“Haven’t worked like this before, but I feel really positive for some reason. I guess it’s the beautiful-girl thing?”
“Flattery will get you nothing. No kindness, no mercy.”
“You should learn a little modesty from your little sister, geez!”
Subaru threw that out, still chewing over the conversation with Rem back in the dressing room.
8
“Oww—!”
Subaru was half in tears as he yelped at the fresh wound, wet with red blood.
Ram, engaged in the same work right beside Subaru, narrowed her eyes as she watched him wave around his bleeding left hand.
“That is what thoughtlessness gets you. Basuru, do you know the meaning of improvement?”
“But this is the first time I’ve dealt with any tableware that’s not chopsticks!”
Subaru stuck his cut finger into his mouth as he complained, his cheeks puffing as the metallic taste filled his mouth.
They were in the kitchen, shortly before noon. After wrapping up in the garden with Ram, the two returned to the dining hall to help Rem prepare. That being said…
“I understand me, but making your big sister peel stuff, too? I mean, where’s the dignity?”
Ram was quick with a counter.
“We have worked and lived together a long time, so we divide work by our specialties. This is not my place to shine.”
“I thought I heard earlier that she’s better than you in every area, though?!”
He’d heard earlier how Ram came in behind Rem at cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing, and pretty much every other chore. Ram did seem pretty experienced at peeling veggies, though.
“Are both of you going to be done soon?”
Rem spoke, seemingly wide-eyed at the two she’d entrusted the peeling to as she put them to shame with her ferocious meal preparation. Rem’s practiced hand was far beyond the norm, making her cooking feel like a type of highly polished performance.
…Completely unlike the other two, doing menial work off in a corner.
Rem looked back as she poured ingredients into a huge frying pan and mixed them. Silently looking over her big sister peeling and Subaru bleeding, Rem nodded like nothing had happened.
“As usual, Sister, the sight of you peeling vegetables is worthy of a painting.”
“Your favoritism is so obvious, it’s refreshing! I’d love a comment for the work I’m doing, too!”
“I feel sorry for the farmer who grew those vegetables.”
“Stop, you’re wounding me!”
Rem was looking at the atrocious wreckage of the vegetables Subaru had peeled. The potato-like vegetables had been cut down roughly halfway, yet, skin remained on them. Furthermore, fairly deep cuts to his hand had left the table wet with blood.
Ram, peeling her potatoes very prettily, glanced at the still-bleeding Subaru and offered advice.
“You handle a knife poorly, Barusu. You’re cutting yourself because you’re moving the knife, not the vegetable. When peeling, keep the knife steady and rotate the vegetable around.”
Her form was excellent; her peelings had no interruptions from head to tip. She continued, “I will have you know, my specialty is steamed potatoes.”
“You actually looked proud when you said that! Damn it, just watch. My beloved blade Shooting Star will put you in your place!” Frustrated, he picked up the knife and tightly grasped the wooden handle. It was a completely ordinary knife for peeling, but from that day onward, it would be Subaru’s precious Shooting Star.
“Uoaaah—!”
Raising his voice, he hunched over and held the knife steady, rotating the vegetable just as Ram had advised. The first cut was still rather deep, but he was surprised inside at how smoothly the rest went.
When he glanced over, he saw Ram looking proud of Subaru doing as she had instructed.
Genuinely grateful, Subaru concentrated on peeling without a word, when suddenly—
“…What? If you stare at me like that I’m gonna start blushing.”
Subaru looked up when he realized it was Rem who was staring at him. Rem looked slightly taken aback as she tried to counter. But whatever she was trying to say, Ram’s words interrupted.
“—She is staring at how pathetic you look, Barusu. In particular, your head is quite lacking.”
Her words made Subaru tilt his head.
“I thought this haircut was a lot better than it used to be, though…”
“At the very least, it deserves a failing grade, given that you are a servant… Right, Rem?”
“…Ah, yes. I suppose so. It does seem just a tiny bit lacking.”
“Looks like it really bothers you! Geez, sorry!”
Their plainspoken low assessment of the work he’d taken some pride in put Subaru down a bit. As Ram watched Subaru, she made a hmph noise through her nose.
“Incidentally, Rem handles people’s hair here at the manor. She dresses me and does my hair every morning, you see?”
“Yeah, that’s how you twins are the spitting image of… Wait, that sounds wrong?”
The way she said it just then made it sound like Ram did all the work by herself. But faced with Subaru’s retort, Ram folded her arms and boldly replied.
“It is exactly as you think, Barusu.”
“Help out your little sister a bit, geez!”
Ram’s boldly declaring herself to be the good-for-nothing older sister made Subaru shout with a look of feigned shock. Then, Ram stroked the pink hair that Rem had combed, looking at her younger sister.
“Rem, would you mind giving Barusu’s hair a little cut?”
“Now hold on, having a girl playing with my hair is really gonna throw me off here!”
“Sister…?”
Ram’s sudden suggestion threw off both Subaru and Rem. Ram trained her red eyes on her sister’s questioning look, slightly lowering the tone of her voice.
“…You were looking at Barusu because of his hair, yes?”
“…Yes, that is correct. A little combing and styling would make it look much better.”
“You should let her do as she says, then. Rem’s hands are heavenly, I assure you.”
“That makes it sound like a kind of perverted request, you know…”
It seemed like the older sister was giving Rem the excuse to indulge in her unexpressed interest.
Maybe it was an issue of personalities. Unlike Ram, already giving Subaru no quarter, Rem apparently hadn’t decided yet how she should act toward him. Subaru agreed with the need to close the distance, but…
“If you don’t want to, then you don’t have to. I kind of hope you do, though!”
“No, not at all. It is true that it bothers me slightly, very slightly, just a little.”
Knowing that it was really bothering her, Subaru lost more confidence. He thought he was just indulging in his individuality—but with such thoughts on his mind, three voices sounded as one.
“—Ah.”
The edge of Shooting Star shifted from a potato to Subaru’s thumb. Subaru yelled out as he shallowly peeled the wrong kind of skin.
“Whoaa! Oh man! It took off a little—!”
“It seems it is displeased to be called your ‘beloved knife.’ Since your love is so one-sided, perhaps you should try calling it your favorite knife instead?”
“Sister, the water is boiling, so let’s put in the vegetables you cut—”
“You two love hazing the new guy, don’t you?!”
Their prioritizing of the work was admirable, but Subaru lacked the mental strength to praise it.
9
—And so, half a day flew by.
“So tired—!”
As Subaru spoke, he flopped completely onto the bed, all his strength exhausted.
He was in the servants’ quarters he’d been given. From that day onward, it would serve as Subaru’s private quarters and sleeping space. It was a frugal room with a cheap bed, desk, and chair, so of course it lagged far b
ehind the standards of the guest room where he’d been a patient.
“Well, the expensive stuff is really stifling, so this is A-OK…”
Burying his face into the pillow, he decided it still smelled and felt up to high-class standards. Now that he was off work, Subaru quickly changed from his uniform to his tracksuit, intending to go to sleep in clothes that he was more accustomed to.
“Man, they worked me to the bone. Work’s hard work. I seriously get why Dad and they are so awesome in the working world. Even one day of this is nothing to sneeze at.”
He let out honest admiration as he loosened his creaky body, thinking back on his first day at work.
Sure, there were lots of little details he didn’t know, but he was still depressed at how bad a job he’d done.
The saving grace was perhaps Ram’s attitude as an instructor.
“She’s blunt and to the point, but she’s gentler and more polite than I expected, really… Ah?”
He lifted his face at the abrupt knock on the door. As he did so, he heard a voice from the door’s direction.
“It’s Rem. Subaru, is now a good time?”
“Ah, sure, sure. I’m not doing anything weird, so come on in!”
“That makes it sound more suspicious rather than less, but pardon me.”
Rem opened the door and entered the room, still dressed in her maid outfit. For a moment, Subaru raised his eyebrows at Rem’s visit, but he understood the reason as soon as he saw the black jacket she had in her hands.
“Wait, you don’t mean you’re done already? This redefines the words fast job.”
“It is nothing so grand as re-tailoring it altogether. I would have to take more care if it were one of Master Roswaal’s outfits, but this will do for you.”
“That made it sound like you, um, really cut corners?”
Rem made no reply as he took the jacket, briskly opening it and putting his arms through the sleeves. Before, the outfit’s armpits were too tight and his shoulders could barely rotate, but…
“I hate to admit it, but you did it perfectly. My arms can go round and round… Ah, does it look good on me?”
“When combined with the rarity of your gray-colored clothing, nobody else’s strange outfits could compare.”
“Okay, that didn’t sound like a compliment. Guess even I can tell that much!”
Having the manservant’s jacket over a T-shirt made Rem’s assessment a natural one. Indeed, it must have taken considerable effort not to laugh. But…
“What shall we do about the cuffs?”
“Cuffs… Ah, you mean for the pants. Crap, I forgot. With a needle and thread I could do it myself, though.”
“I have brought some with me. Shall I adjust them now?”
It was a good-faith suggestion with no apparent ill will from Rem’s side. She’d slipped in some choice words with it, but that was her style, so he let it slide.
Either way, Subaru wanted to repay the favor somehow.
“Okay, hand the needle and thread over here. My sewing skills are gonna get a whole new grade today!”
“I should expect more from the person who had showed such dexterity while struggling to peel vegetables for dinner today?”
“Keh-keh, underestimate me while you can. And by all means, prepare to be shocked!”
Looking like she was giving up on Subaru, sky-high with confidence, Rem took a fantasy-world sewing kit out of a pocket and handed it to him. He took it, finding that the contents matched up pretty nicely with what he could expect from home. With a practiced hand, he passed the thread through the needle and pulled the cuffs of the trousers up over his knees.
“Mmm, hmm, mm-hmm.”
As Subaru made a singsong sound, Rem let out a sigh of admiration.
“…I am shocked. You really do have experience.”
Subaru moved the needle in a brisk, lively fashion. Before he finished humming, he pulled it up.
“Okay, one side done. Take a good look. I sewed it right, didn’t I?”
Subaru stretched out the pants to show off his own work. Rem drew in her chin in plain acknowledgment.
His mood improved by the reaction, Subaru began working on the other cuff when Rem spoke abruptly.
“Ah…Subaru, about the conversation at noontime…”
“Mm, noon? Noon, what happened then?”
“Ah…er, if you have forgotten, it’s quite all right.”
Rem made a small shake of her head in front of Subaru, who still had his head down. Narrowing his eyes at her reaction, he recalled that they’d discussed fixing his hair when preparing dinner.
“Oh, about the hair? I half thought that was a joke. You gonna do it?”
“No, I just thought it was very impertinent of me. You may be a coworker, but you are also Lady Emilia’s savior, so our positions are different.”
“That kind of stiff attitude will just crimp my style… Wait, that’s what you think?”
Her statement, that she couldn’t treat him as a simple coworker because they stood apart, stuck in his ears.
Seeing Rem raise her eyebrows at the question, Subaru began roughly tugging on the hair on his head.
“To be honest, I’m not good at picking up on stuff like that. Sorry to…make you worry about it.”
“No, I am simply saying it cannot be helped. Please forget about it.”
“I can’t just let that go so easily. People are petty like that. Now, then…”
Subaru put a hand to his forehead, lowering his eyes as he looked at Rem. She seemed not so much regretful about her slip of the tongue as she seemed chastened by Subaru’s admonition. That helped him decide what to say.
Subaru lifted a finger as he made a suggestion.
“Okay, I’ll give you my one condition. If you’re okay with that, I’ll totally forget what you just said.”
Rem closed her eyes briefly before nodding with a look of resignation.
“Condition…you say? I understand. I will hear you out.”
Subaru made a strained smile, not intending to draw out that big a reaction, and then said…
“If you fix up my hair and give it a little brushing, I’ll forgive you.”
“…”
Unable to take Rem’s silence in the face of his counteroffer, Subaru raised his voice.
“The silence is kind of painful to me here, you know.”
Rem’s pale blue eyes reflected Subaru in them as she sighed a little.
“Lady Emilia already pointed this out, but you desire very little, Subaru.”
“That’s weird. I thought we’d be making up instead of you getting all shocked like that…”
“As I have heard from Sister how you gave her perverted looks when you were alone, I was rather resigned to something less decent.”
“Slander’s a horrible thing!!”
He was scared that Ram’s gossipy statement would make sparks fly with Emilia in short order. He’d have to establish a direct lifeline with Emilia before that could happen.
Subaru was still plotting countermeasures against Ram in his head when Rem grasped the hem of her skirt.
“I accept your condition—I shall go along with your idea.”
And so, with a prim and proper bow, she accepted his suggestion for smoothing things over.
Her performance drew a laugh out of Subaru as he looked down at his hands.
“Hey, I wrapped up shortening the legs while we were talking. I did it right, huh?”
The work complete, Rem took hold of the trousers, acknowledging his work…
“…Yes, you did. You get full marks for sewing. But much like yourself, I do not think it will be of use, Subaru.”
…then poured cold water all over him.
“Huh?! I thought we just made up here?!”
Combined with Subaru’s retort, the earlier awkward atmosphere had fully lifted.
Subaru returned the sewing kit to Rem before stroking his own forehead.
“So, about my
hair…when do you wanna do it? It’s tough to do it today ’cause it’s so late.”
“That is true. I would like to get it done as soon as possible, but I will be working in the evening for several days…unfortunately.”
“We’ll just have to make the time. Man, it’s really been a while since I had my hair styled!”
He’d been cutting his own hair since he got into middle school, nearly five full years earlier. He was good enough to do it by touch without using a mirror.
“Well then, it is getting late, so I will excuse myself. You will be working in the morning as well. Can you wake up on time on your own?”
“Honestly, not all that sure there. I’m good at waking up if I have a clock, but there’s nothing like that here, so maybe not? Don’t you have roosters or something?”
Faced with Subaru’s unreliable reply, Rem reluctantly launched him a life raft.
“…This seems severe, so Sister or I shall wake you in the morning.”
“Seriously? I feel bad to use my seniors in place of a clock, but…”
“It shall do us no good to have you sleep into the afternoon, after all.”
“What kind of oversleeper do you take me for?!”
“Someone who could sleep away the entire day, I imagine?”
It took a while for Subaru to realize that this was a joke, by Rem’s standards.
After the banter, Subaru thanked Rem as she left for accepting his suggestion.
She passed through the doorway and waved a hand as she went out of sight.
“Whatever comes out of their mouths, they’re sisters through and through, huh.”
Rem was superficially polite as she slipped in the dagger; Ram was arrogant. But just the same, they were considerate to the point of overbearing, something Subaru thought was highly desirable in coworkers.
10
—Later.
“So then, how was Subaru after all that?”
It was evening—the sun had already set in the west, just as the crescent moon took its place in the night sky—when the secret report took place.
It was a large room. The center had a table and tall chairs for receiving guests; farther within, the room was furnished with a chair and desk for its owner to conduct his writing affairs. The ebony desk had sheets and feather pens strewn over it, beside which stood a cup that was still steaming, a gentle aroma wafting up from it.
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Vol. 2 Page 7