Regarding Satoru Gojo's inquiries, Subaru Natsuki was quite honest, answering almost every question posed to him. Information about his background was quickly absorbed by Satoru.
However, after asking a few key questions, Satoru fell into deep thought.
He had discovered something.
Namely, although both he and Subaru Natsuki came from a country called Japan—complete with places like Tokyo and Hokkaido—there were still many details that didn't align. These weren't just regional variations; they were massive, fundamental contradictions. Even historical events were entirely different.
This implied only one possibility: the Japan Subaru came from was not the same Japan Satoru knew. Furthermore, the timing of their crossovers was completely off. Satoru had crossed over in the year 2006, whereas Subaru had come from the year 2016. There was a ten-year gap between them.
All of this genuinely challenged Satoru's worldview. He grew increasingly curious about the "System" that had brought both him and Subaru to this world. To be able to manipulate even time itself was quite an exaggeration of power. It felt as though a door to a brand-new world had been flung wide open.
While Satoru pondered, he made quick work of the berry cake in front of him. When the brain is working hard, sweets are the most effective supplement.
"Excuse me, another berry cake, please!"
"Add one more berry cake!"
"One more, if you would..."
Sitting across from Satoru, Subaru watched his companion's spoon fly rhythmically, devouring cake after cake. He couldn't help but quip:
"Satoru, did you just not eat breakfast today?"
"Of course I did," Satoru said without looking up, seemingly immersed in the enjoyment of his dessert.
"But you've already eaten several helpings."
"Haven't you heard? Dessert goes into a separate stomach."
"It's weird that such a saying even exists."
A short while later, after polishing off the final bite, Satoru stopped. It wasn't that he didn't want to continue eating the delicious cakes, but rather that the remainder of the silver coin he had obtained from Reinhard yesterday had finally run out. The small plates in front of him were stacked quite high.
"Whew, I'm full. Let's go for a walk. Sitting around after eating isn't good for the body."
Satoru stood up, stretched his limbs, and extended an invitation to Subaru.
Leaving the cake shop, Subaru scratched his cheek. "Satoru, is it really okay for us to just do nothing?"
"Then tell me, what should we be doing?" Satoru asked casually, walking with a light step.
"You know, like in light novels—forming a party, becoming mercenaries, that sort of thing."
"I already visited a tavern before you arrived. There weren't any quests being posted. Just a bunch of demi-humans who wanted to spit at you. And I didn't see anything like a quest board or bounty posters..."
As they spoke, a sudden wave of startled cries erupted from the street beside them. The two looked toward the sound and saw a child who had apparently tripped in the middle of the road, wailing in distress.
Not far off, a carriage drawn by a giant lizard—known in this world as a Ground Dragon—was speeding toward the spot. At that velocity, even if the driver attempted an emergency brake, the momentum would likely cause the wheels to roll right over the child.
"This... could this be the incident that triggers my special ability?!"
Since arriving in this world, Subaru's time had been so mundane it hardly felt like a "crossover" experience at all. Now, witnessing such a critical moment, his mind immediately raced. In the novels he read, these were the exact scenarios where a protagonist would unlock their potential and gain unimaginable power.
"Alright!"
"Leave it to me! I'll be the savior!"
Subaru let out a loud shout and dropped to one knee, extending his hand toward the child on the street. Setting aside the awkwardness of the pose, his momentum was actually quite impressive.
"Oh?"
"Partner, don't forget about me!"
"Let the world witness our talent together!"
Just as Subaru struck his pose, Satoru, finding the situation amusing, didn't hesitate to step in behind him, standing slightly to the side. With one hand tilting his sunglasses and the other extended toward the child, they stood together.
In the middle of the busy street, at a life-or-death moment, they looked like a pair of oddballs who had no idea how to read the atmosphere!
However, at that moment, hardly anyone was paying attention to them. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the child's safety.
In that desperate instant, Subaru suddenly saw the child on the ground wobble slightly. Then, under the gaze of the crowd, the child was hoisted up by an invisible force and began flying rapidly toward Subaru and Satoru.
Gasp!
Witnessing this, the surrounding bystanders instinctively let out cries of amazement. As for Subaru, his heart was practically bursting with excitement!
"It worked!"
"I did it!"
"Satoru, did you see that?!"
"This really is a Magic Manifestation Incident!!!"
Subaru shouted gleefully, his plastic convenience store bag crinkling loudly as he moved. The child flew through the air, narrowly avoiding the speeding dragon carriage in the nick of time and reaching the sidewalk.
Seeing the child draw closer, the excitement in Subaru's eyes grew even brighter. He tossed his plastic bag aside, preparing to catch the child in a gentle, heroic embrace. He had even planned out his victory pose. The crowd would surely cheer for his performance!
Just as Subaru prepared for his moment of glory, the child reached him.
Subaru reached out.
Yet, the child didn't stop. They kept flying.
The child sailed right past him, heading toward the person behind him.
"Eh?"
Subaru watched the child leave his reach, completely stunned. He stared blankly at his own hands, even waving them experimentally in a desperate attempt to pull the child back through the air. It was useless.
The moment before felt like a hallucination, making him doubt his own existence. In this state of complex emotion, Subaru slowly turned his head.