Dual Souls, The Other Half is Bronya

A small, white-haired boy suddenly appeared, sitting on the edge of the neighboring table with keen interest. "To think you'd defeat that Swordsman Killer so easily—that's quite impressive~"

"Bronya recognizes you."

To this, Bronya showed no surprise. "Miyuki Sawarabi, vice president of the Broken Blade Academy student council. And the treasurer, Kudoh Kanata-senpai."

"Bronya used a dining knife, only reinforced with Magic Power. That shouldn't violate school rules, right."

"??? Wait, why do you call me by my first name? Aren't I your senior too?"

Do you really need to ask why? Miyuki Sawarabi, looking all small and with that personality... has none of the dignity of a senior.

Bronya said nothing, only giving him a look for him to figure out himself. "Alright, Ikki, Bronya should be heading back soon."

"As for that person just now, he should be from Greedy Wolf Academy. If memory serves... his name is Kurashiki Kurato?"

While speaking, she packed up her belongings. "You could ask Ayatsuji-senpai about this. Once you've thought it through, Ikki can decide what to do next."

"How was it today?"

In the dorm, White Night was still sprawled on the sofa. His body had mostly recovered, but his heart was tired.

"Not bad. Bronya met that Swordsman Killer. There's nothing worth learning from his swordsmanship."

Bronya walked over to the side on her own, sat down, and continued grinding records on her handheld. "As for what comes next, Bronya doesn't plan to follow up. It has no meaning for 'me.'"

"Then don't go~"

Shrugging, White Night habitually sidled up to Bronya. "There's no need to think about it at all. Compared to anything else, your feelings matter more."

"I looked it up online today too. That Ayatsuji Kaito seems to have severe physical decline due to heart disease."

"White Night's memory has declined pretty severely too."

Bronya pressed the buttons rapidly, still in that flat tone of complaint. "Kaito-san accepted that guy's duel and is now unconscious."

"But this is our specialty~"

As he spoke, White Night edged closer, careful not to touch Bronya or disturb her gaming. "Just wake him up, right?"

"...Bronya understands. Then tomorrow's training, Bronya will have to trouble White Night again. As for Kaito-san's side, Bronya will handle it."

After all, she had studied under Yakushi Kiriko. Though her reputation wasn't widespread, her medical skills were top-notch.

On the other side, Ikki had also received the selection tournament notice. His next opponent was Ayatsuji Kira.

After that, Ayatsuji Kira stopped coming to the Kurogane Training Class. Everyone had expected that. But as for White Night and Bronya...

"Come to think of it, White Night hasn't shown up in a while." As a friend on the level of swordsmanship, Ikki was genuinely concerned.

"Not just White Night."

Beside him, Stella swung her greatsword and added, "Bronya too. We used to train together, but after that day, who knows where they went."

"So, Stella-san, what happened that day to cause such a big change?"

"I don't know."

The golden greatsword swung powerfully. At least in training, Stella was serious enough. "She told Ikki to ask Ayatsuji-senpai, but didn't the senpai run off? There was no chance to find out."

In a pure white hospital room, electronic medical devices hummed quietly. A gaunt middle-aged man lay on the bed.

"Ayatsuji Kaito, known as 'The Last Samurai.'"

A small, delicate hand brushed over the bed rail as Bronya arrived silently. "The torment of illness has brought him to this state."

"Then, let's begin work."

Perhaps out of habit, Bronya also liked to wear a white lab coat when engaged in medical work.

Thunderlight flickered as she sterilized her bare hands, then carefully performed a full examination on the patient...

—Bronya didn't wear gloves. Direct contact gave more accurate data. She used Bioelectricity, which could penetrate the skin to scan the interior.

Hmm...

After a long while, Bronya had a rough idea in her mind. "Mainly cranial bone damage, causing a mild concussion to the brain."

"But the rest—27 minor injuries, 89 hidden injuries—can't be ignored either."

"..."

A moment of silence. Bronya sighed softly. "This really is... not taking care of oneself at all. But without going this far, he wouldn't have achieved what he has, right?"

"Forget it. Bronya is only responsible for treatment."

A spark of electricity flickered at her fingertips as she severed tiny nerves one by one, easing his pain.

Visibly, the man's body relaxed. Even his gaunt face gradually softened. "It seems Bronya's skill hasn't declined."

"Next..."

Pausing slightly, Bronya unilaterally initiated a mental link with White Night. "What are you doing?"

"Damn! What the hell? I'm training (fighting for my life) over here!"

"BOOM—!"

The earth shook and mountains swayed. Even without being on-site, Bronya could feel the intensity on the other side. "Xiao Bai, what's wrong? Your reactions are slow~"

"Ning Yin, I have something going on here..."

White Night transformed into a bolt of lightning, pulling back in an instant, trying to create distance from Ning Yin. But the surging gravity in the arena... he failed.

"Looks like White Night hasn't dealt with it yet."

"???"

"Well then, sorry about this!"

Bronya's words carried not a trace of emotion, which made White Night realize something. "Wait! I..."

But clearly, it was already too late. An invisible stream of consciousness flowed through their connection, suppressing White Night's thoughts.

[Not good, this is going to hurt!]

Terrifying gravity crashed down! And then... Bronya's side fell quiet. After all, they were all herself anyway—no one would die, so she had zero qualms about screwing them over.

"That should do it."

Nodding, Bronya continued the surgery—the brain is the most delicate structure in the human body. Operating on it next meant eliminating all possible interference!

Bronya wasn't a Water Mage like Kiko; her lightning attribute focused more on destructive power, so she needed to be extra careful with the procedure.

"..."

In the silence, only the sound of instruments running remained. Bronya worked meticulously, stimulating the cerebral cortex with electric currents, waking the other person as gently as possible.

Maybe a minute passed, maybe an hour? With her mind so intensely focused, Bronya had no idea how much time had gone by. But...

"Whew~ Finally done."

She raised a hand to wipe the fine sweat from her brow, letting out a long breath as she relaxed. "Interfering with others is way harder than doing it to myself."

"Mr. Ayatsuji, once you're awake, consider transferring to another hospital." Bronya left a business card behind and Elementalized away.

19. Yakushi General Hospital

"So that's what it was..."

What Bronya said back then—this was what she meant.

In the small park, Ikki sat wearily on a bench, while Stella and the others gathered around analyzing the situation.

Ikki had been thoroughly deceived, and the destruction it caused had drawn Chairwoman Kurogane's attention, through which he learned about Ayatsuji Ayase's story.

"Indeed, that's a cruel tale."

Arisugawa remained very calm. Though he was usually unreliable, deep down he was an assassin. "Everything she loved was taken from her. She's been backed into a corner."

"But that's exactly why she's so strong—like a cornered beast fighting for its life. In the match, she'll definitely come at you with no regard for anything."

"So, what are you going to do, Ikki?" As his lover, Stella cared more about his thoughts.

Facing his lover's question, Ikki nodded slightly, his will firm. "Of course I'll fight with everything I've got! Anything less would be disrespectful to Ayatsuji."

"Is that so? But she used such despicable tactics..." As his sister, Shizuku spoke up for him.

"Shizuku."

Just that one word from Ikki, and Shizuku fell silent, though a hint of defiance lingered in her heart.

"Stella, would you come with me?"

Ikki stood up a bit unsteadily. Even so, a smile still hung on his face. "Before the match starts, there's something I have to do."

When the selection tournament officially began:

"According to the rules, setting traps in advance is a violation. Logically, she should be disqualified."

A bolt of lightning slowly coalesced into form. Bronya crossed her arms, propping up her ample chest, leaning against the entrance tunnel for the competitors. "Looks like he still went through with it."

—Before the match started, Ikki had gone to see Ari-chan, asking that Ayatsuji not be penalized, and that he would face her head-on.

"But even so, how will you win, Ayatsuji Ayase? Relying on those shoddy traps?"

Even with her eyes closed, Bronya could sense it... on that competition ground, countless sword scars. Likewise, this was naturally nothing to Ikki.

"Nothing worth watching." Withdrawing her gaze, Bronya closed her silver-pink eyes and waited for the match to end.

[Winner: Kurogane Ikki!]

As expected, even without One Blade Arrogance, Ikki still claimed victory. Of course, unlike in the original story, he wasn't drenched in blood from head to toe and was able to walk out of the arena steadily.

"Bronya has been waiting for you two for a long time." In the entrance tunnel, a slightly milky voice rang out.

She didn't offer much commentary, simply leaving a sentence before turning away. "Bronya knows what you're planning. But before that, I suggest you go to the hospital first."

Ikki and Ayatsuji Ayase looked at each other.

"Um... is Bronya always like this?" Ayatsuji Ayase asked in a weak voice.

"Ah, probably..." Ikki scratched his head, not entirely sure himself. "But since she said so, it's better to go check it out."

The emaciated man sat upright on the hospital bed. Light streamed softly through the window, casting a gentle glow across his face.

A plain hospital business card was retrieved, pinched between two of the man's withered fingers, revealing the black lettering upon it. "Yakushi General Hospital?"

Click~

With the sound of the door opening, the moment her gaze landed, Ayatsuji Shunya froze. One hand rose silently to clamp tightly over her mouth, and tears glimmered faintly in her eyes.

"...Otosan!"

After a moment of emotion building, Ayatsuji Shunya could no longer suppress the feelings surging from her heart. She threw herself forward with a loud cry, "Waaah--! Otosan, Otosan..."

Seeing this, Ikki tactfully withdrew from the ward, and then spotted Bronya leaning against the wall. "So it was you after all, Bronya."

"Has Ikki forgotten what Byakuya's name is? Yakushi Byakuya—that's his full name."

"Yakushi... the 'White Knight'?"

After this, Ayatsuji Kaito was also transferred to Yakushi Hospital, where he received more meticulous treatment from Yakushi Kiriko. Though his heart condition remained incurable, at least it no longer affected his daily life.

"Bro↗nya↘"

A day later, Byakuya had recovered as well. His form materialized from pure white Yang Lightning, and he turned to look at Bronya with a face full of goodwill.

"But Byakuya's fine now, isn't he?"

Since it was herself, Bronya felt not a single pang of conscience, and spoke without mercy.