Rezero:Hearts Entwined in a Fractured World

part 3

Hearts Entwined in a Fractured World

Part 3: The Wild Spirit’s Challenge

The days following Subaru’s heartfelt evening with Petra passed in a blur. Though his connection with her had deepened, Subaru’s mind was a swirl of emotions. Every time he thought he had a handle on his feelings, someone else would surprise him, and his heart would be pulled in another direction.

Today, as he wandered the outskirts of the mansion grounds, he found himself lost in thought once more. The cool breeze rustled through the trees, offering some peace, but his thoughts refused to settle. Subaru was so caught up in his internal conflict that he didn’t even notice the small figure creeping up behind him until—

"Gotcha!" A mischievous voice rang out as Subaru felt a sudden weight land on his back. He nearly stumbled but managed to regain his balance, glancing over his shoulder to see Meili, clinging to him with her arms wrapped around his neck, giggling.

"Meili! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Subaru laughed, though he was still catching his breath.

Meili grinned, hopping off his back and landing nimbly in front of him. "You're way too easy to sneak up on, you know? It’s no fun if you don’t even try to stop me!"

Subaru shook his head, smiling at her playful antics. Meili had always been a bit of a troublemaker, but there was something endearing about her wild spirit. "What are you doing out here, anyway? Trying to cause more trouble?"

She flashed him a teasing grin. "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you. What, is that a problem?"

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "You, wanting to spend time with me? That sounds like trouble to me."

Meili pouted, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her playful intent. "Come on, Subaru. You’re always so serious. How about we have a little fun? A contest, just between the two of us."

"A contest?" Subaru asked, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of contest are we talking about?"

Meili’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Let’s see… How about a game of tag? If I catch you, you have to do whatever I say. If you win… well, I’ll grant you one wish. Anything you want."

Subaru blinked, slightly taken aback. "Anything? That’s a dangerous offer coming from someone like you."

Meili smirked. "Afraid you’ll lose?"

He shook his head, grinning. "Alright, fine. You’re on. But don’t expect me to go easy on you!"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Meili was already off, darting into the nearby forest. Subaru cursed under his breath and took off after her. She was fast—surprisingly fast for someone so small. Her lithe figure weaved between the trees with ease, while Subaru had to push himself just to keep up.

As the chase went on, Subaru couldn’t help but laugh. There was something freeing about this—about letting go of his worries and just living in the moment. Meili’s laughter echoed through the forest, and for a brief time, it felt like all the weight of the world had disappeared.

But Subaru wasn’t about to let her win so easily. With a burst of speed, he managed to close the distance between them. Just as Meili glanced over her shoulder to see how close he was, Subaru lunged forward, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward him.

"Gotcha!" he panted, grinning as they both tumbled to the ground in a heap of laughter.

Meili huffed, clearly frustrated but still smiling. "Ugh, you’re no fun, Subaru! I thought you’d at least let me win."

Subaru chuckled, brushing the dirt off his clothes as he sat up. "Not a chance. A deal’s a deal, remember?"

Meili pouted, crossing her arms as she sat up beside him. "Fine, fine. You win. So, what’s your wish?"

Subaru tilted his head, thinking for a moment. He could ask for something silly, or maybe use this opportunity to learn more about Meili. But before he could decide, he noticed the way she was looking at him—her playful demeanor had softened, and there was something more in her gaze. Something vulnerable.

"Actually," Subaru said softly, "I think I want to know more about you, Meili. We spend so much time teasing each other, but I don’t really know what’s going on in that head of yours. Why don’t you tell me something real?"

Meili blinked, clearly surprised by his request. She looked away, her playful smirk faltering. "That’s not what I expected," she muttered, plucking at the grass beneath her fingers.

Subaru waited patiently, giving her the space to gather her thoughts. After a few moments, Meili sighed and looked up at the sky.

"You know… growing up, I didn’t have much," she began, her voice quieter than usual. "I learned pretty quickly that the only person you can rely on is yourself. No one’s going to protect you, so you have to do whatever it takes to survive."

Subaru’s heart ached at her words. He had always known Meili’s past was rough, but hearing her speak about it so plainly made it all the more real.

"I’ve always acted tough because it’s the only way I know how to be," Meili continued, her voice wavering slightly. "But ever since I met you… things started to change. You don’t look at me like I’m some broken thing that needs to be fixed. You see me for who I am. And… it scares me."

Subaru’s chest tightened as he listened. Without thinking, he reached out, gently placing his hand on hers. Meili glanced down at their hands, her expression softening.

"You don’t have to be tough all the time, Meili," Subaru said quietly. "It’s okay to let people in. It’s okay to trust someone else for once."

For a moment, Meili just stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and emotion. Then, before Subaru could react, she leaned in, pressing her lips against his in a sudden, impulsive kiss.

Subaru’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he found himself kissing her back, his hand tightening around hers as the warmth of the moment washed over them. It wasn’t the playful, teasing kiss he might have expected from Meili—it was raw, vulnerable, and filled with an emotion he hadn’t realized she had been hiding.

When they finally pulled apart, Meili’s cheeks were flushed, and she quickly looked away, trying to regain her composure. "Don’t get the wrong idea," she muttered, her voice a little shaky. "That was just because you won the game."

Subaru chuckled softly, his heart still racing. "Yeah, sure. Just because of the game."

They sat together in comfortable silence for a while, neither feeling the need to say much more. The forest around them was quiet, the fading light casting long shadows through the trees. Despite the chaos of their lives, in this moment, everything felt peaceful.

As the evening wore on, Subaru knew that his journey through these complicated relationships was far from over. But for now, he was content to simply be present, knowing that the people around him cared for him as much as he cared for them—even if they didn’t always show it.

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To be continued…