Chapter Text
“Hi” Normal speech
“Hi” Ghost speech
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Theater Square, Noon
After bid farewell to Date and Mama at New Sarena. He’s now with Yuya and Kazuki in the middle of the square.
“So you’re leaving Kamurocho. I take it you won’t be coming back here for a while, either.” Kazuki says.
“Well, more like letting things simmer down for now. I’d probably stay in contact with Kashiwagi-san and Majima-san. But for now, I'll bow out. It’s up to the people of Kamurocho to decide what to do with their city. The same goes for the Tojo Clan.” Subaru explains.
“Guess that means we can’t afford to screw up or else things will really go to hell.” Yuya nodded.
“With how things go, I bet that Subaru-san will return here again in the future.” Anastasia disagreed, “As much as I wanted to believe in them, this city is going to drag him back no matter what.”
“Not to mention, with his legendary status, unsavory people will undoubtedly come out to harm his family in the future.” Reinhard added, “Those people are selfish, just like Mine has said.”
“Well, I gotta go now. Haruka’s here.” Subaru said after Haruka called his name. The host duos bowed before leaving.
“Hey, Subaru.” A man’s voice calling him. Subaru turns around and sees Hamazaki in a black attire. Haruka, who saw Hamazaki appear before Subaru, gasped.
The ghosts are wide-eyed as they didn’t expect him of all people to come back, “Tch. Guess the triad didn’t finish their job.” Priscilla spat.
“Hamazaki…” Subaru’s body became tense, "I thought you died.”
“And I wished I did.” Hamazaki replies in a defeated tone, “I lost everything. Thank to you, my life is over.”
“As far as I’m aware, you chose to buddy with the triad by your own free will.” Subaru tersely replies, not appreciating the blame, “And if your plan had succeeded. How many people’s lives will be destroyed?”
“Heh. Why did you care so much about them anyway?” Hamazaki snarkly asks.
“Because everyone can become you. There will be a time where your life is at rock bottom, whether by their hands or circumstances.” Subaru explained, “But what matters the most is the present. Right now, you are here, in broad daylight. What are you trying to achieve here?”
Hamazaki becomes quiet, before letting out a sinister laugh, “Well, I thought it was oblivious, fourth chairman.” He spat at the title, before looking at Haruka, who is not far behind Subaru, “But your little speech gave me a better idea…”
“NO!!” Emilia shouted before rushing to Haruka. The other ghosts quickly followed suit.
Suddenly, Hazamaki make a break toward Haruka. Haruka, upon realizing Hazamaki’s plan, quickly screamed for Subaru, “UNCLE BARU!!”
Subaru quickly turned his head around and saw Hamazaki running toward Haruka, “HAMAZAKI!!” Subaru roared out, drawing the attention of everyone nearby, including Yuya and Kazuki who were still nearby, “Hey! What the hell are you doing!?” Kazuki shouted, both of them running toward the scene to stop Hamazaki.
Subaru runs toward Haruka to protect her from the disgraced yakuza. Unfortunately, it was a trap as Hamazaki suddenly turned around mid-running and thrust his concealed knife at Subaru’s abdomen. Subaru, realizing too late, failed to stop in time and get stabbed.
“Predictable.” Hamazaki jeered, before he withdrew the knife. Yuya and Kazuki arrived at that moment to restrain Hamazaki, “Call the police!” Yuya then looks at the injured Subaru, “And the ambulance as well!”
“Uncle Baru!” Haruka quickly approaches Subaru who is collapsing, “Don’t die on me! Please!”
“No! Not like this!” Emilia cried, “It can’t end like this!”
“He-He should be fine! A little stab won’t be an issue for him…right?” Rem said in a worried tone.
“Come on, Big Bro! You’ve endured worse than this!” Felt shouted.
“I won’t…hrkk!!” Subaru hissed from the pain, “I will be fine, I promise.” He weakly replies, before slowly losing consciousness, with Haruka’s voice being the last thing he hears, “Uncle Baru…UNCLE BARU!!”
“BRO/SUBARU-SAN/SUBARU-DONO/BARUSU/SUBARU!!!”
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Morning Glory, Midnight
“Subaru, you dunderhead! Why did you always make us worried…” Emilia yelled through the phone. Subaru can hear her voice crack, “Sorry…”
After getting treated for his wound at the hospital, he was discharged the same day, now sporting bandages wrapped on his wound. This time, Haruka went to sleep early. So Subaru decided to talk to the ghosts alone.
“Well, glad to know you’re still with us.” Al huffed, “Now no one will annoy you, at least for now.”
“If there are any left.” Subaru stressed, “I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life taking care of my kids here.”
“Moving on. I remembered you once said that you and Yuka-san wanted to visit your family’s graves.” Crusch says.
“Yes? Do you…want to join as well?” Subaru quirked his eyebrow.
“Y-Yes. I know it was supposed to be a family matter, but…we felt the need to apologize to them.” Crusch answered, the ghosts nodded along.
“Seems all of you are in agreement. To be honest, it depends on Yuka-obasan. If she gets permission from the CIA, then I will go the next day after that happens. Which may take a while.” Subaru explained, “Are you guys still around during that time?”
“About that…I think Od Laguna said that we will be here forever. So, yes. We are here with you in the long run unless Od Laguna changes its mind.” Crusch answered.
“I see…” Subaru nodded, “Guess that’s it for today then.”
“Wait. You’re not gonna ask why we didn’t save Mine?” Frederica asks. The ghosts look at her with alarm, “You were adamant about giving him a new chance of life.”
“I was going to. But I remembered that you guys have a…different belief on forgiveness.” Subaru said carefully, “Actually, I’m probably the only one who forgive Mine here.”
“You are correct in that regard, Subaru-san. In fact, you’re going to forgive Hamazaki as well if he didn’t pull that stunt back there, didn’t you?” Anastasia asks with an accusing tone.
“What!? Are you mad, Subaru-kun!?” Rem asks with disbelief, “He’s tried to kill you and Haruka!”
“And you tried to kill me in several loops, but few of them succeeded as well.” Subaru’s voice became harsh, “You don’t have any right to criticize me on this.”
“But—” Rem was about to argue before Ram covered her mouth, “We understand.” Ram then whispers to her sister’s ear, “Drop the subject, sis. Let’s not reopen the old wound.”
“Apart from that, what are we going to do from now on?” Frederica asks, “Are we going to continue protecting you, Subaru-sama? There is nothing we can’t do except that.”
Subaru pondered for a while before answering, “You guys can try exploring the world. And not just Kamurocho or Japan in general, I mean the whole world.”
“Are you saying we are going on a world tour!?” Al’s eyes sparkled upon hearing that.
“I'm just giving you an option. If you guys wanted to continue protecting me, that’s also fine. The choice is yours.” Subaru replies, “That will be it today.” He then leaves the ghost to talk among themselves.
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A week later, Kamurocho, Tokyo
Yuka and Subaru are standing in front of the Natsuki Family tombstone. It was peaceful, just like last time. After Subaru paid respect to Nishiki, Yumi and Kazama, Yuka appeared with a banquet of flowers just in time by herself.
“This looks…peaceful.” Crusch looked around the place, “Back at Lugunica, it was more of a solemn atmosphere even when it was sunny.”
“The gravestone is a lot bigger and visible as well. You don’t need to look down either.” Wilhelm noted, “If you wanted to ‘talk’ to them, it felt more like you were talking to them in person.”
“It looks like Japan has a deep respect for the dead.” Priscilla said, agreeing with the two.
All of them look at the two gravestones in front of them. There are some flowers there, likely placed by Subaru himself. The gravestone stands tall; two names etched in each stone in Japanese language. The ghosts may not be able to read it, but Subaru told them their names before coming here…
Natsuki Naoko
Natsuki Kenichi
Two people who gave birth to the greatest man they had seen. And the one that they personally wronged. While Subaru and Yuka pay respect for them silently, the ghosts look at Emilia to start first since she’s the one that knew him first, “Hello, Naoko-san, Kenichi-san…My name is Emilia. I’m from the other world, along with my friends and allies here. I’m…the first person that your son met. He was admittedly weird at first, but he’s a reliable man, a loyal knight that I can ask for.”
Rem decided to continue the speech, “And my name’s Rem, one of the former maids of the Mather mansion. I was one of the first allies that he came to trust, though that came after the fact that I—” Rem suddenly hesitated, “Killed him because of a misunderstanding and my own prejudice.”
“Yet after that, he is still willing to become friends with him.” Ram continues, “His kindness, while most considered it foolish, is the most admirable trait about him.”
“He saved me.” Otto says, “Along with the others just because he can.”
“He defeated several threats with his power and wits, something that no one could do in the past.” Reinhard stated, “That deserved recognition. Instead…” His voice trembled, “We rewarded him with a betrayal.”
“It was the work of the Witch Cult. But I can’t deny that they use our hatred of the cult against him very well.” Crusch admitted, “And it works, and we take care of Subaru for them.”
“Then Satella appeared…and the rest is history.” Al ended in a solemn tone.
“Until we end up here, seeing him grown up, taking kids and giving them a life they needed. Suffice to say, your son managed to become a great man, despite his hardship.” Wilhelm looked at the gravestone, a single tear dropped from his aged eye.
The remaining ghosts then started to say their pieces. Most of them usually talk about their thoughts about Subaru, how he impacts their lives, and their regret toward him. After everyone was finished, Emilia gave the ending speech, “So, we are here not just for your forgiveness, but also a second chance. The reason we’re even here in the first place is to repent for our sin, to protect Subaru. And for once, we succeed. But we know that there are many threats to Subaru’s peaceful life.” Her tone became resolute, “We will protect your son, that’s the vow we made to ourselves. That’s our promise, to him, and to both of you." The ghosts then bowed in silence.
While the ghosts give their speech and apologies, Subaru and Yuka finish their part, “Feeling better?” Subaru asks her.
“Yes. I apologize to them for how I was not a part of their life, especially your mother.” Yuka replies, “It was a bit hard for me at first, but then the apology just came out nonstop. In the end, it was as if my burden had finally been lifted off me.” She then placed the flowers on their graves.
“I presumed it will be a very long time before we’ll be able to see each other again.” Subaru looked at his parent’s gravestone one last time.
“Yes. It was a miracle that my superior granted permission for this request. I guess it was their way of thanking you in regard of Black Monday.” Yuka shrugged, “Either way. I never thought of stepping here after joining the CIA. I must thank you for this chance.”
“You don't need to. We’re family, after all.” Subaru smiles at her.
Family. Ever since the first time she heard it from Subaru, it’s made her feel something she never thought she would experience again: Familial love. Ever since she abandoned her birth family and joined the CIA, she thought she would be alone for the rest of her life. But when Subaru, her nephew, still accepts her (after a beating, of course), it makes her eyes tear up. She hugs Subaru, tears flowing freely. He hugs back, letting his aunt take her time.
The ghosts look at them. A reconciliation between two remaining family members brings tears to everyone, especially the two Astrea. They will be the witness of this family reunion and remember it for years to come.
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Weeks later
“Mame! Look!” Izumi shouted happily, holding a stick in her hand, “Catch!” She threw the stick, Mame ran toward it, snatched the stick mid-air and ran back to Izumi, “Good boy.” Mikio looked at them and wanted to try as well.
Taichi, Koji, Mitsuo and Rikiya are throwing balls at each other, another group consisting of Shiro, Riona and Eri are playing hopscotch. Ayako is looking at Saki’s drawing, “Wow, you are really good at drawing, Saki!” She beamed, before calling Haruka, “Hey Haruka, come and look at this!”
But Haruka didn’t answer, still looking at the sea. That is until Subaru walks toward her, now in an Okinawan outfit. Both of them look up to the sky, toward the brighter future. The ghosts look at the orphanage, fuels their resolve.
The crisis may be solved, and he got the ending he deserved. But that doesn’t mean a new threat won’t appear at the doorstep. They will be safe, living the peaceful life they always wanted. No matter what challenge comes by, they will make sure he’ll get his happy ending, always.
For that is their promise.
FIN