A/N: Okay, here's the second part of this update!! I think you might find this one interesting XD This is chapter 64!! Please enjoy!!!
The following few weeks at school for everyone in Subaru's apartment were probably the most tiring because, even though some students believed Emilia's innocence quite readily once the police showed up to explain, some still thought that she was some sort of indecent woman who played every man she knew within her hands. On the day when Emilia went back to school, murmurs and whispers would still be heard wherever they went. However, with their classmates' encouragements and supports, and especially with what happened on the night Emilia went back home, they were coping with the situation just fine.
In fact, with Emilia's feelings expressed and how they should continue their life together discussed, Subaru found that Emilia was gradually changing. She still showed signs of being troubled and sadness from time to time due to the unreasonable people at school, but she also smiled more and looked happier whenever she was with Subaru. Emilia's cheerfulness was affecting everyone around her, and the atmosphere around them was getting better too. It was a good improvement, and Subaru, as well as Hinata, Aki, and Haruka, were all very pleased to see such changes.
It was March now, and as the end of the third semester approached, students were getting busy again with several different things. The first one was White Valentine's Day, on which those who received chocolates on Valentine's Day would return the giver with their own chocolates. Subaru and the girls didn't participate this time though, since on Valentine's Day, they had both given and received chocolates. However, some students used this day to hand Emilia their chocolates and say their apologies for hurting her so badly, so, in a way, this day also helped both Emilia and the school move on from that incident.
The second thing was the end of term club projects as well as their final exams. For the twelve graders, they weren't worried about exams since they would be graduating soon and shifted their focuses to the club projects. For the Anime Study Club, having received a very positive review from both the teachers and the students on their previous final project, they were working extra hard to produce something of the same quality, and Hinata was putting even more efforts in coming up with an idea to match the creativity of the White Whale.
The third thing was the future consultation for the twelfth graders, and this was something that troubled Subaru for quite a while. He was already determined that he would return to Lugnica with the four girls once a way back was found, but they didn't know how long it would take. What if it took years before they found a way back? What should they do when that really happened? If that was the case, they wouldn't be students forever, and eventually, they'd leave school and step into the real society. He wasn't worried about the girls because he knew they had abilities far better than his, but what about himself? Apart from that, he also had to come up with a plan for himself to satisfy both his teachers and parents. That was really a serious issue for Subaru.
"Ahhhhh, I dunno what to do..." Subaru sighed one day after they finished their homeroom, laying his face flat down on the desk and stretching out his arms. "Do what?" Aki asked, stretching his muscles as well. "My future..." Subaru mumbled, and Hinata chuckled. "You'll be fine, Subaru. You're not that type of people who just constantly worry over things like that." Hinata said, patting him on the back. "Well this time it's a bit more complicated." Subaru said, pulling himself back up and looking at his three friends.
"You've got your plans decided pretty much, haven't you?" He asked. Aki and Haruka gave him a shrug. "I wouldn't say it's one hundred percent decided, but we've got a direction." Aki said, and Haruka nodded. "Yeah, if nothing goes wrong we'll probably end up in the same sports university." Haruka said. "Uh-huh, that's what we thought about you two." Subaru and Hinata said in unison. "What 'bout you, Natsuno? The arts university you told us last time?" Aki said, and Hinata folded his arms.
"Hm, I'm definitely going for arts, that's for sure. But there're quite a few excellent other programs in the universities I applied to, so I'm still deciding what programs I want to go for in the end." He said, raising both his eyebrows alternatingly. "Yeah, that's something I need to figure out with the next few consultations." He said, and then all three of them looked back to Subaru. "Na, Natsuki, for you it's gap year first, right? And whether or not you go to university, you'll end up in Finland, right?" Haruka asked, and there was a small pause before Subaru nodded.
"...Yeah, that's right." He said slowly, nodding. Pausing again, Subaru was thinking rapidly, and a few more seconds later, he beckoned the three to come closer. They did so and formed a small circle. Subaru put his hand by his mouth and spoke in a whisper. "The thing is, Emilia-tan and the others might, well, go back once this semester is over. No keep it down!!" Subaru hissed the last bit as Hinata let out a yelp of surprise and sprang to his feet. "I know it's shocking, but it seems that their family wants them back by summer." Subaru said, pulling Hinata back down.
Technically, Subaru wasn't lying, as Roswaal did say that he might be able to find a way to steady the connection and form a way back to Lugnica, and from their estimation, that time might happen as soon as this summer. And the reason why Subaru said so was to help the three construct a better mental preparation. Hinata, Aki, and Haruka were the closest to the girls beside Subaru, and letting them know that the soonest time that they might be gone would be better to help them adjust when the inevitable goodbye came.
"...So, if they really left this summer, you'll go back along with them, is that correct?" Haruka asked in a whisper, and Subaru nodded. "Yes, I'll have to go with them no matter what. They're the reason why I continue to fight my way through life." He said firmly. "Not saying you're someone unimportant though. You mean a great deal to me, it's just that... the girls, especially Emilia and Rem... they've saved my life countless times." Subaru said, and, hearing the confidence about the girls from Subaru for the first time, the three let out a small sigh.
They then exchanged looks that told Subaru that they were having a silent conversation, and with a nod, they looked back to Subaru. "If that's what you decided, and if that's determined by yourself, we'll say go for it." Hinata said solemnly, looking Subaru in the eyes. "Yeah, if they're who made you find the reason to live on, then I'd say that's a good enough reason for us too." Haruka said with a small smile. "Yeah, these two basically said what I wanna say. Plus, once you got there, you can be our reason to visit Finland. Or we'd probably never get the chance to go to Europe." Aki said, and they all chuckled.
"If only that really happens..." Subaru thought sadly. "Alright then, with that cleared, we go back to you, Subaru. Your thoughts about your future?" Hinata said, and Subaru nodded. "Yeah, I think I've got it figured out after talking with you. University might not be the place where I would end up anytime soon." He said, and the three nodded in agreement. "You'll probably gain more useful skills outside school if what awaits you is, what was your job the family gave you again?" Aki said. "Some sort of family assistance I'd say. It really isn't just one single thing I do as a worker there." Subaru answered. "Well then, if that's what you're gonna do in the future, you'd probably want to experience more of the society as much as possible." Haruka said, holding her chin with her hand.
"I've already had plenty of those to be honest... haha, but a bit more would definitely help." Subaru said, forcing a smile as he remembered all the 'good old memories' in Lugnica. There was another small silence. "So the soonest you'll be gone is by summer, is it..." Hinata said, his voice trailing away, and the four all pulled themselves away from the circle they formed, looking up at the ceiling. "Sou nanoyo, as of now, that is our family's decision, Betty supposes." Beatrice's voice said suddenly, making all four of them jump out their seats in fright.
"BEA-KO?!?!" Subaru shouted as he fell backward and crashed into the neighboring seat that was empty. "Beatrice-san?! How long've you been there???" Hinata asked with a laugh as he got back up from the floor, rubbing the place where it bumped against the floor. "Betty was here when you formed the small circle, Betty supposes. She knew you didn't want to be disturbed so she just sat beside you and waited, in fact." Beatrice said, and glancing quickly at the clock, she turned to Subaru.
"There's something Betty needs to tell you, Subaru, Betty supposes. Could you come with Betty for a moment, in fact?" Beatrice asked, beckoning Subaru to go out the classroom with her. "Alright, Bea-ko." Subaru said, getting up. "I'll be right back." He added, and the three gave him a small wave as they watched the two leave. The two walked down the corridor to a corner where no one was there, and Beatrice spoke in a quiet voice to prevent themselves from being heard. "Betty sees that you're telling Natsuno-san and the others that we might be gone as soon as this summer. It is possible since Roswaal's next contact might be at around summer as we estimated, but Betty is sensing something, in fact. It is highly likely that Roswaal's contact might be made within a few days, Betty supposes." Beatrice said, looking serious.
"Within a few days?!" Subaru almost shouted out loud but managed to make it a whisper-shout. "Don't panic, Subaru. What Betty senses recently is something very similar to what she felt from the previous connection with Roswaal, Betty supposes, so Betty can be fairly certain with you that this contact will not be a portal back to Lugnica but possibly another call from a mirror, in fact. However, this call could mean that Roswaal's figured something out and wants to share that information with us, Betty supposes." Beatrice said, and taking in what he just heard, Subaru nodded.
"Alright, I understand now. Have you told Emilia, Rem, and Ram abou this?" He asked, and Beatrice shook her head. "Not yet, in fact, but she intends to tell them as soon as we get home today, Betty supposes." She replied. "Got it, Bea-ko. Thanks for coming and telling me this." Subaru said, patting her on the head. "No worries, Subaru. Betty wants to assure you that the parting with your friends wouldn't be abrupt, Betty supposes. The bell is ringing, Betty will be going back to her class now, in fact." Beatrice said and left as the bell chimed. "Ou, see you later, Bea-ko." Subaru said and went back to his classroom too.
The day went on without any trouble, and Subaru, whenever he had spare time, thought about what he would tell his teachers in their next consultation. After the conversation with Hinata and the others, Subaru was determined, but he still hoped to come up with a reasonable plan for himself in order to not cause any trouble or raise any suspicion. Soon, the classes of the day ended, and Subaru, along with his three friends and the four girls, headed back home together.
At the gate, when the eight were about to go, they saw Kishitsuji sensei and Matsushita sensei leaving as well. "Eh? Kishitsuji sensei? Matsushita sensei?" Hinata said in surprise when he found them approaching them, and the eight all turned around. "Good evening, students." Kishitsuji sensei greeted them while Matsushita sensei gave them a small wave. "Sensei, where're you heading for?" Subaru asked. "Oh, we've decided to call it an early day and pay Signor Presidente a visit." Matsushita sensei answered, smiling.
"Oh that's great! Then you can walk with us!" Hinata said excitedly, punching his hands in the air, and the next second Aki landed his fist on his left shoulder. "Man why do you always get so worked up over everything?" He said with a sigh. "Oh come on!! How many times do you get to walk home with your sensei in your career as a student??" Hinata said, rubbing his shoulder, and their senseis chuckled. "Thanks for your invitation, Natsuno-kun. Shall we go?" Matsushita sensei said, and chuckling again, the group walked off.
As they walked, Hinata was talking with Kishitsuji sensei about different arts programs he was hoping to apply offered by the universities and asking for advice from him, and Emilia and Rem were talking with Matsushita sensei about the exam contents that might come up. Unlike the twelfth graders, they still had their final exams to take, which would come up in just a few days. About ten minutes later, they arrived at the intersection where Hinata, Aki, and Haruka would go another way to their homes, and waving at their friends and senseis, the three walked off toward the different direction, leaving Subaru and the girls with their two senseis.
"Natsuki-kun, how are you feeling about your upcoming graduation?" Kishitsuji sensei asked suddenly. "Um, well, I'll surely miss walking to the school with my friends together, haha, and I'll probably be lonely from getting separated from Emilia-tan, Rem, Ram, and Bea-ko, but I'm quite looking forward to it actually." Subaru answered, chuckling. "Sensei, I've got my mind sorted out. Can I tell you about that tomorrow in more detail?" He said, and Kishitsuji sensei nodded approvingly. "Certainly, Natsuki-kun. I assume that you'd like to take a path that's not a regular one, am I right?" Kishitsuji sensei said sharply, and Subaru laughed. "Man sensei, you really read us like a book, don't you?" Subaru said, and the eccentric sensei gave him a small smile.
"No, I simply pay close attention on you. As you all know, I take education seriously." Kishitsuji sensei said. They were arriving at the door to Signor Presidente, and Kishitsuji sensei stopped and turned to Subaru, his expression looking softer than usual. "Natsuki-kun, I suppose we also owe you an apology." He said, and Subaru's eyes widened, surprised by the sudden and unexpected words from his sensei. "We are well aware of the bullying situation in the school, but we failed to prevent it from continuing to happen. I have argued many times with the principal about the situation, and as an educator, I am positive that he is also trying to make changes in order to counter bullying, but I suppose we are always just one step behind. We may have disagreed on many things, but we do agree that we need to make an environment that is suitable to all students." He said, looking steadily at Subaru in the eyes.
"We failed you as your senseis, and consequently you had to go through the horrible ordeal." He said, looking from Subaru to Emilia and back to Subaru, and bowed his head. "We apologize deeply for our ineptness." Kishitsuji sensei said, his head bowed, and standing beside him, Matsushita sensei did the same. This made Subaru lost all sorts of ability to respond. "W-Wait K-Kishitsuji sensei?! Matsushita sensei!? I-It's-- I'm-- uh-- It's alright please raise your heads!" Subaru spluttered. The girls also looked very shocked to see their senseis bowing their heads at them, and like Subaru, they didn't quite know what to do either.
Finally, Kishitsuji sensei and Matsushita sensei pulled themselves back up straight. "Kishitsuji sensei, Matsushita sensei, it's alright, really! The bullying in the school... well let's just say it's more complicated than you think, and I'm sure you've all done all you could to help us, so please, it's not your fault that it happened." Subaru said, finally speaking more normally. "You are very kind, Natsuki-kun." Kishitsuji sensei said. "We promise you, we will make the school a better place, where incidents that happened in this semester and the previous ones would never occur again." He said, reaching out a hand. "The first thing to do to realize that would be starting a revolution against the principal." Kishitsuji sensei added, and Subaru laughed as he took his hand and shook it.
"I believe in you, Kishitsuji sensei! And Matsushita sensei, please help us make sure the revolution is a peaceful one!" Subaru said, grinning, and Matsushita sensei nodded with a defeated smile. "I will make sure he never goes out of bounds, Natsuki-kun." She said, and the student and the sensei's hands parted. "Sensei, you're having dinner here, right? We'll be going now so we don't keep you occupied any longer. See you tomorrow!!" Subaru said, grinning, and waved at them. "See you tomorrow, Matsushita sensei, Kishitsuji sensei." The girls said, waving as well. Their senseis, waving, watched them walk off.
Noticing Matsushita senesi looking at him, Kishitsuji sensei spoke. "That was something which I have been meaning to tell him. I just found the moment suitable to do so, that was all." He said, pushing open the door to the restaurant. The restaurant was, like the many times they visited it, empty. "I do think it was a nice moment as well, Kishitsuji sensei." She replied. "I get a feeling that Natsuki-kun is a man who will achieve great things, and as his sensei, I cannot let myself fall behind." He said, pulling the chair out for Matsushita sensei. This was something he'd never really done before. Slightly surprised, she sat down. "You really have changed, haven't you?" She said as Kishitsuji sensei sat down.
"Last time we met them here, you were having a very different attitude, if I recall correctly." Matsushita sensei said, and Kishitsuji sensei closed his eyes. "My attitude was different, but my concerns were the same. But yes, I suppose you are right. I have changed. People change, after all, especially when there are strong influences around you." He said, and Antonella came up to them, holding two menus in her hands. "I saw you outside. I'll admit, I was quite impressed." She said as she handed them the menus. The two took them with a nod.
"To see something like that from you would have been unimaginable a year ago." Antonella said, and Kishitsuji sensei closed the menu with a small snap and handed it back to her. "Like I said, people change, and I am one of the creatures you call people as well. It is as simple as that." He said, and Antonella chuckled. Matsushita sensei handed the menu back to her as well. "The usual?" She said, and they nodded. "Alright, I'll be back soon." Antonella nodded and returned to the kitchen. Soon, she was back with their orders, and after placing them down in front of her customers, she sat down on the table beside them.
"I have something new to tell you." Antonella said, and the two turned to her, waiting. "Something new? You mean..." Matsushita sensei's voice trailed away as she looked at her with a slight frown. "I know I've told you that our family's just a distant branch and has been excluded already, but they seem to be making some really big moves that even reach our ears." Folding her arms, Antonella heaved a sigh. "I couldn't help but link what happened at your school with those rumors. From what you told me, the school's been quite chaotic since the Roswaal sisters transferred there, right? We didn't get to know much, but I could tell they're plotting things." She said, and this time, both sensei heaved a sigh as well.
"That family just does not stop, doesn't it, the Hihara family." Kishitsuji sensei said. Looking at the floor, Antonella bit her lower lip. Antonella Merlo, a magic user native to this world, had a really complicated family background. To explain it all at once would take hours, but to sum it up simply, it would be too difficult. What could describe her family effectively? Let us just say that her family and the Hihara family, the family that had an unnaturally large influence over the society under the surface, had a long and inseparable relation. "The bullying in the school really is more complicated than we think, Natsuki-kun, way beyond that." Kishitsuji sensei muttered. "What about you, Antonella-san? With them going about like that, should you..." Matsushita sensei asked uncertainly, and Antonella shrugged. "I should be fine. Like I told you, our family's long been excluded. They want nothing from a family who's useless to them." She answered.
There was a small silence. "Sorry, you two, for dragging you into this mess of a family issue." She said apologetically. "Don't worry about it," Kishitsuji sensei said simply. "That's what friends are for." Matsushita sensei added, smiling. The three had known each other since they were young, and Kishitsuji sensei and Matsushita sensei were both well aware of the situation Antonella was in. "...Thanks." Antonella replied, closing her eyes. "I'll just say one last thing. Please be careful. They seem to want to do whatever they're plotting soon, and if you ask me, the mistake in booking the trip for the graduating students, I wouldn't believe it to be an accident." She said finally.
"The mistake wasn't a mistake, you say... huh..." Kishitsuji sensei muttered under his breath. "But why would they do that? What do they want from the students? I mean, what possibly can the students give them??" Matsushita sensei asked, now sounding uneasy. "Sadly, I do not have a solid answer to that question. As far as I know, they have always been following some sort of creed passed down in their line, and this might be another thing they think fitting of what the creed says. Also, I supposes they do whatever they do to educate their future head of family, and they're simply using the school as a training ground for the future head of family." Antonella said, her hands clutching her arms tighter without her noticing.
"The creed, the creed, this term shows up more than often in our conversations, but you really never got a chance to know what exactly that is?" Kishitsuji sensei asked, turning to Antonella, but like the many times they had the conversation about the topic, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Kaname-kun. I've told you many times before, all I know is the existence of it, as well as the fact it is noted in a black, very old, and very odd book that no one could read. I do not know what the content of it is since it is only passed down in the main lineage and the closer branches." She said.
"But now we're back at the start again, aren't we? We still don't know why they want to get the whole school involved in, in whatever they are plotting." Anxious, Matsushita sensei looked pleadingly at Antonella, hoping to get an answer that was not the same as what they always got. Antonella sighed and opened her mouth to speak the response she had in mind again, which was that they do that to train the future head of family, after all, school is a miniature society reflective of the real one, but Kishitsuji sensei let out a sound of sudden comprehension.
"What is it, Kishitsuji sensei?" Matsushita sensei asked as they quickly looked over to him. His eyes, normally narrowed, were now wider than usual. His gaze, slowly, moved from Matsushita sensei to Antonella, and he spoke. "What if... what they want isn't the whole school but a few certain individuals that needed the involvement of the whole school in order for them to get?" He said, and immediately, Matsushita sensei understood what he was saying. The many incidents at school involving Emilia and Subaru seemed to have all clickled together. "Oh no..." She whispered, feeling a chill running down her spine.
"Kaname-kun, you're saying they're after the Roswaals...?" Antonella's slightly trembling voice asked, and ominously, Kishitsuji sensei nodded. "That is... just my speculation however. It is simply concluded from my personal opinions and possibly biased observations, so let us not directly jump to the worst case scenario." He said, attempting to ease the tense atmosphere, however, his ominous tone couldn't be more evident. "Let us hope everything that we discussed remains as speculations and not to be the truth..." Matsushita sensei muttered.
Exchanging looks once again, the two senseis picked up the utensils and started eating the food that was now cold sitting in front of them in a really uncomfortable silence. "Let it all just be mere speculations..." They all said in their minds quietly.
A/N: Alright, here's the second part of this update! Hope you don't find the last bit too confusing XD I did hinted before that Antonella would be someone more than a chief who could use magic though, in the character design chapter lol. Well, if you didn't see that before, now you know. You know what there's actually a little bit of stuff left that I want to write about. Originally I was planning to put it in this chapter too but I think it deserves to be one chapter alone. Anyway, moving on to the third part of the update!! The next should be the last chap of this update! Thanks for reading and please remember to vote and comment and follow me!!!