The next day, I stood in front of the mirror, already finished dressing.
I wore a long sleeved, dark gray, button up shirt with a single pocket to it. It remained untucked, slightly covering my slim fit black pants.
I looked at the clock and I found that it was already 10:30am.
Almost time to go right?
The movie was going to start at 1pm, but Bronya wanted to go out for lunch around 11, before the movie started.
The reason for that was along the lines of 'not wanting to bother sister Mei'.
Sure buddy. If you say so.
It's not like Mei was going to cook for Kiana anyways right?
As I was about to go out however, my phone suddenly buzzed.
I picked it up, to see a message from Kiana.
[Kiana: gojo. food lunch, movie…]
I'm interpreting this as getting food for lunch then a movie after.
[Gojo: … Are you awake? You're usually still asleep around this time…]
[Kiana: asdifojsalkka]
I guess that answers my question.
Kiana… wasn't the greatest morning person in the world. If Mei and I let her be, I'm sure she could sleep until tomorrow.
It's kinda weird though. Back then, before we started living together, Kiana would wake up quite early to come to my house to play games. It was only after my house got EMP-ed that she seemed to have developed this issue.\
Regardless, I should answer her.
My phone wouldn't stop ringing if I didn't.
[Gojo: Going out in a bit. We can go watch a movie some other day ig.]
[Kiana: Wat. R u srs?]
Oh. It seems that she woke up?
[Gojo: Yup. Gotta go. Ttyl.]
Before another message could arrive, I had already clasped my hands and teleported out of my room with Blue to the front of my house.
There was still some time before I needed to meet with Bronya.
I guess a walk over wouldn't hurt.
—--------------------------------
When I met Bronya, it was already around 11am, just on time.
She was standing at the side of the street, playing with her phone that she put down when she noticed my arrival.
She wore a dark brown jacket with yellow cuffs and silver clasps. An orange vest laid beneath it with gold buttons and a brown gold-buckled belt. There was another set beneath that vest however, as a white collared shirt with black stripes and a large yellow bow laid underneath it.
Gloves too.
Wow.
She dressed fancy today.
"Gojo made Bronya wait for 30 minutes." Bronya complained. However, the blankness on the face did not show much of a change at all.
I tilted my head and scratched the back of my head. "Didn't you say to meet at 11am? Were you already here when you messaged me?"
The girl didn't answer.
Instead, she just stared at me with her gray eyes for a few moments before looking away.
"Nevermind. The Bronya misjudged the time."
The sides of my lips could not help but curl up hearing that. "Oh really? Or were you too excited about our…"
"Date~"
"The Bronya believes that workplace relationships tend to be taboo." She began to walk away as she spoke monotonously. She paused however, turning her head back to me again with a small smirk. "But the Bronya would not be opposed to showing pity if Gojo is desperate..."
"Oh you're so kind." I sighed. "Unfortunately, I'm not in a Russian mood right now. I'm feeling more Austrian."
"Austrian?" A question mark appeared on her head. "Is Gojo referring to Idiotka?"
"Huh? Kiana is Austrian?"
"The Kaslana household is predominantly Austrian."
I guess you learn something new everyday.
"Let's not waste time." Bronya changed the subject. "What does Gojo want to eat?"
"Hmm…" I put a hand on my chin. "Why don't you decide?"
"The Bronya is asking you to decide." She looked at me.
"Nah. You should."
"No. Gojo should."
"Nuh uh."
"Gojo is just indecisive right?" Bronya cut through the bullcrap.
"Heh. You can't make a decision either." I sneered.
"..."
Silence came between us as we kept walking. At some point however, I spoke up again.
"So… maybe we can go for some McHomus?"
"Agreed."
—------------------------------
McHomus was about as good as a McDonalds ripoff could be.
I just got a Big Homu Mac while Bronya got a fish burge- oh sorry. It's called a filet-o-fish.
Taking a big bite of the burger, I couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction. "Mei would have our heads if she found out we were eating these."
Bronya nodded her head. "The Bronya believes that a meal like this once in a while is okay."
"Don't you order takeout often?" I asked.
"Cooking is a skill necessary for a person like the Bronya." She bragged, putting a fry in her mouth.
"You cook?" I blinked in surprise. "I haven't seen you doing it."
"Sister Mei is exceptional at cooking." She explained. "The Bronya is inferior to sister Mei in that regard."
"Well, I wouldn't mind tasting your cooking as long as it doesn't taste like Kiana's." I nodded with closed eyes.
Though I've adapted to poison before, I must say that Kiana had a penchant for creating absolute biological weapons.
Give me more adaptations wheel!
This is base Kiana's cooking I'm up against!
That made Bronya snort. "The Bronya remembers when Gojo was taken to be Kiana's food tester…"
I shivered.
"Let's forget about that, okay? I don't want to remember it…"
Taking the last bite of my burger, I wiped my hands on the tissue. "You done? We should be heading towards the cinema soon."
She nodded in response, but then she suddenly spoke before I could get up from my seat.
"Gojo. Just a moment."
"What is it?"
Before I could react, Bronya had taken a napkin and wiped the corner of my mouth.
"Gojo did not clean his mouth properly."
I cooed. "Oh Bronya. You're such a sweetheart. If you're not careful, I might find myself falling in love with you~"
"Gojo might be finding himself in a prison first." Bronya deadpanned as she looked away. "The Bronya did not want Gojo to look messy next to the Bronya."
That was kinda cute heehee
"Awww. You're learning from Mei now too!"
"... Let's just go see the movie now."
—----------------------------------
Leaving the cinema, Bronya's face was bright with excitement. The Homu doll that she had somehow convinced me to buy with big beady eyes on the way, was being squished by her as we walked out.
"You like it?" I looked at her, already knowing the answer.
I don't know why, I just like asking some things even though I know the answer to them sometimes.
"The Bronya finds the movie very entertaining. The most enjoyable parts were about the relationship between them!" Bronya shot out quickly. "What does Gojo enjoy about the movie?"
"Err… the flashy animations?"
That killed all of her joy.
"Is Gojo serious?"
"Yea…"
Let it be known that hype and aura > story for me 99% of the time when it comes to watching stuff.
—------------------------
The two of us were quiet as we slowly walked back home.
The sun was still high up in the sky, but the streets were quiet as many people were either at work, or resting at home at the moment.
Eventually, Bronya seemed to have gotten tired of the silence as she spoke.
"Gojo. Can the Bronya ask you something?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
"About Gojo's teleportation… can Gojo explain how it works? Does Gojo dematerialise and rematerialise elsewhere?"
I looked at Bronya's face which was filled with hope as she spoke.
Unfortunately, I couldn't really explain how it worked.
"Sorry. But my ability is kinda innate so I can't describe in too much detail what goes on. I just know how to use it." I explained. "But if I had to say anything, it would be more of me shortening the space between two coordinates and jumping between them?" I said as I placed a finger on my chin.
"Ah… is that so?" Her expression turned downcast. "In that case, nevermind then…"
"Is this about Seele?" I asked, connecting the dots slightly.
"Yes." Bronya sighed. "The Bronya hoped that Gojo's ability would be able to help Seele…"
I didn't say anything for a moment, just walking along with Bronya as she mulled about something to herself in silence.
In the end however, I couldn't really stand seeing her in such a depressed mood as I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. Would you mind telling me some stuff about Seele?"
"Gojo… wants to know about her?" She asked in surprise. Her expression became wary. "Don't tell the Bronya that Gojo wants to sink his fangs into her… The Bronya will not allow it!"
"..."
I was speechless for a moment, but I regained my bearings quickly.
"I just wanted to know a bit more about you, y'know?" I said nonchalantly. "You don't talk about your past often."
Bronya blinked in surprise, as if not expecting this answer.
A gentle smile soon overtook the surprise as her gaze towards me changed.
"Seele… is the Bronya's best friend…" The gray haired girl looked off into the distance. "We met at Matushka's orphanage…"
"When Bronya first arrived there, Seele took care of the Bronya…"
"But Seele… she…" Bronya sighed, "She's gone now."
I was instinctively about to offer my condolences, but then I remembered something.
The reason Bronya was initially here for Mei was to rescue Seele.
"Gojo realised it right?" She asked. "Seele is just trapped elsewhere right now. In the Sea of Quanta."
Sea of Quanta?
Oh my gosh…
Are there actually other dimensions in this world…
My theory of this being not too different from Gurrenn Lagann was starting to make sense…
"The Bronya wants to rescue Seele from the Sea of Quanta but…" Her voice came to a whisper. "The Bronya is unsure how to go about it…"
Bronya looked down at the ground, her eyes covered by her bangs. She recovered far quicker this time though as she looked at me.
"What about Gojo?"
"Huh?"
"Gojo has not talked about his past much as well." She stared at me straight in the eyes. "Even Kiana doesn't know much about Gojo's past…"
"Eh…" I scratched the back of my head. "It's nothing much. Just some orphanage stuff as well."
"Does Gojo not have any other friends other than us all this time?"
"Oh… err.. it's by choice." I coughed. "I just like being alone a lot of the time."
She didn't say anything in response to that, but she was hardly convinced by my immaculate argument.
But then, she suddenly did something that shocked me.
She hugged me.
I looked at her in surprise, not saying anything in response.
A small smile adorned her face as she looked up at me.
"The Bronya understands that Gojo doesn't want to talk about his past now…"
"But someday, the Bronya hopes that Gojo can open up to all of us..."
"After all…"
"Gojo is not alone anymore."