Chapter 19: A Fresh Start

Lyra's consciousness drifted through the void once more. She'd now died a second time in this new world.

I really hope Subaru managed to stay alive long enough to let the scent linger away...If not, we're screwed...

Lyra thought back to what Rem had said about what she could do to make her not doubt her.

It seemed as if flirtation, as odd as it was in t5hat moment, seemed to be the trick...

Thinking far, far, far back, she remembered her first morning at the mansion, when she first woke up after having her mana drained from her body by Beatrice.

Rem: Guest-sama, do you know where you are?

And the only thing Lyra could have hoped to have replied with at the time was:

Lyra: H-h-heaven...

Lyra signed a non-existent sigh and scratched at her non-existent face out of embarrassment.

That really could have gone better the first time, she thought. Her memory had made her come to one crucial realization, though...

What if that's what Rem meant before I died, that if I had 'swayed her,' she wouldn't have suspected me? But what did that mean, exactly? Any time I had made Rem blush was a time she wasn't so openly hostile towards me...—!

Realizing the connection, Lyra felt the sensation of her consciousness filling back into her own body, ready to be awoken by Rem and Ram as they entered the room to the smell of fresh sheets and flowers.

However, this was not the case...

Feeling her essence be poured into her body, she felt herself standing up on the ground rather than lying in a bed.

No… No! Don't tell me the checkpoint changed!

Panicked, Lyra's mind began to race with what this could possibly mean. For a few moments, her mind seemed like it would go on nonstop, until her vision finally snapped to reality.

White.

Nothing but an intense, never ending expanse of white. Devoid of temperature, devoid of any stimulation.

Turning and looking all about, Lyra confirmed that she was the only entity of existence in this strange realm she had found himself in once more. Taking a breath, she felt no air come in, but in reply, her body did not long for a breath of air either. There would be no satisfaction to the desire for breath. There would be no desire to satisfy a need to breathe.

As Lyra looked about, the same wave of fatigue hit her like the last time she was in this white expanse. With her muscles tiring, her eyes becoming heavy, and her mind struggling to maintain focus, Lyra collapsed to the unfeeling floor and was quickly carried away to slumber.

Lyra awoke and fell asleep an uncountable amount of times . As if unable to fully awake from a dream, Lyra's time awake was never long, yet it was never entirely lucid either. More and more, Lyra began to struggle to determine dream from reality. Was she having dreams of waking up? This time, it felt more like a dream. No. This time, it certainly isn't a dream. Then, why can't she wake up further? How much more can she sleep? How long is she even asleep for when she is? Sometimes it feels so short, but for other times it feels like an eternity.

Slowly, Lyra began to fear that she would lose her mind due to the lack of stimuli.

But, despite all the dark thoughts, the absent thoughts, the repeated thoughts, and the overall anxiety and fear she was dealing with, her mind yearned to remember. She had one thing, one PERSON, that she needed to hold onto to keep her sanity in check.

Rem. Her sweet, kind, gentle, beloved Rem.

With the blue haired maid's image filling Lyra's mind, her soft and gentle voice almost instantly filled Lyra's ears.

Rem: Lyra-chan. Rem knows you won't ever give up.

Feeling a soft, warm sensation in her hand, Lyra's mind labored to recall in its finest detail the time that she held the maiden's hand.

Rem: Rem wants to see Lyra-chan be the hero that Rem knows she can be.

Feeling a stir of strength, Lyra began to feel herself gain energy on her own once more. This time, though, she would not let this world continue to sap that energy. Forcing herself, she sat up for the first time in what must have been days.

Lyra: I will not be controlled like this… I will not give in!

As Lyra Anderson had announced her defiance to the white expanse around her, a change had finally begun to occur.

A dark mist settled in all around her. The familiar pull and feel of Return By Death had arrived. Out from the mist, dark shadowy hands grew.

Enveloping themselves around her, the hands seemed to almost pick her up, forcing her to stand completely upwards and giving her a renewed sense of self. The hands continued to pull her along, deeper and deeper into the void of dark, misty, murky nothingness.

Having a good feeling of what was to begin next, she felt the same similar sensations of what Return By Death was like the first time she had experienced it.

Knowing what would come next, with the bed, the guest room, and the twins, Lyra knew EXACTLY what she must do next.

Like always, it began with the tingle of sunlight on her eyelids, beckoning a morning sun, shining brightly, a day full of opportunity.

Next would always come the smell. The freshness of new, washed bed sheets, accompanied by the fragrance of freshly-cut flowers, sitting in their vase and picked at full-bloom.

Finally, the sheets that enveloped her resting body, cool and soft to the touch, tucked neatly around her as her body helped rouse herself awake.

Faintly, she could hear it. The sound of footsteps down the hallway, ever so light and quiet, but she has learned to expect it. That would be the only way she'd ever have noticed it.

A hand had been placed on the door, ready to twist the knob and make an entrance.Two young women doing their little sisterly routine as they always did.

Turning the knob, the twins entered.

Rem: Nee-sama Nee-sama, our guest sleeps well into the late morning.

Ram: Rem Rem, our guest appears to be a deadbeat who sleeps in until noon.

Rem: Nee-sama Nee-sama, it would appear so. Would you mind waking him while I check on our other guest—

Rem had stopped. Her words were cut off again.

The last time this happened, it meant that—!

As she recalled the loop in which she had died on the first day, the loop right after the forest interrogation, the same thing had happened then too.

Panic filled Lyra's mind.

W-what happened? Did Subaru fail to stay alive long enough to let the scent disperse some? Did something terrible happen? Are we really going to have to do all this again?

As her mind raced in the moment Rem was silent, a new sound was heard.

?: *Yaaaaawnnn*

A yawn filled the silence left by Rem's cut off words.

Hearing the sound of sheets being rustled, Lyra continued to listen in, eyes closed, but awake nonetheless.

The yawn turned into a groan of pain, of which the twins reacted to.

Ram: Guest-sama, are you feeling unwell?

Rem: Guest-sama, do you have a chronic illness flaring up?

Subaru: No, no, I'm fine.

Ram: Let Ram open the window to let some fresh air in. Rem?

Rem: Yes Nee-sama?

Ram: Please check on our other guest. Her gate was severely injured and she may be in a weak condition as a result.

Was my gate " severely" injured? Is THAT why Emilia has kept asking about it?

With no time to entertain the theory, Lyra heard Rem approach. Kneeling down to be more level with her face, Rem whispered to Lyra while Ram moved the curtains to open the window.

Rem: Guest-sama, are you awake? Guest-sama?

I need to woo her quickly. What do I say? What do I say?

She kept her eyes shut to buy time as she thought.

Placing her hand on Lyra's shoulder, Rem gently rocked her to rouse her..

Rem: Guest-sama, do you remember anything?

Slowly, she had to begin to open her eyes. It would be unnatural and further-alarming if she did not begin to awake. With her eyes taking in the now-much-brighter light from Ram opening the curtains, Lyra struggled to adjust her vision in order to properly see Rem.

Rem: G-guest-sama?

Seeing her struggling to open hed eyes, Rem brought a hand to her chest in sympathy and worry, but somehow, almost instinctively knew what the cause was.

With the bright light now cascading into the room, Rem moved her head forward and tilted it, bringing the shadow of her face to cover Lyra's, shielding her morning eyes from the rays.

Getting a clearer and closer look on Rem's face, Lyra's eyes began to adjust thanks to her blocking the sun's light.

Rem: Guest-sama, do you know where you are?

Lyra's eyes were now halfway open as Rem asked her question and Ram had finally managed to open the window. A cool, pleasant breeze rolled in from outside the moment the window was let open.

In her halfway-open vision, a grand scene played out just for her. Lyra's vision was suddenly filled with Rem's face.

The breeze swayed her bangs, revealing both of her deep blue eyes, which were like two crystal-clear mountain ponds, showing the reflection of Lyra's face, her golden locks, and sky-blue eyes as she laid in bed.

The sunlight that she had halted from reaching her eyes shined and twinkled all around her outline. Rem was bathed in a wash of a golden halo that had formed around her.

Seeing the sight before her, Lyra was speechless. Her thoughts soon escaped her, leaving through her mouth out loud. Her words were only guided by the pure feelings and emotions that she was feeling now. Her cheeks started turning bright pink.

Lyra: H-ha..ve...I-I-

Rem: — — —

Rem was waiting for her guests' answer with baited breath. Rem didn't know why she was waiting for a response at this moment, only that nothing else seemed to matter at that very second.

With great trepidation and risk, Lyra spoke the only words she could find in her heart at the very moment.

Lyra: H-Have I died and gone to the afterl-life or something? B-because you look like an angel...

With the words repeating again and again in her mind, a warmth began to grow in Rem's chest. Never before had she felt such a feeling overtake her like this so quickly. She knew not if these were her early-morning,-post-dream words of confusion and drowsiness or her sincerest feelings.

Somehow, she felt both were equally true.

A blush larger than what Lyra had ever seen before on Rem adorned her round face. Rem lightly shook her head and spoke in a quiet voice.

Rem: N-not quite...

With energy flowing into herself, perhaps from waking up or from trying to seize the moment, Lyra replied to Rem's response, giggling and smiling warmly at her.

Lyra: I get the feeling I'm not too far off, though...cutie!

The two stared into each other's eyes for a moment longer, both not wanting to be the first to look away. But, almost as soon as the breeze had died down, so too had the sunlight's touch. Ram called to her sister.

Ram: Rem? Is our other guest over there doing well?

Having to snap her gaze away from Lyra, she replied to her sister.

Rem: Yes, Nee-sama, she is doing well.

Lyra heard a knock at the door. A fifth person entered the room.

?: Hello? Oh. You both are awake. It was so quiet here that I thought something... never mind. Anyways, Subaru, you look like you have energy to spare this morning.

Subaru: Emilia-tan! I just had a lot on my mind right now,but seeing you blew my intrusive thoughts all away! Maybe you're just the wonder-drug my mind needed most!

Putting her hand up like a stop sign, Emilia spoke up.

Emilia: I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm glad you're okay, though.

Dropping his head, Subaru lamented.

With both of the mansion's guests awake, everyone was summoned to the meal hall once the lord of the mansion had returned.

Without hesitation, both Lyra and Subaru had requested staff positions once more. Subaru was made to be a butler, while Lyra was to be a part- time groundskeeper, with Rem being assigned as her tutor once again.

Upon hearing Lyra's request, Subaru also asked for help with studies. Ram ended up being assigned as his tutor.

Being fitted for their work uniforms accordingly, both Lyra and Subaru retired to their rooms for the evening. While in her room, Lyra set up her solar bank and let her nearly-dead phone charge, as she always did on the first day.

Lying down back in bed, Lyra simply had nothing to do.

I'm not too sure if I should bother Subaru right now. He's probably still shell-shocked from his last two deaths despite how he was acting earlier...

Looking back, Lyra guessed that it had only been about twenty-four hours since those events had taken place.

Getting up and stretching, she decided to head down to the mansion's bathing room for some time to think and relax.

Lyra trudged down the stairs and headed for the bath.

Reaching the door for the changing areas and subsequently the entrance to the bath, Lyra stopped and stared down the hallway.

Past the bathing room hallway and down the corner was the same, less-lit hallway that was home to the patio furniture storage room.

The very same room that Lyra had first died in.

Looking down the hall, hand on the changing-area door, Lyra dropped her grip and headed to find the same door as last time.

Was it her lingering curiosity from the "spare pantry?" Wrapping around the corner and heading down the hall, Lyra came up to the familiar door.

Standing in front of the door, she could feel a breeze coming out from underneath it. Taking a deep breath, Lyra squeezed the handle to open the door until—

?: Lyra-chan? Are you lost?

Hearing a familiar voice behind her, Lyra looked over her shoulder. Right behind her was an equally-curious blue-haired maid. Fully turning around, Lyra looked at Rem, whose head was tilted in curiosity at what she was doing.

There was no hostility or malice in her voice, and her body language didn't seem to convey that, either.

Lyra: No actually. It's just that when you two showed me and Subaru around,you never brought us down this hallway. I was going to use the bath, but this area just so happened to catch my attention.

Rem shook her head, which really ended up shaking her whole body, causing her dress to flow from side-to-side in a delayed sort of fashion.

Rem: There really isn't much down this way and much of it isn't yet relevant to your jobs... —May Rem ask another question?

Nodding to her, Rem continued.

Rem: What made Lyra-chan stop at this specific door?

Not really wanting to answer her in an entirely honest way, Lyra instead replied with a half-truth.

Lyra: I felt a draft coming from underneath the door.

Putting a hand to her chin, Rem thought for a moment before coming to an idea, an invisible light bulb appearing above her head.

Rem: Ah, it must be...

Moving alongside Lyra, Rem opened the door and entered the room. Looking around, Rem complained, hands on her hips.

Rem: Oh, it's so dark in here.

Rem stepped back out of the room and headed to the nearest crystal lamp. She soon returned, holding said crystal lamp.

Stepping into the room, Rem waved to Lyra for her to enter with her.

Somewhat hesitant, Lyra slowly entered through the doorway and on inside, finally standing next to Rem. Rem gestured over to a large patio table, which was turned upwards on its side.

The very same one that Lyra had previously been choked up next to.

Rem: Do you see?

Focusing on the table, Lyra had no clue what she meant.

Lyra: The table?

Rem answered, shaking her head .

Rem: No. Behind the table.

Craning her head up just a bit and putting a hand over her brows, Lyra focused her vision on the dark area behind the table.

It was wood, unlike the stone around the rest of the wall and floor. It was also round wood, like a door.

It WAS a door.

Lyra: I-I-s that a DOOR?!

Rem: Yes. It's the mansion's drain room. It leads down only a few steps to a grate hole. The room sometimes has a problem with rats, so Nee-sama and Rem keep the table propped in front of the door to keep any from pushing their way in.

Eyes widening at the prospect of needing to barricade a door for rats, Lyra couldn't believe it was THAT necessary.

Lyra: H-how big do the rats get here?!

Giggling before turning to head back out the door, Rem answered.

Rem: Maybe Lyra-chan'll have to see sometime.

With both of them back out in the hallway, Rem shut the door with a solid "k-chunk."

Rem: Were there any other rooms that Lyra-chan was curious about that Nee-sama and Rem neglected to show previously?

Lyra replied, shaking her head.

Lyra: Not necessarily. But come to think of it, didn't Ram mention something about a 'secondary' or 'backup' pantry? Isn't the rest of this hallway just storage and cleaning supplies?

Looking up slightly, Rem put her slender finger to her chin in thought.

Rem: Sometimes Nee-sama might call the drain room a joke. There are certain things she doesn't like that she wishes she could toss down there.

Lyra: Hmm, I must not have understood that when she first said it, then...

With that, the two walked back to the more-welcoming section of the mansion's hallway where the bathing room was. Lyra smiled warmly at Rem.

Lyra: Anyway, thanks for entertaining my curiosity. I'll see you both again early in the morning to report for duty!

With a hand-wave from Lyra, Rem slightly bowed and turned to walk off before turning around once more.

Rem: Lyra-chan?

Lyra: Hmm? What's up?

Rem gave Lyra a soft and gentle smile

Rem: Rem looks forward to working with you tomorrow. Get some good rest.

Lyra: I will! Thanks! You make sure to get some rest now, too! Alright?

Rem: Rem will do that. Thank you, Lyra-chan.

Proceeding into the bath, Lyra tried to soak her hard feelings and bad thoughts away with the warm water.

I'm going to need to formulate a plan from here on out. I guess it's just that I have to win over both Rem AND Ram trust then?

Just then, the door to the bathing area had opened once more.

?: Um...excuse me? May I step in with you?

A girl with amethyst eyes, long silver hair, and a voice that rang like silver bells came in, wrapped in just a towel. A startled Lyra was quick to respond.

Lyra: Oh! Uh...Hi there, Emilia! Sure thing. I mean it's just us here anyways, so it should be fine!

Emilia: Thanks. So ..

Emilia stepped into the bath, next to where Lyra was sitting.

Emilia:...may I ask you about something important?

Lyra: Of course! I'm listening.

Emilia: So your gate was severely injured, as you probably already know...

I see we're back at it again with the whole "how's your gate?" thing again. Oh, how I WISH I didn't have to answer her in the same way every time. I know she's just looking out for me out of the kindness of her heart, and I really appreciate her for that, but still ..

Emilia: ...and I just wanted to see if you've noticed any changes at all or not?

Lyra: No...I haven't...sorry...I will let you know when I do as soon as possible, though!

Emilia: Oh...I see..well, I WOULD appreciate you letting me know for sure, so thanks.

The silver-haired and blonde-haired maidens both made small talk for a little while longer before Emilia eventually stated that it was getting late and that it was time for her to go to her room to sleep. She waved goodbye to Lyra and left the bathing area while wrapped back in her towel, leaving Lyra alone one more to her thoughts.

Lyra sat down for a bit before deciding to continue brainstorming ideas in the nearby sauna room, which was attached to the bathing area. She got up, wrapped a towel around herself, and went into the sauna room. Staring up at the ceiling, Lyra began to think out loud.

Lyra: There's gotta be more to this...

?: —And there is.

Lyra: H-HUH? Wh-wh-WHAT THE-!?

Hearing someone else open the door to the sauna room and walking in, Lyra frantically darted her eyes around , looking for who or whatever that voice could be coming from.

After a few moments, steam began to form from where she had heard the sound. Out came none other than Lyra's wayward traveling companion, Natsuki Subaru, who was also wrapped in a towel

Subaru: Phwaaa! Oh, hey, Emi-wait! LYRA!?

Lyra immediately turned bright red out of embarrassment and pointed an accusatory finger at him.

Lyra: Y-YOU?! DUDE! WHAT THE HELL!?

Subaru: U-uh..I'm so sorry about this! I thought that maybe Emilia would be in here and-

Lyra put her hands on her hips and angrily chastised Subaru.

Lyra: What!? Actually, never mind. Anyways, she just left, so too bad for you! Now if you don't mind, would you PLEASE give a WOMAN her PRIVACY!?

Subaru: H-hold on! I'm sorry for barging in on you like this, really! But, since we're both here now at the moment, may I at LEAST stay for a bit and offer you some advice?

Lyra sighed, put her arms back down to her side, and looked sideways at him

Lyra: Alright...fine! But you better not do much as even THINK about trying or doing ANYTHING funny! Got it!?

Subaru: R-right! Of course!

Lyra: Hmph. Good.

Subaru and Lyra both sat down next to each other on one of the sauna seats.

Subaru: Anyways, you're entirely correct, there is more to this. A lot more.

Lyra: Okay then, do tell.

Crossing his arms, Subaru continued.

Subaru: Well, for starters, you were wrong.

Lyra: About?

Subaru: A whole lot. How long do you think it had been before we reset when Rem killed you two loops ago? On that first day up to the next time you woke up and tried to run.

Wanting to confirm whether or not the order of things was being properly understood, Lyra answered with a question of her own.

Lyra: When we died on the first day after resetting from being interrogated in the woods, till the last loop where I told you to run? Uhh, I don't know, maybe twenty-four hours? Maybe less?

Uncrossing his arms, Subaru held a hand up, and lowered his pinky and ring fingers, leaving three digits up.

Subaru: Three days.

Lyra: W-WHAT!? HOW!?

Subaru: After you left with Roswaal, Beatrice came in after Emilia accused her of doing something to me after sapping our mana, saying she was being forced to apologize.

Putting a hand to his chin and closing his eyes, Subaru gave a smug look.

Subaru: And with some careful Puck-related blackmail, I got her to form a contract with me.

Lyra: A contract, you say? For what, exactly?

Returning to a normal expression, Subaru continued.

Subaru: Protection. Until the morning of the fourth day.

Lyra: So then did Beatrice fight—?

Subaru: —No no. I stayed in the Forbidden Library until the morning of the fourth day. When I exited, I went to see if anything had changed and if you were doing okay.

Lyra: Oh? And what did you find?

Subaru: As soon as I walked down the hall, Emilia-tan was all in a rather-cute fluster, but she was surprised to see me. I guess Ram had told her that I had run away. Rem had said that you quit and walked off the job.

Lyra was silently and blankly staring at Subaru. Confused as to why Lyra remained quiet, Subaru spoke back up.

Subaru: I'm guessing that's not what actually happened, though...

Shaking her head slowly, Lyra replied.

Lyra: No... Rem... She...

With images of the recent and caring Rem flashing in contrast to the Rem who had strangled her to death, rehearing the anger and contempt in her voice that she remembered, Lyra's words staggered.

Lyra: On the first day... the very first day... she...

With regret and pain filling her voice, an emotion of fear and bottled-up sadness filled her chest. Choking back her tears, Lyra finally spoke the truth.

Lyra: She strangled me...in the storage room down the hallway...probably less than a stone's-throw from right where we're sitting...*Sigh* She was so mad... just from the scent itself, nothing else! That's why I was so sure! So sure that we were in danger! That we had to run! With the smell compounding three times, two from botched confessions and once from a death...three stacked cases of the scent was enough to get her to kill me on the first day... What was a fourth layer going to do—?

Subaru: I understand now. You assumed that I was still bedridden and that I was also killed at around the same time.

Lyra: Yeah... I guess I did. Pretty stupid of me in hindsight, huh?

Shaking her head, Lyra snapped herself out of her self-pity.

Lyra: Anyways, you said Emilia was in a fuss?

Nodding, Subaru continued.

Subaru: Yeah. She was surprised to learn that I was still in the mansion, but she was running to find Beatrice. Once she said that, I heard a terrible scream...that turned out to be Ram's...

Lyra: —? Why was Ram screaming?

Subaru shut his eyes as if preparing to say something that was very hard for him to say.

Subaru: Because...

Opening his eyes and taking a deep breath, he looked Lyra dead in the eyes and continued.

Subaru: Because Rem...died. She died the same way that I did on the very first loop...

Looking down at the ground, Lyra watched as steam gently moved around near her feet.

Lyra: The curse...

Realizing what this meant, Lyra snapped her head back up and met Subaru's gaze.

Lyra: So, the curse didn't come from Rem, then...that's a relief...

Subaru: That's right.

Crossing his arms once more, Subaru also shifted to a more relaxed position before continuing.

Subaru: But that's not all. In my time staying in the Forbidden Library, I had asked Beako about curses, like how to get them, where they come from, and how to cure them.

Lyra: What did she say about that?

Putting a hand into the air, Subaru closed it into a fist.

Subaru: For starters, first—

He extended his thumb on his closed hand.

Subaru: Curses come from Shamans, something we know Rem isn't since she died of the curse herself. Second—

He extended his index finger.

Subaru: Curses are a weak type of magic. The shaman needs physical contact in order to curse someone. And finally—

With his middle finger extended alongside his other fingers, Subaru finished.

Subaru: —Third. Curses can be removed before they're triggered and Beako can detect and remove them too, all by herself.

Lyra: So we just need to find out who cursed you... Got any clue? I mean, the only other residents it could have been were—

Shaking his head, Subaru cut off Lyra.

Subaru: It wasn't anyone in the mansion.

Jaw almost agape at the very idea, Lyra was nearly speechless.

Lyra: — —?! How can you be certain?!

Subaru: Because—

Subaru closed his eyes again and raised a finger. Then, he opened his eyes back up and continued his response

Subaru: —last loop, I died!

Giving Subaru a blank expression and a few blinks, Lyra finally responded.

Lyra: Yeah, no shit! You maybe want to explain how? Or when?

Becoming serious again, Subaru answered.

Subaru: I made it to Arlem before Ram arrived and hid in some house's cellar. Once night fell, I made my way out and a few of the kids that lived there found me. Really, in short, they put me up in the hay shed and gave me some grub.

Raising her hand, Lyra mimicked a student in a lecture class.

Lyra: Sensei!

Subaru: Yes, my student?

Lyra: How does this lead to anything we're trying to discuss?

Raising his fist above his head, Subaru made his intention known.

Subaru: I'm getting there!

Settling down, he continued.

Subaru: *Ahem* For the next two days I just played around the village, played with the children, and interacted with the adults. The point that I'm getting at is, that I never ONCE interacted with anyone from the mansion, which means that no one here touched me and therefore caused the curse to take effect.

Lyra: Then the curse killed you? Again?

Nodding his head in confirmation, Subaru went on.

Subaru: I have no clue when or how, but I was cursed in the village. I died in my sleep and now, here we are.

Lyra: So then, what's the plan? Avoid going to the village?

Subaru: It's not as easy as that. On the third day, on both of the previous two loops, someone from the mansion went to the village for groceries. That's how I'm SURE Rem died in your death-by-strangling loop. In the loop where we tried to run away, Ram went that time. Thankfully, the village kids helped me hide from her, though.

Sitting up, Lyra posed a question to Subaru.

Lyra: So we need to confront and figure out who the shaman is in the village?

Subaru: Exactly. But we also have to take care to get in good standing here with the twins in order to earn their trust. We also need to come up with a plan once we get to the village and think about what we need to do once we're there.

Lyra agreed to the plan, nodding in confirmation,

Lyra: We've got our work cut out for us for sure...but it's nothing we haven't done before!

A/N: Thanks so much for reading this chapter!! I have someone who I would like to give a HUGE shout-out to: @subarusgoated on TikTok!! He streams as Subaru and is super chill, kind, and funny!! He has played games such as Subnautica, Minecraft, Danganronpa, and Persona, and I'm guessing that he will play even more in the future!! Please do go check him out and follow him when and if possible!! Also, if you want to help me out BIG TIME, I am trying to raise up money for a new apartment to stay in, so please donate to my GoFundMe if you are able to help out with that: https/gofund.me/223be3ef

Thanks so much for reading!! I hope you have a nice day/evening/night!!! _