"So, Shiina Hiyori-san, you like reading mystery novels."
Natsuki Subaru smiled.
He didn't respond to Hiyori Shiina's words, but instead looked at the mystery novel in her hands and deftly changed the subject.
Let alone Hiyori Shiina, who might not even be the 'genuine article' he was looking for yet.
Even back when he was the Purge King, when Emilia hadn't yet lost her color, Natsuki Subaru had never confided any of his troubles to her. He had barely even spoken to her more than a few times.
At most, he would just hold Emilia, or enjoy her lap pillow for a little while, and that was it.
Natsuki Subaru had a thick barrier around his heart against everyone. To break through it, one would at least have to become a 'genuine article' and possess their own color in his eyes.
"Yes, I like them very much."
Hiyori Shiina followed Natsuki Subaru's gaze to the mystery novel in her hands and naturally accepted the change of topic.
Compared to Suzune Horikita earlier today, Hiyori Shiina was her complete opposite; she wasn't the type to press an issue to the very end.
After clearly sensing that Natsuki Subaru didn't want to talk about the previous topic, she quietly withdrew her concern, as if closing a book she couldn't continue reading for the time being.
"The web of logic, the laying of clues, and that moment of clarity when the truth is finally revealed…"
Hiyori Shiina looked at the smile on Natsuki Subaru's face, which was almost identical to her own—very stable—and chuckled softly, "I really love the process of reading a mystery novel."
"Yes, that fits my impression of you perfectly, Shiina-san."
Hearing Hiyori Shiina's reply, Natsuki Subaru nodded slightly and said, "Quiet, good at observing and thinking."
"Maybe you could become a great detective in the future?"
Natsuki Subaru's assessment made Hiyori Shiina pause for a moment, but she quickly showed a bashful smile and said softly, "So that's your image of me, Natsuki-kun~ That's not so bad."
"But, although I like reading mystery novels and think my logic and reasoning skills are decent, if it came to actually being a detective, I'd have to pass."
"My reaction time is a bit slow, and sometimes my brain just can't keep up."
"If I really became a detective, I'd definitely mess things up for my clients."
As she spoke, Hiyori Shiina stuck out her tongue, making a cute expression that was quite different from her usual demeanor.
And this playful expression, revealed so casually and contrasting with Hiyori Shiina's usually quiet nature, seemed to quietly wash away a sliver of the weariness that never left Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
Subaru himself didn't even notice that his smile had become a little more genuine.
The conversation ended.
Although from an outsider's perspective, the conversation ended abruptly, Hiyori Shiina simply immersed herself in the words of her mystery novel.
And Natsuki Subaru also returned his gaze to the novel in his hands.
There was no deep exchange, much less any so-called collision of souls.
As Natsuki Subaru read the descriptions and fantasies of the starry sky in the novel, his thoughts didn't completely drift away with the scenes described. He could feel a faint sense of calm emanating from Hiyori Shiina.
It was different from the goal-oriented, almost calculated approach of Kikyō Kushida.
It was also different from the warmth of Honami Ichinose, who was like a sun warming everyone.
Hiyori Shiina was simply here, sitting near Natsuki Subaru, existing, sharing the same time and space—not too close, not deliberately distant.
This perfectly balanced feeling made Natsuki Subaru feel a comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.
Natsuki Subaru didn't need to confide in anyone, much less be saved. Simply coexisting without pretense like this was one of the few moments of tranquility he could capture and feel in this gray world.
He let out a soft breath, and his perpetually tense shoulders seemed to relax slightly. Natsuki Subaru continued reading the fairy tale that he couldn't resonate with, but was willing to linger on in this moment.
...
The sky outside the window gradually turned from dusky yellow to dark.
When Natsuki Subaru finally closed the novel in his hands, he raised his eyes and looked at Hiyori Shiina with some surprise.
Hiyori Shiina had finished the mystery novel in front of her a little earlier, maybe ten minutes ago, but she hadn't packed up to leave.
Instead, she had closed her novel, crossed her arms to rest her fair, smooth chin on them, and was lying quietly on the desk, her purple eyes looking at Natsuki Subaru with a smile.
"Are you waiting to go back to the dorms with me, Shiina-san?"
Natsuki Subaru looked at her and asked with a smile.
"I had a feeling you were about to finish, Natsuki-kun, so I thought I'd wait a little."
Seeing Natsuki Subaru close his book, Hiyori Shiina stood up and stretched.
"But I didn't wait long."
Hiyori Shiina said with a smile, "Besides, going back alone versus with someone, being alone is obviously lonelier, right? I'm a girl who's afraid of being lonely, you know."
"So, the final conclusion is, two people together is definitely better than one!"
"That's true."
After hearing Hiyori Shiina's words, Natsuki Subaru paused for a moment, then stood up as well, gently pushing his chair back under the desk. He gave a faint smile and said, "Two people... is indeed better than one."
On his path to becoming the Purge King, Natsuki Subaru had been alone for a very, very long time.
Sometimes, he would wonder if the final outcome would have been different, had he had a partner he could rely on by his side back then.
'Rem...'
Natsuki Subaru's mind involuntarily drifted to that name.
She was the catalyst for everything.
If Rem hadn't suddenly died, if Rem hadn't inexplicably tried to kill him, if it weren't for...
For the first time, an expression he couldn't suppress appeared on Natsuki Subaru's face.
She had shown him such a warm smile that first time, he had truly thought of her as a companion, his memories were filled with wonderful moments with Rem.
So why did she have to kill him?!
This was a question Natsuki Subaru found the answer to after becoming the Purge King: it was because of the thick Witch's Scent on him.
___
🔥 New stories are available now! 🔥
✅ Access up to 40 advanced chapters of ALL stories!
✅ Receive exclusive content and updates!
Help us hit our community goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan