(Miku POV)

I sat down in bed as soon as I opened my eyes and looked about my dimly lighted room.

Through my window, the city skyline created a subtle glow that filled my room with a gentle evening light. I was suddenly soaked in chilly sweat even though the air conditioner ran nonstop.

Why was this happening?

"Oh." Then it hit me. That weird and strange dream once more that has repeatedly invaded my sleep from time to time.

Since I was a child, a mysterious dream has haunted me repeatedly. Each time is different: different places, different people, different stories. Yet, unexplainably, the same theme—a name I couldn't recall.

Dreams with a name I don't understand. Dreams with a name that didn't make sense.

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Miku!" came a lively voice from the other side. It was my sissy Yotsuba. "Miku! Uesugi-san is already here! Come on! Let's join him and Ichika in the living room. The lesson tonight should be fun!" she added cheerfully.

I raised my eyebrows at the mention of his name. "Fuutarou," I quietly spoke his name, followed by a smile stretched over my face, a reflection of my heart warmed caused by the flow of memories from the previous few weeks.

Ever since he took on the role of our private tutor, Fuutarou Uesugi—the man employed by our father to assist us with our schoolwork and grades—has had a more positive impact on us than merely books and materials.

His unshakable desire for our achievement, his sense of duty, his devotion, his tremendous work ethic, and his boundless patience to even put up with our incredible bullshit.

Even if he's doing it just for the money, or even if it's simply for the sake of his family...

It still warms my heart.

"Miku! Miku!" I again hear the tone of Yotsuba's voice interrupting me from my nighttime reverie. "Are you still sleeping? Miku!" she continued.

"No. I'm already awake." I replied as I immediately piled out of bed. "Gonna join you guys in a bit."


With my headset safely secured around my neck, I immediately left my room and walked towards the stairs of our large apartment.

I could already hear Yotsuba and Ichika chatting as I descended. Upon reaching the bottom, I entered the living room, finding that Yotsuba, Ichika, and Fuutarou were all sitting on the carpet around the large coffee table.

On top of the table was the favorite board game of the five of us, surrounded by books, paper pads, and pens.

Taking in the scene, it was obvious that they were not studying but playing some board game.

"Wanna join Miku?" Fuutarou asked as he noticed me. "Your sisters and I are taking a break from studying. We still have room for another player," he said, getting ready to roll the dice.

I smiled at his invitation and replied, "Sure," as I joined the group and sat beside Yotsuba.

Fuutarou smiled back and then rolled the dice. It landed on seven. Moving his piece seven spaces, he landed on a space called "Beaten and Robbed."

"I'm freakin stooooooopid!" Fuutarou exclaimed as he handed money to the banker, cutting his cash reserves in half. He then stared at the board, deep in thought, as if contemplating something serious. His brow furrowed, and he seemed lost in his own world. What could that be? I didn't know.

Would I want to know? Of course. Thus, I decided to ask. "Fuuta—"

"Uesugi-san!" But Yotsuba interrupted me before I could finish even a single word. "Check me out! I got married!" She waved her hands in excitement, causing my eyebrows to raise in surprise. "Give me that gift money!" she added.

"Fine... here ya go!" Fuutarou responded with a resigned sigh, handing her more money and further depleting his cash reserves.

Uh-oh. By the looks of it, game over was nearing...For him

"Momma needs a new house!" Yotsuba chimed in excitedly.

I shrugged at this, "Okay, my turn next." I said as I took the dice in my hand, readying to roll to continue the game

Though Fuutarou had other ideas. As I was about to toss the dice, he grumbled out of nowhere. "Even in a board game... Still poor," which made me laugh at his frustration. But then he got up out of nowhere, and his whole demeanor changed.

"Ugh! We don't have time for this Stupid game! He surprised everyone by yelling. "Okay, breaktime is now over! Get back to your studies!" He proclaimed resolutely.

"Huh? But we studied our butts off all day long," Ichika complained, voicing her exhaustion.

"Yeah, my poor noggin's about to explode," Yotsuba sighs.

"We can't—" I started to speak, but then I remembered.

Oh...I was sleeping the entire afternoon, immersed in a dreamland somewhere else...Tee-hee!

Fuutarou sighed, "You have a point... but," he paused, looking dejected.

"Is it because... We're that far behind?" I asked concern in my voice.

His eyes widened. "W-what... no..." He shook his head and stared at the ground. "It's just..."

His shoulders fell, a sorrowful expression on his face. Suddenly, a strong desire to console and hug him overcame me.

To Embrace him there and then...And make all his worries and fears go away.

Just like I used to do with my S—huh? What am I thinking?

"It's Just..." he repeated, trailing off as Yotsuba, Ichika, and I looked at him with questioning expressions. Well, except for me—I watched him with genuine concern.

"Hey!" Nino suddenly interrupted, stepping to the side of the table with a smug look. "Look at you lazy bums, playing board games instead of studying. I want in!" Without waiting for a response, she plopped down on the carpet with us, nudging Fuutarou out of his spot and taking his place. "I'll just take your spot for a while!" she added.

I wanted to ask Fuutarou what he was about to say before Nino interrupted us. But my thoughts were preoccupied with something else.

So instead...I just observed him.

He had a look of tension on his face—maybe even fear. Why? What could be causing this?

"Ew! You're like super poor!" Nino spoke as she sneered at Fuutarou, her voice dripping with condescension. She rolled her eyes and flicked her hair dismissively as she glanced at her money and cards.

Yeah. It was as clear as day—my sister Nino really hated his guts. Unsurprisingly, this made Fuutarou cringe even more.

Suddenly, we heard the sound of the front door of our condo open, which prompted all of us to turn and look.

"You wanna play too?" Nino spoke again without even looking, then glanced at the source. It was Itsuki, standing near us, right beside Fuutarou...I hadn't even noticed her.

"Itsuki!" It was Fuutarou who spoke this time, his voice tense. "About yesterday..." he added with a weak tone.

Itsuki responded by closing her eyes. "I can't talk right now. I have a lot of studying to do," she chimed before walking away.

Is there something wrong with her?

"Hey, wait!" Fuutarou tried to stop her, but she was already gone and upstairs. We heard her room door shut, so she was probably there now.

Nino raised her eyebrows at this, which prompted her to stand up. "Okay, you're done lecturing us for the day! Out!" she barked, putting her hands on Fuutarou and forcefully pushing him towards the door.

"Why? What's the hurry?!" Fuutarou protested, but Nino was having none of it.

"It's time for you to go home! You're off the clock! HEY!" She clicked her tongue as she continued pushing Fuutarou towards the door, but this time with more determination.

"Ah ah ah! Not so fast," Ichika spoke this time, her voice amused. What is she planning? "Don't go back on your word now, Futaro-kun!" she added, then winked.

"Oh." I raised my eyebrows at this.

"Huh?" Fuutarou asked, confusion evident in his face and voice.

"You promised us you're gonna stay here overnight, remember?"

"WHAAAAAAAT!?" Nino and Fuutarou exclaimed in unison.


Ichika, Yotsuba, and I discussed our plans for tonight and tomorrow while sitting on the carpet beside the coffee table. Nino, on the other hand, sat at the dining table alone, gazing at her phone.

Fuutarou excused himself to use the bathroom and take a bath, attending to his evening rituals. It would be a while before he returned, so my sisters and I continued our conversation in the meantime,

"Any plans for tomorrow, Yotsuba?" Ichika asked, twirling her pen.

"I was supposed to join the women's basketball team for their training tomorrow, hehe," Yotsuba scratched her head as she laughed. "But with the midterms approaching, I'll probably just check the library."

"I see. How about you, Miku?" Ichika asked me this time.

"Same here. I'll be at the library all day tomorrow, then study in the afternoon and evening with you guys," I replied.

"Oh... So anyway..." Ichika continued to speak, but suddenly I felt sleepy. I yawned and stretched both my hands.

"Ichika," I said as I stood up, then went to the nearby couch and sat down.

"Yes?" she raised her eyebrows.

"I'm feeling sleepy... I'll take a short nap for a while... Wake me up when Fuutarou arrives, okay?" I said, grabbing one of the blankets on the couch and covering myself with it, closing my eyes.

"Huh? Sure, Miku...We'll wake you up," she replied. I think she said more, but sleep began to overtake me, her voice and Yotsuba's getting fainter and fainter.


As I heard voices, I attempted to speak, intending to call the attention of my sisters Ichika and Yotsuba. However, much to my utter surprise, no words came out of my mouth.

Concerned, I opened my eyes...And what I saw shocked me.

A boy, perhaps a young man, lay on the bed with jet-black hair and intense eyes. He was wearing a white bathrobe, and to my surprise, I found myself holding his hand.

The room we were in did not have a modern feel; instead, it exuded a classical ambiance reminiscent of the Renaissance era.

It wasn't Japanese; No, not at all. Instead, it exuded a distinctly European ambiance, luxurious in every detail. While I wasn't surprised to find myself here—I'd dreamed of this place many times before—this boy was entirely new.

"Did I do this? Like, grabbed you and never let go?" the boy spoke for the first time.

"No, um... Well...I did it. While you were asleep, you looked like you were in pain, so I..." I stuttered. For some reason, I'm talking, but I feel like I'm not in control—it's like I'm watching a movie.

"You held my hand, huh?" he asked with a grin.

Who is he? For some reason...It feels like I knew him before.

"Yes," I replied, my voice sounding very tense. "I don't know what to do at times like these. It's always so confusing and overwhelming. So, I did what would have made me the happiest if I were in your place..." I said with passion in my voice.

Do I care for him? Why am I being so considerate of him?

"Anyway, I'd like to hear the rest... I mean, were my curses removed?" he asked once more.

"Yes, Roswaal-sama and Emilia-sama took care of all the Demonbeasts. So, there is no chance the curses will activate. Lady Beatrice healed all of your wounds...I am sorry..." I said, my voice filled with regret and worry.

Roswaal? Emilia? Beatrice? Who are they? Curses? None of this makes any sense.

"Hey, come on, lift your head. There's nothing wrong with me. Look!" he said as he stood out of bed and gestured to his body as if everything was okay.

"I'm just a powerless and incompetent demon clan dropout. So, no matter what, I can never match my sister. I am merely her replacement, and I have always been inferior. Good for nothing. Why was I the one to keep my horn? Why could Sister not be the one to keep hers? Why was she born with only one horn? Why did...Do we have to be twins? I apologize. That was a strange thing for me to say. Please forget it," I said, turning away.

Why am I wearing maid clothes?

The man shook his head at my words, which automatically came out of me. "You keep putting your Ram on a pedestal, but if she were in your place, I don't think she'd be any better off. She is weaker than you! She can't cook, slacks off on the job, and says mean things," he replied.

Ram?

"Y-You're wrong! If she had her horn, you would not say..." I started, but he interrupted me.

"But she doesn't, so I don't know about that! But who cares? You're kind and hardworking, and your chest is bigger than hers!"

Wow, this guy's a pervert!

"If you hadn't been around, those dogs would've chewed me to death. You saved me! I'm glad you were there...Thank you," he said again, now clutching my hands.

"I... I told you that I am only my sister's replacement," I began, but he interrupted again.

"I don't care! I don't care about your past. All I care about is your present and future! Let's face that together! Where I come from, there's a saying: 'Demons laugh when you talk about next year.' So...Laugh, Rem. Take off that sad face and laugh while we talk about the future!" he said with compassion and sincerity.

Who's Rem?

"I'm weak, stupid, scary-looking, and dense. But I still live my life expecting others to take care of things for me...As we move forward, we can lean on each other. Let's laugh and talk about tomorrow, arms around each other's shoulders. It's always been my dream to talk about next year with a demon while we both laugh!" he said, now smiling.

A...Demon?

For some reason, I couldn't help but feel emotional at his words, like something melted inside me. What is that? I didn't know. All I know is tears now began to fall from my eyes down my face.

"You are fanatical like a demon, huh?" I said as I began to sob, probably tears of joy.

"Right?" he said with a thumbs up, his smile as bright as sunlight.

Was I laughing? Sobbing? Probably both, as I tried to wipe the tears off my face. The man then took me in his arms, embracing me with tenderness and care.

Everything was strange, to be honest, and I couldn't understand any of it, but for some reason, I felt good. It felt wholesome.

It felt like—


I opened my eyes once more and heard voices again. This time, I recognized them—it was my sisters Yotsuba and Ichika talking. Looks like it was just a dream again, huh?

Looking around, I noticed they had notebooks and other school items on the table. It seems like study time is about to begin.

"Uesugi-san's been in the tub for a while," Yotsuba spoke.

"It's not every day he gets to use the same bathroom as five beautiful ladies!" Ichika chimed in.

"Bath?" I asked as I rose from the couch, rubbing my eyes to clear away the remaining sleep.

"Finally awake?!" Ichika shot me a quick, amused glance. "Why don't you go check on him!" She added smugly

"I don't think that's a good idea," I replied as I stood up and joined them at the coffee table.

"Futaro-kun is staying here overnight, so if you wanted to make a move on him, you couldn't ask for a better opportunity," she teased.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I denied...Sorta

Suddenly, Yotsuba exclaimed, drawing our attention. "Uesugi-san!" She yelled out to Fuutarou, who had returned seconds earlier and was sporting a vibrant yellow Nyan Cat shirt.

"Welcome back!" Yotsuba added, greeting him with her usual cheerfulness.

"I-I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting..." Fuutarou responded as he looked at us—or maybe beyond us. "Ready to pick up where we left off?"

His eyes suddenly widened as if he had seen something surprising.

Who is he looking at? Hmmm.

I turned to follow his gaze and saw Nino, who was still sitting at the dining table with a smug grin and her phone in one of her hands.

Digesting the situation infront of me, it was clear as day that they were hiding something."You are very much welcome to join Nino...If you want? hehehe." he said awkwardly, scratching his hair in an effort to get her to commit to our study session.

However, Nino had other ideas. "No thanks. I don't see any need for that," she responded dismissively, shutting him down.

Poor Fuutarou.

He seemed much more nervous and agitated now, his uneasiness mounting as he walked back and forth in our living room...Okay, it appears that he is hiding something now.

"Question, Fuutarou-Sensei!" Ichika suddenly chimed in, breaking the tense atmosphere and grabbing our attention. "About this problem right here!" she exclaimed, pointing at her notes.

"Huh?" Fuutarou raised his eyebrows and moved beside me, eager to address Ichika's question. "Which one?" he added, leaning closer to me to get a better look at Ichika's notes. I could now smell the scent of the soap he used.

"Okay, scooch over," Ichika suddenly uttered, bumping me forcefully.

"Ah!" I exclaimed, the momentum sending me barreling toward Fuutarou, our bodies pressing together.

Fuutarou tried to move, but it only made things worse. "Dude!" he complained as our bodies entangled.

Well, this is awkward.

"What? Miku needs your help with something! Right, Miku?" Ichika teased.

Ugh! I blushed at what she said. I untangled myself from Fuutarou immediately, pouted, and turned to look at my sister. "Ichika!" I said, my voice annoyed.

Gosh, I hope the ground swallows me whole right now!

Expecting the worst, I just sat there, contemplating. Fuutarou becoming awkward with us was the last thing I wanted. However, I still hoped for the best.

Thankfully, as I looked at him, he shook off the awkward moment like it was nothing, stood up, and began to address us again.

"Sure! What is it? Ask me anything!" he spoke confidently, then glanced towards us and Nino.

"Okay!" Yotsuba asked enthusiastically this time, raising her hand.

"Yes, Yotsuba!" Fuutarou said, pointing his finger at her.

"What's a synonym for argument?" she asked.

"Good question!" Fuutarou replied as he closed his eyes and gestured with his hand as if showcasing a new word for us. "Debate!" Remember the word! 'De-ba-te!' Debate," He instructed us with ease as though it were routine to him. "You'll see that one on the exams for sure!" he added confidently.

Suddenly, something took over me. I felt bolder, though I couldn't understand why or how—it felt right. Without thinking, my lips opened on their own.

"I actually have a question as well," I said, pausing as my heart rate quickened. Despite this, I carried on. "What kind of girls do you like—?" I asked, the last of my words fading away. It felt like I was following my instincts.

Suddenly, as expected, Fuutarou, Ichika, Yotsuba, and even Nino groaned in surprise. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung open.

Huh? Why? What's so shocking about what I just said?

"Eh?" Yotsuba chimed in, her face showing shock. "Miku..." she trailed off.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" I asked, confused.

"Miku..." she began again. "Who's... Subaru?"

"Huh?" My eyes widened at this. "Subaru?" I asked, tilting my head. "Subaru who?" I repeated.

Yotsuba raised her eyebrows. "I don't know, Miku. That's why I'm asking you," she replied.

I looked around at their faces, a mixture of shock and confusion. "I don't know anyone named Subaru," I said, clarifying the confusion.

"But..." Ichika chimed in this time. "You said the name Subaru," her eyes wide with surprise.

"I did?" I asked, my confusion growing tremendously.

Fuutarou spoke up this time. "Uh-huh," he nodded as he looked directly into my eyes. "You asked, 'What kind of girls do you like, Subaru-kun?'"

As I tried to digest this, my mind immediately went blank. Subaru? Who is Subaru? I've never known anyone named Subaru. Ever!

Maybe I uttered the wrong name? Instead of saying Fuutarou, I mistakenly told a random name. Yes, that's probably it. Plus, Subaru is a car brand, right? So that must be it...Even so, I have to find an excuse for this mistake.

"Eh..." is all that came out of my mouth. Suddenly, sweat started accumulating in my palms and forehead despite our AC unit running at full speed.

Think, Miku, think.

"MIKU!" Nino suddenly screamed, and I didn't even notice her approach until she was right in front of me, facing me. "Is there something you're not telling us? Do you have a secret boyfriend stashed away somewhere?" She pointed a finger accusingly at me.

"Ehhhh!? No, I don't!" I replied defensively, waving my hands at her and shaking my head. "I-I don't have anyone to go out with... e-even if I wanted to..." I struggled to say, my face blushing as red as a tomato.

Nino wasn't pleased with this, her eyes narrowing. "THEN WHO IS THIS SUBARU-KUN?!" she exclaimed, interrogating me.

"I-I really don't know," I replied nervously. "I-I was about to ask what kind of girl Fuutarou likes, but I made a mistake, calling him by another name." I struggled to find an excuse. "I-it's probably the car brand, Nino," I added, desperately shaking my head again.

Nino still held her fierce gaze on my eyes, never breaking it. Then, she sighed and eased up. Thank the heavens! Phew.

"I'll let you off the hook this time, Miku," she said, leaning back on the couch. "But FYI, I've got my eye on you. Keeping secrets from your sisters isn't cool, you know?"

I responded with a nod, a look of relief mixed with worry on my face. Suddenly, I felt Fuutarou's hand resting softly on my head. "Eh?"

"It's okay, Miku. You don't need to be scared," he reassured me softly. "We all make mistakes... right, guys?" he added as he gave me head a comforting pat.

"Yep!" Yotsuba chimed in.

Fuutarou continued patting my head, words of comfort coming from his lips, and I just stood there, enjoying it. Then it happened.

"Nice assist, Rem!"

"EH!?" I uttered, suddenly pulling back, shocked by the sudden glimpse or vision that invaded my head without warning. There it was again.

"Huh? What's wrong, Miku?" Fuutarou asked, clearly confused by the sudden change.

"Hm?" I replied, my look bewildered as I stared at him. I was about to question whether they had also witnessed what I had just seen...But I decided to dismiss the idea after noticing my sisters' perplexed looks and Nino's suspicious stare...The last thing I wanted was to worry them again. "I think my eyes just got tired," I lied.

"Is that so?" Fuutarou replied, his voice tinged with concern.

"Yes," I simply replied. "I need some fresh air."

"Huh?"

Standing up from the carpet where I was sitting, I straightened my clothes and skirt, then walked away from the living room, leaving Yotsuba, Ichika, and Fuutarou.

I found my shoes among the others, put them on, and headed towards the main door of our condo.

"Where are you going?" Ichika asked, her voice filled with confusion.

"I'm going to the nearby convenience store to grab a pack of matcha soda. You guys want anything else?" I said as I opened the front door, ready to go out.

"Uh..." Ichika hesitated, unsure of what to say. "No, just don't take too long, okay?"

"...Yes."


My walk to the convenience store was uneventful. The evening had set in, and the city's usual hustle and bustle had calmed down. But my thoughts were anything but calm—tumultuous at best, stormy at worst.

Stormy because I couldn't make sense of the visions and dreams that had haunted me since childhood, growing more intense and frequent in the past few weeks. The latest ones were very bizarre. Maybe I need to see a therapist...Maybe a psychiatrist?

Ugh!

I shook myself, trying to dispel those thoughts. Everything will be fine; this will eventually pass. I simply need to relax and pamper myself more.

Taking my headphones from around my neck, I placed them over my ears and turned them on. I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked the time—7:10 PM. Swiping through the screen, I tapped on the Spotify app and let it shuffle through songs. A classic country tune from the 60s began to play.

Without a care, I continued my walk. It wasn't long before the neon glow of the Lawson convenience store came into view, just as the first melodies of the song filled my ears.

"I fall to pieces,
Each time I see you again..."

The first stanza poured from my headphones.

Arriving at the store, I grasped the cold metal of the storefront door and swung it open, welcoming the cool breeze from inside.

"I fall to pieces,
How can I be just your friend?"

I headed straight to the drink section, scanning the shelves for matcha soda. Where are they?

"You want me to act like we've never kissed,
You want me to forget Pretend we've never met."

Wait, what song is this?

After a moment, I spotted the last few cans and grabbed all three. It was almost out of stock.

"And I've tried and I've tried But I haven't yet,
You walk by and I fall to pieces."

With the sodas in hand, I walked towards the cashier, my eyes closing as I got lost in the song's emotional sway.

"I fall to pieces Each time someone speaks your name,
I fall to pieces Time only adds to the flame."

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the music. "Hey, miss, look out!"

*CRASH*

I collided with someone—a strong impact that sent me reeling back. Pain shot through me as I bounced off what felt like a solid wall. No, not a wall—a body. A muscular, toned body. I braced myself for the fall, knowing it would hurt.

But then, strong arms caught me mid-descent. "I got you!" a male voice said firmly.

"Hm?" I gasped, my body suddenly supported and steady. Who was this? I opened my eyes to find out.

"Are you okay?" he asked. His voice was deep and soothing. He wore a well-tailored suit, his raven hair neatly styled. But it was his eyes—fierce and almost intimidating—that sent an electrifying jolt through my spine. Time seemed to slow, and my body felt weak under his gaze.

What the heck is happening?!

Even amidst the disarray, the music in my headphones played on, underscoring the moment.

"You tell me to find someone else to love,
Someone who'll love me too,
The way you used to do.
But each time I go out with someone new
You walk by and I fall to pieces..."

"You walk by and...I fall to pieces"