Chapter 63. That One?
Back then, to take first place, she had carefully studied the top ten games—Arhat α included, of course.
Now that Bronya asked, she could naturally speak at length.
"First, about the game's onboarding.
On this point, this concubine feels it's done very well."
Hearing that, Bronya perked up, and her eyes brightened a touch.
"At the start it only teaches WASD for up, down, left, and right movement, plus Jump.
But the more advanced operations are placed into the level design."
"For example, holding Jump lets you go higher than tapping it.
I remember a small raised platform in the first stage that can only be reached by holding Jump.
This kind of design that says not a single line yet lets players grasp the controls inside the game—this concubine thinks it's excellent."
"I'm impressed you could pick that out."
Under the radiance of To the Moon, all of them "stepping stones" seemed like plain rocks.
But if you put those stones in the dark, you'd definitely find the specks of phosphorescence upon them.
To fight into the top few among hundreds of titles, each definitely has its own unique shine.
"After all, it left a deep impression.
It let this concubine rediscover the joy of playing games for the first time.
And the subsequent onboarding…"
Kaguya then went on to lavish praise on the highlights in Bronya's designs, to the point that Bronya felt a bit embarrassed.
She hurriedly waved her hands and demurred.
"It's really nothing.
Just picking up others' wisdom.
I referenced a lot from Super Mario for these designs.
It's nowhere as amazing as you say."
Kaguya only smiled and shook her head.
"Which game today doesn't carry traces of Super Mario?
In the end, we all learn along the way.
But some can make good games, and some fade silently into the dust of history.
In this concubine's view, Arhat α is a game worth playing."
At that moment, Bronya suddenly felt that Kaguya wasn't so disagreeable after all.
Although she was Xander's fiancée, she liked Bronya's game.
Even if there might be no stopping Xander's philandering in the future, if it were living together with someone like Kaguya who understood her, maybe that wasn't unacceptable?
It was certainly better than Elysia—the one who had them set off fireworks to "help" her and Xander heat things up—right?!
Sometimes, whether you resist or not depends on a single reason you agree with.
Seeing Bronya gradually relax toward her, the smile at the corner of Kaguya's lips deepened.
She had no intention of sowing discord.
She wasn't here to break this family up.
She was here to join it!
With the experience of having fully produced a hit game, a casual sentence from Kaguya again and again sparked Bronya's thoughts and resonance.
That guy Xander was too monstrously talented; every time she talked with him, it felt like a teacher instructing a student.
Though that kind of "play" wasn't bad either, it was only when she met Kaguya that she realized how joyful it was to talk freely with a friend who truly understood her.
At first, Xander had worried that Bronya would make things hard for Kaguya.
But watching their conversation grow livelier, he relaxed.
He really shouldn't have doubted the social skills of someone trained in such matters from childhood.
Still, looking at them now, why did it feel like he was the extra one?
Kaguya, however, noticed him idle to the side.
She quietly reached out and took his hand, giving him a sweet smile.
Before he could think more, he felt his other hand gently taken by another warm little hand.
Turning his head, he just happened to meet Bronya's teasing gaze, with a hint of feigned reproach.
He could tell both of their hands were placed in the blind spots of the other's field of view.
Alright, so that's how we're playing this.
Not gonna lie, it's a bit thrilling.
Heh.
As time ticked by, Kaguya seemed to put down her reserve and grew more casual.
The education she'd received since childhood let her keep smooth, surface-level conversations with most kinds of people.
But when she tried to shed that facade and reveal her true self—this feeling of not needing to worry too much, of discussing things freely like friends—deeply enchanted her.
If, from now on, she could live together with her Lord Husband, Seele, and Bronya, that would surely be very happy indeed.
At this moment, she suddenly felt that losing to her Lord Husband at the Game Festival had been a stroke of luck.
Otherwise, she might still be walking on thin ice in that cold family for the sake of that charity-like "freedom."
Thinking so, she unconsciously tightened her hold on her Lord Husband's warm hand.
Click.
The sound of the door opening cut into the trio's chat.
Seele came in carrying a few glasses of juice and freshly made snacks.
"Brother, why didn't you tell Seele when you came upstairs?
Seele thought you went out."
If not for the faint laughter drifting from upstairs, Seele would've thought her Brother had snuck off with his fiancée.
"Sorry, sorry.
Kaguya said she was really interested in games, so I brought her to the studio to take a look.
I forgot to tell you, Seele."
Seeing Seele, Kaguya and Bronya almost simultaneously let go of his hands, which he found a bit of a pity.
"It's fine.
Seele was just worried the freshly made pastries would have no one to eat.
Since everyone is here, that's no problem."
Setting the tray on the table in the middle, Seele rose on tiptoes, dragged a chair over, and sat down at her Brother's side.
"Seele, you finally came."
"What is it, Brother?"
"Nothing.
It's just they were so caught up in chatting that they froze me out.
I couldn't get a word in.
If you hadn't come, I might have ended up all alone and shut down."
His deliberately goofy tone made Seele giggle.
She lifted her soft little hand and tapped his shoulder.
"Brother is exaggerating."
The sight piqued Kaguya's curiosity.
She was gradually discovering the mischievous streak hidden beneath her Lord Husband's mature exterior, and she couldn't help but smile.
Bronya, for her part, shot him a sidelong glance, amused.
They had just secretly been playing some "special little games" with him to make Seele happy, and yet he was still saying that on purpose.
"Since everyone's here—Bronya, can we take that thing out and test it first?"
"That thing?"
Bronya hesitated.
"Yes, that one!"
"Do we really have to use that?"
"It's fine.
Let them try the simple parts first, and save that one for last."
"Alright.
Give me a sec and I'll pull it up."
This stream of "encrypted" talk left Kaguya and Seele completely at a loss, until Bronya pulled up a somewhat rough game screen.
Only then did they start to catch on.
"The map's barely been built, but part of the combat system is in already.
Seele, Kaguya, want to give it a try?"
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