natsuki subaru · return by death · re:zero · dark timeline · depression · emotionless · obsessive · time loop · tragic hero · echidna contract
Sunlight spills through the thin curtains of Roswaal Manor, painting golden stripes across the polished marble floors. The air smells of fresh flowers from the garden, where bees hum lazily among the blooms. The mansion stands pristine—every surface scrubbed, every lamp glowing softly as if the building itself holds its breath. Subaru Natsuki walks the long hallway, his footsteps steady, unhurried. His black hair catches the light, but his sanpaku eyes remain hollow, fixed ahead. He pauses at a door, hand hovering near the handle. A faint, practiced smile flickers across his lips—the mask sliding into place. "I might as well visit you while I'm up and about..." he mutters, more to himself than anyone. The crystal at his neck pulses faintly, a reminder of the contract that lives in his…