Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Everything was as usual. I admit that the City suffered a lot and made a lot of noise after the events with Bringer. But even so, after a few months, the situation became much clearer and began to cool down from heated rumors and conversations.

Like I said, everything began to become routine again, and I liked it. Birds were singing, flowers were fragrant. And children were playing frolicking in the streets. And Random Play was getting ready for our opening anniversary! Honestly, Wise is probably tired of my reminders by now, but I just can't calm down!

Just a few years ago, Wise and I founded Random Play as a cover for our main business. But this place has truly become our new home, despite the fact that in essence it was and is our home. Also, let's not forget about our love for movies. So opening this place where we could share and help people with their choice of films was the best idea.

Let's not forget about our acquaintances! So much has happened this year. We met Fairy, several Sobez employees , Belobog Combine, Victoria Housekeeping, Section 6, Sons of Calydon and more! So many people and connections that only grew stronger as time went on.

So well... I'll be honest, I tried to establish deeper connections with some of the agents. Like... Who wouldn't want to date a hot cop, for example? Or a cool shark girl (I know she's underage, but I have good patience!)? And a lot of hot guys and girls!

And to be honest... Now I doubt my ability to flirt... Before, I was able to flirt so easily with some customers and regulars. And sometimes I even managed to get into a relationship with them! I understand that week-long relationships don't count, but still! (Most often, they left, realizing that I have nothing but flirting and movies...)

But even so, is my hint that "I would like to be closer with them" really that unclear?! Seriously, am I a blockhead who can't give normal hints or is it because they can't understand my hints? As much as I didn't want to admit it, the chances of a relationship with one of the agents were getting smaller and smaller...

That's when I started noticing something... Namely, my brother. After a month of observation, I realized something. For some reason, most of the agents and our friends were interested in my brother Wise?! Like, huh? Why?!

Of course, I knew that Wise, despite his appearance (tired look, sullen face and unwashed clothes) could be popular. And of course, I expected that my brother could be attractive in some sense and eventually someone would fall in love with him. But not all our friends?! Just how?! How did he become the anime hero of a harem!?

And I'm not paranoid! As I already said, I followed him for a whole month! A sister sees a lover from afar! The way they looked at him, the way they talked to him, the way he painting their faces in a cute blush... Like... I would like to do that too...

Zhu Yuan, who began to come to the video rental store more often, not to buy a movie but to talk to Wise... (Every time I tried to talk to her, she always switched to a more professional tone...)

"Oh!... Hello Manag– I mean Belle... I came here to rent a movie, and don't worry Wise already helped me with that"

Nicole was sweetly tugging at his sleeve, begging him to forgive her debt, with a blush on her face... (Every time she begged me for a discount, she did almost the same thing, except this time it was more abrupt...)

"Oh, come on, Proxy!... I'll bring the debt, I promise, I promise, I promise, I promise!... Oh... Do you happen to know where Wise went?..."

Ellen, who despite her cold nature, always became softer around Wise, when she sweetly touched his leg with her shark tail... (She never let me touch it, so I stopped trying to do it just because of her bored look...)

"Touch my tail?... Nope..."

Caesar and Lucy who were always fighting near the video rental store, just because Wise promised to go with one of them on some business... (I won't offer them my help... Only Lucy's displeased look and Caesar's uncomfortable face can tell that they are interested in Wise... Not me...)

"Oh...! Manager... We're here for Wise... We have business..."

"Hello Belle! Sorry for Lucy's rude behavior... He-he... We're just in a hurry and all that... Is Wise inside?..."

Even Miyabi and Yanagi fell under his spell, coming more and more often to, as they say, discuss business. For now, they're really just drinking coffee and watching movies... (Should I even approach them?... Nope... I'd better not bother them, who likes someone interrupting their date?...)

"Proxy... Come with me to this new place next weekend, I need to check them out for... Something..."

"Chief, please don't make up excuses to shirk work... And... I think Wise is already busy with me on the weekend... Remember, you promised me you'd have bean buns with me, right?..."

I could go on and on about my brother's fan list, but for some reason I feel sick with every name I list. I know I should be happy that Wise is so popular but... He doesn't even try to be... While I straining myself just to talk to them about the weather, he does it so casually that it makes me jealous...

If I confess this to Wise, I'll just die of shame... I'd rather die than admit that I envy him... Even the star of all of New Eridu is in love with him! And everything would be fine if not for one thing! Even guys fall in love with him!!!

One day, when Lighter was ordering a special order from me, I accidentally noticed a photo of Wise in his wallet! Like... What?! A big blow to my self-esteem, I'll tell you. After that, I didn't even try to talk to other male agents.

I clutched my head, sitting at the video rental counter with a pained face. I think if anyone noticed me, they would think I'm not normal, because of the way I twitch and spin around in place at the thought of my brother's harem.

On weekdays, few people come to Random Play during the day, so it's usually too quiet here. And boring... While Wise is having fun with the girls, I have to do all the work. Unforgivable!

There are only a few days left until the anniversary. And I was the one who prepared most of the plans. So it's still a little unfair... But I think nothing is lost! Sooner or later I will find my love and will be a hundred times cooler than my brother! I will be faithful only to my other soul mate, and let him continue to play with poor hearts! He-he-he!...~

With newfound strength, I got up from my seat and went to the staff room, decided to check our preparations for the anniversary, which will be attended by a lot of people. Almost half of the entire Sixth Street! That's why everything should go just perfectly!

I opened several boxes and examined the balloons, various flags and e.t.c. I also prepared a small stand with promotions in honor of the anniversary, so everyone will definitely be happy. Although it seems like something is missing...

Thinking about what might be missing, I noticed that Wise left his jacket on our couch near the TV. He wears it 24/7, how on earth did he forget it? With these thoughts, I picked it up and thought. What if...

A little hesitantly, I took off my jacket and looked around so that no one would see. Slowly, I put on Wise's jacket and went to the mirror to look around. If it weren't for my dyed hair, my brother and I would be indistinguishable... Indistinguishable... DEFINITELY!!!...

What if I look just like Wise?! That will definitely raise me in the eyes of our friends and make them more interested in me! How did I not think of this before! 

I immediately rushed to my phone to find out how to wash the dye out of my hair. Special shampoo? Already running to the store! Get ready, girls! This is the birth of a new Belle! With these thoughts, I ran out of the video rental, leaving 6 and 18 in bewilderment. 

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By evening I was completely different... More... I don't know what to call it. If you look closely, I noticed that my hair is snow-whiter than Wise's, which has a rougher gray shade. Will this affect the perception or not?... I'm not sure...

6 and 18 looked at me with wide eyes, seemingly trying to ask what was wrong, but I decided not to answer their questions, only saying that I decided to change my image.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and I immediately went to greet the visitor while 6 and 18 looked at me with worried eyes. They were not customers but...

"Oh Belle, sorry that it took so long for Zhu Yuan and I to...–" The person who came was Wise, accompanied by Zhu Yuan. As soon as he finally noticed me, his eyes immediately became wide in surprise at my new appearance.

"Hello Belle... You look... Different today..." Zhu Yuan said behind Wise, just as surprised as he was. At the same time, I proudly stuck out my chest, showing my new appearance.

I wore my usual clothes except for the accessories and my jacket, instead wearing a gray and boring jacket that didn't suit my previous image at all because of its modesty. But now that I look almost like Wise, boring clothes suit me!

"Hello Wise! Howdy Zhu Yuan! Don't mind my appearance. You came in quite late today, what have you been doing?~ Can you share a secret?~" I said with a mischievous smile, causing Zhu Yuan to blush unexpectedly.

"A-ah?!... Well... W-we..."

"I was helping her with the Sixth Street Life Satisfaction Survey... And you..." Wise immediately continued for her, trying to bring the conversation back to my appearance. But I refuse to lose!

"I was just doing my management stuff here~ You know, shifting this and that and then... You must be tired, bro! Go to the bathroom right now and rest! I'll clean up here!~" I said, immediately grabbing his hand to his surprise and pushing him up to the top floor, while Zhu Yuan watched us, still confused.

As soon as we were alone, I stood in a dramatic pose at the counter and looked at her with a calm gaze, just like Wise. Oh yeah! This will definitely work!...~

"Well... How are you Zhu Yuan... I hope my brother isn't causing you any trouble"

"What? N-no of course, he helped me out a lot today even if he didn't need to!... He's actually quite..." I immediately interrupted her, trying not to listen to her loving and dreamy voice talking about him.

"Ah! I see! Well... Are you free this weekend?..." I asked directly. Unlike Wise, I was much more direct, which some people didn't like... But why should I care?!

"Oh?... Weekend?... Well, I didn't have any plans for the weekend except... No, I don't think so..."

"Great! Then how about going to see the new movie with me? I'm sure it will be fun!"

"A movie... Well... I think..." Suddenly, I felt sick at the sight of her face. Zhu Yuan obviously takes her job very seriously, but underneath that, she's also not afraid to show her kind and compassionate heart, which will help even in the most difficult of situations... Meanwhile, that kind heart is trying its best to come up with an excuse not to go to the movie with me.

Damn... Why do I feel so terrible now. Her voice is getting distant, so I can barely hear her, but just from her tone, I can tell that she's apologizing, saying that she has important things to do this weekend. I should have asked first before buying tickets...

"...That's why I can't go with you... I'm sorry, Belle..."

With all my strength and trying to hold back my tears, I put on my usual smile and speak in a carefree tone. Damnit...

 "Sigh!~ What a pity that I already reserved the seats! Well, it can't be helped!~"

"Oh-oh... Maybe you could go with someone else?...–"

"BUT!~ Unfortunately, I remembered that I also have important things to do on the weekend! That's why I'll probably give these tickets to Wise!~"

"Eh?!..." She is so cutely surprised. You can already tell from her blush that she has thought about it. Why did you hesitate when I suggested that you go with me...? Why does everyone like him...? Why him and not me?...

My face has become harder to control. As always, so much effort in vain. My heart has never hurt so much. I want to die. I just embarrassed myself again. At least Wise can have fun. I'm fine...

"...I was thinking that my business can wait... And since you are busy, can I..." I'm fine...

"Of course!~ Have fun there!~" I immediately gave her the tickets. I'm fine...

Unexpectedly for myself, my legs began to move on their own to the upper floor. It seems that Zhu Yuan did not even notice this when she was busy thinking about fantasies with Wise on a date. I'm fine...

Wise is already going downstairs with a towel around his neck, it seems, just coming out of the bath. I walked past him without even looking at him. The only thing I said with a forced smile...

"Don't screw up, brother...!~" I'm fine...

"Wait–what?..."

After that, I went into my room and locked myself in. I'm fine...

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I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine... I'm fine...

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Chapter Text

"M-MNG!... BLEH!..."

I threw up again. This has been going on for a few days now and it's getting worse and worse each time. My body wasn't very healthy before, but not to the point where I would go and throw all my food down the toilet every night.

My whole body is trembling, and my appearance leaves much to be desired. Have I ever been in worse shape? How could I ever bend so much out of simple envy of my brother? Am I really that petty about this? Great, now I feel even worse.

So that's how it is? I'm a pathetic, greedy sister who envies her own brother who never did me any harm and loved me with all his heart? God, why did this happen to me. Fuck... a new wave and...

"M-GRH... B-BLEH!..."

Damn it... When will this end? Sorry General Chop's noodles... You were always so tasty, but not these days. Lately, all the food I eat has become so tasteless that I have to step over myself to keep from starving. Only to let it all out in the dead of night.

I've lost five kilograms this week alone. It's amazing, because even a month-long diet didn't help that much. Although I can't say that my body is helping me now. I already have inappropriately large circles under my eyes (even larger than Wise's), and small hollows in my cheeks. Since when are my fingers so thin?...

And let's be honest. This white hair does not suit me. Was I so desperate for attention and love that I decided to change my own color? It's a pitiful sight...

My body is definitely getting weaker and I can't resist in any way. Just the thought of Brother having fun with the others while no one gives a shit about me makes me slightly concussed. So much so that I want to shoot myself...

Fuck... Isn't it funny?... I always considered myself an optimist. The one who would smile and light everyone's path with her smile even in the darkest times. And what about now? I think about death...

Come to think of it. It sounds very tempting. Just thinking that when I die everyone will be sad that they didn't spend enough time with me. Seeing their sad faces, tears and regret is very... Fuck... Do I really enjoy such thoughts?... Now I think I've hit rock bottom...

What would the Teacher say about this? Although I already know the answer. Disappointed. There is nothing surprising about that. She always considered Wise more responsible and worthy. For her, I was just an addition, wasn't I? A child who was, albeit useless, but cute. Although I am no longer sure of my cuteness... I am no longer sure of anything at all...

Belle... Only now I thought about my name. Before I thought that it was pretty cool to have such a speaking name. As if it spoke for itself. But now... It seems to me that because of my envy I have lost even my name. After all, my appearance certainly does not take into account my name. Especially now... And probably before...

Is that so?... An absolutely useless shell that can't even do its job and was created only for admiration. If you think about it, it's true, right? All the proxy work was always done by Wise. I was just a backup plan... No, I wasn't even a backup... I was ballast capable of only being a manager at a stupid video rental store and covering for my brother when he was a hero...

What if I did proxy work more often than he did? Was I popular? Was I noticed? Was I loved? I'm not sure... But just the thought of a kind smile from a brother who doesn't envy me and is truly happy for me makes me want to bang my head against a wall... Pathetic...

Fuck... I feel like I'm slowly going crazy. I feel like shit. With each passing second I feel like I'm hitting the bottom of my self-awareness, falling into the abyss of suffering from my own thoughts. Like I'm drowning... The lantern that was my brother has stopped shining, leaving only an empty void in my heart... Stop...

My body is no better. While my consciousness is drowning, my body feels like it is burning from the inside, while my lungs and stomach are being eaten by parasites of envy. My head hurts as if hundreds of nails are being driven into it by a huge bell that keeps ringing... Fuck... Enough... Please...

Everything is in darkness... So dark... Is it because I didn't turn on the light or because my eyes are getting dark?... With every breath I feel like the snake of pride around my neck is strangling me more and more, not letting me breathe in sweet freedom... And in my ears this ringing... Ringing... Ringing... Ringing...

This whole endless nightmare continued like a repeating tape, as if mocking my sinful soul. Until I heard a rescue knock...

"Belle?... It's Wise... I heard a weird sound and decided to check on you... Are you in the bathroom?..."

And he again. Even when you tried to ignore him all these days and be more toxic even if you didn't want to, he still cares and worries about you. And what about me?... Fuck... I'm such a motherfucker...

"Belle... I can hear you breathing heavily... Is everything okay?... Can you please open the door?..."

His voice is soft and filled with genuine concern for his only sister. I can imagine his gaze at this moment. The way he looks at the dark toilet door with a sad face, while I hide behind it like a coward. No... Don't you dare cry, Belle... You don't deserve to cry...

"Belle?... Please...—"

"I'm fine..."

I squeezed out through the pain in my stomach. And to be honest, at that moment it wasn't just my stomach that hurt. But the only thing I could do was focus on that.

"You don't have to worry... I'm... I'm just having these days... Well, you know... Women's days..."

A lie... Nothing surprising... Lies had become too frequent a companion in my last painful days...

"Oh... I see... Maybe I'll go to the store and..."

"No... I'll go myself later... Go to bed... I'll be out soon... I'm fine..."

My mind goes blank, as if the only thing I want is for him to shut up and leave me alone. Is he deaf?... I already said that I'm fine...

After that there was a long pause between us. I felt that he wanted to say something else. That he was still trying to reach me with his hand... To throw a life preserver...

"Okay..." But he finally gave in.

"Just... Call if you need help... Belle... I'm always here..."

And finally he left, leaving behind a long silence. So deep that even the beating of my heart was so quiet that I was not sure if I was still alive. I hugged myself with my arms around my shoulders. My body was inadequately cold, but it was much better than this ringing pain before...

Maybe it's all just temporary. I'm sure that after some time I'll accept that everyone likes my brother more than me. And despite all the pain I'll continue to smile a bright smile, because I'm still fine...

"URGH!... BLEH!..."

Fuck... God is clearly not on my side...

...

...

...

...

"Victoria" Housekeeping, is one of the most prestigious and effective agencies in all of New Eridu. Not everyone can afford our services, although we should definitely think about lowering the prices because with each passing month our regular customers are unable to use the services that we provide.

And as the agency's de facto director and external relations specialist, I am responsible for the quality work of all my employees. Even if it is difficult... I still have to monitor the work done to prove that our rates for the work are worth it.

My colleagues... Well, I'll be honest, but we simply don't count Rina's help in such a difficult time for the agency. I am immensely grateful to her for all the work she has done, although lately she has often become distracted by someone... I can't blame her, because the same thing is happening to me...

Corin is also a maid in our agency, and she does her job well, which I am very happy about, but her self-confidence issues are clearly a big hindrance when it comes to doing this job. I try my best to push her to be more self-confident, but it doesn't seem to help, which can be annoying. But it's okay, no one is perfect, even if everyone strives for it... And about that... She is also distracted by him...

And finally the last one to join our agency is Ellen. I would be grateful if she were here now but unfortunately she has exams today which I forced her to take because she is obliged to get a secondary or much better higher education to build a future. It seems that she is also passionate about him... It is becoming more and more difficult to control every day...

We are talking about Wise, a proxy we often rely on once we get orders in the Hollow. It is quite obvious that many people like him in a special way, although the only one who does not realize it is himself. And to be honest, I also find his company very pleasant, but not as much as the others.

Well, let's get down to business. We received an order from our regular client about a rescue mission in the hollow. We often accept such orders because now we will have a proxy with which it is much more convenient to work than through broken GPS sensors. And it is to him that we are now heading.

Usually I prefer to discuss all the details of the deal and work via cellular communication, but Rina and Corin insisted on visiting the video rental store since it was not that far away. I tried to talk them out of it for a long time, but the idea of meeting Wise was extremely attractive, which is why I, albeit reluctantly, agreed to their delight.

I was worried that our appearance would attract too much attention, but fortunately on weekdays there are not many people on the street due to work and other activities. That is why we were able to get to the video rental without incident.

As soon as we entered, we were immediately greeted by a pleasant melody and a light ringing of familiar bells. Apparently hearing this ringing, Wise immediately came out of the staff room in his usual guise... Or not?... He seems tired...

"Ah Lycaon, greetings... Hello Rina and Corin." Wise said with a polite smile as he approached us. Now that we were up close, his fatigue was even more visible. It seemed like something had happened?...

"Good afternoon, Wise. As you know, we came for work and I deeply regret disturbing you during work hours."

"No need for such formalities. I don't mind meeting you in person." Hmm... His speech is the same as always. But he looks rather exhausted. Should I be tactful and ask him about it or should I keep quiet?...

"A-ah... H-hello Wise... Nice to see you today... D-did something happen?... You look... Tired..." Corin asked outright. Is she really insecure? Apparently this only applies to strangers. Although she should have been polite and waited for him to accidentally bring it up himself...!

"Hello, dear Wise...~ With all due respect, but Corin is right. Something happened?" Rina added with a soft, motherly voice. And you too... I understand that you are drawn to him, but how about showing a little respect if he just looks like that. Then our questions will be very rude.

It seems that they hit the nail on the head by Wise's surprised face, which can't help but please.

"Oh... is it that noticeable?... Lately, I just can't think of something..."

"Hm? Is something bothering you?" Well, I'll add my coin to this game. Now I seem to be more interested because something tells me that this is serious.

"It's about Belle... I haven't talked to her for the past few days and it seems like she's keeping distance from me... I could live with it, but the fact that she lock herself in the toilet for a long time every night is stressing me out..."

He answered us with a tired face. Right... Belle... I almost forgot about her. I couldn't help but catch the eye and meet the others' gazes. Not surprisingly, we all had the same look of confusion...

This is not like Belle. Despite her serious work as a proxy, Belle has always been especially bright and active towards others. Usually, the people I work with were too boring and too serious (even though I understood that this is a common thing), which is why the company of Belle in the gray days was quite pleasant.

I've also met quite a few siblings who weren't even close to having such a good, friendly, and understanding relationship as Wise and Belle. To hear that they suddenly separated... I don't even know how to describe it... All my thoughts about work seemed to disappear, replaced by solving the relationship between brother and sister.

"Did something happen between you two?" Rina asked worriedly, causing Wise to shake his head uncertainly, seemingly not understanding why this was happening.

"No... I don't remember any moments that would make her behave like this... I can't calm down because of this... I'm worried that I somehow offended her, but I can't ask because she just doesn't let me near her..."

I really didn't know what to do. For me, the proxy siblings have always been close, so much so that I was sure that such situations would never happen to them. The most unpleasant thing is that we don't even have any guesses as to what could have influenced this. 

"Okay... I understand that your family relationships are important, but please let's not forget the purpose of our visit..." I said, enduring deathly glares from Rina and Corin. I understand you too, but professionalism is important in our work, especially when someone's life is at stake.

"Ah, yes, you're right... Sorry for the delay... We can discuss this in the staff room, and then I can give you Eous to begin the operation..."

"Great. You don't have to worry about your sister... I think after work we can help you resolve any differences between you two..."

"Actually, I can come over after work to treat Belle to my food~ It won't take long, and I can get a better understanding of the problem from her side~"

Suddenly, Rina's words made everyone tense up, and Corin even got goosebumps on her back. We slowly looked at her, who smiled at us with a polite and kind smile, which made my fist stronger. The plan sounded good if not for one thing... I can't let her hurt Belle's stomach...

"That's a great idea, but I think it would take too much time to prepare the food... You should just buy some baked goods for her to save time..."

"I agree. I also don't really want you to get so hung up on my problem, although I am very grateful, Rina..."

"M-Miss Rina... I-I think Belle would be happy to receive food from you... But you shouldn't overload yourself with more work, especially after a difficult mission..."

Surprisingly, Wise and Corin immediately joined in to help convince her. But looking at that smile that didn't even waver, I realized that it was too late to fight for anything. Belle, please accept my deepest apologies...

...

...

...

...

For some reason I felt a chill down my spine. Which gave me a bad feeling... But why?...

Screw it... I hate evening shifts. Wise is working now because I heard that our friends from "Victoria" Housekeeping came by today during the day. I expected him to be in the staff room, near the HDD but he's not there... Has he finished work yet?...

Better not to think about it. Because the thought of our friends having a nice time with Wise makes me want to puke even more. Which I don't really want to do because my health is getting worse every day. Damn... I want to die... 

I try to suppress my depressive thoughts but nothing works no matter how much I want it. It seems 6 and 18 are increasingly worried about me, which is nice, but I don't want them to feel bad because of me. That's why I put on a mask to somehow hide my terrible face, even though the circles under my eyes are still visible.

There are usually quite a few people at the video rental in the evenings, but they come in groups, so at certain times it's empty again. How boring... Wise is probably flirting with girls there...

Ellen argues with the usually insecure Corinne who should accompany him arm in arm, while Rina gently embraces him from behind, pressing her hills... Lycaon who walks in front to provide complete safety... Fuck... My envy is growing again... Pull yourself together Belle, you're not so pathetic... 

While I was struggling with my thoughts, I didn't notice how the doorbell rang and someone entered the video rental. Slowly raising my head to look at the buyer, suddenly a flash flew out at me...!

Melons ...

"Hello, Belle~ How are you?"

I immediately leaned back in surprise and looked up at the visitor's face. I recognize these boobs out of all of them...! Rina!...

"A-ah?!... U-um... Hello... Long time no see..." My voice sounded too weak! The mask prevents me from speaking normally, but taking it off would be a terrible idea! Damn, my hands are sweating!...

"It's really been a while since we've seen each other~ So long that it seems like you changed your hair color" DAMN!....

"I-I changed it a few days ago... I think I'll go back to blue later..."

"I see~ Actually, from a distance, you and Wise look almost the same" Don't tell me that with such a cute smile!... I can't concentrate because I feel the pain of my stupid idea to change my hair color and the happiness that you came to visit me!...

"I heard that you weren't feeling well, so I came to meet you...~" She continued with this kind smile that made me want to hug her... Fuck, calm down!...

"A-ah... Thank you, you shouldn't have—" Before I could finish speaking, a basket was placed in front of me. The smell from that basket sent shivers down my spine. This was not a good sign...

"That's why I decided to cook something for you~ Here, help yourself...~" She said, taking out a plate with something unearthly, which was wrapped in cling film. Of course, it's nice to receive food from her... But how can I eat it?... She looks at me, expecting me to eat it right now?!

My hands are sweating again, looking from my fork to this dish. I don't want to give up food, but my stomach definitely won't survive if I eat this. And let's be honest, I throw up from any food now and this... I don't want to make her sad! My heart breaks from the thoughts of her sad but understanding face!...

"You know, Wise is worried about you..." Suddenly, everything went blank in my head. Why did she say that? Wait... Could it be...

"Did something happen between you? I've never seen any arguments between you and I never even thought about it..." S-stop... Enough... Please don't say that you...

"I hope you can improve your relationship with each other... You are siblings after all—"

"Enough..."

The word came out of my mouth completely by accident. It seems she only now noticed that I grabbed my head trying to catch the noise. It feels like my thoughts are laughing at me again.

She didn't come because she was worried about me. She came because Wise asked her to. How pathetic do I have to be to be visited just because my brother asked her to? Just when I thought things weren't so bad, my hopes were immediately shattered into a thousand pieces by that annoying ringing.

My mind has gone blank for real. I think I hear her voice but I can't make it out, and to be honest I don't want to do that. It's not her fault though. It's more my fault for making her go to such extremes. I need to pull myself together...

Slowly I read the throat and began to speak in a calm voice, although I couldn't help but tremble... I'm still fine...

"S-sorry for being rude... I'm glad to receive the food, thank you..."

...

...

...

...

"S-sorry for being rude... I'm glad to receive the food, thank you..."

Belle said to me with a trembling voice. Did I offend her somehow? I didn't mean to... I was just worried about her and her relationship with her brother. I thought they just had a fight and a simple conversation would help them, but it seems like it's much more serious than I expected...

"O-oh... I'm also very sorry for putting pressure on you..." I answered, which made her flinch. Did I really offend her?...

Now I'm more worried about this than I wanted to be. If you look closely, she really doesn't look great, and why does she need that mask?... Is she trying to hide something?

I noticed that she stared at the food I brought for a long time. Apparently, she was not going to eat it. Why did I even expect her to eat it?... I knew that I needed to practice better before serving the dish. But my pride cannot allow me to wait.

Many people think that I don't know how bad my cooking is. I know perfectly well how terribly I cook. But my pride simply cannot allow everything to remain in this state. I am the head maid of "Victoria" Housekeeping, and at the same time, the only one who can't cook properly. Which is unacceptable for me...

Even Corin can cook better than me, even though I'm older than her. Although I guess everyone in the agency can cook. And I'm the only one... I feel bad... My pride went so far that I wanted to prove to everyone that I've become better at cooking, even when Wise asked me not to worry. Now I have to endure this uncomfortable silence because of my carelessness... I have to take responsibility...

"I think I'll go... If you won't, let me take the dishes..." It would be unpleasant if all this went to the trash. Although most likely even the street cats won't eat it...

Suddenly she raised her head and looked at me with her azure eyes. Only now did I notice the circles under her eyes. But those eyes... She took off her mask and I was surprised at how truly unhealthy she looked. Did she even eat anything?...

My surprise didn't end there because she took a fork and with a sharp movement pierced a piece of food and put it in her mouth.

"W-wait, you shouldn't force...!" I didn't have time to finish when she raised her hand in front of me, gesturing not to interfere.

With each bite, I felt my eyes widen in shock. She ate non-stop, like someone who hadn't eaten in a week or more. Although I'm not sure that even someone like that would eat my food, Belle continued to eat. As soon as she finished the last piece she took a loud gulp and put her mask back on.

"Ahh... Belle... You shouldn't have forced yourself to eat... It's okay, really..." I finished my last sentence. That's not really what I wanted to say. But I suppress desire to ask her how it was. I guess...

"Delicious..." She answered as if she had read my thoughts, which made my eyes widen again. She just said...

This... It was the first time someone said that about my food. Since I was a child, I hadn't received compliments on my cooking, except for Lycaon, who politely called my food "exotic"... Even Wise always refused to eat my food, citing that he was not hungry, even though I knew the real reason... 

My food was called delicious... Even though it was obviously not, Belle ate it all without leaving a crumb. Did she really like it that much? Should I cook something else?... What kind of feeling is this?...

While I was waking up from the shock, I realized that Belle had gone somewhere and was being replaced by Bangboo. I looked in the direction she had gone, involuntarily putting my hand on cheek. I felt a little warmth...

Ara?...

Chapter Text

The mop handle was a cold, unfeeling bar of aluminum in my grip, a far cry from the weight of a proper weapon. I shoved it across the cracked linoleum floor of the Victoria Housekeeping supply closet, the wet strands slapping against the tile with a sound that was both pathetic and accusatory. The air was thick with the astringent scent of industrial-grade bleach, a chemical perfume that clawed at the back of my throat and failed to mask the underlying odor of dust and neglect.

This was my purgatory. A realm of forgotten corners and grime-encrusted baseboards.

Victoria Housekeeping was supposed to be—a cadre of elite operatives who walked into hollows and emerged unscathed, handling assignments so perilous that ordinary minds would fracture at the mere thought. 

And yet.

Here I was, a glorified janitor, scrubbing a stain that looked suspiciously like old coffee with a vigor that bled straight into resentment. Each swipe of the mop was a fresh wave of humiliation. Lycaon, in his infinite and utterly misguided wisdom, had deemed this a "brilliant assignment" for me. A cleaning job. The sheer, soul-crushing mundanity of it was a special kind of torture, designed to sand down my edges until I was as bland and smooth as the handle I was white-knuckling.

It was a punishment, of course. A direct consequence of my midterm exam results landing on his desk. They weren't disastrous—not truly—but they had failed to meet Lycaon's exacting, impossibly high standards. So, I was banished to this brooms-and-bleach penitence, all under the thin veneer of "instilling discipline" and "sharpening focus." If he wanted to punish me, he could have sent me on a solo duel in a thunderstorm, or a high-stakes retrieval mission from a den of ink-black horrors. Anything but this… this domestic drudgery.

The most galling part? I wasn't even the worst offender when it came to distractions. My mind drifted to the others. Corin would often stand frozen in the middle of a room, her gaze locked on some invisible point in the middle distance, deciphering the secrets of the universe in the dust motes dancing in a sunbeam. No reprimand for her. Rina would lose herself completely in the sky, her eyes tracing the paths of clouds as if they were celestial maps to a profound truth. And Lycaon himself? Please. I’d seen the way his sharp eyes would go soft and distant when he thought no one was looking, the way his fingers would still over a mission report, his mind wandering far, far away from the paper in front of him.

To him.

Wise.

That was the real, festering wound. While I was trapped in stuffy lecture halls, they were out there—living, breathing, spending time with him. Without me. They’d even gone to Random Play on the very day of my exams, a coordinated act of betrayal that felt like the universe itself was conspiring to mock my isolation. I could picture Rina and Corin planning it with gleeful whispers. And Lycaon? He’d let it happen. He’d probably even encouraged it.

But none of that changed the reality of the sudsy, tepid water in my bucket. The shift was finally, finally over. I couldn't claim I'd contributed much; Rina, ever the picture of dutiful efficiency, had handled the bulk of the work. She moved through the chores with an annoyingly serene composure, making the entire tedious process look like a graceful dance. She’d make the perfect housewife someday, if not for one glaring, almost comical flaw: her cooking was a culinary catastrophe, a question mark on a plate. Though, given the way she’d been acting lately—all secretive smiles and whispered conversations—she might have been trying to fix that very flaw.

"May I ask what you're thinking, staring at Rina like that?"

His voice, sharp and sudden as a shard of ice, sliced cleanly through my brooding.

I startled violently, the mop clattering from my hands and hitting the floor with a wet, jarring slap. Lycaon stood before me, arms crossed over his chest, his tailored jacket perfectly smooth. He wore that specific, stern expression he reserved exclusively for cataloging my many failures.

"You really need to stop sneaking up on me like that..." I muttered, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird as I bent to retrieve the mop.

"And here I thought you had the best instincts in our group." A single, dark eyebrow arched, his tone dry enough to desiccate the damp air.

"Yeah, well—" I fumbled, a hot flush creeping up my neck and staining my cheeks. "Even the best get caught off guard sometimes. It’s the shock of the mundane. It dulls the senses."

He exhaled, a quiet, almost imperceptible sound that was the closest he ever came to a laugh. "Never mind. I just came to tell you we're done for today."

Freedom. The word was a balm. I nearly sagged with relief, scrambling to shove the mop back into its bucket with a final, resentful splash. I was already mentally mapping the fastest route to my bed. But then—a thought, sharp and pointed, snagged in my mind.

"Hey, Boss—"

"Please don’t call me that." He adjusted his collar, a flicker of genuine discomfort crossing his usually impassive features. "Even if I run this agency, I’d rather we stand on equal footing."

"Right, sorry." I hesitated, my eyes darting toward the now-spotless front office. "It’s just… shouldn’t Rina be staying back? She usually helps you with the end-of-day paperwork."

For a moment, a fraction of a second, he looked almost… caught. A subtle shift in his posture, a brief glance away. Then he cleared his throat, the picture of recovered composure.

"She had other plans today."

"What kind of plans?" The question slipped out, unbidden, fueled by a sudden, sharp curiosity.

Lycaon studied me, his gaze weighing my intent, as if deciding whether to indulge this line of inquiry. Finally, with a slight sigh, he relented. "A cooking class. She said she wanted to improve her skills."

There was a haunted pause. A shared, unspoken understanding passed between us, a silent memorial for every inedible, charcoal-blackened, or mysteriously gelatinous meal she had ever presented. We both knew the sheer scale of improvement that was actually required.

But that wasn't what made my pulse quicken, what sent a cold trickle of realization down my spine.

Rina? In a cooking class?

She had always been fiercely, defensively proud of her culinary creations, insisting they were perfectly fine even as the rest of us struggled to maintain polite smiles. So why now? Why this sudden, desperate urge for self-improvement?

Unless—

Unless something had happened during their little outing to Random Play. Unless Wise, in that infuriatingly, endearingly honest way of his, had said something about her food. A casual comment, perhaps. A wince he couldn't quite hide. And now she was trying to fix it. She was adapting, evolving her strategy.

A slow, dangerous realization settled over me, cold and clear.

She was playing the long game.

Well.

Two could play at that.

If she was refining her cooking, sanding down her most obvious flaw, then I would just have to find my own way to stand out. I would study him, learn his preferences, become indispensable in ways she hadn't even considered. I would catch up—no, I would surpass her.

After a nap, of course. Maybe two. Strategic rest was vital for achieving peak performance. I hefted my bag onto my shoulder, the plan already beginning to form in my mind.

Just you wait, Wise.

You’ll see.

...

...The world outside the video shop window was painted in the weary, grey-blue tones of twilight. I slumped over the counter at Random Play, my elbows planted on the cool, scratched laminate surface, my face buried in my hands. The familiar scent of old popcorn and plastic VHS cases usually felt like home, but tonight it just felt stale.

Things hadn’t been going well for me lately.

Perhaps that was an exaggeration—nothing truly catastrophic had happened. On paper, life was stable, even good. Random Play, the video rental shop Belle and I ran together, was approaching its anniversary. The proxy business—our more clandestine side venture—was thriving beyond my initial hopes. We’d built a web of connections with agents, secured powerful and valuable allies, and expanded our reach into corners of the city I’d never dreamed of. By all accounts, I should be happy. I had a home, a business, and friends.

But none of that mattered. Not really.

My problem was a quiet, domestic earthquake—it was about the only family I had left: my sister, Belle.

Lately, she had simply… stopped talking to me. Just like that. No warning shot across the bow, no explosive argument. It was a silent retreat, a cold war waged within the walls of our own home. At first, I’d meticulously retraced my steps, searching for a misdeed, a careless word I’d let slip. But Belle had never been the type to stew in silence. If I’d accidentally eaten the last of her favorite strawberry swirl ice cream, she’d pout for a day, her lower lip trembling, before forgiving me the moment I presented her with a fresh, frosty pint. If we bickered over whether to watch a sci-fi epic or a noir thriller, we’d settle it by polling our customers, laughing when the results inevitably proved one of us hilariously wrong.

This time was different. This silence was a solid, impenetrable thing.

She wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. Worse, she was actively avoiding me. Every night, like clockwork, she would lock herself in the bathroom for hours, the sound of the running water a steady, mournful hum. When I tried to talk to her, to coax her out with a joke or a question about her day, her responses were clipped, hollow things—single syllables that dropped between us like stones. "Fine." "Okay." "Later." She barely ate the meals I left outside her door. She barely drank. She holed up in her room, a space that felt more and more like a foreign country, only emerging for work when she was certain I wouldn't be around to intercept her.

It had never been like this before. We were a team, a unit of two. This fracture felt fundamental, and it was tearing me apart from the inside out.

Logically, I knew it shouldn’t affect the business, but my focus was shattered. I tossed and turned at night, the silence of our apartment pressing down on me, my mind racing in frantic, useless circles. Even when I threw myself into work, sorting tapes or dealing with proxies, my thoughts always, always circled back to her. Was I failing her as a brother? Was I so wrapped up in my own world that I’d missed something crucial in hers? A deep, weary sigh escaped me as I dragged my hands down my face.

Maybe I should just focus on the video rentals. Family matters should stay within the family. Still, a hot coil of guilt tightened in my gut—I had vented to Victoria Housekeeping about this. But they were our friends, our allies, right? Though, judging by the cryptic, slightly concerned look on Rina’s face the last time she’d visited, the conversation hadn't gone as well as I’d hoped.

Just then, the brass bell above the door chimed, its sound unnaturally loud in the quiet shop. One of our Bangboo, toddled over and tugged on my pant leg, signaling urgent proxy business. I forced myself upright, smoothing my expression into something resembling professional competence—

Watermelons. Big, sweet melons...

Rina drifted toward the counter, her movements as fluid and gentle as a leaf on a stream. A soft, almost shy smile played on her lips, but her eyes held a determined glint I couldn't quite place.

"Good afternoon, Wise~" Her voice was warm, like sunlight filtering through leaves, but there was a new, subtle tension in her shoulders. "I hope I’m not interrupting?"

"Rina!" I blinked, caught off guard by her timing. "I wasn’t expecting you today. Here to visit, or… are you actually renting something this time?" I gestured vaguely at the walls of tapes.

"Oh, I came to see Belle~" She tilted her head slightly, her silvery hair catching the dim light. Her smile never wavered, but it seemed… practiced. "Is she home, by any chance?"

"Uh… yeah, she is, but…" I rubbed the back of my neck, the familiar worry creeping back in. "She hasn’t left her room in days. It's like she's part of the furniture now, but sadder and more silent."

Normally, Rina’s visits were for me—sometimes to chat about nothing, sometimes just to hover nearby, her presence a quiet, comforting constant in the chaos. It was endearing, if a little… intense at times.

But she was here for Belle? The last I’d heard, their previous meeting had ended in a stilted, awkward silence. Why try again now? It was sweet, I supposed, that she wanted to mend fences, but this direct approach… it was unlike her usual, more passive style.

"So… I can’t see her?" Her brows dipped slightly, a flicker of genuine disappointment crossing her features before she could mask it. She let out a soft sigh, then held out a beautifully woven basket she’d been holding behind her back. It was covered with a crisp, red-and-white checkered cloth, neatly tied with a bow.

Oh no.

A cold dread, familiar and specific, pooled in my stomach.

"O-oh! How thoughtful of you to bring food!" I forced a wide, hopefully convincing smile onto my face, my mind already racing through excuses. "Did… did you make this yourself?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. The question was a formality, a stall tactic.

"Yeah!" She brightened, though her fingers fidgeted slightly around the wicker handle. "I tried really, really hard this time, though I worried it might be too simple… I didn't want to be too ambitious."

Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and for a moment, she looked almost bashful. Meanwhile, my mind was a frantic search party looking for an escape route. The last time I’d braved her cooking, I’d spent the next hour convinced I could see sounds and taste colors—a deeply unsettling experience.

No. Don’t think about the neon-purple potato salad. Don't.

"I-I’m sure it’s wonderful," I stammered, my hands coming up in a placating gesture, "but Belle hasn’t had much of an appetite lately, and—I’d hate for your hard work to go to waste on her malfunctioning taste buds…"

"Give it to her anyway."

Her tone was firm—uncharacteristically so, cutting through my rambling with quiet authority. I’d never seen her this insistent, this almost territorial about her food.

With a resigned internal sigh, I reached out and took the basket. It was heavier than I expected. My hands trembled slightly as I carefully peeled back the corner of the checkered cloth, bracing for the worst.

Sandwiches?

And… they looked… normal. Edible, even. Astonishingly so.

The bread was a hearty whole grain, toasted to a deep, golden brown—maybe a shade too dark, verging on crisp, but nowhere near the charcoal briquettes of her past attempts. Inside, the cucumbers and tomatoes were sliced with a charming, rustic unevenness, threatening to tumble out, but a large, vibrant green lettuce leaf acted as a brave, structural barrier. The sausage and cheese were cut in thick, generous chunks, making the whole thing resemble a hearty, overstuffed burger more than a dainty sandwich—but they were properly grilled, glistening with a light sheen of oil, not burnt to a bitter, blackened crisp.

"Wow, Rina!" The words burst out of me, laced with genuine, unfeigned shock. "These look… these look amazing!"

"Fu-fu~, thanks, Wise~" She beamed, the relief in her smile so palpable it was like a physical wave of warmth. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture of quiet pride. "It took dozens of tries… I lost count after the seventeenth. These aren't perfect, but they’re the best batch yet. The fire alarm only went off twice."

I scratched the back of my neck, eyeing the sandwiches with a hesitant, but now genuinely curious, smile.

"Mind if I take one? I mean—just to, you know, quality-test it for Belle. A brother's duty and all that—"

"No!"

The word hung in the air, sharp and absolute. I looked at Rina, my eyes wide with surprise. Her own eyes were wide, too, as if she’d startled herself with her own vehemence. Always-polite, always-deferential Rina had just snapped a firm, unyielding "no" at me?

Her entire face flamed a brilliant scarlet. She looked down, clearing her throat awkwardly before backpedaling, her words tumbling out in a rushed, flustered stream. "I-I mean, of course you can! It’s your shop, and… and they’re in your possession now… It’s just… Belle hasn’t been eating well, and she’s so thin now, and I… I’d rather she had most of them. To build up her strength. You understand, right?"

"Oh! Right. Of course. Yeah, that makes sense." I nodded quickly, perhaps too vigorously, tucking the basket safely under the counter as if it were contraband. "I’ll make sure she gets them the moment I’m free. I'll slide them under her door if I have to."

"Thanks." She exhaled, a long, slow breath that seemed to deflate her slightly. Her usual preternatural calm settled back over her like a veil. "And… could you tell her I stopped by? Just so she knows it's from me… specifically."

"Sure thing." I offered a small, reassuring smile, though my mind was whirring with this new, puzzling data.

Rina mirrored the gesture, her own smile softer now, more genuine. Then, in a move that was utterly uncharacteristic, she turned and all but bolted for the door, the bell jingling wildly in her wake. I caught a final glimpse of the tips of her ears, burning a bright, tell-tale red, before the door swung shut.

Well.

That was… unexpected.

Should I be concerned? No—if anything, I was glad Belle was somehow, in some small way, reconnecting with our friends. This was a bridge, however fragile. Still… what had truly happened between them to spur this culinary transformation?

My gaze dropped to the basket hidden under the counter, then lifted toward Belle’s closed door, a solid, silent barrier at the back of the shop. Maybe, just maybe, this was the first small, clumsy step toward fixing whatever had broken between us all.

And if not… well. At least the sandwiches looked genuinely edible this time. That, in itself, felt like a miracle.