Zero.
By: ViolentBlue
Wrote this on the subreddit tonight about what a hypothetical bad ending would look like for Subaru. One where he finally just breaks down completely, and is unable to come back from it no matter what is done to save him.
Let me know if any of you want an expanded version of this and I'll see about posting it in a 2nd chapter.
...For the record, it was originally just going to be a few sentences, but I started...and I couldn't stop.
Emilia: Subaru...good morning, do-do you want anything?
She had walked into his room some minutes ago, observing him quietly as he lay there. There was no response of course to her question, no matter how cheerfully Emilia had phrased it. She wasn't expecting one, either. It had been the same as always for the past few months, the light in his evil eyes having long gone out. He only stared up at the ceiling, blinking occasionally and rarely mumbling in words Emilia could not understand.
She didn't understand how it had happened. It wasn't an effect of Gluttony or a product of the Witch Cult; like most of the mansion suspected. No one quite knew what had happened to him, as even Ferris's healing had failed to make a dent in him. Many suspected some kind of Curse, or Authority had done it. A few even suggested that the Witch of Envy was responsible.
None of them were correct. Only Emilia truly knew what had happened to her Knight. He had broken. Completely and utterly. Like a plate of fine china shattered into a thousand pieces, scattered across the floor. And there was no way to put back the pieces together again.
Emilia: I...I visited with Rem. Like I do every day. I figured since you aren't able to, that I'd do it. Don't worry, Subaru. Roswaal and Ram are working on a way to wake her up, and I'm sure we will soon! Then you can wake up too, and we can all be together again!
She still kept on that mask of joy, even if her performance could be heard or noticed by no one.
Emilia: Once you get up, we'll have so much to catch up on! Puck finally came back, and I even managed to get a new crystal to contract with him again! Petra is doing great as a maid so far thanks to Frederica, and Garfiel is even helping train Otto so he can be more fit and active! Isn't that so~ great?! And of course, you and I will really~ need to go on a date together. Maybe to the flower fields or the Royal Capital, wherever you wish!
Subaru just looked upward, blinking once, his eyes out of focus. It looked more like he was staring through the ceiling than at it.
Emilia: Oh, you must be sick of laying there, I'm sure that pillow isn't as comfy for you. But don't worry, I'll take care of it!
She easily lifted him up, sitting down on the bed and resting his head gently in her lap, making sure the covers were still on him to keep him warm. He felt so light in her arms, his normally strong physique having lost so much of it's definition, as they had to practically force-feed him in order to keep him alive. They were lucky Subaru's ability to swallow was intact, as otherwise he may have perished from malnutrition.
Emilia: Is that better?
Nothing.
Emilia blinked, as her smile fell, the mask she put on coming off again. She did her best not to cry, just sadly brushing his hair with her hand.
Emilia: You-you were so brave, Subaru...always risking your life, always sacrificing your mind and body for me and others. I-I used to never know why you would do those things, but now I understand. You...you really loved me, didn't you? You gave everything...and now-now you have nothing left to give. And I-I can't even give you anything back!
She began to weep silently as she'd done many times before, bearing on her slender shoulders the never-ending trauma of seeing Subaru lying there helpless, broken, and Emilia unable to fix him.
It had repeated like this for many days, and would likely never end until Subaru's own body finally gave out. And unbeknownst to Emilia, Subaru would end up simply resetting to a few days ago, as the cycle would eventually turn into a closed loop from which Subaru could never escape. Trapped always within a few days of his own demise, with no way to prevent it.
BAD END