Chapter 7: An Unexpected Serenade

Lyra walked back to her room. It took some convincing, but Subaru eventually agreed to the deal that she had offered him.

Getting ready for bed, Lyra had another idea slip into her mind. Her phone was probably charged just enough for her to listen to some music while she fell asleep, which was something that she hadn't done in a long time.

Lyra checked her phone's battery, and it read a good thirty one percent.

This should get me a few hours of tunes, I'll just set a playlist and get my headphones and—

Stopping her thought, Lyra had quickly and almost immediately remembered that most of her belongings were still in her car, which was still in the Capitol.

Lyra: Hmm... I know I probably don't have my headphones, but I wonder if I still have my earbuds...

Walking over to the cabinet, Lyra rifled through the pockets of her jacket, looking for the spare set of cheap earbuds she kept.

Lyra: Alrighty, there we go!

Finding exactly what she was looking for, she untangled the cord and plugged it into her phone. Crawling into bed and finding a comfy spot, Lyra put on a relaxing anime and video game soundtrack playlist and let the music carry her thoughts away.

Hopefully Rem will be pleasantly surprised, provided Subaru remembers to carry through on his end of the deal...

It was morning, which was roughly the time Lyra would normally wake up as the first light of the day made its way through the gap in the curtains.

However, considering that she was told her duties were limited to later afternoon tasks today, she took the opportunity to sleep in a little longer, her first time being able to do so since arriving to this new world.

However, Rem had other plans. She was curious as to why she was in the situation she was in, and strongly believed Lyra might know something about it. For some reason, Rem had found out that most of the tasks that she had needed to complete before leaving were already complete, and by Subaru, no less.

With a simple knock on the door failing to get Lyra up, Rem decided to ever so quietly open the door. Entering in her graceful, quiet fashion, she lightly stepped across the room to reach Lyra while she still laid asleep.

Normally, Rem would not wake someone up when they had nothing to do that morning, but she was overly suspect of two things, how, and more importantly, why did Lyra convince Subaru to wake up so early to do her morning tasks?

Rem approached the sleeping Lyra and had gotten right to her bedside before she saw something that perplexed her. From both of Lyra's ears, two black strings descended from her head and joined to one string, leading to her hand underneath her pillow.

Letting her curiosity get the better of herself, Rem ever so gently lifted the side of the pillow to see what the string led to. Being careful as to not wake Lyra, she peered onto what she held in her hand.

To her surprise, the string led to the same black rectangle that she had connected to the sun power device.

While Lyra had professed the device's harmlessness, Rem still had her suspicions. Again using her gracefully gentle hand skills, she maneuvered the rectangle from Lyra's hand.

As soon as she touched its smooth, glass-like surface, the rectangle lit up. Rem was so surprised that she had almost dropped it. She immediately moved her fingers away from the light. To her, she guessed "light" might mean "heat", and not wanting to be possibly burned, she recoiled her fingers.

Timidly, Rem touched the lit-up surface of the rectangle, and the light reacted to her touch, almost like the water on a still pond.

She analyzed the lights, seeing symbols that were not unlike what Lyra had written the day before.

Rem knows this captures memories in an instant, and can even record voice and motion, but why does Lyra-chan have it attached to her head?

Rem couldn't figure out what purpose it would have been attached to Lyra, but what perplexed her the most, was the bright white triangle on the illuminated side of the rectangle. Something about it called out to be touched.

Against her better judgment, and at the almost primal call of curiosity, Rem laid her finger on the bright white triangle.

Immediately, the triangle turned into two white lines, parallel to each other, and she heard what sounded like popping, or maybe hissing? Like voices far away. All that emanated from the split ends of the string coming from the rectangle, right next to Lyra's ears.

The sounds had only been playing for less then a split second before Lyra bolted upright in bed, tearing the strings from her ears.

The sudden awakening that Lyra had surprised Rem, who thought she was certain Lyra would be fast asleep. Rem dropped the rectangle, it falling and taking the string with it.

Lyra looked around the room, now slightly bright from the sun coming through the curtains, with eyes wide open.

The very first thing she noticed of course, was Rem crouched down off to the side of her bed, a rather surprised look on her face, a look also coupled with embarrassment.

Lyra: Goodness gracious Rem, you'll give someone a heart attack, trying to scare them like that!

She looked down at her earphone cable leading off the bed to where her phone was.

Still trying to shake the grogginess off, Lyra was trying to make sense of just what woke him up. Was it Rem? Or was it herself bumping her phone and causing it to play the music that she had fallen asleep to?

Still crouching in a slightly recoiled state, Rem still had her same expression, waiting for Lyra to put two and two together.

Lyra yawned and stretched her arms before turning back to Rem.

Lyra: Speaking of which, what are you doing here? Did you come to check up on me or something?

Rem: Rem was just uhhhh, making sure you were feeling okay! It is past the time Lyra-chan usually wakes up.

Lyra: Oh? I was just sleeping in a little because you said my only duty today was going with you... *yawn* ...to the village.

Rem: Yes that is correct.

Lyra furrowed her brows as part of a poker face, in an effort to hide her involvement in her next question, and to make sure Subaru made good on his side of the deal.

Lyra: Also,didn't you have other things to do this morning before leaving?

Rem's face turned to one of relief as the conversation had safely moved past the rectangle and its glowing lights.

Putting a fist to her chest and shaking her head, Rem explained, as she finally got the opportunity to ask her question.

Rem: It seems as if Subaru-kun got a wild idea and decided to do Rem's share of the morning chores.

With a sense of relief that Subaru had followed his end of the deal, Lyra answered.

Lyra: Oh good, that means you must have some time to yourself then.

Hoping for a cheerful response, Rem instead replied with a question of her own using her own words.

Rem: 'Good'?

Lyra: -Hk!

Waiting for her response, Rem tilted her head.

Lyra's face went slightly red.

Lyra: I-I-uhhh, meant good for you!

Lyra stumbled more and more on her words. Rem only continued to keep her look up, as if prompting Lyra that she knew she had more to say.

This time, speaking with honesty and clearing her throat, her words were more genuine. Lyra shrugged while she spoke.

Lyra: It's just you work hard, a lot harder then anyone else here, and I haven't seen you really get a break despite the labor pool here doubling. I can't imagine what you and your sister's workload must have been before.

Rem smiled at Lyra's words. It wasn't the ones she was looking for, but she knew that Subaru wouldn't go off and do such things without being coerced, and that if Lyra felt so passionately about it, she would have just done it herself.

Lyra-chan must have traded or done something, or promised something to Subaru- kun in exchange for this, the intention must be good since she isn't admitting to it, but Rem has already caught Lyra-chan in her own words once before.

Rem thought as she continued to smile.

It's just like out in the gardens on the walk, but the other way around. Lyra-chan was considerate to Rem's feelings on when Rem misspoke, so the same should be done for Lyra-chan. Rem won't pressure her, perhaps an opportunity to get out of her words is in order.

Rem turned her smiling face to the curtains and walked over to open them, letting in all the light, and opening the window enough for a light breeze.

Doing this, Rem used the scene change as a way to also change the subject, her way of letting Lyra out of her words.

Rem: Then if Lyra-chan and Rem are not doing anything till we must leave, should we pass the time together?

Rem stood there, waiting for Lyra's answer, but she was too. awestruck by how her smile shined in the bright early morning sun, and how beautiful her eyes were as her bangs swung from the breeze coming through the window. She simply gave her a smile and blushed slightly with her next response

Lyra: Y-yeah...of course..I'd very much like too! I would LOVE to, actually!

Lyra and Rem started their walk down the steps, past the fountain, and on the main walkway around the gardens perimeter, just like their first.

Lyra: Don't you have any, you know... other clothes? Like any leisure clothes?

Rem: Rem does not require such things, and even if Rem had any, it may put Roswaal-sama's image in bad view if we were to get sudden visitors or if Rem would otherwise be seen in non-work attire.

Lyra: I think I can understand... But hey! What about me!? I'm wearing leisure clothing right now, you know!?

Lyra currently wore the same attire she had upon arriving in this world, but since she had a work uniform fit for a groundskeeper, this had become her attire for off-work activities.

Responding to Lyra, Rem spoke, eyes closed.

Rem: Should a lack of uniform bring shame to the household, Roswaal-sama will deal punishment appropriately to the staff member responsible.

Lyra: Geez, harsh much?

Rem dropped her serious Ram-like persona and opened a single eye and stuck out her tongue in a teasing fashion.

Lyra(whisper): Cutie.

Rem's face turned slightly red.

Rem: Wh-what was that?

Lyra: I called you a cutie. Because you are one.

Rem: You're too sweet Lyra-chan...and...Rem must admit...she does also find you a bit "cute" as well...

Lyra also turned slightly red from Rem's response.

Lyra: H-huh? You really think so?!

Rem: Admittedly, Rem KNOWS so.

Both girls smile and giggle at each other as they continue walking together.

The walk continued with light conversation until the farthest point of the gardens, farthest from the mansion, where Rem asked a question that had been on her mind about this morning's first early interaction.

Rem: Why was your memory and motion capture metia tied to your ears this morning?

Lyra: Uhh, you mean my cell phone?

Rem: Sell fone? Is Lyra-chan trying to find a buyer for it?

At first, she didn't understand what Rem had meant, but soon after, she quickly realized why she asked what she did and laughed heartily at the confusion.

Rubbing her face with her hand, Lyra apologized.

Lyra: I'm sorry Rem. That is kinda funny though, not gonna lie!

Rem puffed up her cheeks and pouted in protest.

Rem: Hmph! And just what's so funny about Rem asking? Rem might have asked Roswaal-sama to help find a buyer before, but she won't now. Hmph!

Lyra: I didn't mean 'sell' as in 'S-E-L-L'—

She stopped herself mid sentence because of course Rem didn't understand her language's spelling.

Lyra: Er...lemme back things up a bit and explain here...

Rem leaned forward while walking, turning her gaze to Lyra as she waved her hands out of frustration with herself for not remembering.

Lyra: You see, 'Sell' and 'Cell' are two different things here, the latter being shorthand for the longer word 'Cellular'.

Rem: Sell-you-lar? What does that mean?

Scratching the back of her head, and twirling her hair a bit, Lyra answered meekly.

Lyra: We could really go down a rabbit hole with me trying to explain that...

With a slightly lamentable expression, Rem responded.

Rem: Rem is sorry that she doesn't understand...

Lyra: No no! It's fine! It's just, it's pretty complicated to explain! It's not your fault for not knowing. I'm sorry.

Smiling weakly at Lyra before turning her head back forward, Rem stayed silent, not knowing exactly what to say. Feeling guilt, Lyra spoke her thoughts out loud, hoping to help Rem understand that she wasn't upset with her, but rather at the unavoidable cultural barriers.

Lyra: No one could blame you for not knowing one little thing… Especially when I don't even know anything about this world—

She stopped herself before she let another word past her lips. She didn't need a repeat of the last time they went on a walk together.

But to her surprise, at the end of her sentence, Rem simply kept looking forward, walking. Almost as if pretending to not hear the last thing she said.

She watched Rem while walking still, waiting for her to question her about her slip. Instead, she turned and asked for her to continue explaining her phone to her.

Rem: Rem is willing to listen though, as long as Lyra-chan would like her to, even if Rem doesn't fully understand.

Despite giving the impression that she thought nothing of Lyra's slip-up, in her mind, Rem contemplated her actions as a result.

Lyra-chan accidentally said something odd again, but Rem can tell it's not malicious, and since she has consideration for Rem's feelings when this happens , Rem will continue to show the same for her.

Hearing Rem say she was willing to listen though, despite the differences in understanding, put a faint warmth in Lyra's heart. Taking her phone from her pocket, Lyra tried her best at explaining the complexity of the simple looking device to someone who knew nothing of its commonplace.

Lyra: Well, you see, not only does this little guy make instant paintings, and captures motion and voices, it also has stored tons of music, and is able to play entire movements, ballads, and symphony's, in quality that makes you feel as if you're right there watching and hearing it in person.

Rem stopped her walking, staring at the little rectangle in Lyra's hand, and began talking in a rather serious tone.

Rem: And just what was it doing strung to your ears this morning?

Lyra: It was doing just that. Playing music.

Rem continued to stare dead-on at Lyra's phone, almost paying her no mind, as if she weren't even there.

Rem: I didn't hear any music from it. Only hissing and chirping.

Lyra: That's the catch though. It can play music out loud, but it doesn't sound good at all, you have to use these.

With that, Lyra pulled the headphones that had been wearing earlier out of her pocket.

Rem recognized the black string with the split in the end.

Lyra: You just plug the metal pin part into the hole here on the phone, and out of this end comes sound.

With a face of mistrust and uncertainty, Rem continued to stare at the rectangle now adorned with the sound string. After a few moments of an intense glare and silence, Lyra spoke back up, bouncing the dangling headphones still in her hand.

Lyra: ...Do you.wanna have a listen?

Breaking her serious look, her curiosity finally got the better of herself, and responded with eagerness in her voice.

Rem: May Rem?!

Laughing to herself, Lyra helped Rem put the earbuds in correctly.

Lyra: Of course! Why don't we go sit in the shade over there together and I'll let you listen there?

Both Lyra and Rem sat on a garden bench, under the shade of one of the many decorative trees that made up the far side of the mansion's gardens.

Rem: What will Rem be listening to? Music?

Lyra stopped and thought for a moment.

What do I have her listen to? What kind of music do they have in this world? Are assembled orchestras a thing? Is it like plucky folk music? Or is it like medieval bard renditions?

Lyra: Yeah that's mostly what you use these for, is listening to music.

Rem's eyes lit up.

Rem: How does someone capture the music? Do you need to have it listen to it first?

Lyra: It can, but if I just recorded it live from somewhere it wouldn't sound very good. You can just download songs from—

Stopping herself, Lyra realized it would be pointless to explain music, the internet, possibly less the legal methods for obtaining said music, etc. to Rem, as she'd be there all day, and Rem was already getting a confused look on her face.

Lyra: Hmmmm. Basically someone else records it with special tools and sends it to me.

Rem: So it could capture an entire orchestra's performance?

Lyra: It most certainly can. Is that the kind of music you've listened to before?

Nodding, Rem responded.

Rem: We've attended ones in the Capitol with Roswaal-sama.

Putting a hand to her chin, Lyra only thought briefly before coming to an idea.

Lyra: I think I might have a good idea of where to start you in terms of music, then.

So I should probably choose something that falls under classical... She probably wouldn't fully understand or appreciate anything else... something that will really cement her first experience with music from my world... something that will really pop right away and take advantage of being listened to...

Lyra thought long and hard about her choice while scrolling through the music that she had on her phone, not finding anything that would work as well as she might hope. As she scrolled, Lyra was interrupted by a notification from the educational app that she had. Disregarding it, Lyra suddenly had an idea.

Wait, that's right, this app had me listen to some classical music as a lesson last week! I can look there.

Scrolling back through her older lessons, Lyra found the classical music one, and reopened it.

This! This song will work perfectly!

Lyra had come upon a song she knew had the impact she wanted Rem to experience but not be over the top.

With her thumb hovering over "Piano Concerto no.1 by Tchaikovsky in B Flat Minor," she made one final comment to Rem before her musical journey.

Lyra: Let me know if you want it to be louder or if it's hurting your ears, I can change it to make it better.

Rem nodded and Lyra hit play.

Rem's eyes immediately opened wide. Afraid, Lyra gestured to her and asked if she wanted it turned down, but she was far from where she was at this point. Staring out into the gardens, Rem was in a world of her own.

The blue haired maid had never heard something so beautiful before. It was as if she were sitting in the center seat, first row, in a hall with perfectly tuned acoustics, listening to the world's most skilled musical ensemble.

Lyra made note of the time in the song, getting closer and closer to the part where the big impact would happen.

Two minutes, twenty seven seconds.

Rem slowly raised her hands to her ears, small tears forming from her eyes. Lyra was left speechless as well. She hadn't expected this to have such a profound effect on the poor girl.

With Rem sitting to Lyra's immediate left, and with Lyra holding her phone in her right hand, she had her left hand placed between the two of them, palm down on the seat.

Bringing her hands down from her ears, she used her left hand to wipe her small tears from her eyes, and her right hand had moved to cover Lyra's hand.

At first, Lyra had thought she was going to stand up and had accidentally placed her hand there, but that wasn't the case.

Rem had subconsciously, or consciously, for she did not know which, moved her hand to hold hers. Rem's hand felt delicate and soft, but ever so slightly weathered, perhaps from the work she did. Nonetheless, they were still smooth and kind feeling. Lyra could not react other than to freeze up and have her face turn a light shade of red.

As the song progressed farther, she could feel her finger tips move to grip her hand gently as they wrapped around the side between her index finger and thumb, and soon her thumb did so on the other side of her hand.

Ever so slightly, Rem was convincing herself to hold Lyra's hand more than even just laying her hand on hers.

Lyra was still in pure loss for words for the scene before her. Rem was still staring out into the gardens, the morning sun's light breaking through the trees and branches that they were under, landing on her blue hair, all while her hand was still coupled to Lyra's.

As the song progressed, Lyra couldn't believe that ultimately, this was a finite moment. The song was a longer one, but it will end, and so will this moment.

With the song drawing its ending, and the silence at the end of the track now present to Rem, she carefully removed the buds from her ears with her left hand. Taking her right hand that's holding Lyra's downturned hand, she gripped it to bring it up to her left hand, handing off the ends of the headphones into her palm, and closing her fingers around it for her.

Rem spoke in a quiet, but otherwise happy voice.

Rem: Thank you... Lyra-chan...

Lyra: O-of course...Rem...anything for you...

With that, Rem stood up and walked back to the main path.

Lyra's body was still in one spot, unmoved from how she had been, leaving her hand just how Rem had left it. She could only traverse her head to follow her.

Rem walked till she was out of the shadow of the tree and in the morning light that adorned the path and now herself.

With her back to him, Rem spun, the rotation lifting her outfit ever so, and her hair lifting as well, exposing both her eyes, fully illuminating her face, a scene Lyra realized she hadn't yet seen, which only sent her heart into a flutter and her cheeks into a bright red color.

Rem smiled at Lyra and gave a small laugh.

Turning herself towards the mansion, Rem began walking.

Lyra: W-wait!

Turning her head back to Lyra, Rem responded, still smiling and happy.

Rem: We have to hurry, Lyra-chan. It's almost time to leave.

With that, Lyra balled up her headphones and walked at a quicker pace to catch up to the maiden.

But unseen to her, Rem's expression had turned to a somber one. Bringing a fist up to her chest, Rem could only think.

There's only a sense of pure innocence from Lyra-chan, and Rem has no idea what came over her. But this felt right. If only Rem could shake her doubts of her... Rem would have never imagined interacting so intimately with someone who has THAT smell…