The door shuts behind Subaru and Ram.
"So, what is it you wanted to discuss?" Subaru asks.
She turns to face him, crossing her arms; Ram's body language vividly communicates a growing concern she has had since arriving in Japan, which is becoming more serious now that it has been two days.
Subaru, already assuming any conversation that needs privacy, means a growing grievance that Ram needs him to clarify. Other than the fact they are both stuck in Japan at the moment, Subaru couldn't precisely pinpoint what else could be bothering her, adding to the mystery of the situation.
"Barusu," She says as if she didn't already have his attention, voicing his name like an annoyed parent.
"Yeah, Ram?"
"How many days has it been?" She questions.
Subaru snorts, "Are you losing track of time here or something? Shouldn't you know how many days it's been?"
"Of course, Ram knows how many days it's been. She isn't asking because she has forgotten."
The rhetorical questioning aside, Subaru wishes Ram would cut to the heart of the matter, skip the apparent interview process on her part, and simply tell him what's on her mind. Subaru gets along with Ram, but at times like this, her personality is hard to bear and requires a monk's patience. Subaru hasn't attained eternal peace, and despite being able to weather most of her verbal onslaughts by now, Subaru can't help but wish he were talking to someone else.
"So then, why ask something you already know?"
"Because Ram fears there is a bigger issue that Barusu isn't addressing, and that issue lies with the time we spend here."
He knows that the amount of time they waste in his home world equals time they will never get back with their friends and family, and with the past several months behind him, he doesn't want to be apart from those friends anymore.
"You forget how long I spent in Vollachia, and despite what you might think, I don't like being away from Emilia-tan and the others either."
"Just Emilia-tan?" Ram says mockingly.
"You know what I mean!"
Ram rolls her eyes, "Regardless of Barusu preferring Emilia-sama over her darling sister or his duties to Roswaal-sama, the issue Ram is having-"
Subaru cuts her off before she can finish. "Hey, I still care about Rem, and really…? My duties to Roswaal? He is the last person I am concerned about!"
"Barusu, Ram's trying to act serious. And show respect to Roswaal-sama—your employe."
Subaru rolls his eyes.
"Now then, Let's keep the conversation on track, so don't derail it any further."
Subaru shakes his head, "You're the one derailing it."
Ram doesn't take the bait and keeps talking, "Since arriving here, Ram keeps thinking about what Naoko-san said two nights ago. Do you remember?"
He scratches his head, "Uh, it feels like a lot has happened since then, but she said my dad was looking for me for hours…" Subaru's face turns pale, "Wait. That can't be right?"
Ram's eyes narrow, "Barusu, exactly how much time has passed since we arrived here?"
The thought of time and its relation to their current predicament had occurred to Subaru the moment his mother stated his father had searched for him for several hours; however, what should have been a significant issue was quickly discarded with everything else happening around him. Subaru isn't sure how much Ram has thought about the passing of time, but judging by how tightly she squeezes her forearms, he can now tell she is doing everything she can to hold it together.
Subaru digs into the trenches of his mind, attempting to come up with an estimate that he can provide, but knowing his parents assumed he had been missing for several hours and how long he had actually been gone meant only one thing.
"For every few hours that pass by here...a year goes by in Lugunica..." he finally says.
His knees feel wobbly, and Subaru feels like he is on a boat drifting amidst the sea in a raging storm. He and Ram are hopelessly stuck in their infernal quagmire of an unfortunate and wholly illogical circumstance, with zero hope of getting out.
He can't match Ram's piercing gaze and stands trembling before her.
Ram's voice nearly cracks, but she maintains her composure, "Then… then that means," She says with uncharacteristic nervousness, "Every hour we spend here wasting, Rem, a-and Roswaal-sama, they're…"
Subaru didn't want to think about it, "No-No, this can't be it; I-I didn't work this hard to lose everything so anti-climatically!"
Subaru leans against a wall separating his house from the street and slides down to a seated position. He cradles his head in his hands. "Why? Why was I sent back?" he says to himself.
Ram didn't answer. She can't, even if Ram knows why someone sent Subaru and her to his world; her mind is elsewhere: to the sister Ram will never see again and to the man she loves. Ram had placed her trust in Subaru to see them out of this mess and safely return her to those she loves most of all, but as it stands, seeing Rem or Roswaal again may as well have been a pipe dream at this current junction.
They are silent for a time before Ram speaks, "S-So, even if-" She clears her throat and composes herself, "Even if we made it back, assuming we are correct about the difference in time between here and Lugunica, most the people we know would be old or—gone…"
Despite doing everything she can to sound calm, Ram can't bring herself to think of the few people she loved and cherish being dead.
Subaru, however, didn't answer. All he can think about is Emilia and how she is handling his sudden disappearance or how Beatrice is coping with being unable to locate him. He thinks about Spica, crying in Rem's arms for him, and how Rem is annoyed his absence is making her cry, and wonders if Rem is even worried about him. He also thinks about Garfiel training or Otto drinking. Frederica, Petra, and Meili—even Roswaal. Subaru longs to see them all. And the weight of the revelation on Ram's part nearly kills his motivation.
What's worse, if Ram is correct, and they have been gone years now, Satella hasn't been able to find him. Out of everyone he knows, how she handles the horrible scenario is a mystery. She is the reason he was in Lugunica in the first place, assumingly dragging him there that fateful night. If years fly by with every passing hour in Japan, why hasn't she come for him? Subaru knew that without her aid, neither he nor Ram would ever see Lugunica or their friends again.
"Barusu…"
He doesn't hear her. Subaru sits against the wall, his mind elsewhere and a thousand-yard stare in his eyes.
"Barusu…!" Ram calls again. Her patience has already worn thin since the start of everything. She grows annoyed and walks over to Subaru, attempting to pick him up from his collar.
Her straining might have been amusing to Subaru, and he might have reminded her that in Japan, she was no different than an average girl with a sharp tongue, but he didn't laugh.
"What…?" He says after Ram shakes his collar a couple of times.
"This is not the time to be drowning in your pathetic existence! We need to put our heads together and think-"
Subaru grits his teeth, grabs ahold of her forearms, and pries her away from his collar, "Come up with what? A plan!?" Ram backs up, and Subaru stands. "I don't know if you've realized it, but I don't have a plan! What stupid plan I did have fucking failed, and there is NOTHING we can do to get home!"
Subaru slams a balled fist against the retaining wall behind him. Ram doesn't reply while he continues his tirade.
"That's right, Ram! You're stuck here! And with me, of all people! How fucking ironic is that!? I bet you've never seen this coming! Shit—! I know I didn't! And even if we did make it back! What about everyone? Huh!? Emilia might be around, but what's it matter! She'll probably move on! Rem would either be old or dead! And as for Roswaal? Well, news flash, Ram! I haven't thought about him once, and out of everything that's happening, at least I don't have to look at his stupid fuckin-"
"SHUT UP!" Ram shouts, cutting Subaru's tirade short.
Up until now, Ram has done everything she can to maintain her composure and remain calm while they work through this together. Already on edge, Ram can't sit back and listen to Subaru spew word vomit all over her and ruminate on the fact that she will never see the people she cares about again.
She glares at Subaru and steps toward him, "Ram is already aware of all that and doesn't require Barusu to explain it to her! So instead of rubbing salt into her open and bleeding wounds, maybe Barusu should pull his foot from his mouth and think for once!"
Subaru matches her glare with one of his own, "That might be possible if it weren't for someone making an already terrible situation worse right now!"
"Oh, and Barusu has been doing everything he can to alleviate Ram's concerns? How noble of you."
"And what have you done, huh!? Besides wanting to go shopping and treat all this like a mini vacation. What suggestions have you come up with to help us get back!?"
At this point, Ram and Subaru are within an inch apart. Subaru stands over her, glowering, and Ram looks up at him challengingly. With how loud they both are, it's a mystery that neither Naoko nor Kenichi checked outside to see what all the commotion was about.
They stare into each other's angered expressions as if daring the other to make the first move.
"Barusu…" Ram spoke in a low voice, "...need Ram to remind you that you're the reason behind all this? As you so elegantly explained already, this isn't the first time you've transitioned between two different worlds, so how exactly can Ram help when this isn't her field of expertise?"
Subaru's lip twitched, "Well, you can start by being a little nicer to me for a change."
"Ram's been nothing but pleasant with you. If you believe Ram is mistreating you, you might have been better off returning home alone."
Subaru chuckles sarcastically, "If your attitude is what you consider pleasant, then I would hate to see how you treat your enemies! I can't be the only one to feel this way. Besides Rem and Roschi, it isn't like you care for anyone else living in the mansion!"
Ram's shoulders flinch, and her eyes widen. Seeing her expression, Subaru realizes he's gone too far, even though Ram isn't exactly being civil. Subaru still can't help but feel guilty for accusing Ram of only caring about Rem and Roswaal. And even though she isn't exactly the affectionate type, Subaru knows she does care for others.
Coming to his senses, Subaru looks away, "Ram…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that..."
Ram doesn't reply to him, and instead, she turns around and walks to the door.
"Barusu," She says before opening the door, "Ram cares about more people than just Roswaal-sama and Rem, and despite what you might believe, she misses everyone in the mansion, even Garfiel and Otto. So the next time you open your mouth, use your tiny brain and think before you speak."
She opens the door and walks into the house, slightly slamming it behind her. Subaru stares at the space she was in a moment ago and hangs his head. Even if the situation is terrible, and his heart aches for his friends back in Lugunica, at least someone he cares about is with him.
"Pathetic…that's what you are, Natsuki Subaru. You're fucking pathetic."
After a few moments, he goes inside and falls face forward on the couch.
Subaru slept terribly. Worse than usual. And what little sleep he did manage to snag were dreams of his friends. He didn't experience nightmares. Subaru dreamt of happy occasions, surrounded by everyone he knew. Emilia was there, doting on him, along with Beatrice, providing typical jealous commentary. Rem, too, was more congenial to him, appearing to have regained her memories; she was preparing more food than he could eat. This was Subaru's dream. And it was more cruel than any past nightmare.
"Good morning, honey." His mother calls from the kitchen. Even though Subaru is still lying on the couch, Naoko knows he is awake from her son's groaning and muttering unintelligible statements.
"Breakfast is almost ready. You better get up before your father takes control of the bathroom! I know how you two boys enjoy competing over who uses it first."
Subaru sits up, "Yeah, you're right Mom…"
Naoko looks at him from the corner of her eye. She can see how exhausted he is and knows something is weighing heavily on his mind.
"Are you alright, Subaru?" She asks out of motherly concern.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine, Mom! Right as rain!" Subaru feigns a reassuring smile and briskly walks to the bathroom.
Naoko sees right through him but doesn't wish to seem too overbearing, and keeps any more comments of concern to herself. Besides, now that Ram is living with them, she can always use her to figure out what's eating away at her son.
Subaru yawns, scratching his head as he walks toward the bathroom. He reaches for the doorknob but misses when the door opens. Ram nearly bumps into him.
"Oh, uh, sorry Ram…"
Ram doesn't respond and pushes past him. Subaru watches her go and sighs, "Figures she would still be mad." He doesn't feel it necessary to call for her and enters the bathroom.
Ram walks into the kitchen and bows to Naoko, "Good morning, Naoko-san. Do you need help with anything?"
Naoko looks at her and smiles, "Good morning, and thank you for asking. If you don't mind setting the table for me, that would be a big help."
Ram complies and goes to get silverware and plates.
"Already found your way around the kitchen!" Naoko says, "Subaru and my husband still have issues finding plates and bowls, but that's men for you…"
"So it would seem," Ram says, making her way to the kitchen table.
With the table set, Naoko brings breakfast out and sets the two pans of food in the middle. The two sit down and waste no time making a plate for themselves. Naoko watches Ram as she adds healthy portions of potatoes to her plate. She sips her coffee, not taking her eyes off of the girl.
Sensing her stare, Ram turns to her, "Naoko-san, do you need something?"
Naoko places her cup down, "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I was just thinking and 'spaced out,' as Subaru would say."
"Okay." Ram turns back to her plate and continues eating.
Naoko continues to look at her. She smiles, "Ram-chan, do you enjoy swimming?"
Ram looks up from her plate and dabs her mouth with a napkin. She turns back to Naoko.
"Ram is indifferent to swimming. She would swim if she were ever in a situation requiring her to. Why do you ask?"
Naoko rests her chin in her hands, "Oh, no reason."
"Okay, then."
Ram goes back to eating.
"Ram-chan…"
She stops and repeats the same sequence as before. Placing her napkin on the table, she turns to Naoko, "Yes, Naoko-san?"
Naoko draws a circle around the rim of her coffee mug, "Well, if don't my prying, I want to know more about you, considering you are living here now."
Ram isn't precisely sure what Naoko wants to know so badly and prefers to keep her personal life to herself; however, Subaru's mother's request is perfectly reasonable, especially since she and Subaru's father are giving her a place to stay.
"Okay, what did you want to know?"
"Well, for starters, what's your last name?"
Ram stares at Naoko and thinks about all the possible last names she could use. She considers using Roswaal's last name but changes her mind, and decides to tell the truth instead: "Ram doesn't have a last name. Her name is simply Ram."
"No last name?" Naoko is utterly perplexed by the notion, "What about your parents? They have last names, don't they?"
Ram doesn't want to discuss her parents, and instead of going into the specifics, she shakes her head, "No, neither of Ram's parents had a last name."
Naoko stares at her. Ram's divulging the personal information, or rather lack thereof, brought more questions than answers, but able to see that Ram doesn't wish to get into the subject of her past, she changes the topic.
"Oh," Naoko looks at her cup and feels the air grow awkward around her. She looks up, "You mentioned having a sister before. What is her name, again? Are you two close?"
Ram looks back at her food and then at Naoko, "Yes, Ram has a twin named Rem. From what she understands, we are both close."
Naoko nods slowly, "Oh, well, maybe I can meet her one day. I'm sure she is as sweet as you!"
Ram grips the hem of her skirt, "Y-Yes, maybe you will get a chance to meet her someday."
She doesn't wish to further the conversation and goes back to eating. Sensing the discussion is over, Naoko does the same.
Soon, Subaru arrives at the table, along with Kenichi.
"A western breakfast, eh?" Kenichi says, sitting down and loading piles of bacon onto his plate.
"Hey, don't take all the bacon! It's not every day we have it!" Subaru shouts and starts pulling pieces of bacon from his father's plate.
Kenichi laughs as he plays tug-o-war with his son with a piece of bacon. He looks at Ram, "Mornin' Ram-chan! How'd you sleep?"
Ram bows her head, "Ram slept well; even though her night was ruined, she had no trouble sleeping."
"Night ruined?" Kenichi looks at Subaru, "Alright, Subaru, what'd ya do?"
Subaru snorts, "I don't know what you're talking about. Also, mind your own business!"
Kenichi shrugs, "I'm just trying to impart wisdom to my son. But if wishes to stay in the dog house, that's on him."
Subaru rolls his eyes and decides to eat and ignore his father entirely.
There is silence around the table while the few eating continues. Naoko, looking between Subaru and Ram, shifts her focus to Kenichi.
"Have you started packing yet?" She asks.
Kenichi rubs the back of his head, "C'mon, you know the answer to that!"
"Yes, but me asking is my way of telling you that you need to hurry up and finish packing."
Kenichi laughs, "Yeah, yeah. It's only a short vacation, so don't worry! I'll start packing today!"
"We leave tomorrow," Naoko says, reminding her husband as she gets up. She takes Ram's plate along with hers.
"I know that! Trust me! I know exactly what clothes to pack, so it will take me no time at all!"
In his own world, Subaru misses the conversation between his parents, and even though Ram had heard what they were talking about, she doesn't feel it necessary to chime in.
The conversation continues with Kenichi shifting focus to Subaru and Ram.
"Well, seeing how Ram-chan is with living with us, this year's family vacation will be extra memorable!" he says, finally obtaining their attention.
Looking up at his father from his plate of food, Subaru stares at him in confusion, "What are you talking about, Dad?"
Ram stares at Kenichi as well, but waits for him to clarify what he means before asking any questions.
"What do you mean? Our family vacation, remember? Your mother and my anniversary is coming up, and we talked before about going to Okinawa for some family fun!"
Subaru tilts his head, "Family fun? Okinawa?"
Naoko sticks her head out from the kitchen. "Subaru, don't you remember me telling you about our summer plans last week?"
Subaru looks at his mom, "What…?"
Ram is just as confused but for different reasons. Instead of relying on Subaru to make sense of the situation, she looks toward Naoko for an explanation.
"Naoko-san. Care to explain this to Ram?"
Naoko returns to the table, "Of course! Every year, we take a trip as a family, but the difference this year is that you're living with us, so you should come too!"
Meanwhile, Subaru tries to think back to the week before he arrived in Luguinca. He vaguely remembers his mom poking her head into his room to tell him something, but he was so absorbed in video games that he missed it entirely. So, to get a better understanding, he listens to what his mom is telling Ram.
Naoko looks at Ram expectantly, waiting for her reply. She might have sought his help, but still annoyed about last night, Ram decides what help he can offer wouldn't be much help at all.
'Knowing Barusu, he probably has a dumb, confused look on his face.' She thinks to herself.
Naoko smiles hopefully, and Ram sighs, "Very well. Ram is staying with you both, so thank you for your consideration. Ram would love to go."
"Yay!" Naoko gets up from the table and takes Ram's hands, "You and I will have so much fun together!"
Wide-eyed, Ram leans back, "Uh, okay…Ram is looking forward to it…"
Subaru meanwhile looks back at his father, "Wait, so we are leaving tomorrow?"
Kenichi nods, "Yep! So you better pack your bags, Barusu!" Kenichi gets up from the table, "Which reminds me; I better call the inn to see about another room. I figure you and I can bunk together and let the girls take the other room!"
"Hey, wait! Didn't you say it's yours and Mom's anniversary? Why are we tagging along?"
Kenichi pats his head; Subaru does all he can to escape his dad's grasp, "Because you're our son, of course! And your mother and I would never leave here by yourself! Especially with a cute girl!"
Kenichi winks at Ram, who instinctively dodges him. Subaru cringes listening to his father.
"But this is so sudden!? I mean, Ram just got here!" He looks at her for the first time since sitting at the table for breakfast, "Are you sure you want to go on vacation with these two? They're not exactly normal!"
"Hey!" Naoko and Kenichi reply together in protest.
Ram looks at Subaru from the corner of her eyes. She says nothing, but her silence is enough for Subaru to know she is still upset with him.
Subaru slumps in his chair, "Great. This vacation already feels like a sinking ship."
Kenichi places a hand on his shoulder, "Don't sweat the details, my boy. And when we get back! We'll talk school!"
He looks at Ram, "Oh, and if I'm going to enroll you too, I'll need your identification and school records.
"My what-"
Kenichi cuts her off, "But until then! Let's look forward to some family fun in the sun!"
He says this as he leaves the kitchen on his way to start packing.
"Ram, how about you and I go looking for bathing suits? I can assume you don't own one."
She looks at her, "Uh, sure."
Ram gets up from the table, "Ram will get her bag." She looks once at Subaru and leaves to fetch her purse.
Subaru watches her leave the kitchen, and Naoko stares at her son while he watches her go, "Subaru, while Ram and I are gone. Why don't you pack, okay?"
"Huh, oh yeah, I'll do that."
Subaru gets up and takes his plate to the kitchen. He places the plate in the sink. His mother continues to trace his movements as Subaru stands, washing his dish.
"And one more thing, Subaru,"
He looks at her over his shoulder, "Yeah, Mom?"
"Whatever is going on between you and Ram, you must talk to her. You may not realize it, but your father and I know much more than we let on."
She winks and leaves the kitchen.
Subaru doesn't respond to her and looks back at the dish he is washing. "Yeah, if only saying 'sorry, I'm a jerk' would fix everything.
He finishes washing his dishes and leaves the kitchen to start packing for the dreaded beach trip sprung upon him by his loving parents.
With the way things are going with Ram, Subaru had very little to look forward to.