Chapter 1

Plum IF

Subaru and Plum walked through the busy city streets, looking for clues about Plum's mother. They asked several passers-by if they'd seen her, but no one seemed to know her.

Subaru: "That's strange, isn't your mother famous?"

Plum: "No, not at all."

Subaru: "Ah, I see. And you don't have a father?"

Plum: "Yes ! He's a appas merchant."

Subaru: "You're lucky. I don't know if I still have a family..."

Plum: "Really? How sad."

Subaru: "Well, I don't care. I don't need anyone."

He tried to be indifferent, but he felt a pang of jealousy towards Plum. She looked so happy and carefree, while he was alone and lost in an unknown world.

Plum: "But you've got friends, haven't you?"

Subaru: "Er... not really."

Plum: "So... you're alone?"

Subaru: "Yes..."

He looked down, embarrassed.

Plum: "You know what? I'm going to be your first friend!"

She gave him a big smile.

Subaru: "What? But..."

Plum: "Yes, yes! You're kind and funny, you've helped me, you deserve to have a friend!"

Subaru: "But..."

Plum: "No buts! It's decided! From now on, we're friends!"

She shook his hand enthusiastically.

Subaru: "Uh... okay."

He didn't know how to react. He was surprised and touched by Plum's proposal. He told himself she must be very naive to want to be friends with a stranger like him. But he couldn't help smiling.

Plum: "Great! Let's be on first-name terms, shall we?"

Subaru: "Yes, all right."

Plum: "And you can call me Plum-chan!"

Subaru: "Plum-chan? That's cute."

Plum: "And you, what can I call you?"

Subaru: "Uh... Just Subaru?"

Plum: "Just Subaru? Right!"

They looked into each other's eyes and laughed.

Subaru and Plum continued their search, but without success. They scoured the whole town, but found no trace of Plum's mother. Subaru felt tired. He wondered how much longer they would have to search. He figured he'd have to find a place to sleep, and maybe something to eat. He also wondered what he was going to do with Plum. He couldn't leave her alone, but he didn't want to get too attached to her either.

Subaru: "So, what do we do? Should we keep looking for your mother?"

Plum: "I don't know. I'm beginning to lose hope."

She lowered her head, sad.

Subaru: "Don't say that. We'll find her, I'm sure of it."

He took her hand and squeezed it.

Plum: "You're sweet."

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes.

Plum: "You know what? I'm going to stay with you."

Subaru: "What? But you can't stay with me!"

Plum: "Why not?"

Subaru: "Because... because it's too fast!"

Plum: "Too fast? Of course not! You're my friend, you've helped me, you deserve a companion!"

Subaru: "It would probably be better to go to the police. Ah in this world you have to call them knights I suppose?"

Plum: "No, I'm afraid of the guard.

Subaru: "Well, I don't mind keeping you for a while."

Plum: "Thanks, Subaru! By the way, do you live in the capital?"

Subaru: "Actually, I don't have a home.

Plum: "I've got an idea! Let's find a place to sleep!"

She took him by the arm and led him out of the alley.

Subaru: "Where are we going?"

Plum: "You'll see! It's a surprise!"

They started walking, hand in hand. They were happy and carefree, even though they were alone and lost.

Subaru and Plum arrived in the slums, at an abandoned house. It was a dirty, dark place, where people lived in squalor. Subaru looked around in disgust. He couldn't understand how Plum could want to sleep there.

Subaru: "Is this where you want us to sleep?"

Plum: "Yes! It's better than nothing, isn't it?"

Subaru: "I suppose so..."

Plum: "Look, there's a mattress on the floor! We can sit on it!"

She pulled him towards the mattress and lay down on it.

Plum: "Come on, Subaru!"

Subaru: "Uh... all right."

He lay down beside her, uncomfortable.

Plum: "You know, Subaru, I'm glad I met you. You're the first friend I've ever had."

Subaru: "Really?"

Plum: "Yes. Before, I only had my mother and father. Schools are only for nobles."

She snuggles up to him.

Plum: "Do you think we'll ever find her?"

Subaru: "I hope so."

Plum: "You're sweet."

Subaru: "You're brave."

They looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

Plum: "Do you want to be my best friend?"

He didn't know how to react. He was surprised and touched by Plum's proposal. He told himself that she must be very naive to want to be best friends with a stranger like him. But he couldn't help smiling.

Subaru: "Friendship is forged over time. To be best friends, you have to spend a lot of time together, and we've only known each other a few hours."

Plum looked rather sad at Subaru's answer, but she understood what Subaru meant.

Plum: "You're cool."

Subaru: "You're adorable."

Subaru and Plum spent the night together in the abandoned house.

Plum: "You're sweet."

Subaru: "Huh?"

Plum: "What's the matter?"

Subaru: "You don't have to tell me again. And what are you still doing up? We were sleeping."

Plum: "Subaru... I don't know what you're talking about, but we've been talking for a while. Maybe you're tired?"

Subaru, confused, looks out the window and sees that the sun hasn't completely set yet.

Subaru: "Strange, I swore I was sleeping. It must be my lack of sleep. Let's go to sleep, Plum!"

Subaru and Plum spent the night together in the abandoned house. One more time.

Plum: "You're sweet."

Subaru: "This is the third time... what's going on?"

He immediately looks out the window and sees that the sun hasn't completely set.

Plum doesn't understand the situation

Subaru hesitated for a moment, then realized that he was caught in a kind of loop that was triggered as soon as he fell asleep.

Subaru: "Plum, you should get some sleep. You look tired."

Plum: "But I'm not sleepy."

Subaru: "Listen, I'm going to tell you something important. You're a young girl and you need to sleep! For your age, you need at least 10 hours' sleep."

Plum: "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Subaru: "Actually, I'm exhausted, I haven't slept a wink in almost a day."

Plum: "All right! I'm willing to sleep even if it's rather early, if it'll get you back in shape!"

Plum snuggled up to him and closed her eyes.

Subaru waited for her to fall asleep, then gently stood up. He put on his jacket and left the abandoned house.

It was cold and dark. The snow was falling softly. Subaru walked down the deserted street, looking around. He was looking for a clue, an explanation, for what was happening to him.

He remembered everything. Of his encounter with Plum, of the search for his mother, of their refuge in this house. And of the time loop that kept bringing him back to the same point.

He heard a huge tremor close to him, with a sound of destruction as if a house were collapsing. He looked up and saw a gigantic shadow looming in the sky.

It was some kind of enormous feline, yellow eyes gleaming in the night, and a long tail whipping through the air.

Subaru felt fear overcome him. He wanted to run, but it was too late. Subaru was frozen from top to bottom.

Subaru lost his life.

Greetings!

I loved writing the first chapter, I hesitated whether to put the checkpoint at the beginning or in the slum. If I'd put it at the beginning, it would have just been a waste of Subaru's time, since he'll always be friends with Plum.

No lie, I've got a ton of ideas for what's next. So expect lots more chapters!

Now for the question: Will Rem die if Subaru doesn't come to the manor?