"Surprise!"
|| ||
Turning towards the door, what met his line of sight was a woman with strikingly similar features to Belle.
The only difference they had would be the woman's eyes. They were pitch black.
'Her name was Brianna, right?'
While Brandon pondered in his seat, Belle abruptly got up.
"Mom!"
She ran towards Brianna and locked her in a tight embrace as the woman did the same.
"My baby girl! Good to see you!"
As the two continued to lock in an embrace, Brandon stayed seated in a daze.
He didn't know how to approach her or how the original Brandon Locke would act around her.
Unknowingly lost in his thoughts, Brianna called out for him.
"Brandon! Why aren't you coming to greet your Mother?"
"..."
Brandon abruptly stood up as well, albeit-awkwardly.
"Brandon?"
Brianna tilted her head. Then turned to look at Belle.
"What's wrong with your Brother?"
"What about him?"
Belle seemed confused as well.
After all, she didn't know about the original Brandon Locke during his teenage years.
Brianna turned towards Brandon and pinched her chin.
"Something about him is different. I just can't quite put my finger on it."
Brandon's body twitched at her words. Cold sweat protruded from his back, and he could feel his palms start to sweat.
Trying to compose himself, Brandon slowly closed his eyes.
Then...
"Mom! It's so good to see you too!"
With a smile on his face, he ran towards Brianna and joined the two's embrace.
He closed his eyes and silently prayed that Brianna wouldn't find any suspicions anymore.
And to his surprise...
"Ah, nevermind."
Brandon breathed a sigh of relief.
He seemed to be safe.
For now at least.
After their greetings, the three walked towards the dining table and took a seat.
Belle sat next to Brianna, while Brandon sat at the chair in the middle of the table.
Belle pursed her lips and turned towards Brianna.
"So? What's with the sudden visit, Mom?"
"Hehe, I just want to see if my two kids are getting along."
Belle leaned her elbow on the table, as her hand supported her head.
She then shifted her gaze towards Brandon and opened her mouth.
"He's quite different from back then. But we are getting along."
After those words left Belle's mouth, Brianna turned her head to look at Brandon.
"Hmm? He didn't seem that different when he greeted me though?"
"Yes, but lately he's been kind of... aloof?"
"Eh? Really?"
The two women stared directly at Brandon who stayed silently seated.
Brandon could feel his palms start to get sweatier by the second. Cold sweat started to bead from his forehead as well.
In front of him, Brianna pinched her chin and continued to stare at him.
Brandon's eyes started to dart around, trying to ease himself from the tension.
The woman's voice then reached his ears.
"Hmm... I think he's just playing a character. Probably from an anime he had recently watched."
Belle chimed in as well. Her eyes widened as her tone raised.
"Ah, he was quite an otaku back then."
"..."
They weren't far off.
It seemed like the original Brandon and the current Brandon had quite the similar hobbies.
Back in his old world, Brandon would agree that he was an avid otaku.
But...
'How did you reach that conclusion...?'
Yes, it wasn't far off.
But it was quite a stretch as well.
'Am I actually aloof?'
He didn't know.
But from what he could recall from his previous interactions with the others. He realized that
he had started speaking less ever since the party.
He was now facing a dilemma.
'An identity crisis...'
But he knew the reason for his sudden change.
'The world...'
His experiences in this world were gradually changing him.
"Pff..."
He was quickly snapped out of his thoughts as a chuckle reached his ears.
Gazing in front of him, the two women covered their mouths with their hands, trying to stop themselves from laughing.
"...'
Belle removed her hands from her lips. She flashed him a smile as her lips parted to say,
"Pff... I haven't seen you make that face in a while."
"....?"
Brandon was taken aback.
It seemed like the two women were poking fun at him
Not that he actually minded.
He knew he needed this kind of atmosphere after everything that happened.
Gazing in front of him, the two women had stopped their teasing, and Belle turned towards
Brianna once again.
"But Mom, what are you really here for?"
"Oh? Like I said, I just wanted to see-"
"I know how busy you and Dad are. So what is this really about?"
Belle cut her off.
At Belle's interrogation, Brianna retrieved her phone.
She continuously clicked the screen and stood up.
After finding whatever she was looking for, Brianna flashed her phone for both of the siblings
to see.
A smile etched on her face.
"Ta da~"
"...'
From what Brandon could discern, her screen showed what seemed to be a room.
Scanning the phone, Belle tilted her head.
"Eh? What are you trying to tell us?
"The two of you will be moving here."
"...What for? This place isn't so bad." "You've seen the news, right?"
As those words left Brianna's mouth, Belle quickly stole a glance at Brandon.
She then shifted her gaze back to Brianna, who seemed to not have noticed it.
"Yeah."
Of course they've seen the news.
The incident regarding Felix and the Osborn company made waves on the internet after all.
It wouldn't be too far stretched to say that everyone knew about it.
"The world isn't a safe place anymore, and this apartment's security is quite lax."
It was true.
Despite being a lavish apartment complex, once you come outside, you'd be immediately
greeted by the bustling part of the street.
Brandon sat silent the whole time, observing the two.
Belle seemed unconvinced. Maybe she had some sentimental value with the current place.
Belle tilted her head once again.
"So is that place any better?"
"It's quite expensive. But as long as you two are safe. Money isn't a problem."
"I see. I'll think about it. What's the name? I'll look it up."
Brianna tapped her phone again, most likely checking for the apartment's name.
She then raised her head and pursed her lips.
"Asa... Asami Complex. Ah, I forgot to mention, but it's quite close to the Academy as well."
"Ah."
At the mention of 'Asami', Brandon's eyes shot wide open.
He knew just exactly what the building was.
Or rather, who owned it. Brandon had immediately caught Belle and Brianna's attention, as they both locked their eyes
with him.
Brianna tilted her head with a curious expression.
"Brandon? What's wrong?"
"I think I know who owns that building."