In a circumstance when divergent paths converge, and two people whom others believe exist within the realms of dyssynchrony grow to love and care for one another, a fierce love built from an indestructible force takes shape and scorches the names of the two into their very souls, where no matter what can occur, the two build something that none of their peers could have ever thought possible.
However, it's a love that takes time to build upon, and unlike other attractions—that the two individuals may have had for others—its core mechanism is slow to start, but once the gears click and begin to turn, it's a bond that runs like a well-oiled machine. Much like a diamond that takes shape or a pearl that forms within the mouth of an oyster, the love of the two individuals takes its precious time.
In many cases, situations must align, and predicaments set in motion for the two to get to know and trust one another. These difficulties may come randomly, and if not for the plight of the two persons of interest, their love would have never taken off. It is thus how two people of complete extremes fell in love.
The precarious situation mentioned above involves Subaru and Ram, and after an afternoon of shopping, the two opposites make the trek back to the mansion.
"It's nearly dark! Why did it take so long to pick out a tato? They all looked identical!"
"Of course, Ram wouldn't expect Barusu to comprehend the importance of which tato is perfect and which isn't as perfect."
Subaru adjusted the sack of tatos in one arm while balancing a bag of ingredients and spices in the other.
"Did we have to get a sack this huge? I can barely carry it!"
"That's because you are barely a man."
Subaru groaned, "I know you're physically stronger than me—so why can't you share the load?"
Ram looked at the boy, "That's because Ram is a cute and delicate flower, and Barusu is a cave troll."
"A cave troll!?"
Subaru sighed, "Man since we returned, Emilia has been busy, and Rem is still cold to me."
While the boy lamented, Ram continued to stare and shake her head, "Poor Barusu, at this rate, you'll die alone."
"Would it kill you to show some empathy?"
"Yes, it may," Ram said after a moment.
"Gah! Whatever!"
Emilia had been busy catching up on paperwork after the camp's safe return from Vollachia, and Rem was adjusting to her new life as a maid. With Frederica as her mentor, Rem had her work cut out for her. Because these two girls were busy, Rem couldn't go shopping with her reunited twin. At the same time, Emilia couldn't be bothered to entertain Subaru, who was lying on a couch looking at the ceiling when Ram approached and demanded he accompany her and carry back the groceries. With nothing else to do and everyone else busy with something else important—Otto assisting Emilia, Garfiel training, Petra and Meili goofing off someplace in the mansion, Roswaal stowed away in his study, and Beatrice showing Spica the ropes, Subaru begrudgingly agreed after Ram flipped him off the couch. He stood, complained, and followed after her. The two bickered like siblings throughout the shopping excursion and continued business as usual on their return trip.
Subaru began lagging, causing Ram to stop and turn, "Barusu, you can rest when we get home. It's getting late, and Ram still has to help with dinner."
Subaru wanted to remind her of what he said earlier but continued to trudge forward. The two continued along the familiar dirt path but slowed to a snail's pace when a sudden fog drifted in.
"Huh, that's strange? Why is it all of a sudden foggy?"
Ram looked around, "Ram doesn't know Barusu. Did you do something to cause this?" she asked accusingly.
"What!? How would I be capable of sudden weather phenomena like fog?"
"You're right. Ram apologizes for assuming you were capable of anything."
Subaru grumbled, "I can't win with you, can I?"
Ram looked at him and smirked, "Of course not. You'll lose every time. Now stop complaining and carry me."
Subaru stared at her with a face that screamed confusion, "What?"
"Barusu, it's not hard to understand. You will carry Ram back. What if she trips and falls in this dense fog? Everyone will think you tried to have your way with her."
"Who would believe that? Also, I don't know if you noticed, but I can't exactly carry you and these bags of groceries."
Ram placed a dainty finger under her chin and tilted her head. She stared at Subaru, "Very well, Ram will sit on your back."
"I still fail to see how I'll be able to carry you."
"Easy. Ram will hang from your neck while you carry her and the two bags of groceries to the mansion."
"I'll suffocate and die!"
The girl sighed, "Fine, Ram will wrap her legs around you and only strangle you slightly."
"How about you don't strangle me at all!"
The fog continued to creep in and utterly engulfed them. Subaru and Ram instinctively moved close to one another. Subaru turned to her and dipped his head.
"Alright, get on." he knelt, and Ram placed her arms around his neck. He stood, and she wrapped her legs around his torso. It was a ridiculous sight, but the two made the awkward piggyback work, and Subaru trudged forward.
"I feel like a pack mule!" he said through raspy breaths as Ram held on tight.
"Ram doesn' know what that is, but it sounds like a stupid animal so Ram can see the resemblance."
Subaru grunted, "Is it that hard to be nice to me?"
"What are you talking about? How often do you get to carry someone as cute as myself on your back? This is a momentous occasion. You should record it in your diary."
They stepped lightly through the white maze. As they moved further and further, Subaru began to worry and question if they were even going in the correct direction. Ram huffed and stated that the path she ordered him to follow was correct. She cited her connection with Rem as proof that they weren't lost. All the while, the fog grew denser and denser, and what sound they could hear before had died out, and the only noise was Subaru's exhausted panting bouncing off the walls of the white mist.
"It feels as if we've been walking for hours!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Barusu. There is no way you could muster the strength for that long."
"Hey! I'll have you know, but I have quite the stamina reserve."
As Ram prepared for a snarky rebuttal, she felt her stomach drop, along with Subaru, who missed his footing and started to tumble down an invisible hill.
Subaru yelped in surprise while Ram squeaked in shock. He did his best to keep her from tumbling underneath him and maintain control of both bags of groceries, but in the end, he lost the sack of tatoes and everything else to maintain a grip on Ram, who sailed down the side of the hill with him. They came to stop and lay beside one another. Drawing ragged breaths, Ram and Subaru stare at a clear night sky.
"See," Subaru said, taking deep breaths, "We have been walking for hours! It's night already!"
He sat up, along with Ram, who surveyed her surroundings.
"Ram guesses you were right. Every dog has its day, it seems."
Subaru stood and offered a hand. Ram took it and stood.
"Where in conjunction with Roswaal's manor and Arlem are we?" he asked, glancing about. Subaru looked up at the stars again and paused.
"Wait-"
Ram looked at him, "What is it, Barusu?"
"The stars."
Ram looked up, "Yes. They are pretty. But what do they have to do with where we're at?"
Subaru looked at her. He was pale, and Ram could see an immense amount of concern in his eyes. She got serious.
"Barusu, what's wrong now?"
Subaru swallowed. "F-Follow me."
Subaru started to walk while Ram trailed close behind.
"Barusu, before we go any further. We still need to locate the groceries. Ram assumes you obliterated everything with your clumsy fall, but we may still be able to salvage most of it-"
Ram stopped beside Subaru and stared at an open space filled with industrial lighting, intertwined poles made of wood with black lines tangled between one another, and strange houses crumpled together in tight quarters. Her brow wrinkled, and she looked at Subaru. He clenched his jaw, and a bead of sweat formed above his creased forehead, built on anxiety. Subaru's disquiteness caused Ram to shift in her step, and she closed the gap between them. Despite their difference, she trusted his judgment, and seeing Subaru brooding while gazing at the strange village below caused her heart to pick up the pace.
"Barusu, what is this place?"
Subaru looked at her. Ram saw waves of pain crashing in his face.
"I'm home, Ram. This city is where I'm from."
Ram's mouth opened, but a reply never came.
Subaru took a step forward. Ram came to her senses and called out to him.
"Barusu, wait! How did we get here!?"
Subaru turned to her, "I don't know, and as much as I would love to brainstorm here, there is somewhere I need to go."
"Where?"
"My home. It's hard to explain, but-" Subaru frowned, "My parents are probably worried about me."
Subaru looked at her, "Well, it's not like I'll leave you here alone. So come on. Let's get going."
"And Rem? Emilia? Roswaal-sama? What will we do about them!"
"I don't know, Ram! I can't explain what's happening, and I wish I could!"
"Barusu, Ram wants to go home."
"I know. I do, too, and hopefully, we will. But first, I-I need to see my parents."
Ram heard the anxiousness in his voice. She sighed, "Okay, let's go. And later, we'll figure this out."
She stopped before him, "Barusu, Ram doesn't know why, but she feels you have much explaining to do."
Subaru rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you don't know the half of it."
Subaru locates a trail, and the two start walking towards the city. Ram looks all around her curiously.
"Ram still isn't sure of where your home is? You were always vague in your descriptions."
Subaru rubs the back of his head, "Um, well–it's not close to Lugunica and, uh–I don't know how you can get from one to the other."
Walking beside one another, Ram stares at Subaru suspiciously, "Ram wishes you would stop speaking in riddles. You can't expect her to know where you are talking about without telling her."
The two come from a wooded area and land in a small concrete jungle. Ram steps on the concrete sidewalk and looks to her left and right. She stares down the end of the long, black track and then back at Subaru.
"Barusu, what's this?"
While Subaru tries to remember which way he takes to get home, he looks back here.
"What's what?"
Ram points out, "This."
Subaru follows the direction of her index finger and looks at the road.
"A road?"
"You phrase that as if Ram should have been aware of that fact."
Subaru chuckles, "Well, isn't it obvious?"
Ram narrows her eyes, and Subaru sighs, "Alright, alright–Look, where I'm from, most roads are paved asphalt instead of dirt, and instead of dragon-drawn carriages, we use different ways to travel."
Ram continued to stare. She vaguely understood what Subaru was telling her but wasn't following.
Subaru was still determining how he would broach the subject, that he and her had traveled to different worlds, and was fearful of how Ram would take it. Subaru quickly accepted his summoning to Lugunica–excited and naive about the new world, he punched headlong and questioned nothing. But Ram was different. She clearly didn't want to be there, and Subaru was nervous about how she might react, knowing they might never return to Lugunica.
Thoughts of his friends entered his brain, and he did his best to keep from hyperventilating. Ram, sensing his internal turmoil, offers words of encouragement.
"Barusu, you've been quiet for too long now, so stop swaying like an idiot and be more forthcoming. Why does your home look different than Lugunica?"
Subaru snapped out of his stupor, "What do you mean? The capital city of Lugunica has paved roads."
"Yes, made of stone. But the surfaces aren't as smooth."
"Look, I'm done talking about roads. It's not my country's crowning achievement, so let's keep going."
Subaru turns left and right, and the direction toward his house clicks.
"Yes, it's this way."
They take the right path and start walking further into the city. The scenery changes, and Ram stares at the strange houses and notes how close they are to each other. She compares it to the housing in the Lugunica slums, but the houses are more prominent, with an odd monochromic, yellowish light illuminating the windows of the homes in varying sizes.
They walk for some time. Ram doesn't speak while taking everything in and eventually stops in front of a house of modest proportions.
"Why'd we stop? Is this your home?"
Subaru hesitates, "Yeah, it's just-" he looks at Ram, "What will I tell my parents, and more importantly, how will I explain why a girl they've never seen is with me?"
Ram thinks for a moment, "Okay, Barusu, tell your parents you were imprisoned for being a pervert, and in a lustful frenzy, you escape and are keeping Ram hostage."
"That's absolutely the worst thing I could say!" Subaru yells, causing a dog to bark loudly, and the lights come on inside his house.
The dog's bark causes Ram to squeak, and she grabs Subaru's track jacket sleeve and peers toward where she hears the loud bark. Subaru, meanwhile, stares at the front door as it opens.
His mom walks out and yawns, "Yes, can I help you-"
She stops mid-sentence, "Subaru, there you are!"
Subaru laughs, "Uh, hi mom. Longtime no see. "
"I would agree! You've been gone for several hours now! Your father looked everywhere for you."
"Huh?"
Subaru was confused. Ram, however, watched the exchange between Subaru and his mother and smirked slightly. Her eyes drifted to her, and Ram felt the scrutinizing glare of Subaru's mom.
"I see now. So she is why you are leaving at night."
"Who, Ram?"
"So that's her name." Subaru's mom steps in front of her. "Hello, I'm Natsuki Naoko." She looks at her up and down.
Ram bows, "Hello, I'm Ram. A maid-" Subaru shushes her and throws a hand over her mouth. Ram squirms and has the mind to bite his hand but chooses not to out of respect for his mother. She instead plots her revenge for later.
"Uh-huh," Naoko replies. She looks back at Subaru and sighs, "Well, bring your girlfriend inside, and I'll put some tea on. You can explain yourself then."
"Oh, she's not-"
"Ma'am, Ram would rather die than be Barusu's-"
Naoko looks back and stares at them both. It wasn't up for debate, and the two stopped trying to explain themselves to her.
"What were you saying?"
"Oh, uh–tea sounds great!"
"Y-Yes, thank you for your hospitality."
Naoko smiles and goes inside. Ram and Subaru look at one another briefly before following after her.