Book excerpt: Subaru has really made a mess of things this time. After getting into a fight with the girl of his dreams, Subaru is stuck in the Karsten estate with Rem while Emilia heads home without him. Consumed by a sense of powerlessness, he spends his time desperately training--all the while wondering, "What's the point?" Is there any reason for him to struggle at all? But while he grapples with his inner demons, the Witch Cult may no longer be content to sit back...