Of course, the other Seele was surprised by far more than just Leo Ash appearing in their room.
In reality, over these past few years, Seele's longing for Leo Ash had never stopped.
And the other Seele, who had almost never revealed her existence to anyone, had naturally borne the brunt of the resentment Seele had converted from her longing all these years.
But because of this, she knew Seele's feelings were real.
Unlike the kind of emotion that fades over time, Seele had completely fallen for Leo Ash ever since he rescued her from the Sea of Quanta.
All along, the other Seele had always felt that when Leo Ash appeared in front of Seele, the probability of Seele pouncing on him was very high.
Even if she was a shy person, when her lover...
Okay, when the man who *could* be her lover in her eyes, appeared before her, she should have made a move... right?
But now, the other Seele realized her estimation had been gravely mistaken.
If you were to ask why she was thinking this way now...
—It was probably because she had just inexplicably gained control of the body.
"Seele, you...!"
Realizing that Seele's personality had 'hidden' itself out of extreme shyness, the other Seele, who had been backstabbed and forced to take the fall, truly felt numb at this moment.
No, wait a minute. You were dying to pin him down and Sleep with him right on the spot, and now you're telling me you're chickening out just because he overheard you?
Where are your feelings? Your love? Your courage? Your drive????
[Um, my other self, I'm really... still not ready!]
[So, just give me a little time—please, my other self!]
'I'll take care of it for you'—did you think I'd say that?
Get out here!
Stop hiding!
If you're going to hide at a time like this, you might as well go back to crying into your pillow!
Watching Leo Ash approach her relentlessly, the other Seele couldn't stop backing into the corner.
Over the past few years, the other Seele's resentment toward Leo Ash himself had lessened somewhat.
On the one hand—she had thought it over and over, and she just didn't think she could beat him.
When his strength was far greater than hers, when she would just get her ass kicked no matter what she did, and when it was impossible for her to chase him to the moon for revenge, reconciling with herself was actually the best option.
Of course, on the other hand, the other Seele also admired and was grateful to Leo Ash.
She wasn't a Stigmata Personality that was completely ignorant of the human heart.
Although she'd had a small grudge against Leo Ash in the past, after Leo Ash went to face off against the Cocoon of Finality, he had 'snuffed out' the Honkai in this way.
With the Honkai eliminated, Seele could live peacefully in this world, and she, the Stigmata Personality, could naturally continue to live on safely as well.
From the fact that Leo Ash took care of the Cocoon of Finality, she knew very well that the entire world owed Leo Ash a huge debt.
Although Leo Ash would certainly never ask the whole world to repay him, you can't just forget the kindness just because the person who helped you doesn't expect anything in return.
This was one of the reasons she had reconciled with herself.
Of course, reconciliation or not, the other Seele didn't think she was quite like Seele, that little lovestruck fool, pining for Leo Ash's return every day.
So now, as she watched Leo Ash close in, the other Seele felt as if she was recalling some rather unpleasant memories.
After that day, Seele had told her that Leo Ash hadn't actually done anything to her directly; he had just pulled her into an illusion to teach her a small lesson.
The other Seele believed this, because looking back, Seele herself was completely 'fine,' so the part about her physical body getting its ass spanked by Leo Ash definitely hadn't happened.
But the problem was, just because it didn't happen in reality, didn't mean she would forget that terrifying memory.
For someone with her personality, meeting Leo Ash and getting thoroughly thrashed for so long...
Thinking back on it now, it still makes me so mad!
Reconcile... Reconcile my ass!
Just standing in front of him, I can feel the pressure—no, he's not even doing anything, why am I having these ridiculous thoughts.
[Um, my other 'me,' if it's too much for you...]
It's not too much at all!
The best way to eliminate fear is to face it! I, I, I—I won't back down like you, you coward!
[I-Is that so? Then, good luck...]
"Well, little girl, got anything you want to say?"
Looking at the girl with crimson red eyes, Leo Ash didn't press in too close this time, unlike how he had with Bronya.
"...What do you think I should say?"
Looking at the man before her, the other Seele, who knew he could tell her and Seele apart, couldn't help but speak to Leo Ash in an unfriendly tone.
"Should I thank you for not being too harsh on me back then?"
"Hmm, I wasn't thinking that, but you're not wrong to say it."
?
I just said that off-handedly, and you're actually agreeing with it?
This man—how did I never realize how shameless he was before!!!
This is so annoying. Seele is hiding now, and I'm...
What am I doing!
Seele, don't blame me. If you can't do it yourself, then I'll do it for you!
Even though he's a super bulldozer, I've observed him. The women around him are all more forward than the last.
In other words—this guy might unexpectedly be a herbivore!
[Um, my other self, you... probably shouldn't do anything reckless.]
You shut up. You chose your own path, so what's wrong with me helping you finish the path you don't want to walk!
I have to overwhelm him with my aura, so now—
In a move Leo Ash completely unexpected, the other Seele before him suddenly blushed, stood on her toes, and, grabbing Leo Ash's face, forcefully kissed him.
And then—she regretted it, immensely embarrassed.
In the other Seele's mind, Leo Ash, who was possibly a herbivore, would have been caught completely off guard by this move.
But after doing it, she realized.
She had been overthinking it.
Leo Ash was a herbivore, my ass.
How is his technique so practiced!
And I'm the one pushing *him* down!
Why did it instantly turn into me being the one pushed down onto the Bed!!!!
As their lips parted, Leo Ash looked at the girl he had 'struck' and caught completely off guard, his expression unchanging.
But for the other Seele, who had just been counter-attacked by Leo Ash on the spot...
—A stone-faced Leo Ash was 'terrifying' enough.
If Leo Ash had been like before, getting handsy with her ass in an illusion, she could have at least accepted it.
After all, it had happened once, so a second time... at least she'd be mentally prepared.
But now, Leo Ash's completely blank expression was genuinely scaring her.
She didn't know if Seele was mentally prepared, but she herself was mentally unprepared in almost every way!
"Why'd you stop? Weren't you just trying to do something to me?"
Looking at the girl before him, Leo Ash lightly touched the other Seele's shoulder with his finger, letting it trail slowly from her shoulder to her chin.
"Here I am, right in front of you. Why are you not only frozen, but I can also feel..."
"—Are you, perhaps, trembling?"
At that moment, the other Seele finally, completely understood one thing.
As Seele's Stigmata Personality, she was, in essence, not that different from Seele.
At least when it came to romantic love, apart from who was more stubborn, their inner thoughts were similar.
Honestly, after all this time, the other Seele really didn't hate Leo Ash that much anymore.
In fact, as Leo Ash approached her, the girl, whose body had grown much fuller than before, looked at Leo Ash's toned muscles and handsome face and truly felt his personal charm.
Adding to that the subconscious thought that 'it's thanks to this guy that we can live a good life,' the other Seele now realized with utter dismay that not only was her face hotter than she'd expected, but her heart was also sprouting emotions that shouldn't have been there.
"What, scared, little kitten?"
Moving his finger from the other Seele's chin, Leo Ash chuckled lightly.
"If you're really scared, you can run, you know."
Run... can I really get away?
In an instant, the other Seele came to a conclusion.
Yes, she could.
Although Leo Ash was a bulldozer, given his character, he wasn't the type to force himself on girls who didn't adore him or were resistant to such things.
Like that woman who liked to use plants to whip Honkai Zombies. Anyone could see that her relationship with Leo Ash was as good as it gets, but even on the day Leo Ash left for the Imaginary Space, it was obvious he hadn't made a move on her.
From this, it was clear that, under normal circumstances, Leo Ash would respect others' wishes.
And not to mention anyone else, just look at the current situation. If Leo Ash really wanted to use force, the other Seele wouldn't even have a chance to struggle.
But right now, Leo Ash was just running his mouth.
In reality, the situation was...
The other Seele was the one who had forcibly kissed Leo Ash. She couldn't very well blame him for turning the tables, could she?
And from that kiss until now, Leo Ash hadn't done anything else untoward to her.
[Um, my other self, I can see all these thoughts, you know...]
???
[If you really like Big Brother Leo that much too, then... I don't mind letting you go first...]
No!
That's not it!
What am I thinking!
Feeling that her entire being was out of sorts, the other Seele erupted with an incredibly powerful mental force.
Seele, who had been hiding inside her own body, was suddenly shocked to find—she had been forced to take back control of her body again???
My, my other self, what are you—
[Be quiet. Let me think.]
[If you don't know what to do, then just hand the initiative over to him.]
[Think about it, he came over on his own initiative today, he must be a carnivore... My previous thought was so stupid, utterly idiotic.]
Eh, wait, this—
"Alright, don't panic, Seele."
Looking at the flustered Seele, Leo Ash smiled helplessly.
"Am I really that scary?"
"N-No, that's not it!"
Remembering what she had just said, Seele felt at this moment...
No, this is still so embarrassing.
Saying something so shameless in front of Big Brother Leo, he must think I'm a shameless woman.
"Alright, I don't know what you're overthinking, but I know you're a good kid."
Gently stroking the hair on Seele's head, Leo Ash said softly to her.
"Besides, knowing that I'm a bulldozer of a scumbag, you still have such feelings for me. I'm overjoyed, so how could I possibly think you're a bad kid?"
"In the end, it's my fault for making you feel so lonely. I should have been the one to make a move after noticing your feelings long ago."
"Sorry, Seele."
Hugging the girl's soft body tightly once more, Leo Ash kissed Seele, and after their lips parted, he said to her.
"I've kept you waiting. I'm back."
Just a few minutes ago, Seele's heart still held some lingering resentment.
She truly hadn't expected happiness to come so suddenly just a few minutes later.
In her mind, she never thought she would have this kind of chance.
But now, Leo Ash had not only accepted her feelings, but to save her from embarrassment, he had proactively comforted her and confessed to her first.
"However, since I've discovered some things, I can't ignore them now."
After analyzing Seele's body with the power of the Herrscher of Reason, Leo Ash used the [Rebirth] power of the Herrscher of Death to create a new body for her.
And the other Seele, who had just thought she'd escaped, her heart filled with a mixture of [Relief] and [Disappointment], was suddenly and forcibly transferred into the new body by Leo Ash.
"Wh-What are you doing!"
Looking down and seeing she had been transferred into this Naked body, the other Seele, feeling a bit chilly, immediately took a panicked step back.
"Oh, playing dumb? You, of course."
"Seele, grab her!"
"...My other self, I'm sorry."
Slipping behind the other Seele, Seele whispered softly to her.
"Since you like Big Brother Leo too, why are you running away at a time like this?"
"Seele—you traitor!"
At that moment, cornered by the two, the other Seele yelled at Leo Ash.
"Y-You, don't come over here!"
"Hehehe, scream all you want. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come to help you."
Hm, this is good.
First, I'll use this method to arouse his **, and I'll wear down his stamina first. That way, Seele will have it a little easier.
So what kind of spell was I under before...
—that made me think this big bad wolf was a herbivore?
..