Re:Zero FF Beatrice Heart Crossing

Chapter 24: Farewell to a World

Perturbed by the sensation of falling, Subaru tried to open his eyes but found only darkness. Finding it difficult to remember how he arrived there, his body felt anchored in place as he tried to seek out a point of reference to determine his current location. The situation felt familiar but the boy found no comfort in knowing that this might not be his first time experiencing such a strange occurrence. Breaking his self evaluation, a cone of light cascaded from above and illuminated the area in front of him. Peaking his curiosity, Subaru watched as a silver haired half elf stepped into view. Stunned by the recognition that this had to be Emilia, the boy looked on with wide eyes while the elf leaned forward and spoke in a depressed voice.

Emilia: "So you don't love me anymore, Subaru?"

Subaru: "That's not true! I still do..."

Responding in a frantic scream, Subaru began to feel a sense of dread while Emilia stared at him without a change in demeanor.

Emilia: "Promises matter... You said you loved me. You even touched your lips to mine..."

Whimpering as she spoke the girl covered her face and collapsed to her knees. Subaru could only watch in silence as his fears were put on full display. While he was focused, another voice came in from the shadows.

???: "That's because we don't matter. He never actually cared about any of us. He loves his fake world."

Wincing in agony at the surprise guest, Subaru searched the area to find the source of the voice that he was intimately acquainted with. As if reacting to his pain, Rem stepped into view next to Emilia before glaring at him.

Rem: "What about me, Subaru? Who is going to save me? Why does only Beatrice get your affection? Why is it never me?!"

Yelling her final question, the blue haired girl allowed tears to trace their way across her cheeks. Turning his gaze away from the two girls, Subaru steadied himself and tried to think. How could he have thought that it would be so easy to forget about his friends? A lump stuck in his throat as the memory of his choice and the subsequent actions of Beatrice returned to him. He considered that maybe Beatrice was right and the world of the Imagine Castle was fake. The thoughts imparted to him by others swirled in his head and threatened to consume him. It was at this moment that Subaru heard a small murmur. It was quiet, but nonetheless emanated from his heart and rang through his body and imparted a modicum of his true feelings. For the first time, Subaru clenched his fists as he turned towards the girls and angrily raised his voice in protest.

Subaru: "You both are so... SELFISH!"

Matching looks of surprise spread across the faces of both Emilia and Rem followed by scowls. Retaining his momentum, Subaru continued with his diatribe.

Subaru: "My world with Beako is fake? Fat chance! Why do I always have to feel bad for everything I can't do? I want to... enjoy the things that I can. I've been killed so many times, it's hard to remember which world is the real one any more... So I'm choosing to stay where I'm the happiest. Beako said you'd still have a Subaru in your world, so why does this specific Subaru have to feel bad?"

Emilia's eyes went listless as she processed what she had been told. However, Rem was visibly seething and responded with an outburst of her own.

Rem: Lies! Subaru is Subaru! I won't allow you to be a coward and run away from your responsibilities!

Subaru: "Nonsense! If every Subaru is Subaru, then every Rem is Rem and every Emilia is Emilia! If that is true, then you both have killed or forsaken me so many times!"

Rem quivered as the words pierced her and caused her to fall down next to Emilia. Seeing their feelings of fear and betrayal, Subaru stepped forward to deal the final blow.