It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
In today’s modern world, it should also be said that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband or, depending on said woman’s sexuality, a wife.
While not stupendously rich as her superiors in the Time-Space Administration Bureau, Hayate Yagami is considered to be rich for someone of her twenty years, mainly as a result as her rapid promotions. Her sexuality, however, is currently unknown, even to her loyal Wolkenritter Guardian Knights and her closest friends, and, as far as everyone is aware, there has been no interest on her part to find someone to be in a relationship in. Yet.
Subaru Nakajima, aged 16, on the other hand, is best described as having an average fortune due to not having worked as long as Ms Yagami (working in disaster zones does net one a pretty penny, though), but is already in want of a wife, preferably one particular Teana Lanster, aged 17.
Yes, let it be known that it is a truth universally acknowledged that rainbows are straighter than Subaru Nakajima.
It was a lovely summer evening in the English countryside as Hayate, Subaru, Teana, and Shamal were driving back to London after visiting the retired Admiral Graham. While Hayate was having a chat with the Knight of the Lake about how well the ex-Admiral was doing considering his age, Teana could not help but notice that Subaru was deep in thought.
“Ne, Subaru, are you awake?”
“I’m just thinking about something, Tea.”
“About what?”
“About how beautiful an English sunset in the summer season is. I’d really like to get married here one of these days.”
Tea snorted.
“No surprise there.”
“I’m serious, Tea! I can imagine myself standing out there in a white bridegroom suit, next to my bride in white. It’ll be so romantic…”
Tea snorted again. For someone whom Subaru saw as a future wife, the gun-mage was not acting lady-like.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll find someone out there, Subaru. When you do, give all of us a call, and we’ll set up your perfect English mid-summer wedding out here in the English countryside on Earth.”
“I’ve already found the one person I want to be with for the rest of my life.”
“Oh? Who is she? Anyone I know?”
Before the blue-haired cyborg could reply, Hayate pulled the car over into a stopover service station.
“Sorry guys, but since it will be way past midnight by the time we return to our hotel in London, we’ll have to eat dinner here. Shamal, could you hand out the money?”
Subaru did not know whether she should punch Hayate for interrupting what would have been, in her mind, a tender moment, or if she should thank her for averting a potentially awkward situation.
***************
Hayate sighed as she leant against her pillow. Dinner that evening had been awkward at best, and the ride back to the hotel remained relatively silent. Trying to distract her mind from earlier on, the brunette picked up the book she had started reading a few days earlier when she was still back on Mid-Childa. She did not really care if the book was written in English – Mid-Childan was a very similar language, and there was a charm about reading about life in 18th-century England in English itself.
Hayate, Shamal suddenly asked telepathically,
are you sure that keeping Subaru and Teana in separate hotel rooms is a good idea?
Shamal, Tea’s trying to sort out her own feelings for Subaru. If we were to put them in the same hotel room, Subaru will be tempted to do something, which in turn will wreck whatever, if any, romantic feelings that our tsundere has towards her.
Yes, I know that, Shamal shot back while taking a look at the sleeping cyborg,
but…
Besides, both Signum and I did something similar when Rein started crushing heavily on Agito, and it turned out pretty well, if I’d say so myself.
If you say so, Hayate. It’s just that what you’re doing reminds me of what Admiral Graham did to you, except on a smaller, not-so-destructive scale.
The whole "being manipulative" part? Hahahaha, we’ll see about that. Anyway, we should rest up now. We’ve got a day’s worth of sightseeing to do before we fly back to Japan to see Lindy en route to Mid-Childa.
You just want to see the Beefeater costumes, don’t you?
I wonder what Zaffy, Vice, Chrono, Yuuno, Rossa, and Griffith would look like in them!
Several telepathic giggles later, the lights in two connected hotel rooms switched off at the same time.
***************
That was when it happened.
***************
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Teana Lanster looks smashingly lovely with her hair tied up. As such, there are currently no words used to describe how divine the gun-mage looks with her hair down. Those were the thoughts that were currently running through Subaru’s head as both she and Shamal entered the room that Hayate and Teana were sleeping in.
“Hayate! Is there a problem?” There was a worried look on Shamal's face.
“Cross Mirage must have picked up a really strong energy signature nearby,” the brunette muttered as she put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. “Tea woke me up before she could fire off that emergency telepathic alert to the two of you.”
[That is correct,] Cross Mirage stated. [There is a massive energy signature in the vicinity.]
“Could you try telling us what kind of energy it is?” Teana asked her Intelligent Device.
[I’m afraid not, Sir.]
“Subaru,” the redhead turned towards the cyborg, “you’ve got Mach Calibur with you right? Could you…”
[I’m sorry,] Mach Calibur replied in her standby form, [but I’m afraid that I can’t analyze the energy signature as well.]
“Well, can you at least tell us where the energy signature is coming from?” Shamal had returned to the room after sneaking out to gather some clothes from her own. “If it’s hostile, knowing its location will help us devise tactics to sort out the problem.”
The two devices paused for a few moments as they attempted to process the signature before intoning their reply together as one.
[In this room’s bathroom, behind the wall with the showerhead.]
“Get dressed. Now.” Hayate’s voice had assumed its “I’m in charge, damnit” tone. “When you’re done, activate your devices, and follow me into the bathroom.”
Moments later, the quartet were in the bathroom, with Hayate and Teana pointing Schwertzkreuz and Cross Mirage respectively at the wall.
“So, what do we do now?”
“The energy signature is still present, but I can’t see anything unusual. What about you, Shamal?”
“Nothing, I’m afraid.”
“Are those hinges supposed to be there?” At once, three heads turned to face Subaru. “What? I’m a cyborg, remember?”
“Hmmm… I don’t think these hinges are supposed to be here,” Hayate muttered as she reached out to feel one of the offending objects. “They look as though they were built right into the structure of this room, but I took a shower just before we left to see Admiral Graham, and these weren’t here…” All further words were lost as the wall started glowing before reforming itself as a door that suddenly opened ajar.
As the light show died down, Subaru approached the newly-created door, using her Revolver Knuckle to slowly open it further. Looking in, the quartet saw what they perceived as a hallway with lit flaming torches adorning it.
“Shamal”, Hayate started as she stepped back, “would it be okay if you could investigate the situation with Subaru and Teana? As much as I’d love to explore this new place, it would not be fair to you if I went instead and if you ended up being accused of causing my disappearance, if that happens.”
“I’ll do it, Hayate,” Shamal’s voice was laced with a strong sense of loyalty. “Even though I’m no longer bound as a defensive program within the Tome of the Night Sky, I still consider it my duty to ensure your safety.”
“Thank you very much, Shamal. I’m sorry if I seem selfish…” Words fell away into silence as the brunette found herself subject to a highly affectionate hug from the older blonde.
“Don’t be sorry, Hayate. I’ll be sure to return safely with Subaru and Tea. Besides, there’s something I would like to tell you when I get back.”
Letting go of Hayate, Shamal turned and headed towards the open door. As Subaru and Teana followed the blonde, Hayate could only look on at their retreating backs. As the door started to close, the brunette suddenly snapped into action.
“Hey guys! Wait for me!”