A/N: Welcome back everyone! I saw that many of you enjoyed last week's chapter art. There will be one more for this "sub-arc" series so be sure to look forward to that! Anyway, here's this week's chapter.
Chapter 67: The Endless Eight – Part 13
Walking down several winding streets while trying to stay on ones that were well lit, the two tried to find a location appropriate to re-attempt their date. Finding themselves in a completely different district by the way the city's building now looked, YN had almost begun to feel like they were traveling a bit far, until—
Rem: Here. Rem has a good feeling about this one.
On the very edge of a poorly lit street, Rem and YN stood in a high spot, keeping their feet dry from the poor drainage for the rain that had fallen and caused a thin layer of standing water on the street.
Before them, on the second building before a corner, was a darkly painted entrance facade. With one unwelcoming door and two windows, each half covered with darkly colored drapes, it hardly looked as if this establishment was even open.
Peering back down the street where they had come from, it was much brighter and friendly appearing, with many patrons appearing to go from bar to bar, or coming and going from taverns. But one thing about these people had caught YN's attention the most...
They're all demi-humans... a lot more than where we were earlier by the inn...
Noticing he was the only human present, YN felt an odd air on his shoulders as he turned his vision back to the building before him. Trying his best to read the sign above the door, the only word YN could make out was "Cafe."
It doesn't really look like one...
Rem: Does YN-kun not want to try it?
Not wishing to see Rem's face turn to disappointment, YN shook his head and hardened his resolve.
YN: —I do! Er—, let's give it a try, I mean.
Smiling brightly at his enthusiasm, Rem stepped forward toward the door, leading YN along, and inside. Shutting the door behind him, he turned to get his first view of the interior.
While not exactly bad looking, the space obviously had some sort of lighting problem, which only seemed to be solved at a handful of tables with a small overhead lamp above them. Only some, because most of the tables appeared to be out of commission with the chairs stacked on top of them.
They either aren't very busy, or it's almost closing time...
With no one greeting them, Rem looked around as well, until a door behind the front counter where a greeter would stand opened up.
Poking her head out from behind the door, a young woman with cat ears gave them a look over. A demi-human with light auburn hair, almost a dirty blonde
???: O-oh.. Oh! Customers!
Retreating behind the door once more, she quickly returned, this time hastily trying to prepare herself. Having come back out with a hairband, not unlike Rem's own, except longer, she finely adjusted its placement as it held her hair back, showing off her forehead.
Patting down her apron, it appeared to be covered in flour, as if she had been in the middle of baking something. Frowning at its refusal to come clean though, the girl gave a sigh and untied it from herself, choosing to hang it on the door she had come from. Seeing her backside, a small, thin tail with fur the same color as her hair poked out from under her skirt.
Spinning back around, her waitress dress she had on underneath was now seen. While not unlike a maid's, it was much more on the risqué side. While her bust was rather small, her dress did its most to show as much as it could.
Overall, she was much more 'human' than most demi-humans YN had run into at Arlem village or the Capitol.
???: Just two?
Rem: Yes, just us.
???: Take a seat anywhere then, I'll be over to take your order when—
Having seemingly only noticed Rem when she dropped her hood to speak with the waitress, YN had dropped his own while she answered Rem, and as he did, she had halted her reply.
With nothing being said now, and the server also stopping frozen, her ever-so-slightly catlike eyes stared daggers at YN.
???: Are you really going to come in here with such little dignity?
Hearing her cheerful voice subside, a stern seriousness took its place as she spat poisonous words at YN.
YN: I— I beg your pardon?
???: You really think it's a good idea for you to come into a place like this with your demi-human servant dressed like she's some kind of maid? What kind of perverted sicko are you...
YN: H-hey—!
Trying to fire back at this woman's implication, Rem held a hand in front of YN, signaling him to rethink his actions, and cutting him off as she spoke in his stead.
Rem: We may have not noticed, is this a demi-human only establishment?
???: Mostly, yes.
Rem: ...And somehow you were aware of him being the only human here?
???: Call it intuition.
Rem: Understood.
Turning to YN, Rem gave him a weak smile.
Rem: Rem is sorry, YN-kun, we will have to find somewhere else to have our date again...
Offering her hand, YN placed his in hers, and as Rem stepped to leave, the waitress spoke back up with an air of curiosity in her voice.
???: Wait, what are you trying to have? A... 'dayte?'
Turning around at her question, Rem smiled brightly.
Rem: A 'date.' It's something from his homeland.
Gesturing to YN as she spoke, Rem continued.
Rem: When two people want to court each other, they go on a date to see how well they get along. If they decide to pursue a relationship, they can still go on dates, but they are usually meant to be more special or romantic.
???: Are— are you two not servant and master?
YN: Huh? What gave you—?
Looking at Rem, YN had forgotten Rem was still in public in none other than her maid uniform still, like she always was.
I really need to get her into something other than that...
Giving her dress another look over, YN retracted his former thought.
Maybe... not... She does look good in them... And I'm almost afraid to admit she's given me a 'thing' for them at this point.
YN: —I can maybe see how you came to that conclusion.
???: Then you two are...?
YN: Uh, I mean we're co-workers.
Turning to YN and giving him a slight pout, Rem tried to get him to say more.
Rem: Aaaaannd?
YN: —And we're dating—, meaning we do have strong feelings for each other.
Scratching the back of his head in embarrassment from misunderstanding what the waitress really was asking and needing Rem to coax him on like a child, she grabbed his free arm and hugged it.
Rem: Very, very strong feelings.
Smiling up at him, he gave the blue haired girl's head a quick headpat.
???: The way she addressed you, and when she mentioned 'romantic,' that... really caught me off guard....
Coming off YN's arm, Rem took his hand once more.
Rem: Well, YN-kun, we shouldn't linger here then. We should find someplace else before it gets too late...
???: W-Wait! If you haven't changed your mind, I've got fresh pastries you can have as an apology for my earlier rudeness. You both are welcome here.
Rem: O-Oh! It's not too much trouble to have us both here?
???: Not at all. It's not often you see demi-human and human's in such close and wholesome relationships with each other here... My sincerest apologies, it was very rude of me to assume the worst. Please, take a seat anywhere.
Gesturing over to the handful of tables to pick from, the waitress finally introduced herself.
Daniela: My name is Daniela by the way, and I'll be your server.
Going to their seats, YN analyzed what she had said to him.
This isn't a common relationship, huh? Well, I guess mine and Rem's relationship isn't common in a lot of ways...
Hoping he hadn't uncovered a potential common problem he and Rem might run into more often, YN remembered a familiar scene from his past loop.
They really didn't like Emilia for being half demi-human either come to think of it...
While maybe not getting as riled up about it as Subaru did, YN was troubled by the amount of hate Emilia received when trying to speak at the festival.
I'm also sure that's not the first time she's been treated like that by the way she reacted.
Even though YN was still somewhat clueless on the way the world worked more or less, he could at least surmise if a half demi-human could receive such treatment, certainly a relationship that could potentially lead to one's creation might also be treated the same.
Sitting down though, Daniela returned to her baking area to gather the pastries she'd offered, but going back, she found herself enthralled by the prospect her two guests offered.
Peeking through a tiny slit she left from the open door, Daniela observed the two with great wonder.
What an odd couple... They look so completely different from each other, but by the way she addresses him and the way they talk to each other... it's just so cute!
Realizing she'd spent long enough fawning over them, Daniela went back to readying what she offered, bringing the goods out on a serving platter to them, along with some tea.
After just idly talking to each other, YN and Rem happily partook in the offered morsels, but during their time alone, Rem had begun to wonder one thing.
Rem: Um, does Daniela-san work here alone?
Holding her now empty platter against herself, the cat-eared girl answered.
Daniela: Yes. My grandfather left me this place to carry on his business. It's not very busy, but it keeps me occupied.
Rem: Hmm, that was very nice of him.
Daniela: May I ask what you two do? Given how you're dressed as a maid, and him as a— uh...
YN: Groundskeeper.
Daniela: Ah.
Rem: We both serve Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers in our positions. Rem is the current head maid.
Gesturing to herself as she said that, Rem made Daniela's eyes light up.
Daniela: The Margrave?! Oh! I always wanted to be a maid! Especially for someone of such high stature! You must have a lot of other servants and cooks working underneath you to keep his residence running, no?
Smiling brightly, Rem shook her head.
Rem: Rem actually takes it upon herself to do most of the housework and all of the cooking. And until YN-kun came along, Rem also did most of the yard work as well. Only Rem's Nee-sama and one other servant work in the entire mansion.
Daniela: Huh?! I would neve guessed... It's very different from what I had imagined though... How many residents can such a small staff really accommodate?
Looking over to Rem, YN figured his response as a question to her.
YN: Well, between the four of us, we really have only two, Ros-chi and Emilia-sama, and maybe Beatrice from time to time.
Putting a hand over her mouth, Daniela seemed surprised by something that YN had said.
Daniela: To refer to the Margrave in such a casual way and to refer to someone else with such a higher position—
Moving her empty platter up to cover half of her face like she was hiding behind it, Daniela continued.
Daniela: —may I ask who 'Emilia-sama' is? She must be quite formidable...
Finding her assumption of Emilia to be amusing, Rem giggled.
Rem: Emilia-sama is a very nice person. But, YN-kun is right to refer to her as such, even compared to Roswaal-sama, she is of higher status. She is in line to be in the royal selection.
Daniela: A-Another Royal Selection candidate?!
YN: Yeah. We're on our way to Saluzzo for a festival Emilia was invited to, she was going to use that to announce her candidacy.
Daniela: Saluzzo... That's a pretty small demi-human city close to the border. Why would a candidate go there to announce themselves?
Rem: Emilia-sama is herself, a demi-human. She's a half-elf.
Seeing the catgirl's eyes grow wide with fascination, she leaned forward and whispered as if someone else might hear them in the empty Cafe.
Daniela: A demi-human might sit on the throne?!
YN: Potentially, I imagine.
Rem: The actual selection is nearly three years away at this point. Until then, the candidates will need to prove themselves.
YN: Three years...
Looking down at the table, YN wondered where him and Rem would be when that day would come.
Three years... I really hope me and Rem are still right next to each other when that day comes...
YN at one point had wondered and contemplated where they'd be in a year, but three? The expanse of time seemed immeasurable to him. Looking at Rem's face as her and Daniela talked to each other, she smiled.
I want to protect that smile, and see it every day.
Noticing YN's gaze was tightly fixed upon her, Rem put her hand under the table and reached for YN's knee, trying to covertly get his attention.
Rem: Did YN-kun enjoy his treat?
YN: O-Oh, yes. I did. They're very good.
Daniela: I'm glad to hear you like them.
Rem: If Daniela-san is not too busy, Rem would enjoy it if she sat with us so she can talk more comfortably.
Suggesting that with a smile, Daniela responded with a near panic in her voice.
Daniela: I-I really shouldn't! I've taken up so much of your, er, 'dayte' already... I should return to the kitchen anyway to finish up a few things.
Rem: Rem understands.
Daniela: P-Please excuse me!
Bowing several times before she left, Daniela retreated to the kitchen, leaving YN and Rem alone once more in the dimly lit Cafe. Peering out from behind her door more, the catgirl once again returned to watching the only two guests she'd had all evening.
They really are cute together... just how they interact, and it's only compounded by the fact they don't look like they'd be together.
Seeing Rem laugh at something YN had said, she fixed her attention on the blue haired maid.
Rem-san... I really wish we could have talked more. I think we could have been good friends.
As she continued to watch, her attention turned to YN now.
And him, you can tell he cares so deeply about her... not to the point of obsessively guarding her, but something tells me he would do nearly anything for her...
Putting a hand to her chest, she felt her face become slightly warm and red.
I can only hope to have someone care about me half as much as he does for her...
After observing them long enough she'd figured, Daniela went to return to what she should be doing, only to hear the chairs they sat at begin to move. Having turned away from the door, she froze, wondering if they were just going to leave now that they'd finished.
But to her surprise, a voice called out.
Rem: Um, is Daniela-san in the middle of something?
Spinning around, she reopened the door with a nearly light speed reaction to Rem's question, causing both her and YN to be slightly startled.
Daniela: —I'm not!
Seeing her honest reaction and guessing what she'd maybe been up to, Rem smiled sincerely at her.
Rem: We just wanted to thank Daniela-san for her hospitality.
Feeling a warmth grow in her chest and her face turn red, Daniela bowed to hide her face from the initial feelings of the praise Rem gave her.
Raising her head once more, she replied.
Daniela: It was my pleasure. And, if you want...—
Having a bashful expression come across her face, she avoided direct eye contact with Rem as she continued.
Daniela: —you can call me Dani...
Smiling warmly at the invention, Rem nodded.
Rem: Thank you for having us, Dani-chi.
Nodding at Rem's use of her suggestion, Daniela regained her composure.
Daniela: Please, come back some day.
YN: I think we will, given the chance.
Winking at them, the catgirl snapped her finger at his remark.
Daniela: If it's been too long though, you gotta make it up to me by either bringing the Hime-sama along, or~...
Rem: Or?
Giving them a mischievous grin, Daniela gave them her other choice.
Daniela: Some little half-demis of your own~!
YN: —hk!
Rem: Rem promises!
YN: —HK!
Rem!! You can't just say these things with no input from the other side of the deal!
Taking YN's hand, Rem smiled and led him to the door, using her free hand to wave once to Daniela before departing outward into the night time streets of Costuul.
Watching the two depart, Daniela approached the windows and watched them disappear behind a street corner.
I really hope I see more of them... And that they both remain happy.
Closing the curtains, her Cafe became much darker. Walking over to the door, she fondly looked over the handle her last guests had last touched, and smiled at it. Locking the door, and flipping her sign to "closed" , she retired for the evening, happy to have met these two souls.
***
Emilia: A-Ah-Ah—!
Subaru: Emilia-tan?
Emilia: —Choo!
Subaru: Whaa! Emilia-tan! Are you getting a cold from being caught in the rain? Do you need to use me for body warmth to keep your condition from getting any worse?! A nice cuddle is a good way to end any date you know.
Emilia: No. I'm warm enough, thank you. I just think maybe someone is talking about me... What a conundrum...
Subaru: Who even says that anymore!?
***
Riding along in the ground dragon carriage while Rem drove, YN sat by her side, ready to take over for his 'shift' once she was done.
With it being the next day, and everyone having become so exhausted and desiring nothing more than to go straight to sleep the night before, YN had neglected to prepare a situation where he could justify getting Emilia to cancel her speech. But by doing so, and under Rem's suggestion, this instead allowed YN to draft a strategy where he would be approaching Subaru with enough circumstantial evidence to get him on board with helping to pressure Emilia into canceling.
Rem: Has YN-kun thought of a way yet on how to convince Subaru-kun there is a danger without letting him know about the fact that there have been loops?
YN: Not yet... Damn, if only we didn't have to keep the fact that Beatrice went into my head and saw fargone loops a secret, I'd just tell him what happened, and have him come up with a solution...
Rem: What if YN-kun simply told him that he was not affected by this 'memory loss' device but Subaru-kun was?
YN: I'm afraid if I tell him something that isn't true, I might slip up at some point and he'll find some hole in my story. From there... well, our entire secret might come unraveled. I can't risk that.
Putting a hand to her chin, Rem nodded in agreement after hearing YN's reasoning.
Rem: No, Rem fully understands. It's better for Subaru-kun to remain completely ignorant of it rather than have the smallest suspicion.
YN: We have no way of gathering, or even fabricating evidence to convince either of them... If we just said it was hearsay, like we say we overheard something, we'd need Subaru or Emilia to hear it right from the source...
YN knew that simply saying he'd heard it through the grapevine wasn't going to work.
Rem: Then what if YN-kun did just that. What if YN-kun got Julio-san to tell them?
YN: How are we going to pull that off that though?
Rem: Rem recalls YN-kun saying we had turned Julio-san into an ally by simply bluffing in the last loop.
YN: Uhh, yeah, we did. It was your idea actually.
Rem: When we bluffed without any prior knowledge, how quickly did Julio-san crumble into telling us everything? How well did it work?
YN: It worked, brilliantly in fact.
Rem: Then... as bold as it sounds, Rem might suggest we try that again... but this time since YN-kun knows his background and situation, our bluff is much stronger.
YN: Yeah... We can tell him we used some of Ros-chi's resources to dig up some information on him and uncovered the plot... after all, he was going to host Emilia, so we have to be thorough.
Hearing Rem's idea, YN bounced the idea around in his mind and felt a ray of hope.
Rem: Rem would also suggest telling him we know his own feelings on the matter and why he agreed to the attack, but circumstances dictate we must use what's available to us to protect Emilia-sama, and he's what's available.
YN: Yeah. He might wonder why we're asking someone who's potentially an enemy for help. That's twice Rem, very good.
Receiving an ample headpat for her intellectual contribution, Rem's reward inspired her to further seek more praise.
Rem: In addition, Rem might also recommend relying on something more than just his sense of honor to agree to help us. If we play immediately to that, he'll become suspicious. It might be beneficial to say our 'resource' from Roswaal-sama is a Hoshin Company asset or contact that, with Julio-san's cooperation, can also fulfill the same promise of evidence destruction he was given by those orchestrating the attack.
YN: Yeah! That's three times now! Rem you're a genius! I could kiss you!
Turning her head slowly to him, she then quickly grabbed his cheeks with her hands, dropping the reins of the carriage to her lap.
Rem: There is nothing preventing YN-kun from doing that, so—
YN: Hmm!
Pressing her lips against his while pulling his face in toward hers so she could reach, Rem kissed YN in a mildly passionate way.
Rem: —Rem will assist him in fulfilling that as well.
Smiling brightly at him as she picked back up the reins and righted the ground dragon's path on the road, Rem handed them off to YN.
YN: Say though, how would we actually deliver on the promise to destroy that evidence though? That 'resource' isn't exactly real.
Rem: It would not surprise Rem if it was. If anything, Rem has permission in these times to act on promises to be made by Roswaal-sama if the circumstances allow, and protecting Emilia-sama is one of those times.
YN: So in one way or another, he's 'good for it.'
Rem: Precisely. Now, while Rem is very happy to have been of assistance to YN-kun, she must return inside to make tea for Emilia-sama.
Leaning in and giving another kiss to YN on the cheek, Rem withdrew from the driver's seat.
Switching spots, Subaru stepped out and onto the driver's bench with YN. Pouting, he didn't seem to be in the best mood.
YN: What's got your underwear in a bunch?
Subaru: The entire time I wanted to be alone with Emilia-tan, Puck kept interrupting and killing the mood.
YN: Well, that's a dad-that's-also-a-cat for you, the two most intrusive entities known to man.
Subaru: Tell me about it...
Moving onto lighter topics, YN and Subaru spent the rest of morning idly chatting, killing time before they'd eventually arrive at their destination.
***
While YN had done his best trying to be just as surprised and questioning as Subaru was at the now familiar architecture of Saluzzo, the ground dragon carriage rattled through the entrance of the city.
Under Emilia's guidance, YN guided the ground dragon carriage through the city and to their destination, Julio's residence, the largest building in the city, reminiscent of a large Japanese wooden castle. After again feigning his surprise when it came to the garden and koi ponds that Subaru was enthralled over, a familiar voice addressed them.
With all four turning around in near unison, they acknowledged the owner of the voice.
???: Hello there. You all must be tired from your travels.
Wearing his pale blue yukata that matched his pale blue eyes, the elder demi-human with his wolf-like characteristics bowed as they did.
Julio: Emilia-sama, we are pleased to have the opportunity to host you. I am very excited to hear you speak later and hear what the future King has to say.
Emilia: O-Oh, thank you for having me, although I'm not sure if I'll be able to reach your expectations for the speech...
Tilting her head toward Emilia, Rem whispered to Emilia.
Rem: Rem would like to remind Emilia-sama if she thinks a candidate for the Throne should speak with more confidence when addressed.
Slightly nodding at Rem's suggestion, Emilia acknowledged it.
Emilia: I am very honored to be received so warmly. I hope to inspire the people of Saluzzo with my speech tonight.
Giving a small smile on his gray haired face and muzzle, Julio pushed up his large and magnified spectacles upon hearing Emilia's renewed response.
Julio: Such a marked and vast improvement from just one small suggestion... truly the makings of an excellent Ruler.
Seeing a small glint in his eye, YN might not have otherwise noticed had he not known all the circumstances leading up Julio's choice in his involvement.
I can tell he feels guilty saying that. He knows what'll truly happen tonight.
Stepping forward next, Rem bowed and spoke.
Rem: Roswaal-sama would like to extend his thanks in convincing the rest of the elders to allow Emilia-sama to use Saluzzo and its festival as a place to announce her candidacy.
Holding up a hand as if trying to downplay his involvement, Julio also rubbed the back of his head, just behind his ears.
Julio: Oh, it was not a monumental task. I believe they will see tonight just how wonderful Emilia-sama is.
Again noting Julio's reaction and the guilt and other emotions he seemed to be hiding, YN only briefly caught the slight look Rem gave him out of the corner of her eye.
Rem just said that on purpose... she's also trying to assess his character, given everything I told her. I can tell she trusts what I said, but I don't blame her for wanting to see it herself. She can also tell just how much he's changed his opinion on Emilia just now, and that he's eating his words when it comes to what he probably thought of her before.
Julio: Now then, let me show you all inside. I will personally show you all your rooms, and I have one more surprise waiting inside for you all as well. My associates will be sure to take good care of your carriage and bring it to the stables.
Raising up a hand and letting his yuakata's sleeve lazily fall down his arm, Julio gestured for them to follow him.
With Subaru and Emilia taking the helm behind Julio, YN walked up to Rem's side, and looked at her from the side.
YN: So, what are your thoughts?
Shaking her head, Rem responded.
Rem: While Rem never doubts her YN-kun, she simply wished to test Julio-san on her own.
Turning to YN, Rem continued.
Rem: It was just as YN-kun said. Julio-san's guilt can easily be seen if one knows what to look for. Rem can be certain that he is feeling a contradiction in his character and his actions.
YN: That's good though, isn't it? That'll make going along with your idea easier.
Rem: Yes. That's the main reason Rem said what she did. If for some reason Rem felt something different, she wanted to know immediately so she could inform YN-kun if she found a fault in her own idea. And even if not, only so he could have faith in Rem's judgment.
Placing a hand on the oni's soft blue hair, YN praised Rem's thoughtfulness.
YN: I appreciate the effort, but I trust your suggestions Rem. You're smart, and I know how much consideration you have when something involves me, and I'm very lucky to have that. Don't feel like you need to prove that, alright? I promise my trust for you is as strong as yours is for me, got it?
Seeing her face turn a hint of red, the two were interrupted by Subaru calling out to them.
Subaru: Would you two hurry it up!? We're waiting!
Nodding to YN, Rem extended a hand, and with YN taking it, he let the blue haired maid lead him off as he always did, trusting her to take him wherever he needed to be.
***
Being given a brief tour of the residence and being shown their guest rooms, Julio invited the four to the changing rooms outside the hot spring and bathing room to switch into the outfits for the festival.
Dividing the group, Subaru and YN were changed much quicker than Rem or Emilia, and found themselves waiting in the hallway for them. Being given only limited options by their stylists, Subaru had gone with a charcoal black yukata with eggshell-white accents around the sleeves and shoulders, giving his entire look a very "dull" coloring, while YN chose a more vibrant blue, almost like Rem's hair, but more pale. His yukata had similar markings as Subaru's but his instead were black.
I know why all my options were blue... but why were they all different from last time? How did that happen?
Thinking more on it, YN noticed Subaru's choice was also different from last time as well.
I wonder if the same pattern will extend to Emilia and Rem as well...
Pondering the possibility, a familiar voice and face poked her head out from behind the concealment curtains from the changing room.
Emilia: O-Oh, Subaru, YN, you both got outfits too.
Subaru: *Gasp!* I totally didn't realize! Emilia-tan must be getting a yukata or kimono as well if we are!
Emilia: I don't know what either of those words are... but if that's what these outfits are called, I'll be sure to avoid them in the future...
Subaru: Nonsense! Emilia-tan must show her beauty to the world! E! M! T—yaaahh!
Puck: If you manage to keep teasing her like that, she'll never come out, ya know.
Flying up rapidly and startling the doting boy, Puck had emerged from behind Emilia and impacted his harmless paw as a punch into Subaru's cheek.
Subaru: *Sigh* Fine, fine, I will try to contain myself, but I make no promises!
Crossing his arms in front of him in a big "X", Emilia stepped out and presented herself for him to see.
In rare fashion, Emilia's hair was done up, tied and held in place with a hair band and clip that had several white-pink flowers on the side of her head. Her yukata itself was white as well, with red edging and ends. Around her waist was a gold sash held with more red ribbon. Starting from around there as well, the white of her dress faded into a hot pink towards the bottom, but all across her lower half and on left sleeve were an assortment of yellow and red flowers, with an occasional orange one being seen.
Slapping his hands against his face, covering his eyes, Subaru squirmed in place.
Subaru: AAHH! It's too cute for my mortal eyes! Emilia-tan's beauty knows no bounds! I am struck!
Pouting and putting her hands on her hip, Emilia voiced her displeasure with his reaction.
Emilia: Subaruuuuuu~, you said you'd try and keep it under control!
Puck: Hmm, to be fair he did try, he just couldn't handle it. I almost can't as well with my daughter looking so beautiful.
Emilia: Puck! You're supposed to be on my side!
Watching as the three devolved into banter and well meant compliments, YN had stood off to the side, expecting to see something even better. Distracted by the things being said, he had barely heard the voice calling to him from the curtain Emilia had entered from.
Rem: Y-YN-kun.
Standing straight from leaning against the wall and uncrossing his arms, YN lifted a brow at the head covered in brilliant blue hair that poked her head from behind the curtains as Emilia had.
YN: Rem? Don't tell me you're being shy as well.
Shaming her head, Rem denied it.
Rem: Rem only wanted her YN-kun to see her dress first and get his opinion on it before anyone else could say anything.
YN: Yeah, of course.
Nodding, Rem bashfully looked downward and stepped forward. As her head tilted forward, YN had noticed her usual hair band was gone, and in its place was a vibrant pink one with flowers going down the side of her face where her eye was visible.
Since the curtain of the changing room had concealed her shorter stature so well, YN hadn't a clue what to expect, but as she stepped forward, at first, all he saw was Rem's exposed skin.
Her shoulders. Her upper chest. Her upper arms. And finally, her cleavage came into view.
Is she even wearing anything?!
Just at the point YN began to think he should turn his vision away to preserve a sense of decency, the first glimpse of clothing came into view. More pink fabric, identical to her new hairband.
Stepping out fully, Rem was dressed in a very low hung yukata, showing a great amount of her upper body skin. It was a very warm pink with an imbued pattern of flowers all over it colored the same shade as the rest of the dress. A similarly colored flower was pinned to where the dress folded over, just above her breast on one side. A darker, but still pink in shade sash went around Rem's waist, pushed right to the bottom of her bosom, and it too was adored with a thin pink ribbon.
Just as her dress was worn exposed on the top, it was also cut short below where it opened up to a pleated skirt, which ended just above Rem's upper thigh.
Just how much skin can she show?!
On her legs were what appeared to be her usual stockings, but without their garter hooks and straps, and the ribbon at their highest point was changed from their usual black to a pink that matched her dress.
But what caught YN by surprise the most, was that Rem's signature apron remained, giving her entire outfit the same "maid" aesthetic all her dresses seemed to have.
Turning around once, the long hung sleeves on her dress fluttered.
Rem: D-Does YN-kun like it?
YN: — — —
Having never seen Rem dressed in such a way, he was left slack jawed from the beauty of Rem's figure adorned in such delicate garments. Her pale skin, exposed in so many ways, seemed to hypnotize him from hearing anything other than his own thoughts.
Rem's shoulders! Rem's chest! Rem's thighs! Rem's bo—!
Rem: YN-kun?
Leaning forward, Rem waved her hand in front of his distracted vision, which only served to worsen his condition.
AAAHHH that's the most I've ever seen them! Was she always that big—??
YN: —Ep!
Rem: YN-kun.
Taking her hand, Rem pursed her thumb behind her index finger and used that to lift YN's hung jaw and bring his vision up to her eyes, but seeing the look in his own eyes symbolize he was brought back to reality, Rem blushed at the implication.
Rem: It seems Rem has her answer from YN-kun's speechlessness.
Smiling warmly, she stepped back and gave YN a look as well.
Rem: Rem might be tempted to act similarly at how handsome her YN-kun is in his.
Scratching the back of his head at the unexpected complement, YN blushed slightly.
YN: I-I don't know about that...
Emilia: Umm, YN?
Breaking YN and Rem's moment, Emilia tapped him on the shoulder from behind.
YN: O-Oh, yes?
Seemingly acting like she was struggling to ask something, Emilia bumbled over her words.
Emilia: Umm, could I trouble you to go with me to get something out of the carriage? I might need it before the speech tonight.
YN: Yeah, sure, I guess I can help with that—
Subaru: No, allow me~!
Stepping between the two, Subaru bowed, holding a hand out like he were some tight-nit butler taking a request.
Subaru: I will go to the ends of the world to get whatever it is Emilia-tan needs!
While his interjection left both YN and Emilia without a way to reply at first, it was YN who spoke up first, hoping to help a friend with his ambition.
YN: Well, why have me do it when you have such an ambitious volunteer?
Nervously scratching the back of his head, YN tried smiling to break the tension that had been born from the situation.
Emilia: I-I guess that works too...
Subaru: It's just that YN was the last one to be driving as well! Look at him, he's beat! Let's give him a well deserved rest!
Now you're just overselling it.
Wishing he had some way to signal to Subaru he should just go with Emilia, she sighed as the two walked toward the exit of the building to go retrieve whatever it was she needed.
I think Emilia was going to ask me to be her 'second' again... Hopefully that delayed her a bit...
Looking over to Rem as Subaru, Emilia, and Puck left, YN gave her a serious expression once more.
Nodding at his change, Rem's expression also went serious as well.
YN: At this point, like last time, we should probably go to Julio's study and talk to him. Our success will hinge on getting him to help us, and from there, we'll use our 'evidence' of an impending attack, and from there, we'll let Subaru come up with a plan.
Rem: Isn't YN-kun risking another possible loop by dropping the problem on Subaru-kun? Won't he need the context of another Return to fully prepare?
YN: Which is all the more a reason to get it right the first time. If we give him enough info, he should be able to think of something, which is many times closer to a solution that I could come to.
Rem: Will YN-kun at least try to guide his decision making? At this point, what does YN-kun hope Subaru-kun will try?
YN: Ideally, yes. If he suggests any plans that involve combating the beast or Leo, I won't stand for it. I'm hoping we're able to convince Emilia to just not speak, but if we can't, I'm hoping Subaru can think of a way to evacuate quickly.
Rem: After hearing that Beatrice-sama tried so many different ways to win those fights, Rem is inclined to agree.
Putting a hand on the oni's cool blue hair, YN was happy she agreed.
YN: The only way to win this game is not to play.
Nodding at his logic, Rem grabbed YN's other hand and held it with hers, and after exchanging a smile between them, they proceeded in the opposite direction Subaru and the others had gone down the hallway, the same way they had been led down by Julio.
As the two walked hand in hand with Rem guiding YN along like usual, the two proceeded down the long, narrow wooden hallway. Halfway through, Rem slowly came to a stop.
Turning around, YN saw a flash of scarlet go across her face.
Rem: About before... YN-kun truly did approve of Rem's choice of outfit, didn't he?
YN: O-Of course! I think it's the most beautiful thing I've seen you in. It's just that—
Tilting her head at YN's exposition, he treaded over his words carefully, doing his best not to potentially upset her with the wrong idea.
YN: —isn't it uhhh, a bit revealing? N-Not that it's a bad thing! You wear it very, very well! It maybe just... doesn't seem like something you'd normally choose, is what's distracting me the most here.
Acknowledging YN's confusion to her logic, Rem understood how he could come to their conclusion.
Rem: Rem went with this one specifically because all of her other choices were very tight or somehow restricted movement. If things came to combat, Rem could not allow herself to be impeded by her attire if it meant she may need to protect her YN-kun from harm.
YN: I can see how this one would allow you a lot of freedom of movement.
Smiling at him, Rem teased him further before taking his hand once more and returning to their walk to Julio's study.
Rem: Rem also wished to see YN-kun's reaction to her in this one as well.
YN: Well, I hope you got everything you wanted out of it.
Hooking a single finger from her free hand into the top band of her yukata that hung low on her chest, Rem's expression gained a hint of lustfulness.
Rem: Rem could probably lower her dress even more~. How would YN-kun react to that?
YN: Any lower and you'll give me a gushing nosebleed!
Giggling at YN's protest, Rem returned to walking normally again.
Rem: If YN-kun can barely contain himself now, Rem can only imagine how our first special night alone will be like.
Having had her fun, the two spoke of lighter topics in lieu of the tough spot they'd each find themselves in shortly. As Rem led YN along, Julio's study got closer with each step they took.