Chapter 6: First Day on the New Job
With both herself and Rem back in her room, Lyra sat at her desk and Rem at the foot of the bed.
They discussed what exactly Lyra meant by wanting to be tutored.
Rem: So... Lyra-chan is... illiterate?
Lyra: Well it's pretty harsh when you say it like that, to be honest..
Rem: Rem is sorry! Rem didn't mean to disrespect—
Putting her hand up to halt Rem's apology, Lyra conceded that she was correct.
Lyra: But you are completely correct, at least in the context of only being in these lands.
Rem: Rem is guessing that's not all though?
Lyra: No, I need to learn things like relevant history, how your money works, and like—
Rem had a slightly disappointed look on her face, causing Lyra to halt her words.
Rem: Lyra-chan was never given a proper education, was she?
Lyra: Oh no I was! Many years in fact! Here.
Taking the quill and ink, Lyra wrote her name as she knew it.
Lyra: See!
Rem took a moment to analyze it.
Rem: These... just look like scribbles. How would these form the sounds needed to be words?
Lyra: Well that's just my name.
Rem nodded, almost as if she wasn't fully convinced.
Lyra: I'll write your name next.
Lyra proceeded to cover her quill in fresh ink, and using her best handwriting, she wrote out Rem's name. Sliding the parchment over to Rem, she looked over the new set of symbols on the sheet and contemplated it.
Rem: This is… Rem's name?
Lyra: Yep! Here, I'll write more then.
Knowing she fully didn't understand her writing, Lyra dipped her quill once more and wrote out on the paper "Rem is the cutest girl in the kingdom."
Rem picked up the sheet and analyzed the foreign symbols freshly written by Lyra. Giving a look of curiosity back to Lyra, she put her finger on the sheet under where she wrote "Rem."
Rem: Lyra-chan wrote something with Rem's name?
A bead of sweat ran down the side of Lyra's face as she turned slightly away, blushed, fidgeted with her hair a bit, and didn't immediately respond, which gave Rem all the clues she needed to confirm that was indeed her name.
Rem: And what of the rest of this? What does it say?
Lyra: Well it u-uhh, well... i-it says in a very antiquated, and uhh, c-colloquial t-terminology, with a good amount of s-slang incorporated into
Rem gave a slight giggle at the long usage of words to stall for reasons she understood, before slightly blushing and giving a half smile of her own.
Rem: Rem has a good enough guess as to what Lyra-chan wrote.
Lyra sighed, perhaps she knew, perhaps she didn't. She would be okay if she didn't because it would save her some embarrassment, but if she didn't fully know, she still wanted her to know, deep down.
Lyra: Fine, then. Tell you what, I'll make you a deal.
Rem nodded, prompting Lyra to continue.
Lyra: If you can teach me how to write my name, and yours, as well as a few other words, I'll rewrite it so you can read it.
Rem smiled and replied.
Rem: A promise then.
Lyra smiled back at Rem.
Lyra: Yes. Of course.
Rem continued to coach and tutor Lyra with the basics of reading and writing for a little over an hour after the sun had set. Drawing their study session to a close with a yawn, Rem had deemed it time to rest for the day tomorrow. The two said their goodnights and Rem headed to her room.
Not needing to do much afterwards, Lyra almost immediately crawled into bed, ready to sleep. Her mind raced with thoughts on her current situation. What was happening back home? What was she doing here? What would be her next goal? Lyra felt the potential for great opportunities ahead of her, but her mind was also plagued with much uncertainty and anxiety.
As Lyra laid in her bed, so did Rem in hers. Rem's mind raced as well, although with different ideas.
Rem wants to fully trust Lyra-chan, but there is still something that cannot be overlooked… Lyra-chan and Subaru alike both have it… Certainly not everyone who has it is guilty, but it is usually the most telling sign… More time is simply needed to fully understand their motives.
The next day was another early one for Lyra. The day began with clipping the lawn, edging more walkways, and trimming more shrubs.
Ram again informed Lyra that her duties for the day were done by late afternoon, however with Rem not free from her duties of preparing supper just yet, Lyra had decided to help Subaru with the rest of her duties in hope that she would have someone to accompany her on his evening walk around the gardens, simply in the name of killing time before her tutoring session.
Clink* *Crash*
Lyra: Shit...
Subaru: ...Damn it!!
While in the effort of helping Subaru dust, it was unclear who had accidentally knocked a flower vase over and broke it.
Subaru and Lyra stood over the broken prices with flowers mixed among it.
Subaru: Well, one of us should probably go ask Ram where the extra vases are and the other should stay and clean it up.
Lyra: Rock-paper-scissors?
Acknowledging, Subaru assumed his ready stance, fist drawn, nodding to Lyra in agreement.
Lyra Subaru: Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!
Lyra threw her preferred starting option, countering what Subaru threw.
Subaru: Alright... I'll go get Ram, you can clean...
Lyra: Woah woah. I threw down so I didn't have to clean.
Subaru: What?! Do you want to be the one to piss off Ram?
Shooting a finger gun at Subaru while walking off, Lyra answered Subaru.
Lyra: I've got a plan.
Subaru: You better not blame me!
Lyra poked her head from back around the corner.
Lyra: Oh, come on now! You know I'm not that mean!
Beginning to sweep up the pieces of shattered porcelain and flower debris, Subaru began to mutter on his breath.
Subaru: Yeah I'll believe it when it's Ram dragging your ear and not mine.
Opening the door to the kitchen, Lyra poked her head around the corner to find Rem chopping some ingredients, preparing for that evening's dinner.
Lyra: Knock knock. Hey, Rem.
Rem: Oh! Lyra-chan! Dinner isn't quite ready yet... And Rem is afraid today's tasks left Rem and Nee-sama without a choice but to delay dinner... Nee-sama agreed to take the rest of the laundry so Rem could start the meal sooner
Lyra: Wow...yeah, that seems like a lot for sure. Even Subaru was taking longer today, so I decided to help him, and that's kinda why I'm here.
With her response, Rem tilted her head in question, her blue hair shifting which eye of hers was visible. Lyra began to look up and away, poking her fingers together and averting her eyes slightly, looking like a guilty child.
Lyra: I might have been dusting and I may have, on accident, knocked a vase over. Sorry...
Rem: *Sigh* Ara, Lyra-chan.
She walked up to her, stopping right before her, wearing a slightly annoyed face, hands on her hips.
Oh I think I just overloaded her with another thing she has to do now, huh?
Her annoyed face quickly turned into a playful smile with a wink.
Rem: There's a reason you're a groundskeeper, not a servant.
Incredibly relieved, Lyra let out her held in breath.
Lyra: Yeah...I guess you're right...
Rem: Rem will fetch the new vase. Here.
Handing Lyra the chopping knife, she went to leave the kitchen.
Rem: Chop these like the rest, it's Nee-sama's preferred way of eating them.
Lyra: Yes ma'am!
Just as Lyra began to copy Rem's chopping style, she was about to exit out the kitchen, but turned to call back.
Rem: And in case Lyra-chan or Subaru have another vase mishap, the extra vases are kept in the hallway closet down two doors from your room.
Lyra: Gotcha. Thanks again Rem!
Lyra continued to work on Subaru's tasks with him until the early evening. Finally finishing, Lyra asked him if he had any plans after this. Without a second to spare after being asked, Subaru said he was going to check to see if Emilia was free from her studies, somewhat crudely prioritizing Emilia above himself, but Lyra didn't mind, and completely understood why. It was much harder and more rare for Subaru to see Emilia throughout the day than say Lyra seeing Rem. Lyra waited all of a few minutes to see Subaru returning back down the stairs, head down and shoulders slumping.
Subaru: Even Emilia-tan's running behind today...
Lyra: Well, wanna kill some time with a walk till suppers' ready?
Subaru: Well, I guess I don't have a choice.
Lyra and Subaru both set out to walk the same perimeter garden path that Lyra and Rem had walked the evening before. Passing the fountain, Subaru turned and looked back up at the mansion's windows, about where Emilia's room was.
Lyra stopped and let Subaru have his observation in silence. A few moments was all it took for Subaru to snap back to the current, and was surprised to see Lyra waiting for him patiently.
Heading down the path, Lyra decided to set the opening topic of their chat, making a smug facial expression towards Subaru.
Lyra: You're really sweet on her, huh?
Subaru: What do you mean?
Lyra: On Emilia, who else? You follow her around like a puppy when you can, always making really bad attempts at flirtation. Do you have the hots for her or something?
Subaru turned slightly red for a moment before giving a somber smile and looking down at the ground while still walking.
Subaru: I...u-um...y-y-yeah... I don't know, she's just the first person in this world to have shown me any kindness... It's really kind of pathetic of me, but I can't help feeling the way I feel...
Lyra : I get what you mean. You get teleported to a fantasy world and you're immediately saved by a silver-haired cutie from some alley thugs or giant rats or something like that.
Subaru: Hey! How did you know—!
Turning to Lyra with an astounded and worried look on his face, Subaru's eyes were wide open.
Lyra: Lucky guess? I was just fishing there, to be honest. Now which one was it? Alley thugs or rats?
Subaru: I'm not saying either!
Subaru crossed his arms and stopped in place, turning away from Lyra. However, through this interaction, a thought traveled through Subaru's mind. One he hadn't considered before until now. Having remembered events from one of his previous loops, it prompted a theory to form in his mind. Turning back to Lyra, Subaru didn't quite know where he should start, or how he should ask.
Subaru: So, uhhhh...Lyra?
Turning her vision to the side, and responding with a "Hmm?" Lyra acknowledged Subaru's curiosity.
Subaru: Did you uhhh...happen to...die?
With an eyebrow raised, Lyra answered.
Lyra: To get here? To this world? Uhh, no? Like I told you, I was just driving and then 'WHAM' I was here. Not like I was crossing a street and met a truck or whatever-
Subaru: No, that's not what I mean to ask. Lemme rephrase that.
Subaru had cut Lyra off, and Lyra could tell that Subaru was trying to be serious. The two stopped their walking and faced each other. While they were still ultimately unfamiliar with each other, there was a great deal of trust they needed to have in each other, perhaps not out of companionship, but more necessity. Looking Lyra straight in the eye, Subaru more bluntly asked his question
Subaru: I mean, did you die...after you got here?
A gust of wind rolled by, breaking the silence Lyra had given Subaru with his question with the sound of leaves rustling. Lyra said not a word while contemplating just what Subaru meant by what he asked.
Lyra: … No? I'm pretty sure I've been alive and kicking since the day I was born. Uhh...why do you ask? Because, not gonna lie, that is one hella weird question that you just asked...
Subaru looked down to the ground, defeated. He gave off the impression he had just learned something rather unfortunate, but Lyra couldn't tell if it had been her answer, or how she had answered, or what.
Subaru: I see. Never mind then, it's not important.
Lyra: Oh...well...if you don't want to continue talking about it, that's fine. I understand.
The two walked in silence for a few minutes, the occasional sound of their shoes scuffing the ground as they walked along the garden's path. With close to most of their walk being in silence now, Lyra broke the quietness.
Lyra: May I ask what your goal is here?
Immediately perking back up at Lyra's question, Subaru answered, relieved to be talking about something else.
Subaru: Whaddya mean?
Kicking a rock along the path downward in the direction they continued, Lyra tried to articulate what she meant.
Lyra: Like, I'm kinda just following your lead here, because like me, you're from another world—, the old world, our world, but you seemed to know more than I did when I got here.
Shaking his head, Subaru responded as best he could.
Subaru: I still don't know what you mean.
Lyra: You know... Like what is your, or our plan?
Subaru stopped and put his hand up to signal a stop.
Subaru: I'm sorry, I'm still not following...
Lyra: Are we trying to get back home? Is that something on your mind? Do you think there's some sort of hidden task or purpose set up for us?
Subaru put his hand to his chin in thought and looked down.
Subaru: Trying to get back...
Lyra: Better yet, is there a way back? Or do we even want to go back? And if not, what are we doing here?
Subaru: What are we... doing?
Lyra: Yes! If we're forgoing trying to find a path back, what are we doing here? Normally I'd imagine we'd run into some adventurers guild or have some power awoken to defeat some devil king or what have you...
Subaru could only look down while still walking and shrug.
Subaru: I guess all I'm doing is following Emilia.
Lyra sighed, but it was not for the reason Subaru maybe thought she did. Instead, Lyra was flustered with Subaru's lack of foresight and planning.
The two continued to walk for a while longer till Subaru spoke back up.
Subaru: You never said what your plan was.
Lyra: — — —
Subaru: Do you not have one?
Lyra could only close her eyes and shake her head, while Subaru could only wonder if that meant that she didn't have one, or if she simply was denying that she didn't.
Taking a few more paces, Lyra finally spoke her mind.
Lyra: I... *sigh, wasn't the happiest back in the old world. I was getting really tired of it all...
Subaru was slightly surprised at her reply.
Lyra: I had no real promising opportunities for anything worthwhile… Relationships, career, education, you name it. I have had countless moments of anxiety, and everyday you're just bombarded with demoralizing news stories that make you wonder why you even try...
Subaru continued to listen to Lyra, somewhat sympathizing with him. Lyra put a hand to her face in embarrassment as he continued.
Lyra: I was at such a low point that I even risked homelessness had I not managed to get a job at a certain time before the deadline that I was given to move out by a friend's parents that I was staying with due to...personal reasons...
Subaru: That last part does sound pretty scary, but why weren't you staying with your own parents? I don't think I could just pick up and leave so suddenly like you were forced to, and don't think I could leave my parents like that either... unless you have some sort of personal reason for...anyways, I guess if I have one point of regret from coming here, its them, I never told them goodbye or anything…
Lyra: I can see how that could be stressful to have on your mind.
Subaru: Yeah, I've been trying not to think about it. Do you have anything you're worried about 'back home?'
Lyra: Not really. I didn't have any other super meaningful relationships like what you seem to have with your parents. My parents..it's personal. My sister...is no longer around.. My friends..they seem chill at first glance, but can also be pretty shallow in my opinion. It feels kinda depressing saying it that way, but its the truth.
Subaru: *sigh* I didn't really have any friends, only my parents. But I imagine having shallow friends is sorta like having non-existent friends in a way? Oh, and sorry to hear about your sister, by the way.
Lyra shrugged in response, unable to really elaborate further on these matters with Subaru. While they both were troubled in their old homes, they did indeed source them from different things. Not trying to be the one who killed the conversation, Subaru continued.
Subaru: So then you do have a plan then I take it?
Perking back up, Lyra finally answered Subaru's question.
Lyra: Not entirely, no, but that's partially because I didn't give it any thought until about yesterday. But I'm glad I'm here. With our position, we're friends with some important people, potentially some of the most influential there will be. We have a real chance at having a proper purpose in our lives. Not many can say that back in the old world.
Subaru: Would you quit beating around the bush and answer my question!?
Lyra: Alright, alright, damn...just be patient with me already, will you?!
Lyra turned her head down, sighed, and gave a soft smile.
Lyra: It's pretty similar to yours actually...for you, its Emilia., but for me? It's...Rem.
Subaru turned, slightly shocked, but more curious as to why.
Subaru: May I uhh, inquire why?
Sticking her hands in her pocket, Lyra looked up to the sky that was turning from hues of pink to orange, letting her mind think before answering.
Lyra: If you think about it, she's the person in this new world I've talked with the most, and I consider her my first friend here...
She spoke about Rem with only the calmest, most endearing tone he could.
Lyra: And there's something about her that... Just seems so sad and alone. I kinda wanna help her. Help her for helping me. Help her for helping me have a drive again, and for allowing me to have one in this world.
Subaru was silent for a moment before responding, thinking about how there were many similarities about how he felt towards Emilia.
Subaru: I think I understand. So do you...
He asked this question with a smug expression on his face.
Subaru:...have feelings for her or something?
Lyra instantly turned bright red.
Lyra: Wh-what gave you that idea?
Subar: I dunno, just the way you talk about her and the way I've seen you act around her and such.
Lyra: I...er...umm...
Subaru: It's fine with me if you like girls, by the way, if that's what you're worried about.
Lyra:F-fine! Yes, I...maybe...might...have feelings for Rem...I...hope that's legal here...
Subaru: I can ask Emilia about that for you if you want sometime.
Lyra starts to calm down a bit.
Lyra: How about we ask her together? Since we are friends and I could use some support just in case or whatnot.
Subaru gives her a thumbs up and a grin.
Subaru: Of course! Anything for a friend.
Lyra smiles at Subaru.
Lyra: Thanks. I appreciate it.
At this juncture, the two were re-approaching the steps to the mansion.
Lyra: Well, it looks like we've got our work cut out for us in this world.
Subaru. Hah. Yeah.
After having a late supper, Rem had again come by in the evening for another tutoring session, this time staying slightly later than the last night. Toward the end of Lyra's studying, the topic had drifted to what the plan was for tomorrow.
As she was stepping out of the doorway to Lyra's room, she turned back around to say one last thing.
Rem: By the way, Lyra-chan, tomorrow you'll be assisting Rem in getting goods from Arlem rather than your normal afternoon duties.
Lyra only stared and blinked twice at Rem, not knowing what she meant by that, before asking.
Lyra: W-who or what is 'Arlem'?
Rem smiled before giving a small laugh.
Rem: 'Arlem' is the name of the nearby village that's on the road to the Capitol.
Lyra: So, we're grocery shopping, then?
Nodding in conformation to Lyra, Rem continued
Rem: Yes. We'll be leaving here tomorrow, later in the morning. We probably won't be back till the evening, so there won't be an opportunity for Lyra-chan's tutoring session, as Rem will have tasks for the evening after we return that would have been done earlier in the morning.
Lyra: I see...
On one hand, this is tons of Rem one-on-one time, yet on the other, it's me losing out on my studying.
Rem gave a slightly sad smile at her response.
Rem: Well, good night Lyra, get some rest, okay? You worked hard again today.
Lyra: Thank you. You as well.
Rem walked back while closing the door, leaving her smiling face as the last thing Lyra saw as she closed the door.
Too bad she'll be busy tomorrow morning, we oould have studied in the morning instead—
Lyra: That's it!
Lyra Anderson suddenly had an idea.
After waiting a few more minutes, Lyra headed down the hallway to Subaru's room. Seeing the light still coming from below the door, she knocked.
Lyra: Subaru? Are you here? Are you able to talk for a bit?
Subaru: Lyra? Oh, sure! Come in!
Lyra opened the door and found Subaru about to head to bed, playing on his flip phone.
Distracted by it, Lyra asked smugly.
Lyra: Are you THAT bored that you'd flip through menus to entertain yourself? That's about all that old-ass thing can do anyways, I bet!
Subaru: Hey! I'll let you know I've got Man-Pac, TNT-Man, AND Betris on this bad boy.
Getting another idea in her head, Lyra realized she could modify her old idea on why she came to Subaru's room in the first place.
Lyra: Soooooo, I bet that thing is running low on battery, by now, huh?
Looking back down at his own phone in frustration, Subaru frowned as he replied.
Subaru: Yeah and it's not like there's a way to charge it here.
Lyra: About that. I have a solar charger I've been using for my phone.
Subaru shot straight up out of bed.
Subaru: NO WAY?! Can you let me use it?!
Leaning against the door frame to Subaru's room, Lyra began her sales pitch.
Lyra: How about a deal…
