Re:Zero The Viewing
Chapter 7: visages of the past
If a pin was to drop, it would be heard. Subaru, in full butler dress, walked out of the door with two large paper bags. He gently placed them on the ground to close the door behind him. He walked towards the window.A great yawn could be heard. A satisfied Subaru smiles as his arms reach for the sky. As he stretched, the sound of cracking was audible. The group flinches, expecting the worst. He placed his hands beside his waists, nodded, then smiled as he looked out at the pristine Roswall garden. As soon as he finished his stretching, he picked up the bags once again. He turned to the group, and walked towards them.
An anxious question was given by Emilia. "Subaru…?"
He continued his walk towards them. His smile didn't disappear.
"I don't think this is the real Subaru lady Emilia."
Worry was written on her face. As Subaru walked ever closer nearing arm's length, Emilia reached out her arm to try to touch him.
"Subaru, please-"
Emilia's arm went through the bags. He walked straight through her. Her arm slowly retracted, and fell by her side. She turned to see where Subaru would die next.
"We should follow him, I suppose."
Beatrice took the first step. A silent agreement was made between the group. One by one, they would follow Subaru down the hallway, ever fearful of what horrors would befall Subaru next. Beatrice's eyes locked on to Ram.
"Do not think you're off the hook. I still have questions for you, in fact."
Ram nodded.
"I know you were suspicious of Subaru when he entered the mansion, in fact. But to kill him..."
Ram did not respond.
"Or not, I wonder. I don't know. Betty is still figuring it out, I suppose."
Subaru stopped as he turned towards a door. The group braces themselves for the worst possible scenario. They prayed for a quick and painless death. Subaru smiled as he walked through the door.
A dirt road along a forest trail was lit by the setting sun's orange hue. Subaru walked into the scene as if he belonged. As he crossed the door's threshold, the inanimate scene came to life. The sounds of birds chirping, the trees swaying, the movement of small game, and the earthly fresh smell of the world awoke. The three warily follow Subaru through this door, ready for a fresh new hell to greet them. This peace that they saw through this doorway was all too familiar; to lower their guard was a sin, and prepared for death.
Emilia bit her lip and grasped her chest. She looked down in pre-emptive sorrow and fear. An uneasy feeling that she was all too familiar with now. "I… I don't think I'm ready for this."
Julius turned to see the sorrowful sight. "Lady Emilia, none of us are. But please try your best, for Subaru's sake."
"Prepare for the worst, I suppose. It's not as if we have a choice in what we see, in fact - "
Subaru walked along the path. The group followed suit.
"You were quite popular with them"
A voice came from behind Ram. As Ram turned around, a blue haired girl walked through Ram like a ghost. They braced themselves, they knew his death was now inevitable.
"For some reason, kids have always liked me."
"Like animals, children observe a hierarchy. They can tell if it's alright to belittle someone."
"Those brats… no respect."
"Did you show them anything about you worth respecting?"
"That's a sound argument. Still, it doesn't seem right to belittle me from the start. Ram seems like she'd handle that kind of thing well."
Julius winced. He muttered something unintelligible under his breath.
"My sister is wonderful, isn't she?"
Ram looked up at her sister. A weak smile managed its way to her lips.
"Honestly, I'd think her personality would cause conflict more often than not."
"My sister's self-assured nature is what makes her so charming. I cannot be that way at all."
"By the way, how are your studies progressing?"
"Let's just say I'm plugging along. Ram is actually a pretty good teacher too. Though I wish she wouldn't sleep on my bed in mid-lesson… it kinda kills my motivation."
A low, quiet voice came from Ram, as if warning them. "... I don't remember teaching him."
Emilia's grip tightened. Julius gripped his sword pommel tighter. Beatrice looked onwards, as if unfazed.
"My sister only acts that way to stimulate your motivation - "
" - Why do you have such absolute faith in your sister? That isn't normal… You're totally fanatical like a demon."
Rem pauses. Subaru notices his lonely footsteps and turns to Rem. Just as Rem stood in her place, Ram stopped not too far from her sister, as if Ram was her sister's shadow.
"...Fanatical like a demon?"
"It's the demon version of divine possession. It's the demon version of divine possession. Sounds kinda cool, right?"
"Do you like demons?"
The twins looked to Subaru. They shared a singular quizzical expression.
"Well… generally gods don't do anything, but demons will laugh along when you talk about future plans. Especially for next year and stuff. They'll laugh their heads off - oh"
The forest had become quiet, and the scenery became lifeless. Subaru looked at Rem in longing. He looked at her as if nothing in the world mattered. A smiling Rem stood still like the world around them.
Ram looked down in sorrow. Although Subaru's demeanor was comforting, she couldn't find peace. She murdered Subaru. Or, at least she thought she would have. She felt the guilt of killing Subaru. She felt the guilt of killing a friend.
"This is different, he's still moving." Julius furrowed his brow. His tension did not fade. He still expected the worst.
A door phased into existence right next to Subaru. It opened to the mansion once again. Subaru looked at Rem one last time. "I will save you, I promise." He looked down in quiet contemplation. His eyes closed, and his face crunched with anger, regret, and sorrow. After a brief moment of weakness, he composed himself and walked towards the door. "I promise." He swore under his breath.
The door shuts.
better late than never, amirite?