Re: Konosuba

Chapter 3: A Blast for a goodbye

"Go for it, Megumin!" Kazuma yelled, urgency in his voice as he pointed at the giant rainbow frog.

"My supreme explosion magic eclipses all other magic!" Megumin declared, her eyes gleaming with manic energy as she raised her staff, power surging through her.

"Don't get cocky!" Puck floated beside Emilia, eyes narrowing. "Lia's magic is the strongest here! Let's show them!"

Emilia nodded, ice crystals forming around her as she prepared to cast her spell. "Right!"

Megumin swung her staff forward, the air crackling with energy. "Take this! EXPLOSION!"

"Al Huma!" Emilia shouted, releasing her ice magic simultaneously.

Megumin's explosion collided with Emilia's ice magic, creating a massive burst of vapor. The resultant explosion was far larger than either of them had anticipated, filling the area with blinding steam and intense heat.

The shockwave knocked Megumin off her feet, and she fell to the ground with a satisfied smile, exhausted from the spell.

The giant rainbow frog roared, its body convulsing violently. "Rabbbbbbbbiiitttt-!!!!" Its form began to dissolve, shimmering into particles of light. "I guess... this is my end..."

"You idiot!" Kazuma shouted, running towards Megumin. "I told you not to kill it!"

Subaru looked around frantically, the vapor beginning to clear. "What are we gonna do now?"

Kazuma dropped to his knees, his voice filled with despair. "I'm so sorry!"

"Are we stuck here now?" Subaru's voice cracked with panic. "Are we really gonna be stuck in another world!?"

"Don't worry," Puck said, floating over the dissolving frog. "The frog is dissolving into particles of light. It's just like before."

"No! No! No! No! No!!!!" the mysterious man screamed, his form disintegrating alongside the frog.

"That man disappeared in the light?" Emilia asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Puck nodded. "It seems so. I sense a familiar mana. If we go into the light, we might go back to where we came from."

Subaru's eyes lit up with hope. "Yes! Time to see Betty again!"

"We must hurry before the light disappears," Rem urged, grabbing Subaru's arm.

Emilia turned to Kazuma and his companions, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and gratitude. "Kazuma...and everyone else, I know we haven't been here long, but I had a lot of fun!"

Kazuma smiled, giving her a thumbs-up. "Same to you! It was super nice to meet another world character-Subaru, good luck!"

"Good luck to you, too!" Subaru said, nodding firmly.

"Good luck, Subaru! Emilia!" Aqua added, waving energetically.

"Thanks, everyone, for all of your help!" Subaru said, stepping towards the light.

"Until we meet again," they all said, their voices merging as Subaru, Emilia, and their companions were enveloped in the glowing particles and vanished.

As the light faded, Megumin lay on the ground, her energy spent but her spirits high. "It looks like they're gone. What an interesting bunch."

Darkness watched the dissipating light, a wistful look in her eyes. "I hope we can meet them again someday."

"That reminds me," Aqua said, snapping her fingers. "I promised to reward the Axis Cult after their battle with that copycat cult. But I don't really have much money left..."

Kazuma sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I literally gave you your pocket money yesterday."

"But, Kazuma!" Aqua pleaded, her eyes wide with mock innocence.

"No way," Kazuma said, crossing his arms. "You're on your own."

Back in the Re:Zero World

Subaru jolted awake in his bed, the familiar ceiling of the Roswaal mansion coming into focus. He blinked rapidly, disoriented.

"What?... Oh, Emilia... Did everyone make it back safely?" Subaru asked, his voice groggy.

"What are you talking about?" Emilia responded, her face etched with concern as she stood beside his bed.

"The giant rainbow frog that swallowed us and...and-" Subaru stammered, trying to piece together his memories.

Emilia placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Subaru. Calm down. You just passed out when we were in the garden earlier. I brought you here to rest."

Subaru's confusion deepened. "Then..."

"It must have been a dream," Emilia said gently, smiling to reassure him.

"A dream... huh," Subaru murmured, lying back against the pillows. "But for a dream, it was super realistic..."

"What kind of dream was it?" Puck's voice piped up suddenly, causing Subaru to jump.

"Woah! Puck! Don't just jump in out of nowhere!" Subaru exclaimed, clutching his chest.

"So, are you feeling a little better now?" Emilia asked, brushing a stray hair from her face.

"Of course, I am, Emilia!" Subaru said, trying to sound confident.

(Wait-Rem.) Subaru thought suddenly, his heart sinking.

(She... was in the dream... but in real life she's... still... still...)

Subaru forced a smile, though his thoughts were troubled. (Yeah... it's gotta be a dream.)