――Before I knew it, Subaru’s consciousness had once again been led into the world of darkness.

　A vague, wandering sense of being. With hands, feet, eyes, and ears all lost, Natsuki Subaru drifted through the void as nothing more than a name.

　In this world, there was neither ground nor any end in sight. Only endless darkness spread out, painted pitch black, shadows engulfing everything.

　However, while he had been summoned here unconsciously until now, there was one clear difference this time.

　In the dark where memory had previously been hazy, and possessing a will had been difficult, Subaru could distinctly sense his own existence.

　Though he had no hands, feet, or body, and could not act on his will, he was allowed to direct his thoughts and ponder reasoning.

　Upon awakening, he would forget, lost in the world of ephemeral dreams.

　A shadowy garden that always brought Subaru a tightening sense of nostalgia.

　Each time he came here, he met an existence that he could not recognize by face or voice, a beloved ‘someone.’

　The darkness before him rippled, and he could see the shadow slowly taking shape into a human form.

　A slender figure born from pure blackness, with right and left hands clearly connecting to its body. An existence that had previously been just one hand regained both arms, and the newly formed palms reached out towards Subaru, as if seeking his presence.

　Wanting to touch, yearning for connection, Subaru’s heart was instinctively captivated.

　Yet, there were no hands to respond, and though he wished to speak, he had no mouth; thus, he could do nothing.

　Subaru could not touch her, and she could not touch Subaru.

　Just for the sake of wanting Subaru, how much time had she spent forming her body? How much time and sacrifice had the outstretched arms taken?

　While subconsciously understanding a glimpse of this, Subaru was overwhelmed by his own powerlessness.

　‘――I love you.’

　The shadow whispered love to Subaru, its unseen expression twisted in painful anguish.

　He wanted to respond to those words; he had to respond. He wanted to return the sentiment through voice, action, and love.

　To the affection offered, one could only face it with affection. And yet――,

　“――Subaru”

　Someone’s voice was calling Subaru’s name.

　The intangible consciousness realized that this voice did not come from the figure before him but from behind. Despite having no eyes, he looked back. In the distance of the darkness, a point of light floated.

　The voice was unmistakably coming from there.

　‘I love you.’

　“Subaru”

　Words were thrown simultaneously. He wanted to return the love. He had to respond to the calling voice.

　The voice of the figure in front of him, and the voice of someone coming from the light behind――as if led, Subaru’s consciousness gradually drifted further and further away from the shadowy garden.

　Pulled toward the light.

　As Subaru’s heart followed this path, the voice before him trembled with pain.

　‘Love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you――’

　“――Please, Subaru”

　The repeated whispers of love. Pure feelings were packed into the name being called.

　He remembered his own name. And he remembered the person who called him that.

　He remembered what he had to do. He remembered the place he had to go.――So, he could not remain here.

　‘Love you……’

　“Next time, I will definitely come to see you.”

　A mouth that did not exist, an intent that could not be conveyed, interrupted and declared a decision.

　The voice fell silent. The distance grew. Consciousness was consumed by the light world, enveloped in pure white radiance, disappearing.

　‘――I’ll be waiting.’

　With just that whisper left behind, Subaru’s consciousness melted away in the light――

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

　Consciousness surfaced from the sea of sleep, breaking through the surface of awakening as his eyelids opened.

　The sunlight stung Subaru’s awakened eyeballs painfully, and as his eyes watered, he saw within the blurred vision a softly glowing indigo violet eye. It was so close, within breath’s reach, that he was captivated by its beauty, and the soft pink lips genuinely released a breath that made him want to die from urgency.

　“Your face is too close, isn’t it!?”

　“Wah, ah, Subaru, you’re awake! Oh, I’m glad. Really.”

　That which was so close was Emilia’s dual eyes, and realizing her face was mere inches away jolted Subaru completely awake from his hazy state. Casting a glance at the panicking Subaru, Emilia let out a sigh of relief, unaware of the frantic beating of his heart.

　Damn, how cute. Following her gestures with his eyes, Subaru noticed that the positioning of himself and Emilia was strangely off-kilter.

　“I was lying down, and Emilia-chan was sitting cross-legged. And considering that there’s a heavenly sensation under my head at this distance…”

　“That’s just a weird confirmation; it’s my lap pillow. Isn’t the sleeping comfort nice?”

　“How can you think I was just peacefully napping? That’s not bad at all. This is the best reward after all the hard work!”

　Without holding back, Subaru let the weight of his head drop onto her lap and laughed heartily. Meanwhile, Emilia, seeing his smile, subtly tightened her previously relaxed mouth, the atmosphere changing.

　Confirming each other’s safety, it was time to have a more serious discussion.

　“Um, can I ask what happened?”

　“I’m the one who wants to know what happened many things… It’s about what happened after Subaru took the magic stone from the dragon carriage and it exploded. It was a huge mess, you know.”

　Maintaining her posture, Emilia lowered her gaze and began to recount the events from there.

　Without any explanation, Subaru jumped from the dragon carriage, running far faster than he should have been, onto the Earth Dragon, chasing after him. You had to see the massive flames rising in the distance to believe it. He almost fainted when he saw Subaru’s figure collapse under the Great Tree of Flugel, where he found both Subaru and Patrasche laid out.

　“What happened to Patrasche? I remember he was licking my face like crazy before I lost consciousness.”

　“Patrasche was still licking you even after you passed out. When I tried to move him away to treat you, he was growling angrily. Without Otto telling me what was happening, I wouldn’t have been able to start treating you.”

　“Curse you, Patrasche. Such rudeness to Emilia-chan… no, does it really matter who tries to protect me? Just how loyal is he? I’m falling for him!”

　It had only been a day and a half since he met Patrasche, but the number of life and death risks they faced together had already climbed to the top since entering this world. After all, this loop had been a series of murderous encounters. In fact, he would have gotten nowhere without Patrasche’s cooperation. He had borrowed an Earth Dragon from Crusch, but since Crusch said she would reward him—

　“Let’s keep Patrasche. Just like that. Let’s work together for a long time, buddy… but what about Patrasche?”

　“He was badly burned, but it seems he’s not in any life-threatening condition. I treated him with first aid, and right now, Felix, along with Wilhelm, is seeing to him.”

　“Ah… Felix has joined up too.”

　With the mention of Felix, Subaru felt relieved and relaxed his shoulders. Set aside Felix’s mischievous behavior toward Subaru; there was no doubt about his skills as a healer. He would surely handle Patrasche’s treatment excellently.

　At the same time, if Felix, who was supposed to have left the village after a significant delay, had joined in just like that—

　“Wait, did I sleep for quite a while?”

　“About four or five hours, I think. Without the communication mirror, you would have probably been hurrying towards the Royal Capital to find a healer by now.”

　As she spoke, Emilia held one of the communication mirrors that Petelgeuse’s group had used. One belonged to Julius, another to Felix, and the last one had been borrowed from Subaru, presumably after he had gone unconscious. She likely noticed a call from Felix had helped them contact Subaru, leading to his treatment.

　“So, everyone managed to come together.”

　“Felix too… and Julius as well. I was really surprised. I never imagined you and Julius would be together.”

　“There’s a reason as deep as the sea and greener than the mountains behind that. Explaining from scratch would honestly be a bit of a downer…”

　The relationship between Emilia and the surprised Julius was something difficult to express in words. In fact, at this point, Subaru himself wasn’t really clear on what kind of relationship he had with him.

　He was both an annoying adversary he couldn’t stand and a somewhat likable ally with undeniable talent, all while being a comrade whose mistakes could cost both their lives.

　In other words, if he had to describe him in one word—

　“I dislike him.”

　“Why so suddenly in broken words?”

　“I was trying to express my feelings about a person hard to describe in words as concisely as possible. You can infer the outcome… So, where is everyone now?”

　He was bothered by continuing on that topic and shifted it instead. Emilia smiled at Subaru with a touch of resignation and said,

　“Well, we’re currently on break while Felix finishes treating his patients. But I think it’ll wrap up soon, so we should be setting out for the Royal Capital again… It seems I need to have a word with Crusch, all thanks to your hard work.”

　“Oh wow, I’ve really worked hard. I pulled off quite the bluff while navigating through that chaotic situation! Looking back, my stomach actually hurts!”

　“Yeah, really… thank you.”

　Emilia plainly expressed her gratitude, and Subaru felt a rush of embarrassment at having gotten too carried away just a moment ago. However, it was true that his actions had created a positive outcome for her, and there was no longer a need to hide that.

　Reconsidering that fact, genuine joy began to overflow within Subaru.

　Over the days past, ever since that time of parting with her, he felt like he had accumulated quite a lot of memories. With every repetition, Subaru had piled up time that Emilia wasn’t aware of.

　Using all of what he had gained during that time, Subaru seized this moment. Those results deserved to be applauded, and he had the confidence that he truly deserved it.

　He had done so much. He had built up so much. Finally, he had reached this place.

　So this time, Subaru felt he had earned the right to make meaning out of his foolish words that had triggered that moment, that time.

　Looking around, it seemed they were in the open cargo section of a dragon carriage with the canopy lifted. No one else was around, just Subaru and Emilia. He had no idea how the others were doing, but the only sounds in the stillness were the breeze rustling, and the world felt like it belonged only to the two of them.

　Coincidentally, the situation felt just like back then.

　Awakening from an unconscious state, covered in injuries, in a secluded place with just the two of them.

　“It feels like I’ve been dreaming for a long time…”

　In reality, ever since that moment of separation to the current loop――to this final loop, the events that had occurred felt surreal, as if they were all just a dream. So many extreme situations had arisen, causing Subaru to be thrown down into despair multiple times.

　Truly, it could only be described as a series of nightmares――.

　“Bad dreams… no, that’s not right.”

　“Good dreams, then?”

　Tilting her head, Emilia echoed Subaru’s previous thoughts as she asked.

　As those words echoed in her mind, Subaru reflected on the days he was about to declare were ‘nightmares.’ Certainly, they had been a continuous string of desperate situations, ones he couldn’t possibly look back on and laugh about; they were moments he wished to erase from his memory.

　He had acted foolishly, selfishly behaved, imposed his whims, faced severe disappointments, was struck by despair, fell to mental collapse, surrendered himself to madness, and almost threw everything away under the weight of resignation――but he was saved from all that.

　It wouldn’t vanish as though it had never happened. Without those events, the current Subaru would not be here.

　That’s why those days felt like a dream, filled with what was painful and dark.

　“Good, they were real.”

　The long, long, nightmare-like period remained solely within Subaru.

　He could make it part of the past. But he wouldn’t allow it to become a ‘dream.’ He would carry all the tragic outcomes and the calamities he had invoked.

　That would be the cross he must bear as he was trapped by the power of ‘Return by Death,’ a force outside common sense, a power that opened the future for Subaru.

　“How much have you been listening?”

　“I haven’t heard much at all. Julius said, ‘Ask Subaru.’”

　“That bastard, seriously meddlesome.”

　Was he trying to be considerate? What a nice assist that made him want to vomit.

　With a mischievous grin, Subaru insulted Julius’ interference and exhaled.

　Taking a slight breath, he looked at Emilia and said,

　“On that day, you asked me ‘why.’ Why do you try to help me? Why do you work so hard? Why is that?”

　“Yeah, I asked that. Then you said it was because I helped you… but I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything at all. I’ve just been saved by you time and time again, and I couldn’t give you anything in return. And yet, you got hurt because of me…”

　“No, back then I was just out of it…”

　He was going to declare that he was out of sorts, but a part of him hesitated.

　It wasn’t that he was out of sorts. The Natsuki Subaru of that time, weak and foolish, only thinking of himself, believed that was the right thing.

　Selfish, presumptuous emotions, he had merely expected her to accept them.

　He knew how the end of the man who vehemently claimed such selfish love would turn out. He experienced it firsthand and had shattered that love with his own hands.

　He had also vividly engraved the shape of the person who proved the true existence of selfless love.

　“At that time, it was all about me. I’ll admit that. I said it was for you while I was just intoxicated by the idea of ‘myself doing my best for you.’ I thought you would accept that just by acting like I was enjoying it.”

　“Subaru…”

　“Sorry. I took advantage of you and reveled in it. Those words from back then were all true. I was wrong. …But some things I wasn’t wrong about.”

　He had taken advantage of Emilia for his own sake. Subaru acknowledged her tearful cries. However, while he reflected back on his self that had been denied, he still clung to just one thing he couldn’t yield.

　“I want to help you. I want to be a strength for you. That’s genuinely true, not a lie.”

　“……Yeah, I understand.”

　Emilia nodded at Subaru’s words.

　Then she widened her indigo violet eyes, blinked once, and gazed at Subaru.

　And then,

　“Why do you want to help me?”

　The words she had spoken back then. Words asked again just hours ago.

　Once more, they were words offered to seek an answer from Subaru. His answer was singular.

　“――Because I like Emilia, I want to be a strength for you.”

　Looking straight back into her eyes, Subaru clearly declared that.

　――In the end, the origin of Subaru’s actions condensed down to that simple fact.

　He wanted to be a strength for her; he wanted to be by her side; he wanted to help her; he wanted to see her smile; he wanted to be next to her; he wanted to live into the future with her.

　Everything and all, from head to toe, and deep within his soul, he liked Emilia.

　Therefore, even if Subaru found himself in situations where he felt like he was dying, dying countless times as a matter of fact, getting hurt, being disliked, and suffering, he would claw his way back up, returning like this.

　How many detours had it taken to arrive at such a straightforward answer? He couldn’t help but feel amazed at his own stupidity.

　“――――”

　As Subaru’s answer resonated, Emilia chose to close her lips in silence.

　Looking up at her with a strangely calm feeling, Subaru suddenly realized something monumental.

　――Wait, am I seriously in a state where I’ve just confessed and am now waiting for a reply?

　For someone like Subaru, who had never confessed or been confessed to in his life, this was a truly unprecedented situation. Well, he had been confessed to before—by the adorable Rem, no less. But that was a different matter altogether. The feelings he had for Rem and what he felt for Emilia, while they might share a direction, were entirely different issues.

　As Subaru wrestled internally without changing his expression, Emilia’s demeanor suddenly broke. Biting her previously closed lips, her wide indigo pupils slightly narrowed, looking as if she might start crying any moment.

　“I… I’m a half-elf.”

　“I know that.”

　Emilia trembled as she reaffirmed something that should have been obvious by now.

　Subaru’s reply came immediately, and then she shook her head.

　“I have silver hair, I’m a half-elf… and because I look just like the witch, people resent and dislike me. Really, I’m greatly, greatly disliked.”

　“I’ve seen that. I know that. They’re blind idiots.”

　Being swayed by mere appearances, and using that to judge because she resembled a historical criminal was foolish. Who could possibly dislike her without seeing her true essence?

　“I have little experience in socializing, so I have no friends. I sometimes say strange things because I’m unaware of the world… and because of the contract, I change my hairstyle almost every day. The reason I have to become a king… it’s really, really selfish…”

　As she began to list her flaws, she was disclosing unnecessary points, revealing glimpses of her anxiety. Even now, that weakness, trying to verbalize and validate her insecurities, turned out to be endearing. So,

　“No matter what anyone tells you, no matter how you feel about yourself, I like you, Emilia. I love you, a lot. I really want to be by your side, to hold your hand forever.”

　“Ah…”

　“If you name ten things you hate about yourself, I will name two thousand things that I love about you.”

　Rising up from her lap, Subaru met her gaze at eye level as he spoke.

　Opening her mouth slightly, Emilia looked at Subaru, and tears quickly began to well up in her eyes. The large drops cascaded down in tandem with her blinking, creating a transparent trail along her pale cheeks.

　“I want to treat you like my ‘special one.’”

　“……It’s the first time in my life receiving such a pleasantly special treatment.”

　With an outstretched hand, Subaru gently touched the tears falling down. As Subaru’s hand pressed against her cheek, Emilia’s hand met his from above, and the heat of their bodies intertwined starkly.

　She closed her eyes, feeling Subaru’s fingertips on her cheek, and said,

　“Why two thousand?”

　“Because a hundred times wouldn’t suffice to express my feelings.”

　As Subaru flashed a grin, Emilia’s expression transformed into one of teary laughter.

　That smile was overwhelmingly dazzling, even the tears falling from it sparkled like jewels, moving him to laugh at how he found so much satisfaction from just a single smile.

　While smiling, Emilia rubbed her cheek against Subaru’s fingertips.

　“I’m happy. Truly happy. I never imagined a day would come when someone would say they liked me.”

　In her past experiences, ‘special’ had simply equated to ‘discrimination.’

　That’s why she had been terrified of being treated ‘specially’ by someone. Understanding her feelings, Subaru would still treat her as ‘special.’

　No one else had to do it; only Subaru in this world would.

　“What should I do? You’re sharing your feelings with me, but… I don’t know what I should do.”

　“Don’t rush. I’m not looking for an immediate answer. Ultimately, it’s a foregone conclusion that I will receive a proper response eventually.”

　As someone who had little experience being liked, she was filled with an adorably childlike quality. Subaru would not rush her for a response.

　When she understood the meaning of being liked by someone more clearly and recognized that she too could love someone in return, he wanted to be the one who would be the object of her feelings.

　He firmly wished to be that kind of person deserving of her feelings.

　“Is it okay for someone like me… someone like me to receive such happiness? To feel so luxurious and thrilled?”

　“Why not? Let’s be extravagant. You can never have too much happiness. If it overflows, you can share it!”

　――So,

　“Take your time, Emilia. Slowly, at your own pace, I want you to fall in love with me. While walking beside you, I’ll do my best to make you fall head over heels.”

　With a tiny sound, Emilia’s throat let out a small whimper.

　Continuing to keep her hand against her cheek, she began to sob softly.

　Reaching out, Subaru caressed her long, beautiful silver hair.

　Softly, tenderly, gently.

　As he did so, Emilia continued to cry and cry.

　Subaru kept on tenderly caressing that beloved girl.

　――Under the sky of the approaching evening, an outsider and a silver-haired half-demon clung to each other, exchanging feelings.

　A long, long series of struggles and despair.

　Finally overcoming those, they had obtained a peaceful and quiet moment.

　This was merely a story about gaining this time.

　Taking detours, continually missing each other, and wandering about, just that kind of story.

　A lonely, insecure boy conveying his feelings to a lonely, insecure girl.

　That had been the sole purpose of his efforts―― just that kind of story.