「Stop right there.」
— In Natsuki Subaru's vision, an angel manifested.
His eyes widened until he nearly wept, and he inspected her every detail to confirm this girl was truly Hina Sorasaki, then held his breath.
There was no room for error: this was the soft, flowing white hair, the aura resembling a fortress, and above all, the massive machine gun she carried on her back.
Her exquisite facial features, reminiscent of fine art, were extremely mature and disproportionate to her small physique. The compelling aura surrounding her, which amplified her captivating charm, indicated she was no ordinary character.
「「Hina Sorasaki!?」」
Subaru sighed in relief.
If this scene had been merely a hallucination born of Subaru's exhaustion from death, his disappointment would have exceeded the false joy he had felt.
The two girls, pierced by her gaze, flinched and took a step back, as if intending to flee immediately.
They were visibly trembling, awaiting a death sentence from Hina Sorasaki.
「If you intend to do anything further, I will have to punish you according to the rules.」
「Ah...! It's not worth the trouble!! We won't do anything! We promise we won't do anything!」
「Let's run!! I don't want to turn into a can of crushed tomatoes!?」
They quickly scattered... 「like children dispersing」 (to use it as a brief simile), and Hina extended her hand toward Subaru with a calm face, as if to say that an unnecessary hassle had been avoided.
She truly is exceptional. How difficult it must be to be a person feared merely by name and face in this world.
Subaru, trembling before Hina, had no visible injuries. As Hina considered calling Sena lest he had hidden wounds under his clothes, the young man spoke to her in a quiet, shaky voice.
「Hi... Hina... You're Hina, right?」 (Subaru)
Hina was surprised to be called by her first name so suddenly, but her name's notoriety had become habitual, so she decided to respond without dwelling on it...
「Hinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Hinaaa! Oooooh! Thank you, God!」 (Subaru)
「Stop!? G-get away from me...!」
「Ugh, sob... It's Hina, Hina is here... It's Hina...」 (Subaru)
「What are you saying... Stop, just a moment!」
「Ugh... sob... Phew... I apologize...」 (Subaru)
「I have... some special circumstances... Hah, some unusual circumstances...」 (Subaru)
「... Do circumstances justify hugging?」
「I am truly sorry!!!」 (Subaru)
Subaru immediately apologized and prostrated himself before her satisfaction meter could drop to its lowest point.
From his perspective, this was like the final scene of a dramatic scenario, a moment of tear-gland collapse where one wipes away tears with a bath towel.
(He joked this internally), but he was so deeply affected by meeting her after everything he had endured that he broke down crying and hugged her.
Subaru raised his face, feeling as though he had reached the finish line, though he had only taken the first steps.
Why was he so deeply affected, why did he shed tears of emotion, and why was his spirit so shattered?
— Natsuki Subaru had made 38 returns from death.
38, yes, 38 times. Including the previous loops, 45 times the life of Natsuki Subaru had been consumed.
His face was rigid and unable to move, and his body was trembling in search of safety—all of this was to compensate for the 38 times he had lost his life.
He had walked, ignoring his exhausted soul, all to deduce the precise timing, the escape route, and the obstacles that prevented his body from being shot.
●○●○●
『I got caught in the conflict.』
『... Well, this is the twelfth time...』
Subaru died. He died frequently, killed by stray bullets, and died without making any progress.
He wished he had walked and died, wished he had consumed his life and gained something in return. He died meaninglessly in tens of those 38 times.
To fire what is called 「randomness,」 no matter the previous method of escape and evasion, the location of the next bullet's launch changes upon returning from death; thus, there is no chance to avoid it.
『...』
The area around the convenience store is a hellhole full of conflicts. Even when sneaking through narrow passages, he was shot in bewilderment by students who were likely trying to outflank an opponent.
On some occasions, Subaru couldn't suppress his frustration, so he went out into the main street screaming and crying...
『... A vehicle ran over me...』
He was even flattened into a squid pancake (a metaphor for being crushed).
He was killed 「by General Services.」
He was killed 「by students.」
「... And he gave up」 due to running out of time.
After his death count exceeded thirty, Subaru went through a moment of breakdown and isolation.
The result was the same: he died without seeing the dawn of the next day.
He felt despair because death was not the end of the road, and he felt despair because he continued to be killed by the very things Subaru was trying to protect.
Because he did not want to face this reality, he continued returning from death relentlessly.
— And thus, things are as they are now.
「Hey, that's right... It's not over yet! Sorry for the surprise, Hina, but would you listen to what I have to say... ーー」 (Subaru)
That's right, it's only the beginning. Subaru has not reached the finish line; he is still at the starting point.
Therefore, Subaru decided to tell her everything about his future and ask for Hina's help...
「You.」
「Was your scream not for help to get rid of the delinquents... but was your target me?」
「Uh!」 (Subaru)
How sharp, so very sharp. Even though the delinquents were chasing him and firing randomly, did she notice this, even though his action seemed exaggerated?
When Subaru looked into her dark purple eyes, which shone faintly, he felt as if she saw through his entire situation.
— She was evaluating the situation. Hina was contemplating this young man before her, whose characteristics matched the content of the message left by the Federal Student Council President.
Subaru quickly pushed his hands forward, signaling that he did not mean that in the negative.
「A-ah, no, I'm not planning anything. My request for help from the extortion was real, and my desire to meet you is also real. In short, I am here because I have an urgent matter with you, Hina Sorasaki, the phenomenal, miraculous, attractive, beautiful...」 (Subaru)
「...」
Subaru felt as though she was looking at him with the same eye she looks at Ako (another character), but this was the most important moment, so he arranged his words in his head, then spoke them clearly and concisely.
Lying does not suit Natsuki Subaru. He learned through his bragging in elementary and middle school how badly a story built on lies can turn out later.
Therefore, he would speak honestly and frankly.
「... You won't believe me, of course... and if you delve into asking me what I am about to say, such as: 'What is the guarantee that this is real?' then I will have no choice but to lie prostrate before Hina and declare submission.」 (Subaru)
「I don't have a weapon, and I don't have money, but I claim to be Natsuki Subaru, the undisputed hero under the sky, 17 years old.」 (Subaru)
Subaru took a deep breath, recalled the three phrases he intended to say when he met her... then articulated them.
「Listen carefully. First, I... appear to be the person mentioned in the 「Federal Student Council President's abandoned message」... or rather, I am him.」 (Subaru)
「...!!」
「You said your name was Subaru, and how do you know that... ــــ」
「Wait, wait, hold on... Delving into the question is forbidden. You are the audience now, and I am the narrator...? Okay, the storyteller. In any case... Please, I want to finish my entire story.」 (Subaru)
「...」
Subaru calmed Hina, who had placed her hand on the machine gun on her back. He thanked her internally for her leniency in not immediately opening fire when something disturbing occurred in this world, then quickly provided the evidence.
「Conflicts are rampant in this vicinity, aren't they? Also, the place Hina is heading to now is to suppress a conflict. Don't you find this a bit odd, even if Gehenna is an outlaw area?」 (Subaru)
「That is...」
「I know the party manipulating things from behind the scenes: it's the Kaiser Corporation. These bastards are committing many crimes under the cover of these conflicts.」 (Subaru)
「And for what reason?」
「... I don't know the full reason, perhaps... But I want to convey to you that they are planning something much bigger.」 (Subaru)
「ــــ Calm down and listen to me. Gehenna will be bombed; a missile will be launched at it, and everyone will die...! The Kaiser Corporation is determined to take control of Kivotos.」 (Subaru)
「... ــــ」
「To avoid that, Sanctum Tower must be activated, and the Kaiser scoundrels must be sent back to their holes! You must understand that this is the only way. And the one who can activate the Tower... is only me.」 (Subaru)
Yes, only Natsuki Subaru. Only Natsuki Subaru knows the future. Only Natsuki Subaru can operate the 「Shittim Chest」.
ــــ Only Natsuki Subaru can save everyone.
「ــــ I... I! I am 「that person」 in the Federal Student Council President's message!! I alone can activate the Tower! I alone can save Gehenna, and save Kivotos!!」 (Subaru)
For those unfamiliar with the journey Natsuki Subaru had undertaken, this sudden emotional outburst would seem highly exaggerated... and might even generate a degree of revulsion.
Subaru did not question the logic of his speech; he merely continued conveying the truth, his genuine emotions, and his desire to save them.
Subaru launched his words without any tricks, a surge of raw feeling in his chest. If this work were a dating sim... all the heroines would give him zero points. He had abandoned all elegance or credible evidence that might make her believe him; all he wanted was to convey his feelings.
His hand gestures were rapid and frantic. If he were told that his words were nonsense, his attempt would fail in an instant. Nevertheless, all Subaru could do was unburden the emotions he kept hidden in his chest.
「I expect you to be surprised by what I said so suddenly. I will accept any word: why, that's impossible, don't joke, you weirdo, you pervert, you've gone mad. I am ready to accept all these words.」 (Subaru)
「And I won't complain by saying: 'Why don't you believe me?' But... right now, just...」 (Subaru)
「Won't you trust me, Hina?」 (Subaru)
「...」
Subaru stopped speaking, opened his eyes, and extended his hand. Subaru was in a state that made him more trustworthy than a flea, yet no more reassuring than a kitten abandoned in a cardboard box in the rain.
From her perspective, she surely thought this was a strange man who suddenly appeared, yelling crazy talk. Subaru did not want to acknowledge this feeling.
He was just appealing and reaching out.
「...」
The silence ached his body.
「... First,」
After a silence that felt like an eternity, a word finally came from Hina Sorasaki.
「The Federal Student Council President's abandoned message—its very existence is classified as absolute top secret and is buried in a confidential vault. Only specified individuals in each district can know its content.」
「You are not among them, and at this point, it is my duty to hand you over to the Federal Student Council.」
「Uh...」 (Subaru)
「Second, the Kaiser Corporation does not leak information easily. I also knew that Kaiser was secretly manipulating things, but I only knew the bare minimum of information. If what you said is true—that it is a coup against the entirety of Kivotos—the number of people who know this is extremely limited... and anyone who leaks anything to the outside is eliminated.」
「....」 (Subaru)
「Finally, the 'activation' of Sanctum Tower. That word can only be spoken if you know that Sanctum Tower is currently out of operation... Sanctum Tower stopped operating only two weeks ago, and although infrastructure is gradually ceasing to function, most students don't know that Sanctum is the main control center, so the number of students aware of the stoppage is extremely small.」
「You spoke of 'activation', assuming it is currently stopped—you, who came from 'the outside' and do not possess a Halo.」
「With a suspicious appearance and suspicious actions, I have no reason whatsoever to trust you.」
「Ah...」 (Subaru)
Blow after blow; the white flag of surrender was raised before him. All Subaru could do now was return to groveling as an apology and present himself as a sign of obedience, like a dog revealing its belly... ــــ.
「...」
「ــــ However, everything you said was true.」
「The Federal Student Council President's abandoned message, a person without a Halo, with black hair and black eyes, and a cheerful boy... It doesn't seem like there's a lie in this either.」
「Subaru, you have no interest or gain in this, and there is no meaning in saying this to anyone... If you knew this information without speaking of it, it would be more logical to join Kaiser. I believe that's more rational. You said you 'can save' us, but what will you do afterward? What will you gain after the rescue?」
「What is your motivation?」
「ــــ Nothing.」 (Subaru)
Her purple eyes widened slightly. Her attention was strongly drawn to the eyes of the young man who looked so vulnerable before her.
「I don't possess grand principles, and I cannot act without considering gains and losses. If joining Kaiser brought me a lot of money, I would have done it.」 (Subaru)
「I have no intention of saving anyone for nothing in return, nor do I even know the reason why I'm striving this hard. I want to reject everything after the rescue by saying: 'Do as you please; Natsuki Subaru's support services end here.'」 (Subaru)
「But, all there is... ــــ」 (Subaru)
「is that I'm not the type of person who can ignore a cry for help.」 (Subaru)
「...」
「I see.」
Hina Sorasaki did not avert her gaze from Natsuki Subaru.
Natsuki Subaru did not avert his gaze from Hina Sorasaki.
In the exchange of glances, Hina grasped Natsuki Subaru's extended hand...
●○●○●
A girl was running quickly down a narrow street.
Three robots were chasing her from behind; it was clear she was fleeing from them.
She escaped into a tight alley, but they outflanked her and surrounded her from the front and back.
She was trapped.
「Hah, hah! Anyone!! Anyone!!」
Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to me!?
I, I... I was just returning home from school...
「Hey, shut her up.」
「Anyone! Anyone!! Save... ــــ」
The girl was injected with something, and strength began to drain from her body.
She had done nothing wrong; it was an ordinary day where nothing had changed, but it suddenly collapsed.
Her cry for help, even if it reached others, was answered by no one. When everyone saw the 「Kaiser Corporation」 logo engraved on the robots, they turned their faces away.
— They don't want to take responsibility.
They don't want to bear the responsibility that would arise from helping that girl.
What follows helping that girl? The adversary is Kaiser, and they would have to bear all the responsibility: how much loss, how much gain, how much damage, how much pain, how much hardship, how much regret would be generated there.
Even if they felt satisfaction for helping her, they would later abandon her, so they don't offer aid from the start.
「Ah... Oh... Uuuh...」
If only she had committed an evil deed, an evil deed worthy of divine punishment. In Gehenna, everyone commits heinous and stupid acts all the time.
But I did nothing, absolutely nothing...
「Transport her quickly. We must catch up to the number set for us by the 'Man in Black'.」
「Understood.」
Save me, someone save me.
... ــــ Will no one truly save me...?
Just as she thought this and was about to close her eyes.
「ــــ Well, well, you scoundrels! You dare commit a heinous act against a young girl! How impudent of you to silence a cry for distress!」 (Subaru)
「I am Natsuki Subaru, the undisputed hero under the sky, the standard-bearer of justice! I can never overlook this wicked deed of yours!」 (Subaru)
「「「...」」」
「... Alright, wasting time is over! Finish them all off! Hina!!」 (Subaru)
「ــــ Certainly.」