[Defeat]
The sound of despair filled Bronya's ears as she gripped her phone tighter. Despite the lack of proper expressions on her face, I could see subtle signs that she was in fact, not feeling the best in the world.
The wrinkling of her forehead, the subtle downturn of her eyebrows and most probably...
The fact that she seemed to be about to crush the phone with her small hands.
I'm not going to lie, as I spent more time with Bronya, the more I noticed that she wasn't as emotionless as I thought.
They were muted, but definitely still there.
"Are you finally convinced?" I asked. Bronya had been challenging me constantly in 1v1s for over a month by now.
Bronya remained silent at my question. She turned her head to face me, her eyes staring into mine with dissatisfaction and frustration.
"Why can't the Bronya obtain victory against Subject Gojo?" she finally managed. It was soft, but I could easily hear it.
"The difference between your rank and being a rank 1 is probably the difference in skill between you and Kiana." I said.
She had been improving in the one vs ones, that was a given. Not just in skill, but in the quality of her scripts. However, I had... a far better cheat than she did.
Adapting to gameplay.
Was it a petty use?
Yes it was.
But don't tell me you wouldn't use it like that if you could.
If you said no, you're definitely a liar.
"..." Bronya breathed out. "The Bronya... has been playing for 10 hours a day already-"
"Isn't that pretty unhealthy?" I cut in.
"- yet Subject Gojo still remains undefeated..."
"I... suppose I could let you win?" I offered. Not going to lie, Bronya was challenging me almost as much as Kiana was asking me to boost her. Of course, Kiana's boosting games lasted longer than Bronya's one vs one's but I honestly didn't want to play the game that much.
Getting rank 1 back then was merely a month or two of grinding with adaptation.
"The Bronya does not want to win due to Subject Gojo's pity." she said with a frown. "The Bronya has her own pride."
Bronya gritted her teeth before she finally said, "The-the Bronya wishes for a-a coaching session from Sub-subject Gojo..."
"Ha? What was that?" I asked as I put a hand to my ear. A blatant smile was planted on my face while I moved closer. "You weren't speaking very clearly."
"..." Bronya looked at me, looked like she was contemplating something for a moment before she finally accepted her fate. "The Bronya wishes for a coaching session from Subject Gojo."
"Oh? My time isn't cheap y'know? What can you offer me?" I said as I looked her top to bottom.
That made Bronya turn alert in an instant as she stepped away slightly "The Bronya will not entertain Subject Gojo's fantasies about Russian women."
"Ah, I've changed my tastes a bit now. I'm a little bit more interested in Chinese women now."
"Has Subject Gojo been reading cultivation novels?"
"Wtf? How did you know?"
"Prediction based off of random probability..."
"You mean a guess?"
Bronya looked away like she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Anyways... what would you offer me?" I asked as I leaned back onto the seat with my hands behind my back.
"Perhaps... the Bronya can help Subject Gojo in various areas?"
"Like?"
"Company creation"
"I can do that."
"Stock trading"
"That's where my wealth literally comes from."
"Making games"
"Are you sure that's not something you want to do instead?"
At that Bronya seemed to have been completely defeated as she went to a corner. "The Bronya can't do anything..."
Man... despite knowing that her intentions weren't very pure, I could tell she wasn't lying about this...
And it kinda felt like kicking a puppy.
That wouldn't change my decision unless she could offer something of value though.
"Maybe... you can be my secretary or something?"
Although I gave her an out, this was something that I did deliberately. I had already pushed her a bit the night prior, and it wouldn't be beneficial for me if I made the relationship too stiff right now.
Thus, a bit of give and take was necessary.
"Does Subject Gojo have a liking for secretaries?"
"I will say that I do have a thing for suits."
"Subject Gojo wants to use Bronya for his own fetishes."
"Ha?" I complained. "You're not being very respectful for someone who's asking for help."
"Does Subject Gojo even have the funds needed for running a company?"
"I guess I have a billion dollars in cash that's ready to be spent at any time... on any project..."
There was a moment of silence before Bronya spoke.
"The Bronya... will not be tempted by money..."
"Ah... too bad the-"
"However, the Bronya believes that working under the commands of each other may provide vital information on teamwork. Thus, the Bronya is willing to... try it out..." Bronya said still in her monotone voice.
Who knows how thick her face is to say all of that without any shame.
"So... deal?" I offered a handshake.
"Deal." She reciprocated.
In the end, the two of us came to a bizarre outcome in spite of our schemes against one another.
---------------------------------------------
"GOJO! ARE YOU IN BRONYA'S HOUSE?! MEI IS HERE TO SEE YOU!!!" Kiana shouted as she pushed open the door to Bronya's house and entered. Behind her, Mei silently followed as she entered behind Kiana, holding a large thermos flask.
Huh. It seemed like we left the door unlocked then.
Oopsie.
"Isn't this a bit rude, Kiana?" Mei asked.
"The stupid brat doesn't care much when I do this."
"Ok..." Mei seemed unconvinced, but she didn't push on.
When Kiana and Mei saw us however, they gasped.
Bronya's eyes were heavily swollen, as if she had been playing her phone for the whole night without sleeping.
Well technically, she did, but continuing on...
"What... happened Bronya?" Mei asked as she hurriedly came over to Bronya.
"The Bronya... is merely playing a game..."
"Were you staying up all night?"
"Yes..."
"You can't do that. You won't grow taller if you stay up all night you know?" Mei chastised.
Bronya's expression visibly softened. She opened her mouth, wanting to argue but seeing Mei's caring disposition, she quickly closed it and looked away.
Kiana's expression wasn't very good at the side as she hurriedly said, "Mei, when did you and Bronya get so close? The two of you have only met a few times..."
"Kiana..." Mei sighed. "I know the two of you have your differences but I can't just ignore this..."
I stood there at the side watching this entire scene unfold, gathering more info about Bronya as a person.
She could be acting still, but given the details of her character I've gotten from all my teasing and pushing thus far, it didn't seem like it.
I sighed at the side. "I guess the homeless one is being ignored..."
Mei was immediately brought out of her caring mood at that and looked at me with apologetic awkwardness. "Gojo..." She looked at both Kiana and Bronya for a moment, hesitating on whether she should say anything."
"Oh well. My house will be fixed in the next few months. I'll be staying at Kiana's for a bit first." I said, already knowing what Mei was worried about.
At that, she let out a sigh of relief. "I see... in that case, you will be going to school next month right?"
"School?"/"Huh??!!"
"Don't you know? School is restarting soon."
"What?! No way...." Kiana's expression turned dour. "It can't be..."
"Fuck school. All my homies hate chemistry." I agreed with Kiana.
"Didn't you guys read the email?" Mei was flabbergasted at our responses.
"Who reads emails?"
"Right?" Kiana fist bumped me.
During all this, Bronya was just watching at the side with a daze, unsure of how to cut in. Mei noticed Bronya's awkwardness as she poured something from her thermos for Bronya.
"Here... chicken soup Bronya. It'll help."
"Thank you... sister Mei..."
A delightful smile appeared on Mei's face. "No problem."
In the end, even I could not help but let out a smile as I watched them converse
"C'mon, Gojo. Kiana. I'll pour some for you guys as well."
"Did you make this yourself?" I asked as I walked over.
"Ah, I don't really know how to cook..." Mei admitted. "My chef made this..."
"It doesn't matter! Food is food!" Kiana shouted excitedly as she went forwards.
And thus, the day quickly went by.
(A/N: How is the chapter? Please give powerstones and comment!!)
A slower chapter here. But it's a necessary setup for the next arc. Hope you guys don't mind it.)