Chapter 205. On the Possibility of Separating Seele and Veliona
After a small breakfast to settle his stomach and a bowl of hangover soup that Mei said was her family's secret recipe, Xander Masato lounged lazily on the sofa, seeing Bronya and the others off as they packed up for work.
"Maybe don't go today. Just take the day off—I can handle your tasks," Bronya said beside him, tying up her hair with a band as she spoke, worry in her voice.
"No need. The hangover soup that Seele and Mei made really works. I feel much better—warm all over, and my head's not that dizzy anymore."
"Is that so? Good."
She pointedly removed his hand from her black-stockinged calf and stood up.
If she let him keep touching, none of them would be going in this morning.
"In the past, whenever my father came home drunk from business dinners, our family chef would make this hangover soup for him. It seemed effective, so over time I learned how to make it," came Mei's gentle voice. Having changed, she walked up beside Bronya and helped straighten the back of Bronya's collar.
"I've already taught the recipe to Seele. Next time this happens, she'll be able to make it too."
"Mm-hmm! Seele will take good care of everyone!"
Unlike Bronya and the others, Seele hadn't changed clothes; still in her loose home dress, she came over from the kitchen.
Since Brother wasn't going in, her plan as his personal secretary (trainee) was naturally to stay home as well.
Just then, Kiana popped her head out and chuckled, "Why make it so complicated? If we drink too much in the future, Mei, you can just keep making it for us."
The room fell silent at once. Everyone looked at her, their gazes hard to read.
"Eh? …Did I say something wrong?"
Under the stares, Kiana shrank her neck a little, speaking with a hint of fear.
"No, it's fine." Mei's laugh broke the stillness. She stepped forward and gently patted Kiana's head. "There will be times when I'm not home. If Seele knows how as well, that's even safer."
"R-Right. Haha…"
Scratching her head, Kiana's goofy laugh lightened the mood again.
"By the way, where's Elysia? I haven't seen her since breakfast."
Changing the subject in a hurry, she soon heard Xander answer, "She went back to her room to catch up on sleep. Don't worry."
"I see."
"All right, enough talk. We're heading out."
Once everything was packed, Bronya took her shoulder bag and started for the door. Kaguya, Mei, and Kiana followed quickly at her side. The four of them soon changed shoes and left for the company.
Watching their figures disappear, Xander relaxed against the sofa back—only to feel a pair of warm arms wrap around his neck a moment later.
"Where's Griseo?"
Holding those slender, soft hands in his, Xander asked gently.
"That child made plans with Sagiri after breakfast to go sketch at St. Freya together. Mrs. Izumi will be with them too, so there's nothing for Brother to worry about."
"Mm."
He nodded. Then he heard Seele say, "Brother, you and Elysia were probably up late last night. Do you want to rest a little more?"
"Rest? I mean, I could."
He'd been planning to refuse—he wasn't that sleepy—but hearing Seele's soft voice made him change his mind.
"Mm, then Seele will help you tidy up…"
"No need to go to all that trouble."
Besides, there was something he wanted to share with Seele.
Separating her little hands and standing up, Xander took her to the bathroom.
First he held the obedient, cute, soft Seele for a soak—a little time to wash away the lingering smell of last night's alcohol.
Then he changed into clean clothes, took Seele by the hand, and headed upstairs.
"Are we going back to the room?"
Her cheeks were rosy—whether from the bath or something else—Seele asked with a mix of anticipation and shyness.
"No, we're going to the third-floor terrace."
Giving her hand a squeeze, Xander smiled.
"Eh? T-Terrace?!!"
As if she'd thought of something, Seele's already flushed face flared hotter.
"T-T-This… outside… isn't that a bit too bold…"
"?"
Glancing at Seele, who was shy to the point of collapse, Xander's thoughts took a sharp turn after being sideswiped by a racing imagination. He smiled mysteriously.
"Relax. No one can see."
"R-Really?"
Hearing his assurance, Seele's heart thumped wildly—ba-dum, ba-dum—so fast it even colored her voice with excitement.
"Not really. The courtyard cameras will probably catch everything crystal clear."
"Ehh?!!"
She yelped in panic, but her feet didn't stop. After a few seconds, she ventured, "T-The courtyard cameras should be on the internal network… linked to Brother's computer, right?"
"Yup."
"T-Then Seele thinks… m-maybe it's not impossible…"
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
Hearing what she meant, Xander—who'd only wanted to tease—nearly lost it.
This little perv actually wants to go through with it. Seeing her coy, excited, frightened yet expectant push-and-pull, he couldn't help but look to the sky.
Why does it feel like Seele's thoughts are getting less and less wholesome? Who corrupted her?
First, not him. Second, not Kaguya. Which leaves…
It must be Bronya's fault!
Confirmed.
After condemning Bronya in his heart, Xander rapped a knuckle lightly against Seele's forehead and, under her aggrieved look, said, "What are you thinking? We're just going up to rest. Nothing extra."
"Eh? Nothing?"
Her reply was surprised, and Xander even caught a tiny hint of disappointment in it.
"Nothing."
He tapped her on the head. "Is that your idea of letting me rest? I'm embarrassed to call you out!"
"Hehe…"
Thinking back on how she and Bronya had been "exploiting" Brother lately, Seele turned her head in embarrassment.
Just a few days ago she'd pulled that stunt: "Top once, it's Seele; top again, it's Veliona." Xander had been driven to cloud-nine misery by the twin little succubi, nearly wrung dry by the pair.
They reached the terrace. Xander kept teasing along the way, and just when he thought he'd re-established Brother's dignity and made Seele remember who the little sister was, he suddenly heard a timid question:
"Brother… you don't like it?"
He looked up slightly. In the warm sunlight, those sky-blue eyes were brimming, pitiful to the extreme.
"…I do."
He knew she was probably faking it, but he just couldn't bring himself to say "no." On the one hand, he couldn't refuse Seele. On the other, the brain can lie; the little brother never does.
Hearing that, Seele happily hugged his arm and couldn't help rubbing against him.
Great. So much for the lecture along the way.
Xander set a recliner beneath the awning, lay down, and stretched long.
"Seele~"
At his soft call, the already-prepared Seele lay down beside him at once, settling into his arms with practiced ease.
Late-April weather is the most comfortable. A light breeze brushed past, making Xander squint in contentment.
He lowered his head and nuzzled into the crook of Seele's neck, breathing in the sweet, floral scent and feeling her warmth. Drowsiness swept over him, and he felt like staying just like this forever.
Seeing that, Seele gently circled his head with her arms and nuzzled him back. Then she murmured at his ear, "Brother, just relax and rest with Seele here. Do you want me to sing for you?"
"Mm."
After his soft reply, a gentle, soothing song rose.
Seele was very practiced at this. After a while she switched to tender whispers, brushing her fingertips over his cheek and, after a moment, giving his ear a little pinch.
Compared to this, those ASMRs online were laughable.
It felt so pleasant his mind went completely calm; he almost didn't want to fall asleep.
But under Seele's gentle ministrations, drowsiness deepened and deepened. Finally, amid the faint, hazy whispers, Xander slipped into dreams.
When Brother's breathing evened out, Seele fell quiet at once. She hugged him a little tighter, lowered her head, closed her eyes, and whispered, "Good night, Brother."
With that, the terrace fell silent again. Faintly, only two soft breaths could be heard.
On the wall clock, the minute hand pushed the hour hand along. Only when it pointed to 12 did the quiet terrace stir again.
Xander woke, thoroughly satisfied. He looked at the girl still lying with eyes closed in his arms. He'd planned to lie quietly a little longer when a soft voice rose at his ear.
"Brother, you're awake?"
"Mm."
Lowering his head, he met a pair of sky-blue eyes—as if they could melt into the sky itself. Judging by how alert she looked, she'd been awake for a while.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Mm. Miss, what's your number? Your technique's great. I'll book you again."
"Pfft." Seele burst into a giggle, then coughed twice and answered in mock seriousness, "Ahem. G-Good afternoon, dear customer. Seele is the shop's only technician—and your exclusive technician. Just say the word whenever you arrive, and Seele will serve you."
After that, the two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
"All right, enough fooling around. It's getting late."
"Mm-hmm. Does Brother want lunch? Seele can go make it."
Xander caught her hand as she moved to get up and shook his head. "Let's order in from a restaurant today. There's something I want to tell you—plural, 'you.'"
"Okay."
She settled obediently back into his arms, and the word "you" made her even more curious.
"I meant to tell you before we fell asleep, but it felt too good then. I couldn't hold out."
"It's fine, Brother. Now is just as good~"
The praise made Seele's eyes curve to crescents. She placed her small hand on Brother's chest and gave it a soft little scritch-scritch.
"Don't."
Catching her mischievous hand, Xander met her eyes.
"Seele, can you let the other Seele come out for a bit?"
Before she could answer, he felt her body go stiff. Then her gentle expression sharpened into something fiercer.
"What do you want with me?"
Fierce or not, she still wriggled in his arms, finding a more comfortable spot.
Her time like this with Xander was far less than Seele's; Veliona treasured every second.
"There is something. For you and Seele both, it should count as good news."
"Then say it."
Her eyes flicked to Xander's lips; Veliona's tongue moved. She wanted a taste.
"No rush. This came up while talking with Dr. Mobius last night."
"Mobius? That green-haired woman from yesterday?"
Veliona frowned, pinched his cheek, and said, "That woman doesn't feel like a good person. Keep your distance."
"Relax. We're just friends—ordinary friends."
"You'd better be."
She shot him a glare and grumbled, "You said such nice things back then, but now you've entangled one after another. You've got less time for Seele, and even I…"
"What about you?"
"Tch. Nothing."
Face red, Veliona snapped, "Get on with it. What is it?"
The corner of his mouth curled. He was suddenly curious to see Veliona's face when she heard the news.
"The virtual world. You know about that, right?"
"Of course. Back when you were with Anti-Entropy, didn't I watch you try it? Seele hasn't experienced it yet, though. What, they want her as a test subject?"
"Not exactly."
He shook his head. Under Veliona's puzzled look, Xander went on with a smile: "When Mobius and I were drinking last night, we chatted about this. Her current research is how to let a person's consciousness enter the virtual world while asleep."
"That sounds great. You can play even while sleeping."
…Or it might make people work 24/7.
He kept the thought to himself. "If this tech is completed, there are aspects I'm interested in. So I asked Dr. Mobius about it specifically."
He paused, looked into Veliona's eyes, and spoke slowly: "If a single body contains two fully independent consciousnesses, then when that person enters the virtual world, what happens?"
Veliona frowned at once. "Didn't you ask Tesla that already? She said two consciousnesses would still only have one body—there's no way to separate them."
"That was before. Remember—Dr. Mobius's new tech."
His lips quirked. Under Veliona's slightly anxious gaze, Xander said softly, "I told Dr. Mobius about your situation. She said that if her research succeeds, and with a custom virtual pod in tandem…"
He deliberately paused, enjoying the rare sight of Veliona's nerves before continuing, pleased:
"In the virtual world, making you and Seele exist as separate, independent individuals may not be impossible."
Veliona's breathing quickened at once.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Paid member can read 150+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts