The Future

Subaru stood up and peered out the window, then hurried to the door and looked around in both directions. Only then did he let out a long breath and wipe the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Even in another world, this age was absolutely out of the question! Subaru didn't want to be hauled away by some otherworldly version of the cops for tea and pork cutlet rice.

Besides, he wasn't a pervert. Though her confession just now had been more serious than anything he'd heard in his life, this was a matter of principle.

"...Could it be... Subaru doesn't like Rem?" Subaru turned around and saw Rem looking at him with a wounded expression.

"No-! I do like you! I absolutely do! But... ahem! It's too early! You know that, right, Rem?!"

"Too early... Then if Rem asks again tonight, will she get a different answer?"

"That's not what I mean by 'early'! The time limit isn't within today! Anyway-"

"Go back. You're too young."

"...Then does Subaru hate Rem?" Rem's voice grew softer still, and the glimmer of tears in her eyes went from wounded to pitiful.

"Of course I don't hate you! If anything, I like you a lot! But!"

Subaru forcibly swallowed the "but" on the tip of his tongue, his face written all over with the struggle of How can I explain this without hurting her and still make her understand?

"The way I like you now absolutely can't turn into something else! You understand too, right, Rem? Do you know how old you are?"

Thanks to the way his parents had raised him from childhood, Subaru was stubbornly old-fashioned about this sort of thing. He believed a romantic relationship could only be seriously considered once both people were fully grown.

Even if this was another world, that didn't change.

"Could it be... Subaru, in that regard..." Rem raised a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes widening slightly.

"That's right-!" Subaru planted his hands on his hips and thrust out his chest with complete confidence. "Thanks to how my parents raised me, I'm very old-fashioned about this! A romantic relationship can only be properly considered once both people are adults!"

"...Then, if Rem grows into a wonderful adult in the future, will Subaru still reject Rem then?"

"Rem will work hard to become beautiful for Subaru."

"Well... can't we talk about that later?"

Subaru imagined it for a moment. Rem could be called the standard template for a budding otherworldly beauty-her short blue hair lay softly against her ears, and every line of her little face, which had yet to fully mature, was exquisite.

She was practically a different species from those noisy little kids in his old world who screamed at the drop of a hat.

It was no exaggeration to say that what a stunning beauty Rem would grow into really did make one look forward to the future.

"Subaru is so cute. He only looks two years older than Rem at most, but his views are so conservative."

A brilliant smile blossomed on Rem's face, and her teasing tone made Subaru squirm.

"...I don't want a kid making fun of me about this. And shouldn't Rem be a little more reserved? Aren't you being too impulsive?"

"No way. Rem isn't the kind of fool who knows exactly how she feels but uses all sorts of excuses to hide it."

A certain look of determination to get what she wanted shone on Rem's face.

"Rem doesn't want some strange woman to steal Subaru away. So Rem has to make it clear now. Rem is serious. She couldn't be more serious. Rem likes Subaru."

"...Hey, that statement doesn't fit your age at all. So you're love-brained too, huh?"

"Please don't worry. Rem will respect Subaru's wishes."

Rem folded her hands in front of her, her posture dignified and composed, but her words made Subaru feel as if his escape route was being pulled out from under him.

"Anyway, from now on, Rem won't leave Subaru's side for a single step. Once Rem grows up in the future, will Subaru properly respond to Rem's feelings then?"

"But the future isn't here yet. That question feels really dangerous..."

"But it simply wouldn't make sense if Subaru and Rem weren't together in the future."

Rem's expression turned serious, and a stubborn gleam rose in her eyes.

"Subaru... still owes Rem."

"...Owes?"

"That's right! When Subaru and Rem first met, Rem was the one who pulled Subaru out of the oil pool! Right?!" Rem abruptly stepped closer, and Subaru leaned back.

"...Y-yes, that's true..."

"Rem saved Subaru's life! Rem deserves the credit for that! So-!" Rem stepped closer again. Subaru had nowhere left to retreat as Rem braced both hands on the sofa's armrests and leaned down to look at him.

"Subaru has to repay the favor!"

"Wait, wait, wait! Isn't this script backwards?! Since when does a man repay a favor by offering himself in marriage?!"

"That's right! That's exactly what Rem wants!"

"She's not just love-brained! She's a carnivore too?!"

After all the commotion, Subaru let out a long breath. He needed to calm down. Did he really reject Rem's feelings? The answer, of course, was no.

He was even secretly delighted deep down. The reason he'd panicked so badly just now was that Rem's directness had caught him off guard.

But he had to make things clear to Rem now. Even if this was another world, some boundaries had to be respected-it was a matter of principle, and also a way of respecting those feelings.

Subaru forced himself to calm down and opened his mouth.

"Subaru doesn't need to say anything more."

But Rem spoke first, her voice calm and gentle.

"When Rem was little, most of the people in the village didn't like Rem very much. So Rem learned to be considerate at a young age. Even if adults don't finish what they're saying, Rem can guess what they mean."

"...Rem."

"Right now, Rem is a little disappointed."

"But she's also really happy. Because Subaru didn't just brush Rem off. Subaru is taking Rem's feelings seriously."

"...Yeah. I have to take them seriously. I don't want to deceive you while you're still young." Subaru confessed a little awkwardly.

"Then what kind of relationship do Rem and Subaru have now?"

"...I don't know how to define it." Subaru thought for a long time before choosing to tell the truth. He couldn't just give an answer that wasn't quite right.

"But to me, Rem is important. Really important. I want to travel a long, long way together with Rem. As for what we'd be to each other..."

"Childhood friends." Rem got the words out first.

Subaru's brain stalled for half a second. He didn't have time to comment on how even another world had the expression "childhood friends."

But on second thought, with his age reduced as it was now, they would grow up together, adventure together, and experience everything in this world together. In terms of the timeline, they really did fit the definition of childhood friends perfectly.

"...I guess that's about right."

Rem looked at him gently. "Rem is so happy. Yes, Rem understands. Rem will wait."

"Yeah. I can reserve that time in the future for Rem in advance." Subaru finally relaxed and gave her a smile.

"Right now, Rem is Subaru's childhood friend. But Rem won't wait too long." Rem held out her hand, raising the same little finger she had once used to make a pinky promise with him in the forest before him once more.

"Rem will work hard to grow up, work hard to get stronger, and work hard to become someone worthy of Subaru. Then, when Rem is fully grown, Subaru has to give Rem a proper answer."

Subaru reached out and hooked his finger around that little finger.

"...It's a promise."

"But until then, head pats are still okay, right?"

Rem withdrew her little finger and leaned her head toward Subaru, a lively, coaxing note returning to her voice.

"Of course! Head pats and praise are in unlimited supply!"

"Then-then what about hugs?!"

"...Yeah, I guess those are okay too."

"Then if there's something more Rem wants-"

"All right, all right, don't push it too far."

Rem buried her face in the crook of Subaru's shoulder and chuckled softly. Her voice came up from beneath his collar, carrying a little coaxing, a little slyness, and a probing attempt to push her luck.

"...The forehead and cheeks should be okay too, right?"