—This is bad. Really, really bad.
The rough ground pressed against his cheek. He must have fallen face-first. He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He couldn't even feel his fingers anymore. All he felt was heat—boiling through every inch of him.
—It's hot. It's hot. It's hot. It's hot.
Blood surged up his throat. He coughed, vomiting it onto the ground. It frothed at his lips, staining the floor red.
—All of that... mine?
His vision was blurry, but he could tell he was lying in a pool of his own blood. It felt like every drop in his body had spilled out. Trembling, he reached toward the burning sensation spreading through him—and his fingertips met the source.
His stomach. Or rather, the wide, clean cut across it.
No wonder it felt so hot. His brain wasn't recognizing pain—it was misreading it as heat. The gash was so deep it had almost sliced him in half. Only a few strips of flesh held him together.
Checkmate. His life's game was already over. And the moment he understood that, his consciousness grew dim.
A black boot splashed down beside him, rippling the bloody puddle.
Someone was standing there. His killer, no doubt. But Subaru didn't bother to look up.
—It doesn't matter anymore.
There was only one thing he still wished for.
—Let her be safe.
"—baru?"
A soft, bell-like voice reached him. Just hearing it felt like salvation.
"!"
A small cry followed—and she collapsed beside him, falling into the same bed of blood.
Her white hand lay near his. He weakly reached out, gripping it with his bloodstained fingers. She responded faintly, squeezing back.
"Just… wait…"
He clung to his fading awareness, forcing his mind to stay awake just a little longer.
"I'm going to…"
—save you.
In the next moment, Natsuki Subaru died