Re:Zero - Starting from Zero (Natsuki Subaru)

night.

Rem also arrived at the waterfall where Ram had released the water tornado during the day.

Rem sprouted a demon horn from her forehead, mimicking her older sister's appearance...

A smaller, weaker, and less powerful water tornado than the one Ram released appeared, and soon dissipated.

This contrasts sharply with the powerful water tornadoes released by Ram.

Rem looked disappointed.

She's definitely not as good as her older sister.

Just then, a gentle voice came from behind Rem.

"It's fine."

Rem turned around and saw that it was her older sister Ram.

"elder sister?"

"Rem is Rem, there's no need to care what others say," Ram smiled gently.

Rem was somewhat stunned.

Only Ram acknowledged Rem's value as Rem.

No one else, not even her father or mother, noticed the unease in little Rem's heart.

The days passed by.

Ram and Rem do almost everything together: playing, studying, practicing magic, chopping wood...

Rem felt that she was indeed inferior to her sister in every way.

Rem was still unwilling to give up.

"The power of the demon cannot defeat my sister."

"So..."

Rem was unwilling to live in Ram's shadow forever. She thought, surely I must have something I'm good at?

There must be something, even something, that is better than what my sister Ram does, right?

If not... then what is the purpose of my existence?

Wouldn't I really become the person the tribe said I shouldn't be alive, someone who stole the power that should have belonged to my sister?

Rem suddenly offered to cook dinner for tomorrow.

Mom agreed.

At night, the two sisters sat on the bed.

Ram asked Rem curiously what dish she was going to make.

"For this, I'd like to cook Barbaro rabbit meat and stir-fried tree root fruit."

"And steamed sweet potatoes!"

Seeing his sister's happy expression, Ram offered to help.

Rem gently shook her head: "No need, Rem can manage on her own."

This is a good opportunity to prove that Rem has a reason to exist.

This is an opportunity to prove that Rem can live without being overshadowed by her genius sister.

This is an opportunity to prove that Rem still has a skill even after leaving her genius sister.

Rem couldn't wait to prove herself.

They want to prove their worth.

He wanted to prove that he was not the thief who stole the power that should have belonged to his sister, nor was he a sinner.

Rem is not a low-level copy of her genius sister.

The next day, Rem went out early to find ingredients.

After some effort, they finally found a sufficient number of tree root fruits.

Next up is the Barbaro Rabbit.

Just as Rem was making a trap to catch the Barbaro rabbit, a sudden downpour began.

The rain poured down, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Rem could only run home as fast as she could with the tree roots and berries she had collected.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck Rem's feet, causing her to fall forward.

Before Rem could even stand up, a large tree behind her was ignited by lightning, and it looked as if the raging tree was about to crash down on Rem.

Countless wind blades struck the tree, cutting it into pieces.

Rem closed her eyes in fear, and when she opened them again, she saw her older sister Ram panting heavily in front of her.

Did her sister save her?

Because of Ram's appearance, the two sisters were able to return home safely.

"But that's great, you're both alright."

That's what Mom said.

"Both of them..."

A strange glint flashed in Rem's eyes as she thought to herself.

"Rem, don't go into the forest alone anymore."

"Don't let your sister worry about you."

Each parent said something.

Rem looked utterly dejected.

"Okay, I understand. I'm sorry."

Rem lowered her head.

Ram, as the older sister, noticed Rem's mood and immediately changed the subject.

"Let's not talk about that now, let's try it!"

Ram took the first bite of the steamed sweet potato placed in front of her.

"Rem's steamed sweet potatoes are delicious!"

"The taste is just right!"

The father picked up the sweet potato in front of him, took a bite, and found that it was indeed so.

"It really is!"

The mother chuckled softly before even tasting it.

"Rem can make such delicious food too."

……

Crusch: Has Rem been searching all along for the meaning of living as herself?

Crusch: Sigh, living in the shadow of a genius, unable to be yourself, even feeling guilty for taking away a part of the genius's power?

Felix: Miss Rem is so kind, meow.

[Felix: Generally speaking, in this situation, many people would break down or go down the wrong path because they couldn't accept the difference and the strange looks from those around them, right?]

Wilhelm: Miss Rem, sigh...

Priscilla: Oh?

……

The sky curtain.

rainy night.

Rem was alone outside searching for the tree roots and fruits that she had painstakingly collected but which had been scattered all over the ground after she fell.

Can't find it.

Rem sighed in disappointment.

"It's okay, Rem, don't push yourself."

"What makes me happiest is seeing you two come back safe and sound."

Mom appeared behind me and said gently.

"Yes, you two are alright, that's great."

The father also appeared.

Seeing how much her parents cared for her, Rem was moved to tears.

Before Rem could speak, another voice rang out.

"No, it would be better if only Ram was safe and sound."

The clan chief's voice.

"That's right."

That's exactly what I meant.

Rem was surrounded by her tribesmen whose faces she couldn't see, and their tone was icy.

Even my parents, who had just spoken so gently, had changed.

"Yeah, if only useless Rem could die..."

"If only Ram is alright, that would be the best..."

The father and mother spoke in icy tones, each saying a sentence.

The words of Rem's closest parents and clansmen constantly assaulted her.

What is the purpose of Rem's existence?

Rem shouldn't be alive...?

It's not just others who have been questioning whether Rem even needs to exist.

Even Rem herself is questioning herself.

If it weren't for me, my sister would have two horns, and she would be even stronger.

But then I came along.

I am not even half as strong as my sister, but because of my existence, I have taken away more than half of her strength.

Rem ran away and sat alone in the rain, shivering.

Just as Rem was feeling lonely and lost, Ram, radiating light, appeared and gently took Rem's hand.

Rem looked up and tears streamed down her face.

Rem opened her eyes and realized that it was all just a dream, a nightmare she had had.

And there lay her older sister, Ram, beside her, holding her hand.

"Had a nightmare? It's okay, Ram is here."

"elder sister?"

……

Inside the Tower of Sages.

Natsuki Subaru looked at his hands and recalled his experiences at the mansion.

Thanks to the heavens, Natsuki Subaru regained some of his past memories, though not much.

"So... this is a habit the two sisters have had since they were little?"

Subaru Natsuki's lips unconsciously curled up.

So cute.

Subaru Natsuki's lips curled up, but quickly fell back down.

Rem... I had such a hard life when she was little.

At the age when they should be carefree and playing, they are forced to think about so many things, even to consider their own value.

Natsuki Subaru patted Rem's hair.

To Natsuki Subaru's surprise...

Natsuki Subaru thought that Rem would be saddened by seeing what happened in the past.

But Rem's expression was surprisingly calm.

Rem even smiled when he stroked her hair.

Subaru Natsuki probably doesn't know why.

But Rem knew, and Ram knew too.

because.

Rem had already found the person who would tell her the answer in person.

The person was stroking Rem's hair.