Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

The icy wind was blowing strongly, filtering through every corner of the mansion. Outside, the icy landscape looked like something out of a winter fairy tale, but inside it wasn't much better.

Didn't I close the window last night? Damn... " Kaoru thought as he stirred in bed, his body feeling the cold as if he were in a freezer.

The morning was cold, freezing like never before. Kaoru tried to move, but his limbs didn't respond as they should. "What the hell... Why can't I feel my hands? I totally wrapped up in the blanket before I crashed, right?... Well, at least I'm not dead. Although someone with little blood and extreme cold shouldn't be far from that."

A stabbing pain in his chest forced him to inhale deeply, though he could barely breathe.

"What is this? I'm choking! Is my nose blocked?" he thought, struggling to get some air.

With sleepy eyes, Kaoru tried to open his eyelids, but that was a difficult task. He noticed small ice crystals forming on his eyelashes as his blurred vision slowly focused on his hands. They were paler than normal, almost translucent, as if life were draining from them. He tried to blink to clear his vision, but the movement hurt because his eyelids were half-frozen.

"Ughh... Did they put me in a freezer or something?" He muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

He brought a trembling hand to his nose, and at the contact with the extreme cold, a shiver ran through his entire body. "What...?" he thought when he noticed something strange. Not only was his nose frozen, but it had two small stalactites hanging from it. Even his long hair had frozen strands in it, and when he tried to move it, it felt like it was made of stiff wire.

He looked around, trying to understand what was happening. The walls of the room were covered in frost, the desk had stalactites hanging from its edge, and the chair was completely frozen. It all looked like something out of a winter nightmare.

"Am I in Eleum Loyce? Because this cold is killing me more than the bosses, shit."

Kaoru took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but the cold was relentless. He looked around again and shook his head. "No matter how you look at it, this doesn't make any fuckin sense."

---

Kaoru stood in the kitchen, wrapped in a thick blanket, while holding a cup of hot coffee between his shaking hands. Across from him, Subaru was in a similar condition, with bruised lips and a nose as red as a ripe tomato. They both took slow sips of coffee, trying to regain some warmth.

"I'm afraid I won't count it," muttered Kaoru, referring to his morning frostbite experience.

"Don't give up... Kaoru..." replied Subaru, his voice shaky as he drank from his cup, his hands shaking so much that the coffee threatened to spill.

Rem, watching them from the side, lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry. I really wish I could warm them up, but I can't leave my sister," she said guiltily, hugging her tray tightly.

Kaoru looked at Subaru, who, despite his sorry state, couldn't help but make a comment. "You could warm me up between the two of you... Just imagining it made my temperature rise a little."

Rem tilted her head. "Well, I could do that, but I don't think Nee-sama would want to," she replied innocently.

"I think I'm the one who needs more warmth right now. I'm close to zero point," Kaoru replied, as his skin as pale as Roswaal's made Subaru look at him with some concern. Even the hot coffee in his hands seemed lukewarm to him.

Rem watched him with concern and asked kindly, "Is there anything I can do for you, Kaoru-sama?"

Kaoru, teeth trembling, sighed dramatically. "Rem, if I'm going to die, at least pass me a Fannel drink. I want to taste something sweet before I leave. Hopefully, heaven will be full of busty angels waiting for me with open arms... and not some lunatic witch in a garden of hell."

Rem nodded quickly. "Understood, Kaoru-sama. I prepared a Fannel fruit wine last night, as you requested. Let me bring it to you."

With nimble but careful movements, Rem brought a bottle and a glass, pouring the wine gracefully. Kaoru took a sip, and the sensation that swept over him was wonderful. The honey-sweet taste, combined with the warmth of the alcohol almost made him forget the damm cold.

"This... this is amazing," Kaoru murmured, closing his eyes as a small smile formed on his face. His cheeks took on a slight blush.

"I'm good to go now, bro..."

Subaru watched him with a raised eyebrow. "Dude, you're totally gonna end up being an alcoholic."

The conversation was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of footsteps in the hallway.

The door opened slowly, letting in Roswaal, wearing his usual flamboyant jester's attire, to which he had added a stylish winter cloak that, oddly enough, perfectly matched his eccentric personality.

"Oh, Subaru-kun, Kaoru-kun! You don't look so good. Is something wrong with you?" asked Roswaal with a gentle smile, though his eyes glittered with a hint of characteristic mischief.

Subaru looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "What's wrong with us?!" No matter how you look at it, it's freezing to death!" He exclaimed, his voice trembling as his breath condensed in the air.

Kaoru, on the other hand, didn't even bother to look at Roswaal. He continued to sip from his glass, enjoying the warmth the wine provided.

Roswaal cocked his head to the side, amused. "Well, well. You two are such weaklings... No matter how cold it is, if you have any honor, you should-"

"I'm not going to be convinced by someone who has more layers on him than an onion!" Subaru interrupted angrily. "At this rate, I'm going to freeze to death!" A loud sneeze shook him from head to toe, and Rem, ever vigilant, wiped his nose with a handkerchief.

"I see..." Roswaal mused with a thoughtful look.

"It's true, we're on edge..." he added.

Subaru raised an eyebrow, suspicious. "When you put it that way... Do you have any idea what's causing it?"

"If this ice monster's behind all this, you're kinda slow on taking it down, Sensei." Subaru added, narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms, although the move only served to make him shiver even more.

"Subaru-kun, do you hate the cold?" asked Roswaal in an almost mocking tone, tilting his head slightly.

"In winter, I hate the cold. In the summer, I hate the heat. In spring, I hate being tired. In the fall, I hate when prices go up. It's pretty common, don't you think?" replied Subaru, shrugging his shoulders as Rem patiently wiped his nose again. "Thanks, Rem..."

Roswaal laughed softly. "Are you curious to see the outside?"

Kaoru, who had finished his cup of Fannel, let out a satisfied sigh.

"Well, of course I'm worried that the townspeople are affected by this cold." replied Subaru.

Roswaal narrowed his eyes, his smile widening slightly. "Subaru-kun, those villagers... especially the children... You get along with them quite well, don't you? The same goes for you, Kaoru."

"It's just a coincidence," Subaru replied with a shrug. "Besides, I don't like being a pretentious, selfish child" 

Kaoru spoke with a calm voice. "I worry about them too. After all, I'd be a bastard if I didn't, considering how they take care of me and how they treat me."

Roswaal nodded slowly, his smile widening.

"That means you two are a pair of Tsunderes, right?"

"Oh, great! My coffee's getting cold! Gotta chug it before it turns into ice or something." Kaoru said, rolling his eyes as he brought the cup to his lips.

"Tsubibi... Oh, my nose is a mess!" complained Subaru, pouting as his eyes watered from the cold.

Rem, ever patient, looked at him gently. "It'll be all right. I'll take care of your tsubibi," she said with a reassuring smile as she wiped his nose again.

Roswaal watched the scene with a faint gleam of amusement in his eyes. "Don't worry," he said as he turned and started to leave the kitchen. "This weather only affects the perimeter of the mansion. The forest and the village don't feel this cold."

Roswaal's words made Subaru frown in confusion. "What are you trying to say?"

Roswaal paused and turned his head slightly towards them. "This cold... it's coming from two people in the mansion," he said calmly, holding up a finger.

"Two?" Kaoru looked up.

Subaru, for his part, turned his head towards Rem, looking for an explanation.

"This is not about my sister or me," Rem clarified, shaking her head. "This is not something we caused."

Subaru scratched his head in frustration. "Then who's the suspect here?"

Roswaal held up a hand to stop further questions.

"Besides, the reason why it's so cold... There's no need to explain~"

---

The group was gathered in front of the door to Emilia's room. Roswaal, with his usual relaxed demeanor, led the small expedition, followed by Subaru, Kaoru, and Rem. The cold was relentless, and each puff of air formed small clouds of vapor that dissipated quickly.

Roswaal was the first to speak, knocking softly on the door. "Emilia-sama, sorry to disturb you so early," he said in his melodious tone. "Do you have a moment?"

From the other side of the door came Emilia's voice, somewhat confused. "Roswaal? Uh... wait a moment, okay?" She replied hurriedly.

Kaoru, wrapped in a thick blanket and scarf, held a cup of hot tea between his hands, desperately trying to keep warm. "If we wait much longer, we're going to turn into ice statues," he commented with a sigh, looking at the door. "Is something wrong, Emilia?"

"K-Kaoru?!" exclaimed Emilia, noticeably nervous. "Uh, I'm sorry, but nothing's wrong! Y-you can't come in. It's just...I-I'm changing. That's it! I'm in my underwear, you can't come in," she said hurriedly, her tone full of awkwardness.

Kaoru arched an eyebrow.

"Well, all the more reason to come in. Maybe that'll raise my temperature a couple of degrees."

Subaru, completely ignoring Kaoru's comment, attempted to open the door. However, as soon as he touched the handle, he quickly pulled it back with a shout. "What the hell, it's freezing! Why is it so cold?" he exclaimed as he shook off his hand.

"Emilia-tan, are you okay?" What's going on in there?" asked Subaru, moving closer to the door but not touching it again.

"Huh, Subaru? Why are you in there?" replied Emilia from the other side, clearly nervous.

"Here I am! But that's not the problem. You have something to say, don't you?" said Subaru.

"Something to say? Something more important?" muttered Emilia, as if she were trying to process what he was saying.

"Ah! Good morning!"

Kaoru, who was still shaking violently, let out a sneeze, spilling some of his tea.

"Just open the fucking door before I turn into a snowman, Subaru" 

Subaru, losing patience, stepped forward. "I'm coming in! And if you're changing, well... thanks for the view!" he said before pushing the door hard.

The moment the door opened, a blast of icy wind hit them squarely, as if they had opened a window onto a tundra. Everyone shivered as the cold seemed to cut into their skin. Inside the room, everything was covered in ice. The walls, the floor, the ceiling... even the furniture was completely frozen, and a strong winter wind was blowing from the center of the room.

"This is... too much," Kaoru muttered, huddling against the wall as he tried to avoid the draft. His body was shaking violently, and his already pale skin looked whiter than ever.

"I'm not going to survive..." he murmured barely audible as Rem, worried, rushed over and hugged him, trying to share his warmth.

"Don't worry, Kaoru-sama, Rem won't let you leave us."

"Thank you, Rem..." murmured Kaoru, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to regain some warmth.

Subaru, for his part, covered his face with one arm to shield himself from the freezing wind. "What the hell is this, what does it all mean!" he exclaimed as he looked around the frozen room.

"Y-you shouldn't have done that!" cried Emilia, clearly upset. She stood in the middle of the room, awkwardly covering something with her body, which only made it more obvious that she was trying to hide something. "It's disrespectful to walk into someone's room like that!" she added, waving her arms in a nervous gesture.

"Yes! It's very disrespectful! So... uh... please get out!" insisted Emilia, fidgeting back and forth as she tried to block the view of what was behind her.

"I already knew Emilia-tan wouldn't let me in, but... what does the owner of the mansion say?" asked Subaru, turning to Roswaal.

Roswaal, who had been standing quietly by the door all this time, smiled with his characteristic enigmatic air. "You have my permission," he said quietly, bowing his head slightly.

Subaru advanced toward Emilia, feeling the icy air bite into his skin. He rubbed his arms and exhaled, watching his breath turn to steam in the air.

"Well, what's the reason for this cold?" he asked, with a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

Emilia looked away, unsure. "Reason for what...? Not that there isn't one, but... I don't know."

Before Subaru could insist, a soft voice was heard behind Emilia.

"It's no use, Lia."

Subaru frowned and looked in the direction of the voice. On the bed, wrapped in blankets, lay Puck, his small silhouette barely visible through the fabric.

"Anyway, we couldn't hide it any longer."

Emilia turned to him with a frown. "Puck, you're a fool! I almost had him convinced!"

Subaru stared at Emilia in disbelief as he approached the bed. "No, not in a thousand years would you have made it Emilia."

When he was close enough, he watched the blizzard leave Puck's body, slowly dissipating into the icy air of the room.

"I've caused too much trouble already." Puck spoke in a calm tone. "Don't be mad at Lia or Betty.... This is all my fault."

[Time Skip]

The dining room was engulfed in a strange atmosphere of discomfort. Despite the thick blankets and hot tea that tried to combat the prevailing cold, the frigid air was still present, enveloping everyone in an atmosphere that froze even one's thoughts. Ram, wrapped in a huge pink blanket, was visibly shivering as she tried to maintain her usual elegance, although her face reflected a certain exhaustion.

Kaoru, holding a cup of hot tea in his hands, raised an eyebrow as he surveyed the scene. "Hatsumaki... What's that supposed to be?" He asked, bringing the cup to his lips.

Roswaal, sitting with his usual nonchalant posture, smiled slightly before answering. "Hatsumaki occurs when someone possesses an enormous amount of mana that their Od can no longer store. Then it is released" 

Kaoru nodded slowly, processing the information. "So it has to do with Od... in other words, it's basically a release of excess mana"

Subaru, who was wrapped in a blanket more out of necessity than style, frowned. "The Od... is it something other than the mana or the door?" he asked, clearly confused.

Kaoru looked down at his cup, sighing internally. "Oh, right... I never explained to Subaru what Od was. Possibly he doesn't know other basic concepts either."

Ram, still trembling but without losing her haughty attitude, looked at Subaru with a sneer.

"I can't believe you don't know what it is. You disappoint me more and more, Barusu," she said with a cold tone that rivaled the temperature of the room.

Subaru looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. "You're always cruel to me; what's the matter? Can't you tolerate the cold?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

Ram snorted and looked away.

"I told Rem it was nothing so you wouldn't bother me, but you ended up butting in.... Fuck you," she retorted contemptuously.

"You hate me that much!" exclaimed Subaru, dropping his shoulders with a dramatic sigh.

Beatrice, who was sitting in a high chair with a blanket almost completely covering her, put a hand to her temple, visibly irritated. "With you two, the conversation is not moving forward," she said, tapping her fingers gently on the table.

"Well, just to be clear," Beatrice added, returning to the topic, "mana is transferred through the gate and stored in the Od. However, the Od has a limit."

"And when the Od reaches that limit," Roswaal continued, taking over with his theatrical tone, "the mana is released~."

Subaru, who seemed to be pondering the explanation, waved his hand. "Releasing everything in you, huh? It's almost like-"

"Think hard about what you're about to say!" interrupted Beatrice, slamming the table down hard.

Kaoru sighed, bringing a hand to his hair. "So, the reason for the cold... is the release of Puck's retained mana. What a bad time for something like that huh?"

"But... does this always happen?" asked Subaru, looking up at Puck.

Puck, who hovered nonchalantly over the table with an innocent smile, "When I lived in the forest with Lia, it didn't happen too much. But... since I came here, I've been more restless. That might be the reason."

Kaoru watched the spirit with a critical gaze, though he kept his thoughts to himself.

"That stupid cat... is he afraid of having his 'possession' taken away from him? From the way he is, I don't think he'd even treat her like a person. "

Subaru frowned, looking at Puck with confusion. "But why is it affecting so much? Shouldn't it be something more controlled?"

Puck turned in on himself, shrugging. "At first it was just a little. Since no one said anything, I thought, 'Will I be able to provoke more cold?' And well... I felt able to do it, so it happened. Hehe," 

Kaoru, who had been listening pursed his lips. "Of course... that asshole wouldn't mind if I froze because of him." 

Beatrice, who also seemed to be feeling the effects of the cold, sneezed softly. "For Nii-cha, who is a great spirit, Hatsumaki is no joke. Although... Nii-cha would never do something intentional to affect others" 

Kaoru gave her a sidelong glance. "I guess that applies to you too"

Emilia, who had remained silent until that moment, clasped her hands together shyly, looking at everyone with a guilty expression. "For this inconvenience... Puck and I are really very sorry," she said, lowering her head.

"But Puck needs to continue with the hatsumaki a little longer," Emilia added, her tone unsure as she laced her fingers together nervously.

"Yes, yes. If you let me have another two days, then everything will be fine," Puck said with a carefree smile, as if two days was no big deal.

Kaoru let out a dry, humorless laugh. "In two days I'll grow stalactites in my brain. We can't go on like this," he said, resting his head on his hand as exhaustion began to get to him. "Neither Ram, Subaru, nor I will stand this cold," he added, looking at Puck with obvious frustration.

Ram, still shivering under her blanket, nodded slightly. "Kaoru is right. This is not sustainable," she said with a slight sigh.

Subaru suddenly stood up from his seat, pounding the table with unexpected enthusiasm. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he exclaimed, "I know! How did I not think of that before? The answer has always been there, right in front of us!"

Everyone in the dining room looked at him, some with curiosity, some with confusion, and some with a simple desire for him to stop yelling.

"What are you talking about?" asked Emilia, cocking her head to the side, genuinely interested but somewhat confused.

"The answer is... the floor!" declared Subaru, spreading his arms dramatically. "In other words, it's what will help us survive!"

"Will help us survive?" repeated Emilia, not quite understanding.

"The... ground," Kaoru muttered, completely disconnected from the logic behind Subaru's words. He stared at him in disbelief, as if witnessing a joke he didn't understand.

"You have a great plan, don't you, Subaru-kun!" said Rem, bright-eyed, always ready to support any idea that came from Subaru.

Subaru, feeling inspired, launched right into his explanation. He took a dramatic turn, extending one arm skyward as he spoke with a heroic tone, "We're gonna use all the fire in the mansion! And for the next couple days, we're chillin' in hot springs!" As he completed his twirl, he finished with an exaggerated pose, pointing to the ceiling with his index finger.

The silence in the dining room was palpable. Only the creaking of wood could be heard under the icy wind.

"Unfortunately, that won't work," Ram said, breaking the moment with her usual cold, cutting tone.

---

Everyone was now in the mansion's great bathroom, an impressive room with a circular pool surrounded by white marble columns. But what should have been a place of relaxation and comforting warmth had turned into something... completely surreal.

"Mayonnaise?!" exclaimed Subaru, his eyes wide as saucers as he looked at the contents of the pool. It was filled to the brim with a smooth white substance that left no room for doubt.

"I made it with effort for you," Rem said with an innocent smile, leaning slightly towards Subaru with her hands folded in front of her as if expecting a compliment.

"What... what are you saying?" muttered Subaru, still in shock.

"Yesterday, you said that we didn't manage to prepare enough mayonnaise," Rem explained calmly, as if her answer was completely logical.

"And you asked me to make more. So... I filled the whole bathroom with mayonnaise!" she added with a beaming smile, obviously proud of her work.

The collective silence that followed was almost deafening. Even the wind rushing through the windows seemed to stop for a moment.

Subaru finally broke the silence, putting both hands to his head.

"Are you stupid!?, what kind of logic is that!?" he shouted indignantly.

Rem bowed her head slightly. "You're right. Maybe... it is a lot of mayonnaise," she said with a thoughtful tone, as if she was really considering the possibility.

"That's what you're worried about?!" shouted Subaru, completely defeated by the situation.

"But don't worry, Subaru-kun!," continued Rem with an animated smile. "It won't be a problem when the mayonnaise melts," she added as she leaned over the edge of the pool, as if admiring her work.

Kaoru, who had remained silent until that moment, let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Just leave it as it is... "

"So... what's plan B? If there is one," Kaoru asked, turning to Subaru with his hands in his pockets.

Subaru scratched his neck and avoided Kaoru's gaze. "I can't think of any more ideas... I'm sorry"

Kaoru slumped his shoulders and shook his head. "Man, I was really excited. You can't sell me heaven and the first thing I see when I get there is a pool full of mayo or spunk or whatever the hell that is."

"I guess... this is a total bust," Subaru added, looking at the bathroom with an expression of pure defeat.

Kaoru couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and adjusted his scarf. "Let's go to the fireplace before I turn into an ice cube," he said as he started walking towards the exit.

The others followed him silently, leaving the mayonnaise-filled bathroom behind. Subaru, still muttering to himself, tried to process what had just happened.

[Time Skip]

Subaru, Kaoru, and Ram, who suffered the most from the cold in the mansion, were sitting near the fireplace in the main hall. The fire was crackling on the logs, giving them a little warmth that, although it was not enough to melt the ice inside them, at least helped them not to freeze at all.

Kaoru watched the flames, his mind elsewhere as he held a cup of hot tea. "Unbelievable... And to think we'll be like this for two days... There's got to be a way to fix this." His thoughts were a mixture of frustration and resignation, but he couldn't help but think about how weird everything was.

Subaru, wrapped in his blanket, broke the silence with a question that sounded more like curiosity than a real solution. "Hey, Roswaal, is it only spirits that have the hatsumaki problem? Doesn't it happen to you?"

Roswaal, who was standing near them with his typical relaxed attitude, smiled a little before answering. "I use my magic properly every weekend. Something like this couldn't happen to me," he said in a melodious tone, glancing at Ram.

Hearing Roswaal, Ram blushed and averted her gaze, as if she were more interested in the fire than the conversation.

Subaru raised an eyebrow as he noticed Ram's blush. His gaze jumped from her to Roswaal and then back to Ram, trying to piece things together. Kaoru, for her part, noticed as well but only watched out of the corner of her eye, preferring to stay out of it.

"I have my Od under control," Roswaal added, as if there was nothing out of the ordinary in his statement.

Subaru, however, couldn't help but ask, "Why are you saying that while looking at Ram?" His tone was curious, but his instinct told him that he probably didn't want to know the answer.

Roswaal simply smiled, letting the silence speak for him.

"Ah, you know what? Forget it. I'd rather not hear it," Subaru said, shaking his head quickly, as if trying to erase the mental image forming.

Kaoru took another sip of his tea, observing the scene with a mixture of interest and resignation. "Well, I suppose something like that is normal. For the master to have some more intimate relations with his maids... Not exactly surprising, coming from Roswaal." He thought as his eyes drifted momentarily to Rem and then to Ram. "Would it be just with Ram? Or with Rem as well? I didn't think Roswaal was that kind of man, but coming from him... I believe it. "

Beatrice let out a small snort. "I use my magic and my door properly too, kashira," she said with a tone that tried to be haughty, though her voice trembled slightly from the cold.

Lately, it helps me a lot to kick the ass of one particular useless human. Especially one with long hair and dark circles under his eyes," she said, glancing sideways at Kaoru with a satisfied smile.

"Very sweet of you, sweetheart" replies kaoru sarcastically before looking away towards the fire.

"What about you guys?" added Subaru, deflecting the topic so he wouldn't continue to be Beatrice's target.

Rem, who was standing nearby, calmly replied, "In my case, I have my hatsumaki sealed. It's not something that affects me at the moment."

Emilia, who was sitting next to Puck, added with a coy smile, "I'm not like a sorceress, so I don't have the hatsumaki."

"Ah, but speaking of Puck... yes. I apologize for this occasion; it's all my fault," Emilia said, bowing her head, clearly embarrassed by the situation.

"Hmm, Emilia was very apologetic today," Subaru commented, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.

"And well, Puck," Subaru continued, turning to the spirit. "When was the last time you used a lot of magic?"

Puck, who hovered nonchalantly near Emilia, answered after a few seconds of thought. "Recently, when I fought that girl in black from the kingdom, I guess."

"You mean Elsa, that assassin from the capital?" asked Kaoru, raising an eyebrow at the memory of the encounter.

"That's right," Puck said. "It was a little over a week ago, and anyway, I had a hatsumaki."

Subaru shuddered at the memory of Elsa. "Oh, don't make me think of that woman. Just remembering her gives me nightmares," he commented, hugging himself as if trying to shield himself from the memory.

"Yeah, Elsa was a real pain in the ass," Kaoru sighed, looking at the flames. "Can't believe all this went down in just a week... " He thought to himself, going over everything that had happened. "My arrival in this world, meeting Subaru, Raigor, Elsa, Emilia, Roswaal, the grimoire, the Witch of Envy... and a long ect..."

Kaoru let out a deep sigh and put his hand to his forehead. "Sometimes I don't know how I keep my head in order with so many things going on at the same time. " His train of thought was interrupted when he noticed that the wood in the fireplace was beginning to burn.

---

Kaoru, Emilia, Rem and Subaru were walking through the garden of the mansion, going to the large shed to fetch firewood for the fireplace. Although the rain was falling softly, the cold could be felt in their bones. Oddly enough, it was more bearable outside than the frigid atmosphere inside the mansion, where Puck's hatsumaki was still wreaking havoc.

Emilia, her cloak protecting her from the water, broke the silence with a sigh. "When I lived in the forest with Puck, we didn't cause so much trouble," she said, in a nostalgic tone.

"In those days, hatsumaki wasn't a big deal," she continued, looking down at the ground as she walked. There was a hint of guilt in her voice, as if she felt responsible for the current chaos.

Subaru, always ready to lighten the mood, gave a thumbs up with a big smile. "You don't have to keep apologizing, Emilia-tan. I'll take care of this! Trust me," he said confidently.

Kaoru, who was walking beside her with his hands in his pockets, was lost in thought. "Lunara... the festival... " His mind wandered to that city Beatrice had told him about, a place that looked like something out of a fairy tale.

Suddenly, he broke the silence. "Hey, Subaru, did you know there's a city called Lunara?" she asked, turning to him.

"Lunara... no, what's so special about it?" replied Subaru, clearly intrigued.

"Every year they plan something big. Beako told me a little about it according to the books. They say it's the most ethereal place in this world," Kaoru explained, his tone more relaxed as he looked up at the cloudy sky.

"Really?" asked Subaru, now with more interest.

"Yes," Kaoru continued, with a slight grin. "It's said that they always do the biggest festival of the year. People from all over the world travel there just to witness it. It would be great to visit sometime."

Subaru stood thoughtfully, staring at the shed roof as if he had found something in his mind. "Festival... festival... festival..." he murmured, his eyes glowing with a familiar spark. It was that spark that appeared when Subaru came up with one of his "brilliant ideas".

"Subaru, are you thinking of something weird again?" asked Emilia, tilting her head curiously.

"Awesome, Subaru-kun, I'm impressed!" exclaimed Rem with a smile, always ready to praise any of his witticisms.

Subaru turned to her with an expression of false modesty. "Don't expect too much from me. And you, Rem, you're too easily impressed," he threw down with a grin, then jabbed a finger at Kaoru. "But this time, I came up with something thanks to Kaoru."

"Really? Kaoru-kun, you're great!" said Rem excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Kaoru.

Kaoru grinned, knowing full well what's about to drop. "A festival, huh? Subaru's got that flair for the dramatic, doesn't he?"

Subaru raised his arm dramatically, with a very emphatic tone. "I have a fun and peaceful idea to pass the hatsumaki!" he announced, catching the attention of Emilia and Rem, who looked at him curiously. Kaoru, for her part, folded her arms, already knowing what he was going to say.

"And what's that idea?" asked Rem, genuinely interested.

Subaru lowered his arm and spun on his heels before blurting out, "A festival! Let's make Puck not waste his mana! Instead... we'll hold the first Chikichiki Snow Festival at Roswaal Manor!" He finished his announcement with an exaggerated pose, pointing his finger at the sky.

"Chikichiki?" muttered Emilia, tilting her head with a confused expression. "Is that a real name?"

Kaoru, who had been holding back a smile, finally let out a soft laugh. "Until you finally say a good idea all day, Subaru. Fuck, you knew I was looking forward to a festival and you thought of that, huh? Okay. Let's do this shit." 

Subaru scratched his head, laughing. "I'm not gonna lie to you; when you mentioned Lunara, I felt like having a festival too. So let's do it!"

"Are you with me?" exclaimed Subaru, raising a fist in the air to encourage the others.

"Yes!" replied the three in unison, full of enthusiasm. Emilia smiled warmly, Rem was clearly excited, and Kaoru, though quieter, flashed a smile not often seen.

---

The Snow Festival begins...

Snow covered the entire landscape like a vast white carpet that seemed to have no end. Flakes danced in the air, reflecting the sparse light of the cloudy sky, as the Arlam villagers, along with the residents of the mansion, gathered in the huge garden to enjoy the Snow Festival, an idea that had been born from Subaru's chaotic and creative mind.

From the icy stage they had built in the center of the garden, Subaru watched the enthusiasm on the faces of everyone present. Children scampered around the snow sculptures that some had already begun to make, while others milled about near small makeshift stalls where hot drinks and sweets prepared by Rem and Ram together with Kaoru were being handed out. The whole place vibrated with the bustle of people, laughter and the sound of footsteps sinking into the snow.

Subaru, with an ice tiara on his head and an ice torch in hand, cheekily mimicked the Statue of Liberty as he addressed the crowd from atop the dais.

"White, white, white, white as far as the eye can see!" exclaimed Subaru in a theatrical voice, raising the ice torch skyward. "But, just as there is no night without dawn, there is no snowfall that lasts forever! The sun will rise, the cold will disappear, and a new beginning will be—so let us bid farewell to this cold sky as we should, with the Roswaal Manor Snow Festival!"

A roar of approval erupted from the crowd, especially from the children, who couldn't help but catch Subaru's enthusiasm. Some began to jump up and down excitedly, while the adults smiled at the young man's inexhaustible energy.

Subaru, seizing the moment, stepped forward, pointing the ice torch at everyone as if he were leading a revolution. "Everyone, tell me something. Do you want to go to New York?"

"Yes!" shouted the children.

"I can't hear you! I said, no matter what, do you want to go to New York?" exclaimed Subaru, raising his fist in the air.

This time, even the adults of Arlam Village raised their fists, infected by the energy of the speech. "Yes!" they responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the garden.

"Where's New York?" asked Mild, one of the kids, tilting his head as he watched Subaru on the stage.

"Subaru said it's a city where he's from," Petra replied confidently, as if she were an expert on the topic.

"Yes, and he also said it's a city dominated by passion and love," Cain added, nodding seriously, though he clearly didn't quite understand what that meant.

Rem, who was pouring hot tea near them, couldn't help but smile as she overheard the kids' conversation. "Subaru-kun always finds ways to inspire everyone, even if it doesn't make much sense," she thought fondly.

Back on the stage, Subaru raised both hands to calm the crowd before continuing his speech. "Okay, now that everyone is ready, let's explain the rules! This won't just be some random festival. No, no, no! It will be a competition... of imagination and creativity! The challenge is... to make the best snow sculpture!"

The children began to shout excitedly, while the adults murmured among themselves, some already planning ideas for their sculptures.

"The winners will get great things!" added Subaru with a mysterious tone, leaving it to the imaginations of those present to fill in the blanks.

"What kind of great things?" asked Lucas from the crowd with much excitement on his face. He will win, no matter what.

"Ah, ah, ah! That's a secret," Subaru replied with a mischievous grin, waving a finger in the air. "But trust me, it'll be something you'll remember for a long time."

Kaoru let out a sigh but couldn't help but smile. "This guy really knows how to keep the suspense going.

"Then, without further ado... let's get this festival started!" shouted Subaru, making a dramatic turn and pointing towards the snowy sky with the ice torch. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as they dispersed to begin work on their sculptures.

The garden was quickly transformed into a vibrant, lively scene. Entire families worked together to create the most elaborate sculptures their minds could imagine. From snow castles to fantastical animals, every corner of the place was filled with creativity.

The snow festival was in full swing, with people of all ages working on their sculptures. The air was filled with laughter, lively conversation and the sound of snow being molded by creative hands. In the center of it all, Kaoru, Subaru and Roswaal, the three jurors for the contest, walked among the sculptures, evaluating each one carefully. Each juror had the ability to give up to 10 points to a sculpture, and the maximum total was 30 points. The competition was fierce, but the atmosphere was still cheerful and full of camaraderie.

Kaoru looked up at a huge snow sculpture that captured every detail of a Wolgarm, the creature that had left him on the verge of death mere days before. The accuracy and realism were eerie. Even in snow form, the creature looked menacing.

"Do you like it? I was inspired by the idea the kids mentioned about the alpha Wolgarm you told them about," a tall villager said, smiling proudly as he waited for Kaoru's verdict.

Kaoru narrowed his eyes, inspecting the work carefully. "It's pretty scary... I admit it," he said after a tense moment. "I like it, but... I think I still have some traumas from that encounter. So I'll give you 8 points," he concluded, with a somewhat bitter smile.

The villager opened his mouth, probably to retort, but Kaoru had already turned away, walking towards the next sculpture. "I don't need to relive that experience now, thank you." He thought as he made his way towards a group of children excitedly calling out to him.

"Kaoru-kun, over here!" shouted a group of children as they waved their arms. "Look, Kaoru-kun, we made a snow dragon!" said Lucas, one of the children, with a grin from ear to ear.

Kaoru stopped in front of the sculpture. The dragon was imposing, with outstretched wings and a curled tail. Although the details were simplistic, the dedication and creativity were evident. Kaoru smiled broadly. "I quite like this one," he said as he assessed the work carefully. "Hmm... I think I'll give them 9 points," she added with a determined tone.

"More, please!" begged Lucas, clasping his hands together as if he were pleading.

Kaoru shook his head. "Nuh uh. That's the score, and that's the way it stays," he said firmly.

"That's too bad!" protested Lucas, pouting exaggeratedly which elicited laughter from the other boys.