Chapter 13: Professional NEETs
Like a light shutting off, all of Lyra"s senses had been disconnected, however, an air of weightlessness remained regardless.
Had she been killed as well? Was who or what had killed Subaru also responsible for her own death?
These questions plagued Lyra's mind as she floated through this nothingness
Never once though did fear of real death ever occur to Lyra. Somehow, she was confident that Return By Death would keep him safe.
It really is a great boon to not fear death.
Lyra felt what she imagined to be her soul returning to her body.
To a bed... The guest room bed, to be exact... Rem will be there, which is nice...but... if it's like she said, she'll just smell the Witch... So why hadn't she reacted or mentioned such a smell before when I first arrived here...?
Just as before, with her first conscious breath, the smell of fresh sheets and flowers filled her nose.
From just experiencing the stressful events of what felt like only minutes ago, Lyra decided to at least enjoy the moment that she had in this comfy bed, until...
Subaru: AAAGGHH!
Shooting straight up from bed, clutching his arm, Subaru hollered as if in pain.
Seeing this sudden and split reaction, the twin maids, already in the room, had jumped back, holding each other.
Hearing his yell, Lyra also bolted upward in bed.
Lyra: AHHHH!!! What's going on?!
Rem: Eeek!
With Rem being on the closer side to Lyra's bed across from Subaru's, she was not hidden behind Ram like Ram was to Rem, leaving her exposed to yet another sudden outburst, this time from the other unknown guest.
Lyra quickly started pretending to feel calm and spoke to Rem
Lyra: S-sorry! Must've just been a bad dream...I'm fine though! Really!
Lyra quickly realized that Subaru had just come back from a rather violent death, and that the outburst had to have been from Subaru still dealing with that. Likewise, Subaru had a very vague memory of Lyra looking as if she was scared completely shitless as she was watching him die and figured that she was covering up the incident as having been "just a bad dream" rather than the harsh reality that it actually was.
I almost thought something was already happening but, it just seems Subaru was being Subaru... Lyra thought to herself.
Looking back at the twins, she noticed that Rem was still giving her a concerned look, presumably due to her own outburst.
Lyra could only hold her hands up in apology and innocence, with a weak smile, hoping to portray harmlessness to the frightened girl and hopefully save face.
Rem also returned a weak smile, perhaps in politeness, or perhaps pity, but Lyra had no time to dwell on that as—
Jumping up and choosing to do his usual "victory" pose whilst standing directly in bed, Subaru had begun his declaration.
Subaru: It's time for Natsuki Subaru to restart yet again! Sorry for the inconveniences I've caused you both!
With that, Subaru jumped down off his bed and barged out the door past the twins, headed somewhere, leaving Lyra completely stunned and clueless.
Ram: Rem Rem, please keep an eye on our more lax guest while I pursue our more active one.
With a quick verbal command to her younger sister, Ram left in chase of Subaru, leaving Rem alone with Lyra.
With the two alone, Rem turned to Lyra, and spoke in her usual formal tone.
Rem: Guest-sama, are you feeling alright? How is your head? Emilia-sama had said your companion had mis-stepped and caused quite the impact to you when trying to subdue the assailant that had targeted her.
Lyra: Companion? Oh, you mean Subaru? Yeah I guess we did crash skulls pretty hard ,but we should be fine now.
Bowing her head in response, Rem replied.
Rem: It is excellent to hear that you are now in good health, Guest-sama.
Scratching her head in embarrassment, Lyra went on.
Lyra: And is that really how Emilia described it? I only jumped in last minute... Subaru was really the one fighting the good fight!
Rem: Yes, that is how Emilia-sama conveyed that evening's occurrence.
Lyra: Hmm, I see...
Rem: You are too humble, Guest-sama—
Stopping herself, Rem spoke again, this time however—
Rem: May Rem ask your name?
She had spoken without her usual cold tone in her still formal attitude.
Hearing Rem speak without the wall of frost she had chosen to maintain, Lyra's heart had skipped a beat, and she was happy to answer her.
Lyra: It's Lyra. Lyra Anderson. Nice to meet you.
Rem: Lyra. A lovely name for a pretty girl.
Lyra: Thanks. Wait ..d-did you just call me pretty? If anyone is pretty, it's you! The name "Rem" suits such a beautiful person like yourself as well.
All that both Rem and Lyra could do was gaze into each other's eyes and blush cutely at each other's compliments.
With that, the wind had blown through with a small-yet-consistent breeze, allowing the thin white drapes that ordained the guest room's windows to flow open, letting a beam of sunshine shine directly on Rem as she smiled and tilted her head at Lyra.
Tightening her grip on the sheets that she still held while sitting up, Lyra had her moment of motivation.
This...this right here is what I'm going to protect. Subaru may have his reasons to want to protect Emilia...but this... I'm going to protect this from whatever happens on the night of the forth day... no matter how many tries it takes!!
Taking in the moment as a reward for braving the events that had happened not even fifteen minutes ago to her, Lyra couldn't help but smile back at Rem.
Only a moment later, the wind had settled, letting the curtains back down, extinguishing the ray of sun from Rem's face, but not blemishing her beauty one bit.
Hearing a commotion from down the hall, what sounded like a door slamming open along with a loud thud was heard, coming from just outside and down below the window. Getting up and peering out the window, Lyra and Rem watched a disheveled Subaru wander out of the shrubbery, covered in dirt.
Rem: Oh my! Did he fall out of the window? Your... your companion— Subaru, he isn't...?
Lyra: Oh, hurt? No-no, just clumsy. Well, I best go down there and play wing-woman for him while also trying to prevent him from making a complete ass out of himself in front of Emilia while he's covered in dirt...
As Lyra was leaving to head downstairs, Rem called out to her.
Rem: Lyra.
Lyra: Hmm? What is it, Rem?
Rem: Rem should warn you, that isn't dirt.
She had said, shaking her head.
Lyra simply replied with a cocked eyebrow at Rem, raising a question as to what exactly she had meant by that claim.
Rem: Rem had... well... spread manure for the well-being of the garden just yesterday, so that isn't dirt covering Subaru.
With a moment of silence, Lyra stared at Rem before bursting into laughter.
Lyra : Pfft...BAHAHAHAHA!! He's gonna need BOTH a wing-woman AND a BATH now, at this point!! Poor Emilia, having to put up with him while he's all covered up in LITERAL CRAP and probably SMELLING like it, too!!!
Lyra cleared her throat and calmed herself down shortly afterwards.
Lyra: Ahem. Excuse me.
Rem: You're fine. Rem completely understands why Lyra found that amusing.
Lyra: O-oh! Okay then! Just making sure I wasn't making you feel too uncomfortable with my sense of humor!! Eheheh...
Rem smiled at Lyra.
Rem: Yes. Of course.
Lyra shook her head before turning to leave out the door, but turned back one last time to face Rem and speak to her.
Lyra: And hey, Rem?
Rem: Yes?
Lyra: Thanks again.
With Rem tilting her head, she asked.
Rem: For?
Casting her eyes down at the floor, she had realized that while she still had yet to help her learn how to read or write in this loop, she still deserved thanks for another thing entirely.
Lyra: Thanks for being so friendly and welcoming. I really appreciate it.
It took a moment for Rem to process the impact of Lyra's thanks, but as she did, she tilted her head to the other side and smiled once again as she had before.
Rem: Of course. It's my pleasure.
It was much more than what Lyra had expected. She had truly almost guessed that she would have simply bowed and spoke again with her formal tone, however, this was different.
With that, Lyra turned and made her way down the hall to the stairs that would lead her outside to where Subaru was surely struggling with his attempts to woo Emilia.
I will DEFINITELY protect that smile. No matter what, I WILL protect Rem.
As Lyra had hurried along, leaving Rem by herself in the guest room, her smile fizzled away, leaving only a rather somber expression, one that expressed conflict along with a mix of other complicated emotions.
Bringing a fist to her chest, Rem stared out the door that Lyra had left outside from. She felt conflict at the very core of her being. One of great suspicion, but also one of great longing.
She just... as soon as she woke up... the smell was much stronger then it had been when Emilia- sama had brought both her and Subaru here. I don't think she knows, but that's still no excuse...
Rem's maiden heart was in a bind as to where her feelings were.
Having made her way outside, Lyra caught up with Emilia and Subaru.
However instead of being covered in manure and smelling like, as Lyra had put it, "literal crap", Subaru currently resembled a drowned rat way more than just some random dude who had smeared said "literal crap" all over himself for no apparent reason.
Lyra: Yeesh. Did you spray him down with the garden hose? He looks rougher than he did before...
Emilia: Oh! We just had Puck—
Subaru: He put me on a "spin cycle" like I was a single pair of socks in the washer!
Slumping over, Subaru lamented.
Subaru: The whole experience has left me broken and cold...
Puck: Oh come now Subaru, it wasn't that bad!
Lifting his head back up, Subaru cast away his somber expression for one full of guile and lust, hoping to stick it to the spirit cat.
Subaru: Oh Emilia-tan won't you please warm me up by—?
Emilia: You could just go sit on the grass and I'll join you. The sun's out and it's warming up so you'll be dry in no time.
Puck: Yeah, we don't want you smelling like a wet dog too.
Subaru: I guess I'll have to compromise with that. And shut down by the cat, too...
He replied in a voice lacking it's previous enthusiasm. With the four of them headed over to the middle of the lawn, Emilia posed a question to Lyra.
Emilia: Lyra, how are you this morning? Does your head still hurt?
Caught off guard by Emilia's consideration, Lyra almost struggled to answer.
Lyra: Oh! U-uhh...my head's fine now, thank you! U-um...how are you doing, though? Elsa threw you pretty hard behind that bar area...
Almost as if either not expecting Lyra's response and question or not even remembering being thrown the way that Lyra said that she was, Emilia replied in an equally unprepared manner.
Emilia: O-oh! I'm quite fine!
Lyra: That's good to hear!
Emilia: Mhm! Y-yes!
Presumably getting worked up, Emilia began stuttering out more words.
Emilia: I was more concerned with how YOU were doing, considering that you were just a bystander coming in to help a stranger!
Subaru: Emilia-tan! What about me?! After all, SHE was the one who hit MY head! Where are MY cute questions of concern!?
Subaru interjected with his usual tone when trying to earn himself pity points from Emilia.
Arriving in the middle of the lawn, Emilia was first to sit down, followed by Subaru, who sat right in front of her. This left Lyra to flop back down on the grass off to the side and stare right up at the clouds.
Subaru and Emilia continued to talk to each other, with Puck and Lyra occasionally jumping in. Lyra alternated between chatting with Subaru and company and staring at the clouds up above and feeling the grass below her hands as she listened to everyone's chatter.
The grass still needs to be mowed. I guess I know what I'll be doing later.
This was the first quiet mental moment that she had since she first started tutoring with Rem at what would have been the night before.
The time between loops really just starts to blur together..mentally I've been awake for almost two days now, but realistically my body has only just woken up...
Just what connection did her consciousness have with her physical body? Could it cause significant mental strain or would her body simply not know the difference?
These questions danced around her head until her attention was suddenly grabbed by a small cat floating in front of her vision, waving at her.
Puck: Hey! We're trying to get your attention! Lia has a question for you.
Sitting up on her elbows, Lyra turned her head over to the two people who were also still sitting on the grass.
Lyra: O-oh, hey there! What's up?
Emilia: How's your gate? Is it still stained?
Emilia asked this question with the utmost sincerity and concern, a hand to her chest.
Patting herself over, Lyra tried to feel for any irregularities.
Lyra: Uhhh, I think I'm fine? How can I tell?
Emilia: You really don't know? You haven't noticed anything strange with your mana flow?
Lyra shook her head.
Lyra: Not really? I feel pretty normal at the moment. Thanks for asking, though.
Emilia cast her eyes downward.
Emilia: I see... Well, I'm glad you're feeling better, at least.
Confused about both Emilia's question and her response to her answer, Lyra went back to lying in the grass. A few more moments passed before the party of four was interrupted yet again.
Rem Ram: Please forgive the intrusion, but Roswaal-sama has returned from his business trip and is looking forward to meeting our guests in the dining hall.
Both taking a bow and turning back to the mansion, the four got up and followed them to the main foyer and to the dining hall.
The meal had gone nearly exactly as it had the last two times, however this time it ended with Subaru and Lyra asking to be permanent guests rather than a servant and a groundskeeper respectively.
They were both given a tour by one of the twins and shown their room of residency.
As Rem was showing Lyra back to her room, she had remembered one thing she had forgotten.
Lyra: Uhh...hey, Rem? I have an odd request.
Rem: Yes? What is it, Lyra?
Lyra: May I have some ink and parchment? And also maybe some books...
Rem: It would be no problem to retrieve you some writing tools, however, do you know which books you'd like?
Too embarrassed to simply ask for children's books, Lyra quickly decided on a different course of action.
Scratching the back of her head in embarrassment, she continued.
Lyra: Well, if you can just show me where they are, I think I can handle it from there. Plus, that saves you some guesswork, right?
Rem nodded her head, led Lyra to the study, and, before taking her leave, from there, bowed politely at her.
Taking in the scene of a generous amount of books, it was clearly no Forbidden Library, but thankfully it had the books that Lyra needed.
Lyra began her search, searching the shelves for the familiar books that she was used to by the color of their spines, rather than what they read, as she still struggled with reading these glyphs.
Searching on a lower shelf, she was interrupted by the door opening once more, this time to two new occupants of the study.
Keeping low behind the shelf that she was at, Lyra stayed out of sight while the two entered.
Ram: —and here is the study. Is that all you'll be needing?
Subaru: That's everything. Sorry for bugging you like this, Ram.
Ram: It is no problem, but I will be taking my leave now and—
Subaru: Oh! Uh, one more request! Sorry.
Ram: — — ?
Subaru: Do you know by chance where the, uhhh, children's books are in here?
A moment of silence passed between the two, probably one of either judging or confusion by Ram.
More than likely the former.
Ram: They are over in the far corner, bottom shelf.
Subaru: Ahh, gotcha. Thanks Ram.
Taking a bow just as Rem had, Ram retreated from the study.
Arriving at the corner in question, Subaru began pulling books out and looking at them. Also walking over to the corner, Lyta made her presence known to Subaru.
Lyra: Thanks for asking for me. Now I don't need to look like an idiot.
Subaru: AHHH!! Don't scare me like that! We almost had another you-know-what trip just now...
Lyra: Eheh...Sorry for that, then. Anyway, I guess we're looking for the same thing thenĺ huh?
Subaru: Seems so. I think what I really need is a little further down, the more challenging stuff.
Lyra: Oh...well, what you've got in your hands right there is probably closer to what I need, then...
Subaru: Pfft, you're way behind me in terms of literacy then!
Lyra: *Sigh* Yeah...it would seem so then, huh?
Giving a soft smile, Subaru had decided to be at least somewhat supportive.
Subaru: Well I did have Ram as a teacher. She's probably way stricter than me than Rem is with you, so I had to learn quicker.
Lyra: Speaking of which, we didn't pick tutoring as a reward this time around. I get why, but I think I'm still a bit too "undercooked" for independent study.
Standing back up from his squatting position, Subaru responded.
Subaru: If you need me to, then I can help with what I can.
Lyra: I might have to take you up on that then.Thanks.
Subaru gave Lyra a cheesy grin and stuck his thumb up, practically in her face.
Subaru: Yep! You betcha!
Lyra and Subaru both gathered the books that they needed and headed on their way out of the study.
Remembering a lesson that the educational app on her phone had taught her, Lyra proposed an idea to Subaru.
Lyra: Hey, Subaru, are you familiar with how the Dewey Decimal system works? For like, libraries and stuff?
Looking at Lyra as he walked down the hallway of the mansion with her, Subaru gave her a look of confusion.
Subaru: I uhh, can't say I am?
Lyra: Oh, never mind then.
Subaru: Why do you ask?
Lyra: I just thought that it might be worthwhile to bring a few inventions from our world here.
Putting a hand to his chin, Subaru thought for a moment before responding.
Subaru: I guess that wouldn't be a bad idea.
With that, the two had decided to brainstorm some ideas once the situation at the mansion had been resolved. For now, they would investigate and overcome the obstacle on the fourth night.
