Chapter 14: Stakeout

Waking up to the feeling of sun on his eyes, YN finally arose. It was the dawn of the second day.

YN headed down stairs to have breakfast, and made conversation with some of the mansions fellow residents.

YN had asked Beatrice how her library was organized to no avail, complemented Rem's cooking, asked Ram why she was considered the older sister despite being twins, and as he was finishing up, had been asked again by Emilia how his gate was and if still hadn't noticed anything odd.

Returning to his room, YN self studied to minimal advancement.

Ya know, Subaru himself said I could ask for help if I needed, and cannot remember how to write these glyphs when used in this context.

Getting up, YN went to Subaru's room and knocked before walking in.

Subaru: YN, need something?

YN: Yeah, can you show me how you write the gliyphs for…

After being shown, YN had noticed that all the books Subaru had grabbed last night had already been read through.

YN: You sure got through those books pretty quick.

Subaru: You know why?

YN & Subaru: Because there's nothing else to do.

Subaru: Exactly. I'm getting burnt out on this already. It's like I'm hitting a wall in terms of improvement.

YN: That means you should probably take a break. Speaking of, wasn't the goal of this perma-guest siesta supposed to be dedicated to looking for clues and investigating?

Subaru: It was, at least in theory, but I've searched the entire mansion and found nothing. I'm at a dead end in studying, and our fourth-day-problem.

YN: Maybe you really should take a break and regroup your thoughts. Wanna go for a walk around the gardens?

Subaru: If you think it'll help, I'll give it a go.

After walking down the stairs and down the back steps of the mansion, and before walking out into the back gardens of the mansion, the two stopped to see Rem beginning to trim the lawn.

The thing that had caught YNs eye was the level she had set blades for the height of the trimmed grass.

Normally YN had to take two passes over an area, taking about half the height he wished to take from the grass each time. Setting it that low would have been a monster for YN to push, requiring lots of strength, so surely for Rem it would be—

YN: How is she doing that?!

Subaru: What? What do you mean?

Not responding to Subaru, YN waited as Rem brought the lawn cutter back their direction and waved to get her attention.

As she made her way over, YN called out to her.

YN: 'Afternoon Rem. How's the lawn coming?

Slightly perplexed by the address, Rem stopped to see what YN had to say.

Rem: Good afternoon. The work is going steadily but we have a lot to do today. Are you two out for a stroll in the nice weather?

YN: Yeah actually, can't stay cooped up inside all day. But uhh, Rem?

Tilting her head in question, YN continued.

YN: I really don't mean to tell you how to do your job but... aren't you kinda doing that the hard way? You've got it set pretty low for your first pass.

Rem: — — ? Rem has always cut the grass this way. It's the height Roswaal-sama requires the grass to be for optimal scenery.

YN: Right, but... isn't that hard to push?

Bringing a hand to her chest and shaking her head, Rem replied.

Rem: No, not particularly.

Almost as if stepping aside to let YN try, he gave the trimmer a push.

It was definitely more then he'd be willing to push but how was Rem managing this?

How can she push it so easily? Is it angle she uses or something?

YN: *exhausted sigh* Well, kudos to you for willing to do it in one pass. Normally I'd take something this high in at least two more shallow passes.

Subaru: But wouldn't that be twice the work for Rem?

YN: Not if I'm right about something here... Rem do you normally rake the lawn after you're done cutting it?

Rem: Yes, Rem must collect the lawns trimmings and dispose of them or the work will look sloppy.

YN: Right. Because with it set this low, the trimmings are so long they sit on top of the grass.

Bending down and rubbing his hand on the grass, YN continued.

YN: But if you do two more shallow passes, the trimmings aren't nearly as long, and will fall below the top of the cut grass, meaning—

Rem: Rem would not need to rake the lawn clippings after trimming.

Giving her a finger gun after standing back up, YN praised Rem.

YN: Bingo. It's quicker to trim twice then once and then have to rake. Plus, you're letting the trimmings go back into the soil to help replenish it. You'll get a lawn with a much more even color and growth.

Rem held her hand to her chin in thought before smiling.

Rem: Rem sees. That would save considerable time and give a more pleasant lawn.

YN: Well there ya go then. You learn something new everyday.

Bowing, Rem thanked YN and following his advice, continued to trimming while YN and Subaru continued to walk.

Subaru: What are you? Some middle aged old man trying to have the best lawn in the neighborhood? How'd you know all that?

Scratching the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed about the equation Subaru made of his niche knowledge on such a seemingly random topic, YN explained.

YN: Well, on our first time here Ram asked me if I'd ever trimmed a lawn before, and like an idiot I said 'Yep. Sure have.' and she just showed me where that old trimmer was and told me to cut the lawn.

Subaru: And?

YN: Remember that educational app on my phone that I showed you? The reason I was traveling before coming here? I used it's encyclopedia function to look up old yard trimmers and it briefly explained how to use them. I got the 'shorter passes' trick from finding a tidbit on lawn care on this section on biology.

Subaru: That's... resourceful.

YN: *sigh* That's probably the only time it's really going to come in handy I feel like. So much here is just 'Boom! Magic!' that it makes any knowledge here worthless because it's just not applicable.

With that out of the way, the conversation dwindled into lesser, small talk.

With their walk mostly though, Subaru had finally remembered to bring up his plan to YN.

Subaru: —so I'm saying we should leave the mansion the day after tomorrow, in the afternoon, we'll act like we're moving on.

YN: So we can observe the mansion from afar and see exactly what happens?

Subaru: Exactly.

YN: Considering we have zero other leads, I'll take you up on that plan then, yes, count me in.

Subaru: Good. Have your stuff packed after breakfast that day, we'll leave just after lunchtime.

And with that, a plan was set in motion.

After returning into the mansion, with a deadline and some more energy, Subaru set out to study what he could before tomorrow, leaving YN to his own devices. After studying to no effect, YN retired for the night.

Waking up late on the third day, YN had slept in considerably. While normally one of the twins surely would have knocked, they hadn't.

Sitting up in bed and scratching his head, YN yawned and grabbed his phone off the window charger. Without access to the internet, YN's enjoyment out of his phone was brief at best.

I'm sure I've missed breakfast at this point, I'll just have to wait till lunch I guess.

Getting himself out of bed, YN dressed himself and walked to Subaru's room. Knocking on the door and getting no reply, YN entered to find his fellow guest also still fast asleep.

Hearing YN enter, Subaru woke up as well, also surprised at how late he had slept in. After some light banter, the two decided the least they could do to burn time was try and study together.

As the two studied, lunch time had soon come and past without either of the maids coming to inform them that the meal was ready.

Subaru: Do you think Rem and Ram got so busy they forgot to make lunch?

YN: They are always incredibly busy on the third day…

Almost as if on cue, a knock was heard on the door, followed by it being opened by Ram. Ram carried one large platter with simple snack items and finger food in one hand, and a small tea set on its own platter in the other hand.

Ram: Please forgive Ram and her sister for failing to prepare lunch on time. Please take these to tide yourselves over until supper time.

Getting up and nearly grabbing the platter from Ram, Subaru began to wolf down bites of food into his hungry mouth.

Subaru (mouth full): Oh dheses arw so gwood. Rem made dese, yeah?

Ram: Yes, Rem made them after Emilia-sama had mentioned that both of you had missed breakfast.

YN: We should thank Rem the next time we see her.

With Subaru too busy stuffing his face to hear YN's suggestion, Ram sighed before responding.

Ram: That's if you even will have the chance to today. Both Rem and I are very busy today, and dinner is also likely to be delayed as well. Now, if you'll excuse Ram—

YN: W-wait! Maybe we can help? I'd really like to—

Stopping YN with a single raised palm to him, Ram denied him.

Ram: That is quite alright. Rem and I will make do as we always have.

Taking her leave, Ram bowed before departing., leaving YN and Subaru to their devices. With nothing else to occupy their time, studying continued.

At what seemed to be supper time, YN made his way to an empty dining hall.

The twins really are overloaded with tasks today, just how late is dinner going to be?

Somewhat concerned, YN walked to the kitchen to see if either of them had at least got to the prepping point for cooking.

Approaching the kitchen's door, YN heard what was distinctly a chopping noise. Someone was definitely cutting ingredients. Opening the door, YN was given a scene of Rem frantically running around the kitchen. From the cutting table to the stove to the pantry to the spice rack back to the cutting table and every other combination.

Seeing the look of stress on her face, he could tell Rem hadn't even noticed him enter.

YN: Howdy Rem—

Stopping mid-step to her next station, Rem put what food items she held in her hands behind her back and bowed, apologizing.

Rem: Rem is terribly sorry but dinner is going to be later then usual this evening. If YN need's something then please look for Nee-sama, she should be able to help as Rem needs to attend to as much as she can here.

Spewing her words out as fast as she could before returning to running around the kitchen, Rem explained her situation to YN.

YN: I was just going to ask, do you need any help? I've worked in a kitchen like this before…

He thought back to the times he had assisted in cooking meals before in the mansion's kitchen in previous loops.

Not taking her eyes off what she was doing, Rem responded.

Rem: Rem will be honest, YN will only slow things. Only Nee-sama would have the skill to work at a pace that would be assistive.

YN: Oh... I see. I'll just get out of your hair then.

Without even a goodbye from Rem, YN somberly returned to the hallway and went in search of Ram.

Now, around this time, where would Ram even be?

Taking a first guess, he decided to check the washroom, as in the last loop, that was the last task Rem had to do before starting dinner.

Opening the door to the washroom, YN was immediately greeted by Ram, bowing while holding the scrubbing broom.

Ram: YN-sama. Please excuse the mess but the washroom is currently being facilitated. If you had wanted to pass the time with a soak before dinner I'm afraid you might need to find something else, but rest assured, Rem is working as hard as she can to get dinner ready.

Walking further in the washroom, YN replied to Ram.

YN: Yeah that's why I'm here, Rem's really struggling and I offered to help her but she said I'd probably only get in the way—

Ram: Most definitely.

Even while having to fulfill the task of being a courteous maid, Ram could still manage to sneak in small bursts of snide comments.

Pretending to not notice her comment, YN went on.

YN: So I thought of the next best thing to help her, is to help you.

Stopping to tilt her head, Ram took a moment to think about what YN meant by that.

Ram: What do you mean?

YN: What I mean is I know you'd rather be helping Rem then doing this. So go on. I can take over here.

With almost an expression of relief, it seemed like Ram almost easily agreed, but as soon as she did, she stopped herself, and issued her protest.

Ram: I could not allow a guest to dirty their hands like this, I'm sorry.

Sighing and turning to a sadder expression, Ram went on.

Ram: Rem will just have to make do… — ?!

While Ram was going on, YN had removed his shoes and rolled his sleeves up. Cutting her off by stepping down into the drained bath, YN picked up what had to have been Rem's scrubbing broom and got to work as he had done before.

YN: Like this, right?

Watching almost as in disbelief, Ram watched YN preform the task as if he'd done this before.

YN: Do I meet the grade? You should take off and go help Rem, I've got things covered here.

Shooting a smile to her, Ram sighed and stopped her own scrubbing again to address YN, shaking her head.

Ram: It would be entirely unprofessional of me to allow a guest of the house to take over my duties as a maid.

YN: Then at least let me help you make it go quicker.

Without ever expressing a hint of decline to his offer, Ram went back to scrubbing her half of the drained bath while YN scrubbed his half.

After a few minutes of scrubbing in silence, YN noticed the look Ram had on her face was different from when she normally works.

YN: Ram, I can tell you're just itching to say something.

Not stopping her work, or even looking over, Ram replied in her most forced formal tone she could muster.

Ram: I have no idea what you're implying.

YN: C'mon Ram. You can probably guess that I don't care if you speak your mind, and I would prefer you do, I can tell it tires you out having to keep all that bottled up.

Stopping her scrubbing now, Ram's vision remained where it had for a moment until she turned to face YN, still on the opposite side of the drained bath, scrubbing.

Ram: *sigh* Fine. Do you really want to know what Ram wants to say?

Simply nodding at Ram, YN gave his go-head.

Ram: Why?

Confused by her question, YN furrowed his brow.

Ram: Barasu was intent on just staying cooped up in his room reading and being a freeloader. You on the other hand... you chose to be guest but still act as if you are a member of this mansions staff on occasion. Why did you ask to be a guest when you clearly find it to be dull?

Stopping his scrubbing, YN paused and looked upwards at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts.

YN: Like Subaru, I'm not the best at reading and writing, except I'm even worse off then he is. He might have the drive to power through it, but I get discouraged when I'm having to self teach myself, and I have to find something else to do, which brings me here.

Ram: So then you helping is just a distraction for yourself? Or perhaps it's an excuse to help quell feelings of guilt from being a freeloader yourself.

Laying his hands on top of the broomstick and resting his chin on top of that, YN directly conveyed his words to Ram.

YN: I wouldn't say that. It's more... I really like it here. It's comfy. And to Subaru, he really likes everyone here, and maybe that just kinda rubbed off on me. I help because I want to help. Who doesn't like to help their friends? You two honestly are running at capacity for taking care of everything here.

Direction his vision upward to the ceiling to focus more on what he was to say next, YN continued.

YN: If Rem wasn't so demonically inspired to preform house work so well, I don't know how you two would manage truthfully.

Taking his answer with a blank stare before returning to her own scrubbing, Ram finally responded.

Ram: That saying... Barasu said something similar earlier.

Turning to Ram after replying with something so off topic, YN asked why.

YN: Huh? You mean about being 'how are you two able to manage?'

Ram: No, about being 'demonically inspired.' He referenced her being similar to a demon.

YN: I don't think he meant anything by it, it somewhat accurately describes Rem's work ethic though, in a good way.

Ram: Barasu described them oddly, with some stupid story about how one wished to be friends with the people of a village, at the cost of defaming their sibling... Do you have the same opinion as he does?

Shaking his head, YN answered the pink haired maid.

YN: While I'm not familiar with the story he might have told, I think me and him would have different view points here.

Ram: …So you don't like demons?

YN shook his head again, and went on.

YN: That really doesn't enter into it here correctly. To Subaru, where he grew up or comes from, demons are what he would try to describe as 'ogres' to me. Which, where I'm from, aren't demonic in nature.

Stopping his own scrubbing again, YN once again looked up at the ornate tile ceiling of the washroom to gather the thoughts in his head to best organize them to what he had to say.

YN: But, what Subaru is describing as 'ogres,' where I came from and understand, are what would be called oni, which are different from ogres.

Ram: Oni...

He hadn't noticed it, but as Ram had spoke softly, she tightened her grip on the scrubbing broom.

YN: Yeah. Which again, I would say aren't inherently demonic. In the stories I'm used to, ogres, or as I think you would call them too, Oni, aren't always evil.

Ram: So it would be correct to say Barasu views them all in a negative light, which isn't inline with where he comes from.

YN: I would say again, not quite. 'Demons' or 'demonic' things don't carry the same weight as they would where I'm from and understand. Those kinds of things would be spectral evil incarnate, not a race of beings, like oni or ogres.

Stopping her scrubbing again, almost surprised at where his long winded answer was leading, Ram asked another question to YN.

Ram: Then, you like ogres, or oni rather?

YN: Yeah. You could say that. One of my favorite movies— err, stories, is about a good ogre, it's pretty popular too, almost everyone where I'm from likes it.

Tilting her head, Ram was actually intrigued on the matter.

Ram: Just... what happens in this story?

YN: Well, it's a long one, but, it starts with a green ogre who lives in a swamp...

Around the same time YN had finished explaining the plot and the themes within it, they had gotten close to finishing.

YN: Well that just about wraps it up then. What do you think?

Ram was silent for a moment before responding.

Ram: Your skill in cleaning is satisfactory for having helped Ram finish quicker.

Having a small laugh to himself, YN replied.

YN: Ha, not quite. I meant the story. You seemed pretty into it.

Shrugging and closing her eyes, Ram answered.

Ram: It was an odd story, my interest could be summed up as disbelief that such a tale would be so well received.

After having explained the rough plot to Ram, she was astonished to learn that such a story of judgment of appearance could be claimed to be so well liked, especially about an entity that's known to her to be so normally loathed.

Opening her eyes back up, she went on.

Ram: However I will say it wasn't terrible.

YN: Hmm... Well, I guess it's also good to know I can be of some help to you too.

Ram:… Then perhaps you should have asked Roswaal-sama for a staff position here instead of being a guest…

With the two of them going back to finishing up, YN had heard Ram reply, but she had done so quietly, as if unsure to herself if she wished to be heard or not.

A pang of guilt ran through YN. He felt as if his current position in the mansion was incorrect, that he was supposed to be a staff member.

Letting the feeling stew in him, YN continued his share of the scrubbing till the drained bath was sufficiently cleaned.

Ram: I do believe that's everything.

Wiping his forehead, YN stepped up out of the drained bath.

YN: Alright then. Here, lemme take care of putting the cleaning stuff away, you can go help Rem.

Ram: Why are you so worried about Rem? What do you gain from all this?

Taking the bucket of cleaning supplies from Ram, and walking them to their storage location, YN replied.

YN: I just hate having to see Rem—, no. Both of you. I hate seeing the two of you struggle with the mountain of tasks you have to do each day because there's another two guests you have to worry about now.

Without a response, Ram turned to leave the room and head to assist Rem in the kitchen.

But just as she was leaving the door frame, Ram stopped, turning her head over her shoulder to speak to YN, still putting the supplies away.

Ram: For what it's worth, Ram thinks you would have made a fine addition to the staff here had you asked for that instead.

Turing to see Ram, as her statement had not been nearly at all what he expected, YN just missed her exit.

What had her expression been while saying that? YN wondered.

An overwhelming amount of guilt had surged through YN from her statement. Sighing, he stood back up, forcing himself to shake it off.

Despite everything feeling wrong, he had to march forward. It was the only direction he could.

Early the next morning, YN woke in his room after another night of self study, his progress towards literacy in this new world still suffering from stagnation.

The night before, dinner had come later in the evening as it did every loop for the day. However during this dinner, Emilia had chosen to sit next to YN.

Dinner had gone normally other then that, and not wishing to be rude, YN entertained her attempts to conversate. She had asked him how his gate was feeling and how he was liking his stay at the mansion now.

As the meal was drawing to an end, Emilia had asked YN again if he had noticed anything with his gate. After replying that he hadn't, Emilia had gone further, almost as if trying to coax an answer out of him.

Emilia: Are you sure? Nothing new has shown up?

Wiping the sleepiness from his eyes, the question still was kicking around in his thoughts.

I don't get what she's getting at every time she asks that. Almost like she knows something but won't tell me.

Getting out of bed, he got himself ready for breakfast.

YN took his seat at the table. Emilia had decided yet again to take a seat next him. It entirely appeared that Emilia intended to ask the same questions again of YN, but to his relief, she was cut off by what Subaru had to say.

Taking the opportunity whilst everyone in the mansion was present in one place, Subaru announced that him and YN had made plans to depart the mansion later that day.

With an almost dejected expression, Emilia turned to YN, her amethyst eyes filled with emotion.

Whilst the other table members were discussing the details of it all with Subaru, Roswaal offering a care package, Ram offering directions, and Rem heading off to prepare said care package, Emilia had gotten YN's attention, wishing to understand the reasoning for their departure.

Emilia: Why? Wasn't your intention the same as Subaru's? To get better at reading and writing? Why leave now? Why leave at all?

With an almost panic like sound on her voice, YN was slightly stunned by the reaction this had gotten out of Emilia.

Not knowing how to respond, Emilia leaned in closer, as if begging for an answer, forcing YN to croak out an answer.

YN: It's uhh, like Subaru said, w-we've gotta get a move on. Y-ya know?

Sitting back more squarely in her chair, Emilia cast her eyes downward, and looked away, back to in front of her.

Emilia: I see. I should have known that you would— er, you two would probably not stay around for long...

Partly relieved that he wouldn't have to play twenty questions with Emilia, it was overpowered by that he now felt guilty once again.

It's like Subaru said, this is all for the sake of the people in this mansion and ourselves. We have to find out who's going to attack the mansion.

With breakfast finished up, YN and Subaru collected their things and headed the main foyer.

Roswaal and the twins were there to see the two of them off, offering a care package for the both of them that included food, water, and what Roswaal had said was "a gift to commemorate their time together", which Subaru had simply realized was hush money.

Rem & Ram: Good day to you both and have a safe journey.

Roswaal: Yeeees, do be sure to stay on the roads and avooooooid traveling at night.

Subaru: We'll do well to remember that. Thanks for having me Ros-chi. And you two.

Turning to the twins, Subaru went on.

Subaru: Thanks for all the hard work you guys do.

With both of them bowing again, YN chimed in.

YN: Our send off seems to be missing a few people. Where's Emilia and Puck?

Ram: Emilia-sama wasn't feeling well after breakfast so she retired to her room.

Subaru: *sigh* I was hoping to see my Emilia-tan one last time before leaving too.

Standing back up straight and holding the bag on his back by it's straps, Subaru recomposed himself.

Subaru: Well then. We should be off.

With that Subaru turned and opened the door, and was the first to step out. YN followed, letting Subaru take the lead, he also stepped out the door.

Just before leaving though, YN looked back before closing the door.

With the twins standing aft of Roswaal, Ram was still bowing, eyes shut, just as Rem had been, YN had caught for only the slightest of seconds before the door fully shut.

Rem wasn't there anymore.

Was she hiding? Or did she move? Or...

Maybe she just didn't care to stick around long enough this time...

Without getting one last look at Rem, YN caught back up with Subaru, and made their way down the road just as they'd planned.

With the mansion now growing smaller behind them, Subaru decided this was far enough for them to not be spotted, but close enough to cover the mansion visually from their lookout.

Making their way directly off the path and into the woods, they walked until the they could see the beginning of a rise, up towards a cliff off to their left, and to the right, the trees cleared up to a small opening at the base of this cliff.

Catching their breathes, Subaru and YN stopped at this divide before them.

Subaru: I think we should split up, but not be far. I'll head up to the top of that cliff, and maybe you could stand watch at the bottom.

YN: Don't you think more eyes on the mansion would be more useful?

Shaking his head, Subaru explained.

Subaru: You won't be able to see it, but you should still be able to listen in on the road from down there, you can hear if any carriages come up the road.

YN: Okay, I can manage that. But what about in the case we get approached? You've got no route of escape from up on that butte.

Setting his bag down off his back and reaching into it—

Subaru: That's why I've got this rope. If anything comes at me, I'll have this tied around myself and a tree, and I can jump down to you.

Not entirely impressed with his plan, YN couldn't find real fault in it given the circumstances, so he decided to go along with it.

YN: *sigh* Alright. You take the high road, I'll take the low road.

Subaru: Cool, if you hear or see anything, chuck a rock up at me, I'll come look over.

With that, the two separated, each heading to their station of observation.

Reaching the bottom of the cliff right below where Subaru was going to have his visual of the mansion, YN found a rock he could sit down on.

With the sun still high in the air, it would be awhile until the hour of the attack would come, but that didn't mean they wouldn't hear or see anything before then.

Keeping an ear up, YN hunkered in for the wait.

It was starting to get late, rays of pink and purple now crossed the sky as the amber sun began to set on the mansion.

Not once did YN hear any traffic, and never once did Subaru signal to inform him of anything he saw. Craning his neck to see if he could see Subaru taking a more active observation given the waning light, a slight wind picked up.

Not being able to see Subaru still and not wanting to alert him, YN sat back down on his rock, and peered out into the forest, now rustling with the wind.

With the branches swaying, YN could see ways though the forest he couldn't before.

He saw nothing more spectacular then a few new exposed trees for the split second a branch was swayed by the wind.

YN took in the scene for a moment's longer before a gust kicked up, blowing wind harder for a brief second, causing the branches to sway more then they had before.

But that's when YN saw it.

A flash of pink, much like how the sky was at the moment.

Was that the skyline I just saw through there? That would be odd, it's so low in the tree line... But I have no idea how this hilly part curves, so it could be...

A few moments went on longer, and the wind was back to how it was before.

Pondering how it was possible he hadn't noticed the sky being visible through the treeline before, YN focused his vision very hard at the spot where he'd seen what he believed to be the sky.

He could hear another gust coming through the trees, hearing the branches rustle before the ones before them moved. Perhaps this was his chance to understand the outline of the forest this time if he paid proper attention.

This was the level of boredom YN was at.

Anticipating the reveal again, YN locked his vision to where the pink had been. The branches parted again with the gust of wind, and for almost a second, YN could see the pink once more.

He could see much more pink that time.

Had the wind blown harder that time? No... It's just closer then I thought, and that's definitely not the sky either, it too looked as if it was moving in the wind.

Standing up, YN craned his vision forward as he could without moving position.

Hearing another gust in the horizon, YN was determined to figure out just want exactly he'd seen.

Really focusing now on the location, the next breeze blew through the forest, moving branches and revealing the entity once more.

Still the pink color remained, but ever so closer again. Or was it his imagination?

What out here could be pink? Flowers? A shrine maybe?

Thoroughly confused, YN anticipated the next breeze, and to his luck, he got one.

Taking a step forward for a better view, YN knew the next breeze was to hit in the next half second, this was going to be a large one from what he'd heard in the distance with the sound of leaves swaying.

Seeing the branches part yet again, the pink color was bigger now, but not only did he see pink, but also the very stark colors of black and white.

With the breeze dying down, the pink remained visible this time. No longer needing the gusts, YN could observe the pink color uninterrupted.

Making out more details, he could see that the pink was also flowing in the wind now. Almost like—

YN: Hair...

YN spoke quietly to himself. Slowly, the gears in his head began to turn, and almost as soon as they did...

The "woosh" of another gust blew through, fully unshrouding the pink object in question.

YN gulped.

YN: Why is... why?

Finally recognizable to YN, the pink object came into picture. Rubbing his eyes, he did not believe them. How could he?

From the moment he had shut them to the moment he opened them back up, his eyes were given sight to the pink object being much closer then just before. Just a step or two from entering the clearing of trees at the base of the cliff.

Shocked silent and still, YN watched her take her first steps into the clearing, out from the forest and in full view of YN.

Giving him a black stare, she said not a word.

YN: W-w...

YN: Why...? How...?

YN: Ram. What are you doing here?

A/N: Well, you all got four new chapters to last you a week with a big ol' cliff hanger at the end. Chapter 15 is gunna be a long one though. It was probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite of the 30 chapters to write so I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I did to write it. See you all in 168 hours.