Epilogue:

Found

There was a rhythmic beeping. A pulse. Steady, mechanical, intrusive.

Subaru's mouth felt like sandpaper, his lips cracked and dry. His throat ached. Slowly, painfully, he opened his eyes—and immediately winced. The light was blinding, harsh against his vision. Around him, unfamiliar machines beeped and blinked, wires and tubes snaking from his body like the roots of some strange plant.

He lay in a hospital bed.

He felt... wrong. Weak in a way he couldn't describe. Lifting his hand was like trying to move a stone. It trembled in the air. His arm was thin—far too thin. Bone and skin. It barely looked like it belonged to him.

Turning his head, every muscle in his neck protesting, Subaru saw a woman sitting beside him in a chair.

She looked middle-aged, and worn, with short brown hair and heavy eyes. She held a paperback book, though her attention wasn't really on it. For a moment, Subaru stared at her in silence.

And then—like a whisper from a lifelong buried—something stirred in his mind.

"...Mom?" he croaked. His voice was hoarse, brittle as old paper.

The woman froze.

Her eyes slowly lifted from the book to meet his—and the book tumbled from her hands, slapping the sterile floor with a thud.

"Subaru?" she gasped.

A moment later, she was on him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. The tears fell freely, warm against his skin. Her embrace was familiar in a way that made his chest ache.

He couldn't move. Couldn't think. Could only feel.

"N-Nurse!" she called out, fumbling for the button by the bed, pressing it again and again. "Nurse!"

A woman in scrubs rushed in, gasped—and then immediately turned on her heel and ran back out.

In moments, the room became a storm of motion. Doctors and nurses rushed in, machines beeped louder, and his mother refused to let go of his hand.

"You're awake," she wept. "Oh my God, you're awake."

Subaru could only stare at her, dazed. Where am I? What is happening?

A doctor, tall and thin with white hair and round spectacles, stepped in beside the bed and examined him closely.

"How much do you remember, young man?" he asked gently.

Subaru opened his mouth to respond. "...Water," he rasped.

"Yuka," the doctor called, "get some water. And prepare the scanners—we're doing a full workup."

A nurse nodded and hurried out as Subaru leaned back against the pillows, still trying to grasp what was happening.

Eight years? A coma? The words bounced around in his skull without sticking.

The tests came quickly after that. Scans, reflex checks, bloodwork. The flurry of medical attention blurred together.

Finally, the older doctor sat at his bedside again.

"You've been in a coma for eight years," he said plainly. "You suffered severe head trauma from a fall off a play structure. After you didn't regain consciousness, we monitored your brain activity—it was always active. We just didn't know how to bring you back. In the end, it seems... you came back on your own."

Subaru listened numbly. His body was weak, and his thoughts scattered. He felt like he was floating between two worlds—caught between waking and a dream that clung to him like fog.

"We'll have to monitor you closely for a while," the doctor continued. "It'll take time to rebuild muscle strength. You'll be starting physical therapy soon, and we'll watch for any neurological issues."

"Neurological issues?" Subaru echoed, voice still scratchy.

"In cases like yours, there's always risk—speech, mobility, memory—but so far, you seem... remarkably intact. We're optimistic."

Subaru nodded slowly, but the doubt in his chest only deepened.

Eight years...

Was it just a dream?

"Mom…" Subaru murmured. She knelt beside him, gently stroking his hand, never once leaving his side. Her touch was warm, grounding—like something out of a dream he'd forgotten he missed.

"Where's Dad?" he asked.

"He's on his way," she said softly. "Along with Maia."

"Maia?" Subaru blinked. The name didn't register.

His mother's expression shifted. "After a few years… we decided to try again. We thought it might help us heal." Her voice quivered slightly. "Maia is your little sister."

"I have… a little sister?" he said, eyes drifting to the ceiling in disbelief. "Eight years… how old is she?"

"Six," she replied. "She's always wanted to meet you. The real you, I mean."

Subaru turned to her, and with all the strength he could muster, gave her hand a light squeeze. "I'm sorry, Mom…"

"Don't—" she said quickly, her eyes brimming with tears. "Don't you dare apologize."

"I should've been here."

Her hand tightened around his. "Subaru, no. You're here now. That's all that matters."

He let out a quiet chuckle, voice still rough. "You know this is going to suck, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can you imagine how much homework I've missed?"

She laughed, a genuine sound of relief. "Well, I've always said you were smart. I'm sure you'll catch up just fine."

"Yeah… I suppose."

Subaru was starting to drift again when the door opened. A tall man stepped in wearing a pressed business suit, looking a little stiff in it. Behind him was a small girl hiding halfway behind his leg.

"How you doing, champ?" his dad said with a grin. It was a familiar voice—warm and slightly teasing. Just like he remembered.

Subaru raised an eyebrow. "Who bribed you to wear that thing?"

"Medical bills aren't cheap," his father sighed, loosening his tie a little. "I took a job with a corporate firm a while back. Turns out, I'm good at it."

The little girl peeked out from behind him, staring at Subaru with wide eyes. She had their mother's features—same soft eyes, same rounded cheeks—but she'd inherited their father's nose.

"Daddy…" she whispered. "Is that really Suba?"

He knelt beside her and gave her a gentle nudge on the back. "Go on, sweetheart."

Maia hesitated, then tiptoed forward until she was standing beside Subaru's bed. She looked up at him shyly, her voice quiet but clear.

"I'm Natsuki Maia!"

Subaru smiled. "I'm Natsuki Subaru. It's really good to meet you… Maia."

Her face lit up with a wide, bashful grin. "You look funny."

Subaru let out a tired laugh. "I've been asleep a long time."

Maia nodded solemnly, then reached out and touched his hand with both of hers. "I'm glad you woke up."

So was he. Even if he didn't understand how or why—right now, this moment felt real.

And maybe that was enough.

"This sucks," Subaru panted, sweat beading on his forehead.

His legs felt like jelly, every step a struggle as Nurse Fumi stood by watching him with patient eyes. It was his third week of physical therapy. He'd been discharged from the hospital, but now he was stuck coming back three times a week—to relearn how to do things most toddlers could manage without thinking.

"Learning to walk again sucks, I know," Fumi said, her tone encouraging. "But you're getting better."

"I'm seventeen," Subaru growled, gripping the parallel bars. "I shouldn't need a damn wheelchair!"

He took another shaky step. His legs wobbled. And then, predictably, he collapsed—caught just in time by Fumi before he hit the ground.

"Let's take a break," she offered gently.

"No. I want to keep going," Subaru muttered through clenched teeth.

"I was being polite," she replied, already helping him into the chair. "You're taking a break."

Subaru slumped back with a sigh, pouting. "This is going too slow."

"You're already ahead of schedule," Fumi said, not unkindly. "Rush this, and you'll end up hurting yourself. These things take time. Now come on—arm work next. Give your legs a rest."

Later, when his mother wheeled him up the ramp into their home, Subaru barely had time to breathe before Maia came charging down the hall. She leaped into his lap with all the force of a cannonball.

"Gah—Maia!" Subaru winced under the impact.

"Maia, be gentle!" their mother scolded.

"But I finally have a big brother who talks!" Maia whined. "Besides, Big Brother can take it, right?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Subaru grumbled.

"You gonna play with me now?" Maia asked hopefully. "I finally have someone to play Mario Kart with! Akio's on vacation in Hawaii with her family, and Mom won't race me anymore!"

"He's got schoolwork, Maia," their mother reminded her.

"But it's summer break!"

"Well, I did miss eight years of school," Subaru pointed out with a crooked smile. "Tell you what—once I finish today's assignments, I'll play a few rounds. I used to be really good."

That seemed to satisfy her. She slid off his lap and scampered off to beg their mom to take her to the park instead. Subaru promised he'd be fine, and besides, he had her number if anything came up.

Alone in the quiet, he got to work.

It was strange how some things came back so easily. His math was a bit rusty but manageable. Language arts, though… that was where the real catch-up work lay.

I did a lot of math back in…

He paused.

Right. That wasn't real.

Or was it?

The doctors had warned him about this.

"It's normal to struggle to separate reality from dreams after a coma, especially one that lasted as long as yours," one of them had told him. "The brain adapts in unusual ways. If the memories start interfering with your daily life, or you feel anxiety, confusion, or depression—talk to someone."

They'd offered him a therapist. So far, he'd declined.

It's fine. I can handle it.

Still, the memories lingered. Vivid. Detailed. Like an entire second life.

But now wasn't the time to dwell. He had coursework to finish. If he wanted to avoid ending up in a classroom full of kids Maia's age… he had to get his act together.

And besides—he'd promised her a rematch.

"All right, class, settle down," Mr. Ito said as he walked into the room.

Subaru sat in the back row, his chin resting on his hand as he lazily gazed out the window. It had been half a year since he'd woken from the coma. In that time, his world had slowly stitched itself back together. He could walk on his own again—no more wheelchair, no more walker. That phase had been humbling. He'd felt like a grandpa at seventeen.

Luckily, his mom had made it her personal mission to fatten him up again. And Maia? She bugged him constantly, asking him to play or take her out on bike rides. He didn't mind. It was nice, really. Quiet. Familiar.

He didn't have many friends these days. His family had moved to Tokyo after his dad got a new job, and all his old childhood acquaintances had scattered. The story of his coma—how he'd been out for eight years and then just… woke up—had made the rounds. A few old family friends had sent letters. Some childhood buddies had reached out briefly. But that was about it. People moved on.

Now he was in a specialized class—half catch-up course, half academic pressure cooker. It was designed for students like him: people who needed to cover years of material in a fraction of the time. It was grueling. Every two months felt like an entire school year. Still, he was holding his own.

"So, Suba," came a voice from beside him, "you doing anything after class?"

He turned to see Echidna—white-haired, sharp-eyed, and effortlessly captivating. She sat next to him most days, though he still wasn't sure why. Every guy in the class was half in love with her, but she always gravitated toward him. Maybe it had started back when he was still walker-bound and she'd felt bad for him.

From what he'd picked up, Echidna came from money. Her parents were wealthy but distant, and for a few years, she'd vanished from school. When she finally returned, she threw herself into her studies and was something of a genius. Subaru had never seen her miss a single point on anything.

"No plans," he said, shrugging. "Maia'll probably want me to take her out on the bike again. She's been obsessed with the park lately."

Echidna grinned. "That's cute. She's always looking out for her big brother."

Subaru glanced away, slightly embarrassed. He was used to teasing, but not like this—not so casual, so natural.

"Maybe we should hang out," she added.

Subaru blinked.

Was she… asking him to hang out? Like… hang out, hang out?

No way, he thought, feeling heat rise to his ears. She's not asking me out. Don't be an idiot. She's the popular rich girl. Get a grip.

"I mean… if you want to," Subaru said, trying his best to sound cool and laid-back. "I guess that's fine."

"Great," Echidna smirked. "How about I join you and little Miss Maia for that bike ride? I've been cooped up inside the last few days, and all my friends are off shopping."

"Shopping? Why don't you just go with them?" Subaru asked, genuinely confused.

"In Paris," she added casually.

Subaru blinked.

Right… he thought. I don't know what level of rich you have to be where flying halfway around the world just to shop is a normal thing… but apparently, it's a level that exists.

"Uh, sure," he said. "After class, then."

"Subaru, care to join us?" Mr. Ito's voice cut through the conversation like a cold splash of water. "Since you seem confident enough to chat during the lesson, perhaps you can tell us the length of side C?"

Subaru's brain scrambled. A is 68, B is 28 so… crap, what's the square root of—

"73.539105243401, sir," Echidna said lazily, not even looking up from her notes.

There was a brief pause before Mr. Ito sighed. "Thank you, Echidna. Perhaps next time you could let the student I called on answer the question?"

"Yes, sir," she said sweetly, shooting Subaru a sly grin.

"You're like a supercomputer. Why the hell are you in this class again?" Subaru muttered to Echidna.

"It's required," she said with a shrug, "and my parents wanted me to. You know how it is—mandatory excellence."

"Right…" Subaru shook his head, still baffled.

When class finally wrapped up, Subaru made his way home. Waiting outside was Maia, already bouncing with excitement, her pink helmet slightly crooked and her purple bike plastered with glittery stickers.

"Suba! Can we go to the park? Aiko and Mimi are gonna meet me at the swings!" she chirped.

There was a slight chill in the air, a crisp breeze hinting at winter. It was December, but unseasonably warm—almost unsettling, like the weather couldn't make up its mind.

"Yeah, just hold on," Subaru said, grabbing his helmet and strapping it on. He pulled out his red racing bike, the one his mom had made him swear to always wear a helmet for. He knew why—one bad fall had cost them eight years. He wasn't sure that fear would ever really leave her… or him.

I can't imagine putting them through that again.

As he wheeled his bike over, he looked down at Maia. "Listen—someone from my class is meeting us at the park, so don't say anything… embarrassing."

"OHHHHHH! Suba's bringing a girl!" Maia gasped dramatically, her eyes wide with glee. "Is she your girlfriend?! Mom would be so proud!"

"See? That's exactly what I mean," Subaru sighed. "And no, we're just friends."

Maia grinned like she didn't believe a word of it.

Riding alongside Maia, Subaru's jacket flapped in the cold breeze as they sped down the quiet streets toward the park. The rhythm of the pedals was steady, but his legs were already burning. Recovery still had a long way to go, but he was far better off than he'd been a few months ago.

As they neared the bike path, he spotted Echidna waiting, leaning casually on her sleek black cruiser. It had a little basket and silver handlebars, like something out of an old movie. She smiled and waved when she saw them.

Maia immediately gave him a look. A sly smile. Subaru groaned.

"You must be Maia," Echidna said with a warm grin. "Subaru told me all about you."

"Subaru told me nothing about you," Maia replied sweetly, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're really pretty."

"That's enough," Subaru muttered, flustered. "Let's get to the park—your friends are waiting."

Chuckling, the three of them rode off again. The crisp air nipped at Subaru's cheeks as he pushed himself to keep up. He hated how easily he tired out now. Still, it beat needing a walker.

When they arrived, Maia's two friends were already by the swings, bundled up in coats and scarves. Subaru was relieved to see Aiko's mom sitting on the park bench nearby, nose in a book. If his mom found out he'd left Maia unsupervised, he'd never hear the end of it.

"Ready?" Echidna asked, already nudging her bike toward a side path.

"Yeah… I guess," Subaru said, catching his breath as Maia ran off to join her friends. She gave him a knowing wink and a giggle.

Nothing but trouble with that one.

He followed Echidna as they veered away from the main path, riding further until they reached the far side of a small man-made pond. It was quiet here, the air still and the trees bare. A single cherry blossom tree stood by the water's edge, its branches skeletal but elegant.

They parked their bikes behind a bush, and Subaru followed her to the tree. She sat down beneath it, her gaze fixed on the water. The scene was peaceful… maybe even romantic.

Nope. Stop that. We're just friends.

Subaru sat beside her, unsure of what to say. The silence was comfortable but heavy.

"I heard you had some vivid dreams while you were in the coma," Echidna said softly, eyes still on the pond.

"I… yeah," he said after a pause, picking up a small stick and tossing it into the water. "You could say that."

"Mind if I pry?" Echidna asked, her lips curling into a curious smirk.

"My doctor says it's better if I don't dwell on it too much," Subaru muttered, picking at the grass beside him.

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "But do you?"

Subaru stared at the water, watching as ripples spread outward from where the stick had landed. "I don't know… I guess I do."

In truth, he thought about it constantly. How could he not? He'd lived an entire lifetime inside his head, and now reality felt almost foreign. He missed those people—missed the closeness, the struggles, the feeling of purpose. Yet, what started as a pleasant dream had eventually twisted into a relentless nightmare.

"What was it like?" Echidna pressed gently, leaning closer. "I'm curious. You always hear stories about lucid dreaming, people creating entire worlds inside their minds… but I've never actually met someone who's experienced it."

Subaru let out a soft sigh. "It felt… real. Completely real. I had a whole life there. Friends, a job—well, a smithing apprenticeship, anyway. There was this clown guy who I despised more than anything, magic existed, and…" He hesitated, his voice becoming quiet, distant. "I died several times."

"You know you can only really die once," Echidna teased lightly, nudging his shoulder.

"I know," Subaru said, forcing a weak smile, though his voice carried a bitter edge. "It just felt so real. Every single time."

Echidna studied him closely. "What else?"

Subaru shook his head, a sense of unease creeping into his voice. "Sometimes I feel like I'm losing it. I keep wondering if any of this is even real, or if I'm still stuck in some twisted dream." His voice softened to a whisper. "How would I even know the difference?"

Echidna's expression grew gentle and thoughtful. "You wouldn't, I suppose. And honestly, something like that would throw anyone off balance."

"So, tell me about you…" Subaru said, trying to change the subject, hoping it would ground him back into reality.

"Me? Well, my dad's the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. My mom, she…"

Subaru heard her voice trail off, losing focus on her words. His gaze drifted across the pond's surface, memories swimming in his vision. Felt, her mischievous grin flashing across his mind; Rom, his gruff kindness so vivid it ached; Emilia's gentle sincerity; Rem's steadfast loyalty; Ram's fierce pride—everyone felt so real, yet impossibly distant.

An unsettling emptiness churned inside him, something sharp and uncomfortable. He knew this world was real—had to be real. He was awake, his family was here, no death, no witch cult, no Roswaal. Life was straightforward now, filled with textbooks and homework, parental expectations, and Maia's endless energy. This was simplicity itself compared to the nightmares he'd endured.

But why did it all feel so terribly wrong?

"Subaru, are you even listening?" Echidna nudged him, pulling him back from the haze.

"Uh, yeah, of course," Subaru stammered, quickly grasping at the fragments he'd overheard. "You were saying something about spending winter break in Italy last year, right?"

"That was five minutes ago," Echidna sighed, rolling her eyes slightly. She glanced up at the sky as twilight painted it shades of purple and orange. "It's getting late. Maia will wonder what happened to you."

"Right," Subaru said, rising to his feet and offering a hand to Echidna. "Sorry, I guess I'm still a bit scatterbrained."

She took his hand, her touch gentle and warm, grounding him momentarily. Together, they biked back to the playground, where Maia was reluctantly waiting, arms crossed and impatient.

"It took you forever," Maia pouted, tugging on Subaru's sleeve. "I'm starving!"

"Sorry, kiddo," Subaru said quietly, glancing one last time at Echidna, who smiled softly in understanding.

As they started toward home, something caught Subaru's eye—a flash of blonde hair beneath the flickering streetlight by the swings. His heart skipped painfully, recognition jolting through him. He blinked hard, his pulse quickening.

But when he looked again, no one was there.

It's just your mind playing tricks. It's nothing, he told himself forcefully, trying to shake the lingering unease.

"Hurry up, Suba!" Maia's voice broke through again, pulling him forward.

At dinner, Subaru tried to engage, to laugh at his father's jokes, to tease Maia about avoiding her peas, to savor his mother's cooking. Yet he felt distant, disconnected, floating somewhere above the room. The warmth and laughter felt strangely hollow.

When his mother kissed him goodnight, the tenderness of her touch almost made him ache. "Goodnight, Subaru. Sleep well."

As his father prepared to leave, he paused by Subaru's doorway, smiling gently. "How about joining me on my morning stroll tomorrow, now that you're back on your feet?"

"Sure thing, Dad," Subaru replied, forcing a convincing smile. "I'll be up bright and early."

When the door closed softly behind his father, Subaru sank onto his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling an ache deep inside—a longing for something he knew shouldn't be real, yet couldn't bring himself to forget.

Falling asleep, Subaru found himself sitting across from another version of himself, dressed in fine clothes stained crimson with blood.

"You can't forget any of it, you know," his other self whispered harshly. "This is the false world. Why are we playing house? You and I both know we can't leave them alone—to suffer."

"What about us?" Subaru retorted bitterly. "Why do we have to suffer? Why can't we have peace? Why can't we just stay home, with our family?"

"Our family?!" his other self roared. "Rom is lost! Felt will be left behind with Roswaal, and we're trapped!"

"None of that is real!" Subaru shouted back, fists clenched. "It was a nightmare—a horrible nightmare! None of it should matter!"

"How many times did we die?!" the bloodied Subaru demanded, voice breaking. "Ninety-two! Ninety-two dragon-forsaken times! Do you think that's something you can just forget?"

"It was just a nightmare!" Subaru argued, desperate now. "We're awake, finally awake, with Mom, Dad, Maia—with—"

"With her?" his other self leaned back, eyes hollow. "Wake up… we need to wake up."

"What if I don't want to?" Subaru whispered, tears threatening to spill. "What if I just want to stay?"

"Wake up…"

"Suba, wake up!"

Subaru jolted awake, his heart pounding as Maia shook him gently. "I went to get some water, and I heard you talking in your sleep," she said, voice trembling.

Subaru glanced around the familiar room, trying to ground himself. "I'm… I'm alright."

"Suba, are you sure you're okay?" Maia's eyes were wide with worry. "You kept saying… something about it not being real."

"I'm fine," Subaru reassured softly, forcing a smile. "Come on, let's get you that water."

He guided Maia to the kitchen, filled a glass with tap water, and walked her gently back to her room. As he tucked her in, she clung to his sleeve, eyes pleading.

"Suba… you won't go back to being like before, right? I like having a big brother…"

His chest tightened painfully, and he knelt to meet her gaze, voice gentle. "No… I promise I won't. Now sleep."

He closed Maia's door softly, checked briefly on his sleeping parents, and then returned to his room. Unable to shake the persistent ache in his chest, he grabbed his winter jacket, slipped into his shoes, and quietly wheeled his bike outside.

Riding to the park in the chill of night, he approached the playground, heart thumping harder with each step closer to the playset. He shivered involuntarily, climbing the familiar steps toward the slide—the same slide where it all began.

"I was wondering when you'd come," he murmured to the empty air.

"I think that was supposed to be my line."

Subaru turned sharply, finding Echidna standing beneath the flickering streetlamp. Snow began to gently fall around her, illuminating her silver-white hair in the soft amber glow.

"I wanted… all of this to be real," Subaru admitted, his voice breaking.

"You never truly accepted it," Echidna said quietly, her expression unreadable yet gentle. "I wondered if you'd ever come here."

"I always think about them," Subaru whispered, eyes glistening. "My parents. Imagine losing your child, just vanishing. It wasn't their fault—it wasn't fair…" His voice faded, tears slipping freely down his face. "How could I ever leave them again?"

"I can imagine it must be agony," Echidna said softly. "You could stay here forever, if you turned back now."

"This is your trial, right? You'd just fail me anyway," Subaru responded bitterly.

"To fail you would imply you're not worth my effort," Echidna said coolly. "But if you wish to hide away in this dream world, who am I to deny you?"

Subaru stared at the slide, his heart twisting painfully. "What was the test, Echidna? To see if I dared face reality? To let go of my longing for how things used to be—for a world that can never truly exist?"

"Your interpretation is as valid as any," Echidna replied calmly.

Subaru laughed bitterly, tears welling up as he gazed down the slide. One step would take him back to reality, and away from this beautiful illusion forever.

"Was she real?" he asked quietly.

"Who?"

"Maia…"

"This world is a fabrication," Echidna's voice was gentle yet merciless. "You know it's not real. Maia represents the hope you carry, the belief that your parents might have moved forward and filled the void you left behind. But you know she isn't real. None of this is."

Tears streamed freely down Subaru's face. He'd always known deep down—every beautiful moment had felt wrong somehow.

"You're cruel…" he whispered, fists trembling. "Putting something so wonderful in front of me, knowing I could never keep it."

"It wouldn't be much of a trial if it were easy. It is the hardest of three, for you," Echidna said gently. "Now, you must choose."

Subaru stared at the slide, heart pounding painfully.

"Subaru!" Voices called to him from behind. Turning, he saw his mother, father, and Maia desperately searching, illuminated by the soft glow of a flashlight.

"Subaru, where are you?!" his mother cried, her voice strained with worry.

"Suba!" Maia called, eyes wide and frightened.

You're cruel, Echidna…

"I love you all," he whispered, his voice breaking. With a final, determined step, Subaru slid down the slide.

A/N: Another two in the books. Enjoy the double chapter, even if the last one was short. See you 3/30/25!