#re zero

The neon glow of the city streets always seemed a little softer whenever she was around.

For the past year, Reinhard van Astrea had encountered her in the most mundane, beautiful ways. A shared umbrella during a sudden July downpour, a mutual nod across the aisle of a cramped subway car, and eventually, regular coffee dates at the corner bistro where they’d talk about everything and nothing. To the rest of the world, Reinhard was the flawless, red-haired gentleman who excelled at everything he touched. But to her, he was just Reinhard.

And Reinhard was desperately, secretly in love with her. He kept it buried, terrified that confessing would shatter the delicate, wonderful acquaintance they had built.

Then came Valentine’s Day.

The local acoustic lounge was packed, buzzing with the low hum of chatter and the clinking of glasses. Reinhard sat at a small corner table, his eyes fixed on the small, dimly lit stage. When she stepped up to the microphone, an acoustic guitar slung over her shoulder, his breath hitched. She caught his eye in the crowd, gave a small, nervous smile, and adjusted the mic.

"Happy Valentine's Day, everyone," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "This next song... it's for someone very special in this room. Someone I've been falling for, even if I was too scared to admit it."

She struck a gentle, melancholic chord on the guitar. When she began to sing, Reinhard’s heart stopped.

Before I fall too fast

Kiss me quick

But make it last

So I can see how badly this will hurt me

When you say goodbye

Reinhard sat up a little straighter. Her voice was raw, stripping away the casual armor she usually wore around him. He listened, entirely captivated, as she moved into the pre-chorus, her eyes locking onto his.

But tonight I could fall too soon

Under this beautiful moonlight

But you're so hypnotizing

You've got me laughing while I sing

You've got me smiling in my sleep

And I can see this unraveling

Your love is where I'm falling

But please don't catch me

A shockwave of realization hit him. She’s singing to me. The casual encounters, the lingering glances over coffee—she had felt it too. But as the song transitioned into the second verse, he could hear the deep vulnerability and fear woven into her words.

See this heart

Won't settle down

Like a child running

Scared from a clown

I'm terrified of what you do

My stomach screams

Just when I look at you

Reinhard’s hands tightened around his glass. He knew what it was like to carry a burden, to feel too much, but hearing her admit her terror of getting hurt—of how much power he inadvertently held over her heart—made him want to cross the room right then and hold her.

Run far away

So I can breathe

Even though you're far from suffocating me

I can't set my hopes too high

'Cause every hello ends with a goodbye

The chorus hit again, bigger this time, filled with a beautiful, tragic yearning. The crowd in the lounge had gone entirely silent, mesmerized by the sheer honesty of her performance. Reinhard felt a warmth blooming in his chest, melting away months of his own doubts and hidden longing.

As the song reached its bridge, her voice grew steadier, shifting from fear to a profound sense of acceptance. She was laying it all on the line.

So now you see

Why I'm scared

I can't open up my heart without a care

But here I go

It's what I feel

And for the first time in my life, I know it's real

The guitar swelled, building up to the final, emotional climax of the song. Reinhard couldn't take his eyes off her. The modern world around them—the city traffic outside, the glowing string lights of the bar—all faded into background noise.

But you're so hypnotizing

You've got me laughing while I sing

You've got me smiling in my sleep

And I can see this unravelling

Your love is where I'm falling

So please don't catch me (oh-oh)

If this is love, please don't break me

She let out a soft, shaky breath, the final chords lingering in the air as she looked right at Reinhard, delivering the final, breathless plea:

I'm giving up

So just catch me

The lounge erupted into applause, but Reinhard didn't hear it. He was already on his feet. As she stepped off the stage, setting her guitar aside with trembling hands, he met her halfway in the dim lighting of the aisle.

"Did you mean it?" Reinhard asked, his voice softer than it had ever been, his blue eyes searching hers.

She offered a small, vulnerable smile, the nervous tension finally leaving her shoulders. "Every single word, Reinhard."

Warning: explicit material ahead.

SCENARIO 1

The pristine white cloak of the Sword Saint was a familiar sight across Lugnica, but to you, it had become the anchor to a series of seemingly impossible coincidences.

Over the past year, destiny itself seemed determined to push your paths together. There was the rainy afternoon in the capital when you had both reached for the same obscure history book, your fingers brushing as Reinhard offered his trademark, dazzling smile. Then came the evening at a crowded royal gala where, amidst a sea of noble dress, you had tripped over a misplaced rug, only to be caught flawlessly by a pair of strong, armored arms. Even during a casual stroll through the market, a sudden runaway merchant wagon had Reinhard instantly appearing at your side, pulling you safely onto the sidewalk with a breathy, "Are you alright?"

With each encounter, the lingering glances grew softer. Reinhard found himself captivated by your wit, your laugh, and the effortless way you treated him like a man rather than a living weapon. He had fallen deeply, completely in love with you.

The problem? He was Reinhard van Astrea. When it came to dragons and rogue archbishops, he was fearless. When it came to admitting his feelings, he was an absolute, stuttering mess, terrified that his overwhelming world would burden you.

Eventually, you decided you had waited long enough.

You cornered him in the secluded courtyard of the Astrea estate, just as the sun was dipping below the horizon.

"Reinhard," you said, crossing your arms and looking him dead in the eye. "We need to talk. Are you going to keep pretending there isn't something between us, or are you actually going to say it?"

Reinhard froze, his brilliant blue eyes widening in sudden, aristocratic panic. A bright pink hue instantly flooded his cheeks. Trying to regain a modicum of control, he cleared his throat and threw the question back to you, his voice betraying a hint of desperate curiosity. "I... [Name], why do you ask me that so directly? If I may turn the question back to you... what is it that you truly want from me?"

You didn't answer right away. Instead, a slow, incredibly wicked smirk played on your lips. You stepped closer, closing the distance between you until the warmth of his body radiated against yours. You didn't give him an explanation. Instead, you took a deep breath, looked right into his eyes, and began to sing Demi Lovato's Body Say.

"If I had it my way, I would take you down

If I had it my way, I would turn you out

And if my body had a say, I would come again

Scared of what I might say, 'cause I'm at the edge..."

Reinhard’s breath hitched. He stood perfectly still, his analytical mind instantly kicking into gear. Take me down? Turn me out? His knightly combat training reflexively wondered if you were describing a martial arts takedown or a tactical maneuver. But the sheer, sultry weight of your gaze told him this was an entirely different kind of battlefield.

You stepped even closer, your voice dropping into a low, hypnotic cadence as you hit the next verse, completely unbothered by his growing fluster:

"If I had it my way, I would take the lead

And if I had it my way, I would take you deep

If my body had a say, I'd get it off my chest

Show you all the red lace underneath this dress..."

The Sword Saint’s pristine composure shattered entirely. Red lace underneath this dress?! The explicit, undeniable visual and the raw demand of the lyric hit him like a physical blow. The Divine Protection of Mind Stabilization was completely useless against the absolute onslaught of your boldness. His face turned a shade of crimson that practically outshone his vibrant red hair. Steam felt as though it were evaporating from his ears.

You didn't stop. You held his gaze, your voice soaring beautifully into the chorus, pouring your true feelings into the melody:

"You can touch me with slow hands

Speed it up, baby, make me sweat

Dreamland, take me there 'cause I want your sex

If my body had a say, I wouldn't turn away

Touch, make love, taste you...

If my body told the truth, baby I would do

Just what I want to."

As the final notes of the song drifted into the quiet evening air, Reinhard stood paralyzed, the full weight of your confession—and your intense desire—reverberating through his entire being. There was no more room for misunderstanding or knightly hesitation. You weren't just asking for his feelings; you were demanding them.

The flustered panic in his eyes gradually began to shift, replaced by a deep, smoldering intensity. The initial shock of your song faded, leaving behind the profound, intoxicating realization that you wanted him just as badly as he wanted you.

Reinhard took a single, decisive step forward, completely erasing the remaining space between you. His large, calloused hands came up, gently but firmly cupping your face, his thumbs tracing your jawline. He leaned down, his breath warm against your lips, his blue eyes locking onto yours with absolute clarity.

"I suppose there really is only one thing left for us to do, then," Reinhard murmured, his voice dropping to a low, velvety register that made your own heart skip a beat. He tilted your face up slightly, a rare, breathtakingly confident smile touching his lips. 

SCENARIO 2

The tavern was lively, filled with the clinking of ale mugs and the hearty laughter of friends. Julius sat poised as ever, while Subaru leaned back aggressively in his chair, gesturing wildly as he complained about his latest antics with Emilia. Felix was busy nursing a drink, a sly grin plastered across his face.

The conversation eventually drifted from royal guard duties and world-ending threats to the simpler, lighter aspects of life. Specifically, love.

"So, Julius has his knightly devotions, and I obviously only have eyes for my EMT," Subaru said, crossing his arms proudly. "What about you, Reinhard? Found a lovely lady to sweep off her feet yet, or are you still married to the sword?"

Reinhard went quiet. He stared down at his untouched drink, a soft, uncharacteristic melancholy washing over his striking features. He had found someone. Over the past year, a series of completely fortuitous accidents had kept bringing you into his life. But it wasn't the coincidence that captured him; it was the way you looked at him. You didn't see the monstrously powerful Sword Saint, a living weapon to be feared or revered. You saw right past the title. You treated him as a human being—nothing more, nothing less. And for a man burdened by the weight of the world, that was everything. He had fallen completely, irrevocably in love with you.

"Oho~? Look at that reaction, Subaru-kyun!" Felix teased, leaning across the table with an eager twitch of his cat ears. "The Sword Saint is blushing! Who is she, Reinhard? Tell us, tell us!"

"Come on, man, don't leave us hanging!" Subaru grinned, nudging Reinhard’s shoulder. "Go make a move! A guy like you? You’re a catch!"

Reinhard sighed, a rare look of vulnerability entering his brilliant blue eyes. "It is not that simple," he admitted softly, his voice tight. "I... I am terrified of getting rejected. Right now, what we have is precious. If I ask for something more, I risk ruining everything. I could lose her forever, and I do not think I could bear that."

"Reinhard," Julius spoke up, his tone gentler but firm. "A knight faces many fears, but letting true love pass by out of hesitation is a regret that lasts a lifetime. You must tell her."

"Yeah! Don't let overthinking ruin a good thing!" Subaru cheered.

With his friends' relentless encouragement echoing in his mind, Reinhard finally gathered the courage. The very next evening, he invited you to the Astrea mansion, guiding you all the way into the quiet sanctity of his personal quarters.

The atmosphere was thick with a nervous, electric tension. Reinhard stood before you, his posture rigid but his expression incredibly tender. He took a deep breath, dropping to one knee in the flawless, knightly manner expected of him. He took your hand in his large, calloused one, looking up at you with absolute devotion.

"I have brought you here because I can no longer silence my heart," Reinhard spoke, his voice rich and steady despite the racing of his pulse. "Through every unexpected moment we have shared, you have given me something I never thought I would find—someone who sees me, just Reinhard. I am deeply, entirely in love with you. If you would allow it, I wish to cherish you for the rest of my days."

He paused, his eyes searching yours with a delicate plea. "Do you... do you happen to feel the same?"

You looked down at the legendary knight, a soft, incredibly wicked smirk playing on your lips. You didn't give him a conventional answer. Instead, you gently pulled your hand from his grasp, stepped back slightly, and began to sing, your voice carrying beautifully through the quiet room.

"I'm so into you, I can barely breathe

And all I wanna do is to fall in deep

But close ain't close enough 'til we cross the line, hey, yeah

So name a game to play and I'll roll the dice, hey..."

Reinhard’s breath hitched. He stood up from his knee, blinking in sheer, innocent confusion. Barely breathe?His protective instincts flared slightly, wondering if there was a sudden drop in the room's oxygen, but the sultry, intense lock of your gaze quickly derailed his analytical train of thought.

You stepped closer, swaying slightly to an invisible rhythm, the lyrics cutting through his knightly defenses with sharp, undeniable clarity:

"Oh, baby, look what you started

The temperature's rising in here

Is this gonna happen?

Been waiting and waiting for you to make a move...

So, baby, come light me up and maybe I'll let you on it

A little bit dangerous, but, baby, that's how I want it..."

A bright, furious crimson rushed across Reinhard’s cheeks, shooting straight to the tips of his ears. He gripped the edge of his desk just to ground himself. The Divine Protection of Mind Stabilization was doing absolutely nothing against the raw, weaponized audacity of your confession. You had been waiting for him to make a move?

You didn't give him a single moment to recover, leaning in closer as you delivered the chorus with absolute, unwavering intent:

"A little less conversation and a little more touch my body

'Cause I'm so into you, into you, into you

Got everyone watchin' us, so, baby, let's keep it secret

A little bit scandalous, but, baby, don't let them see it

A little less conversation and a little more touch my body

'Cause I'm so into you..."

As your voice faded into a soft, breathy finish, the room fell dead silent. Reinhard stood paralyzed, the pristine composure he usually wore like armor completely shattered into a million pieces. But as he looked at the playful, burning desire in your eyes, the flustered panic within him began to melt, replaced by a deep, smoldering heat. You weren't just returning his feelings; you were utterly, completely consuming them. You really meant every single word.

Reinhard took a single, decisive stride forward, completely erasing the space between you. His large hands came up, gently but firmly cupping your face, his thumbs tracing your burning cheeks. He leaned down, his lips brushing against yours as he spoke in a low, velvety growl that sent a shiver straight down your spine.

"A little less conversation, then," Reinhard murmured, his blue eyes flashing with a rare, intoxicating intensity. "If that is your answer, I must ask you to be absolutely certain. Are you truly down for everything you just said you desired? Because I must remind you, my love..."

He tilted your face up just a fraction more, a breathtakingly confident smirk finally breaking across his lips.

"...I am the Sword Saint. My stamina is completely boundless, and if it is just me you are waiting for, no amount of lovemaking can ever tire me out. Are you quite sure you can handle crossing that line?"

SCENARIO 3

The grand halls of the Astrea mansion had never felt colder to Reinhard than they did during his months away. Sent on a grueling, long-term peacekeeping mission across the borders of Lugnica, his thoughts had rarely strayed from home. Specifically, from you. The Divine Protections he carried could shield his body from any blade, but they did nothing to soothe the persistent, aching longing in his chest.

When he finally stepped through the grand front doors, he bypassed the staff with a polite but hurried nod, shedding his formal traveling cloak on the move. He wanted nothing more than to hold you.

As he approached your shared quarters, the heavy silence of the manor was broken by a soft, melodic sound. Reinhard paused outside the door, his breath catching. It was your voice, carrying a sorrowful, beautiful melody he had never heard before.

"My world is an empty place, like I've been wandering the desert for a thousand days... Don't know if it's a mirage, but I always see your face, baby..."

Reinhard’s hand hovered over the brass doorknob. The sheer emotion in your voice struck him like a physical blow. He had always known his absences were hard on you, but hearing the raw vulnerability of your confession—that you felt lost in a wasteland without him—made his heart ache with a profound sense of guilt, instantly followed by an overwhelming surge of tenderness.

"My heart is yearning, like the ocean that's running dry... There's gonna be a monsoon when you get back to me..."

A monsoon. A sudden, overwhelming downpour of rain. Reinhard’s face flushed slightly at the intensity of the imagery, his pulse quickening.

"So let this drought come to an end, and make this desert flower again..."

Without waiting another second, Reinhard pushed the door open.

You were standing by the window, the afternoon light catching the contours of your face. As the door clicked, you spun around, the final notes of the song dying on your lips. Your eyes widened in disbelief. "Reinhard...?"

"I am home, my love," he murmured, his voice thicker and rougher than usual.

He didn't wait for you to cross the room. In three long, effortless strides, the Sword Saint closed the distance between you. He caught you in his arms, pulling you flush against his chest with a desperate, uncharacteristic tightness. His face buried itself into the crook of your neck, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of you that he had starved for during those long months.

"I heard you singing," Reinhard whispered, his strong arms wrapping around your waist, holding you as if you might vanish if he loosened his grip. "A thousand days in the desert... I am so sorry I left you for so long."

He pulled back just enough to look down at you, his brilliant blue eyes no longer carrying the guarded, polite restraint of a knight. Instead, they burned with a deep, consuming intensity. His gaze flicked down to your lips before locking back onto your eyes. The months of separation, the longing, and the beautiful promise of your song had stripped away his usual cautious hesitation.

"You said you wanted this drought to end," Reinhard whispered softly, a rare, breathtakingly intense smile tugging at the corner of his lips as his gloved thumb gently traced your jawline. "And I intend to make sure your desert flowers again."

just a doodle it's joshua in miyako fuji's outfit