A/N: I'm really glad it seemed everyone enjoyed the last installment. But, here's this weeks. You all get 3 chapters this time. Big BIG shout out to tobychevy, ShuTDowN, and Haseo8 for catching the small little typos and grammar errors in the last few chapters.

These next few chapters will be based off the "Some Like It Cold" short story, or as I'm sure as many of you know it, the first half of the Memory Snow OVA Movie. If you haven't seen it, I suggest watching it, it's very cute, and takes place halfway through the 1st season, so there's no spoilers if you're all caught up, even with just the first season.

Chapter 37: Morning

Feeling the slight residual ache of the hard floor on his legs and the wall on his upper back, YN could feel himself being roused awake by the morning sun on his eyes. Sitting up in bed, he briefly looked around, trying to recall his memories as best he could.

That's right, everything with Rem happened...

YN ventured to guess he must have passed out with Rem in his arms on the far corner of the room where they had sat.

Looking down to confirm, YN's chest area on his shirt was still blotched with dried tear marks and one or two of Rem's blue hairs that had left themselves on his shirt.

Pinching the rogue hairs, YN examined how they shimmered in the morning sun's light while he thought to himself.

Rem must have placed me in bed once I fell asleep. That's probably how I got here.

Hovering the hand that held the stray hairs off the side of the bed, YN let the two strands of blue fall to the floor before rubbing his own eyes and turning to place his feet on the ground.

Reflecting one last time of the previous night's events, YN shook his head, thinking of what kind punishment he and Subaru might get from the Witch if something is ever said in the wrong way about last night.

Had he found a loophole? Was this being permitted? He couldn't say for sure.

Well, I should probably get to it, with Rem being back now, we'll have to make up for lost time in our duties I'm sure.

Realizing he was technically already dressed for work, YN took one last look at the dirtied top he still had.

I should at least put a new set on.

Reaching the dining hall, YN took his seat.

Flanked on each side by Emilia and Rem again, Beatrice's seat had moved down one to be next to Ram's now, filling the gap Rem had left when she had moved her seat next to YN.

With the twins still making breakfast, YN once more was given the usual gauntlet of questions by Emilia.

On his day and how he slept:

YN: Just fine, Emilia-sama.

On his gate:

YN: As normal as ever, Emilia-sama.

And if he'd noticed anything with it:

YN: Nothing at all, Emilia-sama

Puffing her cheeks out in minute frustration from YN's still unchanged, less than enthusiastic, and overly formal answers, her rebuttal was cut short by the twins arriving with their food.

Plopping plates down in front of each resident, YN's for a change wasn't the only abnormal plate. While still adorned with heart shaped items, an almost equally colorful plate was placed in front of the mansion's lord.

With the attention taken off his plate for a change, YN and Subaru were instead distracted by Ram who was eagerly awaiting a reaction from what could only be guessed as her plating work.

However, feeling a slight tug on his sleeve, YN was quickly taken back to the maid sister that sat to his right.

With a quick look to him, to his plate, and back to him, Rem clearly awaited praise of her own.

Patting the oni on her soft, silky, blue hair, Rem basked in the praise YN gave her.

Missing whatever was going on at the other end of the table, YN grabbed his utensil and readied himself to eat. But, cut off by Rem, she had grabbed the first item off his plate and presented it to him on her own.

Rem: YN-kun, say aaaaah—

Ram: —Ahem.

Knowing there was no fighting it, YN merely accepted that Rem was going to at least feed him his first bite, however before he was given the chance, Ram clearly had something that she needed to address.

Taking the bite away, Rem gave her full attention to her sister, as did YN.

Ram: With Rem's return to work, Ram would like to remind YN and Barasu of the backlog of tasks that will need to be performed today so as to not overwhelm Rem on her first day back. Please, finish breakfast with haste and report to the foyer for instruction.

Knowing there would be no time for idle chit chat, and that YN wouldn't allow Rem to be overworked, breakfast was finished early, and the four staff members helped to clear the table before being given additional tasks.

YN was determined to make good on his word to Ram and keep Rem from overdoing it.

The next two days went by as quickly as YN could imagine. Thankfully, Ram had delegated him more tasks outside, keeping him gainfully employed in his occupied position.

But, with less indoor domestic tasks assigned to him, his chances of seeing Rem while working were basically nonexistent. And with the backlog still needing to be tackled, there was no chance for any tutoring sessions.

Waking up to the first day where he could expect a much lighter workload for the first time, YN was still wiped out, having been exhausted from the day before.

Normally, knowing it was time to be up, YN's body abided by its routine, would begin to wake him up. However, that wasn't the case this time.

Feeling a sensation on the top of his head, a sense of euphoria formed there and felt like it was trickling down the back of his neck.

It was a calming sensation, one he hadn't ever felt before. As he woke up more, it began to feel warmer and warmer.

Becoming more conscious, YN could begin to realize the sensation came from his hair being stroked. As he laid on his side, someone was running their hand through his hair on the side that wasn't currently buried in his pillow.

Sleek, soft fingers gently coasted along his head, going from his forehead to just the beginning of the back of his head.

Waking up more, YN slowly opened his eyes. While his vision was still blurry, a stark and familiar hue of blue filled most of what he saw.

Hearing a slight sigh of cheerfulness in reaction to seeing him awake, the vestige of blue leaned closer to him, and just past his vision.

With his senses telling him something was close to his ear, a single soft voice, like a warm breeze gently blowing, entered his hearing.

?: Good morning, YN-kun.

As the voice spoke, the care the speaker had in how softly they spoke was apparent, and the tenderness that filled the meaning of each word was overflowing. Combined together, such a voice could make even the most timid flower bloom on the spot.

Having the sensation of the gentleness of the voice's speech felt against his ear, and the emotion the words had in his mind building with seemingly no where to go, the next hand stroke across his hair sent the entire build up of stimulation down the rest of YN's body.

With such a feeling of elation resounding throughout him, he took in a deep breath through his nose, waking himself further from his slumber.

His vision gaining clarity, YN gazed at the orchestrator of the angelic voice.

Laying next to him, on top of his bed-sheets, where as YN was under them, was the blue hair maid he had come to adore with all his heart.

Looking into her eyes, the morning sun's light brilliantly reflected off them. Smiling, her lips carried more honeyed words to YN's ears.

Rem: Does YN-kun like it when Rem runs her fingers through his hair?

With his morning mind still encapsulated by the sensations he felt and the grogginess of still having just woken up, YN stuttered on his words.

YN: It's like being touched by an angel.

Giving his head a final two or three strokes, Rem blushed and sighed to herself.

Rem: Ara~, what would YN-kun do without his Rem to wake him up?

Moving to stand up from laying on the bed, Rem patted her dress smooth and offered her hand to YN. Taking it, YN sat up in bed and stretched with his unoccupied arm, yawning as he did.

YN: Goodmorning, Rem.

Turning to look at the window, YN definitely knew it was slightly later then usual when he'd normally awake to begin his tasks.

But the truth was, for the last few days, YN had struggled to wake up as early as he'd like.

Since Rem came in to wake me up, I can guess she wasn't just feeling extra chipper this morning.

Knowing from YN's expression what he was thinking, Rem reassured him.

Rem: Breakfast is yet to be served, but Rem had noticed YN-kun wasn't up yet, so she took the initiative to make sure YN-kun wasn't in danger of missing Rem's specially made plate.

Scratching the back of his head, YN replied.

YN: Yeah... I don't want to fall into a bad habit of being late.

Smiling at his answer, Rem offered a "solution."

Rem: Then it seems Rem will just have to come and make sure YN-kun is awake every morning then.

YN briefly pondered what Rem had meant when she said that. On one hand, it was placing another burden on Rem, but on the other—

If I could wake up like this every morning... I don't think I could say no to that.

YN: Well, if you insist.

Rem: Nothing would make Rem happier.

Moving his feet across the bed and setting them on the ground, YN stood up the waiting Rem.

Rem: Um, YN-kun may want this before he gets ready.

Being handed a small white cloth, it was similar to a handkerchief. Taking it from her, YN gave Rem a look as if wondering what she had meant.

Slightly gesturing to the side of her mouth, YN brought the cloth to his own face and wiped.

Drool.

Seeing his face get red from the discovery and the subsequent panic-wiping he did, Rem giggled.

YN: I-I-I don't normally—

Shaking her head, the blue haired maid smiled at him.

Rem: YN-kun didn't start doing that until Rem started running her fingers through his hair. It's very cute, really.

Realizing he had let the feeling of Rem's voice and hands intoxicate him to the point of not noticing himself drooling all over his face and pillow, YN slumped his shoulder in further embarrassment.

Smiling at the result of her work, Rem spun around and headed for the door.

Leaning her head back as she left, Rem spoke.

Rem: We have a lot less to do today, so hopefully if we finish early, Rem can give YN-kun an extra long studying time tonight. So please, breakfast will be ready soon.

Nodding to the blue hair maid, she shut the door, and YN readied himself for the day ahead.

For the next three days it was like this. Rem had gotten into a habit of laying on YN's bed, gently waking him up each morning by running her hand through his hair and whispering "good morning" into his ear.

Truthfully, YN couldn't imagine waking up any other way.

But, it was somewhat costly.

While YN was enjoying these days and the moments he got to share with Rem, he was afraid he may come too accustomed to it. And that if no other opportunities came up, he worried his and Rem's feelings might stagnate.

Come to think of it, I don't think Rem ever answered my original question.

"Do you think we could be more than friends?"

While they obviously were, YN struggled to define what they were to each other, other than being more than friends.

I think it's been long enough, we have plenty of time during our study sessions, I should ask her tomorrow.

While Ram was satisfied with Subaru's basic literacy that was good enough for taking notes, reading shopping lists, and task agendas, YN continued to struggle. In truth, Subaru hadn't been tutored since the mabeast incident.

While Rem was just as good a teacher as her sister, Rem actually lacked the discipline to stick to teaching YN.

Most of the time we just end up sipping tea and talking about our day when we first start. Then Rem will get me to read and write for a bit, but that's usually when the topic drifts into something about this world I don't know, or something from mine that Rem doesn't understand.

While YN was still learning, it was slow. The tutoring sessions had both become a favorite of theirs.

Rem was always happy to elaborate on things YN was reading about in the children's books he was still thumbing away at. Origins to legends, references to historical events. Morals and lessons of stories.

This, of course, usually ended in YN explaining how these were similar or different to the ones of his world.

While the blue haired maid always listened attentively to every word he said of it, YN did his best to keep from overwhelming her. Rem was always very quick to pick up on the things YN would inadvertently mention when trying to explain something else to her.

Never did Rem say "I have no idea what you're talking about." and wave off his words like YN had heard and seen Emilia do many times with Subaru. Truthfully, Rem had also noticed when Emilia had done that, and had seen YN's sighs of sympathy to Subaru for it.

Rem was genuinely interested in what YN had to say regarding all the unique things he knew and had experienced in his world, just as she knew he was hooked on every word she said regarding hers.

The blue-haired maid was sure to make every effort that YN was never bored from talking with her about it, always making sure to ask when she didn't understand something.

Rem sincerely hopes that YN-kun doesn't think she's not smart enough to understand.

Despite both of their reasons and suspicions, the two understood that each of them had only the purest, most honest intentions in their actions.

They trusted each other after all.

Going to bed now though, YN awaited his next morning meeting with the maid he adored so much.

Pulling the covers over his face, YN could feel a chill working its way under the blankets.

Jeez, did I leave the window open or something? Are the seasons already changing?

Excited to see Rem again, YN had actually woken up slightly early in anticipation for her. He didn't know usually how early Rem arrived, or how much time she usually laid on top of his bed before he woke up to her hand in his hair, but this time, he wanted to at least be "awake" for most of it.

About to stick his head above the covers and just see if the window had in fact been opened somehow, he was paused by the sound of his door slowly opening.

Tiptoeing softly into the room, Rem quietly shut the door behind her.

Oh! She's here! Okay, now to just pretend to be asleep.

Softly approaching, YN could hear the soft creak of the wooden floor with each step Rem took. Reaching the side of his bed, YN waited for the bliss he was accustomed to at this point.

And he waited. Seconds were ticking by with Rem just standing there.

Does she think I'm awake? Did I not leave enough room on top of the bed for her?

Thinking the jig was up, YN was about to open his eyes slowly and pretend to be waking up, but stopped just before as he heard Rem finally do something different.

Rem: Haaaa, Haaaa.

Letting out two slow, big breathes, Rem made no other sounds. Unknown as to why she had done so, YN simply decided to sit and wait.

Rem is acting strange to say the least... Just what is she doing—

Feeling the covers to his side between him and Rem being lifted up, a rush of cold air entered in under the blanket.

Wanting to open his eyes immediately and see what was going on, YN's mind was fluttering with confusion.

Huh?! Why?!

Hearing the floor creak once more, YN felt the weight of another entity's be placed on the bed he was currently in.

Sliding in, both of Rem's legs were now fully under the blanket and next to YN's. Bringing her torso in line with the rest of her body, he felt Rem flip the blank back over herself, returning it to how it was just moments before, covering the entire of the bed, evenly.

More or less laying while facing where the new bed occupant laid, YN was frozen in place, keen to make himself look as "asleep" and "un-noticing" as possible.

For what seemed a minute eternity, Rem also laid in her spot, un-moving.

If it weren't for the amount of genuine confusion to her actions, YN might have had a face as red as an appa, giving his awake state away.

Unsure of just how long this was going to go on for, Rem finally made the next move.

Slowly, her feet began to move, moving towards YN. Carefully, her leg moved more as well, closer to YN's own. As he laid on his side, the blue haired maid's leg worked itself cautiously between his, halfway wrapping itself around his lower leg.

At this point, YN could feel his heart rate begin to pick up massively.

She's definitely going to know I'm awake at this rate! But what is her end game here?

His non-understanding of the entire situation kept ever increasing. Staying this way for a moment longer, it was almost if Rem was waiting for a reaction from him.

A few moments later, YN felt Rem's upper body begin to shift closer to his own. Nuzzling up to his own body, the maid was much less cautious in her following motions.

Feeling Rem's presence closer than he ever had before, more intimate than ever before, YN hadn't a clue what he should do.

Wouldn't it be odd if by this point I didn't react at all to Rem? What should I do?! If I wasn't so unsure, I'm sure I'd enjoy this a lot more...

Following his last thought, almost on queue, Rem's arms, both of them, slowly wrapped themselves around his body, pulling herself even closer.

Left totally unsure of what to do, YN's mind was emptied of all thoughts. Feeling the maid holding him in, her face was so close under the blanket with his he could feel her breath on his face.

Just as he couldn't take it anymore, a feeling, no, a need to swallow the nervousness in his throat was beginning to compound.

I can't anymore! It's going to be a dead give away I'm fully awake, but that's going to happen sooner or later at this juncture...

Just as YN was going to give in, he noticed it.

He felt it in the arms that held him. The body pressed up against his own. The legs wrapped around his own.

Rem was shivering.

Losing any disposition he had only moments early, YN steeled himself.

Something isn't right.

Swallowing that lump in his throat, YN opened his eyes right up.

While still dark under the blanket, a fold in between him and the maid in question allowed in just the minimum amount of early morning light, showing her beautiful face.

There had only been a handful of times he'd been so close to her face like this, but every time he was, it was like seeing it for the first time.

Slowly, Rem opened her eyes to the change she had felt from YN. Watching as the two azure pools she had for eyes open before him, YN immediately noticed the change in her expression.

Starkly contrasting her wide open eyes, Rem's cheeks were flushed red. Unable to respond, Rem remained eye-locked with YN, her shivering only halting for the first instance of her surprise.

Not properly clearing out his throat before speaking, YN croaked out his question.

YN: Rem, why are you shivering? Is everything okay?

Nervously looking to her left and right, Rem finally admitted defeat in her own mind. Casting her eyes downward, she forfeited her composure.

Rem: It's just that... Rem was...

YN: Did something happen?

Shaking her head, Rem's blush flared up once more.

Rem: Usually, YN-kun is fast asleep, and if Rem is gentle enough, she is able to slowly move without waking him.

Averting her eyes, Rem continued.

Rem: So Rem thought if she was careful enough, she might be able to warm herself up from YN-kun's bed and body heat before waking him up.

Continuing to feel Rem shiver, YN wasn't sure if at this point it was still due to her feeling cold or her nerves from being found out.

Rem: While it isn't normal for YN-kun and Rem to be this close, would it be okay for Rem to remain here like this for a moment longer? I-If only to warm up.

Captivated by Rem's deep blue eyes for a moment longer, YN silently answered her by wrapping his own arms around her. Nodding his head forward to touch hers, YN replied.

YN: You do so much for me, sharing a bit of warmth is the least I can do, can't I?

Rem: It's... okay?

YN: Yeah, it's fine.

Perhaps it was the warm air he kept breathing in from being under the blanket, or that his nerves had finally calmed down, but YN began to feel his eyes get heavy once more.

Pulling the covers over them both more, Rem pulled herself closer, trying to get as warm as she could.

In his half asleep state, YN rested his hand on the exposed skin from the open back of her maid dress.

So soft... but so cold...

Thinking only with the intent to warm her cold skin, YN rubbed his hand against her skin innocently.

Being still fully awake, Rem felt her face finally begin to warm up from what felt like an unexpected, but not unwelcome intimate action.

Feeling her soft, smooth skin begin to warm, YN's half asleep self had awarded himself a job well done for warming Rem up more, and fell further asleep.

From being beneath the covers, the two shared the air, breathing in and out. While Rem was absolutely intoxicated by the experience, normally YN would have clamored for fresher air, but—

This is fine I guess, and I'm just really too tired to care. But since it's Rem, I really don't mind.

Having laid together for awhile just as they had, YN's consciousness was aroused from a familiar sound. One that normally brought great discomfort, disappointment, and occasionally, dread. A sound that had followed him across world's, a sound he could never really seem to get away from, no matter where he went.

*Ding, da-da-da-ding! Da-da-da-ding! Da-da-da-daaaa~!*

Opening his eyes slowly, he was met by an equally slow reveal of Rem's eyes as well. Tasting the stagnant, warm, shared air of the two, YN heard the noise continue.

*Ding, da-da-da-ding! Da-da-da-ding! Da-da-da-daaaa~!*

Bringing the blanket up just some to allow more air in, so did the morning light accompany it.

Wiping her eyes with her hand, Rem spoke in a groggy morning voice.

Rem: YN-kun~~, what is that sound?

YN: The worst thing in the world.

Waking up more from hearing the unexpected dramatic answer, Rem replied with a simple "Wha—?" before YN reached his arm out from under the covers, slapping the counter of his nightstand randomly until—

*Ding, da-da-da-ding! Da-da-da—*

With the chime that had woken both of them, YN sighed in relief.

YN had managed to snooze the alarm on his phone, the one that was set to keep him from oversleeping. Sitting up now, he wiped the remaining tiredness from his eyes and yawned.

However, he had noticed one thing when he yawned.

He could see his breath.

Perplexed by what he had just seen, YN let out another slow, warm breath.

He could see it once more.

No way it's really that cold...

Having gotten herself up, and patting her dress of the wrinkles that had formed, Rem occupied herself while YN was blowing steam into the air.

Turning to face the maid, he saw the same thing happened as Rem yawned, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, but unable to stop the steam she also let go.

YN: Is it really this cold?

Before Rem could answer, YN turned his gaze back to the window of his room where the morning sun came through, climbing itself higher into the sky.

Rem: Yes... Normally Rem is fine with the colder weather, unlike Nee-sama, but this morning was just much colder than normal.

Getting up and walking to the window, YN inspected condensation that was built up on the glass.

Going to make a simple smiley face on the water that covered the cold glass, YN was surprised when no line was made from his finger. Instead, his side of the glass was dry to the touch.

It's... on the outside? That's odd, normally it's the other way around...

Looking out, YN could see it was looking up to be a regular sunny day outside, plenty warm enough for your breath not to be visible.

YN: Come to think of it, I did notice some flowers wilting yesterday when I was trimming the shrubs under Emilia-sama's bedroom window...

Shaking her head in response to YN's out-loud thoughts, Rem replied.

Rem: Those flowers are quite sensitive to the cold. One cold snap and they won't bloom any longer.

Turning from the window to face Rem, YN answered her.

YN: That's kind of a relief actually. I figured since it was only right next to the mansion and none of the other flowers were doing that, it might have been some troublesome bugs or a fungus of some kind... I don't know how I could deal with that without some sort of pesticide.

Tilting her head to the odd word, Rem replied.

Rem: 'Pesty-side?' —Is that something from YN-kun's world?

Feeling a brevity of panic that he'd said something he would have normally needed to watch for, YN remembered that Rem was privy to his and Subaru's shared origins now. Only slightly startled, YN answered the curious maid's question.

YN: Huh—Oh. Yeah. It's a... A bunch of really nasty oils specially made to kill things that harm plants.

Rem: To think such a thing could exist...

Putting a hand to her chin, Rem gave the concept a quick ponder before shaking her head and giving her hands a slight clap.

Rem: Nonetheless, Rem and YN-kun need to get ready for the day ahead of us.

Nodding in reply, Rem left to let YN get ready and dressed for the day.

A/N: I apologize, some of the text that was meant to be italicized flew under the radar, it's fixed now though.