Chapter Text
"Sis Bronya, are you overworking yourself again?" Seele comes inside the supreme guardian's office in Qlipoth Fort, pouting with her hand at her waist in displeasure.
Bronya jolted a little from her seat when she heard Seele call her like that. "O-oh Seele, Sorry, I'm still not used to the way you called me."
Seele shook her head and said, "No, it's okay. It's Seele's fault to call you like that although I promise I won't..." while she tried to hide her sad smile.
It's almost 1 week or to be exact 5 days since Seele came to this unknown world. The first thing she saw when she woke up was a dark room like a refugee camp and when she saw outside the window, she could see many mining tools and carts with ores inside.
She furrows her brow, confused. If she remembers correctly, she's on her way home with another her, and Bronya to their world after making sure everything's alright in Salt Snow Holly City. She should be somewhere in Schicksal HQ but here she is, in a place she never sees.
While she was busy with her mind, she didn't realize someone come inside of her room and said, "Seele?"
Hearing someone call her name, Seele lifted her head and saw a kind-looking woman with gray hair who looked at her with confusion.
Don't know what she should say, she tilted her head to the side and said, "Yes?"
When that woman hears Seele talk, she furrows her brows and she becomes more worried about her. "How do you feel? Are you sick?" That woman said while walking towards her and checking her body temperature with her hand.
"I think I'm fine? Just a little sluggish?"
"Do you know who are you, who I am, and where we are?"
"I'm Seele, and if I'm not wrong, you're sister Mei's friend, Raven? And I don't know where I am?"
"...." That woman put her hand on her chin while looking at Seele from her head to her toes, trying to think what happened right now.
In front of her, instead of the usual grumpy Seele with her usual clothing, she saw gentle Seele with a flashy white dress that was really unusual, the dress seemed like it didn't come from anywhere in Belbog.
On the other hand, when Seele recalled all that, she started panicking. She realized she was separated from Bronya.
"Umm, do you see a girl with bright gray ponytail hair, gray eyes, and a stoic face? I think we got separated...."
Hearing Seele describe that person, the first thing she can think of is the supreme guardian. So the kind-looking woman said. "Wait here, I will call someone." Before she got out of the room, she turned back and said, “Oh, and my name is not Raven but Natasha.” then she got out of the room to find the person that’s similar to Seele’s description.
After waiting for 20 minutes, someone who looked like her Bronya came in. That look on her face is really priceless. She agape her mouth in disbelieveable while looking at Seele from top to bottom and before she could say anything, Seele ran towards her and said, "Sis Bronya!?" while checking Bronya or to be exact squished her face and circled her like a puppy.
Hearing this, Bronya jolts a little and her face becomes hot. She vaguely knew the situation from Natasha, but she didn't expect Seele to call her sister with a kind and gentle voice.
Although she's not sure, Bronya grips Seele's shoulder to make her stop circling and inspecting her. "Seele, calm down."
"Sis Bronya, what happened to you? You're taller than I remembered, and you're more beautiful. Ah, it's not like I'm saying the usual you are not beautiful, but you're more mature like this." Like she realized something, Seele gasped and said with a little voice. "Am I in the future...?" then she furrowed her brow and mumbled. "But I don't remember being in a place like this. So it means...." There were many what-ifs in Seele’s head right now until she didn’t realize the confused person in front of her.
Before Seele could swim deeper in her mind, Bronya cut her way of thinking, pretending she didn't hear Seele call her beautiful, and hesitantly said. "Are you really Seele?"
When Seele hears Bronya address her formally like a stranger, Seele feels a little sad but she suppresses her feelings and says, "Yes. But Seele doesn’t think Seele’s the same person you know...."
Sensing that Seele knows something, Bronya said, "Do you realize something that happened to you?"
"I think I know what happened. But I don't know if it's true or not..."
"Can you tell me?" Bronya said with a gentle voice that she never gave to the other Seele, she could feel that this Seele was more sensitive than the one she knew.
After thinking whether it's okay to tell her or not, Seele decides to tell half of the truth about her to Bronya. "Like you know, Seele is Seele. But as Seele told you earlier, Seele in front of you is not the same as the one you know. Seele's situation is a bit complicated. But you don't need to worry. Seele can manage herself, besides Seele's sis Bronya will do something about it!" Seele said with a reassuring smile, trying to not make the person in front of her wory.
Although she knew the one Seele mentioned was not her, she couldn't help but blush when she heard Seele say her name like that, with that kind of face that screamed she trusted and believed in her sister ‘Bronya’. She even starts to imagine this world’s Seele talking like that to her. If it's like that, they might be already dating right now.
When Bronya didn't say anything, Seele became worried. So she took both of Bronya's hands and said, "Are you okay? Seele knows it must be hard to accept but for a while sis, I mean Bronya needs to bear with this Seele."
Feeling Seele's holding herself back makes her feel guilty. So she said, "I-I don't mind if you called me sis Bronya..." Bronya said while averting eye contact with her. Besides, it has a nice ring to her ears and she doesn't mind hearing more of it.
Seele shook her head and said, "I don't want to trouble you. But if I slip up, Seele hopes si-Bronya doesn't mind."
After that, they decide some rules for Seele and what should she do in this world, where she should live, and whether they should tell other people or not about the situation, while she searches for a way to turn back everything to normal. Seele changes her clothes to the usual clothes this world's Seele uses, and they decide until everything comes back to normal, Seele will live with Bronya in Qlipoth Forth to avoid unnecessary questioning and suspiciousness.
And that's why right now she's in front of Bronya the supreme guardian, scolding her because of a habit with her sister Bronya, who always overworks herself like that too.
"I bet you still not eat lunch right?" Seele said while tidying the messy papers on Bronya's desk. Then she gave a lunch box to her and said, "Here, Seele made onigiri for lunch.”
“Thank you Seele, I will eat this after that stack of paper is done.” Bronya said while pointing to the stack of paper with her thumb.
Seele just let out a loud sigh when she heard Bronya say that. It’s like the response her sister Bronya would give if she’s here right now. It makes her miss her sister more. Even though they just met, they got separated again, and what makes this the worst is that this is the third time they got separated and this time, she must hold herself back with someone who looks like her sister. She even starts to think she somehow made the gods angry until she has this kind of fate.
Seeing Seele seem sad, Bronya becomes panicked and worried. It’s really unlike her to act like this especially when she’s so focused on work. So, she quickly put her fountain pen down, looked into Seele in worry, and said “Seele, are you okay?”
Hearing Bronya talk to her, Seele just gave a weak smile and said “Seele’s fine. Si-Bronya should not forget to eat lunch okay. I will continue searching for how to turn everything back to normal.” After that Seele turn her back and get out of the office.
Before she can say anything, Seele already left her office and this makes something doesn’t sit well with her. Usually, when Seele has a problem, she will always yell at her and say directly what’s her problem and what she doesn’t like. But this Seele is more closed and it makes Bronya not know what should she do or what’s wrong with herself to make her feel sad like that.
So, she contacted her last hope that always helps her in a crisis time like this.
Bronya: Stelle I need your opinion about something. Do you have some time to chat?
After sending the message, Bronya continues with her paper while checking her phone for every 5 minutes, impatient for her friend to answer her message.
3 hours passed after Bronya sent the message but her friend still did not answer her. It’s really unlike her because usually, she will always answer her message quickly. Bronya starts worrying about her other friend. Her mind is already full of her problem not again the problem with Seele and now Stelle.
She started taking a deep breath to compose herself and prioritized her task and problem. Then she contacts Paela to help her with the document with an excuse that Seele is in danger and a reward of a gift card for her favorite game. To that, Paella didn’t question much and arrived at her office as fast as she could.
After directing Paela to what should she do, Bronya quickly runs outside and starts searching for Seele. She starts by asking the guard outside of Qlipoth Fort until finally, she arrives at Natasha’s clinic in the underworld and then Natasha leads her to the abandoned orphan in Rivet Town, thinking she might be there.
When she arrived there, the day already become night, and there she found Seele looking around the orphan like she was looking at a lost item, without bothering the cold night air. She hesitantly walked toward her and said, “Did you find something?”
“Oh, Bronya. Why did you come here? Don’t you have work to do?” Seele said while keeping her focus on her surroundings, feeling like she would find something.
“I asked my friend to handle it for a while so I can help you here…”
“So, what did you do here?” Bronya asks again.
“I feel this place is different than the other place in this world like there’s a space that can connect this word to Seele’s original world. This can be my way home. But I don’t know what should I do to with it. Back then, Seele had everyone with Seele but right now…”
“Sorry, I know you don’t want my help and want to handle it yourself. But I can’t help but….” Bronya became more hesitant with her next word because she didn’t know why she did all of this and what she wanted to do. She might have felt lonely because she didn’t hear Seele’s grumpy voice for a while or maybe it’s because she feels guilt because, before all of this, she got into a fight with her.
Seele turned her body to face Bronya when she didn’t continue her sentence. She sees Bronya look at the ground, feeling guilty about something. “Do you have something bugging on your mind? Seele will hear you out if you want to.”
Thinking it won’t hurt to tell her, Bronya tells all of the truth that’s happened to her, “Before you came here, I had a fight with Seele. I mean the other Seele and maybe because of that I feel uneasy and more awkward like this with you. Every time I see your face, I feel guilty and…” Bronya looks away from Seele, not so sure if she should tell her what makes them fight.
“You can tell me anything. I promise I won’t judge you.” Seele said, trying to reassure her.
“It’s because….I told her I…love her…and then she ran out of my room without saying anything….” At the end of her sentence, Bronya’s face becomes very red like it could explode at any time, she lets out a loud sigh and then she cover her face with both of her hands.
“Oh, you don’t need to worry if it will gross me out or something because I have a sibling relationship with sister Bronya. You know, sister Bronya is not my real sister. We lived in an orphanage with other children and at some point something happened, and I started calling her sister Bronya. Besides, I’m dating her too.” Seele explains her situation, thinking it might help her, and at the end of her sentence, she gives a reassuring smile to encourage her that there’s nothing to worry about.
When Bronya hears Seele say she’s dating her sister, Bronya looks at Seele in disbelief and without hesitation, she quickly says, “Who’s confessing first?”
“Sister Bronya confess to me first.” Seele said while remembering the first time Bronya asked her out for a date and at the end of the day she confessed to her.
“What did you feel at that time when she confessed to you? Did you run away too?”
“Seele don’t know the personality of this world’s Seele but I think she’s happy to hear Bronya said you love her. Like when sister Bronya said she loved Seele. Maybe this world’s Seele is just too shy.” Seele said while thinking the other her might be acting the same if Bronya confessed to her too. It makes her chuckle just thinking about it.
Bronya tilted her head to the side, confused as to why Seele suddenly chuckled although there wasn’t anything funny. On the other hand, Seele realized she left Bronya out. So, she said “It’s nothing important. Seele just remembered….” Before she can finish her sentence, she lets out a cute sneeze.
Atchoo
Hearing this Bronya said, “Sorry for being inconsiderate, it must be cold here. Let’s go back home and talk more there.”
Seele just nodded her head and then followed behind her closely.
After they come back to Qlipoth Fort, instead of going back to the guest room, Bronya invites Seele to her room to continue their chat or to be exact relationship advice that might be useful when her Seele comes back. Their chat continues until at some point one of them falls asleep.
When morning comes, the first thing that wakes them up is a loud voice from her door that is being opened harshly until it makes a loud bang that makes both of them jolt in their sleep and then they look at the door and see someone that looks like her but smaller and another two Seele that ready to punch her beside the little her.
“Seele! I’m glad you’re fine!” Bronya said full of worry this time. Because unlike the last time, this time Seele is being teleported alone to who knows what this place is. She got really worried at the first time when she heard both of her Seele being grumpy and fighting each other but after talking properly, she knew that her Seele got teleported again to another world.
“Sister Bronya!” Seele said happily when she saw her beloved sister Bronya in front of her. She ran to her and jumped to hug her.
“You made us really worried this time you know! How can you always get into trouble like this!” the other her said angrily but she could feel she was glad they could be with each other again. She even feels guilty when she looks into her eyes, she can see her eyes start wavering like she could cry at any time.
“Sorry Seele, I made you worry again didn’t I.” Seele said with a sheepish smile
“Yes, you are! You better prepare yourself because I won’t forgive you that easily!”
On the other hand, this world’s Seele starts walking angrily at Bronya and says, “So this is what you do after confessing to me!?” Seele said while pointing her finger at Bronya. Then she continues “Hmpf, good for you then if you already found someone more suitable for you. It seems like you will accept anyone as long as they have the same face as me huh!”
“No, It’s not like that. We just have a chat until midnight and without realizing it, we fall asleep. Believe me.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you and your lies. I have had enough of it. Don’t you dare try talking to me again or I really won’t forgive you..” After that, Seele ran out of the room. Her face was really red because of anger. She feels like she wants to scream more to her. But she holds herself back or she might be crying there.
“Seele…” Bronya said in a defeated voice, didn’t know what should she do because of the threat.
“As someone who has the same face and name as me, Bronya feels disappointed…” Bronya Zaychik said with a deadpan expression that was like she was mocking her.
“Sis Bronya! It’s rude to say that!” Seele said while flicking her forehead. “Sorry about sister Bronya but Seele thinks that she means well and wants you to chase after her.”
“But what if she really doesn’t want to talk to me after this?”
“Bronya thinks she might do that if you didn’t chase after her.”
“It’s really weird but at the same time, it’s hilarious seeing two of sis Bronya talking like this. Especially when the other one is not confident with herself.” the other Seele joined the conversation which didn’t help at all.
“Seele! Not you too.” Seele pout at both of them and continue. “You should tell her everything, and explain it to her properly. I don’t mind if you want to tell her about our relationship.” Seele said with a reassuring smile.
“Now go! What are you waiting for!” the other Seele said with a loud voice, she didn’t like how long it took for this Bronya to take action.
“Okay, okay, I will go!” After that Bronya leaves her room and chases after Seele while still in her sleepwear.
“Seele hope they can quickly make up…” Seele said while hoping her best because she would feel guilty if after this they became strangers to each other.
“Yes, and Bronya hope she didn’t mind for everyone in the city seeing her in her sleepwear.” Bronya said while chuckling when she thought how she would react after realizing she was still in her sleepwear.