Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

……

The streets of the capital were bustling with activity in the afternoon, and sunlight filtered through layers of colorful banners, casting dappled shadows on the stone pavement.

"Grimm, your hands have been moving non-stop. Rem's hands are practically turned into dough."

Rem lowered her head, her tone tinged with reproach, but her fingertips secretly touched Grimm's palm again.

"Haha, sorry, your hands are too soft, I couldn't help myself."

Green gave an awkward smile and then casually switched their hands to an interlocked position.

The soft, boneless touch spread from his fingertips, making him feel a strange sense of fascination and reluctance to let go.

Rem shyly turned her head away, hiding the happy smile that she couldn't conceal behind her hair.

Green's hands are so warm, a comforting temperature...

Will people mistake them for a real couple if they walk hand in hand on the street like this?

"Hey buddy, wanna buy some apples? If you eat my apples, your wife's baby will definitely be healthy!"

A rugged-looking middle-aged man held up a bright red, plump fruit and approached the two of them with a smile.

Rem was both surprised and embarrassed, shrinking behind Grin like a frightened rabbit, her voice barely audible: "No, no, Grin-kun hasn't agreed yet..."

Green was taken aback, and a hint of a smile crossed his eyes as he listened to the half-finished sentence she had just uttered.

He held out six copper coins: "Boss, give me two."

He received two heavy apples in return. Green raised his hand to wipe the water droplets off the skin, then brought them to his mouth and took a big bite.

With a crisp crunch, sweet juice dripped through his fingers. He chewed with a satisfied smile, mumbling, "This apple is sweeter than the gold coins Anastasia gave me."

Rem ate much more politely, holding the apple and turning it halfway around before taking a small bite of the reddest part.

"Mr. Green, you have something stuck to your face."

After saying that, Rem reached out and wiped the crumbs of fruit from the corner of Grimm's mouth.

Grimm grinned mischievously and rubbed his head against Rem's fingertips. "It smells so good!"

Rem didn't mind; she simply indulgently played with Grimm.

Her gaze fell on the apple in Green's hand, which had been bitten a third of the way off, and the blue-haired girl's mind began to stir.

She blinked her watery eyes, a hint of mischief in her voice: "Grimm, Rem's apple tastes weird, it doesn't seem as sweet as you said."

"Is there?"

Green grabbed her wrist, took the apple from her hand, and took a big bite.

After chewing for a moment, he frowned slightly, his doubt deepening: "There's no difference, is there?"

"Really? Maybe it's Rem's imagination."

Rem grinned triumphantly and quickly snatched the apple back.

When Green wasn't looking, she carefully took a small bite next to the teeth marks he had left.

Looking at the two closely spaced, large and small cracks on the apple, the girl held the apple and started to giggle for no reason.

……

Rem, is there anywhere else you'd like to go?

After shopping for most of the day, Green was carrying a lot of bags and his shoulders were a little sore. He just wanted to find a place to rest.

Rem immediately noticed the weariness on his face and kindly pointed to the street corner.

"Rem remembers there's a church over there. Let's go sit there for a while."

Green nodded in agreement and walked closely beside Rem toward the church.

The church looked magnificent, but its walls were covered with mottled vines, clearly indicating that it had been in disrepair for many years and was not doing well.

Rem pushed open the half-closed wooden door, and the wind, carrying the fragrance of flowers and the warm sunshine from outside the window, rushed in, dispelling the slight chill in the hall.

The church was deserted and quiet.

Only a few golden beams of light slanted down through the stained glass, casting colorful spots of light on the mottled floor tiles.

She led Green to a bench by the window and sat down, gently placing their belongings aside.

My gaze swept over the faded gauze curtains hanging from the dome, as if the sunlight were dressed in a wedding gown.

Rem's heart skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but think of the wedding.

I recalled the shopkeeper's words "your wife" at the market, and the two intertwined teeth marks on the apple.

Her fingertips curled up involuntarily, and she couldn't hide her happiness.

If only... if only I could make a promise with Green here.

Green turned around at some point, a teasing smile in his eyes: "What are you thinking about? Your face is all red."

Rem, like a rabbit whose secret had been exposed, hurriedly lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "N-nothing... I just find the sunlight here very comfortable."

Seeing her adorable shyness, almost burying her face in her collar, Green felt as if his heart had been gently tickled by a feather.

A surge of emotion welled up within him, and he suddenly felt that it wouldn't be bad if time could stand still at this moment.

The atmosphere between the two was a delicate balance, more than friends but not quite lovers.

If you like her, why not express your feelings?

As Green thought this, a brilliant idea popped into his head.

"Rem, look, what's that?"

Rem turned her head in response to his direction, her gaze falling on the stone wall of the church, where a painted relief of a goddess in red was carved.

"Grimm, that's an unnamed forest goddess, a very obscure deity."

Taking advantage of the moment Rem turned her head, Grimm leaned forward slightly and brought his cheek closer.

boo.

When Rem turned around, she unknowingly kissed Grimm on the cheek.

Grimm covered his face and exclaimed dramatically, "Oh my Rem, are you serious...?"

"Waaah..."

Before he could finish speaking, Rem mustered her courage and pounced on Grimm, pressing her lips to his.

Green's mind went blank for a moment, and he even forgot how to regulate his breathing, letting Rem push him down onto the church pew.

The warm, soft touch enveloped his lips, carrying the lingering sweetness of apples and the faint scent of lisianthus from Rem, instantly enveloping him completely.

He could clearly feel Rem's slightly trembling eyelashes brushing against his cheek, making his heart tremble with a ticklish sensation.

The girl in his arms was tense, but she showed no sign of backing down; instead, she displayed a clumsy stubbornness.

It was as if all the shyness and joy hidden in her heart were melted into this kiss.

Between breaths, the girl kept her forehead pressed tightly against Green's, unwilling to separate even for a second.

"Grimm, Rem seems to have fallen for you..."

What?

I was just teasing you a little, and you reacted so strongly?

Never mind, I have to defend myself.

Immersed in Rem's tenderness, Grimm's hands began to wander.

His fingers darted deftly over her body, seemingly searching for gaps in her maid outfit, wanting to get closer and feel her temperature more closely.

"Grimm-kun...no...!"

I know the answer to this question; "no" means "yes."

Unfortunately, the maid outfits from the Mezas family were of such high quality and perfectly designed.

After searching in vain, Green didn't care about anything else.

He was a basketball prodigy in high school, and dribbling with one hand was child's play for him.

The pulsating sensation felt almost alive, and the texture was like warm winter wool, smooth yet slightly sticky to the touch.

"You little glutton, you actually hid two pieces of wood cake in your clothes."

Jack the Giant Slayer's abilities came in handy, as the acupoints in certain places are largely interconnected.

"Mmm..."

A furious Rem bit Grimm's shoulder.

Ouch, that hurts, but it's worth it.