Sweat began to bead and slowly trickle toward his eyes because of the stifling heat of the room that made one feel dizzy. Sena, however, wiped it away with a soft silk handkerchief.
Despite this intense heat, no one wanted to move away from Subaru. Instead, they pressed closer to him, as if their proximity further fueled the temperature of the situation.
── By the time Subaru noticed himself, the voice coming from his throat carried the heat of the moment.
"(Groan)..." (Subaru)
"Making cute noises won't help you." (Shiroko)
"Then get away from me a bit... I'm feeling embarrassed somehow." (Subaru)
"Eh? But then I won't be able to see Subaru-kyun's cute, nervous face~" (Hoshino)
"What are you saying, Hoshino... ── No, that's sarcasm, isn't it?" (Subaru)
"I don't really mean it that way, it's just..." (Hoshino)
"── I wonder, what kind of story are you about to tell us now?" (Hoshino)
Before successive sighs could dampen the atmosphere, Subaru had to "speak." He had to avoid landmines, dodge the heart of the matter, and conduct a discussion that would satisfy everyone without triggering Hoshino's suspicions.
"Even if you say that... ──" (Subaru)
The desert night was cold. Although very cold drafts seeped into the room through cracks, the hot breaths increased the heat of the place; the temperature made Subaru's heart beat strongly.
Or rather, Subaru's heart simply couldn't take it anymore. Didn't these girls realize it? With faces that surpassed natural beauty and delicate, flawless skin; if even one of them set foot in modern-day Japan, people would worship them as peerless beauties.
If he looked right, he saw a beautiful girl. If he looked left, he saw a beautiful girl. If he looked straight ahead... ── he saw magnificent and captivating girls. Each one stared at or touched his injuries. Somehow, Mutsuki was lifting his tracksuit jacket and feeling the bandages with a devious smile, yet the medic in the back didn't try to stop her.
"...Hey, wait a minute." (Subaru)
"What is it, Subaru-kyun?" (Mutsuki)
"...I'm embarrassed." (Subaru)
"Kufufu, really?" (Mutsuki)
"Aren't you going to stop her!?" (Subaru)
Initially, this might have been the "harem" situation he had aspired to when he expected an isekai transfer. But my old self, if you envy me, then trade places with me.
"... ──" (Subaru)
"I told you, you're all staring too much. I'll soon start charging a fee for monopolizing your gaze, including a brokerage commission and a processing fee." (Subaru)
"Nn. The obligation to pay begins once Subaru answers our questions honestly." (Shiroko)
"...Sigh. Then, for now, there's something I want to share with you." (Subaru)
While maintaining a guarded stance, he pulled Arona—who was sleeping soundly in his pocket—out and showed her to them. To others, his partner looked like nothing more than an obsolete mobile device. He pointed out the importance of what he held in his hand equally so that no one in the room would miss its significance.
"This is my trump card and one of my best partners, Arona. Her public name is... ── will you understand if I say she is the legacy of the GSC President?" (Subaru)
"Ah! Isn't that the one from back then──" (Aru)
"Yes, yes, Aru. You know the circumstances, so zip it for a second. There's a shocking truth coming that will make your jaw drop regardless." (Subaru)
── Subaru's usual method was making Arona bear the full responsibility by claiming she predicted the future, in order to hide his own nature.
But "Black Suit" had exposed that once. Subaru, whose eardrums had burned with the sound of those black flames, would not allow himself to continue lying. Even if he could get through the situation with sweet words now, he knew the impact that would have on Hoshino later.
Discord, distrust, and doubt; these things turn into hatred. What was required now was persuasion and sincerity, with a little seasoning of lies.
"In fact, Arona and I are one body and soul. She is tired and sleeping now... but if Arona is destroyed, I will die. If I die, Arona will be destroyed. Beyond that, what Arona thinks enters my head directly." (Subaru)
"Conversely, my thoughts are also exposed to her. If I think that I'm worried about Aru and the others, she will search for their location. If I think about wanting to save Nonomi, she will lead me to that plan." (Subaru)
"As you can see, I've done many very strange things during this day, haven't I? I want you to understand that these circumstances lie at the bottom of those questions." (Subaru)
"In short... I can explain, but I cannot explain. The goals and objectives exist clearly within me, but if you ask me what I did and how, I will ask you to wait for the sleeping princess, Arona-tan, to wake up." (Subaru)
After hearing this, everyone—except Sena—opened their eyes so wide their eyelids went dry. What he said must have entered their minds like an unbelievable fantasy or nonsense.
For Subaru, the "one body and soul" part was not a lie. Not using Arona on the battlefield was equivalent to suicide. Even with "Return by Death"... without Arona's existence, it was easy to imagine what would have happened to Subaru by now.
"──..." (Aru)
"I've never heard anything like this from you. Was it like that even during that mission...? Does this mean your life is staked on a small mobile device like this?"(Aru)
"No, no, ah... when I arrived here, I was in a very bad state, wasn't I? I felt like I was going to dry up and turn into a mummy." (Subaru)
When Subaru made a gloomy expression and rubbed his stomach, that scene materialized in Aru's eyes once again.
A raw wound still soft to the touch, Hina's blood-stained long coat, and Subaru leaning against the wall with a face like the dead.
To her, adults were all corrupt, powerful, and full of arrogance, thinking the world belonged only to them. Since she had dealt with many people, she had faced filth that couldn't be ignored, but... ──.
"The records, Schale, or the mission; I don't bear the responsibility of the GSC President's successor because those things control me. It's just that my life was saved by the legacy that person left behind." (Subaru)
"And since I was saved, I will return the favor by saving others; that's all there is to it. And this is all that's inside me that Hoshino wants to know." (Subaru)
"..." (Hoshino)
"In that case, you need to take better care of yourself." (Hoshino)
"I know." (Subaru)
The heated atmosphere cooled completely. The admission that this frail boy before them had actually died once weighed heavily on their minds.
── Perhaps Subaru had already gone to a place from which there was no return.
They wondered if Natsuki Subaru was running toward a point so distant that no one could catch up, no matter how much they tried to support him or stand by his side.
"Nn. Then, a question." (Shiroko)
"Shiroko, you really never waver." (Subaru)
"If you are free to leave us or go on alone, then we are also free to follow you, right? At the very least, Subaru is here now, and I am here too... ── I've narrowed my question down to just one thing, so don't worry." (Shiroko)
"Just one? Then... it must be about those guys." (Subaru)
"── Yes. Those people wearing gas masks and targeting your life. Who are they?" (Shiroko)
Arius. The armed organization affiliated with Trinity General School, owned by Mika Misono—the assassins targeting Subaru's life.
As of now, the reason they were targeting Subaru remained unknown. Among those present, Kanna was likely the only one with any knowledge of Mika Misono and Arius. Just as Serika tried to interject about this new lead, saying "Wait a minute," someone spoke:
"Arius, right?" (Hoshino)
───.
────.
"Ah, yeah. That's right." (Subaru)
For a moment, his mind went blank, and he could only manage a humble reply. He was stunned. He thought only those with deep information networks, like Kayoko or Kanna from the police, would know. He was surprised to find that Hoshino knew as well.
Then again, being Hoshino, it wasn't strange for her to have looked into a dangerous organization like an independent mercenary force.
"Arius? That's another name I didn't want to hear in a context I didn't want to hear... Mr. Natsuki, what do you mean by your life being targeted?" (Kanna)
"I don't understand it at all." (Subaru)
"Since you have no idea, they are likely acting on a covert mission... perhaps it's fallout from the internal conflict, or they felt threatened by your position as the President of Schale, or ──" (Kanna)
"Hm? Internal conflict... ── Internal conflict? What?" (Subaru)
While Subaru was lost in confusion, Ayane leaned into his ear and whispered, giving him a general overview of Trinity's internal situation.
She explained that Trinity was suffering from a deep internal divide following the suspension of the peace agreement known as the "Eden Treaty." This had split the school into three factions: Paternus, Filius, and Sanctus. Currently, a war was raging between the United Army of the three factions led by Mika Misono (the host of the Paternus faction) and a rebel army composed of unaffiliated students and several clubs.
As Subaru realized, Schale's authority was absolute. If Subaru joined the rebels, Mika Misono's position could collapse at any moment.
"When Subaru and I were on that long train ride, those Arius people attacked us alongside the Kaiser organization. Their skill and killing intent far surpassed Kaiser's." (Shiroko)
"── It seems human nature doesn't change even in another world. How shameful." (Subaru)
"Another world?" (Shiroko)
"No, nothing." (Subaru)
Subaru began to organize the information he had heard. First, unless they were somehow tracking his movements, the attack on the train would have been impossible.
Furthermore, there was no reason to use a halo-shattering bomb to harm students other than Subaru. If the goal was simply to kill him, there were surely more efficient means.
This meant they were targeting Subaru alone, but not necessarily to remove him from the internal conflict. No matter how confident Mika Misono was in her abilities, would she use a notorious organization just for an assassination?
That would only push public opinion toward supporting the rebels. Someone leading a political conflict wouldn't make such a catastrophic mistake—even Subaru could see that.
The fact that they didn't try to hide their identity, and Misaki Aino's insistence on killing Subaru right then and there, made him feel there was another motive at play.
"...Does the name "Misaki Aino," a student from the Arius branch, sound familiar to any of you?" (Subaru)
"Misaki Aino? The name isn't familiar, but I'll look it up in the Public Security Bureau records later." (Kanna)
"Please do. The Arius issue won't end here. Besides... there's something I want to talk about regarding what happens from tomorrow onward." (Subaru)
The halo-shattering bomb.
Because that thing existed, Subaru didn't want to speak openly about Arius. He couldn't deny the possibility that Shiroko, Hoshino, or anyone else who cleared his path might fall victim to it.
Since he couldn't rule it out, Subaru wouldn't allow a tragedy to repeat itself. It was enough for him to go through those feelings. It was enough for life to be cheapened and stolen once. Therefore:
"── I ask everyone to stay away from Arius. If you see white uniforms and gas masks, or someone in a black mask carrying a massive weapon, retreat immediately. I will deal with them... ── Shiroko, are you listening?" (Subaru)
"I'm not listening." (Shiroko)
"Heh~? Then for the next Q&A session, Shiroko-chan should wait outside. It seems those cute ears of yours are too muffled by fur to hear anything." (Subaru)
"Subaru, you're hiding something, aren't you?" (Shiroko)
"Yeah... well, I am hiding something. But I want everyone, including Shiroko, to never approach Arius. Understand that this isn't about being stubborn or anything like that." (Subaru)
It was easy to end the conversation with "just understand." To swallow the words that almost escaped, to suppress the urge to object, and to simply nod and say "I get it."
That is, if a person could actually swallow all those grievances and illogical demands.
To make everyone nod in agreement, Subaru had to convince them with logic. He had to let them voice the bad feelings they were trying to swallow and accept the words of Shiroko and the others.
So, I want you to listen to me. Not by plugging your ears or blocking my words, but by listening closely.
"In Arius... how do I put it... ── It's hard to explain, but they have a dangerous bomb. It's not about its destructive power, and it's not particularly large." (Subaru)
"I want to keep Shiroko and the others away from it. Those who target my life treat crushing my allies as a mere afterthought." (Subaru)
He began to lay the groundwork further. For the first time, he mentioned to everyone the thing that held all the failures and the past that a life like Subaru's could never repay.
"A halo-shattering bomb. As an explosive, it's nothing special. But it ends anyone's life, no matter who they are—even Hoshino—unconditionally. It is the ultimate 'balance breaker' hidden in the enemy's hand." (Subaru)
"──!"
Kanna let out a soft gasp, as if she knew something regarding Subaru's statement, or as if the words she wanted to say had caught between her sharp teeth.
Regardless, she clearly had something to say. All eyes turned toward Kanna, and silence filled the room.
Under that pressure, she began to organize the tangled information in her mind, linking what she had just learned with what she had gathered during her duties.
Before, such thinking was meaningless. A puppet controlled by Kaiser didn't need a consciousness, nor was one expected. What had been fleeting thoughts that usually vanished were now connecting in her head.
Subaru asked with a confident expression, "It looks like you know something":
"Mr. Natsuki, where did you hear the story of that bomb?" (Kanna)
"From 'Black Suit,' the one who was constantly harassing Abydos. He's a villainous adult who knows an absurd amount about the underworld." (Subaru)
"...I see." (Kanna)
"...It sounds like an urban legend, but allow me to speak for a moment." (Kanna)
"There was an incident. It was just a rumor lacking any reality, yet even in a crime-ridden place like Kivotos, it was an incident of a very specific nature." (Kanna)
"I was trying to live while keeping that incident buried in my heart forever. It happened at Trinity. Based on speculation, it was the reason the Eden Treaty was frozen, and its details remain shrouded in darkness. It's likely that no one in this world knows the truth except for me and those within Trinity, which is living in a state of isolation..." (Kanna)
There was a horrific incident, something like a nightmare. Since that day, Trinity itself had turned into an enchanted forest within that nightmare.
No one knew that nightmare, and no one wanted to know the truth. It was a case listed in the database she had accessed through Kaiser while looking into Abydos at Subaru's request.
── She remembered the thing that was supposed to stay buried in her heart forever.
"...The assassination of Nagisa Kirifuji, the former host of the Filius branch at Trinity." (Kanna)
"── Assassination!?" (Subaru)
"Officially, she is on medical leave, and it was supposed to be nothing more than a groundless rumor. But I suspect it is the truth──... The weapon believed to have been used in that crime is unknown, but there is a specific characteristic..." (Kanna)
"── Kanna, can I try to match that weapon's characteristic first?" (Subaru)
A shiver ran down Subaru's spine. It was a guess—just a guess.
In a remote area like Abydos, which had nothing to do with the incident, the mystery that had suddenly appeared began to gather all the keywords to reach an answer.
── If Subaru's lazy mind had reached the same conclusion as Kanna's diligent one, it would mean uncovering even more disturbing truths in this room.
It was a truth that anyone here could understand if they followed the amateur analysis of Subaru. It was the answer that had fallen halfway because of his continuous uncovering of secrets using "Return by Death" in this chaotic situation.
"That weapon can kill people without any external injuries... right?" (Subaru)
"...Yes. When the 'Justice Task Force'—Trinity's internal security force—received her body, it was said she had passed away without a single wound. Even I only knew this through Kaiser as top-secret information, and it was treated within Kaiser as a mere passing rumor." (Kanna)
"Rumors... why do they stay just rumors when someone is dead!?" (Serika)
Serika slammed her hand on the table, feeling uneasy at the indecisive tone and the horrific conclusion her thoughts were reaching.
Despite saying that, Serika herself hadn't heard of that incident, let alone the rumors. Feeling embarrassed, she turned to Ayane as if asking for help:
"Ayane... do you know anything about the truth of that incident?" (Serika)
"Serika-chan... ── Most likely, leaking information to the outside is strictly forbidden, or it has been suppressed. They must be in the same situation we are now. I didn't know anything either until I heard it from Kanna-san just now." (Ayane)
"But for such a coincidence... ──" (Ayane)
"Coincidence, huh... it seems you understand too. I agree with you, sigh... I didn't want to get involved in something like this in a place like this..." (Kayoko)
Kayoko patted the shoulder of a dazed Aru to get her attention, then placed her hand on Ayane's shoulder as well. Imagining life after getting caught in this mess, she let out another sigh.
Her warm breath reached Subaru's nearby hand, and that lukewarm sensation clearly conveyed Kayoko's feelings.
It was troublesome—truly troublesome. The conclusion casting a heavy shadow over the hearts of Hoshino, Kanna, Kayoko, and Subaru was ──,
"I really hope this is just a random thought or a bad memory from the past that surfaced strangely." (Subaru)
"── It's not possible that one of the Three Great Schools has fallen to terrorism... is it?" (Subaru)
●○●○●
── Miracles happen but once; coincidences, twice.
A miracle is like the tail of a shooting star glimpsed from the deck of a drifting ship—its flash carves a celestial map in the sky to guide you safely home.
A coincidence, however, occurs when one becomes aware of a miracle that happened before. It is like someone wearing the same clothes as a friend they once met by a stroke of luck; the next time, they consider the "possibility" of it happening again and dress identically, as if retracing the miracle's path.
Anything beyond that is pure intent and will. It is inevitability.
When multiple wills follow the same trail and advance in the same direction, it might sometimes be better to call it a miracle or a coincidence, but...
"Since there are this many of us, and the same thought occurred to most of us..." (Subaru)
Of the ten people in the room, everyone reached the same conclusion—except Aru. They had realized the truth despite themselves.
Subaru was also surprised by Haruka's quick wit. His old self briefly thought that her only flaw was social anxiety and that she was normal in other aspects, but he quickly waved the thought away, concluding she wasn't quite as fierce as she used to be.
"...This topic! Can we put it aside for a moment!?" (Subaru)
"...I also think that would be best." (Sena)
"This old-timer was so shocked she almost forgot what she wanted to ask Subaru-kyun... Let's forget about it for now, then." (Hoshino)
This was a nuclear mine, far beyond any ordinary landmine—a predatory beast, a most despicable monster. One could not risk throwing themselves into destruction by provoking the wrath of such an opponent.
They say "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," but... if what lurks in the den is something far beyond a lion, and there is nothing to be gained from it, then...
"Alright! Let's set it aside for now!! Let's move on to a completely new topic!!!" (Subaru)
That was the best choice.
What was the point of making people's deaths a topic of discussion? Why play the detective in a major mystery murder case that was about to be closed against an unknown perpetrator?
It didn't escape him that Arius had left so many tracks that it hardly qualified as a "mystery," but originally, without the "Return by Death" ability, their existence and connection to the events should never have been uncovered. They were the type who erased those who "knew too much," and since they could wipe away all evidence, Subaru concluded his fears were merely delusions.
To lift everyone's dampened spirits, Subaru tried to take the lead in the conversation, but then he suddenly remembered.
── "Ah, right. Even if I change the subject, I'm going to get interrogated anyway."
"Then I'll go first~, right, Subaru-kyun?" (Mutsuki)
"Mutsuki? Fine, if you have something you want to ask." (Subaru)
"So, my question is... Subaru-kyun, are you the type who enjoys pain... are you that sort of person?" (Mutsuki)
"Pffft──!?" (Subaru)
Subaru recoiled in shock at this scandalous and sudden statement, which had absolutely nothing to do with the context of the conversation.
If he asked himself whether he had such a leaning, the answer was: never, and absolutely not. He hated pain even if he were just struck with a whip; he saw only pure suffering in it, making it hard for him to understand those of "that sort."
"W... Why such a sudden question... I'm not like that at all, you know? Do I look like that to you, Mutsuki!? If so, I'm deeply disappointed..." (Subaru)
"Eeeeh~? But last time, and again now, you always take it upon yourself to stay alone and come back with even more wounds. I heard from our "little wolf" over there that you were alone on the train too, weren't you?" (Mutsuki)
"Uhhhh... I deny that, but it seems the evidence is stacked against... Your Honor! Objection! This is a complete frame-up! I demand a retrial!" (Subaru)
Subaru closed one eye and began tapping on the table with his hands, mimicking the poses from the courtroom games he used to play back in Japan, treating this as just another one of her usual pranks.
The spirit of the "comedian" reignited within Subaru after having been dormant. As he turned toward Mutsuki to drop another joke, however, he noticed the cold, blank stare in her eyes.
"Perhaps my way of putting things was a bit indirect, Subaru-kyun." (Mutsuki)
"── Why did you keep us away? Looking at when we arrived at Abydos High School, we could have simply... after you called us, accompanied you in your solo move, couldn't we?" (Mutsuki)
"What purpose does Subaru's mouth serve, then?~ Instead of us dying from that bomb you mentioned, I think a Subaru who might die from a measly bullet is millions of times more at risk♪" (Mutsuki)
"───" (Subaru)
"Oh, really. Do you understand what I'm saying? If you keep up that insipid smile, I'll stretch your face out." (Mutsuki)
"It's fine, it's fine. I understand exactly what you're trying to say, Mutsuki." (Subaru)
Without making a sound, and without accepting or refusing, Subaru merely returned the smile. Mutsuki responded by grabbing his cheek, stretching it like dough, and then letting go so it snapped back. Subaru suppressed the words that almost escaped through his smile the moment he touched Mutsuki's face and saw everyone from Handyman 68.
── Because he had lived through the experience, he knew for a fact that miracles do not repeat.
"And now, it's my turn." (Kanna)
"Sure. Ask whatever you want." (Subaru)
"It is a simple question. First, how did you pinpoint the Director's location? Second, why was there only a minimal guard during the breach? And third, how did you use the pistol entrusted to you, Mr. Natsuki, at this Abydos High School? I want answers to these three points." (Kanna)
"The Director's location was thanks to Arona's hacking. As long as they are within the districts, they leave a trail no matter how hard they try. We tracked them via CCTV and identified the site. As for the guards, I lured them all away. I told them I was at the drop-off point for the 'younger students' and challenged them to fight there. The fools swallowed the bait." (Subaru)
"As for the method, I can explain it for the reason I mentioned before, but I also cannot. I simply asked Arona to do it, and she did." (Subaru)
Kanna took out a notebook from her breast pocket and began to jot down the general flow of events Subaru related. Afterward, Subaru continued talking, carefully recording actions and thoughts that seemed plausible to the others despite glossing over the complex operations involved.
"As for the escape... that was also thanks to Arona. I just ran the path she predicted beforehand." (Subaru)
"...Thank you. Though this hardly serves as a reference... I'll summarize the talk on my end. Now, how exactly was the pistol used?" (Kanna)
"...───" (Subaru)
"The pistol. For what. Was it used?" (Kanna)
"Ch..." (Subaru)
"Ch?" (Kanna)
"There was... a challenge..." (Subaru)
"A challenge?" (Kanna)
── What do I do now? What will you do, Natsuki Subaru? Do you continue with a pathetic evasion, or do you show some backbone? In either case, the only path left is ──.
"I used it to win a challenge against Hoshino..." (Subaru)
"...To win, against her. I see." (Kanna)
Subaru felt as if fingers were pointing at him from behind, demanding he tell the truth immediately.
"...To win against Hoshino... The pistol was loaded with a blank round... ── I pointed it at myself and used it..." (Subaru)
"I see." (Kanna)
"And before I got here, I also used it to blow up the Kaiser base along with the entire car..." (Subaru)
"Eh?" (Kanna)
Before she could repeat the "Eh?" that had slipped out involuntarily, Subaru saw Kanna calmly pull out her notebook and start writing. He felt like a chicken awaiting the guillotine. He looked around for someone to stop Kanna's hand, but except for his partner-in-crime Hoshino, no one attempted to help him.
"What else?" (Kanna)
"Ah... ──" (Subaru)
He suddenly remembered that atop the train, to deceive that girl named "Misaki"... while hiding in the smoke of a flashbang...
"Nothing else." (Subaru)
"..." (Kanna)
"R.. Really, there's nothing else." (Subaru)
"..." (Kanna)
"Kanna! Kanna, listen! Can you please stop writing in that notebook!?" (Subaru)
"That's all from me. Let's leave the floor to the next person now." (Kanna)
While Subaru "moistened" his face with the cold sweat pouring from his forehead, the baton passed to the next person. The one who announced her turn next was Hoshino. It was hard to imagine what she might ask given the endless possibilities, but...
"Now, it's this old-timer's turn." (Hoshino)
── As expected, that title (old-timer) carried no pleasant memories.
"Based on what I heard from Shiroko-chan, and what we decided after consulting each other... ── Well, it's about the injuries, isn't it?~" (Hoshino)
"Oh." (Subaru)
"I've heard roughly what happened on the train Subaru-kyun took... a siege between Kaiser and Arius. Even with the two people who helped you, the situation wasn't something Subaru and those children could flip on their own." (Hoshino)
"Unless a reckless gamble bordering on death was carried out, right?" (Hoshino)
Hoshino leaned toward Subaru with a look that commanded him to speak. She began to visualize his living body hidden beneath the bandages—especially his right arm, which seemed to be in a wretched state. What kind of action could lead to this?
"What did you do, and how did you win? Come on... this old-timer is quite the expert in combat, you know? So I want you to tell me a way to win that even this old-timer can't imagine." (Hoshino)
"── Do I have to talk?" (Subaru)
"You have to talk." (Hoshino)
Hoshino placed her hand gently on Subaru's neck and pressed slightly... enough that the bandages sank inward. In that moment, she clearly felt Subaru's racing heartbeat.
She gazed intently at his face. Standing closer than anyone else, she scrutinized Subaru's expressions, his breathing, and the twitch of his eyelids.
"If you don't want to talk, it's fine to lie, Subaru." (Hoshino)
"That too... why is that?" (Subaru)
"Because the mere fact that you resort to lying reveals certain things to me." (Hoshino)
"..." (Subaru)
Slowly, so very slowly, like a crawling snake.
Hoshino's winding words began to tighten their grip on Subaru's throat.
"Subaru." (Hoshino)
"Come on, speak." (Hoshino)
── Ah, this interrogation born of good intentions felt no different from a standard one. In fact, wasn't this actually torture?
Subaru swallowed hard, downing both his saliva and his lie; rather, Hoshino had forced him to swallow them.
"At first... to lure "Kaiser" close to me, I deliberately... let them shoot me..." (Subaru)
And so, his first step proved to be a fatal slip—a massive blunder.
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