A New Home

Subaru felt he had completely resolved Rem's psychological problems. The proof was that the little tsundere Rem who used to say "I just happened to be passing by," "It's not like I did it for you," and "Don't get the wrong idea" had vanished without a trace.

In her place was a whole new version of Rem, one he could barely handle.

"Well?" "Did Rem do a good job?" "It's not too strange, is it?" "Is it good? If it's good, please praise Rem!" "Praise Rem." "Praise Rem." "Praise Rem."

Her insistent voice rang out around him, one demand after another. The blue-haired girl held both hands behind her back and leaned slightly forward, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes. She might as well have had "Pat my head already" written on her face.

"...Are you showing off to Ram?"

Ram, sitting across from him, said this with a blank expression.

"I didn't mean to... But why did you come looking for me again today, Ram?"

"Do you have any idea why, human?"

Ram held a lunchbox containing a single steamed sweet potato, lying all alone.

"What's wrong with that sweet potato? Being called 'human' is a new one..."

"That's the breakfast Rem made for Ram. Meanwhile, you seem to be enjoying your meal."

Subaru also held a lunchbox. It contained fried meatballs, pan-fried meat patties, little flowers carved from vegetables, and rice drizzled with sauce. Every dish was neatly arranged, and everything looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful. It was practically a work of art among lunchboxes.

Rem had brought it over that morning, and in return, she had asked Subaru to pat her head.

The contrast was painful. Subaru felt too guilty to look Ram in the eye.

In this situation, no matter how he tried to explain himself, it would sound like he was mocking her. So Subaru put down his chopsticks and lowered his head in admission of guilt.

"Sorry. Sorry."

"Does Rem often go to the trouble of making you lunches like that?"

"Sorry. Sorry."

"You really are enjoying yourself, eating it right in front of Ram."

"Sorry. Sorry."

"What good is it to keep apologizing?!"

"Sister?"

A puzzled voice came from behind her. Ram turned and saw Rem standing there, looking at her and Subaru with bright, puzzled eyes.

Then Rem's attention quickly shifted from her sister to Subaru.

"Did you need something from Subaru, Sister? Today's the day Subaru's new house is finished, and Rem has already cleaned the whole place! Subaru, come see it!"

Rem took Subaru's hand as if seeking credit, her eyes full of anticipation and "Praise me already" written all over her face. She half dragged, half pulled him away.

Half a month had passed since that night. During that time, Subaru had finally gotten lighters into the hands of everyone in the village. Once he had money, the first thing he did was officially rent a house in the village.

It was a real house with a living room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. He could finally move out of that shabby little room without so much as a window.

Left standing there, Ram realized she had pressed Subaru so hard that she had forgotten what she had actually come to warn him about.

A while ago, Rem had cautiously asked her a question that had nearly left Ram unable to breathe.

Rem had suggested that after Subaru moved out of the storeroom, he could come live with the two sisters. They could live together and eat together, just like a family.

Ram doted on Rem. She had hardly ever refused a request from her. Unfortunately, this request was one of the few she could never agree to.

After so much effort, Rem had finally been pulled out of the abyss of feeling inferior, of believing she was nothing but her sister's leftovers. And the one who had done it all was not her sister, but a human boy.

Ram truly was grateful for that. But hadn't it worked a little too well?

And now Subaru had rented a new house. Yesterday, Rem had cautiously come to her with another suggestion: since she couldn't live with Subaru and her sister, could she move in with Subaru instead?

That was the real reason Ram had come to see Subaru today. She had come to warn him. If she didn't warn him soon, this human would carry off her most precious little sister, pot and flower together.