「Hoshi... -no... !?」 (Subaru)
Takanashi Hoshino stands before me. Why and how? There are no answers to these questions.
Arona said we had a one-minute grace period, but that turned out to be a grave error. Especially when speaking of someone capable of reaching jet-like speeds with a living body, Hoshino had surpassed her estimates.
── True injustice is when the strong effortlessly shatter what the weak have painstakingly built, like a passing wind, destroying them without a second thought.
Most likely, there was no special trick; Hoshino simply returned because she had pinpointed her target while Subaru and the others were talking. With speed exceeding expectations, and mental processing speed exceeding expectations, she realized that Subaru and his companion hadn't gone very far yet.
「Damn it... Gaaah !?」 (Subaru)
「If you can't defeat me, you won't be able to continue in the future.」 (Hoshino)
She grabbed his collar, pressing on his throat to cut off his oxygen.
「That... ── is because you are not an opponent, to defeat...」 (Subaru)
「Hoshino is also... one of the, comrades, whose strength I want to borrow.」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Hoshino)
「Even if a rebellious phase comes ── ! I will drag you out into the sunlight! That is why I came here... !!」 (Subaru)
「... ── Shut up now.」 (Hoshino)
The gaze she sent along with the insults carried disdain, saying "Are you still spouting nonsense?" But this moment would be a decisive crossroads for both Subaru and Hoshino.
As the desert wind caressed his dry throat, he swallowed his saliva and asked Hoshino, who still treated him as weak, to stop.
The glint of black iron reflected in Hoshino's eyes.
「Even someone like me can hit a target standing still.」 (Subaru)
「... So, you recovered it.」 (Hoshino)
── The handgun.
Kanna's gift, which Hoshino had snatched from him earlier. A revolver firing 6 bullets; if you pull the hammer and squeeze the trigger, a ball of iron exits.
It is Subaru's only weapon, and in this world where fists cannot be relied upon, it is the last resistance Subaru can offer.
「And then what? Hitting me means nothing; you'll only hurt your hand from the recoil.」 (Hoshino)
「Ah, that's, right... Hitting Hoshino, is meaningless.」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Hoshino)
「Therefore, I will do this.」 (Subaru)
「... ── !!?」 (Hoshino)
The target the gun was aimed at is not Hoshino.
── It is his own head.
As if struck fatally, Hoshino lost her words.
Whether this was a bluff or an empty threat, she was convinced that the madman before her included this among his options. Natsuki Subaru's existence is so fragile and terrifying that one cannot mockingly say "What are you doing?".
Hoshino's ultimate goal is to make Abydos a sacred land unreachable by anyone, a safe haven for the remaining girls where no one interferes and no one is harmed.
Now, in Subaru's hand is the phone capable of that live broadcast, and a gun capable of ending his life. The moment it is said "Natsuki Subaru died because of Abydos High School," even if she adheres to the contract and protects Abydos, destruction awaits her.
Furthermore, the reason preventing Kaiser from attacking Abydos will vanish.
「I don't know how far you've thought this through, but...」 (Hoshino)
「── As expected, you are insane.」 (Hoshino)
Not the act itself, nor the diabolical idea.
── Fundamentally, humans cannot use their own lives as a bargaining chip.
No one places their life on the scale of gods who weigh everything equally. The only one who can measure the value of one's life is oneself, and that value always holds the highest priority.
The scale itself, to prove it isn't broken, tips toward the pan where life is placed and stabilizes there.
This is reason, human instinct, the absolute line of a living being.
「Allow me to bet everything (Full Bet), Hoshino.」 (Subaru)
「── In this situation, I am the one who wins.」 (Subaru)
The man before her crosses that line easily; he is that kind of human.
He understands the value of life, yet holds no attachment to continuing that value.
Hoshino realized that if Natsuki Subaru could achieve something or make others happy by exhausting his body...
He is certainly a human who would consume himself without hesitation until he turns to dust. She stopped restraining him and pushed him away.
Subaru coughed "Keh-ho, Keh-ho" for several seconds, still pointing the gun at his head.
「One step, and I shoot 'Bang'!」 (Subaru)
「... Usually, you say that while pointing the gun at your opponent's head, don't you?」 (Hoshino)
「I am pointing it, Hoshino can't kill me, but I can kill myself, and if I die, Hoshino will be in trouble, see.」 (Subaru)
「── You really have a sharp tongue.」 (Hoshino)
「I get told that very often.」 (Subaru)
However, Subaru is not entirely free to move; he never dreamed his life would be this effective, he only tried to do the best he could now.
Both parties are in a stalemate. Subaru doesn't want Hoshino to move from her spot, and Hoshino will finish him in an instant if he shows any opening.
So, what will move the situation is ──
「── Shirokooooo !!」 (Subaru)
「── Shiroko-chan, is it.」 (Hoshino)
At Hoshino's feet, a hand grenade with the pin pulled.
── A massive amount of sudden smoke separated Subaru and Hoshino.
「Smoke bomb...! You stole one; your hands are light as always, really.」 (Hoshino)
If she picks up the sound with her ears, she can determine the approximate location, and she can hit the target with bullets easily. This level of interference isn't even an obstacle.
── However, Subaru realized the value of his life to her.
If she fires blindly, that fragile body will be destroyed instantly, and hope will turn to ash.
When the smoke cleared... the two had disappeared.
「── Annoying.」 (Hoshino)
●○●○●
We survived by a miracle—that was Subaru's impression.
In a closed gymnasium, taking a break with Shiroko.
「Hah, hah... Good grief, if bluffing worked, it would have been better to do it from the start...」 (Subaru)
「... Nn, but don't do that again.」 (Shiroko)
「Nyeh? But if it stops Hoshino...」 (Subaru)
「Don't do it, ever again, understand? Weak Subaru (Yowa-Subaru).」 (Shiroko)
「S-Sir, yes sir! ... Yowa-Subaru ── ??」 (Subaru)
「Nn, the weak obey the strong. Right now, you are Yowa-Subaru, and I am the strongest, so stop doing that. That's an order.」 (Shiroko)
「... ── Alright, I won't do it again. Pinky promise (Yubikiri Genman).」 (Subaru)
「Nn.」 (Shiroko)
After singing the entire "Yubikiri Genman" song with Shiroko, he began to think about the next move.
Right now, the idea of defeating Hoshino is impossible. In terms of combat power, she is the embodiment of unfairness, and nothing will change no matter what orders Subaru issues.
Hoshino moved beyond Arona's predictions, and if the Shittim Chest, considered a piece of super-technology, is unable to handle her,
「For now... we are in 'Checkmate' (deadlock), huh.」 (Subaru)
「Shiroko, don't you know any weakness of Hoshino's?」 (Subaru)
「... Currently, none exists. No one can defeat Hoshino-senpai when she is at full power and serious.」 (Shiroko)
「Is that even possible... ── Arona, is there any...」 (Subaru)
What was displayed on the phone screen was "Win Rate 0." As Shiroko said, it seems there is no means of solution currently, and the feeling of despair resembles... fleeing from an invincible enemy chasing you from behind in a game.
Endurance to emerge unscathed from a collision with a small missile, close-quarters combat using a massive shield and shotgun with veteran skill, a mind that always surprises the opponent and stays steps ahead, and overwhelming speed and high maneuverability emanating from that small body.
If we start counting, there is no end to Hoshino's strength. The only time they surprised her was the previous moment, and he was forbidden from repeating it, and most likely, she will handle it skillfully next time.
Strong moves in competitive games are always defined: "Moving before the opponent finishes making a decision." This is a quasi-fixed rule in FPS and fighting games, excluding RPGs and turn-based strategy games.
「Without Arona, this is the hardest part...」 (Subaru)
Situation comprehension ability that doesn't seem human, and processing speed for immediate decision-making—Subaru glimpsed this when Hoshino dealt with Kaiser.
As if she had her own Shittim Chest in her brain. Even if her moves are simple, an opponent who executes winning moves with 100% success rate without fail requires you to do the same just to be on equal footing.
── Unless he uses "Return by Death" and becomes capable of reading everything in advance, that's another matter.
「...」 (Subaru)
And that "does not exist."
Subaru will not throw his life away in vain, not even once.
The responsibility everyone placed on his shoulders, and the push he received from Hina—all that constitutes Subaru is this world, and this Subaru alone.
「... ── You said 'showdown'; do you mean that? When Hoshino and Shiroko's opinions differ... something to decide who is right?」 (Subaru)
「That's right. Since the day she picked me up... I've competed with Hoshino-senpai to decide many things. We set rules together and compete... but I lose every time and have to obey her.」 (Shiroko)
「So there is a judgment for winning and losing. ── Then, we have no choice but to make Hoshino accept a showdown where even we can win...!」 (Subaru)
「Nn, but that... might require Subaru to say it directly, because Hoshino-senpai and I only determine winning and losing by loss of consciousness.」 (Shiroko)
「What warrior tribe are you from?」 (Subaru)
With the revelation of the astounding social environment of the Abydos Desert Wolf Pack, Subaru misunderstood, thinking Abydos might be a place for raising demons surpassing Gehenna, but he quickly accepted that those living in such a harsh land would naturally become warriors.
Anyway, continuing to fight like this means certain defeat.
The reason Hoshino hasn't abandoned Subaru is that the person she is about to make a contract with holds great confidence and weaknesses over her.
Confidence is her pride as an adult, and the weaknesses are Ayane and Serika,
And most importantly, her insistence on protecting Abydos.
Who clings to the shadows of Hoshino's heart? Why is she so agitated? ── When he traced his memory, the answer appeared automatically.
「... ── Shiroko.」 (Subaru)
「Yume... what kind of person was she to Hoshino?」 (Subaru)
「That ──」 (Shiroko)
The identity of her obsession and shadow, the former Student Council President Kuchinashi Yume. The name Hoshino whispered faintly in the 176th time.
He had felt it repeatedly, the contradiction in Hoshino... it was stuck in Subaru's molars and wouldn't leave.
She pushes away the younger students (Kohai) who are supposed to be indescribably dear to her, clinging only to saving them, muddying her hands and killing others to save them ── yet he feels as though she is keeping them at a distance.
If love is given, it returns naturally. Subaru never ignored the love he received from his parents, nor did he ever think he didn't feel it. The same applies to his parents, and Hoshino is no exception.
Nevertheless, Hoshino remains captive to "Something" that is neither the students she bestows her care and love upon, nor Abydos.
── That is why there is a contradiction. She directs love, yet pushes them away. She wants them closer, but keeps them distant; she gives love and refuses its return.
The hand of "Something" makes her protect the students and Abydos.
The causal relationship is reversed. Not because she cherishes them does she want to protect them, but because they are "younger students (Kohai)," they are dear and must be protected.
── Distortion.
Something decisive is twisted inside her ──,
「That... I don't know.」 (Shiroko)
「Hoshino-senpai doesn't like to talk about Yume-senpai.」 (Shiroko)
「All I know is that she disappeared, that's all.」 (Shiroko)
「── Just disappeared?」 (Subaru)
「Yes.」 (Shiroko)
In the documents, the verdict was definitely "Death by Distress."
Shiroko doesn't know that; she hasn't been told.
「...」 (Subaru)
Just as expected, a distortion.
The deep moat surrounding Hoshino might seem at first glance filled with love for those she protects.
But this is no different from placing a bird capable of free flight into a cramped cage and caring for it gently.
「... ── That's right.」 (Subaru)
「That's right...! Before winning or losing...!! I came to know her ──」 (Subaru)
「Steel your resolve, me. We are still at the beginning, the very beginning.」 (Subaru)
「Nn, shall I slap your cheek?」 (Shiroko)
「If Shiroko slaps me with her strength, my head will fly off my body, so I refuse. If you pat my head 'nad-nad,' maybe I'll recover full energy.」 (Subaru)
「Understood.」 (Shiroko)
「Eeeeh ── ?」 (Subaru)
The hem of his tracksuit was pulled, his head forcibly placed on her lap, and "nad-nad" rained down from Shiroko until his hairstyle was messed up.
He thought her hand would be rough, but she didn't touch his wounds, and her movements included gentle strokes wiping softly—an exquisite balance leading Subaru to feel safe.
Because she pats his head with a very practiced hand, Subaru's heart began to relax to the point that his mother's image appeared in his imagination.
「Wo-Wow, Shiroko is unexpectedly bold.」 (Subaru)
「Because you said you wanted your head patted.」 (Shiroko)
「True, but!? True, true, but as a girl in the bloom of youth, you shouldn't put a man on your lap randomly ── ...」 (Subaru)
「Nn, Subaru can be trusted. Weak, but strong... It's okay, with that.」 (Shiroko)
── He felt something tickle the roots of Subaru, so his face flushed red, and he could no longer look at Shiroko's face.
The strength of Kivotos residents is truly amazing; he is still resisting, but hasn't been able to move his body an inch since being pulled down—he is completely pinned.
For Shiroko, Subaru's resistance is like an infant trying to push away a hand; it's as easy as twisting a baby's arm.
「Pretending to be strong is good, but impossible endurance is forbidden. Your wounds... haven't healed yet.」 (Shiroko)
「Me too, Hoshino-senpai often patted my head like this.」 (Shiroko)
「... She really is, a good Senpai.」 (Subaru)
「Nn.」 (Shiroko)
Her rough movement transformed without him realizing into combing his bangs, parting his hair, and slow, gentle stroking like that done to soothe a small child.
When he lifted his hot, red face upwards, Shiroko's face was close enough to touch. The image looked inverted, "Ah, I used to look at Mom like this a lot," and he remembered a vague feeling from the distant past.
While she continued stroking, words leaked from Shiroko's mouth.
「── It was, hard on you.」 (Shiroko)
She said it as if cherishing him. She said it as if comforting him. She said it as if loving him.
── This, surely, is the love Shiroko received from Hoshino in the past.
「...」 (Subaru)
「Nn, how is it? Imitating Hoshino-senpai.」 (Shiroko)
「... ── Then, just... for a little longer.」 (Subaru)
「Please...」 (Subaru)
「Understood.」 (Shiroko)
He holds back his throat, which is about to start crying, and suppresses emotions on the verge of spiraling out of control.
He closes with his hands the crumbling dam inside Subaru to prevent it from collapsing, desperate to stop what has accumulated inside from flowing out after being shattered and torn.
Now is not the time; he locks away the surging emotion that hasn't faded even a bit, suppresses the sobbing with all his might, and surrenders his body to the feeling of safety.
So that "Natsuki Subaru" does not break, he pushes Subaru deep inside "Natsuki Subaru."
── Desperately, desperately, holding back tears.
●○●○●
「...」 (Hoshino)
She checks the number of loaded shells by the feeling of the shotgun shell holder equipped inside her tactical vest hitting her body.
Ammunition forced to be used against Kaiser, and ammunition used to corner Shiroko. Ammunition in Abydos is currently overwhelmingly scarce.
One shot, one kill. She repelled Kaiser's attacks skillfully and fought with her bare hands to minimize ammo consumption as much as possible, but the result is currently zero reserve ammo.
Remaining handgun magazines: 5, total 30 rounds. Since she chose a compact handgun for ease of handling, the magazine capacity is 6 rounds.
Shotgun shells: 8 in the tube. Hand grenades: 0. Flashbangs: 1. Smoke grenades: 2.
With absolute calm, absolute coolness, and as always, she grasps the situation and considers the best moves in case of combat.
「Probably here.」 (Hoshino)
The place she arrived at is the gymnasium. She checked all other locations, consuming an extra 5 minutes, but to choose the gymnasium where they become rats in a trap ──,
「It seems Shiroko-chan doesn't have the luxury of time either.」 (Hoshino)
If they aren't here, it could be assumed they fled, but that is impossible.
Hoshino realizes Shiroko wouldn't throw the match halfway, and she believes Subaru wouldn't choose to flee.
Relying on others cannot be called logical, but the accumulation of long experience sometimes betrays logic and leads to results.
「... Heww...」 (Hoshino)
She kicked the gymnasium door open while in a low crouch.
Checking all four directions immediately, and although such weapons don't exist in Abydos, she cautiously swept the gym for wire traps or traps triggered by opening and closing doors.
The high sun's rays entered diagonally through the gymnasium windows, making the old gym look even older.
── And standing in that sunlit spot, is,
「... ──」 (Hoshino)
「Natsuki Subaru.」 (Hoshino)
It is him.
「What's the matter? Does this mean you've stopped resisting?」 (Hoshino)
「Impossible. I won't shamefully raise the white flag until Arona announces my sexual preferences.」 (Subaru)
「What is that.」 (Hoshino)
「Only strength; I won't be defeated by someone like you who possesses only strength, that's all. What about you? Why don't you stop resisting and raise the white flag?」 (Subaru)
「... Talk alone won't change anything.」 (Hoshino)
「Then, I will change it.」 (Subaru)
No need to listen to the words of the man before her. From any angle, it's obvious he is bait, and Shiroko is waiting for an opening.
She tried to completely banish Subaru's voice from her mind,
── She tried, to do that.
「── I.」 (Subaru)
「Heard information about Kuchinashi Yume from the Black Suit.」 (Subaru)
「Haaah ────── ?」 (Hoshino)
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