless—his body limp, as though he had passed out.