After a night-long internal struggle, Gepard came to a realization: though he was Serval's biological younger brother, in terms of closeness, he was practically an outsider now.
But he wouldn't give up. Gepard would never allow the figure who stood in front of him as a child to be with another woman!
The flashback ends.
Though Gepard hadn't said a word, for some reason, Stelle couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "Um… how's your injury?"
Gepard nodded. "Not healed yet, but I've got ways to deal with the guy who took a cheap shot at me (just wait for my call, hahaha)."
"You said you saw Cocolia, right? Take me to her."
Stelle hesitated. "Uh… I just caught a glimpse of her. Taking you straight there, isn't that a bit… inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate? I'm Serval's little brother who grew up with her. Why can't I even see my own sister?" Gepard narrowed his eyes. "Unless… Cocolia's up to something shady?"
Hmph, Gepard knew full well Cocolia must be plotting something unsavory, so he was stepping in.
Stelle: "Uh… maybe?"
"Then I definitely need to check it out. As the Great Guardian, it's my duty to correct illegal behavior."
"Alright, alright."
…
A few minutes earlier, elsewhere.
"Hmph, what the heck? Old-fashioned, stubborn, hypocritical hag!"
At the entrance of the Goethe Hotel, Bronya irritably kicked a nearby trash can. "She actually chased me all the way from home. I finally got a chance…"
Seele, equally resentful, muttered, "It's all Stelle's fault, all Stelle's fault, all Stelle's fault. Otherwise, I would've eaten big time today…"
"Hm? I'm here, where are you?"
At that moment, a familiar voice caught both their attention. They followed the sound and saw Serval standing nearby, her back to them. "Alright, see you later, Cocolia."
"Oh? Is that Aunt Serval?" Bronya rubbed her chin, thoughtful. "Seele, I think I just heard my mom's name."
"I heard it too," Seele sighed. "Guess they're here for a date too, huh."
"…"
"Wait (no way)!" After a few seconds of silence, they spoke in unison.
Bronya stared into Seele's clear eyes, a hint of excitement in her voice. "If Serval's here to meet my mom for a date…"
Seele grabbed Bronya's hands, thrilled. "That means their relationship isn't exactly ordinary either."
"If we can catch them in the act, then we…"
"…can pull it off!"
The two hit it off instantly. "Quick, quick, find a camera!"
"To my mom's workshop, it's close by!"
…
Stelle, Gepard, and March 7th crept along the wall, carefully moving through the hallway, only to find two people already standing at the target room's door.
"Shh—"
Stelle put a finger to her lips, whispering, "There's a lookout!"
March 7th: "? A lookout? For something like this?"
As a fellow gossip enthusiast, she couldn't fathom why anyone would need a lookout for this.
Stelle thought for a second and realized March had a point. She peeked out again for another look.
Stelle: ?
"It's Seele and Bronya," Stelle said.
"What? Getting the daughter she raised to stand guard for something like this? Cocolia, you…" Gepard couldn't hold back. "No, this is urgent. I have to stop them!"
Stelle quickly grabbed him. "Why the rush? Get it straight, that's Seele and Bronya!"
Stelle's reminder snapped Gepard back to reality. Though his work kept him busy, he'd heard Serval mention a few things, especially about Cocolia's rebellious daughter.
Rumor had it Bronya and Cocolia were always at odds for certain reasons, to the point that Bronya had run off to the Underworld in a huff.
But Gepard's expression soon turned serious again. "Tch—that doesn't prove anything. Even if Bronya has issues with her mother, she wouldn't betray her over something like this, would she?"
Stelle thought for a moment and explained, "Here's the thing: Bronya and Miss Seele's relationship is exactly what you imagine between Cocolia and Serval. That's why the mother and daughter are at odds. So, I'd bet Bronya's probably ready to stab her mom in the back."
Gepard: ???
"Wait… give me a second." Gepard mulled over the sentence several times. He recognized every word, but strung together, it was overloading his brain.
After a long pause, Gepard clenched his fist. "That damn Cocolia, doing this herself is bad enough, but corrupting her daughter too!"
"I don't think it's corruption. More like the student surpassing the master…" Stelle muttered under her breath. "Maybe it's just… inheritance."
"Enough talk, look! What's Bronya doing?" March 7th suddenly interrupted, pointing them toward the door.
The three peeked again and saw Bronya eagerly pulling out a camera, ready to charge in with a key.
Stelle was stunned. Wait, Bronya, are you trying to pull a filial stunt? If there's really something scandalous behind that door, it won't pass the censors!
Thankfully, at the critical moment, Seele grabbed Bronya and said something serious.
"…Phew, good thing Seele's got some sense and didn't let her go wild," Stelle sighed in relief.
The next second, Bronya nodded, handed the camera to Seele, and aimed the key at the lock, poised to burst in.
Stelle's pupils shook: Wait, you two are pulling a combo move?!
"No, they'll spook the snake in the grass!" Gepard sensed trouble and rushed out, spreading his arms to block the door just before they could act.
Bronya froze as the Great Guardian suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief: ??? Where'd you come from?
Don't ruin my moment!
Then she saw Stelle and March 7th running up, and her heart sank: No way, did Mom hire all three of them to stand guard?
Is this reasonable? Who brings backup to do shady stuff? And you, Great Guardian, why aren't you at Qlipoth Fort doing your job instead of coming here?
Bronya's inner turmoil was no less intense than her first intimate moment with Seele.
Gepard made a "shh" gesture and shook his head, signaling Bronya to stay quiet and not make a move.
For a moment, the atmosphere grew eerily silent.
—"Serval, you ready?"
At that moment, a faint voice came from inside the room, piercingly clear in the quiet surroundings.
—Gepard's hand was still raised in the "shh" gesture.
Stelle: Oh no!
—"I've been waiting for this day forever. I brought all the props. Go clean up quick—I'm gonna show you how amazing my skills are today!"
Gepard's eyes widened. He snatched the key from Bronya's hand, but before he could open the door, Stelle swiftly grabbed him by the neck, dragging him back with all his strength.