── Flashing back slightly: Subaru and his companions had just left the wreckage of the train... ──.
"Subaru, duck." (Shiroko)
"Dammit, that was close." (Subaru)
"Aboooo, the sand! The sand is in my eyes!" (Nozomi)
We had managed to shave off some time in an unexpected way—or rather, we had done nothing but cut corners through unpredictable means.
"I didn't want any trouble, but..." (Subaru)
Shiroko's riding skills were uncanny. There wasn't a single jolt; I actually found myself doubting whether I was even on a moving vehicle.
"It's only natural for Kaiser's troops to mobilize in these numbers." (Subaru)
"Nn. Just trash... they're annoying." (Shiroko)
Thanks for the ever-valuable insight. They were indeed annoying. Extremely so. Their numbers and mobility outclassed everyone else, and while their shots might be mere "peashooters" to Shiroko and the others, to me, they would be fatal.
I could only afford non-lethal wounds—the bare minimum of damage that would still allow me to function. I swung my left arm... ──.
"── It moves. It still moves. I can keep going." (Subaru)
"I just heard... some very, very creepy talk... waaaah!?" (Nozomi)
"... Keep your mouth shut, or you'll bite your tongue." (Subaru)
My left arm wouldn't move on its own, but I could make it move. As long as it wasn't completely useless, I could push forward. I couldn't afford to rush, but the approaching threats left me with no choice but to worry.
── Kaiser's soldiers chased us from behind like a roaring tide.
During our transit, Kaiser's scouts spotted us exactly as expected, and we were now in a state of constant flight. Even at high speeds, a bicycle is still just a bicycle. While its speed rivaled Kaiser's helicopters or armored vehicles, it relied on raw physical power, and we were at a disadvantage regarding endurance. Moreover, maneuvering while carrying myself, Nozomi, and the unconscious Hikari-chan presented immense difficulties.
"Arona, who's on our tail?" (Subaru)
"Three attack helicopters, two armored vehicles, and three standard cars. As planned... the Prefect Team led by Amao Ako is currently passing through the return route." (Arona)
"The helicopters will intercept us before the contact point. Currently, due to the rescue of the Abydos students and the battle on the train, the Shittim Chest's functions and resources are severely depleted." (Arona)
"Subaru-sama... ── I wish you luck. From here on, everything depends on your management." (Arona)
"... Don't be nervous. It's just my first solo battle." (Subaru)
People often say the heart dances with excitement, but in this case, my face probably looked like I was about to dance myself to death. Without Arona's support, I would have to handle everything manually. I had to keep my legs moving at all costs, and also... ──.
"... ──" (Arona)
Arona, who knew about "Return by Death," surely expected a lot from me. She believed I would win, so I would.
"Do you think we'll win?" (Subaru)
"Subaru will definitely win. But I'm not letting you go again." (Shiroko)
"Big Bro, are you really going to move with that wound? Stop, you'll actually die!" (Nozomi)
"I know. Now... ── Shiroko! Turn at the next path!" (Subaru)
"── Roger." (Shiroko)
I followed a path etched into my memory. The person who understood Shiroko and Abydos better than anyone else in this world right now... ── was me. As long as I kept choosing the optimal route, running on terrain that allowed for maximum speed and providing Shiroko with the best conditions, nothing but the helicopters could catch us.
The problem was "nothing but the helicopters." No matter how precise my instructions were, escaping gunships was... ── difficult.
"Nozomi, can you reach my backside?" (Subaru)
"!?" (Nozomi)
"Sorry, poor choice of words. Use the smoke grenade—the signal flare—in my back pocket." (Subaru)
"Ah, you meant that." (Nozomi)
Nozomi fumbled with my pocket, pulled out the smoke grenade, and ripped off the cap. She clung to it desperately, even though she was lashed to the side of the bike and looked ready to vomit from the vibrations.
Normally, such thin smoke would vanish at this speed, meaning nothing... if anything, it would just make us easier to track. But it was effective against helicopters using infrared sensors. The perfect timing was at a right-angle turn, using buildings as a shield; the intense thermal reaction of the smoke grenade could serve as cover. I 『remembered』 doing this before.
"── Now! Toss it at the building opposite us!" (Subaru)
"R-Roger!!" (Nozomi)
"Shiroko! Straight, straight, right, straight, right!" (Subaru)
"That's the opposite direction of the school... is there something there?" (Shiroko)
"Gehenna's Prefect Team is coming to help. We should run right into them in just a moment! Probably!" (Subaru)
"Nn!" (Shiroko)
The bike's speed surged even further. Unlike an endless escape, if Shiroko had a clear win condition, she didn't need to conserve her energy anymore. Exactly at the intersection, we broke the enemy's line of sight, and the speeding bicycle vanished temporarily from the Kaiser soldiers' view.
"Heh, just as I thought." (Subaru)
I let out a short, breathless laugh. I had walked these maze-like roads alone for far too long. Passing through thin trees, crushing fallen branches underfoot, descending slippery slopes with cautious dread—these paths, which were less like roads and more like beast trails, had opposed me with everything they had.
── How many times had I repeated this escape?
Considering how often I had looped through these rescues and flights, my current situation should have felt much lighter. The anxiety was gone, and only Nonomi-chan remained to be found. Yet, the reason my heart pounded harder than ever was perhaps my inability to shake the dread regarding the future I was heading toward. Or maybe it was because I drew my strength from those I had to save.
"Both, probably... but it's nothing to be proud of." (Subaru)
I had seen the results of letting the people I wanted to save slip through my fingers too many times. If I had managed to corner the circumstances this far with only these wounds, I had to avoid repeating this at all costs. That was the purpose of my existence now.
"――――" (Subaru)
My throat was bone-dry as I swallowed. The desert sand was greedily siphoning every drop of moisture from my body. Despite that, a foul sweat flowed, tension clinging to my skin like a hardening shell. Was it fear or just exhaustion? The reality was that I needed treatment soon, or tomorrow wouldn't connect to today.
"Since I've walked these mazes and know them all, my sense of direction and memory have sharpened to a point that's almost laughable." (Subaru)
Or perhaps I should say I've become too accustomed to "dying and learning." I could practically be a private tour guide for Abydos ── I thought the title might bring life back to this deserted land, but then I realized who would ever want to watch a Subaru talk show. What surfaced wasn't a laugh but cold irony. Ahead of me lay hours of agony.
"── There they are." (Subaru)
The Prefect Team's vehicles, snaking through the road ahead in their pretentious formation, overlapped with the setting sun. If asked whether I felt any kinship toward those faces, the answer was "not exactly"... ── but I wanted to express my deepest gratitude for the fact that they had come to our rescue.
"Go at full speed, Shiroko!" (Subaru)
"── Hold on tight." (Shiroko)
"B-B-Big Bro! Hikari! Hikari's rope is coming loose! Don't go any faster!" (Nozomi)
"Don't worry, my right leg is doing its best!" (Subaru)
"That doesn't make me feel better at all!?" (Nozomi)
"Hey, hey, things are going well, so just relax a bit." (Subaru)
I had changed so much that I could joke without fear even in a situation like this. The shift in my cowardly personality was almost funny. With that light chuckle, a sensation of flight enveloped my body. I felt as if I were soaring through the sky, like someone on an endless roller coaster. That sentiment vanished instantly when I actually took flight with my physical body.
"What the──" (Subaru)
"Eh?" (Nozomi)
Before I could ask "why," Shiroko had wrapped her arm around me and jumped, abandoning the two girls lashed to the bike.
── Immediately after.
"Dammit! Nozomi! Hikariiiii!!" (Subaru)
"... ── Sorry." (Shiroko)
A massive explosion erupted behind us. The missile that struck Shiroko's bike was an attack from the helicopters closing in to surround us from the front. I had miscalculated. The consequence of being unable to borrow Arona's power showed immediately in my failure to notice the pincer maneuver from a distance. It likely happened while we were igniting the smoke grenade—at the worst possible timing, the exact moment Arona's support cut out... ──.
"But it's fine. I adjusted the launch angle." (Shiroko)
"Launch angle...? ── Ooooh!!?" (Subaru)
When I looked to see what she meant, I saw Nozomi and Hikari, sent flying by the explosion, moving in a completely surreal arc toward the Prefect Team's position. Were they okay after taking that blast? And what kind of insane skill does it take to calculate the angle of abandonment to aim them like that? I didn't even want to comment anymore; I was used to these kinds of experiences.
"Dammit, we still haven't killed them──!?" (Kaiser Soldier)
"Ignore that! Use the machine guns... we'll lose them in the smoke! Get away from the buildings, if they jump us, we're finished!" (Kaiser Soldier)
Kaiser's plan failed. The blast wave had already given Shiroko wings.
"Too late." (Shiroko)
She fired at the helicopter's rotor, muttering, "Hoshino-senpai would have been faster." Even as she felt dissatisfied with her takedown speed, she landed lightly on a rooftop using the falling chopper as a stepping stone, then ran straight down the side of the building. Running on a vertical wall; I wasn't sure if it counted as descending or falling. Since I felt that sensation I never wanted to taste again, I concluded it was "falling" as we plummeted.
"── Please, spare me from any more "aerial strolls."" (Subaru)
My vision blurred too fast for me to even scream. She leaped over houses as if hopping across ships, approaching the vehicles without a sound. Hikari and Nozomi's fate wasn't entirely clear, but the rear of the convoy had become noisy, so Shiroko confirmed they had landed safely regardless of their condition.
Toward the vehicle I pointed out, Shiroko leaped silently and tapped the roof several times... ── when no one answered, she peered into the window from above and knocked on the glass. The car slammed on its brakes, likely out of shock. I tumbled off the roof, ── and if Ako was as organized as my previous loops suggested... like she followed a textbook, then those "extravagant" clothes were about to appear before my eyes.
As I tried to stand, using my blood-stained hand for leverage on the smooth glass like a novice on an ice rink ──.
"Oh... sorry I'm late... ── Could you help us clean up some "annoying pests" right away?" (Subaru)
Exactly as I expected, those scandalous clothes were waiting for me.
●○●○●
When exactly did being injured become my default state?
I had barely left the hospital when I arrived at Abydos, only to be broken once again. It had been so long now that these days of ruin felt like my only reality.
It was a stolen freedom—the sensation of your feet landing somewhere other than where you intended. The strange experience of tasting air that felt entirely alien, mingling with the persistent ache in my body. The erratic thrum of a heart skipping beats, completely ignoring the rhythm of my breath.
There was a distinct discomfort in swallowing all these bizarre sensations—the feeling that my body no longer belonged to me—and letting them blur together. As my senses numbed, my body moved with more fluidity, yet it felt as though I was discarding my physical self, letting it drift away to some distant place.
It wasn't that the pain had vanished, or that I had stopped suffering. It wasn't that I couldn't feel anything or that my senses had failed me.
It was simply that none of those things were reasons to stop. Subaru remained Subaru—playing the part of the brave, strong, kind, and cheerful hero without missing a beat.
"── You think you can move the Prefect Team? Are you seriously asking me to hand over the chain of command?" (Ako)
"It's a promise, Ako. Don't grumble—please. I'll return them to you without a single casualty or loss! I'm the kind of guy who treats even a borrowed eraser with the utmost care; if the edges are still sharp, I'll make sure not to use them just to keep it in pristine condition. That's how much I care about other people's things." (Subaru)
"That! That's impossible! Don't you realize that's exactly why I'm hesitating right now!?" (Ako)
"Then hit me with whatever punishment you want later. I don't care! ── Please!" (Subaru)
While enduring a gaze sharp enough to mince meat and receiving treatment from Sena, I asked Arona to patch me into the Prefect Team's communication network.
"From a 'specialist squad leader' to the commander of a massive army in an instant... ── this world certainly keeps things interesting." (Subaru)
"Don't you dare forget about that punishment! I'm adding this to your debt, and you will absolutely follow my orders!" (Ako)
"── Then, if I succeed, you'd better give me a reward in return." (Subaru)
"..." (Ako)
She gave me a look that said, "What is this idiot talking about?" As a chill began to settle into my boiling body, I slowly reached into my breast pocket.
The committee members, waiting for Ako's orders, grew uneasy at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Subaru, the sudden intruder, began issuing operational instructions without even a word of greeting. To dispel the anxiety in their voices, Subaru cracked his neck and prepared the perfect opening act for the battle.
"Step aside, Administrative Lead Amao Ako! The man taking charge this time is none other than... Natsukiii~ Subarooo!" (Subaru)
"I know I've just appeared out of nowhere, dragged a horde of enemies behind me, and suddenly started barking orders. I completely understand your concern." (Subaru)
"── But leave it to me. I am Natsuki Subaru. I'll say it again... ── I am Natsuki Subaru." (Subaru)
"Believe the rumors associated with my name, or wait until you see the "magic trick" I'm about to perform. Either will do. But please, just trust me for now." (Subaru)
I called out to Arona. There had to be one last resource remaining—something she was likely saving to protect my life until the very end. To earn genuine trust mixed with awe and fear, I needed to make a stunning impression—a display of absolute confidence that I could break the crisis pursuing them.
── For the opening act, I'll bring down those helicopters.
Dropping them was simple enough. Arona was invincible against anything controlled by electronic systems.
"Arona, I'll leave the "special effects" to you." (Subaru)
"... But if I do that... I won't be able to protect you, Subaru-sama. Any command you issue afterward will be..." (Arona)
"I'll handle that part, Arona. You rest." (Subaru)
"...…" (Arona)
── There was one catch.
If I downed the helicopters remotely by overexerting her, Arona would be forced to rest for nearly an entire day. This meant that every command from this point forward would depend entirely on my own strength.
"── Do I look cool right now?" (Subaru)
"Yes." (Arona)
"Then, can you make me look even cooler?" (Subaru)
"... ── Yes." (Arona)
A collective gasp.
Following Arona's response, a wave of shock rippled through the comms. Subaru figured that if he had to name the emotion currently gripping their hearts, it would undoubtedly be "dread."
These girls were now feeling undeniable terror toward the boy who had just been speaking nonsense in a playful tone over the radio. That was because the Kaiser helicopters closing in had suddenly exploded mid-air, turning into wreckage before the very eyes of the Prefect Team.
"I've already crushed all the helicopters. This is my power. If you understand that..." (Subaru)
"...then follow my orders." (Subaru)
With this, I hoped they would believe that a being named Natsuki Subaru possessed true power—that he was a man who could wield mysterious forces as naturally as breathing.
In truth, Subaru had taken command of the Prefect Team several times in previous loops. In this situation, it wasn't impossible, but Gehenna students didn't listen to reason through normal means. I had to make them obey, even if it meant scaring them into it. Telling them "not to be nervous" or "not to be afraid" was a cruel request in a state like this.
"Alright then, let the operation begin! I'm counting on you, Prefect Team." (Subaru)
●○●○●
"President Hina..." (Ako)
If I had the courage at this very moment to draw a pistol, I would have pulled the trigger without a second thought.
Had I not misjudged this man, I would have arrested him long before we ever engaged in that ridiculous conversation. Had I done that... ── I would be humming to myself in the bath right now, without a single care in the world.
"... ── Mr. Natsuki, I have a question." (Ako)
"How is it that you know the names of the Prefect Team units and the internal codes we use exclusively? Furthermore... tell me, how do you anticipate the enemy's every move?" (Ako)
I want to consider it a disgrace that I have to learn from this man. Yet, had I been the one in command, I could never have achieved the results he did.
He blocked roads after anticipating their advance, laid traps to intercept infantry clearing buildings, and managed a pseudo-siege using residential complexes. These tactics completely paralyzed the Kaiser forces—whose mobility vanished once their vehicles were disabled—forcing them into a desperate, suicidal charge even as they realized the magnitude of their losses.
『The vehicles are going to hit the first line of barricades, so lay down the barbed wire first! A few of you stay behind to guide them, while the rest retreat into the side houses!』 (Subaru)
『Third Battalion, advance in a "Crane Wing" formation, just like we did before! A few of you show yourselves to draw them in, then pick them off one by one. I'm counting on you!』 (Subaru)
『It seems the enemy doesn't look where they step! I don't care what you use—string up traps everywhere with any rope you can find! Whatever you do, stay off the road. The bait needs to pull back toward our lines immediately. We'll call this "Ambush Trap x100"... ── sorry, never mind.』 (Subaru)
His instructions are amateurish, and his leadership seems haphazard and imprecise, yet every command yields maximum efficiency. People mockingly say that 『the Prefect Team is nothing but a collection of scarecrows without Hina,』 and admittedly, the quality of our rank-and-file isn't particularly high.
But can seasoned Kaiser soldiers be systematically wiped out just by following orders as they are given?
"── If you don't reveal your secret, I will consider our agreement to lend you our troops null and void." (Ako)
"Ako..." (Subaru)
"Miss Sena, bring him to my car as soon as you finish treating him. I'll see you shortly... I'll be waiting, Natsuki Subaru." (Ako)
I returned to the vehicle, pressing a hand to my chest, wondering why my voice sounded so uncharacteristically polite toward such an infuriating man.
●○●○●
Cold sweat poured down Subaru's back as his shoulders slumped. He wondered if this was the price for pushing himself far beyond his limits.
He desperately hoped the "feeling" in his chest was nothing more than baseless anxiety, but his heart hammered against his ribs, and a dull numbness crept into his limbs. Ako wore a ridiculous outfit, but she was no fool; her dealings with Subaru were always built on the premise that he was a potential threat to Hina.
── What truly constricted his chest now were the ghosts of his past.
"I'm back, Subaru. I've recovered... Hikari-chan and Nozomi-chan." (Shiroko)
""── ..."" (Nozomi and Hikari)
"Welcome back, Shiroko. Great work... ── and you two as well. Yes, you did well." (Subaru)
I really don't want to get killed, though. Honestly.
"... Thank you for treating Subaru. Are you from the Prefect Team too?" (Shiroko)
"No, I belong to the Emergency Medical Division. President Hina requested that I accompany you on this operation. She didn't give me a reason when I asked back then, but... ── I think I understand why now." (Sena)
"Nn. You're right." (Shiroko)
I might actually get shot and die. That thought made the hair on his neck stand up. Logically, it was impossible; Ako was too intelligent to point a gun at him now. Yet, Subaru's trauma forced the possibility to the surface.
『Natsuki Subaru.』
He could almost hear Hoshino's voice—utterly cold.
The outcome of the upcoming conversation could lead to being kidnapped at worst, or a forced retreat at best.
"... Being a pessimist by nature, it's frustrating that I can't entirely rule out the worst-case scenarios. Dammit." (Subaru)
"What do you mean, pessimist? Are you hiding something again?" (Shiroko)
"No, not exactly... actually, yes. These answers have just become a habit. ── Shiroko, I want you to head back to Abydos Academy first. Take Hikari and Nozomi with you." (Subaru)
"And what about you, Subaru?" (Shiroko)
"... Hmm." (Subaru)
"I'll talk with them for a bit, then I'll be right behind you." (Subaru)
As he spoke, his expression softened unexpectedly. Or rather, he laughed—a shy, fleeting laugh directed at nothing in particular. He didn't laugh because it was funny, nor because the artillery shells had "tickled" him. It was simply that his face twitched, moved by a small, indescribable emotion that had curdled deep in his chest.
"So, we'll part ways here for now. Shiroko, go to the school and make sure Kaiser's troops haven't reached it. Protect the underclassmen! Meanwhile, I'll go with Ako and the others, and I'll be quick about it... ──" (Subaru)
""────"" (Shiroko and Sena)
"Shiroko? Sena? Uh... I'm getting embarrassed with you both staring at me like that. I mean..." (Subaru)
"You look unexpectedly boyish, Subaru. I never noticed because of your sharp eyes... anyway, I'm staying too." (Shiroko)
"Wait, what just happened? Why? How did things flip like this!?" (Subaru)
"In that case, both of you should rest in my vehicle. Especially Mr. Subaru—his current condition prevents him from taking a single step. As for Administrative Lead Ako's 'talks,' nothing good ever comes of them." (Sena)
"What is wrong with you two!?" (Subaru)
Subaru wanted to thank them for helping him regain his quick-witted banter, but this sudden change of heart made him wonder if they were possessed by evil spirits or had eaten something spoiled. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Shiroko's to check for a fever... ── but there was none.
While Subaru was about to ask Sena for a clinical diagnosis, thinking exhaustion had made them act strange, Shiroko stared back at him with eyes as cold as ice.
"So... I want to stay for Subaru's sake. If I say that, will you manage?" (Shiroko)
"Managing... isn't... impossible... however..." (Sena)
"Abydos is protected by Hoshino-senpai. Even if I don't go, Hoshino-senpai's presence alone means I don't have to worry about our defense anymore." (Shiroko)
"...… Hoshino... then that means... ── if she did what I asked her to..." (Subaru)
He almost let it slip, but caught himself.
"── The thing you asked?" (Shiroko)
Even now, at this stage, are you still hiding things from us?
Shiroko's gaze felt as if it were cutting his words short, crushing them. Subaru turned his face away, feeling an unnatural tightness in his chest. Beyond his promise to reveal everything once they returned, he was now in a position where excuses were no longer accepted. His "debts" were piling up.
He wanted to say "I'm sorry," but to Shiroko, an apology no longer held any meaning. He searched for a way to apologize, but what she demanded wasn't an apology—it was an 『explanation』. Was there even enough room in the world for Subaru to prostrate himself in penance?
Subaru tilted his head in confusion; Shiroko simply shrugged.
"Tell me when the treatment is finished." (Shiroko)
Shiroko strode toward the vehicle Subaru had been eyeing. Realizing why Subaru was staying behind, she took the initiative. Before Subaru could say another word, she brushed back her silver hair, a gesture that signaled her resolve. From inside the car, Ako cried out in alarm:
"Wait, who are you!?" (Ako)
"Nn. Let's have a little chat." (Shiroko)
Subaru, pinned down by Sena's medical prohibition, tried to comb through his memory for every risk and possibility. But he had neither the luxury nor the physical strength to improvise in the face of such an unprecedented situation. Knowing he wouldn't be able to answer the screams and wails he was bound to hear soon, he whispered:
"Sorry, Ako." (Subaru)
He finally let out the "sorry" that had been stuck in his throat, offering it up like a sacrifice.
●○●○●
── A touch of anxiety, a dash of terror.
These were the emotions swirling in Subaru's chest. Now, he had to face the very source of the dread he had carried deep within for so long.
His hand, now bound in bandages, reached up to brush his black hair. When he tried to rest it on his hip, he felt the unyielding texture of a hard splint.
"Nn. I'm glad it happened." (Shiroko)
Shiroko's silver hair and the animal ears brushing against his side were incredibly soft, even in the middle of the desert. It was truly strange how she maintained such a texture under these conditions. Normally, Subaru would have described being this close to a beautiful girl as "paradise." In any time or place, he was the type to fall head over heels for the one he loved.
"It was a good thing." (Shiroko)
But this, too... ── was a weight crushing Subaru's heart.
"It was good." Yes, it really was. While he was away, Abydos Academy hadn't turned to rubble. The underclassmen had returned safely. And there was the "Senpai" at the school whom Shiroko trusted so much... ──.
"Y-Yes, that's right." (Subaru)
"Why are you speaking so formally?" (Shiroko)
Ugh. He tried to swallow the bile rising from his stomach. He couldn't let Shiroko see such a revolting sight. If she discovered the truth—that the sheer pressure she was exerting on him made him want to puke—it would only make things worse.
"It's just nerves... ── or you could say..." (Subaru)
I'm about to vomit.
Subaru owed it to Shiroko that they had returned to Abydos at sunset without incident, especially after Ako had shrunk back and retreated without even a conversation.
Upon their return, the sight of Hoshino standing before the school gates caught everyone's eye. Just as he began to lament that his personal wish hadn't quite come true, thinking, "Ah, so that's how it is,"... ──.
『Mr. Natsuki.』 (Kanna)
『That look really doesn't suit you.』 (Kanna)
He saw his wish fulfilled as she smiled at him.
Ah, truly, it was a good thing. He didn't know what kind of hell she had endured. He had no idea what emotions drove her to betray Kaiser and lend him a hand. He knew nothing at all.
『I'm glad I could see your face again.』 To say those words from the bottom of his heart and savor their meaning was the most consideration Subaru could offer.
── Hoshino had answered Subaru's request, filling the void he couldn't have closed no matter how hard he tried.
『Those words you just said... what did they mean, I wonder?』 (Kanna)
Had the matter ended with that poignant reunion, everything might have been fine... well, perhaps not quite.
"A-Anyway! We aren't all here yet! But let's celebrate being back together for now and──" (Subaru)
"Subaru." (Shiroko)
"... Yes." (Subaru)
"You promised us, didn't you?" (Shiroko)
"... ── Yes." (Subaru)
Subaru was now in the Abydos Foreclosure Task Force room.
He wasn't alone, of course. He was surrounded: a silver-haired "wolf" girl to his right, a girl from a "warrior lineage" to his left, and a "corpse-like" girl standing behind him. The room was packed with others: a cheerful "dog-like" girl, a black-haired "cat" girl, and an "elfin" girl wearing glasses.
One might mistake this room for a "land of bliss" or paradise.
In the center of the room sat a hot pot, prepared with water and food provided by the Prefect Team. Beside it sat girls who looked like they desperately needed an explanation for everything.
"Alright. Tell us everything." (Shiroko)
For Subaru, the "interrogation from hell" was about to begin.
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