An unexpected meeting

After about 10 minutes of driving, Ram and I arrive at the car park of a larger supermarket. We get out and I look around.

Around us, many people and characters are walking from the cars to the supermarket and back. Many characters are approaching alone or in pairs without their masters. Hardly any Prime Worlders would shop here if RealDreams characters weren't so expensive I think to myself as I walk with Ram to the entrance.

I show Ram how to fetch a shopping cart and Ram watches me, impressed. "Wow this is really useful" Ram says as we walk into the supermarket together.

"Wow" Ram says again in amazement and looks around. "This is a supermarket. Here you can buy all the food we need. You can also buy the things you need to clean the villa here. Come on, I'll show you everything."

So I walk with Ram through the rows and show her where everything is. "So here we are at the bread. I personally like to take toast, but there are many varieties here" I explain to Ram. Ram looks at the huge bread shelf. "How am I supposed to know which of all this is the right one?" she asks me.

I take the toast from the shelf that I always use. "That's what I'm having so far. But don't worry, I'll send Ikumi with you next time. She can also explain to you much better what ingredients she needs. Besides, she has a driving licence, which we just have to get registered here first."

"Ikumi can drive a car?" asks Ram in surprise. I laugh "of course. She is from another form of earth after all. There are cars there too." "Wow. Can I learn too?" I look at her surprised. "That shouldn't be a problem. You just have to learn a lot, but I'm sure you'd be able to do it. But let's do the shopping first." Ram nods and we continue.

During our shopping, we keep passing different characters. Many are maids like Ram. Among them are a Tohru, Naberal Gamma from Overlord or Aoi Kanzaki from DeamonSlayer, for example.

"Ram, do me a favour and get me some tomatoes. I just forgot about them. You remember where the vegetables are, don't you?" "Yes master, I'll be back in a flash" Ram replies and quickly runs off calibration vegetable section.

Ram's POV

Ram arrives in the vegetable section after only a few seconds and looks around. After barely a minute, she has reached the tomatoes and, as she learned from her master, takes a bag and puts the tomatoes that look best to her in it.

"Excuse me, may I try the tomatoes?" asks a voice next to her. I know that voice, she thinks to herself and turns around. Behind her is a person who looks as much like her as can be.

She has blue hair, a bigger chest and wears a maid outfit like her. In front of her is Ram's sister Rem.

"Rem is it you?" asks Ram in a shaky voice, setting the tomatoes aside. Rem looks at Ram questioningly and does not answer. "Rem it's me, your sister Ram" she says and hugs her pretend sister.

"Ehm Ram, I don't think you understand yet do you?" asks Rem. "You haven't been here long have you?" "Ram shakes his head and wipes a tear from his eye. "No, not yet, but I have a wonderful master. I'm sure I can persuade him to buy you too, and then we'll be reunited."

Rem smiles at Ram. "You seem very happy. I'm glad to hear that. But I'm not your real sister... so not right." Ram looks a little confused. "Surely your master must have told you that there are several versions of us?" Ram nods. "It would be quite unlikely if we had been taken from the same world, don't you think?"

Ram considers for a moment. "That... That's true," she says, looking down at the floor. Rem pats her arm. "Don't worry. I'm really glad to have seen you. Even though you're not my real sister, I'm always happy to see a Ram. You always remind me of my Ram."

Ram looks up and looks into Rem's happy face. That's right, she is not my sister, but just seeing her happy face makes my heart beat faster.

"Thank you" replies Ram. "Come, I'll take you to your master" replies Rem. Ram grabs the tomatoes and walks with Rem to their master.

James's POV

I am taking my shampoo from the shelf when I hear from behind me "Master, I am back." I turn and look in amazement at Ram and... Rem.

"See, I told you he would be surprised" Rem says "Yes you said that" Ram admits. "He likes seeing us like this" Rem says again and grabs Ram's hands so they are now standing in front of each other looking at me.

"Ram you know Rem... probably isn't your Rem right?" I try to ask as gently as I can. They both look at each other and grin. "I already explained it to her" Rem says and they let go of their hands. "Ram just said you might like it."

I look at Ram and she blushes a little. "I...liked it a lot" I reply. "So where did you guys meet?"

Ram and Rem then explain the situation to me. "Thanks for cheering her up a bit" I say to Rem. "Don't worry, I was happy to do that. I have to go now though. My mistress will get mad if I don't."

Rem leans over to Ram and whispers something in her ear. I don't quite hear what she says, but Ram's face turns as red as the tomatoes in her hand. "Maybe we'll see each other again soon," Rem says and then walks back in the direction she and Ram came from.