Chapter 7: An Unexpected Serenade

YN wandered back to his room. It took some convincing, but Subaru agreed.

Getting ready for bed, YN had another idea slip into his mind. His phone was probably charged just enough for him to listen to some music while he fell asleep. Something he hadn't done in a long time.

YN checked his 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 his thought, YN had remembered most of his belongings were still in his car that had remained in the Capitol.

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

Walking over to the cabinet, YN rifled through the pockets of his jacket, looking for the spare set of cheap earbuds he kept.

YN: Ah, there we go.

Finding exactly what he was looking for, he untangled the cord and plugged it into the phone. Crawling into bed and finding a comfy spot, YN let his music carry his thoughts away.

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

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

However, considering he was told his duties were limited to later afternoon tasks today, he took the opportunity to sleep in a little longer, his first time he was able to since arriving to this new world.

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

With a knock on the door failing to get YN up, Rem decided to ever so quietly open the door. Entering in her graceful, quiet fashion, she lightly stepped across the room to reach YN while he 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 YN convince Subaru to wake up so early to do her morning tasks?

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

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

In her surprise, the string led to the same black rectangle he had connected to the sun power device.

While YN had professed the devices harmlessness, Rem still had her suspicions. Again using her gracefully gentle hand skills, she maneuvered the rectangle from YNs hand.

As soon as she touched it's smooth, glass like surface, the rectangle lit up. Rem was so surprised she had almost dropped it. She immediately moved her fingers away from the light. To her, she guessed "light" might meant "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, some where symbols not unlike what YN had wrote the day before.

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

Rem couldn't figure out what purpose it would have being attached to YN. 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 emanating from the split ends of the string coming from the rectangle. Right next to YNs ears.

The sounds had only been playing for less then a split second before YN bolted up right in bed, tearing the strings from his ears.

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

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

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

YN: Goodness gracious Rem, you'll give someone a heart attack, trying to scare someone like that.

He looked down at his earphone cable leading off the bed to where his phone was.

Still trying to shake the grogginess off, YN was trying to make sense of just what woke him up. Was it Rem? Or was it him bumping his phone causing it to play his music he fell asleep to.

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

YN yawned and scratched his face before turning back to Rem.

YN: Speaking of which, what are you doing in here?

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

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

Rem: Yes that is correct.

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

YN: And 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 it's 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 hair 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, YN answered.

YN: 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 his own words.

Rem: 'Good'?

YN: -Hk!

Waiting for her response, Rem tilted her head.

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

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

This time, speaking with honesty and clearing his throat, his words were more genuine. YN shrugged while he spoke.

YN: 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 YNs 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 YN felt so passionately about it, he would have just done it himself.

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

Rem thought as she continued to smile.

It's just like out in the gardens on the walk, but the other way around. YN-kun was considerate to Rem's feelings on when Rem misspoke, so the same should be done for YN-kun. Rem won't pressure him, perhaps an opportunity to get out of his 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 way to also change the subject, her way of letting YN out of his words.

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

Rem stood there, waiting for YNs answer, but he was to 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.

YN: Yeah. Yeah I'd very much like too.

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

YN: Don't you have any, ya 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.

YN: I think I can understand... But hey! What about me!?

YN currently wore the same attire he had upon arriving in this world, but since he had a work uniform fit for a groundskeeper, these had become his attire for off work activities.

Responding to YN, Rem spoke, eyes closed.

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

YN: Jeez, harsh much.

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

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?

YN: Uhh, you mean my cell phone?

Rem: Sell fone? Is YN-kun trying to find a buyer for it?

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

Rubbing his face with his hand, YN apologized.

YN: I'm sorry Rem. That is kinda funny though.

Rem puffed up her cheeks and pouted in protest.

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

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

He stopped himself mid sentence, of course Rem didn't understand his language's spelling.

YN: Er, lemme backup and explain here.

Rem leaned forward while walking, turning her gaze to YN as he put waved his hands in frustration with himself for not remembering.

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

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

Scratching the back of his head, YN answered meekly.

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

With a slightly lamentable expression, Rem responded.

Rem: Rem's sorry she doesn't understand...

YN: 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 YN before turning her head back forward, Rem stayed silent, not know exactly what to say. Feeling guilt, YN spoke his thoughts aloud, hoping to help Rem understand he wasn't upset with her, but rather at the unavoidable cultural barriers.

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

He stopped himself before he let another word past his lips. He didn't need a repeat of the last time they walked and talked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

YN: 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 YNs hand, and began talking in a rather serious tone.

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

YN: It was doing just that. Playing music.

Rem continued to stare dead on at phone, almost paying the person holding it no mind, as if he weren't even there.

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

YN: 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, YN pulled the headphones he had been wearing earlier out of his pocket.

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

YN: 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 moment more of an intense glare and silence, YN spoke back up, bouncing the dangling headphones still in his hand.

YN: ...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: Can Rem?!

Laughing to himself, YN helped Rem put the earbuds in correctly.

YN: Why don't we go sit in the shade over there?

Both YN 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 mansions gardens.

Rem: What Rem be listening to? Music?

YN 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?

YN: 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?

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

Stopping himself, YN realized it would be pointless to explain music, the internet, possible less the legal methods for obtaining said music, etc. to Rem, as he'd be there all day, and Rem was already getting a confused look to her.

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

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

YN: 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 his chin, YN only thought briefly before coming to an idea.

YN: 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...

YN thought long and hard about his choice while scrolling through his music he had on his phone, not finding anything that would work as well as he might hope. As he scrolled, YN was interrupted by a notification from the educational app he had. Disregarding it, YN 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 his older lessons, YN found the classical music one, and re-opened it.

This! This song will work perfectly!

YN had came upon a song he knew had the impact he wanted Rem to experience but not be over the top.

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

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

Rem nodded and YN hit play.

Rem's eyes immediately opened wide. Afraid, YN gestures to her if she wanted it turned down, but she was far from where he 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 center seat, first row, in a hall with perfectly tuned acoustics, listening to the world most skilled musical ensemble.

YN 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. YN was left speechless as well. He hadn't expected this to have such a profound effect on the poor girl.

With Rem sitting to YN's immediate left, and holding the phone in his right hand, he had his 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 to YNs hand.

At first YN 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 he did not know which, had moved her hand to hold his. Her hand felt delicate and soft, but ever so slightly weathered, perhaps from the work Rem did. Nonetheless, they were still smooth and kind feeling. YN could not react other then to freeze up, and have his face turn a light shade of red.

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

Ever so slightly, Rem was convincing herself to hold YN's hand more then even just laying her hand on his.

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

As the song progressed, YN 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 it's 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 was holding YN's downturnned hand, she gripped it to bring it up to her left hand, handing off the ends of the headphones into his palm, and closing his fingers around it for him.

Rem spoke in a quiet, but otherwise happy voice.

Rem: Thank you... YN-kun...

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

YN's body was still in one spot, unmoved from how he had been, leaving his hand just how Rem had. He could only traverse his 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 YN realized he hadn't yet seen, which only sent his heart into a flutter.

Rem smiled at YN and gave a small laugh.

Turning herself towards the mansion, Rem began walking.

YN: W-wait.

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

Rem: We have to hurry, YN-kun. It's almost time to leave.

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

But unseen to him, 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 YN-kun, and Rem has no idea what came over her. But this felt right. If only Rem could shake her doubts of him... Rem would have never imagined interacting so intimately with someone who has that smell.