Re:Zero -Starting Life in Zero

"Huff~ Huff~"

Rem gently blew on the steaming porridge, like a docile puppy.

Then she tilted her head back slightly and took the spoon into her mouth.

The smooth meat congee, with a hint of salt, slid down my throat; it was soft and chewy, and the temperature was just right.

Warmth spread down my esophagus and reached deep into my heart.

"Grimm, you don't need to be so gentle with Rem..."

At that moment, Rem's smile gradually disappeared.

Tears welled up in her two beautiful blue eyes again, without her noticing.

This time, the tears weren't from being amused, but from deep sorrow.

Green was a little flustered and asked in a panic, "What happened? What happened? Did you get burned?"

"Rem is the one who hurt you, so why are you being so gentle with her?"

"Rem is so weak...and has no talent..."

"If it weren't for saving Rem, Grin wouldn't have been cursed..."

As Rem spoke, tears streamed down her face as if they were free.

Green put down his bowl of porridge and couldn't help but place his hand on Rem's slightly trembling head.

"Rem, don't consider the damage caused by the enemy as your own sin. Carrying too much burden will only make you lonely."

Rem's hair is very soft, and it feels like a fluffy cloud to the touch.

She pinched her sleeve and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Grimm is an important benefactor to my sister, but Rem failed to protect you."

"Why isn't Rem the one who's cursed?"

"Why wasn't it Rem whose horn broke off?"

"Rem is just a substitute for her sister. She took one of her sister's horns, yet she's not even half as good as her sister..."

Green felt a pang of sympathy; this insecure girl had become a shadow of her older sister.

"Rem, you are not a substitute for anyone. In my eyes, you are unique."

Rem looked up, bewildered: "No, everything Rem did was just a clumsy imitation of her sister..."

"Ram isn't as amazing as you make him out to be."

Green feigned disbelief and began counting on his fingers:

"That guy isn't as gentle as you, doesn't have as good a figure as you, and his cooking is terrible. Speaking of cooking, I'm speechless. The first pot of porridge we had today was burnt by her."

Rem turned her head away, avoiding Grimm's gaze.

"No, if it were the real older sister, she would definitely do better."

"Whether or not there are horns shouldn't affect the quality of the dish, right? In short, Rem's crispy trout gets 10 points, Ram's pot of black and mushy porridge gets 1 point, and if I wasn't afraid she would beat me up, it would be a complete zero."

"However, Rem has always seen herself as a substitute for her older sister..."

"In my opinion, Rem is Rem, and Ram is Ram. You each have your own strengths, and neither of you can replace the other."

Green picked up the bowl of porridge again and gently handed it to Rem.

"Alright, smile, Rem. If you cry while eating, the farmers who grow the food won't be happy either."

Rem took the breakfast bowl. The food was no longer as hot as before; the warmth had transferred to her heart.

Rem wiped her eyelids with her sleeve again, then scooped up a large spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth. After chewing for a while, she revealed a faint smile.

"You can actually taste a tiny bit of burnt flavor..."

Green nodded earnestly: "This house really can't do without you, Rem. If I hadn't discovered it early today, Ram would definitely have burned the kitchen down."

Rem felt a little embarrassed by Grimm's flattering words, "Rem isn't that amazing..."

"But I really think you're amazing, Rem!"

"When I was afflicted by the curse, you were the first to come to my side, the first to stand up and say you would save me, and the first to reach the forest to fight for my life!"

"In my heart, there is no one more amazing than you! Rem, you are my hero."

That's what Green said, and that's what he thought.

From Rem's perspective, she had no idea that Grimm had willingly fallen into the curse, nor did she know that Grimm had a way to save his life.

But she was still the first to step forward, shouting at the top of her lungs that she would save Green.

Rem slowly raised her head, like a lost sail searching for a lighthouse in the night.

It looks like it's being coaxed into becoming an embryo.

"Rem is actually very weak, so she will definitely rely on others..."

She also longed to be bathed in the warm glow of the sun.

Green stood up, patted his chest vigorously, and said smugly:

"What a coincidence, Rem! There's a really reliable person right here! It's only natural for comrades to rely on each other."

Rem raised her right hand, spreading her five fingers and stretching them towards Grimm.

She was afraid that all of this was a dream, an illusion.

She was afraid that the light would vanish the moment she touched it.

But in the end, Rem's hand landed on Grimm's chest, and she truly felt Grimm's presence.

Grimm grabbed Rem's wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"Smile, my hero, consider it a reward for my busy morning."

"Grimm, you're Rem's true hero! Waaah—"

Rem pressed herself tightly against Grimm's chest and cried even louder.

Tears, like a burst dam in spring, instantly washed away Rem's tense brows and eyes.

Her thin shoulders trembled violently, and her hands gripped Green's clothes tightly.

"Okay, okay, why are you crying so suddenly..."

Grimm didn't do anything extra, he just patted Rem's back gently and quietly waited for her to release her pent-up emotions.

After a long while, Rem stopped crying, but still buried her head deeply in Grimm's arms, her thin shoulders twitching from time to time.

"Green".

"I am here."

"I want to drink porridge."

"Okay, no problem!"

Green picked up the breakfast bowl and realized that the porridge had gone cold.

"The porridge is cold, let me get you a fresh bowl."

Rem quickly grabbed Grimm's sleeve.

"No, I'll just have this one!"

Grimm couldn't refuse Rem, so he obediently scooped up a full spoonful and brought it to Rem's mouth.

Rem blinked her bright blue eyes and said with dissatisfaction, "I want to blow on it."

"Huh? Okay, no problem! Whew... Whew..."

Green, somewhat amused and exasperated, blew on the already cooled potato and meat porridge.

When it was offered to Rem again, the girl obediently opened her mouth and ate it.

Rem obediently ate the whole bowl.

Green first put the cutlery back on the tray, and then cleaned up the fallen crumbs.

"Rest well, Rem. I'm going to wash the dishes now."

Rem nodded obediently and shrank back under the covers. "Can I have breakfast with Grin tomorrow too?"

"Tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, I'll be here. Don't worry, you crybaby."

Green laughed and opened the door.

One of the peach-haired maids who had been eavesdropping by pressing against the door lost her support and rushed in with a "whoosh," kneeling before Green.

Green stared blankly at Ram, who was equally bewildered, and weakly said, "It's not even New Year's yet, Ram..."