"Ahhh! Why are all of Bronya's teammates humanoid creatures?!"
Staring at the glaring red defeat screen and the equally irritating MVP logo of an enemy player, the game-addicted Bronya clutched her head and wailed, glaring furiously at the blindingly good stats of her teammates.
"I'm not playing anymore!" Already feeling inexplicably irritated, and now encountering such a group of ape-like players, the fed-up Bronya directly pushed her keyboard away. If she had to play with a bunch of troglodytes, she might as well go find Seele!
Filled with righteous indignation, Bronya thought this, her lips pursed in dissatisfaction. Getting up, she glared at the stats of those apes, her anger boiling over. She gave the computer case a swift kick—*Thump!*—Bronya paid a painful price for her impulsiveness.
"Ah—Pain, pain, pain....." Clutching her foot, Bronya's usually expressionless face twisted... She kicked a nerve!!! As if adding insult to injury, the computer case seemed to have stopped working after the kick.
"You're against Bronya too!" The miserably wronged Bronya was exceptionally grumpy now, but she managed to suppress the urge to vent her anger further. She directly summoned Project Bunny: "Project Bunny, I leave this to you. Fix it before I get back!"
Logically, for the Herrscher of Reason, repairing something should be instantaneous. However, the very angry Bronya seemed to have subconsciously forgotten this. After instructing Bunny, Bronya headed out the door.
"Strange, why didn't Seele come find Bronya to play today?" Without the lure of games, Bronya, walking down the corridor, finally pondered this question again. But without an immediate answer, she put the question aside and started thinking about her next plans.
"Got it! When I see Seele, we'll go to that dessert shop outside the base together!" Because she had been rather 'busy' lately, Bronya hadn't done much since 'reclaiming Seele.' After all, as the Herrscher of Reason, my training schedule is very tight.
Therefore, over the past half month, although Seele and Bronya were often together, it was mostly in the cafeteria, the training grounds, or playing games in her room. As for the dessert shop, it was mostly takeout.
While takeout wasn't much different... desserts like these, surely eating them fresh at the shop is tastier and provides a better atmosphere, right? While that guy is away, I'll make up for lost time~
Of course, whether she made up for it or not didn't really matter. After all, Seele already knew Bronya was the real Bronya-neechan. How could that imposter Jiang Qiao, the temporary stand-in, possibly receive Seele's affection anymore?
Instead of worrying about other things, Bronya wondered if she should consider putting in a good word for Jiang Qiao—in fact, after securing Seele, that's exactly what she had been doing.
Although Jiang someone's actions were infuriating, he had helped Bronya save Seele; that was a fact. Out of gratitude, the confident Miss Bronya naturally didn't mind displaying the victor's magnanimity, granting some 'merciful charity.' This is the lingering grace of the strong!
The advantage is mine! The advantage is...
"See—" Spotting a familiar face as she rounded the corner, Bronya subconsciously felt a surge of joy and started to call out. But the next moment, noticing the familiar person beside Seele, her expression froze—especially seeing Seele clinging intimately to the latter's arm, pressed against his side.
In the past, that was a privilege almost exclusively reserved for Bronya.
"Ah, it's Bronya-neechan."
"Um... Seele, what are you two...?" The previously confident Miss Bronya's expression soured. She looked strainedly at the pair. Though she desperately wanted to express her inner 'fury,' with Seele present, she couldn't raise her voice.
The only thing she could do was glare and inwardly shriek questions about this development: This, this, this isn't right! Seele, that guy is Jiang Qiao! I am your Bronya-neechan!
Subconsciously, she glanced down at herself, wondering if her body had been 'requisitioned' again without her knowing. But clearly, Seele was clinging to Jiang Qiao himself, not deceived by appearances...
Could it be... hypnosis, cognitive modification, something like that? Recalling things she had stumbled upon online, and looking at Seele clinging so naturally to Jiang Qiao's arm, Bronya's suspicion intensified.
While her mind raced, Jiang Qiao remained perfectly composed. "Oh, we just came back from the dessert shop. Didn't expect to run into you."
"Yeah, yeah! The new mango pudding at that dessert shop is really delicious, Bronya-neechan... Ah, sorry, Seele meant to bring a portion back for Bronya-neechan, but... forgot."
Watching Seele excitedly describe the deliciousness of the dessert, then look slightly downcast and apologetic, Bronya thought of her own earlier plans and forced a smile uglier than tears. She managed a dry laugh, "...It's alright. Bronya is controlling her diet recently."
Of course—secretly, Miss Bronya's anger meter shot straight up, so much so that her gaze towards Jiang Qiao held a faint trace of 'killing intent.' The grinding sound, as if her molars were about to shatter, emanated from her clenched jaw.
Bronya's cheeks puffed up rapidly, wanting nothing more than to bite this man's head off. This guy... Haven't seen him in so long, yet the moment he returns, Seele becomes like this...! Foul play! He definitely used some 'despicable' means!
Feeling gratified that Seele at least remembered her, but experiencing the dessert awkwardness once again, Bronya's opinion of Jiang someone plummeted. This guy! Can't win against Bronya fair and square, so he resorts to dirty tricks, huh?! So shameless! Bronya must expose this guy's true colors and save Seele from his evil clutches! Secretly, Bronya made this resolution.
"Seele, Bronya has some things to discuss with him. Could you give us some time alone?"
"Eh... Okay..." Seele looked puzzled, but seeing Bronya's rather serious expression, she nodded understandingly.
After Seele left—
The next moment.
"Thump—" Bronya slammed Jiang Qiao against the wall with a dull thud. She lowered her voice, face flushed with anger, "You bastard, what kind of love potion did you give Seele?!"
It was meant to be a domineering CEO move, but due to their height difference, the petite Bronya, pinning him, had to look up at Jiang Qiao, making the whole scene incredibly comical.
Feeling slightly awkward, Bronya's expressionless face flushed faintly, but she quickly suppressed her shyness and began her 'interrogation of the despicable Jiang someone.'
"...Love potion? What are you talking about?" Looking at Bronya's stern little face, Jiang Qiao looked puzzled, then realization dawned. He explained, "Oh, you misunderstand. I just treated Kiana to the dessert shop." He then recounted the earlier events—briefly, of course.
Bronya gritted her teeth. Aha! So that's why Seele didn't come find Bronya to play! You intercepted her halfway and spirited her away! And Kiana, that idiot...!
But other than that, there didn't seem to be much else noteworthy. Judging from Jiang Qiao's account, their interaction really was 'innocent,' just going for dessert together and coming back.
"Really?" Bronya asked suspiciously.
"Would I lie to you~?" Jiang Qiao looked innocent—I, Jiang someone, am an honest man!
Bronya was half-convinced, then—her eyes instantly shifted into their gear-like Herrscher state. I believe you like hell! You damn old man are full of tricks! Whether it's true or not, Bronya will verify it herself!
—Although the Herrscher of Reason's powers were far inferior to the consciousness-specializing Herrscher of Sentience in 'lie detection,' the power of 'understanding' and 'deconstruction' it possessed wasn't entirely useless on living beings.
But... it seemed... he really wasn't lying... Could it be true? Seele really wasn't hypnotized or reality-warped? Bronya remained deeply suspicious—If you didn't play dirty, how did you get Seele to be so close to you?
Jiang Qiao chuckled dryly, shrugging, "I was her Bronya-neechan for a while, after all~ Isn't it perfectly normal for Seele to like me?"
Hearing this made Bronya's teeth ache. You bastard! So you're saying—this is Bronya's fault? Bronya dug her own grave?! Bronya refused to accept this outcome!
Despite her refusal, Miss Bronya felt conflicted. If Jiang Qiao had used 'despicable' means to gain Seele's affection, she could easily punish him. But if his actions were legitimate, deliberately targeting him would make Bronya seem too petty.
Yet, letting Jiang Qiao stay close to Seele was definitely unacceptable. After all, how long had he been with Seele? Yet he'd already boosted her affection level so high! If he got any closer, Bronya seriously doubted whether the Seele she had painstakingly 'snatched back' wouldn't fall right back into his grasp.
And this time would be different; it wouldn't be losing as [Bronya-neechan], but a complete, one-sided defeat.
The image of Seele lying in Jiang Qiao's arms, holding a baby with a maternal expression, while she could only watch from afar, made Bronya shudder involuntarily. I don't want that! (Eren face.JPG) Stop it! Must stop it!
Racking her brain, Bronya desperately sought a way to avoid the worst-case scenario. Finally, the genius MetalGearBronya's eyes lit up; she'd thought of a brilliant solution.
Since she worried Seele would be in danger around this guy, couldn't she just stick close to him, like before?
—Just like dealing with 'netorare' scenarios, as long as she occupied the slot sleeping next to Jiang Qiao first, he definitely couldn't touch Seele under her watch!
At this moment, Bronya couldn't help but feel proud of her quick little brain. Laughable, this won't stop her at all!
And all this unfolded quietly before the eyes of Seele, who was holding Fairy Ely.
"...." Watching Bronya wall-slam Jiang someone, Seele blushed slightly, feeling shy, yet also complicated—that feeling of 'betrayal' surfaced again.
She had thought Bronya-neechan really had serious business to discuss with Jiang Qiao-Nii chan, but instead... after sending her away, Nee-chan did this herself... And she had thought Fairy Ely's suggestion to eavesdrop was inappropriate.
Biting her lip, feeling inexplicably angry, yet inherently kind and trusting of Bronya, Seele still 'tolerated' and 'believed'... Hmm... Maybe this is just an accident? Bronya-neechan and Jiang Qiao-Nii chan have nothing going on...
But recalling their 'body-swapping' history, Seele's confidence suddenly wavered. After all, if nothing was going on between them... then why did Bronya-neechan previously barge in when she wanted to sleep with 'Bronya'-neechan?
Subconsciously, a bold guess surfaced in Seele's mind. —Could it be that Bronya-neechan wanted to...
Hog him all to herself?!