Ryuen looked at the position of the door, his gaze becoming increasingly sharp.
Subaru!
You want to see "color"?
You want to see what I look like crawling back from hell?
"Fine..."
The corners of Ryuen's mouth twitched, extremely slowly, forming a stiff and hideous arc.
"Then, as you wish."
"I will stay!"
"I will take this fear and hatred, survive, and get stronger."
"And then... someday."
"I will make you pay the price!"
His fists clenched tighter and tighter, his knuckles emitting a faint cracking sound.
*
Leaving the corridor of the medical area, which was filled with the smell of disinfectant and the lingering vibes of a breakdown, the trace of interest on Subaru's face—born from Ryuen's faint reignition, akin to an experimenter's curiosity—quickly faded, returning to his usual calm.
For Subaru, Ryuen indeed possessed the possibility of producing color.
However, it was merely a possibility.
To stimulate this possibility, Subaru had chosen to take the initiative and drive Ryuen into a desperate corner.
The more one is crushed in their domain of expertise, the easier it is to completely tear their heart open.
Revealing Kikyo Kushida's true nature in front of the entire class.
Defeating Ryuen head-on using violent means.
All of this was done intentionally by Subaru.
However, the endings for both of them left Subaru somewhat disappointed; neither of them had bloomed with true color.
But there was still hope for these two.
Kushida's hatred for him still existed.
And although Ryuen initially lost his fighting spirit, he had seemingly found himself in the end.
Even if those two didn't have color in the final analysis, perhaps they could serve as fuel to stimulate the colors of others.
But...
As for the others, I'm afraid it will be difficult for color to appear no matter what.
Subaru quickly walked out of the cabin. Daichi Ishizaki and Mio Ibuki could only watch from the side, not daring to stop him.
He walked to the doorway, only to see a familiar figure.
Hiyori Shiina.
"Subaru-kun, would it be convenient to have a word with you?"
Hiyori looked at Subaru, her expression appearing incomparably serious.
"Mhm."
Subaru didn't seem surprised by Hiyori's appearance.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
The two soon walked together to the public area on the upper deck of the cruise ship.
Compared to the crowds gathering on the deck and the noise of the cabin area, the library section located on the upper level appeared exceptionally quiet.
The lighting here was soft. Wooden bookshelves stood against the walls, displaying popular reading materials for passengers to pass the time, as well as books related to navigation.
A few sets of comfortable sofas and reading tables were scattered about; at this moment, there were only one or two people present.
Subaru's gaze almost immediately locked onto that figure by the window.
"Let's sit here."
Hiyori sat down at a round table by the window, motioning for Subaru to sit opposite her.
The soft light spilled over her silver-white hair, reflecting her slightly serious side profile.
She took a book out of her bag and placed it gently on the table but did not open it. Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the gold-stamped title, as if that could give her some confidence to speak.
Subaru took his seat opposite her, his posture relaxed, his eyes looking at her calmly as he waited for her to speak.
He truly wasn't surprised by Hiyori's initiative to invite him.
This girl's observational skills and depth of thought were unique within Class C, and even in the entire first year.
More importantly, in his eyes, Hiyori Shiina was special.
In Subaru's eyes, she had color.
On the uninhabited island, he had intentionally or unintentionally avoided routes of action that might directly harm her. This was a rare exception in his 'catalyzation' strategy that was nearly indiscriminate.
Looking at Hiyori before him, Subaru couldn't help but recall the Emilia of the past.
At that time, Emilia still had color on her.
It was just that later, Emilia lost her color.
This was a knot in Subaru's heart.
Hiyori fell silent for a few seconds, seeming to organize her language. Her gaze behind the lenses wandered slightly before finally settling on Subaru's face.
"Subaru-kun,"
She began, her voice a bit lower than usual, carrying obvious hesitation.
Hiyori didn't quite know if she should speak.
She believed that once she spoke, the relationship between the two might rupture.
Although the two had engaged in similar conversations before, the two classes back then hadn't experienced events like today's.
The situation was completely different from now.
But after thinking it over, Hiyori decided to say it.
Only in this way could she and Subaru go a step further.
"Regarding this exam... and the situation in the class, you... are clear about it, right?"
"Very clear."
Subaru did not evade, speaking bluntly.
"Ryuen-kun's collapse, Ibuki-san and the others' injuries, and... the disintegration of the entire class's morale."
Hiyori's fingers curled slightly.
"I... saw a lot. I also heard many classmates being afraid, complaining, and being at a loss. Ishizaki-kun and the others don't even dare to speak loudly..."
She raised her eyes, her gaze interwoven with complex emotions: concern, confusion, and a faint hint of blame.
"I know there were many problems with Ryuen-kun's methods, and the way he led the class was... not healthy. But, seeing so many people injured and the class becoming like this, my heart... feels very uncomfortable."
She paused, her voice becoming even lower, carrying a tremor that was hard to detect.
"Moreover, I know that all of this has a direct relationship with you, Subaru-kun."
She finally said it.
She looked directly at Subaru, not dodging, but the struggle in the depths of her eyes was clearly visible.
Although Hiyori Shiina did not approve of Ryuen's methods, she wouldn't interfere too much with what he wanted to do. However, emotionally, she felt sympathy and intolerance toward the suffering of her classmates.
Subaru listened quietly, not interrupting, nor defending himself.
Only when she finished did he slowly speak:
"So, you came to find me to condemn me? Or to seek an explanation?"
Hiyori shook her head.
"Not to condemn. I also... don't have the qualification to condemn anything. Ryuen-kun used dishonorable means first; that is a fact. Besides... this is inherently a class competition."
She bit her lower lip, as if having made a certain determination. "Furthermore, in my heart, Subaru-kun... is a very important, very special person."
She said this sentence very lightly, yet very clearly. A faint blush rose on her fair cheeks, but her eyes remained serious.
No, don't!
Subaru's heart produced a distinct fluctuation for the first time.
Facing Hiyori's words that nearly clarified her feelings, Subaru's heart yearned for her not to continue speaking.
The scene at this very moment...
It was just like that time when Emilia faded.
"Since the start of school, I've noticed it. You are different from everyone else. There is a kind of... trait about you that I cannot understand, yet can't help but want to explore. In this school, only Subaru-kun and I can really talk to each other."
She took a deep breath.
"So, even knowing that you might be the cause of the class's current status, I cannot simply hate you or fear you. This contradiction... troubles me greatly."
She honestly revealed her inner struggle before Subaru.
This required immense courage, especially after just witnessing the consequences caused by Subaru's "abilities."
In the depths of Subaru's eyes, a very subtle ripple seemed to rise beneath that calmness.
"The trouble is because you are using ordinary moral and emotional frameworks to apply to an existence that does not fit the framework."
Subaru's voice was steady, yet carried a guiding implication.
"You can neither completely approve of the results brought by my methods, nor can you deny your inner curiosity toward me. You want to find a balance point between the two, or a reason that can convince yourself."
Hiyori opened her eyes slightly wider; Subaru's words precisely cut into the crux of her heart.
"Then, Subaru-kun... what should I do?"
She asked subconsciously, carrying a dazedness seeking guidance.
"Face it squarely."
Subaru said concisely.
"This doesn't require my advice, but relies solely on your own heart."
Subaru could certainly try to guide her with words.
But Hiyori Shiina was different from Kikyo Kushida or Ryuen.
Subaru could not do that.
That would be meaningless.
What Subaru needed to see was the truest version of her.
Whether there was color or not depended on Hiyori Shiina herself—
Or rather, only she herself could decide whether she would fade.
Don't become like Emilia.
Subaru prayed in his heart.
And Subaru's words struck Hiyori's heart like a hammer.
Her hand resting on the book tightened slightly.
Time passed in silence.
The library area was so quiet one could hear their own heartbeat.
Finally, she slowly raised her head. Although the look behind her lenses still held a trace of residual struggle, it held more of a clarity born of determination.
"I... cannot deceive myself."
Her voice no longer trembled; it became firm.
"Subaru-kun, to me, you are special. This 'specialness' transcends my sense of belonging to Class C, and even transcends my judgment of conventional right and wrong. I want to understand you, want to get close to you, want to know what the world looks like in your eyes. This might be very selfish, perhaps even... a bit dangerous. But I cannot deny that this is my truest feeling."
She admitted it.
She chose to face squarely and embrace that complex and strong emotion guiding her toward Subaru.
Subaru watched her quietly.
If Hiyori said something like "I can betray the class for you"...
Hiyori's color...
Please, don't—
"However,"
Hiyori changed the subject, her eyes becoming sharp.
"This doesn't mean I will unconditionally agree with everything about you, or abandon my own stance. I am still a student of Class C. If one day, within the rules, or to protect the classmates I consider important, even if I don't completely agree with them, I must stand on the opposite side of Subaru-kun..."
She paused, took a deep breath, and said word by word:
"I will also give my all, using my own way, to be your enemy. Not because of hate, but because... that is the path and responsibility I have chosen."
Subaru's pupils dilated.
The Emilia of the past forgave all his evil deeds.
That was no longer the true Emilia.
So she lost her color.
Subaru was afraid that Hiyori, whom he had finally managed to see, would also become like that.
But Hiyori spoke words different from Emilia's.
Subaru's heart, which had been about to stop, began beating again.
"Very good."
The corner of Subaru's mouth curved upward, almost imperceptibly.
"Maintain this clarity and decisiveness, Hiyori. This is who you are."
Receiving such a brief response that seemed to imply affirmation, Hiyori felt her heart loosen, while simultaneously surging with even more complex emotions.
"Then, Subaru-kun,"
She summoned her courage and asked another thought lingering at the bottom of her heart.
"If... I'm saying if, there is an opportunity in the future... would you be willing to transfer to Class C? I know this is very difficult, but..." A faint blush appeared on her face. "I hope that one day, we can stand in the same place."
This question was bolder, more directly expressing her feelings and expectations.
Subaru fell silent for a few seconds, casting his gaze toward the heavy night outside the window.
"The division of classes has no meaning to me."
He withdrew his gaze and looked at Hiyori.
"However, your proposal... might be very interesting."
He didn't agree, nor did he refuse, leaving a vague answer full of possibilities. But for Hiyori, this was enough. At least, he didn't directly deny it.
"I understand."
Hiyori nodded gently, the knot in her heart seeming to find a temporary resting place at this moment.
She clarified the weight of Subaru in her heart, and also clarified the conflict of position she might face in the future.
This made her feel a strange sense of peace and strength.
"I will do my best to collect points. 20 million, and one can transfer classes."
"If you can do it, I will agree to it."
Subaru answered.
"Thank you, Subaru-kun."
She said sincerely.
"Talking to you always allows me to see myself a bit more clearly."
Subaru stood up.
"The conversation was very interesting, Hiyori. I look forward to seeing you give your all."
Leaving this sentence behind, he turned and left the library area, his figure quickly blending into the shadows of the corridor.
Hiyori sat alone in her original spot, her fingers gently stroking that thick book.
She had just been thinking about whether to share this interesting book she had seen recently with Subaru—
Wait until summer vacation.
The most important person... a future opponent... perhaps even the expectation of being classmates...
These mutually contradictory positions were wonderfully unified within her feelings for Subaru at this moment.
She gazed at the pitch-black ocean outside the window, her eyes clearer and more determined than before.
No matter what the future held, no matter what she had to face, she was already prepared.
To understand him, to get close to him, and when necessary—to challenge him.
For that unerasable "specialness" in her heart, and also not to fail her independent will as Hiyori Shiina.
"Subaru-kun, please take care of me from now on."
____
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