Tsukasa's voice was much calmer than usual. He leaned down slightly, his blue eyes widening a fraction behind his sunglasses as he gazed at Subaru with a rare seriousness.
"So what you saw is the future?"
Just a moment ago, Subaru had told him everything she "saw" in fragmented bursts.
The White Whale, one of the Three Great Mabeasts, the Archbishops of Sin of the Witch Cult, attacks, death... those shattered and terrifying images poured from her mouth like a tide.
At this moment, even Subaru herself could not understand why all of this was happening. She only remembered that in the Royal Selection Hall, her vision had suddenly plunged into darkness, and when she "opened her eyes" again, countless pieces of information mixed with despair were forced into her mind.
It was not a premonition, but a "fact" regarding destruction that was nearly enough to drive one mad.
Not only that, she also discovered she could vaguely "observe" fragments of what might happen within the next ten seconds. To others, this might be a miraculous ability.
But if those more distant "futures" filled with death could not be changed, then this ability to "see" was undoubtedly the cruelest curse for Subaru.
'According to the logic of this world, is a destined future truly unchangeable?'
This thought tightened around Subaru's heart like cold vines.
Then were the deaths of Rem, Lia, Ram and even Tsukasa truly unavoidable?
"No... Tsukasa." She whispered softly, her voice barely audible.
Then, the murmur began to spiral out of control, turning into a rapid, increasingly sharp repetition, like a broken gear.
"No... no... no no no no no no no no no!!!"
Her body began to tremble violently again, her fingers clutching her hair tightly, nails digging into her scalp as if trying to use the pain to dispel the cruel images in her mind.
In her hollow pupils, fear and despair surged back like a tide, nearly swallowing the sliver of clarity she had just regained.
Just as Subaru's breathing became rapid again and her eyes began to glaze over, on the verge of being consumed by despair—
A warm palm pressed steadily against her back. That sensation was like a piece of land that had completely cracked and become barren during a long winter, suddenly feeling the nourishment of the first drop of spring rain.
Tsukasa warmth and solid touch were clearly transmitted through her thin clothing.
"It's okay."
Tsukasa's voice sounded from above her head, gentle and carrying a very confident power.
"I won't let that kind of thing happen. I won't let the ending you saw come to pass."
A suppressed whimper escaped Subaru's throat, which then turned into a heart-wrenching cry as all the accumulated fear and helplessness poured out like a burst dam.
Amidst her violent trembling and tears, Tsukasa pulled his arms in, holding her tightly in his embrace. His movements were steady, yet his hug was exceptionally powerful.
No matter how the girl in his arms wept, or how she used broken words to negate herself and the future, Tsukasa only repeated one sentence from beginning to end, his voice low and clear, piercing through the sound of her crying.
"As long as I am here, I won't let those things happen."
The sound of the rain outside became exceptionally clear. Raindrops drummed densely against the glass windows and the roof, pitter-pattering loudly as water washed down from the eaves like a torrent.
The sky was dark and the clouds hung low, it had become an outright rainstorm.
After an unknown amount of time, the crying in his arms gradually weakened, turning into intermittent sobs before finally settling into a steady rhythm.
Due to extreme emotional release and exhaustion, Subaru fell into a deep sleep.
Tsukasa waited until her breathing was completely steady before very slowly loosening his arms, gently placing her back onto the soft bed and carefully tucking her in.
He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the rain was like a curtain, and the world was a chaotic blur of watery gray.
At this moment, the dense lines of rain swept diagonally in the gale, battering the trees with drooping branches in the courtyard, while the accumulating water splashed into a white mist on the ground.
Looking at this violent curtain of rain, a very confident smile slowly appeared on Tsukasa's face through the reflection in the glass. He never believed his future would be as Subaru described, so the future would definitely be changed.
"Though it's hard to believe Subaru would possess that kind of ability..."
He murmured to himself, his voice nearly drowned out by the rain, "But that's fine too."
He turned around, his footsteps extremely light as he walked toward the door, gripped the handle, and slowly closed it without making a single sound.
Outside the door, the light in the corridor was somewhat dim.
The blue-haired maid, Rem, was standing there quietly, having clearly been waiting for a long time. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her, her knuckles slightly white from the force, and her body was trembling.
Seeing Tsukasa come out, she immediately took a step forward, her cold and slightly trembling hand grabbing his sleeve.
"Tsukasa."
Her voice was kept very low, yet it was strained. "Are you going alone?"
Clearly, she had overheard the conversation in the room.
Even though his intentions were seen through, the smile on Tsukasa's face did not change. Instead, it became even gentler. He reached out and habitually rubbed Rem's soft blue hair.
"It's okay, Rem."
His tone was light, carrying his usual confidence. "Don't forget, I am the strongest after all."
"Please let Rem go with you."
Rem snapped her head up, a determination never seen before flashing in her eyes, a gaze that seemed to want to pierce through Tsukasa's smile and reach the depths of his resolve.
Tsukasa shook his head, his hand sliding down from the top of her head to gently pat her shoulder. "The opponent sounds somewhat interesting. You stay here and take good care of Subaru."
His tone left no room for negotiation, yet it softened slightly. "Didn't I promise Ram that I would take good care of you?"
"Please don't say those kinds of things, Tsukasa!"
Rem's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of a sob. This was the first time she had ever exploded with emotion so directly toward Tsukasa.
However, under Tsukasa's calm and focused gaze, her words came to an abrupt halt. There was no reproach in that gaze, only a knowing understanding.
Rem's shoulders slumped slightly, and her hand gripping his sleeve slowly, bit by bit, let go and fell back to her side.
"The promise between Tsukasa and Rem is not yet finished."
She lowered her head, her voice becoming very soft again, yet exceptionally clear. "So... Rem will wait for Tsukasa, even if it's for a lifetime."
After saying that, she made a childish gesture—she held out her right hand and extended her slender pinky finger.
Watching this scene, the smile on Tsukasa's face did not diminish at all. Instead, it deepened slightly. Without any hesitation, he also extended his own pinky and firmly hooked it with Rem's. Their pinky fingers were tightly hooked together, forming a silent yet incredibly heavy vow.
After releasing her finger, Tsukasa gave Rem one last nod, then turned around, shoved his hands into his coat pockets, and strode toward the dark end of the long corridor without looking back.