"..."
"── So, I wonder what terrible things you have in mind for this old lady? Ohihihi~" (Hoshino)
"── All right." (Subaru)
"This is where it truly begins." (Subaru)
"...?" (Hoshino)
"Ah, nothing. I just meant regarding my request. Once we settle all these problems, I just want you to treat me to a bowl of ramen. Between being broke, homeless, and having no future, I won't even survive until tomorrow if I keep working as an unpaid volunteer." (Subaru)
"Ohihihi~... It seems we share the same dire poverty, then." (Hoshino)
"Literally. We're both in a very tight spot." (Subaru)
"Mm. Subaru, can't you just shake down the General Student Council for a salary?" (Shiroko)
"Shake them down?! Wait a second, Miss Hoshino, just how exactly are you raising the children in this house?" (Subaru)
"You're right... That won't do, Shiroko-chan. This boy is still unemployed, so he doesn't even have a salary to be paid in the first place. How could he shake it down?" (Hoshino)
"That's your response?! In a situation like this, aren't you supposed to bow and apologize for failing to give her a proper moral upbringing?!" (Subaru)
"If my bowing would fill Subaru's wallet, I wouldn't mind at all." (Hoshino)
"Thank you very much for that double-whammy of provocation and concern!! Huff, huff... I'm exhausted from all this back-and-forth, and my body is aching. I'm going to the roof for a bit to get some fresh air." (Subaru)
"Nn." (Shiroko)
●○●○●
The roof door wasn't locked. It reminded me of the "secret bases" I used to long for back in high school. In the real world, schools weren't so unrealistically careless as to leave roof access open; they kept those doors bolted for three full years to prevent suicides, accidents, and unwanted loitering.
I placed my hand on the rusty handle and stepped onto the roof of Abydos High once again. A refreshing breeze swept over me, as if trying to wash away the stench of death that had clung to my soul only moments ago.
It was a pure breeze—temperate and calm. A bitter expression crossed my face as I remembered being denied even the simple taste of ordinary air. Just for this moment, I felt a sense of relief because "Death" had sent Subaru back to the "next time."
My hands are not stained with blood. No one has died yet. No one lies buried beneath those sands. My body is whole, unburnt, my sight and hearing are intact, and──.
"..."
The voices in my head had finally fallen silent.
Are you still worried about yourself after everything that happened?
"It's fine, isn't it? The fact that I woke up without breaking down in tears is a miracle in itself." (Subaru)
I leaned against the roof railing. I gazed at the clear blue sky, my heart tightening for a second when I imagined it stained a deep crimson. I had grown used to this; visual and auditory hallucinations haunted me constantly, awake or asleep, ensuring I never forgot. This has been my companion since the day I arrived in this world and died for the first time. It is far too late for complaints now. Even so, I couldn't stop the tears from pouring out.
Just as despair has no bottom, sorrow has no end. But since humans cannot live forever submerged in grief, tears act as brakes, stopping our freefall before we hit the ground. Tears aren't just for sadness or a way to express it; they serve as a safety valve that keeps us from sinking any deeper into the sea of despair.
"...…"
I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, staring at the sky and feeling the reality of being alive. I chewed over the hell that had just happened—a horror that already felt like a distant memory—until its impact finally faded. My breath no longer carries pain. My feet walk without the echoes of malice swirling around them. My heart, hoping for the future, is no longer drowning in despair.
This isn't because my psyche is strong or because I possess some noble philosophy that allows me to transcend hardship. It is because of a drive called the "Promise."
Every time I face death to reach the "next time," the promise of walking this world with you shares the weight of all my foolish failures. In short, it's a form of "blaming others." Even if I wrap it in the word "motivation," it doesn't change the fact that it is a pathetic weakness.
I placed my palm over my heart and whispered a soft "All right" with a deep exhale. My lungs filled with the fresh breeze of youth.
"I'm back, Arona." (Subaru)
"Welcome back, Mr. Subaru." (Arona)
●○●○●
── Gehenna Academy
"Haaaaah..."
"..."
"Haaaaah..."
"Ah... Haaaah."
Heavy, agonizing sighs hung in the air, a thick shroud of misery that betrayed the absolute collapse of her spirit. Despite the fluid grace and sharp precision she displayed—manually directing troops while positioning other units on her tablet—her sighs only grew more frequent and intense.
Watching this display, one of the students finally spoke up in protest.
"──Listen, Ako-chan. If you keep prepping while sighing like that, you're going to tank our morale too. You realize that, right?" (Iori)
"...And what am I supposed to do? Even if the Captain requested this, why must we bother with an expedition to a wasteland like Abydos? They've just declared war. And on top of all that, it's for that scoundrel who seduced the Captain and made a fool of her..." (Ako)
"Seduced... That scoundrel── Ugh... Aaaaah!! Damn it!!!" (Ako)
"…She's a lost cause." (Chinatsu)
"If you think so, then do something about her, Chinatsu." (Iori)
Ako, Iori, and Chinatsu had been ordered to support Abydos, where Subaru had headed. They were filling in for Hina, who was currently undergoing official self-imposed solitary confinement. The Captain had to endure this punishment because of him, so why should they lift a finger for someone like that?
Ako surrendered to the rage boiling in her chest, stomping her feet repeatedly in pure frustration. Yet, she knew that if she let her anger win and broke her word, the Captain would be the one to suffer most. She felt as if she were being blackmailed—as if Captain Hina were a hostage held by this Natsuki Subaru, a man she viewed as a scoundrel, a pervert, and disgusting scum.
"Haaaah~..." (Ako)
And so, she spiraled back into her loop of sighing.
She cursed her own efficiency; she had already finished the preparations. She really should have stalled. She should have delayed their movement until Natsuki Subaru tasted the full bitterness of suffering and reached his absolute limit. Only then would she appear at the final moment as the savior he would have to beg for help, forcing that idiot to swear eternal loyalty to Captain Hina...──Now that would be a truly brilliant plan!
Yes, that was the only just punishment for someone who dared to treat the Captain like a subordinate. He should be left to suffer more and more. Then, at the height of his despair, she would turn him into a submissive dog, crawling at Captain Hina's feet and licking them...!
"…But even that mental image disgusts me." (Ako)
I'm the only one who has the right to do that. Natsuki Subaru deserves a much more shameful and humiliating position...
"──Administrative Lead Ako!" (Prefect Team Member)
"What is it? We're about to move out." (Ako)
"T-That! O-Oh! Natsu... Natsu..." (Prefect Team Member)
"…Can't you calm down? Who is this── Natsu??" (Ako)
"It's Natsuki Subaru! There's a direct patch to headquarters!! Administrative Lead Ako, please pick up!!" (Prefect Team Member)
"──" (Ako)
The golden opportunity.
It was obvious that a man with his lack of intellect would beg for help the moment he stepped onto the battlefield alone. This was the perfect chance to see Natsuki Subaru's true nature, right here and now.
"Understood. Patch him through." (Ako)
"Right away!" (Prefect Team Member)
Ako activated the comms device, connecting the line to Natsuki Subaru, the man who had forced his way into their lives.
"This is Gehenna Academy──" (Ako)
"Hello, hello! Ako-chi, how are you? You doing okay?" (Subaru)
──Without thinking, Ako slammed her tablet onto the ground in pure shock.
"I assume you're currently prepping for the expedition per Hina's request...──Oh, let me tell you in advance, this really helps me out. I'm grateful." (Subaru)
"…And how exactly do you know that?" (Ako)
"That's a secret. Anyway, about that support request...──The moment you arrive, I want you to place the forces under my command." (Subaru)
"What?!" (Ako)
"Problems are piling up over my head. To be honest, I'm completely powerless to handle this crisis on my own." (Subaru)
"There are too many things I can't save with just these two hands. So, even though Hina helped me out... I'm still, you know, lacking in a lot of areas." (Subaru)
"In 3 minutes and 57 seconds, I'll become the acting "Schale Sensei," responsible for the General Student Council President's legacy. You, Ako, know exactly how much debt and leverage you can squeeze out of me in exchange for this." (Subaru)
"I'll do anything you ask. So please, when you arrive, put me in charge... I'm begging you. If you want something, just name it; I'll get it for you no matter the cost. Even if you want me to crawl through Gehenna Academy like a dog with a collar around my neck, I'll do it." (Subaru)
"Ako, you... and the Prefect Team are my only hope." (Subaru)
"..." (Ako)
"...──" (Iori)
"......───" (Chinatsu)
"──Understood. I'll do it." (Ako)
""What!!?"" (Iori and Chinatsu)
Iori and Chinatsu, who had been eavesdropping, were the most stunned by this reply. Given Ako's deep-seated hatred and constant grumbling, they expected her to ignore such an impossible request instantly.
But when they looked at Ako's face, they saw an expression of pure, calculating malice they had never seen before. It forced them to whisper in despair: ""Ah... It's over.""
"T-That's a lifesaver. I'll owe you my life forever." (Subaru)
"In return, I'm going to make you do anything I ask. Do you understand?" (Ako)
"Of course. I don't have much time, so I'm hanging up. My apologies." (Subaru)
The connection cut. Ako picked up the tablet she had hurled to the ground.
"...Ako-chan… are you sure about...──No, you're definitely not okay. What are you doing?" (Iori)
"Heh, hehe, hehehe...!!" (Ako)
"It's no use, Iori. Once she gets like this, she won't hear a word we say." (Chinatsu)
"I have your word now... Natsuki Subaru──!!!" (Ako)
With a laugh like a low-tier villain, Ako doubled her efforts to speed up the troop deployment, already feeling the ecstasy of a preordained victory.
●○●○●
『Heh heh...』
── Subaru had three core objectives to investigate and resolve.
The 『bomb that snuffs out only the souls of students』, the 『true cause of Nonomi Izayoi's death』, and the 『true identity of the entity known as "The Dweller Underground"』.
The crime took place while Arona's communications were jammed, rendering the team's radios useless. Even the most celebrated mystery novelists would recoil in shock at such crude, lightning-fast execution. The culprit was likely "The Dweller Underground," aided by Suou Asagiri and a mysterious group in gas masks.
Their motives remained obscure, but the weapon was unmistakable: the same bomb once strapped to Serika and Ayane. Since it only appeared in incidents involving Gematria, it was clearly a meticulously crafted, unique device. The chaos and carnage Subaru witnessed at the Council was merely a stage Suou had set; there was likely no reason for the grotesque desecration of Nonomi's body other than pure malice.
Now that Subaru had organized his thoughts, one truth stood out.
"I hate you... I hate you with everything I have." (Subaru)
The mere sight of this man's face made Subaru want to strike him; the mere memory of him sparked an uncontrollable rage. Even for an outcast like Natsuki Subaru, he had to summon a new level of spite to express how much he loathed this man, who was an even greater pariah than himself.
"I hate you... I hate you with absolute conviction." (Subaru)
Subaru never forgot to start every conversation with this disclaimer. He had to; otherwise, he feared he might actually accept this person somewhere in his heart.
"...Regardless, you know more about the inner workings of this mess than anyone." (Subaru)
"Keke..." (Black Suit)
He was a member of Gematria, the man who knew the truth behind those bombs. In fact, "Black Suit" was the first to hint at the existence of an entity like "The Dweller Underground." Looking back, Subaru realized he had wasted too much time in their previous encounters. Although they were complete opposites, he had been too disgusted to effectively use a man who supported him out of mere "curiosity."
"I'm going to be arrogant with you this time, Black Suit." (Subaru)
"── I need you to be useful to me." (Subaru)
"Keke... Keke...! Ah, as expected, you truly are fascinating." (Black Suit)
Subaru understood how to summon this man: provoke his interest by any means necessary. While Black Suit's standards for "interest" were high enough to balance the fate of the world, the current Subaru held infinite cards.
"I want to speak with Black Suit as an individual, regarding 'The Dweller Underground'"; the moment those words were uttered, Black Suit left Kaiser Corporation behind and rushed to meet him.
── I informed Shiroko and Hoshino of this meeting. They are currently standing guard outside the car.
In practical terms, Hoshino will stay in control as long as Shiroko acts as her restraint. Convincing them later would simply depend on Subaru's own wit and cunning.
"I have three bargaining chips. First: you and I, as individuals within Gematria, shall maintain neutrality without harming one another. Second: your interference for the sake of your research will not be considered a breach of the first point. And third: regarding Takanashi Hoshino's divinity." (Subaru)
"Hmm." (Black Suit)
"The first is self-explanatory. The second means I'll allow you to conduct your research as you please; it won't be much of a burden to me anyway. As for the third..." (Subaru)
"── It's the reason you've set your sights on Hoshino." (Subaru)
Ultimately, this man represented "evil," but he was not the "enemy." Moreover, Black Suit was an "adult," and adults who define the standards of good and evil do not judge matters through the logic of absolute justice. Subaru would clarify exactly what this man wanted. Being a researcher at heart, he thirsted for "clues."
He wanted the thing Gematria worshipped—what they called the "Sublime."
"I don't know if I can call this "foreseeing the future," but you don't know the truth of the Shittim Chest, do you? I'll tell you as an extra service: I possess a similar ability—an emergency device for monitoring the multiverse, the logic of the "butterfly effect," and the like." (Subaru)
"Keke... Keke... I've never understood the truth behind that mysterious effect... but "foreseeing the future"? Keke... regardless, this is magnificent and quite interesting. So... what are your demands?" (Black Suit)
"Take your hands off Hoshino, and I will be her substitute. I also know your organization possesses a bomb that can snatch the lives of Hoshino and the others without leaving a single wound. I want its full details." (Subaru)
"Furthermore, next time, you will defuse the bombs on Ayane and Serika and hand them over to me. After that, I will fulfill my promises according to our contract." (Subaru)
"── Finally, tell me everything about 'The Dweller Underground.' Everything you know from A to Z, without exception...!" (Subaru)
"...!" (Black Suit)
"...──" (Subaru)
Under the weight of Subaru's latent fury, Black Suit placed his elbows on the car's built-in table and closed his eyes—which resembled flickering flames—lost in deep thought. Yet, the response was exactly what Subaru anticipated. After all, how many days had he already spent with this man in previous loops?
"Keke... Keke..." (Black Suit)
""I see. Let us strike a deal then."" (Subaru and Black Suit together)
"──!" (Black Suit)
"Oh, sorry. Our words just happened to sync up. My apologies." (Subaru)
""Keke! You truly are fascinating...!"" (Subaru and Black Suit together)
A second synchronization. Not just in the words, but in the very tone of voice, sounding like a perfectly rehearsed duet. When that harmony filled the car, for the first time, Black Suit's expression changed──.
"Heh." (Subaru)
"── Your composure slipped, didn't it? I've been looking forward to seeing that face." (Subaru)
"Keke..." (Black Suit)
Subaru stood up from his seat. As he turned his back, Black Suit asked one final question, the flames in his eyes flickering unusually with doubt.
"Natsuki Subaru." (Black Suit)
"Will I ever be able to understand you?" (Black Suit)
"... I'm not going to say whether you can or can't. I'll just say, 'try if you like.'" (Subaru)
"── Black Suit, you won't understand for as long as you live." (Subaru)
He left those words behind and stepped out of the car without looking back, though he secretly wished he could have seen the man's face.
"Well..." (Subaru)
"Natsuki Subaru." (Hoshino)
"Can you tell us exactly what is going on?" (Hoshino)
"── Of course." (Subaru)
The fire burning on the distant shore had drawn close, with only a single step remaining between them. Natsuki Subaru still needed to sharpen his fangs just a little more.
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