Subaru's Resolve
Subaru didn't know how long he had been trapped in the darkness behind the veil. He only remembered that just when he was about to break down, light finally appeared before his eyes once again.
Along with the light came the silhouette of Reinhild's back.
At that moment, Subaru understood that the girl had once again saved him.
And with that realization came the understanding that he was safe.
His heart was filled with joy and gratitude.
But that joy gradually faded as Reinhild and Bernie's argument unfolded.
Listening to Bernie describe the situation at the mansion, and hearing the names of familiar people being declared dead one after another, Subaru fell into silence.
"Subaru, are you connected to the Witch Cult?"
"I really have nothing to do with the Witch Cult," Subaru answered instinctively, then gave a bitter smile.
"But even you probably won't believe me."
Even Subaru, hearing Bernie's words and reflecting on his own actions over the past few days, realized how suspicious his behavior had seemed.
But unexpectedly, the girl believed him—and then began to recount what had happened on her end.
If what had occurred at the mansion was a desperate tragedy, then what happened on the girl's side could be called an overpowered protagonist story from a power fantasy.
Her opponents were terrifyingly strong—each one could be praised or feared as legendary figures.
Yet all of them had fallen under the girl's sword.
However, gradually Subaru began to feel that something was wrong—especially when the girl spoke of killing Heinkel and the villagers who had turned into beasts.
Subaru finally lifted his head and looked at Reinhild.
And then he realized that the person before him was no longer the Reinhild he knew.
The Reinhild in his eyes had been serious, passionate, and kind—a saint.
But the presence standing in front of him now felt more like a cold, mechanical being.
That's right—the light of humanity had vanished from the girl's eyes.
She resembled the person Subaru had once been himself.
So she wasn't perfect after all—she had just been forcing herself. Subaru couldn't believe he'd failed to notice.
"Ah… what the hell have I done...?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
His gratitude transformed into remorse—an indescribable remorse.
The girl's cold gaze pierced Subaru's heart.
He could fool himself into thinking that others didn't matter, that their deaths were no big deal.
He had warned them.
He had reminded them.
He could lie to himself that their deaths were their own fault, that they had deserved it.
But not this girl.
Only the girl in front of him—the one who had always believed in him, encouraged him, helped him, and cared for him—only for her, Subaru couldn't lie to himself.
He couldn't say that her becoming like this was her own fault, or that she deserved it.
"I'm sorry. If I had noticed your pain… if I had tried harder… if I had been braver…"
Reinhild clearly didn't understand why Subaru was apologizing, nor did she try to comfort him.
Subaru understood then: the warm-hearted girl who had once treated everyone kindly was gone. Replaced by this shell who had shut off her heart.
"If I could save you… that's right!"
Subaru didn't finish that sentence.
Because suddenly, he realized—his own death might be able to save the girl.
Subaru slowly stood up.
He wanted to reach out one last time and touch the girl's cheek.
But in the end, he decided he wasn't worthy of that. He let his hand fall.
Instead, he gave her a bright, brilliant smile—having made up his mind.
"I'll definitely save you."
That was all he said.
Not as a vow to anyone else, but simply as a promise he made to himself and to the girl.
A one-sided promise he chose to speak aloud.
Then, Subaru began to run. The fear he once had had vanished completely.
No, more accurately, in his heart he had already resolved:
"If I die, then let it be as a companion to the girl who's already gone."
Subaru jumped off the cliff.
His body fell through the air.
He felt his head hit the ground vertically.
His whole body was wracked with impact—there was no doubt his cervical spine had been completely shattered.
"So this is what it feels like… the delay before death from a fall…"
Subaru's body lay on its side, unable to move.
Agonizing pain and the countdown to death ticked slowly by.
Maybe in real time, death came in just a few seconds. But to Subaru, it felt like hours.
Then, he felt his consciousness floating in a void. He instinctively looked around.
Though "looked" wasn't the right word—because in this state, he no longer had eyes.
In fact, his hands, legs, and body no longer existed either.
Only a disembodied awareness floated in this space.
Then Subaru noticed a figure standing in this eternally dark world. The figure moved slowly, as if trying to convey something to Subaru's consciousness.
"I love you. I love you…"
Suddenly, the black world vanished.
Only that faint voice remained.
In the next moment—
Subaru jolted upright.
He gasped violently for air, and then looked around.
A soft bed. A white room. Ferris's worried face.
The scent of familiar food surrounded him.
"Hahaha… I'm back, huh…"
Subaru gradually realized that he had succeeded.
Return by Death didn't end after only three tries.
He still had a chance to make things right.
He stretched out his arm and clenched his fist tightly.
"Is everything alright, nya? Are you feeling any discomfort, nya?"
Subaru finally noticed Ferris's voice of concern—and then he realized his tears had soaked a large part of the bedsheet.
He hurriedly wiped his eyes.
"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me. And… I'm really sorry."
Maybe because he had already steeled himself to die, apologizing to Ferris felt surprisingly easy.
"Why are you apologizing, nya? Don't tell me you've fallen for me? Nya, I'm such a sinner~ But sorry, I'm a guy..."
"Is that so… So there really are boys cuter than girls."
Maybe it was because he had gone through so much, but Subaru could now respond to Ferris's teasing—something that once made him blush—with ease.
"Good morning, Natsuki Subaru. Lady Reinhild is waiting for you."
After some lighthearted teasing, Winston appeared like always, ready to take Subaru to meet Reinhild.
Subaru nodded, then stood up and said:
"Ah, good morning. I'll just get changed."
The two nodded and left the room.
"—Alright then, let's begin! Time to clear Reinhild's mansion in one week!"
There was no one to hear him.
He said it only to steel his own resolve.
—Let's go. The story begins.
To reach the morning that Subaru dreams of. For the girl he holds dear.
The fifth loop's first day—morning at the Astrea Mansion—had begun.