The next day, the sky still carried a dull glow over the training ground, as if the entire world was holding its breath. Emilia was standing, breathing deeply, hands slightly shaking, but looking firm. Beside her, Puck floated, face serious, something different in the shine of his eyes: it wasn't just protection, it was expectation.
Kenjaku watched the two in silence, arms crossed, a mix of carelessness and calculation in his eyes.
"If you go, everything will be fine for the frozen elves of Elior Forest." he said, as if he was just confirming something he already knew. "You'll get there before anything worse."
Emilia looked at him, eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"Are you… sure?"
"Yes," Kenjaku replied, without hesitation. "The ice won't break any sooner than it should. They'll be there, waiting."
Puck crossed his arms, looking from Kenjaku to Emilia.
"Then let's go," he said, voice firm. "We don't have time to brood anymore."
Emilia nodded, clasping her hands, and together, she and Puck began to walk away, following the path that led to Elior's Forest. The energy around them shifted, as if the air itself recognized that something important was about to happen.
When they were out of sight, Uraume turned to Kenjaku, voice harsh.
"And who's going to protect the forest if we're also going to get out of here?" she asked, irritated. "You're not just sending her there. You're paving the way for everything."
Kenjaku smiled, calmly, as if the idea of chaos was just another detail of the plan.
"Hanami will take care of that forest." he replied simply.
Uraume frowned, confused.
"Hanami…?" she repeated, pausing. "She came back to life?"
She stared at Kenjaku, as if trying to decide if he was mocking or telling something true.
"I said that the more sorcerers appear, the more cursed spirits will appear." Kenjaku confirmed, voice calm. "Not in exactly the way you imagine, but it's there. And Elior's forest is where it makes the most sense."
Uraume was silent for a few seconds, saying nothing. It was the first time he had seen that expression on her: something between surprise, distrust... and a glow almost of respect.
"So are we going to leave the forest in the hands of a spirit that you or whoever brought back out of nowhere?" she asked, sarcastic.
"Do you have someone better in mind?" Kenjaku replied, still smiling. "Besides, if she fails, there's always Emilia left. And she seems to be learning quickly."
Uraume snorted, but didn't argue further. Instead, he looked in the direction where Emilia and Puck had disappeared, as if he were trying to see beyond the forest line.
"If anything goes wrong with her there, you'll be the first one I point the finger at." she murmured.
"Showing empathy for the half-elf, that's new... I'll take it." Kenjaku replied, without hesitation.
Meanwhile, far ahead, Emilia and Puck walked in silence, the cold forest air closing in around them. The energy around the forest felt different now, as if something invisible was watching, watching, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
And, somewhere among the trees, an ancient presence opened its eyes, as if, at last, a new piece had entered the board.
Kenjaku was silent for a few moments, looking in the direction where Emilia and Puck had disappeared, as if he could still see the movement of her every step. Then, with a slight smile on the corner of his lips, he turned to Uraume.
"I messed with some little pieces in her head." he said, voice calm, as if he were talking about a simple game. "But she will only realize it at the right time. None before, none after. Everything has to fall into place."
Uraume crossed her arms, irritated, but with something curious hidden in her eyes.
"And you think she'll accept it when she finds out?" she asked, skeptical. "That you messed with her ideas like a… board."
Kenjaku laughed softly.
"She won't have a choice. When she understands, it will become part of who she is. And in the end, she may not even regret it."
He turned away, as if he were mentally closing that part of the conversation, and returned his gaze to the sky, as if reading an invisible path between the clouds.
"Now we go to the Pleiades Tower." he said, as if it were something obvious. "That's where we'll see the right moment."
Uraume raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Pleiades Tower?" he repeated, frowning. "Where the hell is that? I don't see anywhere like that anywhere near it."
"That's exactly why you can't see it." Kenjaku replied, with a mysterious smile. "It's a desert place, it's going to be hard work, but it's going to be fun, trust me."
Uraume stared at him for a few seconds, trying to understand if he was mocking or serious. She didn't like not knowing where she was stepping, but she also knew that when Kenjaku spoke like that, it was because something bigger was underway.
"And you're just going to… take me there without explaining anything?" she asked, annoyed.
"More or less," he replied, amused. "When the time is right, we'll summon from our world the being that the Witch of Envy so desperately wants to bring..."
Uraume huffed, but even grumbling, she ended up accepting. There was no point in arguing with him, especially when he seemed to have everything decided long before a word was spoken.
"Fine," she murmured, her voice low. "But if this Pleiades Tower is just another one of those crazy places you like to hide, I'll tear a piece off you."
Kenjaku laughed genuinely, as if the threat were more comforting than dangerous.
"I promise it won't just be another crazy place," he said, extending his hand as if opening an invisible path. "Come on, Uraume. The Pleiades Tower is waiting."
And, with a subtle movement, the air around them distorted. Uraume, hesitant but with no choice, followed Kenjaku, while the world around them seemed to dissolve for an instant, as if the entire space rearranged itself to take them to a point far from what anyone would call ordinary.
Still somewhere far away, Emilia and Puck continued towards the Elior Forest, unaware that, while they walked towards a destination they thought was only theirs, Kenjaku and Uraume were already in a place where everything that happened would be observed even before it happened.
Back to the Present...
Yuji woke up earlier than usual, his body still heavy from sleep, but the habit of training and battle insisting that he not stay in bed for even a minute longer. He opened his eyes slowly, still trying to focus on the faint light coming through the crack in the window… and then stopped.
Rem was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face serene, looking directly at him, as if she were observing his every breath.
"Rem?!" Yuji sat up with a start, his heart pounding. "What are you… what are you doing here?!"
She stared at him for a few seconds, without seeming at all embarrassed.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," she replied, her voice soft, but with a different glint in her eyes, something that mixed affection and concern. "Just like I do every morning."
Yuji ran a hand over his face, still dazed.
"Couldn't you… I don't know, knock on the door or something?" he asked, somewhat awkwardly. Rem tilted her head, as if pondering, but didn't really answer. Yuji sighed, gazing at the sky that was beginning to lighten.
"I'm going out for a bit today," he said, getting out of bed.
Rem frowned, intrigued.
"Where to?"
"I… promised I'd take everyone to that secret field, remember?" Yuji explained with a discreet smile. "You, Remi, Ram, Beatrice, Emilia… I said it would be a walk."
Rem's face lit up slightly, a glow he didn't quite know how to interpret, but which left something strangely warm in his chest.
"I see…" she murmured. "So that's what you want to do today."
"Yes…" Yuji confirmed, picking up the folded shirt from the chair. "But I'm going now. I need to see if the path is safe, if there won't be… anything strange."
Rem remained silent for a few moments, staring intently at him.
"So…" she said slowly. "I'll wait at the mansion."
Yuji glanced at her sideways, slightly surprised by the speed of her acceptance.
"You don't want to come along?"
"I'll make the snacks," Rem repeated, maintaining eye contact. "If you went all the way for us once, I can wait all the way again."
Yuji felt a strange weight in those words, as if she wasn't just talking about the outing, but something else. He didn't quite know what to say, so he just nodded.
"Well…" he replied, trying to return to a light tone. "Then wait at the mansion. If I take too long, then you can come looking for me."
"Promise you won't be long," Rem said, with a slight touch of severity in her tone.
"I promise," Yuji replied, already reaching the door. He looked at her for a moment, recognizing something he couldn't name, but which seemed to make the whole world make more sense. "And I'll take you all to the field. All of you."
Rem nodded, without a smile, but with a different gleam in her eyes.
Yuji left the room, closing the door behind him, and crossed the mansion's hallway, feeling the weight of the promise resting on his shoulders. The flowery field awaited, distant, serene, like a paradise untouched by curse or war.
And as he walked toward the mansion gate, he knew that somewhere, Mahito and all the other eyes watching the world were just waiting for the right moment to disrupt everything he was trying to protect.
Yuji walked through the mansion's corridors, still adjusting his shirt, when he turned a corner and almost bumped into someone.
"Remi?!" he stopped, surprised. "You woke up this early?"
Remi, her eyes still half-asleep but already with a slight smile on her face, tilted her head.
"Ram forced me," she replied, in a tone that mixed complaint and acceptance. "She said I couldn't sleep anymore."
Yuji chuckled softly, knowing Ram's ways well.
"Yeah, I know how harsh Ram can be with her words..." he said, shaking his head. "She doesn't give you a break."
Remi giggled, but then looked at him curiously.
"Are you going out?" "I'm going," Yuji confirmed.
"Is it something related to… our date?" she asked, a hopeful glint in her eyes.
Yuji blinked, surprised. He didn't consider it a *date*, especially since he intended to invite everyone from the mansion—Rem, Ram, Beatrice, Emilia—but something about the way she phrased it made him hesitate to correct her.
Instead, he gave a discreet smile.
"It's a secret…" he replied, winking.
Remi's eyes widened, clearly intrigued, but Yuji was already walking away.
"I'll be right back!" he said, waving over his shoulder.
He left through the side door of the mansion, the cool morning air brushing against his face, and headed straight for the path leading to the flowery field. The route was familiar now, every curve as known as the veins in his own hands.
"I'll be right back!" he said, waving over his shoulder.
He left through the side door of the mansion, the cool morning air brushing his face, and headed straight for the path leading to the flowery field. The path was familiar now, every curve as known as the veins in his own hands. When he arrived, the field was exactly as he remembered it, no, even more beautiful.
The flowers stretched in every direction, a sea of colorful petals that seemed to defy the logic of the world around it. Red, blue, purple, white, all swaying gently in the wind, as if breathing in sync. The morning sun illuminated everything with a soft golden light, transforming the place into something almost magical, like a piece of paradise forgotten by the rest of the world.
Yuji stopped at the edge of the field, hands in his pockets, just observing. It was exactly the kind of place he wanted to show them, a respite, a moment of peace amidst everything that was happening.
He sat on the grass, leaning against a tree, and closed his eyes for a moment, letting the scent of the flowers and the sound of the wind envelop him.
"It'll be alright..." he thought. "Just a quiet day."
Yuji sat on the grass, his eyes half-closed, letting the gentle breeze and the scent of the flowers envelop him in a rare calm. The flowery field seemed untouched, perfect, as if the world outside, with its curses, attacks, and responsibilities, couldn't reach him there.
Then, his gaze wandered far away, beyond the nearest flowers, to an isolated spot in the grass.
Until...
A woman with light pink hair and pale skin sat cross-legged, seemingly naked. Her body seemed almost to merge with the surroundings, as if it were part of nature itself. Yuji blinked, confused, trying to understand if he was seeing correctly.
He stood up slowly, his heart racing slightly, and began to approach, his steps hesitant. As he got closer, he realized it wasn't exactly complete nudity; a transparent, almost invisible veil covered her private parts, like a layer of air that moved with her, subtle but present.
Her left forearm wasn't there. Just the emptiness where it should have been.
And her eyes… the sclera was completely black, contrasting with the white of the rest of her gaze, as if she were seeing through something Yuji couldn't see.
#01
He stopped a few meters away, somewhat embarrassed, scratching the back of his neck.
"H-Hey… aren't you… cold?" he asked, his voice a little louder than usual, trying not to look directly at her body.
She didn't answer. She just stared at him, her head slightly tilted, her black eyes fixed on him, as if she were analyzing something she didn't fully understand herself.
The silence stretched out, heavy, broken only by the rustling of the flowers around them. Yuji felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the wind; something about that presence was familiar, but in a way he couldn't name.
She continued without saying anything, just observing, as if time itself had stopped just for that moment. Yuji stood there, feeling the weight of that fixed, dark gaze on him. He couldn't tell if she was a fairy, a spirit, or something else entirely. The way she sat, motionless, with that transparent veil as her only protection from the world, didn't seem human, but it didn't seem hostile either.
She also didn't seem like someone who was very keen to talk.
But then, after a long silence, she finally opened her mouth, her voice low, almost as if carried by the surrounding wind.
"Where… am I?" she asked.
Yuji blinked, relieved that she had spoken.
"In the village of Arlam," she replied, pointing behind her. "Near Lord Roswaal's residence. It's a flowery field nearby."
She frowned slightly, as if those names made no sense to her.
"Village of… Arlam? Roswaal?" she repeated, her voice devoid of recognition.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, unsure how to explain further.
"Yes…" he began. "This is where we are."
She remained silent for a few more seconds, looking around, as if trying to fit the scene into some memory she didn't have. Then she asked:
"What era are we in?"
Yuji hesitated. He couldn't tell. Time in this world didn't work as he knew it. Days blended together, events happened out of order, and he still hadn't found a calendar that made sense.
"I... I don't know for sure," he admitted.
That's when she narrowed her eyes, as if she had deduced something. Without hiding anything, she asked directly:
"If you don't know what era we're in... It's not hard to deduce that you're not from this era either. You were also in the Culling Game, weren't you? I feel your Cursed energy from here."
Yuji saw no reason to lie. He shrugged, honestly.
"I admit I'm not good at lying..." he said. "I was also pulled here and this is where I am now."
She stared at him for another long moment, as if weighing each of his words. The silence returned, but now it carried a different weight, as if she had found a missing piece in a much larger puzzle. Yuji waited, unsure whether he should ask her name, or if it was better to simply stand there, in the middle of the flowery field, while the world around them seemed to hold its breath.
Yuji couldn't help but notice her missing left arm, the empty space where the sleeve of her transparent veil should have been. It was something that drew attention, not only because of its absence, but because of the natural way she seemed to deal with it.
"You… lost it during a fight?" he asked hesitantly, pointing with his chin.
She looked at her own empty shoulder for a moment, then returned her dark gaze to him.
"Yes," she replied dryly, without emotion.
Yuji nodded, as if he understood more than he actually did. Then, without thinking twice, he said:
"I can heal you."
She stared at him disdainfully, an eyebrow raised, as if he had proposed something ridiculous.
"What do you gain by helping someone like me?" she asked, her voice heavy with distrust.
Yuji shrugged, simple, honest.
"We're not in the Culling Game anymore," he replied. "So I don't see a problem."
Before she could protest further, he was already acting. He concentrated reverse cursed energy in the palm of his right hand, a bluish, unstable glow forming between his fingers. He extended his hand toward her shoulder, carefully channeling the flow, as he had in past battles.
The energy enveloped the emptiness of her left arm, weaving flesh, bone, and skin back into place. The process was quick, but visible, tendons connecting, muscles forming, until a complete, pale, and perfect arm emerged where there had been nothing before.
She flexed her new fingers, surprised despite herself, looking at her restored hand.
But then, Yuji felt the pain.
His own left arm began to tremble, the skin cracking, the muscles disintegrating as if the energy had decided to exact its price there. In seconds, her entire arm dissolved, leaving only her empty shoulder, identical to what she had before.
He gritted his teeth, but maintained his smile, as if it were just another scratch.
"C-Calm down!... This is normal..." he explained, breathless but firm. "For some reason, this is what happens when I use reverse cursed energy on someone. The cost always falls on me."
She stared at him, now without disdain, but with something new in her dark eyes, a mixture of disbelief and… respect?
The flowery field around them seemed even quieter, as if the flowers had witnessed something that changed the rules of the game she thought she knew.
She flexed her new arm once more, still staring at Yuji with those dark eyes full of doubt. Silently, she murmured to herself, almost inaudibly:
"Is he crazy… or too charitable?"
Then, she raised her gaze directly to him. "What's your name?"
"Yuji..." he replied simply, with a slight smile despite the recent pain. "Yuji Itadori."
She nodded slowly, as if memorizing the name.
"Uro Takako..." she said finally, introducing herself.
The next few minutes passed in an awkward but not uncomfortable silence. Yuji sat down on the grass, taking a deep breath to catch his breath, and then concentrated again. Reverse cursed energy flashed in his right hand, weaker this time, but determined. He channeled it into his own empty shoulder, weaving back flesh and bone with visible effort, sweat dripping down his forehead. Finally, his left arm formed completely, and he let out a relieved sigh, flexing his fingers.
"I waste a lot of cursed energy doing this." he explained, panting, but laughing quietly. "But today I'm off, so I can spend it getting my arm back later."
Uro observed him for a long moment, his expression indecipherable, before speaking:
"You're too innocent. Trusting your life to someone you just met…"
She stood up slowly, the transparent veil moving like an extension of her skin. With a subtle gesture, she pulled it over her entire body, like a curtain of air that distorted the light around it. Within seconds, Uro Takako completely disappeared from the scene, leaving only the swaying flowers as proof that she had been there.
Yuji stood still, looking at the empty space, a light sadness tightening his chest.
"Damn... She didn't even say goodbye..." he murmured, scratching the back of his head.
He got up, brushing the grass off his clothes, and decided to go back. It was time to call the mansion staff, Rem, Remi, Ram, Beatrice, Emilia. The flower field was still perfect, and he wasn't going to let this strange encounter ruin the trip he had promised.
Yuji entered the mansion, still with the scent of flowers clinging to his clothes and a slight fatigue from the energy spent in the field. As soon as he crossed the door, a pleasant smell invaded his senses, something warm, comforting, with touches of herbs and roasted meat.
Coming from the kitchen.
He followed the scent instinctively, stopping at the entrance to the kitchen, where Rem was stirring a pot with precision, her face focused but serene.
"Rem-rin… that smells good." Yuji said without thinking, inhaling deeply.
She turned her face to him, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Thank you, Yuji-kun." she replied, voice soft.
Yuji smiled playfully, pointing to the pan.
"Whoever marries you will be very lucky." he said, imagining the daily meals to come."Imagine eating all that every day!"
Rem blushed even more, lowering her eyes for a moment, but then looked up with a different, almost provocative glow.
"Then you are very lucky." she murmured, the line coming out soft but direct.
Yuji blinked, not immediately understanding the double meaning, processing the words as he tried to respond.
Before he could say anything, the kitchen door opened with a dramatic bang.
"Yuji! Save me!" Remi appeared at the entrance, making an exaggerated fake cry, hands on her chest.
#02
"Ram is enslaving me! She made me clean the entire attic!"
Yuji laughed, the light mood returning instantly, while Rem rolled her eyes, but with a restrained smile.
"Remi, stop the drama." he said, still laughing. "Come on, I came to call everyone for the ride. The secret field is perfect today."
Remi stopped the fake crying immediately, eyes shining.
"Really?! Then I will!" he exclaimed, already forgetting any complaints about Ram.
Rem watched the two in silence, the blush still on her cheeks, while Yuji, oblivious to the previous flirtation, was already planning how to convince Beatrice and Emilia to join the group.
Ram appeared at the kitchen door moments later, arms crossed, expression as impassive as ever.
Yuji turned to her, still with the smile of invitation ready.
"Ram, want to come with us?" he asked excitedly. "Let's go to the flower field, it'll be nice."
Ram stared at him for a second, eyebrow raised in pure disdain.
"I don't have time for such stupid antics, Yui-j." he replied, dryly, his voice full of irritation. "Go play with the others."
Yuji felt a pang of internal anger, but he kept the smile on his face, accustomed to her way. Before he could retort, Rem intervened, voice soft but firm.
"Onee-sama, please…" She asked, looking at her sister with pleading eyes. "Come with us. It'll be good."
Ram hesitated for a moment, her gaze softening just a little as she looked at Rem. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he gave in.
"It's okay, just because you asked, dear sister." he muttered, rolling his eyes. "But if it's boring, I'll come right back."
Yuji was internally enraged at the hypocrisy. "Why does she always accept when it's Rem asking?" but he swallowed his frustration, forcing a bigger smile.
"Great! Everyone together then." he said, already turning around. "Let's call Emilia now."
The group: Yuji, Rem, Remi, and a reluctant Ram—followed down the mansion's hallway to Emilia's room. Remi was still chattering excitedly about the flowery field, while Rem walked silently beside Yuji, a slight blush lingering on her cheeks. Ram followed behind, as if merely tolerating everyone's existence.
Yuji knocked on Emilia's door, his heart racing slightly for no apparent reason.
"Emilia-chan?" he called. "Let's go for the walk I promised. Are you coming?"
Emilia opened the door with a gentle smile, already ready, her silver hair loose and wearing a light dress that seemed made for a day outdoors.
"I'm in!" she said excitedly, looking at the group. "Only Beatrice is missing, right?"
Yuji nodded confidently.
"Exactly. How are we going to get to her?" Emilia asked curiously.
"Easy," Yuji replied with a mischievous smile. He approached a random door in the hallway, any door, and opened it without ceremony.
On the other side, Beatrice's forbidden library materialized, filled with endless shelves and the smell of old paper. Beatrice was there, seated in her armchair, reading a thick tome with total concentration.
She raised her blue eyes, frowning instantly.
"This again?!" she grumbled, slamming the book shut. "It's annoying how easily you get to the library, I suppose."
Yuji laughed, unfazed. "Bea-chan, come with us to the flower field? It'll be fun, I promise."
She huffed, crossing her arms.
"I refuse, I suppose. I prefer my books to your outdoor antics. Besides, I have a contract that prevents me from freely straying too far from the library, I suppose."
Before Yuji could insist, Puck appeared floating beside her, with his cute little face and bright eyes.
"Come on, Beako!" Puck pleaded, his voice sweet and persuasive. "Just one day out. It'll be fun!"
Beatrice hesitated, her face softening against her will at Puck's irresistible cuteness. With an exaggerated sigh, she gave in.
"...Okay, I suppose," she murmured reluctantly. "But only because big brother asked."
She stood up, adjusting her dress, and looked at Yuji.
"I'll make a little contract with you, you annoying ant. That way I can leave the library for a day without problems, I suppose."
Yuji extended his hand, feeling a familiar tingle of energy as the contract sealed. "This sounds exactly like a Binding Vow," he thought, remembering the curse rules he knew so well.
"Done!" Beatrice confirmed, satisfied. "Now we can go, I suppose."
The whole group: Yuji, Rem, Remi, Ram, Emilia, and Beatrice with Puck on her shoulder, finally left the mansion, heading towards the flowery field, the afternoon sun promising a perfect day… at least for now.
Everyone was gathered at the mansion's door, the excited group ready to leave, when a characteristic giggle echoed through the courtyard.
Roswaal appeared, walking with his theatrical manner, a wide smile and multicolored eyes shining with amusement.
"Oh~?" he said, his voice drawling and teasing. "Why is Itadori-kun stealing all the girls from MY mansion and RUNNING AWAY with them, I wonder~?"
Ram immediately crossed her arms, looking at Yuji with disdain.
"Roswaal-sama, he plans to kidnap them all and make my little sister his wife," she said dryly, as if it were a fait accompli.
Rem didn't deny it, only lowered her eyes with a slight blush, a shy little smile on her lips.
Yuji turned red instantly, waving his hands in panic.
"N-no, it's nothing like that!" he denied, his voice loud and nervous. "I'm just taking everyone to the flower field, as promised! It's a normal outing!"
Roswaal laughed even harder, clapping slowly.
"How convenient~" he teased. "Well, I was wanting to get some fresh air, in that case, I'll go too! I can't let my butler run off with all my precious things unsupervised~"
Yuji swallowed hard, clearly not wanting to, but lacking the courage to say no to his boss.
"O-of course, Lord Roswaal…" he murmured, forcing a smile.
Emilia giggled softly, Puck floated excitedly on her shoulder, Beatrice rolled her eyes, and Remi jumped for joy. Ram merely snorted, while Rem watched Yuji with a discreet glint of satisfaction.
The group, now involuntarily larger, continued along the path, with Roswaal bringing up the rear and Yuji feeling the weight of all the stares, especially the mage's provocative one.
They finally arrived at the secret field, the flowery field that Yuji had promised. The place was even more impressive in the afternoon light: an endless carpet of colorful petals stretching as far as the eye could see, flowers swaying gently in the breeze, the air laden with a sweet, fresh perfume that seemed to wash away any worries.
The group stopped at the edge, admiring the view. Emilia let out an enchanted sigh, Puck floated excitedly, Beatrice crossed her arms feigning disinterest, Remi jumped for joy, and even Ram raised an eyebrow in silent approval. Roswaal chuckled softly, as if he knew something the others didn't.
Without wasting any time, Rem and Ram immediately got organized. Rem spread a large blanket on the soft grass, while Ram took the plates, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and her famous pancakes from the basket, all perfectly arranged.
"Let's have a picnic, onee-sama," Rem announced, her voice soft but cheerful, carefully arranging the cutlery.
Ram nodded, placing a platter of pancakes in the center.
"Don't eat it all at once, Yui-j," she warned Yuji, but in a less cutting tone than usual.
The group sat in a circle, the sun warming their skin, laughter beginning to echo as Rem served tea and Ram cut fruit. For a moment, the world seemed perfect: flowers, food, friends, no curses or threats in sight.
Yuji smiled, satisfied, feeling that every second of planning had been worthwhile.
Yuji watched the group enjoying themselves, each in their own way: Emilia picking flowers with Puck, Remi lying on the grass, Beatrice reading a borrowed book while complaining about the sun, Ram serving more pancakes with relentless efficiency, Roswaal making theatrical comments that elicited reluctant laughter.
It was perfect.
Silently, he moved away a little, walking to the edge of the flowery field, where the flowers gave way to a row of low trees. He sat on the grass, gazing at the horizon, his mind elsewhere.
"The calm is good..." he thought. "But I know this won't last forever." He had to find Mahito. The attack on the village wasn't a coincidence. That monster was here, plotting something. What if his friends had been pulled into this world, like him… Yuta, Higuruma, Maki… who had survived the battle against Sukuna? Who had died? He needed to know, he needed to go after them, return to his world.
"Hajime Kashime is definitely dead. Higuruma, I want to believe he didn't die. Yuta returned after killing Kenjaku, but was then taken by Rika after being seriously wounded by Sukuna. Maki took a very strong Black Flash to the stomach, but I'm sure she's alive. Kusakabe-sensei wasn't badly injured; he seemed to be pretending to be dead. Choso… If Megumi is here, inevitably, Sukuna will be too."
He was so distracted, lost in thought, that he didn't hear the light footsteps approaching.
"Yuji-kun?" Rem's soft voice cut through the silence. She stopped beside him, her expression worried. "What's wrong?"
He looked up, forcing a quick smile.
"Nothing, just… thinking," he murmured, looking away. He didn't want to talk, not now.
Rem understood immediately. Without insisting, without asking, she simply sat down beside him on the grass, her shoulder almost touching his, but respecting his space.
The two remained quiet, alone amidst the flowery field, the distant sound of the group's laughter like a soft echo. The wind rustled the flowers around them, and for a moment, her silent presence was enough to make the weight on his shoulders a little lighter.
They remained silent for a while, simply gazing at the flowery field ahead. The colorful petals danced with the gentle breeze, a peaceful contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts in Yuji's head. Rem kept her hands in her lap, her posture straight but relaxed, as if his mere presence was enough for her.
Yuji broke the silence first, his voice low, almost hesitant. "Rem… why are you so kind to me?" he asked, looking at the flowers instead of at her. "Like… I don't know. I know I saved your life, but we've only known each other for a week."
She turned her face slowly, her blue eyes fixed on him with a gentle intensity.
"At first… I suspected you, because of the Witch's scent," she admitted sincerely, a slight nostalgic smile on her lips. "You appeared and helped Emilia-sama recover her medallion, fought those maju in the village, and helped me overcome my trauma. Tell me, how could I not like you?"
Yuji nodded, remembering her suspicious look during the first few days at the mansion.
"Hmm…" he murmured. "I understand you being suspicious of me at first, I would understand."
"But then… I saw what you're like," Rem continued, her voice firming. "You don't ask for anything in return." "You saves everyone without a second thought, works hard as a butler, and still smiles through it all. You're a good person, Yuji. Not the kind who pretends to be what he's not, you're the kind who simply is. Understand?"
#03
He felt his chest tighten at her words, a warmth rising to his face. He finally looked at her, surprised by the conviction in her gaze.
"And… there's more." Rem continued, lowering her eyes for a moment, blushing slightly. "You saved my life in that village. Against that Mahito guy, and the Majus. I owe you my life. So, I'll do my best to repay that favor. Not just cooking or cleaning, but being by your side. Whenever you need me."
Yuji blinked, processing the words. There was something more there, something beyond gratitude, but he couldn't name it. Instead, he gave a genuine smile, the first real one since he'd left the group.
"Wow… You don't owe me anything, Rem," he said sincerely. "I did it because it was the right thing to do. But."
She returned the smile, a soft glint in her eyes, and slowly stood up, extending her hand to him.
"It's that 'I did it because it was the right thing to do' that makes you who you are now." she said in a soft voice. "The others will notice our absence."
Yuji took her hand, feeling the comforting warmth of her touch, and stood up beside her. They walked back to the picnic in a knowing silence, the weight on his shoulders a little lighter, as the distant laughter of the group greeted them again.
As Rem slowly walked away, returning to the group with one last gentle glance over her shoulder, Yuji felt a sudden shiver run down his spine. A soft whisper, almost like the wind through the flowers, brushed his right ear.
#04
"Thank you for the arm… stud."
He turned his head quickly, his heart racing, but found only the emptiness of the flowery field. Uro Takako had vanished again, as suddenly as she had appeared, leaving only the provocative echo of her voice in the air.
Yuji blinked, scratching his ear, a mixture of surprise and amusement on his face. He was at peace with it after all; she was alive, whole, and the price he had paid was nothing new. But despite the calm of the moment, something heavier bothered him in the back of his mind, like a shadow that wouldn't leave him alone.
The Royal Selection.
The rumors in the mansion, the whispered conversations between Ram and Roswaal, the political weight Emilia carried without complaint… all of that seemed to be drawing closer, as if the perfect picnic was just a pause before something bigger swallowed them all. Yuji frowned, looking at Emilia laughing with Puck in the distance, feeling that his presence in this world was about to complicate things he barely understood even further.
"Next week… The Royal Selection will begin."
End of Chapter 14