Episode 13 – Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 4

It’s important to bear in mind that beginning from scratch doesn’t instantly transform Subaru into a flawless hero. Instead, it marks the opening phase of a long and hazard-strewn path, one of which we encounter directly in this latest installment.

Now that Subaru genuinely accepts his companions as true allies—people who offer and receive mutual trust and affection—he is ready to back them up. He devises a strategy to read Reid’s book, even volunteering to process the dangerous information himself despite the ordeal he faced with Meili’s tome. He is determined to pull his weight no matter what.

Yet, this newfound emotional positivity acts as a double-edged sword. Even though this amnesiac version of Subaru has only existed in the fantasy realm for five subjective days, he has already achieved far greater personal development than the original Subaru did during his entire first couple of months. Naturally, he dreads losing that progress and slipping back into the isolated, boastful persona he wore prior to his arrival.

Along those same lines, he fiercely resists the idea of being erased if his original memories eventually return. Essentially, Subaru is grappling with a metaphorical death of identity. It is the exact reason why severe head trauma or mind-altering substances provoke such deep, visceral terror in people. The notion of waking up and no longer being yourself is a deeply unsettling prospect.

Rui, naturally, exploits these existential anxieties to the fullest. Not only does she highlight the impending “death” of the current Subaru, but she also subtly plants the suggestion that his past self was far less admirable. Because of this, it is reasonable to deduce that Rui is the mastermind behind Subaru’s blackouts—temporarily seizing control of his body, committing atrocious acts, and subsequently pinning the blame on the original Natsuki Subaru. She is giving him every possible incentive to disown his former incarnation and view himself as an entirely separate entity.

Her motivations reflect the very sin she embodies. Rui consumes memories; while the experience is exquisite in the moment, it provides no lasting sustenance. Consequently, she is driven by an endless craving for more, necessitating an infinite supply of victims. With Subaru, however, she has stumbled upon the ultimate endless buffet. She devases his memories, he navigates through multiple loops to regain them, and—owing to the trial’s mechanics—he inevitably finds his way back to the Corridor of Memories every time he cracks open a book. All the while, she manipulates him into denying that he and the former Subaru are the same person, neatly bypassing the annoying rule that restricts her to feeding on each individual only once. It forms a perpetual feeding loop.

What catches Rui off guard, however, is that within this realm of memories, nothing is ever truly lost. Even though Emilia may have stepped into that pivotal role during Subaru’s second restart, Rem’s impression on him remains indelible. Though he may lack the conscious memories, he can still feel her impact. Rem succeeds in reminding him of his true potential—of what he is capable of achieving, and what she already knows he can be. Ultimately, Subaru rallies to aid his friends when they need him most. He remains terrified of erasure, yes, but as he ultimately resolves, what is done is done, and he must press forward.

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