Deep in Augria Sand Dunes
The miasma thickened, an impenetrable shroud blanketing the entire area, engulfing both Reinhard and Gluttony.
Reinhard felt a wave of nausea, a profound sense of disgust. The miasma, thick and cloying, made his head spin.
"Ah, beautiful! The aroma!" Gluttony exclaimed, his voice trembling with ecstasy. "This has to be heaven!" Tears streamed down his face.
He began scratching at his own face, tearing at his skin until it bled. "WHAT A FEAST! WHAT A FEAST! WHAT A FEAST!" he chanted, his voice rising in a frenzy.
His tears turned to blood, his eyes dilated, pupils like pinpricks.
Time stopped.
Reinhard found himself paralyzed, unable to move, yet his senses remained sharp. He saw multiple shadowy hands restrain Gluttony, who was lost in a paroxysm of pleasure. He vomited as the shadows slowly consumed him, a thick, dark void forming between him and Reinhard.
Reinhard broke free from the paralysis, rushing towards the shadowy figure. But the dense miasma slowed him, making him feel as if he were running underwater.
As he drew closer, the feeling of disgust intensified. Finally, he was within reach. He unsheathed his Dragon Sword, the blade finally deeming the shadowy being worthy. But he paused, a question forming on his lips.
"Who are you?" he asked. "Are you also a part of the Witch Cult?"
The figure turned towards Reinhard, its gaze sweeping over him from head to toe, offering no reply.
"YOU ALL KILLED HIM!"
"I..."
"I LOVED HIM!"
I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM I LOVED HIM
Gluttony was gone, vanished as if he had never existed.
Time was forced to move again.
Reinhard felt a surge of panic, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the miasma. He knew, deep within, that this was something far beyond anything he had encountered while fighting the Witch Cult.
Slash!
With his body heavy and stiff, Reinhard managed to swing his sword at lightning speed. The miasma around him dissipated, clearing the air.
He gripped his sword tighter, pointing it towards the shadowy figure. The Dragon Sword gleamed under the desert sun, and Reinhard felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. He never imagined he would encounter an opponent worthy of the Dragon Sword's full potential.
The shadow cried, a mournful, echoing sound. It continued to cry as it slowly began to fade. Reinhard rushed towards it, but it spoke words that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
"Natsuki Subaru, my beloved."
A day before, In the capital
A day before, in the capital...
Pride woke up. He had slept on the floor again, finding the soft bed too unfamiliar. He walked down to the dining room, where he saw Plum helping Raksha.
"Oh, you're awake. Sorry if we were too noisy," Raksha apologized.
"It's no problem," Pride replied. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked..
"Big brother, would you go out with me for a stroll around the market?" Plum asked, her eyes sparkling. "Mama and Papa don't allow me to go alone, but maybe if you were with me, Papa would be less worried," she added, her smile widening.
"Waaah!"
Suddenly, Plum was snatched from behind, lifted like a kitten, and hugged tightly. "So, what's my beloved daughter been plotting behind my back?" Kadomon asked, ruffling her hair.
"Stop it, Papa! I'm not a kid anymore," she pouted.
Pride and Raksha chuckled at the playful interaction.
"You see, I just wanted to visit the market and meet my friends, but you both seemed so worried," Plum explained. "I thought maybe if Big Brother was with me, you'd let me go."
"Big Brother, please, please, won't you go play with me and my friends?" she begged, her pout deepening.
Pride felt a wave of unease. He couldn't think of a plausible excuse to avoid going out in public. He was afraid of raising suspicion and alienating the only people who had helped him.
Kadomon noticed Pride's discomfort. "Plum, your Big Brother is injured. He needs some rest," he said gently. "Wouldn't you be kind enough to let him rest and get healthy, so he can play with you all he wants?"
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
4 Hours before the knocks
Felix had been on the move since news of Pride's escape had reached him. He was furious, convinced that Pride would inevitably reveal his true nature. This escape confirmed his suspicions.
Felix followed the trail of blood left by Pride, but it abruptly ended in an alleyway. "This isn't the end, nya," he muttered. "There has to be another way."
As he spoke, his nose caught a subtle scent.
A faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
Felix meticulously searched the alleyway, finally picking up a distinct trail of the smell. A smug grin spread across his face, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
He, along with Julius and other knights, followed the trail.
"Felix-sama, are you sure he's nearby?" Julius asked, actively scanning the surrounding area for potential ambushes.
"There is no doubt, nya. With the smell of blood, I can easily pinpoint the direction he headed," Felix replied.
"But how can you be so certain?" a knight inquired. "It could be some thugs roughing each other up."
Tchk*
Felix clicked his tongue. "This is no ordinary blood, nya! This blood has a faint smell of miasma, and it's fused with my mana."
The time of the knocks
Following Felix's lead, the knights and Julius arrived at a house, secluded from the rest of the capital.
Felix signaled the knights to take cover, their swords pointed towards the door. Julius hid beside the door for cover as Felix knocked.
No one answered.
They waited.
Still, no one answered.
Felix knocked again.
"We are the Royal Guard. We are searching for a Witch Cultist who escaped," one of the knights announced.
Felix, knowing the Archbishops' dangerous nature, assumed the house's occupants had already been killed by Pride.
With no response, a frustrated knight, in the heat of the moment, broke down the front door. He was immediately tackled back out.
"Didn't your parents teach you not to enter someone's house without permission?" Kadomon yelled at the guards.
"Please excuse us," Julius interjected, attempting to diffuse the situation. "This is Felix Argyle, the greatest healer of our kingdom, and I am Julius Juukulius, one of the Royal Knights."
Kadomon seized the tackled knight by his uniform collar, his voice booming with fury. "So, what gives you the permission to break into my house?!"
"We mean no harm," Julius interjected, attempting to defuse the situation. "We came here looking for a criminal who escaped from the prison. We came under suspicion that he might be hiding here."
"The only criminals I see are you all, forcing yourselves inside someone else's house!" Kadomon retorted, his anger palpable.
As Felix peered past Kadomon, he noticed Raksha and Plum standing behind him, their faces etched with fear.
"Let's leave, Julius!" Felix declared, his voice surprisingly subdued. He felt a pang of jealousy at the sight of the close-knit family, a warmth he had never known. But he quickly chastised himself, reminding himself that his emotions were no justification for harming innocent civilians. He forced a smile and instructed the knights to leave, suggesting they search houses near the capital's entry gates.
Julius, sensing the shift in Felix's demeanor, quickly followed suit. "I understand. We will be taking our leave then," he said, ordering the knights to move on.
However, Julius still harbored doubts about Kadomon. Something felt amiss, a nagging suspicion that he couldn't shake. He decided, without consulting Felix, to have one of his knights keep a discreet watch on the house.
Kadomon secured the damaged door with wooden planks, intending to repair it later. "They're gone. You can come out now," he said, signaling Pride to emerge from his hiding place.
Pride, fidgeting nervously, hesitated to speak. He knew that any admission would lead to his immediate recapture. "You don't need to worry," he finally said, breaking the silence. "If I stay here, it will only cause problems for you."
Kadomon looked at him with concern, torn between his desire to help and his responsibility to protect his family.
"Is Big Brother already leaving?" Plum asked, looking up at her father with wide, disappointed eyes.
Pride crouched down to pat the little girl's head. "I'm sorry, P-chan," he said, his voice soft. "I wanted to play more with you and tell you lots and lots of stories, but I have lots and lots of business to handle. So, please be a good girl and make sure to...help your mom out as much as you can, okay?" Pride spoke to Plum with a warm smile.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt if you stayed till dinner, would it?" Raksha added to their conversation. "After all, I already cooked for four, and it's very bad manners to waste food."
Pride looked at both Plum and Raksha, then turned to Kadomon, who gave an agreeing nod.
After dinner, Plum insisted that Pride join her in stargazing. She was sad that this was her last day with him and would miss his wonderful stories. She had learned so much about the stars and constellations from him, whom she looked up to as a big brother.
Pride initially declined, but Plum's irresistible puppy-dog eyes swayed him. "What an amazing technique," Pride thought, smiling.
They settled in the open garden behind the house, beneath a sprawling tree. Plum pointed excitedly at the night sky.
"Big bro, look!" she exclaimed. "The sky is so beautiful! So many stars at once! It's the first time I've seen anything like this."
Pride's heart melted. He knew he had to leave to protect her precious smile.
Sitting beside her, he pointed to the sky. "Look!" he said. "You see those stars? Those are called 'Subaru.'"
"Su...bawu...ru?" Plum asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"No, no, it's SU-BA-RU," Pride corrected. "It's part of a group of stars called the Seven Sisters. But I like to call it the Pleiades."
"But why such a weird name?" Plum asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Well, in my hometown, in our native language, the word 'Subaru' means 'Unite,'" Pride explained.
"It means to come together as one team and achieve a goal that's hard for a single person to accomplish. Just like your mom cooks amazing dinners, and your dad brings in toys for you, while you, with your beautiful smile, cheer them up."
"Together, all three of you come together as a beautiful family," Pride concluded, smiling warmly.
Plum blushed, pouting slightly. "You're treating me like a child again!"
"Did I say anything wrong?" Pride asked, feigning innocence.
"No, you didn't, but I already know my Mama and Papa are the best in the world," she declared.
BAM*
"Huh! My head feels heavy," Pride murmured, blinking.
"Leave me, let me go," a voice whimpered.
"Big bro..."
"Big bro!"
Pride heard Plum's cries for help, forcing his eyes open. His eyes widened at the scene before him.
"Oh, so you decided to wake up finally," a voice sneered. "I was getting bored of this little brat."
"Let me go... you pervert!" Plum cried, kicking at the attacker.
TCKH!*
The attacker struck the little girl with the flat of his sword.
Pride's blood boiled. He recognized the attacker: the same knight Kadomon had tackled earlier.
"I knew that commoner was hiding something," the knight declared. "Disrespecting a noble like us is a crime punishable by death!"
Pride, ignoring the searing pain in his injured body, limped towards them. He only wanted to protect the child.
"INVISIBLE PROVIDENCE!" Pride screamed, and a shadowy fist punched the knight, sending him flying. Pride then scooped up Plum, pulling her to safety.
"Urgh, I feel sick," Pride groaned, his knees buckling under the strain of using his sloth authority.
"Careful, everyone! He's still an Archbishop, no matter how weak he looks!" the knight yelled to his companions, who were hiding in the bushes.
"Huh, an Archbishop, you say?" one of the companions scoffed. "He looks nothing more than a wounded animal to me."
As the knights closed in on Pride, Plum bravely stepped forward. "Stay away from Big Bro, you perverts!" she yelled.
The knights simply pushed her aside, holding her back as they restrained Pride, tying him down.
"Leave the girl alone..." Pride growled, his eyes burning with rage.
The knights flinched, then delivered a series of brutal punches to Pride's face, testing the murderous aura they had sensed. Pride lost consciousness.
"What about the little girl?" one of the knights asked. "What should we do with her?"
"Let her be," the lead knight replied, a cruel smirk on his face. "She made it easier for us by leading this wounded dog out of his hiding place." They mocked Plum as they left, dragging Pride with them.
At the cabinet of the Council of Wise men
"Sirs, we have a report on Pride," a Royal Knight announced.
"IS HE FOUND AND APPREHENDED YET?" Miklotov demanded, his voice sharp.
The cabinet had been anxiously awaiting this news, and the confirmation of Pride's capture brought a sense of relief.
"Make sure security is at its highest level while you bring him back," Miklotov ordered.
"Don't worry, nya. I will personally take care of him," Felix said, his murderous intent clear.
"No!" Miklotov declared. "It has been decided. We, the cabinet, have voted for the Sin Archbishop of Pride, Natsuki Subaru, to be executed before sunrise tomorrow."
"This is not an efficient way to handle this!" Felix protested. "He still has information to give us. All he does is spout nonsense. Just give me another chance to extract every drop of information from him, nya!"
"Felix Argyle!" Miklotov said, his voice calm but stern. "Do you not agree with the decision of the council?"
"No... I do not. As a Royal Knight, my loyalty to the kingdom comes first," Felix replied, stepping back as he noticed the guards in the cabinet drawing their swords. The patriots were ready to strike down anyone who dared to disrespect their kingdom.
Felix walked out, his head hung low.
"Julius!"
Felix knew the council's intentions. He turned to face them, but the guards blocked his path.
"Knight Felix Argyle must leave the courtroom at once," a guard repeated, his voice now sharper.
Julius entered the courtroom, standing before the council.
Miklotov broke the silence. "Julius, you are one of the finest knights of our kingdom. I am hereby assigning you as the executioner for the Sin Archbishop of Pride."
"I will obey. I am honored to have this role bestowed upon me, Miklotov-sama," Julius replied, his tone devoid of emotion, almost as if he were reciting rehearsed lines.
At Prides prison cell.
The execution method was to be "hanged to death." A temporary gallows was erected inside Pride's cell to avoid any public disturbances from protesters.
Pride was emotionally dead, a shell of his former self. He knew this fate was nothing new, a familiar loop, but the thought of his memories with Plum being erased from her mind devastated him. He was numb, incapable of expressing the pain he felt.
His eyes were hollow, devoid of life.
Julius, clad in his pristine white uniform, entered the cell and looked down at Pride.
"Hold him up," Julius instructed the knights.
"Sin Archbishop of Pride, for your crimes committed against the kingdom, the killings of innocent civilians, and the attempted murder of royal candidates, the council has ruled for your execution."
"Any last words for Od, before we put an end to this?" Julius asked.
Pride looked at Julius and smiled, a faint, almost ghostly expression.
"Yes, I do"
(Note: Play "Stay Alive" By Takahashi Rie)
" A dream, I saw a dream. A dream that wouldn't fade, a dream that kept repeating, a dream with no end, a dream that wouldn't end. Over and over again, many many times over, repeating mistakes over and over, correcting them more and more."
"Agony, terror, turbidity, ruin, hatred, madness."
"Exhausted, shaken, twisted, corrupted, contorted, decayed, anguished; a heart smashed to pieces."
"And yet, there was still a place I wanted to reach. And yet, there was still a wish I wanted to protect. Even if no one knew about the endless tragedies that repeated over and over, I will not forget. Even if no one notices, only I am unable to forget.
Even if the people I want to save wept, I still want to save them."
Pride spoke, a flicker of something akin to triumph in his eyes. Memories of all his loops, from the day he arrived in this world, flashed through his mind.
Julius, ignoring him, ordered the knights to place him on the gallows.
Julius pulled the hood over Pride's face, taking one last look. He was shocked to see Pride smiling, a look of quiet satisfaction on his face.
The noose was secured.
"Now!" Julius commanded. Pride's body dropped, dangling from the gallows. He clawed at the rope around his neck, desperate for air, his body convulsing like a fish out of water.
Darkness.
That was all Pride could see. In the cold, swirling darkness, he sat, knees drawn to his chest.
"OI!"
"Hello?"
A boy's voice, eccentric and enthusiastic, called out to him.
Pride looked up. The boy had raven-colored hair and wore the same trademark tracksuit his mother had bought him.
"Who are you?" Pride asked.
"I am Natsuki Subaru, and I am here to save you," he replied.
"Subaru, Subaru-sama, Natsuki-san, Barusu, Subaru-kun..."
Pride looked beyond the boy, into the distance. He saw them again.
"Emilia, Frederica, Otto, Ram, Rem," he whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Everyone is waiting for you," the raven-haired boy said. "Let's go."
Pride took his hand, and they ran towards the group. They embraced him, the scene a beautiful garden filled with flowers.
Pride waited for his dream to end, for the shadowy hands to engulf him, restarting another loop. But they never came. He waited...
And waited...
And kept on waiting...
Pride's body hung still. The execution of Natsuki Subaru was complete.
In the ethereal garden, Pride lay with a serene smile, his pale hand gently ruffling the hair of a boy who rested his head in her lap.
Her silver hair danced in the gentle breeze, contrasting sharply with the black dress that accentuated her porcelain skin. The veil, though meant to conceal, could not hide the tears tracing paths down her cheeks.
"I am sorry, my beloved," she whispered, her voice a soft lament.
Farther away from the Pleiades Watchtower.
The Emilia camp, fleeing the unseen threat, sought refuge nearby to regroup and devise a new plan.
"Beako?"
"Beatrice-sama?"
Emilia and Ram spoke in unison as Beatrice collapsed to her knees. A sound, like a rope snapping, echoed within her mind.
Emilia helped Beatrice up, gazing into her face. To her horror, Beatrice's eyes were utterly lifeless, devoid of the usual spark. It was an expression Emilia had never seen on the spirit.
"Wait?" Emilia murmured, a sense of confusion washing over her. "What was the contract even about?"
She felt a void, a missing piece. She knew she was forgetting someone, someone important. Someone she always looked up to, someone who told silly stories, someone... someone...
But who was this "someone?" she wondered, a growing unease in her heart.
As the memories began to coalesce for everyone, a scene unfolded at the Pleiades Watchtower.
A girl with a long, braided ponytail stood atop the tower, gazing into the vast desert. Her cape, a familiar black and orange, mirrored the trademark tracksuit of a raven-haired boy.
She looked up at the sky, a frown creasing her brow. "Master," she whispered, her voice filled with a wistful longing.
The sun, filtering through scattered clouds, bathed the scene in a soft, diffused light. A cool breeze stirred the air. A raven-haired boy lay nestled in the lap of a girl with pale skin, her long silver hair dancing in the wind. Though a black veil obscured her eyes, she gazed intently at the boy's face.
Gently, she ruffled his hair, her features softening with each passing moment. She began to pat his head, a soothing, rhythmic motion. Then, softly, she began to sing.
(Note play "Wishing" By Inori Minase)
"When the morning comes, our eyes meet, I want to tell you about the trivial little things"
"On this clear, cloudless afternoon, we softly link hands, And walk down the quiet streets"
"All I need is my imagination, so precious to me
I want to spend together forever with you
The way it has always been"
"Because in the morning and the night too
There's so much I want to tell you
Today, and tomorrow too
If only I could say "I love you""
A delicate blush warmed the girl's pale cheeks. A butterfly, its wings a kaleidoscope of colors, fluttered down and settled on the raven-haired boy's face as he slept peacefully in her lap. She gave a soft, gentle chuckle.
The boy's eyes twitched as a ray of sunlight fell directly upon them. He slowly opened his eyes, a groan escaping his lips.
"Argh," he muttered. "It feels like I had a very bad nightmare."
He blinked, his vision still blurry. He looked up at the girl, but the sun's glare partially obscured his sight. He could only make out a pair of beautiful amethyst eyes peering at him from behind her veil.
"Subaru," she called softly.
He continued to blink, trying to adjust as the sunlight grew stronger. He closed his eyes again, the brightness overwhelming him.
"I LOVE YOU," she confessed, her voice filled with a tender emotion.
beep*
beep* *beep*
beep*beep*beep*
The shrill ring of his phone's alarm cut through the morning stillness.
"Mhmmmmm," he groaned, burrowing deeper into his bed.
"Subaru~," a soft, gentle voice called out to him.
"Urgh, just five more minutes, please," he mumbled, half-asleep, clutching his blanket and tucking his head under it to block out the noise.
The voice ceased, and a sudden, unsettling silence filled the room.
Subaru, now partially awake, sensed the change.
beep*
beep* *beep*
beep*beep*beep*
His phone's alarm started ringing again, its persistent tone piercing the quiet.
He stretched an arm out from under the warm blanket, blindly swinging it near his bedside table, searching for the offending device. After a moment of fumbling, he grabbed his phone and silenced the alarm. With a sigh of contentment, he retreated back into the comforting depths of sleep.
Snore*
He was fast asleep again.
Five mins passed
Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
loud footsteps echoed as someone rushed upstairs towards his room.
The door to his room was flung open, and a tall, muscular man leaped onto his bed, latching onto him in a tight forearm grip.
"GOOD MORNING, MY SON!" he shouted, causing Subaru to immediately pat his arm in a gesture of surrender, like a wrestler giving up in the ring.
"Can you not wake me up like a normal father would?" Subaru yelled, his voice still thick with sleep.
"This is a Natsuki family tradition!" the man replied, his black hair styled similarly to Subaru's, his black eyes shining through his glasses.
"You two are energetic as always," a soft voice said from the doorway. "But Mom would like to eat first, so can we have breakfast now?" A middle-aged woman with brown hair and brown eyes stood there, a gentle smile on her face.
"Sure, Mom," Subaru replied.
As they made their way downstairs, Subaru went to freshen up for the day.
"Honey, you look even more beautiful today," Subaru's father complimented his wife.
"Awww, dear," she replied, her smile widening. "But still, you need to finish your green peas."
Subaru entered the dining room, dressed in his school uniform, ready to leave.
His parents looked at him, surprised. "Subaru?" his mother said, placing a hand on his forehead. "Are you feeling alright?"
"AHH!" His father pinched him hard. "This isn't a dream!" he declared.
"WHY DID YOU PINCH ME! GO PINCH YOURSELF TO CONFIRM!" Subaru yelled.
His parents laughed brightly. "We're proud of you, son," they said in unison.
The family sat down to breakfast. His father slyly slid the plate of green peas towards Subaru. "You need more energy for the day. Have this," he said.
Subaru eyed the plate, a miniature forest of green. He pushed it back to his father. "I feel healthy enough for the day. You're getting old; maybe you need it more than me," he retorted, mocking his father.
The battle for the Great Forest of Peas raged for two more minutes until Subaru emerged victorious.
"Dear, can I get some mayonnaise?" his father pleaded to his wife.
"No," she replied. "Today's mayo quota is reserved for Subaru. I'm happy he decided to go back to school."
"Get back to school? Was I not going to school everyday like normal?" Subaru wondered to himself.
"Subaru," his mother said, glancing at the clock. "You're going to be late."
"Shit!"
"Subaru, language!" she warned.
"Sorry, but I need to leave. Goodbye!" He hurried, stuffing the last piece of bread and mayonnaise sandwich into his mouth.
"Want your father to walk you to school?" his father asked.
"I'm not a kid anymore. Plus, it would be embarrassing, a high schooler getting dropped off by his father like a kid," Subaru replied, a blush creeping up his face.
"No matter what, you're still my baby boy," his mother added.
Subaru gave a broad smile, turned, and ran out the door on his way to school.
cough* *cough*
"I should have taken my time to chew it properly," Subaru muttered, choking on the sandwich he had inhaled with the voracity of Kirby.
He purchased a lemon soda from a vending machine on his way to school. As he opened the drink, a cat darted towards him, followed by a woman with pale skin.
The cat leaped onto his face, scratching him, and in his panic, the lemon soda slipped from his grasp.
"Ah, that's dangerous," the woman called out.
The lemon soda spilled all over her. The cat fled. Subaru, his face stinging, opened his eyes to see the woman with pale skin and silver hair, her uniform soaked and dripping lemon soda.
"Uh! I'll be late now," she sighed in disappointment.
"You?" Subaru noticed her uniform. "That uniform is similar to my school!"
"AH! I am so sorry," she said.
"Are you also from Ebisu Private High School?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm a new transfer student. I was supposed to be early, but I was nervous about meeting new people. I have no friends here, so I decided to take a stroll and calm my nerves," she replied, her voice trembling. "I'm so, so sorry," she pleaded again.
"It's okay, come on, stand up," Subaru said, offering his hand.
He gave her his jacket and handkerchief, his gaze drawn to her beautiful amethyst eyes as she wiped her silver hair.
"Um! Can I ask your name?" Subaru asked, a blush creeping up his face.
"Hmmm?" she stared at him for a moment.
"Uh, it's fine if you don't want to. I just think it would be a crime not to know the name of such a beautiful girl who's starting at the same school as me," he stammered, trying to avoid sounding like a creep.
She chuckled softly. "Satella."
"Satella?" he repeated.
"Hmmm, is there something wrong?" she asked.
"Not really. I just have this weird feeling as if I'm forgetting something or 'someone,'" Subaru said, looking confused. "Hey, I know! Now that we know each other, I'll be your first friend at school! But before," he turned back, "wait here, I'll get a towel from the nearest convenience store," he said, hurrying away.
"Thank you, Subaru," she replied.
"Huh? Did I give her my name yet?" he wondered to himself as he disappeared into the distance.
Satella stood by the vending machine, clutching Subaru's jacket.
"Is this really what you wanted?" a smug feminine voice asked.
Satella turned. A tea table appeared, a white umbrella shielding it from the sun. A teacup on a saucer sat empty beside a teapot.
A woman with white hair emerged from behind the umbrella, her hair shining brightly. She sat in a chair, her elegant black dress accentuating her beauty, a butterfly hair clip adorning her hair.
She poured steaming tea into the cup. "You can't hold him for longer. You can't keep lying to him," she said.
"I don't need to hear that from you, Echidna," Satella replied.
"Death is permanent. People can't keep holding onto those who are long gone," Echidna continued.
Satella remained silent, gripping Subaru's jacket tighter.
"You will never understand, and that is what makes you and me different," Satella said.
"Huh! I never aimed to be like you. I was just interested in him due to his ability. He seemed fun to observe," Echidna replied.
Satella's eyes grew furious. Echidna stopped speaking.
"Well, it's a matter of time. I'm waiting to see what exciting outcome this brings," she said, her tone mocking.
Echidna disappeared, and the park returned to normal. "OI! Satella!" a voice called.
"Subaru!" she turned.
"Here's the towel! We might be late, but we can still make it by second period," Subaru said.
She stared at him, her amethyst eyes glowing in the sunlight. "I love you, my beloved," she whispered.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Subaru asked.
"Nothing," she replied, smiling sweetly.
Subaru smiled back, marveling at her beauty.
As they walked side by side towards school, a butterfly flew into an open book, and Echidna closed it, sipping her tea.
"Natsuki Subaru, you really are a strange man," she said, a smile playing on her lips.