Choose Me, Beatrice
「"Yo, good evening, Beatrice."」
「The person who pushed open the door and walked in was a fool offering a casual greeting.」
「This fool was covered in blood, making it impossible to tell if it was his own or that of the Mabeasts. The sword in his hand had become blunt in a single night from the sheer number of creatures he had slain.」
「The veins on this fool's hands were bulging and trembling uncontrollably; clearly, the soreness had surpassed his limit, reaching a level of pain that should have had him screaming.」
「To protect himself and that green-clad idiot [Otto] during the war against the Mabeasts, this fool's Gate was on the verge of collapse from overusing Shamak. His mana was almost entirely depleted, leaving him at a point where he shouldn't even be able to move.」
「This fool was limping; this fool's head was broken and bleeding; this fool's breathing was rapid and labored. He was likely on the verge of fainting from blood loss, unable to even see clearly what was in front of him.」
「This fool who had barged in smiled and spoke with a foolish tenderness.」
「"Let's talk, Beatrice."」
「"...T-Talk?"」
「Betty stared at this fool in shock. She gritted her teeth and cursed resentfully: "You idiot, you're practically dying—do you want to die that badly? Even at a time like this, you still... Betty will fix you right—"」
「"Let's talk about 'That Person.'"」
「"...."」
「Ah, this is bad.」
「Betty thought. Upon hearing those words, her entire body became paralyzed. For some reason, a wave of sorrow welled up in her heart. Though she felt a sense of relief, she knew that after hearing those words, she would be unable to heal this fool; she could only stare at him with absolute focus, just as he intended...」
「"Are you... 'That Person'—is it, you?"」
「She spoke in a voice she couldn't stand to hear—stupid, wretched, yet filled with hope, a voice on the verge of tears.」
「Four hundred years of loneliness, four hundred years of duty, four hundred years of struggle, four hundred years of numbness, four hundred years of degradation... was she finally, today, going to receive the reward that could save her soul?」
「Betty thought so. On her lap lay the Gospel given to her by her mother. She only needed to flip to any page; as long as she saw the name Hikigaya Hachiman written there, she could let go of all restraint and stop living in fear.」
「But she didn't dare turn the pages, afraid they would be blank, just as they had been every single time for four hundred years. So, she wouldn't turn them, wouldn't look. Even if it were a deception, if it were this fool, then it would be—」
「"I am not 'That Person,' Beatrice."」
「"…?"」
「The tears of joy stopped abruptly. Betty tilted her head slightly, looking at the fool before her, unable to comprehend what he was saying.」
「Then, reacting faster than her soul, her body filled with despair, numbness, and rage. She raised her hand, prepared to immediately—」
「"Go ahead, Beatrice," the fool continued. "With my body as it is, it wouldn't be surprising if I died instantly from even a minor additional injury. So, go ahead, Beatrice."」
「Just what on earth was this fool talking about?」
「"Since you aren't 'That Person,' why... why should Betty let you..."」
「She scolded him resentfully, yet her raised hand froze; she could do nothing. Was ruining his body to this extent some kind of calculated move?」
「"If you don't want me to die, if you hold expectations for me, if you still long for freedom—then let me, who is not 'That Person,' stand here and talk to you with such audacity, Beatrice."」
「She didn't want to listen.」
「Betty lowered her head, flipping through the Gospel like a madwoman, hoping it was a trick, a lie, a mistake in his judgment—how could this fool not be 'That Person'?」
「Because of this, she couldn't cover her ears. Then, the fool's voice reached her.」
「"Time is short... I should probably keep this brief, but I want to start from the beginning. If I don't, I'm afraid I won't be able to make you understand my meaning. So, please listen carefully, Beatrice."」
「This fool seemed to be gasping for breath because the pain from his wounds was too great. He took a deep breath.」
「"Coming to see you time and again, entering this Forbidden Library, was because I coveted the knowledge here, because I wanted to ask you about difficult problems... I don't regret befriending you with such utilitarian goals."」
「"I heard from Roswaal that over the past four hundred years, many people like me have sought you out for these forbidden books. You must have seen enough of those bastards. The person of your dreams—he should have come for you, not for these benefits. But I have always believed that the feelings between people are shams [pseudo-things]."」
「"The 'Genuine Thing' exists, but it's very rare. That's why feelings based on shams can break at any time. However, a relationship linked by mutual benefit is almost unbreakable. If I can gain benefit from you, I definitely won't hate you, won't distance myself from you, and will stay close to you."」
「"That way, perhaps I could build a stable relationship with you. That's what I thought during that month or so at the manor."」
「What was he saying?」
「Coming for Mother's forbidden books, for that knowledge—isn't that only natural? As early as four hundred years ago, Betty already understood that her own weight could never compare to those things, not even in Mother's eyes. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tethered Betty to this place for four hundred years. So...」
「"So."」
「This fool who interrupted someone else's tragic smile—she hated fools like this the most. Shut up!」
「"I won't be 'That Person' in your heart. I am absolutely not that flawless. I am not 'That Person'—not because my name isn't in Echidna's book, but because I simply don't live up to the image of 'That Person' in your heart, Beatrice."」
「"But, Beatrice."」
「"Now, right here, make a choice, Beatrice."」
「"…A choice?"」
「"Yes, a choice." The fool smiled and nodded gently. He used his sword as a crutch with one hand, and suddenly raised the other, reaching out toward her.」
「"Hikigaya Hachiman is not 'That Person,' but Hikigaya Hachiman is right here, right at this moment. So, choose."」
「"Are you going to spend countless more four-hundred-year periods waiting for 'That Person'? Or, will you take my hand, and then."」
「"Give up on 'That Person,' give up the contract with Echidna, give up your duty, give up your persistence, give up your fantasies—choose me, become my spirit, sign a contract with me, and walk out of here with me."」
「"Choose me, Beatrice."」
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