A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 2 - Part 3

"Yeah, it sure helped him to have several beautiful girls giving me emotional support. I won't be that lucky with my shitty personality and not so good-looking face."

"You reek of pessimism." A voice mocked behind me.

"Hey, Puck." I sighed, accepting that my moment of peaceful private introspection was over. "I'd like to say it's nice to see you, but you'd know better."

"Of course, since I can read your mind!" His laughter sounded artificial, as did his cheerful demeanor. "But don't worry, the feeling is mutual."

That damn cat had frozen my body to death, but that had been in a world almost no one remembered, so I couldn't openly hate him, and for similar reasons, neither could he hate me.

"I guess we can be secret enemies?" Puck suggested.

"Wow, now you sound like Betty." I complained. "It doesn't suit you."

"Hahaha, I know."

We fell silent. A glimmer behind me made me turn my head, and I saw Emilia surrounded by lesser spirits, talking to them as if they were a group of friends.

She just stood there, with dim lights illuminating her figure. I felt like I was seeing perfection incarnate. I could have stared at her for hours.

"How beautiful." I murmured automatically.

I didn't understand why my pulse was racing for Emilia. It was as if I was forced to fall in love with her. It was unfair; why did I have to love her if I didn't want to?

"Now that's ironic." Puck sounded bitter.

I had an idea of what he meant, but I forced myself to think of something else. I preferred to keep my knowledge away from Puck's mind-reading powers.

Turning my attention away from the half-elf and her guard, I glanced back at the mansion. A small but prominent figure was watching me with analytical eyes from one of the windows.

Smiling, I turned to her and waved my hand. Although I couldn't hear her from where I was standing, I could imagine her 'hmph' as she turned her back on me and walked down the hallway.

I think the normal thing would be to feel tenderness, but in my case, Betty's attitude was annoying. I'm not a fan of tsunderes, and I grew out of my lolicon phase a long time ago.

I pray that no trace of that remains inside me.

"It 's going to be difficult to get along with her... At least until I can get her out of that library."

"Why do you two look so uncomfortable?"

Emilia was already back. Puck and I exchanged a glance, reminding each other that we'd agreed to sweep our feud under the rug.

Then Puck pointed at me.

"I was telling this guy that he better treat you well, otherwise I'll have to turn him into a block of ice."

"Yes, you are perfectly capable of doing that."

The half-elf looked at us curiously at the underlying tension of our interaction.

"You speak as if you are already familiar with each other."

"Hahaha..."

Puck stuck out his tongue without further explanation, placing the responsibility on me.

"You'd be surprised how much you can learn about someone by just talking to them." I said as the cat scratched the back of his neck, nodding.

"Is that so? In that case, I'd like to talk to you more."