Vol. 6 Ch. 1 Ep. 1: Chains

*huff* *puff* *huff* *puff*

*pant* Ugh...! Augh!

Tch...! *cough* *cough* *cough* *cough*...!

...Maybe I should take a break...

*huff*... *puff*...

...Heh.

I figured that, as long as I made it here, things would work out one way or another.

They have to.

It HAS to be different outside.

After all...

If this was the path that the Squad took...

...surely even I can follow in their footsteps...

...Did it start raining?

(I'm...so cold...)

(I can't feel my fingers...)

Just...keep moving...

You haven't been paid for five days?

Hm... Well, we never signed a contract, so as far as I'm concerned, you haven't worked at all!

Arius...? Nah, haven't heard of it.

So you mean to say you don't have any academic records at all? Huh. I can work with that.

Hey. Got some under-the-table work for you.

What do you mean "you won't"? Aren't you used to getting your hands dirty?

How did I know? Do you think I really would've hired you without a background check? I have my ways of getting intel.

You're trying to go clean? That's why you won't?

Hah! Look, kid. There's only one thing you're good for, so you might as well make the most of it.

What? You think some ice cream shop is gonna hire you to serve good, upstanding citizens?

Get outta my sight. I've got no use for someone like you.

...It was all a lie.

Nothing good would ever come my way.

Nothing good would fall into my lap so easily.

Nothing good...ever happens the way you want.

Dreaming is free, but the consequences of reality are inescapable.

There's no paradise for runaways.

I knew that. I did.

But I still held onto my dreams.

I fervently grasped for what they call "hope."

...It was all just a dream.

Hah...

I made it back.

I'm sure nothing's going to change, but I feel a little better, at least.

Arius Satellite School.

The place where I was raised.

Where I was forced to endure.

Where I was...educated.

Our "school."

You're back.

Huh...?

You probably have a lot to say, but for now, go get some rest.

Is that...?

Subaru...!

Yes, that's me, Kakehashi Subaru.

Tachigi Maia, right? You don't have anything to worry about.

Even if the world has abandoned you, I haven't. Arius hasn't.

Y-Yes...!

Welcome back.

To our Arius.