Time slipped quietly away. By mid-afternoon, the simulated sunlight was no longer crisp and clear like the morning, but tinged with a lazy, golden hue.
Deep within the Fire Moth's underground residential zone, Bronya's bedroom remained sealed off from the afternoon bustle by thick blackout curtains.
On the bed, the lump beneath the blankets finally shifted.
The aftereffects of an all-nighter couldn't be entirely cured just by sleeping in. Bronya felt as if her body had been sealed by a blanket demon. Unable to move, she forcefully willed her heavy eyelids open.
What... what time is it?
A sudden, inexplicable wave of heart palpitations washed over her. She wasn't sure if her body was protesting the lack of a proper sleep schedule, or if she was experiencing physical symptoms of dread as she remembered Sister Mei's ultimatum.
But Sister Mei had said she would come wake her up for a late lunch at 2:00 PM. Since she had woken up naturally, it couldn't be 2:00 PM yet, right?
Bronya's spirit instantly rallied.
If the time hasn't come yet, that means I still have a chance to struggle!
What if Sister Mei was just trying to scare me? What if she hasn't had the chance to tell Seele yet?!
As long as I immediately assume a perfect posture of repentance, both Sister Mei and Seele will surely...
"Are you awake, Sister Bronya?"
A voice, soft as a feather brushing against her heart, drifted into her ear.
Eek—!!
Bronya gasped sharply, instantly jolted from her groggy, half-awake state.
She snapped her head around. Staring back at her through the dim lighting was a pair of bright, crystal-clear purple eyes.
Seele was sitting on the edge of the bed, resting her chin on her hand, smiling sweetly at her.
"Seele... Seele?" Bronya's voice was completely dry, laced with the despair of a doomed woman. "Why... why are you here?"
"Because Sister Mei said Sister Bronya 'worked very hard' last night, and asked me to come wake you up in the afternoon." Seele reached out, her fingertips gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from Bronya's face before playfully twirling one of Bronya's natural twin-drill curls around her finger.
Her movements were ever so slightly intimate, and her tone carried a trace of an inscrutable smile.
"Furthermore, Sister Mei specifically instructed me to make absolutely sure Sister Bronya finishes her afternoon snack before getting out of bed."
Bronya felt as if a camera had just done a cinematic Hitchcock zoom right into her face. Seele's unblinking, predatory stare caused cold sweat to pour down Bronya's back.
I am dead.
Seele's tone made it agonizingly obvious she already knew everything. Even Bronya's brilliant mind couldn't formulate a tactical retreat from this absolute death trap.
But Bronya refused to surrender! She didn't want to die! And she certainly didn't want to spend the rest of her life as a weak, easily bullied bottom, pinned beneath Seele—
I must fight back. I must remain strong.
Today, I must show Seele who is the man of this house!
Bronya's eyes sharpened. Gathering her courage, she attempted to sit up aggressively and seize the initiative.
"Shh—" Anticipating the move, Seele raised a single finger, pressing it gently against Bronya's lips. With her other hand, Seele picked up the tray resting on the nightstand.
On the tray was a delicate serving of pudding and a glass of warm milk, complete with a straw already inserted.
"Sister Bronya doesn't need to explain," Seele smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, brimming with affection. "I know Sister Bronya only stayed up late to keep Sister Kiana company. However..."
Seele's tone suddenly shifted. She leaned forward, bringing her face inches away from Bronya's.
The finger resting against Bronya's lips slowly trailed downward. It traced the line of Bronya's jaw, slid down her neck, lightly hooked the collar of her pajamas, traced her collarbone, and finally came to rest against Bronya's chest, directly over her heart.
"Sister Bronya promised Seele she would take good care of her body... Sister Bronya's heart is beating so fast right now. Does Sister Bronya truly not notice?"
Crap! She read my mind!
Bronya almost hissed in frustration. Seele had not only preemptively shut down her excuse, but she had completely blocked any attempt to scapegoat Kiana.
Also... Seele, are you absolutely certain Bronya's heart is beating this fast because of the all-nighter?!
Feeling Seele's finger lightly poking and tracing circles over her heart, Bronya felt her face burning up. She was definitely overheating.
Wait. Is this actually overheating?
Bronya's body trembled slightly. She instinctively tried to shrink back, but Seele advanced, leaning in so close their noses were practically touching.
"Since Sister Bronya refuses to cherish her own body, then allow me to take very good care of this body for you... Does that sound agreeable, Sister Bronya?"
Terrifying—!
A genuine look of panic flickered in Bronya's eyes.
"Wait, Seele. This... this isn't right, is it?"
This development is completely wrong! When did Seele become this aggressive?! No, this isn't just aggressive, this is borderline yandere! She's definitely going yandere, isn't she?!
How did it escalate this fast?! Seele was perfectly normal yesterday! Why is she acting like this today?!
Hiss... Did me pulling an all-nighter honestly trigger her this badly?!
Bronya was genuinely starting to regret her life choices. If she had known playing video games all night would turn Seele into this, she never would have...
"Sister Bronya~" Seele cooed, her voice so sickeningly sweet it made Bronya's hair stand on end. She drew the syllables out slowly. Seele's breath brushed against Bronya's face, dancing over her nose and lips.
"Will you promise Seele that you will take very, very, very good care of your body from now on~? Will you?" Seele pressed closer and closer, forcing Bronya to lean further and further back.
The heavy emphasis Seele placed on certain words felt like hammer blows, striking repeatedly against Bronya's heart and utterly shattering whatever meager resistance she had left.
"Sister Bronya?"
The moment Seele's nose finally brushed against hers, Bronya's arms gave out. She collapsed backward, pinned completely against the bed by Seele.
"Seele!" Bronya's brain had completely short-circuited. Her eyes spun in dizzy spirals as she frantically flailed, attempting to halt Seele's "atrocities."
"I was wrong! Bronya was wrong!" Bronya waved her hands weakly, putting up a token resistance that looked suspiciously like an invitation.
The resistance lasted for less than half a second before Bronya firmly squeezed her eyes shut, entirely surrendering and preparing to fast-forward straight to the enjoyment phase.
"Hmph."
However, the anticipated storm never arrived. Instead, Seele let out a soft, slightly resentful huff.
The next second, the oppressive, suffocating presence pinning her down vanished like the receding tide. The light from the lamp, previously blocked by Seele, washed over Bronya's furiously blushing face.
Feeling like a survivor who had just narrowly escaped a disaster, Bronya lay frozen for a full second. Then, she stiffly raised her head.
Seele was standing by the window, her cheeks puffed out slightly, acting as if absolutely nothing had happened.
"Sister Bronya promised. You aren't allowed to go back on your word, and you aren't allowed to lie to Seele."
Bronya: "..."
"Oh~"
"Sister Bronya looks very disappointed."
"Seele is mistaken. Bronya is not."