「Hoshino-senpai.」 (Shiroko)
Shiroko reached the roof and called out to Hoshino, who stood stargazing. She noted a rare sight: Hoshino had let down her ponytail. Her hair flowed freely, looking exactly as it did before the crisis strangled Abydos. The vision left Shiroko's throat dry for reasons she couldn't name.
「Shiroko-chan... did you find Subaru?」 (Hoshino)
「Yes.」 (Shiroko)
「Good. It would have been tragic if he remained lost after the girls returned. This "old lady" has no stomach for sad stories.」 (Hoshino)
「── Why the sudden act?」 (Shiroko)
Hoshino scratched her cheek with her index finger, responding to Shiroko's cold tone. She knew her teammate had seen through her attempt to hide her true feelings behind a mask of indifference. Her effort to play the detached observer failed to deceive anyone.
「Oh, it's nothing. Just a change of pace...」 (Hoshino)
「Subaru kept his promise and brought the girls back. Stop doubting him, Hoshino-senpai, and finally trust him.」 (Shiroko)
「...I know. Don't worry.」 (Hoshino)
「If you know that and still treat him so coldly, I'll have to beat some sense into you—even if you are our president.」 (Shiroko)
「Goodness... you've certainly grown bold, Shiroko-chan...」 (Hoshino)
「── But words alone aren't enough.」 (Hoshino)
The moment the moonlight obscured Shiroko's vision, Hoshino vanished. Such speed should have made a sound, yet despite Shiroko's confidence in her own reflexes, the phone housing Arona had moved to Hoshino's hand before her eyes could even track the motion.
「Little Legacy (Arona).」 (Hoshino)
「 」
" ... ── ! " (Arona)
「Please, take care of things.」 (Hoshino)
Shiroko spun around and lunged at Hoshino with the ferocity of a predator, trying to reclaim the phone. Hoshino slammed her shield into the roof with enough force to shake the ground, meeting a bare fist with solid metal. However, Hoshino could not parry Shiroko's momentum with a single hand; the force pushed the shield back, carving a rut into the asphalt.
Hoshino exploited her small stature and used the shield as a decoy. She leaped high like a spring-loaded doll, without any tell-tale movement. Driven by the momentum of her arched jump, Hoshino surged through the air as if running on nothingness.
The shield, losing its support, sank into the roof's surface under Shiroko's pressure. Hoshino landed back atop the tilted shield and──.
「Ah...! Hoshino-senpai, give that phone back.」 (Shiroko)
「I don't mind returning it. But since this is a rare chance, how about a little sparring before bed?」 (Hoshino)
「── Try and take it from me, Shiroko-chan.」 (Hoshino)
「── Fine. I'll show you my real strength.」 (Shiroko)
Under the moonlight, the wolf howls. The clash of "monsters" and the ring of steel were familiar melodies between them. But this time, a different feeling stirred in their chests. Shiroko lunged into the attack, her strikes fueled by a lingering, nameless restlessness she couldn't yet define.
●○●○●
── The next morning.
An overwhelming warmth.
It was a perfect, seamless blend of heat and a gentle chill. He hadn't felt this free from pain, fatigue, and suffering in an eternity; he had entirely forgotten what such a sensation felt like.
Now, he remembered: this was what peace and comfort truly meant.
「...」
「Subaru.」 (???)
A woman appeared before his eyes like a fleeting specter—pale and weary, her features lacked vitality as she gazed down at him. Since she leaned over him, her face so close to his, he realized he was resting his head in her lap.
As he met her gaze, a sense of tranquility washed over him, or perhaps...
「How should I put it...」 (Subaru)
「Isn't 'I feel at peace' enough?」 (???)
「Of course not. You can't use such mundane, clichéd expressions when a beautiful girl is involved.」 (Subaru)
In that wasteland where life seemed to have withered away, she let out a soft, faint laugh. When he saw her smile—blooming like a water lily—he found himself falling for every detail of her face. He wished she would stop shaking his heart and soul so deeply.
Questions and anxieties flooded his mind, though if these could even be called anxieties, they were "luxurious worries" granted only to those who had reclaimed their safety.
「Then, what expression did you have in mind?」 (???)
「── I feel at peace.」 (Subaru)
「Heh, is that all you've got?」 (???)
「── That's good.」 (???)
In truth, his current state felt like bathing in the light of a full moon on a still, beautiful night—as if he were blessed by the embrace of a gentle angel found only in dreams.
Well, it didn't matter now.
「Goodnight.」 (Subaru)
「Yes. Goodnight.」 (???)
●○●○●
「──!」
Good heavens, this texture... this softness. Could it be a pillow?
───!!!
Yes, it was plush and incredibly soft. It seemed they had provided a high-end pillow for him while he was unconscious.
What incredible comfort! Subaru never realized that "dakimakura"—the culture of human-sized body pillows—existed in Kivotos too. He had always dreamed, if only once, of sleeping on the top floor of a skyscraper in a luxurious king-sized bed, hugging one of those long pillows he only saw in advertisements.
Though it felt firm in some spots, it was strangely comforting...
「Let go of me this instant!!」 (Serika)
「Bughuaaaaa!?!?」 (Subaru)
「Who is this creep?! Who are you?!」 (Serika)
「My weapon! Where is my weapon?! Ayane-chan, wake up, quickly!!」 (Serika)
「Ah... ── What!? Are they Kaiser soldiers...!?」 (Ayane)
While Subaru was lost in his delusions, a strike sent him soaring off the bed as if he'd just been knocked out in a boxing ring, landing him completely "outside the ropes."
It was a masterful punch that caught the bridge of his nose, forcing a nosebleed from the sheer impact. Finally, however, he could hear their voices while they were fully conscious.
「Th... that was a good punch... full of power...」 (Subaru)
「Damn it, who on earth are you?! And where are we... ── Wait, is this the Abydos nurse's office?」 (Serika)
「Ayane-chan, get behind me! I'll restrain him first...!」 (Serika)
Yes, this was it.
Since Subaru had never seen them awake or heard them speak before, this situation felt entirely new and refreshing to him.
The one with the cat ears (Serika) seemed bursting with energy and strength, while the one with glasses (Ayane)—was she a rear-guard fighter?
── Just as he drifted into these thoughts...
「Take this!」 (Serika)
「Huh? Wait, hold on... ── Ogufo!?」 (Subaru)
Miss "Ears"—or rather, Miss Serika.
Isn't this... a bit too much energy and aggression──!?
「Phew! Ayane-chan!! Give me something to tie him up with!」 (Serika)
「Wa... wait, just a second.」 (Subaru)
「Take the bedsheet! I'll toss it to you!」 (Ayane)
「Thanks!」 (Serika)
My, what seamless coordination! One would expect nothing less from students who look up to Hoshino; their quick wits set them worlds apart from ordinary soldiers.
── Fine, I realize your teamwork is amazing, but while you're pinning me down and punching my face... stop! My face!! No one will ever marry me if I'm disfigured like this!!!
「Oubibibibibi──!?」 (Subaru)
「Mmm... ── What is all this noise...」 (Shiroko)
「Ah, Shi... Shiroko!!」 (Serika)
Shiroko entered the nurse's office, still groggy from sleep. Subaru saw his only chance and reached out, pleading for rescue before his face—and his future—were ruined.
「── Serika, lower your fist.」 (Shiroko)
「Ah... Shiroko-senpai...!」 (Serika)
「Get off him.」 (Shiroko)
「Eh, ah, but... this creep is...」 (Serika)
「I'm glad you two have regained your energy, but the person you're pinning down right now is the one who rescued you and Ayane from Kaiser Corporation.」 (Shiroko)
「So, move away.」 (Shiroko)
Serika was startled by the sharp tone in Shiroko's voice—one she had never heard before. She scrambled away from Subaru, shrinking back in embarrassment.
As for Subaru, the humiliated hero of the hour, he couldn't help but think that the person most responsible for this awkward situation was Shiroko herself—the one who had put him to sleep in the same bed with them in the first place.
●○●○●
「「「We're sorry...」」」
「Ph-ine (Fine).」 (Subaru)
「... Why do I have to apologize too...」 (Shiroko)
Subaru finished briefing the two girls on the current situation and introduced himself. Meanwhile, Hoshino entered the nurse's office, drawn by the commotion. She stood there stunned, watching Subaru stem a nosebleed while bruises blossomed across his face. She quickly intervened to de-escalate the chaos.
Serika had found enough energy to land a punch, but she remained physically frail. She and Ayane returned to their beds, finally settling into a long-overdue peace.
Waking up next to a strange man was undoubtedly a nightmare, and the blame for that disgraceful arrangement fell squarely on...
「Obvious-wy, dis is aw Shiroko's fau-wt (Obviously, this is all Shiroko's fault).」 (Subaru)
「Yes...」 (Shiroko)
「I am truly sorry... My students have caused you quite a bit of trouble...」 (Hoshino)
Subaru struggled to speak clearly, his nostrils stuffed with gauze to halt the sudden hemorrhage. Even the "energetic duo," Serika and Ayane, bowed their heads in genuine regret, watching Subaru's condition with concern.
Since Shiroko was the primary culprit, Subaru initiated an "infinite ear-rubbing" penalty on her cat ears. At this point, one had to wonder where his sense of morality had fled.
He wanted to vent his grievances to Hoshino, holding her responsible for their upbringing like a disgruntled parent. However, considering the girls had been held captive for so long, and knowing that taming Shiroko's wild personality was a headache in itself, he decided to forgive them.
「An-yway, de impo-tant thing is dat you're bo- okay (Anyway, the important thing is that you're both okay).」 (Subaru)
「...Subaru, it's hard to understand you.」 (Shiroko)
「And who do you think is responsible for that!? Ah, wait... oh... Hup! Okay, the bleeding seems to have stopped...」 (Subaru)
「I am truly sorry, Mr. Subaru...」 (Ayane)
「...My apologies.」 (Serika)
「It's fine, I'm perfectly okay. Honestly, your recovery speed amazed me. If you faced the Kaiser soldiers right now, you'd probably crush them without a second thought.」 (Subaru)
「I said I was sorry; you don't have to be so sarcastic...」 (Serika)
Subaru didn't mean to be sarcastic, but his roundabout way of speaking once again caused a familiar misunderstanding. Since he had no intention of changing his habits, he ended his internal debate with a satisfied nod and gave a short, dismissing wave. 「Haha, my bad!」
「Serika.」 (Shiroko)
「Ooooh... Shiroko-senpai, don't you dare deny that you were the cause of all this!」 (Serika)
「... You certainly are full of life.」 (Subaru)
To stop Shiroko from escaping the situation with her embarrassed face, Subaru grabbed both of her cheeks and stretched them to a reasonable length. As he enjoyed the soft, elastic texture of her skin—which remained surprisingly supple despite the desert air—Shiroko surrendered completely to his touch.
Then, as he stroked her head, she winced in pain. He pulled his hand back instantly, thinking he had hurt her, though he knew her body was far too tough to be bothered by such a light touch. He ran his hand through her silver hair, starting from the base of her cat ears, and felt a distinct bump on her skull.
「Subaru, that hurts.」 (Shiroko)
「Sorry, sorry... Did you trip and fall somewhere?」 (Subaru)
「Umm... I'd rather not talk about it.」 (Shiroko)
Subaru glanced at Hoshino, who flinched slightly. She immediately averted her gaze. He suspected a fight had broken out between them after he lost consciousness last night, but he preferred to believe they wouldn't have the luxury for such a quarrel while their friends were still recovering.
...However, given their sharp personalities, his expectations weren't entirely accurate.
「Where is Arona?」 (Subaru)
「You mean the Legacy? This "old lady" has it. Do you want her with you, Subaru?」 (Hoshino)
「Actually, it's better if she stays with me at all times. I'll take her.」 (Subaru)
Despite the chaos and obstacles, he truly wanted to celebrate the girls' return. The grueling cycle of "Return by Death," which had begun the moment he woke in that hospital bed, had finally reached a temporary pause.
──But it was too early for festivities. Because of his long sleep, the deadline to fulfill his promise to "Su"—the leader of Highland—loomed close. He had to move immediately to save Nonomi today.
Furthermore, Subaru felt the girls would find it easier to speak freely if he weren't there. After all──
「Ayane-chan, Serika-chan.」 (Hoshino)
「...I'm sorry. I was too late in saving you both...」 (Hoshino)
Hoshino took their hands, feeling the warmth of life flowing through them again.
「──」
「... ── 」
「So... we... we really are back...」
Reality slowly began to sink in. They had lingered in the darkness for so long that they had come to believe death was their only escape. We're back... we're home... we really made it back.
「...We're home...」
As that realization surged through them, tears pooled in their eyes. Though they tried to resist, their emotions overwhelmed their resolve. Their voices trembled, and they teetered on the brink of a breakdown they hadn't wanted anyone to see.
「──」
A lump formed in Subaru's throat as he watched. Hoshino stood with her head bowed before the two girls on the bed, crippled by a grief so heavy she couldn't even look them in the face. Whether she felt regret or a desperate need for atonement, seeing her unable to look at her returned friends was a heartbreaking sight he couldn't ignore.
Subaru wanted to shout words of comfort and tell them they had done well to hold on—to clear the clouds of gloom and bring smiles back to their faces.
「Hoshino.」 (Subaru)
In a poignant reunion like this, there was no room for such heavy burdens. Even though Subaru was the one who brought them back, he wished Hoshino would just throw her arms around them without a second thought. Yet she hesitated. Dwelling on misfortune and helplessness wasn't what they needed now.
They didn't need words of encouragement from a stranger like Subaru; they needed "that one word" from someone they considered family.
「Before you start apologizing, there are other things you should say, right?」 (Subaru)
Before the atmosphere turned stagnant, Subaru said casually, 「I'm going to use the restroom for a bit,」 and turned to leave, giving them the privacy they deserved.
「Shiroko, don't worry about me either. I'll see you all later.」 (Subaru)
Natsuki Subaru might seem blunt or insensitive at times, but he wasn't so dense that he couldn't grasp the nuance of such a delicate situation—especially after seeing the depth of their bonds. He simply wanted to grant them the time and space to truly rejoice in their return.
He had fought and died repeatedly using "Return by Death" just to reach this specific scene.
──Yet, he didn't feel his presence was necessary for this intimate moment.
「No, stay here, Subaru.」 (Shiroko)
「Eh?」 (Subaru)
「Hoshino-senpai, it's all right if he stays, isn't it?」 (Shiroko)
「Of course.」 (Hoshino)
Shiroko grabbed Subaru's jacket and pulled him close to her side. Finally, Hoshino spoke the words she had been holding back:
「──I'm so glad you're safe. Welcome home.」 (Hoshino)
「「Yes!」」 (Ayane and Serika)
●○●○●
「Right, then. Let's start over.」 (Subaru)
And so the journey began from zero—or rather, a completely new stage. From this point on, Subaru would enter uncharted territory. The survival tactics he had relied on before would no longer suffice. This was Phase Two, the midpoint: 「Saving Izayoi Nonomi.」
A flicker of hesitation and fear touched him. The road ahead was treacherous and demanded caution. If he died now, he might have to restart this hellish second phase from the very beginning.
Since he didn't know where the automatic "Save Points" updated after each success, he had to be constantly prepared to avoid death. Striving to stay alive at all costs had become the fixed, natural rule of his existence.
「You did well, Subaru,」 he whispered to himself.
「Truly... all that effort and pain wasn't for nothing.」 (Subaru)
He had witnessed a truly beautiful sight—one that made every sacrifice worthwhile. It was the scene he had longed to see, the one that gave real meaning to his previous cycles of death and the despair he had tasted.
Confidence and a sense of achievement filled Subaru's heart. Every "death" he had suffered, every loss he had endured, hadn't been in vain. They were the price paid for this single moment.
── Those smiles, and the eyes swollen from crying, were Subaru's ultimate prize.
Some might call him a deviant for finding beauty in tearful faces, and perhaps they were right. But to him, seeing Hoshino and Shiroko reach this moment in peace made every ounce of suffering worthwhile.
This was the scene that should have been stolen—the sweet, warm, and happy reality that Kaiser, the man in the black suit, and the ancient evil lurking within Abydos had plotted to destroy.
By reclaiming this moment, Subaru could finally move forward. He had taken the first step toward the goal he had set for himself: 『A world where everyone eats their fill with a smile on their face』.
── It was truly a relief that he had pressed on without surrendering. It felt wonderful to fulfill his promise to "that girl" (Satella), however slowly. The boy named Subaru, who once possessed no value and felt like a mere shadow, had finally become someone of worth.
「... ── Now...」
Now, for the first time.
「I feel like I can finally face them without shame.」
Subaru spoke these words in his heart to two people far away: his father and mother, the ones who had shaped him into the man he was today.
「──」
「... ── 」
「Right.」
Subaru filled his lungs with the fresh morning breeze blowing across the roof. He then turned to Arona. 「All right, let's move to the next step.」
「Arona, what's the plan? Our appointment... it was around four-thirty, I think. Is there anything we should do until then?」
「...」
「...Arona?」
He called out again when the flip phone remained silent. This was the first time Arona hadn't responded to his voice immediately.
He felt a momentary flash of confusion. Soon, however, a flustered, mechanical voice replied. Subaru teased her, 「Even you drift off sometimes, Arona?」
「Ah... I... I am terribly sorry. I was making some adjustments to the rescue plan you devised for Izayoi Nonomi... As for what we can do now...」
「── I think it's about time for lunch, don't you, Subaru?」 (Hoshino)
「Oh, you scared me... Are you done sharing warm hugs with your students, Hoshino?」 (Subaru)
Subaru felt a light pat on his shoulder from behind. He turned to find Hoshino wearing a hairstyle he'd never seen before; she had undone her hair, letting the long strands fall freely.
Lunch... Come to think of it, the constant cycles of "Return by Death" had completely warped his senses. He had forgotten about food entirely, even though his body desperately lacked nutrients.
In real time, only four days had passed since he woke up in the hospital. While Hoshino and the others felt like companions he had known for an eternity due to the looped timelines, for them, the experience was quite different.
「Food, right... food.」 (Subaru)
「Yesterday's lunch was just dry emergency rations, and you skipped dinner entirely. If you keep rushing around on an empty stomach, you'll collapse, won't you?」 (Hoshino)
「Do you remember what happened yesterday?」 (Hoshino)
「Ugh... I apologize for that.」 (Subaru)
「This "uncle" knows the perfect place for lunch. We're all heading there now, and...」 (Hoshino)
「── Why don't you join us, Subaru?」 (Hoshino)
「... ── !」
Subaru stood with his mouth agape, stunned into silence.
He couldn't believe his ears. Could such kindness truly come from Hoshino? This was the same girl who had rejected his very existence at first—the one who, in other timelines, had gone as far as shooting him in the head or even torturing him.
Was Hoshino actually inviting him to lunch right now──?
「Dammit... this is incredible. I actually feel like crying.」 (Subaru)
「You want to cry? Did this "old lady" do something wrong...?」 (Hoshino)
「No, these are tears of joy, you──!!」 (Subaru)
Emotion overwhelmed him, blurring his vision. Truly, even if it was just one small step, he was overjoyed to have made it. Faint scenes from his past flickered in his mind—memories of a drab, colorless youth that lacked any flavor or significant events. Now, these vibrant, living memories were sweeping those pale ghosts away.
「Hoshino──!! My god! You really are so kind!! Hahaha!」 (Subaru)
「Whoa! Cut that out, Subaru. This isn't right.」 (Hoshino)
Subaru impulsively patted Hoshino's head, savoring the softness of her pink hair. Having only seen her in a ponytail, the sight of her hair flowing freely felt both dazzling and refreshing. When he considered this small body—one that shouldered such a massive burden, squeezed by resentment, vengeance, and a lethal suspicion of everyone around her—his desire to comfort her only grew.
That was Subaru; he loathed tragic endings and couldn't stand seeing good people endure misery under the guise of "fate." It was a simple, pure conviction. He only wished for misery to vanish from the world, so he continued to dote on this small girl with all his heart...──.
「Hahaha, stop it, Subaru. You shouldn't do this.」 (Hoshino)
「Not while Shiroko-chan is watching us──」 (Hoshino)
「... Huh?」 (Subaru)
An immediate, inescapable sense of dread seized him. Lord, Shiroko... if you have even a shred of mercy in your heart...
「──」
「Oh.」 (Subaru)
Mer... mercy...
「Ah, right. Actually.」 (Subaru)
「Subaru.」 (Shiroko)
「── Come with me for a moment. We have things to discuss.」 (Shiroko)
「Noooooooooo──!?」 (Subaru)
Her grip tightened on his collar from behind, and she began dragging him away with startling force.
「I'll catch up with you in a bit. Hoshino-senpai, go ahead with Serika and Ayane.」 (Shiroko)
「Sure thing. We'll head on first, then. Sorry for the interruption.」 (Hoshino)
「Hoshi—Ho—Hoshino! Wait!! Don't leave me!!」 (Subaru)
「Have fun together～」 (Hoshino)
「Aronaaaaaaaaaaa!!!」 (Subaru)
" Suggestion: I advise you to avoid such casual physical contact in the future. " (Arona)
Great, you never take my side in moments like this...
He muttered these pathetic, desperate words as Shiroko hauled him off.
「Nn. I just want you to "understand" something, Subaru.」 (Shiroko)
「And what might that be?」 (Subaru)
「Nn.」 (Shiroko)
「──???」 (Subaru)
「Nn.」 (Shiroko)
And so, Shiroko dragged Subaru into the darkness of the classroom.
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