An Anomaly (HSR x OC)

Chapter 9

While the Ryuji and the others were resting at the Goethe Hotel, Seele and Bronya were at the orphanage talking with each other. 

Seele: Over there, see that? That used to be the worst street in Rivet Town... and it's also where I grew up. My friends and I used to wander those streets thinking about where to find our next meal. That is, until Chief Oleg got me out and took me to the orphanage. There I learned to read and write from Natasha. At the age of 10, I started to patrol the mines with Oleg, occasionally getting into fights with the local thugs...

Bronya looks down before relying 

Bronya: ...That sounds nice 

Seele: Nice? You being sarcastic with me?

Bronya shakes her head 

Bronya: Oh! No, sorry. Life in the Underworld is difficult, I shouldn't be speaking about it so lightly

Seele lets out a sigh 

Seele: You're always so serious... It really gets on people's nerves sometimes, you know?

Bronya: Right... Uh, what I meant was... I kind of envy you, Seele. For as long as I can remember, my days have been an endless cycle of studying, etiquette lessons, and training

Bronya then recalls her past 

Bronya: Every day all I hear is "Remember who you are, Bronya," "This is against the Architects' Admonishments, Bronya," "Ladies shouldn't use such foul language, Bronya

She sighed

Bronya: Some may envy this kind of life, but I have felt... trapped. When every choice and every goal has already been made for you... You probably can't imagine how that feels

Seele: ...No, I can't... But more importantly, what kind of "foul language" were you using? 

Bronya pauses for a few moments 

Bronya: In the name of the Architects, I shall stick this spear into your nostril!

Seele laughs for a bit 

Seele: Hahaha~ that's it? That's nothing. Looks like I'll have to teach you some Underworld slang before you go back

Bronya shakes her head 

Bronya: No, no, that won't be necessary

Seele: It'll be better than poking people's nostrils at least...

They both look out into the distance for a bit 

Seele: I never thought that I'd be here having a heart-to-heart with the future guardian. As a kid, I didn't meet many people who lived in the Overworld. I only heard stories from the grown-ups and figured you were all just a bunch of cold snobs

Bronya: I've heard from some Silvermane veterans that before the orders were made to seal off the Underworld from the Overworld, there was no difference between the two places. Everybody ate the same food, chatted about the same topics, celebrated the same festivals... Even though times are different now, things like the joys and sorrows of life, the ties between people... These precious things must certainly still connect us all

She then turns to Seele

Bronya: If there is a way to bridge the gap between the two worlds, we can definitely go back to the time when you and I were not divided. When we could stand side by side against the Eternal Freeze and the Fragmentum

Seele chuckles a bit

Seele: I'm not like you. I don't have that many grand plans for the future. But... if that's the future you want, I'm willing to build this bridge with you