Early the next morning.
"Good morning, Seele."
"Morning..."
Seele's eyes were still heavy with sleep. She looked down at Bronya, who was sprawled across her, one arm draped snugly just below the curve of her chest. Seele couldn't help but let out a long yawn.
"Haaa..." She exhaled deeply, a wave of pure relaxation washing over her.
"Is sleeping with Bronya... comfortable?" Bronya asked softly, her small face a picture of dead-serious curiosity as she watched Seele's blissful expression.
The question caught Seele completely off guard.
"What do you an 'sleeping with you is comfortable'?! Don't say things that people could totally misinterpret!" Seele shot back, unable to stop herself from playing the straight man to Bronya's odd comnt.
She sat up, though she had to admit—it was comfortable.
Waking up with a petite girl hugging her tight wasn't half bad. Sure, she no longer woke up to the occasional sight of "panna cotta" and "red beans" pressed against her face, but having a girl nestled in her arms first thing in the morning was a pretty great feeling in its own right.
After washing up and getting ready for the day, Seele took her seat at the dining table.
As usual, the spread was a lavish array of delicious breakfast dishes. However, Seele frowned slightly as she looked at the feast. She turned toward i and the others, looking a bit puzzled.
"Am I really just supposed to spend these seven days like this? Just eating and drinking? Don't you guys want to help out with anything?"
"Of course not," Theresa said firmly. She had arrived early that morning and was now watching Seele with a gentle gaze.
"All you need to do is relax and make yourself at ho. Besides, I've already put people to work organizing research data and looking into equipnt that might be able to help your world."
"I can actually take that stuff back with ?" Seele asked, her interest piqued.
"We... don't really know."
Theresa shook her head, her expression a mix of helplessness and contemplation. "The last person who crossed over to our world... when she left, the clothes she arrived in vanished. Even the pajamas she wore while sleeping here disappeared. So, we suspect that in six days, you'll likely be able to take whatever you have on you."
They actually thought of that?
Seele was surprised. To be honest, she had been a bit careless herself; back when she transford, her original clothes had simply vanished into thin air. It was a bit of a sha.
She had been wondering: if she transford into a different character, could she take the clothes from her previous form and... well, take a deep, nostalgic sniff of them?
...Never mind. That's gross. Forget I thought that.
Though, if it were i's clothes... that might be a different story.
"If that's the case, then I'll leave it in your hands," Seele said with a solemn nod.
"Mhm! For these next six days, just enjoy your stay with us," Theresa replied, finally breaking into a relieved smile.
"Alright."
Just as Seele nodded, Hiko turned her attention toward Kiana. "And you... Kiana, your tutoring starts now. You've only got six days until your big make-up exam."
"Huh? Right now?!" Kiana, who had been absent-mindedly picking at her food, froze in shock.
Poor thing...
Watching her, Seele felt a twinge of wicked delight. No matter how many world-shaking events occurred, so people just couldn't escape the nightmare of school and exams.
"Bronya's equipnt is all calibrated," Bronya added quietly from her spot next to Seele. "After breakfast, Kiana will co to Bronya's room. We will enter the virtual space to begin the cram session."
"Got it!"
Kiana nodded with sudden, fierce determination. Seele could see a flicker of lingering regret in her eyes. It was obvious she was still thinking about Raiden Ei.
After all, Ei was essentially a i from another world, and they had made a promise before she suddenly vanished. Given Kiana's nature as a hot-headed idiot, it wasn't surprising that she'd channel that energy into working hard.
"Seele."
Bronya looked at Seele, her eyes holding a trace of hesitation. "This afternoon, after Bronya finishes tutoring Kiana... may Bronya show you around this world?"
"Sure," Seele replied, keeping her tone casual. "Don't worry about while you're helping your friend. I can just wander around on my own."
"Seele..."
Bronya looked visibly crestfallen. Seeing that pouty face, Seele's heart skipped a beat, and she started to panic.
"Okay, okay! I promise. This afternoon, I'll go wherever you want to take ."
"Good." The corners of Bronya's mouth curled up into a tiny, triumphant smile.
Seele crossed her arms, looking exasperated and stressed—like soone who was being wrapped around a finger without even realizing it, thinking the "kid" was just being difficult.
Kiana and i watched the exchange with growing suspicion in their eyes.
Theresa, on the other hand, looked on with a satisfied, sentintal smile. "I can't believe how close you two have gotten in just one day."
"Have we?" Seele raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed. "I just don't want to see the kid cry."
"Right, right," Theresa laughed, looking even more pleased.
You clearly have no idea what's actually going on~
Seele felt a surge of internal amusent. Bronya was clearly obsessed with her; the girl probably thought that by acting a little sad, she could make Seele jump through hoops to please her.
But in reality, this was a total win-win!
Bronya was attached to her—maybe even a little possessive—because she was "Seele."
And Seele? She was busy enjoying that possessiveness and those little monts where Bronya crossed the line.
What do they call that? The best hunters always disguise themselves as the prey! Seele preened inwardly at her own cleverness.
Breakfast ended quickly. Bronya, looking reluctant to leave but determined to get the job done, led Kiana and Yae Sakura into her room. They donned the Homu helts to enter the virtual world for history lessons—and to give Yae Sakura a chance to see the Kallen of the past.
I really didn't expect to just be a background character in this part of the story, Seele mused, though she had no desire to force her way into that particular plotline.
"I'd really like to go outside," Seele murmured, standing on the balcony and looking out at the beautiful scenery of St. Freya High, which looked more like a sprawling European Gothic estate than a school.
"Would you like to accompany you for a walk?" Theresa asked, stepping up beside her with a sincere look.
"Oh? Is that okay?"
Seele's eyes lit up. She couldn't wait to use this body to truly experience this world. After all, the character she had transford into had grown up in the dust-choked streets of the Underworld.
-- --
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