"So, what should I actually do with Emilia tomorrow?"
"Should I prepare a bouquet of fresh flowers or something...?"
Natsuki Subaru was completely immersed in his own world, utterly unable to extricate himself. His entire mind was consumed with thoughts of how to make tomorrow's "date" perfect.
"I think, rather than obsessing over that, you should think about how to get the two of you more time alone," Gojo Satoru suddenly suggested, watching Subaru's antics.
"Alone?"
"Rem is buying groceries tomorrow; she probably won't have much time to hang around us..." Subaru muttered subconsciously, but Beatrice, sitting nearby, seemed to catch on to something.
"Besides Rem, there's also Puck, isn't there?" Gojo said with a wink at Beatrice and a grin.
"How about this."
"Tomorrow, let Puck stay behind to keep Betty company, and then you and Emilia head to the village."
"That way, it'll be strictly just the two of you. No third wheels to interrupt."
Hearing this, a faint glint of anticipation flickered in Beatrice's beautiful eyes.
Because of the contract she made with the Witch of Greed, Echidna—whom she regarded as a mother—Beatrice had to wait in the Forbidden Library for the arrival of "That Person" before she could leave. Consequently, from the moment the contract was sealed, she had waited in this library for a staggering four hundred years.
Four hundred years of day following day, year following year.
Such a vast stretch of time was a torment for any sentient being confined to a single space. In those grueling years, Puck was one of the very few individuals who could truly make her happy. Naturally, she cherished every moment she spent with him.
So, hearing Gojo's proposal, she was secretly delighted. However, since she couldn't bring herself to show Gojo a smiling face, she maintained her usual detached expression.
"Satoru, you make a good point."
"But... would Puck really be willing?" Subaru thought about it and agreed with the logic, but he knew how clingy Puck was with Emilia. It was fine at the mansion since they were always nearby and safety wasn't an issue, but Puck would definitely be uneasy if they actually left the grounds.
"The village isn't some far-off land; it's right next to the mansion. Besides, it's not like Emilia is going alone. There won't be any problems."
"If you're really worried, just take the Conversation Mirrors. If anything happens, you can contact us instantly."
"I can guarantee you won't be in any danger," Gojo said with absolute confidence. Having said that, he turned to Beatrice. "By the way, Betty, the Mathers family has such a long heritage; surely they aren't so poor that they don't even have Conversation Mirrors?"
"Why should I tell you such a thing...?"
"Don't you want Puck to stay and play with you tomorrow?"
"Besides, I'm doing all this for your sake, Betty. I don't get anything out of it. Since I've been bothering you so much lately, I figured I should repay the favor somehow."
Looking at Gojo's smiling face, Beatrice really wanted to flatly refuse and then mock him mercilessly. But she simply couldn't turn down the terms he was offering. Puck usually spent the vast majority of his time with Emilia; the time he gave to her was pitifully small.
After a moment of silence, Beatrice finally gave a reluctant nod. "We have them."
"That settles it, then."
"Subaru, mention it to Roswaal tonight and borrow the mirrors. If you have them tomorrow, everything will be fine. If Puck is still worried, tell him to come talk to me directly."
Gojo's casual reassurance gave Subaru a massive boost of confidence.
"For real?!"
"For real."
"I'm going right now!"
When it came to anything involving Emilia, Subaru was exceptionally proactive. Without a second word, he bolted out of the Forbidden Library to find Roswaal.
"Well?" Gojo turned to Beatrice, extending a hand toward her. "Wasn't that a pretty solid move on my part? Let's try and get along peacefully, okay?"
"Save it. Don't think for a second that I'll forgive you just because you did something to get on Betty's good side, I suppose." Beatrice turned her head away, her tsundere side in full force.
"Man, you are tough to please."
The news that Subaru and Emilia were going to the village tomorrow spread through the entire mansion in no time. Faced with Subaru's request, Roswaal readily lent him a pair of Conversation Mirrors—Subaru took one, and Gojo kept the other.
The only one left with lingering doubts and worries was Puck. He sought Gojo out personally.
"Satoru, Subaru said if I didn't agree, I should come find you?"
In his room, Gojo was currently enjoying a dessert Rem had delivered. He waved warmly at the spirit. "You're finally here. I thought you'd show up sooner."
Puck floated slowly in front of Gojo, crossing his tiny arms. His expression wasn't his usual leisurely, cute self; instead, he looked quite serious.
"I know you're worried about Emilia's safety. But that village is very close to the mansion, and there shouldn't be any danger around. Of course, I know you still won't be at ease. So, I'm not going to use words to reassure you."
Gojo stood up and gestured for Puck to follow him. Puck stared at him, unsure of what he was planning.
The two left the mansion and came to a stop in the courtyard. Gojo stretched his arms and then looked into the distance as if searching for a specific spot.
"Hmm, right about there should do."
With that, Gojo signaled for Puck to come closer and then gently held the spirit in his hand. "See that spot over there? Don't blink."
The moment Gojo finished speaking, Puck felt his surroundings blur instantly. This blur lasted for only a fleeting second. In the next heartbeat, everything returned to normal, making it feel as if the previous change had been nothing but a hallucination.
However, when Puck regained his composure and looked around, a look of pure shock appeared on his small feline face.
Because at this moment, they were standing exactly where Gojo had pointed from back at the mansion. Puck turned his head and could clearly see the mansion behind them—the distance between the two points was at least several kilometers.
And yet, they had covered that distance in the blink of an eye.