Chapter 49: A Reward
Plunking down in his desk chair, YN was feeling more and more exhausted from his day. With Rem sitting on the side of his bed, YN decided to give in to his laziness.
YN: I'll be honest Rem, I don't think I have the energy to study tonight.
Nodding in response, Rem also smiled.
Rem: That is perfectly fine, Rem can understand. But that just means Rem can show her surprise to YN-kun earlier.
Getting up, Rem opened the door to YN's wardrobe where he hung his jacket and newly acquired cloak, and pulled out a small, covered silver dish.
Setting it down in front of YN, Rem gestured for him to open it.
Uncovering the dish, YN was pleasantly surprised.
YN: Oh! This must be...
On the silver platter before him was what appeared to be a skillfully prepared cut of fish, covered in a white sauce.
Enthusiastic about YN's positive reaction, Rem confirmed.
Rem: Yes, when Nee-sama told Rem that you agreed to cover for her again, Rem knew YN-kun would be tired, so she saved him part of her plate.
YN: Aww Rem, you shouldn't have.
Rem: Please, Rem is curious how YN-kun will like it.
Taking the included utensil, YN cut himself off a bite. Just about to place it in his mouth, he noticed the blue haired maid watching him with intensity, a blush on her face.
YN: Uhh—
Having her two closed fists in front of her own mouth as if she couldn't contain her excitement, Rem lowered them just slightly to allow her to speak.
Rem: It's almost like an indirect kiss, isn't it?
Remembering that this was a piece Rem's dish she had taken bites of her own off of, YN didn't understand Rem's notion.
YN:... But, we've already kissed...
With her eyes opening wide, she suddenly looked away in embarrassment.
Rem: YN-kun is right...
Deciding to tease her for it, YN continued.
YN: Don't tell me you forgot already!
Leaning back in shock, Rem tightly shut her eyes and shook her head.
Rem: Waaah—?! No, never, Rem would never—!
YN: I guess I'll have to forgive you, if only because your reaction was so cute.
Shrugging as he said that, Rem pouted in response.
Rem: R-Rem was... She was... Oh, just try the food or don't.
Knowing she was being teased now, YN let off.
YN: Alright alright.
Patting the oni on her head, her pout turned to a soft smile and a blush.
Actually taking his first bite, YN was immensely satisfied with the quality that the dish was cooked to, however—
Rem: Does YN-kun not like fish? Did the dish turn sour?
Setting his utensil into the dish once more, YN took another bite to help him make up his mind.
YN: It's just...
Leaning in, Rem seemed to be enthralled with YN's judgment.
YN: I was expecting it to be better, especially if it's being made by Dias, uh, Dias—
Rem: —Lepunzo Elemanso Oplane Fatsbalm VI.
YN: Yeah... That one.
Rem: What could YN-kun mean though?? Does the dish not taste as good warmed back up perhaps... No, maybe Rem did something wrong...
YN: Well, I mean, and if I'm being honest, it's good. Really good. But—
Rem: —But?!
Shaking his head and smiling at the blue haired maid, YN spoke.
YN: It's nowhere near as good as your cooking.
With her distraught expression still on her face, it took Rem a few moments to fully process what she had heard YN say.
Slowly a blush grew, then so did her expression change to one that conveyed disbelief. Making eye contact, Rem struggled to form words with her mouth.
Rem: W-w-w-w-what?! B-b-but that was made by Dias-sama! Surely YN-kun is only trying to flatter Rem...
YN: No Rem, I'm being honest. I don't even think it's personal preference. If you two both made this same dish, I think you would have made a much better version.
Still flabbergasted by YN's analysis of her cooking versus the renowned chef's, Rem still staggered on her words.
Rem: H-h-h-how could YN-kun think that?? Rem can't understand how hers could be better at all...
Holding the platter out in front of the two of them, YN did his best to explain what he meant, hoping to convince her.
YN: Well, for starters, look here.
Using his utensil to point, he first gestured to the broil on the top of the cut.
YN: Call me picky, but I think she focuses too much on this. The outside tastes great, but it's only a small part of the whole cut, it sort of leaves the inside, the meat, a bit bland by direct comparison.
Flipping up the broiled part, YN pointed out the meat underneath.
YN: It sort of makes me think this was done on purpose.
Tilting her head, Rem didn't understand what YN was implying.
YN: It just feels like that was intentional to make the sauce stand out more, but unless you get the right amount of each on a bite, it's either lacking in flavor, or the sauce just overwhelms everything else. If the star of this dish is supposed to be the sauce, let's just cut out the middleman and serve it with crackers instead of fish.
Putting her hands on her head in disbelief, Rem responded.
Rem: Waaah?! How can YN-kun say that?! Even then, Rem doesn't know how to make a sauce that good...
YN: But that's the thing, in this case, I don't think that's what you want. Sure, it takes a lot of skill to make a sauce that good. But you know what else takes even more skill? Making all the elements of the dish strong on their own, and making them all compliment each other.
Setting the dish back down on his desk, YN gave Rem a serious a look as he could, hoping to show he had no doubt in his analysis.
YN: The cooking I know you can do, is just that. You always make sure that everything compliments each other, all the flavors go together, and all the pieces can stand on their own, in their own rite. That takes a lot more skill to be able to do, and that's why I think your cooking is hands down better than Dias-blah-blah-blah.
With an immense blush forming on Rem's face, her hands fidgeted in her lap, stirring about as she mulled over YN's praises of her skills. Considering Rem had promised to never doubt YN ever again, and he had a direct comparison sitting right in front of him, Rem couldn't be any more convinced this was the truth.
Sighing, YN continued.
YN: While I'm no master critic, I really think you are that good Rem. But, that being said—
Picking up the dish again, YN took another bite.
YN: Think nothing of the fact I'm going to wolf this food down now like no one's business. I just remembered I haven't had any dinner yet and I'm starving.
Laughing at YN, Rem let the pressures of his compliments be at rest. Letting him finish his food, Rem got up from the bedside to fully sit up on the bed now, on her knees.
Rem: YN-kun, would you come here please?
Patting off to the side on the covers, Rem invited YN over to his own bed.
YN: Umm, okay.
Slowly getting up from his chair, YN sat where Rem had directed him to.
I don't know what she wants at this juncture... Knowing Rem's recent behavior when it's come to my bed, it could be anything...
Rem: Now, face that way.
Lightly grabbing his shoulders, Rem turned him away from herself.
Well there isn't much she can do if I'm facing this way...
Before any further thoughts could come into his mind, YN felt Rem gently pull back on his shoulders, bringing his torso down.
Being made to lay down on his back, he began to suspect something else at this point.
She's getting me on my back! I'm vulnerable!
Unsure if he may need to resist her at any point, he tried rationalizing her actions in his mind.
She's not drunk, and nothing lewd was brought up... I haven't a clue what her motive is here!
About to be all the way down on the bed, YN felt his head rest on something. Something extremely soft.
Looking down across his body, he stretched his vision to look at the head of his bed.
Both of my pillows are right there, so—
Ruling out things that could be what his head now laid on, YN realized he simply needed to look. Turning his head, a familiar pattern of black and white filled the sides of his eyesight.
That looks a lot like Rem's dress...
Putting it all together in his mind, YN finally realized where his head now set.
R-Rem's lap! I'm getting a—!
YN: —L-lap pillow...
Having a small laugh at YN's bashfulness and his thoughts spilling out into the open, Rem began to slightly play with his hair.
I can't believe I'm laying on her lap... Wait! If my head is here on her thighs... then that means I'm right next to her—
Rem: YN-kun.
Hearing the words of his name not only enter into his ears spoken by an angelic voice, but also the echo and vibrations that came from being in direct contact with the speaker, YN felt the hairs on his body stand up on end.
Looking up at the maids face from her lap, her soft round face was nearly halfway cut-off from her chest, blocking his view.
Rem: Are you comfortable?
Nodding, he could feel the softness of Rem's dress move in conjunction with his head.
Using both hands now to fidget with his hair, Rem answered.
Rem: Good. Now let your Rem relax your body. YN-kun worked extra, extra hard today so he's earned this.
After hearing that having worked his own duties, and then having followed through with his promise to cover for Ram, he had then also covered for Subaru after that, Rem at first struggled to think of a reward for him.
Giving YN-kun part of Rem's food wouldn't begin to be enough...
Being so caught up in the excitement of the chef arriving and being able to shadow them, Rem had completely forgotten dinner for any of the other residents who might not attend the chef's dinner. But since Subaru had joined anyway, YN was the odd man out.
YN-kun didn't get dinner after all anyway... Giving him some of Rem's was the least she could do...
When trying to think of something she could do with the limited time of the day she had left, Rem remembered one such instance when Subaru had worked himself to exhaustion.
Emilia-sama had given Subaru-kun a— oh what did YN-kun call it? A lap pillow?
Thinking back more on it, Rem had also recalled YN voicing a bit of jealousy to him getting one. Having deemed an appropriate reward for his labor, Rem proceeded in mimicking what Emilia had done for Subaru.
Noticing the continued stiffness of the one who held her heart that was currently on her lap, Rem paused playing with his hair for a moment.
Rem: Is Rem's YN-kun uncomfortable?
YN: N-no, that's not it at all.
Moving back to playing with his hair again, this time closer to his ear, YN seemed to stiffen up again. Seeing the pattern, Rem stopped once more
Rem: YN-kun, are you not used to this sort of attention?
YN: Not really, no. I-It's not that I don't like it, I really do actually—
Rem: Then why is YN-kun so timid whenever Rem touches him?
Looking away, YN tried to articulate his thoughts.
I'm really only like this with her... I don't fully understand it either but I think it's just because she's so special.
YN: I maybe feel, I'm not worthy of it. You're just always so kind and compassionate to me. I'm afraid that maybe I'll stain your beauty... And... as stupid as it sounds, I just always feel so anxious and excited whenever you're around.
Looking back up at the maid's face above him, YN continued.
YN: —On top of that, it honestly gives me this big rush whenever you're this way towards me, it almost doesn't feel real. And the fact that I know you have feelings for me too? It just elevates those anxieties in a way I can't describe. Sometimes I feel so unworthy when you treat me as kindly as you do.
Turning his gaze away once more, YN concluded his feelings.
YN: —I know you don't always think the best of yourself either... But, I think I just hold you in such high regard in my own heart I can't help but feel this way.
Hearing his words, Rem didn't know whether to feel praise, guilt, or sympathy.
Rem: YN-kun...
Stroking his cheek with her hand, Rem returned to fawning over YN.
Rem: Rem knows she's already said this, but she is very, very happy to have met YN-kun. And while Rem also doesn't think she deserves YN-kun's praises, knowing that her hero thinks so highly of her... it makes her heart ache.
Nuzzling his head further into her lap, YN spoke more too.
YN: I'm really happy I met you too Rem. I couldn't have ever imagined someone as special as you could come into my life.
Giving him a warm smile in return, Rem used both of her hands to push YN's cheeks together.
Rem: And to think YN-kun still turned this into a praising of Rem when this was supposed to be his reward. What will Rem do with him?
Using both of her soft hands to run her fingers through his hair, Rem finally got YN to fully relax to her touch. Winding him down, Rem put him to sleep on her lap.
Never before had YN fellen asleep more blissfully.
A/N Again, thank you all for the continued support. I love to read your reviews and your comments. But like I said in the A/N at the beginning of the last chapter, updates to this fic will be moved 24 hours later then what they have been going forward.