「— If you are 'that person,' you can carry out the content of the message. That is the reason.」 (Rin)
「The intensity of today is astonishing. Is this life in another world...!」 (Subaru)
Subaru muttered this as he rode the elevator.
After the phrases "freedom of action" and what followed, Subaru entered the building and found himself entering the *Schale* (S.C.H.A.L.E) office room with Hina and Nanagami Rin, who had just introduced herself.
While he took enthusiastic steps, the sound of papers shuffling next to him accelerated, and the atmosphere of the place changed somewhat.
「Subaru, don't be too reckless.」 (Hina)
「... First of all, the power plants in all Kivotos districts, or rather, half of the public facilities, do not operate without control from the Sanctum Tower.」 (Rin)
「The Sanctum Tower, you mean that enormous tower, right?」 (Subaru)
「The entity responsible for controlling the Sanctum Tower is located here.」 (Rin)
「It's a structure that looks like successive layers...」 (Subaru)
Since Subaru knew nothing about the structure of power plants, he couldn't comment on anything. However, having the control of public facilities in this city, where nations are intertwined, centralized... Subaru felt that the matter was extremely dangerous.
In modern Japan, a computer with these specifications simply does not exist. It might be possible if there were something similar to the giant, fantastical Mother Computer that appeared in the sci-fi films that came to his mind.
But this thought vanished when he saw that the location he was finally directed to was a very small room.
「Alright, alright, understood? Is there a massively large space directly beneath this room, some kind of secret base that can store giant robots or something?」 (Subaru)
「No, there isn't.」 (Rin)
「Then, is it a super-treasure computer that will turn the world upside down, like an 'Ultra C' computer?」 (Subaru)
「No, there isn't.」 (Rin)
「...」
「How has Kivotos managed to stand until now!?!?!」 (Subaru)
「That secret is this.」 (Rin)
Rin extended her hand and directed Subaru's gaze.
In front of her hand was a square crystal screen that looked as if it was embedded in the room's wall. It perfectly resembled what Subaru called a tablet device, which, according to his memory, was scheduled to be released later in Japan.
「This...?」 (Subaru)
「... This is the only thing still functioning among what the Federal Student Council President left behind. It's an ancient artifact we have been unable to decipher anything about; we don't even know why or how it works.」 (Rin)
「The Shittim Box (シッテムの箱)」
In the dark room, there was a single tablet device mounted on the wall.
Numbers appeared on the screen of this tablet, and they looked like...
「This, the number...」 (Subaru)
— The number displayed on the screen looked like a notification for his mobile phone's battery dying, or the remaining uptime.
This number was zero.
Subaru felt as if he were standing before a patient declared near death, or staring at a candle that had just been extinguished.
「This number has been continuously decreasing for about six months, and it has never stopped. We have been unable to restore the number that has stopped to its former state.」 (Rin)
「At the moment, every administrative district is relying on its own responses and first aid measures, but if this situation persists... — an unprecedented disaster will occur.」 (Rin)
「N- no, no, no! Wait, wait a minute, is this why I was brought here!? So you can determine... no, absolutely impossible!! I am not that person!」 (Subaru)
「... Even if that is not the case, we can only rely on the message left by the Federal Student Council President. You appeared on the very day Kivotos was sinking, and you coincidentally matched the specifications mentioned in the message.」 (Rin)
「If you touch this thing, then certainly...」 (Rin)
「But, but I won't be able to do anything. If I touch it and it fails... what will happen then?」 (Subaru)
「That...」 (Rin)
「...」
「Hina, H- Hina, what do you think... —」 (Subaru)
「Huh?」 (Hina)
— Resignation.
That was the emotion drawn on Hina's face. Hina! Subaru realized now: they desperately needed someone with his specifications, and he was their only hope.
Hina Ozorasaki and Nanagami Rin would not stop working, regardless of the circumstances; they put forth their utmost effort for what they wished to protect.
These two were now looking at Natsuki Subaru side-by-side.
「... Haha, well, this is truly difficult.」 (Subaru)
「… —」
He had become involved in something unbelievable immediately upon arriving in another world. It had only been one day, but he had witnessed the tasks and responsibilities shouldered by the students of this world, and interfering in this matter meant taking on responsibility.
Whether something happened or didn't, Natsuki Subaru would be manipulated by words whose source he did not know.
He didn't realize it. He simply... — for the sake of saving them, if it was just a touch, he was ready to act for them.
「Alright, alright, understood, understood! I'll do it! ... All I have to do is touch it, right?」 (Subaru)
「...!」 (Rin)
「You are a real relief. It is good that we secured your agreement.」 (Rin)
「If, if it turns on... — Hina, I will consider the debt repaid!」 (Subaru)
「... You don't need to feel indebted for the assistance. This is my job.」 (Hina)
「Don't say that, wait! With my supernatural hand, I'll quickly solve Hina's terrible work situation and... —」 (Subaru)
The moment he took a few steps and touched the Shittim Box,
— An alarm sound, like a siren, blared in the room.
「Ah!? Wait!? Did I break something else!?!?」 (Subaru)
「Ah, what is it! ... Yes, hello? — "Calamity Fox"...」 (Rin)
Surprised by the alarm, Subaru nearly fell, bracing himself with his foot... and lunging toward Hina and Rin, who were waiting behind him.
At that moment, Subaru heard the sound of something exploding in succession: *Ba-ba-ba-bat*.
The sound of a light explosion mixing with the air, perhaps much like festive firecrackers?
— He ignored it and rushed towards them.
「Oh, dear. Oh, dear. This is a critical situation.」 (Hina)
「— Huh?」 (Subaru)
Suddenly, the back of my head felt the cold concrete of the floor.
I don't recall being drunk. Damn my stumbling steps, how nervous was I! I thought that and tried to get up again.
— I can't get up?
I don't know what is happening, but even if I don't know what is happening... — The only thing I remember is what I had to do: I must touch that tablet.
For a reason I didn't know, I crawled with my heavy body... until I reached the front of the tablet.
「—ー!!」
Someone is screaming, but I can't hear them.
— The tip of my finger touched the tablet.
●○●○●
「... It was my mistake.」
A girl I don't know, a voice I don't know, a face I don't know.
But, a warm voice that certainly touched me many times.
「My choice, and this entire situation caused by it.」
「In the end, I only realized you were right when I reached this outcome...」
That is not true, for Natsuki Subaru's life had no moment where he chose correctly.
It is a continuous series of failures, failures, and failures.
「... I know I'm being presumptuous right now, but please, Subaru-kun.」
What is she talking about? Natsuki Subaru, who is asking him for something? And what is she asking for?
「I know you will inevitably forget these words of mine, but that's alright.」
「Even if you don't remember anything, Subaru-kun must be 'capable of choosing.'」
「Therefore... what matters is not experience, but the choice.」
— What are you saying...
「We once talked about the chain of choices that only Subaru-kun can make, and about the person who bears the responsibility...」
「I didn't understand then... but I realize now. I could never truly become an adult.」
「... 'A drowning man clutches at a straw in the sea of life,' hehe... You sometimes spoke strange wisdom, didn't you?」
「You are strange, and cowardly... reckless, and sometimes confidently irritatingly so...」
「... — Nevertheless, you do not run away from responsibility.」
「The only straw I, the drowning one, can cling to, is you, Subaru-kun.」
「Therefore, I can trust you, trust your choice, your resolve, and your judgment.」
「You must be able to find a different outcome, and the choices that lead to it, far from this twisted and distorted end.」
— So, Subaru-kun... Please, you absolutely must.
Save me.
「Ah.」 (Subaru)
The sensation of cold concrete returned to the back of his head, and he realized he was lying on his back.
His body was rigid with pain. Despite his thoughts about taking any measure to survive, his body made no move whatsoever.
A feeling that his internal organs were boiling overwhelmed him.
— Hot, hurting, agonizing, cold, freezing.
He didn't know who he had been speaking with, but the only thing Natsuki Subaru was given to understand was that the present moment was the reality.
「Cough... —」
His throat began to make a gurgling sound. This was because he couldn't spit out the mass of blood blocking his throat to try and breathe, and the holes in his lungs didn't even allow him to cough.
He felt cold air pass through the gaps in his body without exiting his mouth, and he saw the color red spreading on the floor.
— Was all that blood running inside me?
「...」
A sea of blood was spreading, an amount that could by no means fit inside this frail body.
I remember learning in physical and health education classes that the body of a person nearing adulthood is about sixty percent water, and the amount of blood...
— What was it? I can't recall.
I felt dizzy due to forgetting even the basics of elementary education, or perhaps because of the heavy blood loss.
Indeed, losing a third of human blood is supposedly critical, and now I feel as if my body has been completely drained.
Subaru's realization of how close he was to death drained the strength from his body. This feeling of euphoria engulfing him, as if he were swimming in the river of death, must be the result of adrenaline intensely released just before dying.
But the sensation had certainly left his body, and the sound of cold air seeping through his wounds faded until it completely vanished.
— ... Ah, I'm going to die, I am.
He felt his soul about to depart as his consciousness faded.
In these moments that would pass quickly if he started counting the wrinkles on the ceiling, he had no desire to do anything particularly meaningful.
Being shot is an inevitable death, and despite this obvious fact, he couldn't do anything about their attack. It was an unavoidable fate.
「... — Subaru.」
If one is attacked by a crazy, senseless killer, there is no outcome other than "death."
The only thing he wished for as he faced his demise was that she alone would survive in the future.
「— Don't die.」
He heard a gentle tone, like the touch of a soft wing.
A voice still present in his memory. I don't know if it was an illusion, but it certainly reached him.
This voice instilled confidence, granted reassurance, and overflowed with feelings of comfort.
Therefore —.
「... Wait.」 (Subaru)
He snatched "death" from his soul and screamed with all his might.
Being sprawled now on the cold concrete is the result of an irreparable mistake, the mistake of a failed human, a blind and oblivious human; it is *my* mistake.
But, nevertheless —.
「I will, absolutely —」
— Save you.
In the next instant, Natsuki Subaru breathed his last.
●○●○●
「Fire! Open fire!!」
「Grenade!! Get back!!」
「...」
「ーー Huh?」
He had awakened.
What Natsuki Subaru saw after opening his eyes...
「What? ーー What is this supposed to mean?」 (Subaru)
It was a firefight, no different from the one that had occurred when he first came to this world.
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[Power stones and reviews please]
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