—In the darkness, Subaru slowly sat up from sleep.
He pushed aside the thin blanket draped over him and stretched lightly, careful not to make a sound. As he stifled a yawn and rolled his neck, the sound of numerous people breathing in sleep reached his ears from all around.
He'd been resting in one corner of the group sleeping rough together, but it seemed he was the only one who had woken. And with good reason—the sky visible through the grand cathedral's great window was dark, the sun not yet having shown its face.
Without a clock, he couldn't tell the exact time, but he could at least tell that it was the dead of night, far from when humanity should be active. Normally, he'd have let his body sink back to sleep for one more rest before dawn, but...
"I went to bed too early, so I can't get back to sleep... Those carefree days of lazing about whenever I had time feel like a lifetime ago."
Roughly scratching and pulling at his hair, Subaru folded his blanket and quietly slipped out of his sleeping spot.
Around his spot, numerous people lay sleeping—the refugees from
He'd been given quarters in the Sanctuary but had instead come here to sleep alongside the villagers, sharing their rough bedding through the night. His reasons, while not exactly profound, were simple enough.
His sleeping spot inside the cathedral was along the front wall—a position that offered decent comfort, likely thanks to everyone's consideration. In return, however, he'd been surrounded on all sides by children, and he had a thing or two to say about that arrangement.
That said, the children had thrown a tantrum wanting to sleep near Subaru, and the adults—constrained by their circumstances—had done their best to minimize the burden on the children. Once you understood those nuances, there was really nothing to complain about.
"Starting to think like this... that's not like me at all."
He laughed bitterly at himself for considering things like consideration and thoughtfulness. Dwelling on such complicated matters would only make life feel cramped.
Stepping carefully over the loudly snoring children, weaving through the villagers who slept like the dead, Subaru made his way outside the cathedral—where a damp breeze greeted him, and the lukewarm air hit him with an uncomfortable index of neither warmth nor cold.
Looking up, thick clouds lined the sky, obscuring the starry display that had been so brilliant the night before. The clouds moved quickly on the wind, but the layer was even thicker. Whether the weather would turn or not, it didn't look like there would be a clear sky today.
"Now that I think about it, I haven't run into any real rain since coming here. From what everyone says, you'd think there'd be something like the four seasons, though."
He'd caught wind of the fact that seasons were divided into "Red Day, Blue Day, Yellow Day, and Green Day," matching the elemental attributes used in magic. If you added "rainy season" to the four seasons of his original world, you could probably call them equivalent.
There were likely similar changes in this world. The temperature was neither hot nor cold. Based on how the wind felt, it really did seem like the cusp of a rainy season.
"Rainy season is always a pain when you can't dry your futon. It's already bad enough being a permanent shut-in—the underside of the futon probably qualifies as a biohazard by now—and you can't even get it aired out on your one day off... Well, every day was a holiday for me back then, so."
Having basically spent all his time rolling around on his futon, there was essentially zero opportunity to hang it out. Occasionally, his mother would lose patience, roll him off the futon, confiscate it, and forcibly air it out so it could smell like sunshine—standard Natsuki household protocol.
Reminiscing about those fond days, Subaru loosened his stiff body with radio-calisthenics-style movements. The cathedral lived up to its name with its vast grounds, and even sleeping rough, there was enough room for each person to stretch out. Blankets had been distributed for everyone, and he had no complaints there.
If he were being particularly whiny, he might grumble about the strain on various parts of his body from having to sleep on hard ground, but that was about it.
"I miss my own flat futon, or the fluffy beds back at the mansion. If four or five days of this is wearing me down, the others who've been sleeping rough even longer must have it even worse."
The villagers put on a brave face in front of Subaru, but there was no denying that the weight of their burden grew darker with each passing day. During mealtimes, Subaru tried to liven things up and the others would manage a smile or two, but when he didn't, the silence was surely caused by stress.
Unwanted evacuation, followed by house arrest at the destination. The lord who should have borne the brunt of their grievances had injured himself trying to fulfill that role, and the villagers' feelings skewed more toward anxiety for the future than dissatisfaction with the present.
Normally, it wouldn't have been strange for them to direct something closer to resentment at Subaru, as a representative of the lord— "But these aren't the kind of people who'd lash out like that. Relying on the good judgment of your subjects... honestly, that's disqualifying from an administration standpoint."
The fact was, the people of Arlam Village refrained from taking their frustrations out on Subaru entirely because of the deep gratitude they still felt toward him.
Subaru, for his part, didn't rate his own contributions all that highly, and simply assumed the refugees' hearts were in the right place.
But— "I can't keep coasting on everyone's goodwill forever. That won't last much longer."
—It had been six days since Subaru and the others arrived at the Sanctuary.
The refugees who'd arrived before them had nearly an additional week tacked on, meaning they'd effectively been confined for close to two weeks.
Subaru had delivered word that those evacuated to the capital were safe, which eased concerns about separated families somewhat, but two weeks of being cooped up with nothing to do still took an undeniable toll on one's spirit.
The effect of Roswaal's self-sacrificing bombing tactic—the sympathy play—would wear off before long.
Once that happened, what awaited was a clash between the Sanctuary and the villagers, and for someone who wanted the support of both sides, the result would be anything but desirable.
"Seriously, I'm stuck. What the hell am I supposed to do...?"
"—Don't go any further than here."
As Subaru pondered, neck craned, his foot was halted mid-step by a command.
Freezing with his foot half-raised, Subaru swiveled his neck—the same angle it had been at—to look around. His vision was filled only with the trees of the forest, shrouded in dim twilight.
He'd been wandering a short distance from the cathedral. And at Subaru— "Taking a stroll this early in the morning, huh? Wonder if it's a good hobby or just plain carefree. You got that 'Mujige Mujige—can't decide between the red fruit or the blue?' look about you."
The now-familiar idiom still dripping with unfamiliarity—Garfiel descended from the branches overhead. The golden-haired young man dropped from the tree and landed silently on the grass on all fours. Squinting one eye up at Subaru— "Don't look so damn startled all the time. Where's the fun in scaring you if you don't react?"
"I wasn't expecting it at all, so yeah, I damn near jumped out of my skin. But I figured I might run into you around here. Didn't expect you to come from a tree, though."
"Yo' were lookin' for me?"
Garfiel stood with a quizzical expression, half a head shorter than Subaru. Needlessly puffing out his chest in front of him, Subaru answered "Yeah" and continued— "I figured the odds were slim this early, but I'm glad I found you. ...By the way, mind telling me what that threat was about?"
"Nothin' much. The forest on this side is my huntin' ground. If ya stumble in here by accident, I'll bite ya and snap yer neck bones. That's all."
"That's not 'that's all'! That's a huge deal!"
The casually dropped bombshell sent Subaru's shout echoing through the forest.
It was enough to slice through the quiet between deep night and early morning, driving the sleeping birds and beasts from the area— "...Tch. Hey, now those guys who were relaxin' just took off. What are ya gonna do about it?"
"Wow, real sensitive there. Meat from weaklings like you? Just eating it would make me anemic. —So what I'm saying is, why not let it slide with a bit of graciousness?"
"If ya don't mind me takin' meat dishes off yer plate startin' today, sure."
"Sorry! I didn't mean it like that! Got it! I'll go fishin' with Otto at the river today, and we'll call it even!"
Otto, who as a merchant had essentially nothing to do, had apparently taken up fishing with a vengeance lately, heading to the river every day to cast his line. Unfortunately, his catches consisted entirely of bare minnows. The bait getting snapped up without anything to show for it was quintessentially Otto.
At the mention of Otto's name, Garfiel's mouth twisted into a sneer, fangs showing— "Hah, that guy's been forsaken by every bit of good luck there is. He's quick-witted enough and not exactly slow on the uptake. And yet he looks like that. Classic case of 'so weak against rain even the heavens weep,' that one."
"The loud, comic-relief type—I guess every family has one. The kind of person who makes conversations lively just by being there. I'm actually pretty grateful to have him around... mainly as a mood lifter."
Harsh enough that Otto would probably tear up and object if he heard it, Subaru's assessment was mercilessly unflattering.
As if listening to praise that wasn't really praise, Garfiel scratched behind his ear and muttered "Mood lifter, huh..."
"So, did this 'mood lifter' of yours actually do any good?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. The cathedral crowd is obviously gettin' close to their limit. Ya can't keep brushin' them off with just you and that guy forever."
"You really do pay attention to the people around you, don't you? For all the rough talk."
Garfiel's remark cut right to the heart of Subaru's worries. Surprised and genuinely impressed, Subaru— "Look, when it comes down to it, I interact with the cathedral people more than anyone. The old hag and the rest barely show their faces around there. It's only natural I'd notice."
"You're not exactly on meal-duty rotation, but you're the one preparin' food for everyone. When I first saw you doin' that, I thought I was losin' my mind."
"If ya want good food, doin' it yourself is the only way to make sure it suits yer own taste. —And don't change the subject."
Stepping forward, Garfiel jabbed a finger toward Subaru's neck— "The hostages are probably about at their limit. —How long are ya gonna keep stallin'?"
"Stalling? I don't really know what you're—"
"Hah. You gotta be kiddin' me. That whole mess—if that's not stalling, then what is? —You've been runnin' in circles in the same spot for three damn days."
Garfiel threw the unmistakable taunt at the wavering Subaru, gnashing his teeth as he declared. Subaru opened his mouth to deny it, but found himself unable to choose the right words and fell silent.
Seeing this, disappointment settled into Garfiel's narrowed green eyes— "So? What do ya really think? Let's be honest here."
"When you say 'let's be honest,' that brings back some bad memories I'd rather not revisit... Besides, this doesn't exactly feel like the right atmosphere for jokes."
The small figure curled even further into a hunch. There was no hostility in the posture, but an unmistakable aura of tension seeped from his entire frame.
There was probably no worry about him directing that violence at Subaru in a direct, physical way—but— "First, let me make one thing clear. I'm on
"From where I'm standin', that's about as trustworthy as a coin flip. That sheltered princess—three days in a row she comes out cryin' her eyes out. You really think she's got it in her?"
The opposing views of Subaru and Garfiel clashed head-on.
Garfiel made no effort to hide his contempt. Meeting that piercing gaze head-on, Subaru narrowed his eyes to their sharpest angle in defiance—his feelings for Emilia meant he could not afford to lose.
It had been six days since Subaru and the others visited the Sanctuary. And three days since the Trial began and Subaru broke through the first one.
What had happened in that time— "Didn't figure that someone who couldn't even clear the first Trial on their own would mean the second Trial wouldn't start. Thanks to that, there's been zero progress on the Trial front these past three days."
"————"
"Would've been better if it was just you alone, wouldn't it? That way, at least, ya wouldn't have had to stumble over a stone ya already cleared because of deadweight draggin' ya down."
Garfiel's words bore a cutting edge he made no effort to conceal—and they accurately described the reality that had befallen Subaru and the others.
The Trial of the Tomb—three days ago, Subaru had broken through the first Trial, and since then, nothing had progressed. The reason was simple.
Emilia had yet to overcome the first Trial—her "Past."
"The past you need to settle depends on the person. Unlike me, who went through life without a care in the world, it's only natural that she's carrying all sorts of baggage. But I'm not gonna call that dead weight."
"Oh? When it's the girl you're sweet on, you get all gentle, huh? But look, not everyone's gonna stand by and watch like you are. Honestly, I'm worried the princess's reputation is tanking by the minute while all this goes on."
"That's..."
"Would you just admit it already? Without the princess, at least you'd be able to take on the second Trial. That's a more realistic path to fulfilling the condition for releasing this place—anyone with eyes can see that."
Garfiel's tempting offer—but it was a decision that would trample on Emilia's resolve.
It would betray the crux of Roswaal's scheme for creating this situation, and it would smear the very nobility Subaru believed in regarding Emilia. There was absolutely no way he could accept it.
And yet, what gave Subaru pause about openly shaking his head— "If we give her time, she'll definitely break through. Rushing her or pressuring her won't help at all. But still..."
"That 'time' is the thing ya don't have, and everyone knows it. I'm talking about me first and foremost, but the short-tempered folks in the Sanctuary are losin' their patience. The hostages are also reachin' their breakin' point with how long this is draggin' on. —The overflowin' resentment is gonna burst, and it's only a matter of time."
—In the end, everything came down to a matter of limited time.
Whatever the "Past" that Emilia was facing, Subaru had no doubt she would ultimately overcome it. But for her to fully conquer something that ran that deep, she needed time. If Subaru could lend a hand, he would face any hardship without hesitation.
But the "Past" that had already passed existed only within her, and Subaru—who hadn't been there—had no opportunity to reach out. Just as Subaru had gained the resolve to face his "Past" thanks to
If given time, the Trial would be broken. But that time did not exist.
As Garfiel had said, the two groups within the Sanctuary were grinding down toward their limits with each passing moment.
There was no more time to waste. And so, Subaru had reached a conclusion.
"I... have a proposal."
Touching his chin, Subaru squeezed the words out.
Seeing the shift in Subaru's expression, Garfiel narrowed one eye while the corner of his mouth curled into a grin— "Well now, let's hear it."
"We should both agree that the biggest issue we're facing is time. I believe Emilia will break through the Trial, so what she needs is time. On your side, the countdown to the balance breaking is accelerating. So far, we're on the same page?"
"Sounds about right. Only thing I'd add is: I genuinely doubt that princess can complete the Trial. Don't forget that part."
"On that point, I think we'll have to agree to disagree. Anyway, if we're in agreement that time is the sticking point, you should at least be willing to consider my proposal."
Garfiel touched the white scar on his forehead without saying a word. Taking that silence as an invitation to continue, Subaru nodded once— "Right now, the refugees who've been confined are at their limit. Before long, things will break, and in the worst case, the groups inside the Sanctuary will split apart."
"I ain't gonna lose sleep over that. Even if those village folk band together by the dozen or the hundred, I could turn 'em all over by myself."
"There are forty-two of them. ...The issue isn't whether you could handle it. It's about the conflict that would inevitably occur, and the damage that would come with it. Even you don't actually want to use violence on the people you've been cooking for every day, right?"
"Well... no, I guess not."
Garfiel averted his gaze and clicked his tongue irritably. Reading his body language, Subaru nodded internally at the smoothness of the exchange— "So to avoid that conflict, I want to demand the release of the confined refugees. I think they've basically lost their value as hostages at this point—what do you think?"
"Whoa, hold on. Isn't that a different conversation entirely? The fact that they've lost their value as hostages—what exactly are ya sayin' that means?"
"They were confined here as leverage in the first place—to lure Emilia here, right? Well, we've arrived at the Sanctuary and are participating in the Trial as requested. Their food, their care, their guards—none of it comes from an infinite supply. The fact that you're out hunting at hours when you can't even tell night from morning, that's related too, isn't it?"
As far as Subaru could tell, despite its vast territory including the forest, only a tiny fraction of the Sanctuary was actually in use. To put it bluntly, his guess was that the number of Half-bloods living there was roughly comparable to the Arlam Village refugees.
Simply put, the Sanctuary's food consumption had roughly doubled. Given the nature of the land, obtaining supplies through traveling merchants or similar means was unlikely, so provisions probably relied mainly on hunting and home cultivation. Therefore— "People who are nothing but a drain on resources should no longer be kept around. It's not like losing the hostages changes anything—we can't abandon the Trial midway regardless."
"Right. Once the princess set foot in the Sanctuary, she was bound by the curse of the land. If she wants to leave, she'll have to break through the Trial no matter what... Ah, so that's what ya mean."
As he spoke, the meaning behind Subaru's proposal clicked. Garfiel's cheeks twisted cruelly as he nodded several times. At that, Subaru understood that Garfiel's mind was far from dull—under normal circumstances, maybe not, but when the conditions aligned, his judgment was sharp.
"So if we release the hostages, we can avoid the inevitable breakdown—whether it's food shortage or internal division. And besides, the only thing preventing the hostages from passin' through the Sanctuary is us, right?"
"If everything up to now has gone according to your plan, shouldn't you see it through to the end? Your goal is to free yourselves from the Sanctuary—not to take each other down."
"I'd want to respect the old hag's opinion from the start, but... fine, I'll overlook the details."
With a wave of his hand, Garfiel was willing to hear Subaru out.
Then he stroked his chin in thought for a moment— "First of all, why are ya bringin' this to me? The old hag's the head of this place, not me. If ya want to convince someone and get things movin', take it to her. I'll be the first to admit—my involvement might just make things more complicated."
"I'm bringing it to you precisely to avoid making things complicated. I was thinking that if I explained the pros and cons properly, I could convince Ryuzu. But in that case, your involvement would be hard to predict."
Subaru was confident that Ryuzu—capable of both good judgment and practical assessment—wouldn't dismiss his proposal outright. In fact, he believed he could reach an agreement with her.
But if Subaru settled things with the leader first and then faced Garfiel— "No matter what, convincing you is the hard part. Honestly, if you came at me with brute force, I wouldn't stand a chance—that's my honest self-assessment. So I figured I'd take care of the biggest potential hurdle first, so I wouldn't have to worry about it later."
"Ain't you the clever little strategist. In other words, my presence is an eyesore when it comes to bringin' this proposal to the old hag, huh? If ya got a problem with that, come at me with yer fists—I dare ya."
"We were having a perfectly rational conversation, so why did it take that turn...?"
"I can only keep my brain engaged for about three minutes. The time limit's passed, so anything ya say now is pointless."
"That's not something to be proud of."
Garfiel cracked his knuckles threateningly. Subaru raised both hands in surrender. Of course, Garfiel wasn't serious either. He let out a bored sigh— "Hah, what a stupid way to start the mornin'. Fine, do whatever ya want. If ya can convince the old hag, I've got no intention of stickin' my nose in. They're a nuisance either way. If ya want to take 'em out, go right ahead."
"Thanks, I'll take you up on that—"
"—But I got a condition."
Just as Subaru thought he'd cleared the biggest hurdle and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, cold water was thrown on him. As Subaru frowned, Garfiel pointed a finger at him— "I'll accept yer little proposal. But you'll need to accept our side's terms too, if this is gonna work."
"...There are benefits for your side too, aren't there? Food, and avoiding internal conflict."
"Ain't like I care either way, honestly. If food runs short, I'll just thin out the hostage numbers. Even if they riot, I can handle 'em all by myself. We ain't on equal footing here."
"...What's the condition?"
Garfiel grinned, baring his teeth— "Simple. The Trial—take it yourself. That's the quickest way to get this resolved."
"—! Wait, that's— if I do that, then everything up to now—"
Certainly, that thought had crossed Subaru's mind more than once.
But it was a last resort, a choice he wanted to avoid if at all possible. More than anything, if he did that, all of Emilia's efforts up to this point would— "Since it seems like you're confused, let me spell it out... We—the old hag and me—we don't care who actually breaks through the Trial to set the Sanctuary free."
"————"
"You want the princess to do it because you want her to earn respect from the hostages and from the old hag. You want her to settle whatever the hell this 'Past' is because you can't stand watching her suffer over it. All of that is YOUR business."
Subaru found no words to counter Garfiel's point.
His logic was impeccable, and Subaru—having failed to account for their perspective—had no room to interject. As Garfiel said, having Emilia take on the Trial, wanting her to overcome it—those were entirely Subaru's wishes and aspirations.
And then Garfiel went further— "—More fundamentally, is there even a need to overcome this so-called 'Past' in the first place?"
"Huh?"
"Three days. Three days! I've been watchin' with you guys in that tomb as the princess goes through the Trial and falls apart every time. Honestly, I can't watch anymore."
"You can't... watch?"
"She's pushin' herself too hard and gettin' hurt too badly. She keeps sayin' she has to do it, she has to do it, throwin' herself forward, and she comes back lookin' like THAT, and then she can't do it, and she mopes around apologizin' for it. And you—why the hell are ya still makin' her continue the Trial?"
What Garfiel described was the Emilia who had undergone the Trial over these past three days.
The night after the Trial began, Emilia had attempted it once more. But once again, faced with her "Past," she had been unable to overcome it. What's more, Subaru—who had tried to face the Trial alongside her—hadn't even been allowed to enter.
At first, Subaru had been left bewildered in the tomb, but once he heard the words from Emilia who had emerged midway through the Trial—the reason why his own Trial wouldn't begin, as told to him by someone within—he understood.
Namely, the second Trial was conducted in the room beyond the first.
Inside the tomb, there was the space where the first Trial took place. In the back of the square room was a closed door, and Subaru had believed he could reach what lay beyond it by overcoming every Trial. But in reality, the second Trial awaited on the other side, and the qualification to go there required overcoming the first.
Meaning, Subaru could take on the second Trial by himself if he chose to. The reason he hadn't gone ahead alone, even knowing this— "Emilia will definitely overcome the Trial. That's why we—"
"That expectation is exactly what's crushin' her! That's why she's sufferin' like that! Is it really your wish—yours and hers—to push her until she's broken like that? Forcin' her to face the memories that hurt her like that? That's what you WANT? Even a dumbass like me can't wrap my head around that."
"Emilia's... will..."
Garfiel scratched his head as he spoke—but for Subaru, it was like having cold water splashed on his face upon waking.
Up to this point, Subaru had respected Emilia's determination to face the Trial, and had intended to support her more selflessly than anyone. No matter how painful the road, as long as she didn't buckle her knees, he would keep reaching out his hand.
And without once checking where her resolve—her will to keep standing—was pointed...
Come to think of it, Subaru didn't even know why Emilia wanted to become king.
Her declaration in the Royal Selection hall had been nothing more than a statement of intent to be treated as an equal by those around her—it was never her reason for seeking the throne.
Emilia's upbringing, which hinted at unfair treatment and a past of being judged and evaluated. Within that, what had she felt, what had she come to believe—why was she aiming for the throne?
While desperately wishing to be her pillar of support, Subaru had neglected to ask even that most fundamental of questions.
How had Emilia and Roswaal met? Why did Roswaal want to make a Half-elf like her king? The insignia's jewel proved she had the qualifications—the qualification of the Dragon's Priestess. But how had Roswaal obtained the opportunity to place that jewel in her hands? What aligned interests had brought Emilia and Roswaal into a cooperative relationship—Subaru knew none of it.
He had come this far without knowing any of it.
"No idea what's got you so shocked, but if we're done here, I'm heading out. I'm in the middle of a hunt. —About your proposal, if ya accept my condition, take it to the old hag. I don't care what happens after that."
Shrugging at the rooted Subaru, Garfiel vanished into the morning-lit forest.
By now, night's curtain had retreated before the morning sunlight. The dense darkness that had fallen over the forest had given way to the stillness of dawn—a time when morning dew settled on leaves.
Left behind, Subaru looked up at the sky.
Above, between the thick clouds glimpsed through gaps in the trees, the sun showed the faintest glimpse of its face—only to be swallowed by clouds once more, casting a fleeting moment of light on the world before vanishing.
Squinting in that brief flash of light, Subaru began to walk.
"What I saw. I convinced myself that I'd faced my Past, settled it, and that was enough. But Emilia..."
Subaru had been certain that everyone could settle their past and keep moving forward.
By bidding farewell to what had passed, he believed people could take their next step. And because his own warm memories had healed him, he had fallen into that conviction.
Because the people around him—all of them far too kind to him—Subaru had decided that the Past was something to look back on, and nothing more.
That belief of Subaru's— "——Su...baru?"
Just how heavy had it been to this girl—the silver-haired girl curled up with her knees drawn to her chest in the corner of the room?
In the quarters she'd been given, Emilia had collapsed beside her bed and sat on the cold floor, simply passing the time in absolute silence.
That she was awake at this early hour wasn't surprising, given that she usually couldn't stand mornings. Her eyes, turned toward Subaru, were bloodshot, and traces of exhaustion and tears lingered heavily on her beautiful, once-brilliant face. That she hadn't slept a wink was as plain as day.
Noticing Subaru's arrival, she turned her face away so he wouldn't see her tear-stained expression— "Ah, sor...sorry. I-Is it time? Is it time already? That's... early... But I have to do it. I have to try harder... It's, it's Trial time, right?"
"Emilia-tan."
"I-I'm fine. Today—for sure, this time, I'll... yeah, I'll definitely do it. I've, I've been figuring out what happens in the Trial lately. You know, the... patterns? The ones Subaru told me about. Yeah, I, I understand now... So, I'm, I'm fine, I really am..."
"Emilia-tan, it's okay. Night hasn't even started—it hasn't even finished from last night. Morning is next. We still have all the time in the world."
"L-Lying won't help, you know. Because, look... it's dark outside. If it's morning, it should be bright... Ah, but today I'm supposed to talk with the spirit children..."
Looking up at Subaru, the words tumbling from Emilia's lips came fast, her eyes trembling wildly. There was shock and anger at herself for failing to uphold her contract, and Subaru could see she was on the verge of resolving it through self-reproach, when— "Emilia."
"Ah..."
Subaru caught her hand as she started to raise it, interlacing her fingers with his.
Emilia stared at the joined hands in stunned silence. Then, slowly, she saw her own reflection in Subaru's dark eyes— "I... I..."
"Right now, it's just me here. So no matter how much you vent, it's okay. There's no need to rush, and no need to put on a brave face. I'm on your side. Always."
"Subaruuu..."
Clinging to his outstretched hand, Emilia called Subaru's name in a feeble voice and bowed her head. Subaru let himself be pulled down as she sank to the floor, and sat down beside her.
With his free hand, he gently stroked her silver hair. Gradually, the tension drained from her body, and before long, a peaceful sleeping breath reached his ears.
She was exhausted. And yet she couldn't even get through the night alone—she had become so dependent on Subaru.
Glancing at Emilia, who let out small sleeping breaths right beside him, Subaru lightly brushed his finger across her beloved cheek, confirming the traces of her tears.
—and he decided. That this was probably the limit.