A/N: I will do my best to keep this brief. This is an OC x Rem fanfiction that I have gotten explicit permission from the creator of the original Male Reader x Rem writer, _kaip0, to base aspects of his story off of. The first 10 chapters should be ready to read whenever I get through with them, but afterwards, I will try to keep a proper schedule going for said chapters, preferably on Fridays or whenever _kaip0 is finished with Arc 4 of his fanfic.
I should advise however, this series will have some small lore spoilers in regards to later arcs of the web novel, but as it stands right now, in the first several, if you have watched the first and second seasons of the anime, you will not be spoiled. If there is ever a spoiler beyond the second season, I will be sure to make an A/N from myself and/or _kaip0 at the end of the previous chapter for said spoiler.
Finally, this story does not "insert" Lyra over the main character, Subaru. Everything is made to be as lore friendly as possible with very little liberties taken. The first 3 chapters are background for the reader, while chapter 4 will be the first chapter that will have Rem actually in it.
Lastly: Both myself and _kaip0 do not own anything. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu is written and owned by Tappei Nagatsuki and published by Media Factory. Please support the official release.
Chapter 1: Convenience Store Blues
???: I have given him a most tenuous and difficult path. Soon he will be closer then ever... I'm so happy... But perhaps he will need a friend, an ally, a confidant.
???: Yes, that is what I shall do. I will bring her from his same world. She will be so close to him, and for that, I will be eternally ENVIOUS of her.
Lyra Anderson was getting ready to move into her own apartment. Being legally emancipated when she was younger due to her own personal reasons, she had spent at least some of her time living at her friends' place
However, since she now had enough money saved up from her part-time job, both her and the parents of her friend agreed that it was time for her to find her own place to stay. They looked on various websites for affordable apartment housing, and now, here Lyra was, havingrecently gotten help with putting in furniture and then moving in the next day.
Now, for the long car ride there.
By the time the sun reached it's highest along the path she was set to drive, both her and her car were running low on fuel.
Lyra: *sigh* Looks like I'm nearly out of gas.. Time for a refill, I guess. Now, hopefully I can make it to the nearest gas station in time before I run out and this car breaks down and stops working...
At the beginning of her journey, there was little choice, either hitchhike with a backpack, or be loaned an old compact economy car, and with it, Lyra could at least carry more of her personal possessions to her new home along with the furniture that she already had waiting there for her.
Day turned to night, as she put distance behind herself across the land.
Eventually, Lyra came upon what she personally saw as an oasis along her long journey ahead. The truck stop, boldly named "LAST CHANCE GAS, BEER, AND FOOD" as its bright, dated neon lights gave inquiry to, loomed as one of the only man-made structures for as far as the eye could see. A sign under its neon lights had listed the distances to the next gas station. Starting from the top, each had been subsequently crossed out over time, with the distance from this location being listed as greater and greater each time.
Truly this stretch of road was no longer eagerly traveled. And as such, she felt the need to get gas and provisions here before the long stretch ahead.
Pulling up to the gas pump, Lyra stepped out from her car and gave a long stretch. Taking her wallet out of her purse, she attempted to swipe her card, however, she was surprised to see how dated the pumps really were.
Lyra: No card slot, huh?
Looking down to the pump's handle, a label just above it read: "PAY INSIDE"
Picking up the pump handle, Lyra could hear the pump begin to hum to light, and the lights behind the price and amount tickers flickered on, illuminating the two sets of zeros for each. With that, she opened the gas cap, and let the fuel flow.
With nightfall, Lyra felt the chill that the sun's absence had allowed. While the fuel pumped, he took this opportunity to put her jacket on. Looking up to the convenience store in front of her, Lyra checked her phone to see what time it was.
Lyra: Crap, it's dead.
It was then that reality hit her, she had neglected to bring her car-phone charger or charge up her phone properly before she left for her move.
Lyra: *sigh* I really hope this place has a charger.
Lyra walked up the door, and peered inside.
Lyra: Oh, thank goodness...it's open.
Lyra walked around the aisles, looking for cheap provisions, and most importantly, a way to charge her phone.
Seeming as this was a truck stop, the convenience store was much like a miniature grocery store. Along with its rows of junk food and surgery drinks, there was also area's for toiletries, personal hygiene products, and other small items that a trucker might want while on the job.
Coming upon an aisle of what seemed to be mostly electronics, Lyra looked about to find herself a charger for her phone. Searching up and down, what mostly populated this isle were all sorts of gimmick products, cheap souvenirs, and countless phone cases. Finding what she assumed was the hook for a charger and bending down to see it, Lyra was devastated to see am "OUT OF STOCK. MORE ON THE WAY" sign hanging from where a charger should be.
Standing back up, Lyra looked from side to side, trying to find perhaps a different charger. Something, anything that would charge her phone.
Part of what went along on this journey of hers was an app on her phone. It was an educational app which would help her study things such as important life and survival skills.
Frantically looking about, a solution was finally found. Taking the box off its hook, Lyra read the cover out loud to herself.
Lyra: 'Solar battery pack and phone charger.'
Flipping the box over, Lyra read the back as well.
Lyra: 'Charge your mobile devices anywhere the sun shines.'
Taking one last look around the aisle, Lyra was confidant that this was heronly option.
Having bought the power pack, her food for the day, and paying for her gas, Lyra sighed at the last two remaining bills in her wallet.
Lyra: I really hope the next place takes cards.
Getting back into her car and moving her bag and purse out of the way into the floorboard of the backseat , Lyra moved to a parking space, ate her food, hooked her phone up to the charger, let it charge about halfway, unplugged her phone from the charger, watched her lesson, and took a quick test for said lesson afterwards.
The lessons were usually very light, quick, and very easy. She had done tests on everything from basic biology, basic finances, to even simple things like listening to some music and then explaining how it made you feel.
Having finished with her lesson, Lyra shifted about in the car, putting away her things in the tiny space she had. The little car, while cramped, and lacking any real creature comforts, and safety equipment (or cup holders for that matter) had been good to her.
Before heading back out on the road, Lyra stepped out from her car once more and stretched. As she did, Lyra looked back up to the large neon lights above her.
For a brief second, it was as if the lights from the sign, the gas station, and store, had all gone out at once and left her in pitch black darkness, but during this second, she felt weightless, and as if a hand had caressed her face.
Lyra shook her head and shut her eyes, trying to shake off what she perceived as drowsiness, and got back into the car.
As she reached to put the keys into the ignition her mind felt heavy, and as she inserted the keys and twisted, the gauge cluster lights came on in anticipation, but as soon as they did, the same thing as earlier happened again.
It seemed as if the power for the neon signs, station, and store all flickered off again in unison, leaving her again blind in the darkness.
But what was the strange about this time was the lights on the gauge cluster seemed to go out with them, or was she just imagining that? Was she really this tired? Should she even drive?
She reached around the darkness of the interior, first trying to find the dome light, only to stop when she heard a voice whisper in his ear;
?: Will you assist my beloved?
No. No no no no. She needed light, and she needed it now. Fumbling around, she reached instead to her left, trying to find the headlight switch.
But as soon as she was able to turn them on, all the lights of rest stop came back to life.
Lyra looked around, looking for the source of the voice, but to no avail, it went undiscovered. Besides from the clerk inside she handed his money to, she was the only person at this truck stop.
Again, Lyra wondered if she was simply too tired to function.
Lyra: I really should sleep...
No, she still has to reach her destination before office hours closed and she isn't able to contact anyone to let her in. She has to tough it out.
The car fired up, and Lyra was off into the cool night.
With the truck stop far behind her, the road continued on for a long time.
With the current radio station starting to fade to static, Lyra grabbed the dial and proceeded to search for something, anything to break the silence.
Radio: -nd you're listening to Classic Country! Radio station KX-(heavy static)
Lyra: That cut out rather quick. Am I under some power lines or something?
Lyra tried leaning forward and looking up out of the windshield, but was cut off by the sound of a not-so-familiar, familiar voice.
?: You will help my beloved, won't you?
Lyra: Wha- who the-?!
Lyra sat straight back, and grabbed the rear view mirror and angled it down and to the right to where the sound had came from.
She could only see the black figure of woman, sitting in her back seat. She had never seen anything like it. Almost like it were CG, but really good CG.
After what seemed like the longest few seconds of her life, she jerked her torso around to look upon the apparition with her own eyes.
Nothing.
Nothing but an empty seat.
Lyra: I really, really just need to pull over and sleep. Something isn't right with me...
She started to press the brake to slow down and pull of the road, but no sooner then he took his foot of the gas and moved it, a light came across the horizon. A very bright light.
Lyra: I guess that trucker really wants to avoid the weight scales if they're coming this far out of the way.
However, Lyra quickly realized this light wasn't the headlights of a wayward trucker. It was approaching much too quickly, and much to bright.
?: You will help him won't you?
Lyra's eyes darted back up the rear-view mirror, where the apparition had reappeared.
She turned again back to the back seat, which remained empty. Turning back to the road, the light was much bigger, brighter, and closer.
Her eyes moved back to the rear-view mirror, where the apparition still remained, which only prompted her to turn back yet again to the empty seat. And back to the road to an even bigger light.
The rear-view.
The back seat.
The road.
The light.
The rear-view.
The backseat.
The road.
The light.
?: You will help him won't you? Say that you will.
The rear-view. The backseat. The road. The light. The rear-view. The backseat. The road. The light.
?: Please...
Lyra: Uh lady I don't know if you're able to tell but we've got something big headed right for us. You might wanna stop freaking me the HELL out and let me concentrate on not getting us both killed. Just how did you even manage to get into my car, anyways, huh? What is with you?!
?: Please say that you will help him. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please-
Lyra truly could not tell what was happening or what to do. She was too concerned with her guest to pull over, but if she didn't she'd surely die at the hands of whatever was coming towards her.
Her attention flashed between it all.
The rear-view. The backseat. The road. The light.
Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light. Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light. Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light. Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light. Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light. Rear-view. Backseat. Road. Light.
?: Please help him. I love him so much. I love him I love him I love him I love him I love him I love him I love him I love him—
Lyra at this point tore the wheel to left. She didn't care what she ran into or off of.
The car spun it's tires on the ground. Lyra could hear herself driving over unknown amounts of debris, the tires kicking up rocks and dirt.
It was then she noticed the light was not on the horizon, or even on the road. This light that simply manifesting in front of car itself.
LYRA: FINE. I'LL HELP WHOEVER THE HELL THIS "BELOVED" OF YOURS IS, NOW JUST GET OUT OF MY *HONK*-ING CAR BEFORE I CALL THE COPPPPSSSS!!!
?: Thank you. You have my gratitude.
Lyra: ...h-huh?! Wait! What are you...?
Lyra then felt a hand rest on hershoulder. She could only look down and see a black hand laying across her shoulder, and watched as the darkness melted away, leaving pale skin. She was able to catch a single view of the hands owner, moments before they vanished in the brightness from the light.
A silver haired girl with amethyst eyes.
And were those... elf ears?