Arc 6, Chapter 40 – “Abandoned by the Stars”

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Everything was messed up.

Literally, so messed up, messed up.

He was found, brought back and questioned about what had happened.

Bit-by-bit, he found that the situation would get worse every time said something.

???: [All right, so Subaru really doesn’t remember anything?]

As he clutched his knees, the girl with the silver hair gazed down at him with a gloomy expression.

Beside her stood a young, sweet little girl who could not come to grips with what he had said, and reacted with shock.

???: [We were at a complete loss when we heard that you could not be found… by no means, did I think the situation would end up like this. It looks like we are facing a very difficult dilemma.]

The girl with a white fox scarf wrapped around her neck grumbled this in a stiff tone.

The Knight with the handsome face nodded and muttered the occasional “Yeah, that is correct[1]], as she spoke.

???: [For how long are you going to be satisfied in exposing that unsightly appearance, Barusu?]

Scowling at him as she said it, was the girl who had cleaned up the mess that had been caked on him. But, there was no great animosity in her words, moreover, there seemed to be a forlorn expression hanging over her.

???: [Master, Master. Something in the air seems to have become remarkably more gloomy, eh~? You need to smile mooore… Huh, what’s that? You stink of piss!]

The black-haired woman was laughing in good spirits, without seemingly understanding the situation here.

At the side of the black-haired woman, there stood a young girl who was stroking her braided hair. She gave him a sidelong glance which seemed to show barely a small glimpse of interest at the situation he was in.

Subaru: [――――]

All these reactions were, if he were to broadly speak about them, reactions he overlooked.

Once, twice―― this made it thrice. He had disappointed them three times.

However, this time, he had soiled himself after trying to escape from this place. He had been found alone, huddled up and crying. There was no room for doubt that it was the worst situation so far.

――Even though he is the only one aware of the real facts behind this truly dreadful situation.

Subaru: [Heh.]

It made him laugh. The fact that he had repeated this same situation―― no, it had not only been once, but three times.

He had seen this scene the first time around, and then the second. Then on the third time he visited this scene, he finally grasped what sort of situation he was in.

――He had died twice.

Both times, most likely, from falling from the same place―― the first time, he had lost consciousness on the way down and because of that, he had not tasted the moment of death.

However, it had not been like this the second time. As he fell down, he had not perished quickly, instead he had tumbled and crashed against the staircase, having his whole body ruined.

He then finally died, but came back.

At the moment of death, he would return to the Green Room, and once again he would wake up and redo the day.

Die and return―― Return by Death.

That was the blessing which that God had bestowed upon Natsuki Subaru, in this parallel world.

Subaru: [Heh.]

For the second time, laughter leaked from him.

Whether one could objectively call it laughter was left to discussion, but it would suffice to say that for Subaru it was laughter.

There was nothing else he could do except laugh. He felt as if his tears had honestly dried up.

Crying also wasted his physical strength. He had died and then returned, it seemed like the physical strength he exerted before dying would be given back to him upon returning. This time he had literally soiled away his strength on awakening.

???: [Anyways, let Subaru rest until things settle down. Over time, we may see some change.]

At hearing the silver-haired girl’s proposal, he knew that his treatment had already been decided like so.

Was she thinking that he would lash out violently? Subaru’s persona had been exaggerated. He had been brought back to the Green Room under everyone’s supervision.

???: [I am afraid we cannot leave Rem here with Barusu as he is now. Ram opposes it.]

???: […But, apart from finding out what caused this, our best bet at helping Subaru recover would be to rely on the Spirit of this room.]

???: [If that is the case… if that is the case, we will move Rem to another room. Ram will stay with her and look after her. Ram seems to be the only one who is worried about her right now.]

He wished he was in a place where there were no quarrels or clash of opinions.

Whatever it was, he had no options. Taking the initiative and having the willpower to do things such as resolutely overcoming this situation, the current Subaru did not have that within him.

???: […Poor Rem.]

She uttered this so Subaru could hear her, just before she carried the sleeping girl, who looked exactly like her like two peas in a pod, out of the room.

Subaru had no idea about the true meaning behind her words. Nor did he want to.

???: [Subaru, stay here, quietly, in fact. Betty will surely find a way to return your memories, I suppose.]

Subaru: [――――]

???: [I won’t let you cower here all alone.]

Just before she left the room, the young girl spoke those gentle words.

Her voice was tinged with grief, yet there also was a hint of noble determination within it. That voice was strong, confident in those words.

In that way, in response to her voice showing that she was concerned for him――

Subaru: […Ah.]

Subaru shrunk back in an attempt to avoid her outstretched arms.

Seeing his reaction to this, the eyes of the little girl, with their characteristic pattern, swayed with hurt.

???: [――――]

They were strangers. No matter what, they were strangers.

But for Subaru, they were not strangers. For those girls, the Subaru here was a stranger.

Their familiarity, their worry, and their deep affection was directed at the original “Natsuki Subaru”, and not at his current ruins. And, at the same time――

Subaru: [I have no reason to be killed…]

He had been left behind in the Green Room, alone. Subaru grit his teeth as he muttered this.

Still, it was not a good thing to turn towards those good feelings of comfort, or to blow off the bonds that he had supposedly accumulated over time, and the trust and deep affection he had no memory of. Not yet.

However, why did he have to bear the consequences of the murderous intent that “Natsuki Subaru” had accumulated towards him?

All the good things and the bad things, everything that was jumbled together, was not his own.

Despite this, why must he struggle and drown in this place?

Subaru: [I’m done with all of this…]

After a few hours of being alone, Subaru pushed his back up against the wall, and steadily got up.

Having clamped down on his lips too much, he spat out the mixture of blood and saliva that had piled up within his mouth. Then, slowly, he began walking towards the Green Room’s exit.

???: [――Mm.]

Behind Subaru, the only presence he could hear was the black lizard’s cry.

The cry sounded somewhat feeble, as if crying out in loneliness, however Subaru shook his head at that thought.

There was a limit to his stupidity, of the idea that a mere big reptile could be feeling loneliness.

Subaru: [Somebody will bring you food. Shush now.]

The lizard continued to let out its feeble cry despite what Subaru had said.

Without listening to it, Subaru dispelled his reluctant thoughts, and stepped out of the Green Room. He checked to his left and right, making sure the coast was clear and started walking away, stealthily.

Subaru: [Water, and where they keep the food…]

He knew that.

As he had accompanied them to fetch water, he knew where he could find it. He also knew where he could find food. The only other question he had, was how much of it should he bring?

Subaru: [――――]

To be honest, there was something Subaru did not know.

What on earth had pushed Subaru down those stairs and robbed him of his life.

However, there was something that Subaru clearly remembered.

Back then, at that place, someone had pushed Subaru’s back. It had not been due to some ridiculous reason, such as being clapped on the shoulder from behind, or being blown off by a strong gust of wind.

He had certainly been pushed. He had been on the receiving end of definite, murderous intent. Natsuki Subaru had been murdered.

The suspects were seven: Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Anastasia, Julius, Meili and Shaula―― Subaru did not know how many of them were his friends, nor how many of them were his foe.

After all, Subaru now had no way to deem if all of them were truly his acquaintances.

――In reality, couldn’t it be that all of them were assassins, gathered here at this Tower to kill Subaru?

Subaru: [If that’s true…]

Even if he brought all the food he could, his heart would not feel guilty about it.

However, at the same time, the first and second time he had met them, Emilia had called out to him in the same manner, and Beatrice had told him that they would look for a way to return his memories, and Ram had cried out refusing to believe that he had lost his memories. He doubted that they had been acting.

Subaru: [――――]

It was impossible.

Having gone through all that horrible stuff, he had been killed not just once, but twice, yet Subaru doubted the girl and the others from the bottom of his heart, and despite that, he could not run away just for his own safety.

Subaru: [Shit, shit, half-assed son of a bitch…!]

He swore at his own disgraceful behavior, unable to chose, as he started to secretly pack away food.

He was collecting a so-called emergency ration, putting no consideration into what it would taste like. Of course, what was important now was that the food would fill him up, other particulars like taste were secondary, no, tertiary.

He had roughly taken enough food to last him three days. He had, in a similar fashion, drawn enough water and placed it in leather drinking pouches to carry along with him. Then――

Subaru: [There’s a desert outside, but…]

He donned a cloak that had been stowed in the same place as the food. In terms of size and design, Subaru immediately noticed which one was his. The cloak was designed so when the front was clasped together, it could be pulled up to cover his mouth. It seemed like a perfect countermeasure against breathing in the desert sand.

And after collecting food, water and tools to help him in the desert, his preparations were complete.

Subaru: [I guess it is past the time where I’ve twice died…]

If he thought about it, the time he had spent huddled up in the Green Room should mean that he had perhaps already passed the time when he had been pushed off last time.

The effectiveness of Return by Death had immediately demonstrated its power. Like this, one-by-one, he could overcome his own death flags and continue walking the tightrope of life and death.

Subaru: [――――]

He wished not to do that.

It would be better for him to not be in this place, than having to go through something like that.

Subaru jumped out of the room and initiated a job, heading towards where the spiral staircase was located using a mental map he had drawn in his head of the area. Twice he had been pushed down from this place. Naturally, his mind was screaming at him to get out of there. However――

Subaru: [――!]

Immediately after arriving at the spiral staircase and being momentarily enraptured by the scene in front of him, Subaru looked behind him and carefully examined whether the assassin was hiding somewhere behind him.

Luckily, because the time was different to last time, or because the assassin did not know where Subaru was, he could not find any trace of an arm stretched out preparing to push his back.

About now, everyone was probably at the Library where the memories of the dead slumbered, or they had headed upstairs to face the arrogant Trial taker that awaited them―― the memory of having his internal organs messed with by this man resurfaced, and a feeling of wanting to vomit wells up within him.

Subaru: [As if you can challenge a guy who’s like that…]

He was not human. Both in skill and personality.

By no means at all did it seem possible to win a challenge against such an opponent―― if that was indeed the case, why would he not overlook the fact that they had gone to face a fight they knew they could emerge victorious from.

Subaru: [Hell if I know!!!]

Since a little while ago, this enigma had kept popping up in his mind and had been trying to stop his feet. So what? He did not care.

Although she may have been gentle and kind, it may have all been a lie.

She may have acted worried, but behind her back, she may have been sharpening the blade of murderous intent.

At least she could have warned him of the possibility that a dangerous individual was lurking somewhere in the Tower.[2]]

Subaru: [Well, what if the person they told me about is an enemy?]

Enemy, enemy was a word of ridicule.

In his everyday life in his world, relatively unaffected by conflict, the opportunity to utter a word such as “enemy” only existed within games. This world was one where one would be forced to use that word, as if it were only natural.

No, that was wrong. He did not want to be in this place. He did not want to stay here.

Subaru: [――!]

Subaru ran, biting down the unbearable irritation boiling within his chest.

He ran down the spiral staircase, heading down towards the out-of-sight Fifth Floor. There were many steps spiraling endlessly down the wall, and he cannot see the end of them as he goes downstairs.

He frantically ran down as fast as he could, puffing and panting, to the point that it almost seemed comical.

Still, he did not want to die.

Subaru: [I made it… Whew… Hk]

He had made it down the stairs to the Fifth Floor.

Unlike the Fourth Floor, the Fifth Floor was not divided into various rooms. Rather, it was like a single hall that occupied the entire space of the floor.

The only thing that was noticeable within the Fifth Floor was a set of stairs that led downwards to the Sixth Floor and――

Subaru: [A huge, door…]

Looking up at the huge door, he sensed a terrible feeling of oppression emanating from where it stood.

Subaru: [――――]

Standing in front of the door, it felt like a strange overpowering sensation was clogging Subaru’s throat.

He felt a slight sandy breeze blow through. Perhaps the wind outside was blowing some sand into the Tower through the gaps of the door.

In the end, he was certain that this door connected to the outside.

Subaru: [If what Emilia and the others said was true…]

Using this door, he should be able to go to the desert outside.

Desert―― he had forgotten its official name, but nevertheless he would follow the sandy road and head towards civilization. That way at least, there should be no worries of having his life threatened by this cruel assassin.

The basics of crossing a desert were to travel at night, avoid sandstorms, and try to move towards one set direction―― this was the only knowledge he possessed on the matter.

Subaru: [I would bet that it’s far more likely that I’ll survive there, than in this place where it’s certain that I’m going to be killed.]

It could be said that this was not quite a normal decision to make.

However, whether or not this was an abnormal decision to come to, he did not think making it was a mistake. Under these circumstances, if he could not believe even in “himself”, then only darkness would await him.

He would never do such a thing like sitting in the dark, waiting for death.

Since his death, he had decided to fight back.

Subaru: [――――]

He placed his hand on the huge door in front of him, and slowly pushed it with all his strength.

The size of that door was over ten times than that of Subaru himself. By all rights, even if Subaru were to push with all his might, it should be that, due to its weight, the door should not budge at all.

However, when he pressed the palm of his hand against the door, it easily pushed open as if it was mechanized.

Subaru: [Eh.]

Subaru let out a flat sigh and stopped pushing the door open.

Even if they had not noticed Subaru trying to sneak away till now, if he left the door completely open, then it was expectable that the girl and the others would notice.

Even if Subaru slipped out and managed to get away, he wanted to make sure to put in enough distance between them so they could not catch up to him.

Subaru: [――――]

Stopping the door from opening, quietly, Subaru looked out from the gap in the door to the outside.

As soon as his eyesight adjusted, he witnessed a vast sea of sand swallowed by the creeping darkness of nightfall.

Subaru: […It really is a desert, eh.]

He attempted to squint his eyes so he could see what laid beyond the horizon, but for naught.

In this environment where there were no signs of any shelter, what existed at the end of the horizon was unable to be seen. There was no way for Subaru to know how far it stretched.

However, no matter how far this desert went on for, it certainly could not go on forever.

If he were to take a step forward, it would be one step closer to the outside world.

If he were to get closer to the outside world―― wouldn’t that be a step closer to his original world?

Subaru: [――――]

For a moment, Subaru’s feet remained glued to the Tower.

He would probably, surely, leave this place. It made him feel a bit guilty to do this, as he would be leaving behind those without any ill intentions towards him.

Subaru shook off these feelings. His attachment to go outside, to his original world, made him do so.

He did not want to be here. Natsuki Subaru would return home, because that was where his Mom and Dad awaited him.

Subaru: [So…]

With a firm step forward, Subaru passed through the gap he had opened in the door.

Stepping on the sand, he noticed that his feet sunk into the sand more than he had thought they would. Taking his initial steps with quite a lot of force, Natsuki Subaru stepped outside, into the outside world. And――

Subaru: […Huh?]

A violent explosion from underneath his shoes suddenly launched Subaru high up into the air.

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Subaru had been thrown from his back onto the ground, making him black out.

He was in a complete state of panic―― Subaru now no longer knew whether being in a state of panic was more normal than being in a state of normalcy.

Subaru: [What the…]

…hell happened. While spitting sand from his mouth, Subaru did not possess the leisure to continue those words.

This was due to the imposing figure that now stood right before his eyes, presenting an answer to what the hell had happened.

Subaru: [――――]

Right in front of Subaru’s eyes, with the background dyed by the night, a huge shadow regarded him.

It had a huge, limbless body, with slimy skin. It looked ferocious, with cruel fangs lining its mouth―― it appeared like an earthworm to Subaru.

A terrible, gigantic earthworm. In length, it stood not less than ten meters tall―― it was an earthworm-monster.

Subaru: [Wh…]

Was this a world full of monsters?

Every single scene he had witnessed had been disconnected from reality, and had not given Subaru’s heart a chance to calm down.

And now, the latest crisis was drawing near to him, not giving him any chance to crouch down and lament his fate.

Subaru: [This, fucking…!]

Picking himself up, covered in sand, Subaru shook his head.

Most likely it had been this earthworm who had struck him earlier and blown him away, because he was standing on its territory. That, or he had simply been standing in the place where it had emerged to take a breath.

Either way, the earthworm had knocked Subaru down onto the sand, and moreover――

Subaru: [It’s not going to leave me be…!]

Understanding that in this situation he was at an overwhelming disadvantage, Subaru looked at his surroundings.

He had barely taken four steps since leaving the Tower. Although cowardly, there were plenty of options to pick from, such as jumping back into the building and living.

However, as he looked around, Subaru cursed his luck. He had been blown away by the earthworm’s blow and had rolled across the sand, away from the Tower. The huge earthworm stood in between Subaru and the Tower, so if he were to try and get back to the Tower, he would have to go past the earthworm’s huge body.

Subaru: [So…]

Even if he were to run into the desert, he expected the earthworm to eventually catch up with him.

Firstly, this may not be the only earthworm. Considering its size, there was a decent chance that this earthworm was the lord of the desert, although even one half its size would pose quite a threat as well.

Not to mention, if he were to be attacked by a herd of them――

Subaru: [In fact, was the option of escaping not even realistic?]

He hated the kindness of this world, in that it educated quickly and thoroughly.

And, it seemed like the earthworm had decided what to do about Subaru, who had been busy trying to puzzle how to get out of this situation.

Slowly, the earthworm turned its eyeless head towards him and opened its gaping maw. There was a curved horn on its head, quite the surreal sensation for him.

Subaru: [One shot, just one shot. Just one one shot, one shot, one shot…]

Pulling up his anti-sand cloak to his neck, Subaru kept an eye out for the earthworm’s actions.

He pulled his arm to the front, and calculated the timing for him to deliver his blow. He suddenly noticed that the wound where his nails had been ripped off on his right hand had closed, and that the nails had started to regenerate.

Had it been healing magic, or the effects of the Green Room? And while distracted by that――

Earthworm: [――KRUAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!]

The gigantic beast let out a terrible, shrill cry which he could have never imagined coming from such a thing. The earthworm had then leapt, almost as if it was flopping, towards Subaru.

When Subaru heard its roar against the howling of the wind, for a split second he felt a strange sensation, like his body was acting on its own accord.

Subaru: [――――]

The earthworm had leapt at him, however he rolled towards his right side and dodged its attack.

He had not been thinking of anything else. It was as if he could see an illusion of himself, on what to do next. He had simply followed what the illusion had done, and moved his body alike[3].]

And just like that, he had moved out of the earthworm’s attack.

Subaru: [――Tchhhh!!]

A large amount of sand mushroomed up into the air, followed by a shockwave right beside him.

Whilst experiencing the aftermath of its attack, Subaru rolled over the sand, still following the illusion of his own consciousness.

Subaru: […Haa!]

His body was far more agile than he remembered it to be.

A split second after, what crossed through his mind was the year “Natsuki Subaru” had passed, which Subaru had no recollection of. There was a trace left of the experience “Natsuki Subaru” had accrued surviving in this harsh environment.

Right now, he was not thinking anything about the fact he had made full use of that.

Subaru: [At this rate――!!]

Rolling forwards, with the nimbleness and vigor his precursor had left him, Subaru righted himself up and ran as fast as possible towards the Tower’s front door.

In this moment, it was all about clinging onto what was in front of his eyes.

He knew that he would return to an environment of shadows and suspicion, as well as that he will be tormented by the fear of death, were he to make it back to the Tower. But still, he would rather choose that, than ending up becoming this huge earthworm’s feces.

Subaru: [――――]

He could not afford to look back behind him, but it should be that the earthworm, having plunged into the desert, should not have enough dexterity to be able to switch over and catch up with him immediately.

He was only a few meters away from where he was running towards――

Subaru: [Hk.]

Just now, instead of the earthworm’s head, the earthworm’s tail had broken through and appeared from underneath the sand at Subaru’s feet. The soil underneath him violently exploded, the momentum of the tail striking his feet hoisting Subaru’s body up into the air again.

Subaru: [Oh, ah.]

Whilst revolving around in midair, and flailing his limbs about, Subaru gazed what was underneath him.

Beneath his eyes, he saw that the earthworm was opening its large mouth, preparing itself to greedily devour his body.

――He had underestimated it.

He was naive to think that he, having living in a world similar to a greenhouse, could outsmart the wild animal that had lived in this harsh environment and gotten so huge.

Reckless, he had been reckless. He would pay the price of his own impudence with his life.

Subaru: [NO!]

Whilst falling, he shouted this out, like a trapped insect struggling to escape a spider’s web[4]. ]

Die, would he die again? If he died, he did not know if he would even remain dead. If he was to die and it ended here, what would happen? Could he bear it?

If he were to be thrown forever into never-ending darkness like this. Could he bear it?

Subaru: [DON’T WANT THAAAAAAT!!]

He screamed and stretched his hand out to the night sky for help.

There was nothing to reach out to. Even at the ends of the sky, which was blurred behind some wispy clouds, he could not see the stars that were supposed to be there; Subaru was falling alone.

He had been abandoned by the star bearing his own name[5], about to be swallowed into the monster’s belly, blinking out and disappearing. Such despair――

――Suddenly, a surge of white light appeared.

Subaru: [――――]

A surge of white light rushed forward and blew away the face of the earthworm that had opened its large mouth.

Literally, the impact had pierced the earthworm’s face, with its large head being warped in such a fashion that it almost looked like it had been turned into amezaiku[6].

And then, in a split-second, it blew up. Chunks of dirty flesh and blood sprayed out of the earthworm’s head as they flew off.

The head that should have swallowed Subaru was gone, and the earthworm’s huge body quaked violently. However, before its body toppled over, Subaru’s own body crashed off the top of the headless worm.

With a heavy shaking movement, it had felt like as if he had fell onto a hamburger patty just before it was cooked.

Its gaping wound, its internal organs, and its flesh and blood were the things that had cushioned Subaru’s body. He had been given his life in exchange for the discomfort stuck in his hair.

He coughed and spluttered violently, realizing that inside his mouth was some foul liquid which made him want to vomit. Meanwhile, the earthworm’s remains were slowly sinking into the sand―― Or rather.

One after the other, light flashed across his field of view, end every time it does, the earthworm’s remains were shot through.

It was shot through, burst open, segments of it were sliced off, bits of it flew about; the earthworm was being cut into ribbons. It was only by coincidence that none of these flashes of light hit Subaru, which you could say was a stroke of luck in such a bad situation. However, eventually――

Subaru: [――Ah.]

Subaru noticed that its body, which had been shook by these impacts, had now been strewn across the sand. Subaru was now lying with his back on the sand, his whole body stretched out.

Subaru: [――――]

Up above him, he gazed at the same starless sky he had gazed when being flung up by the earthworm.

By some twist of fate, even now that he had managed to cling onto his life, the sky had not changed, and yet “Subaru” had still been abandoned[7].]

Being amazed, being wanted, being abandoned, being hated, being befriended, being kept away.

Did he want to live? Did he want to die? Did he want to be here or not?

Subaru: [What should I do…! If you know, tell me…!]

There was no one around; covering his face, he yelled this towards the empty sky.

He received no reply. Who was it that Subaru wanted to hear the answers from the most? It was probably――

Subaru: [――Answer me, Natsuki Subaru.]

Saying this in a miserable voice, Subaru sighed and turned his body to the side.

There had been no particular reason why he had happened to turn his body.

――But that tiny movement had barely saved Subaru’s life from the white light which grazed his ear, and struck the ground next to him.

???: [*DZZZZZZZZ*]

Something had grazed past his right ear with tremendous force.

He clasped his hand to the ear which was throbbing in pain, and rolled to the side. As the blood dripped out from his ear, he saw what had caused the pain.

A long, narrow, glowing object, reminiscent of a stinger, was stuck in the ground.

Subaru: [What is…]

This. As soon as he reached out to touch it, the white stinger turned into dust.

And, right after that, Subaru’s field of view shook.

Subaru: [――――]

It shook greatly. From top to bottom.

Whether it was because of an earthworm wriggling, or whether it was because the last stinger had stabbed into it, the ground underneath Subaru’s buttocks was collapsing. He was sinking down along with the surrounding earth.

Subaru: [UAAAAAAAAAaaaaa!!]

His fingers slipped through the sand as he fell, trying to find anything to hold onto. Rather like an insect falling into an anthill, Subaru’s body sunk to the bottom of the sandy floor, unable to do anything about it.

His arms and legs were buried. He was unable to move them. Turning his head up, he desperately gasped for air.

His whole body was being swallowed by the sand, he frantically attempted to fight against the premonition that he was about to be buried alive.

Subaru: [Someone, someone, help me…]

Subaru’s entire body was swallowed by the sand, sinking, sinking, with the following words never having been granted form.

And the stars did not even take one single notice at the miserable, struggling “Subaru”[8].]

Translation notes:

[1] For clarity, this term is what is being translated.

[2] Though no specific gender seems to be used in the Japanese source, I think these lines are referring to Emilia rather than everyone at once, hence the use of “she”. His next line of speech seems to reinforce that.

[3] I think, from my take on this line, it’s a highly metaphoric way of describing things. I think the author is saying that Subaru’s thought process blanked out for a second, and it was like he subconsciously envisioned what to do (to avoid the worm). And instinctively, he moved out of its path as if following a ghostly illusion.

[4] The metaphor used here is different, being “羽根をもがれた虫のように足掻きながら” or literally “struggling like an insect with its wings plucked off”, but believing that its gist was understood, it was replaced with an English equivalent.

[5] There is something to be said here that Pleiades is not a star, but an asterism, but it’s what Tappei wrote. As you may be aware already, in Japanese, the asterism “Pleiades” is called “Subaru” (昴).

[6] Amezaiku is Japanese candy craft artistry. For more information, see here.

[7] He is not referring to “Natsuki Subaru” here. His name is written in Kanji, so he is referring to himself by the constellation (昴).

[8] Again, not to be confused with “Natsuki Subaru”. It’s referring to the constellation again, so he is calling himself by his star-name. It’s saying that the stars above (which are presumed to be hidden by wisps of clouds or Miasma, which is why he couldn’t see them earlier) did not even care about the sinking Subaru (i.e. as if he was a sinking star).