Chapter 82. New Year's Plan
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, the flaming is really fierce."
Watching the ever-escalating online flame war, Bronya clicked her tongue in amazement at the computer.
As time went on, the power of White Album started to show, and now you could open any galgame site at random and see a flood of oppositional debates.
Honestly, if you actually played the game, most players would like both heroines.
But the problem is that the discussion is happening on the internet.
Opposition and conflict always draw the eye, and the web lets many players take off their real-life masks and speak less rationally.
With a few extreme fans deliberately stoking things, a quarrel inevitably broke out.
Even if everyone likes both characters, people always have their preferences.
Seeing your favorite get dragged online will spark a fire even in the mildest person.
And the White Album anime also followed right after Christmas and began airing.
With quality so polished it was practically impeccable, it burst out of the niche and went viral, spreading the flames across the entire web and even grabbing multiple trending spots.
For Kaguya, this was the first thing her husband had asked her to help with, so she of course completed it without counting the cost.
She believed that when the finale actually airs in a few months, the "war" will be even more brutal.
That airport scene is a bit too outrageous.
In the room, the group listened to Xander talk on and on, and suddenly showed expressions of dawning realization.
Seele squeezed into the same chair with her brother.
She leaned on him, tugged the hem of his clothes, and asked curiously, "Since Brother knows this would happen, why not stop it?"
"Why stop it?"
Before Xander could answer, Bronya spoke up.
"Eh? We're not going to intervene?"
"This kind of across-the-net buzz isn't something you can always buy with money."
Scooting her chair closer, Bronya suddenly felt the armrest between her and Xander was getting in the way.
"Bronya's right. Don't be fooled by how intense the arguing looks. These people are actually fans of our game and anime. They're our customers—how could we point fingers at our gods? And besides…"
Xander's lips curled into a smile.
"Doesn't this feel very interesting?"
Players vent their emotions, bystanders get their fun, and the game harvests heat.
That's a win-win-win.
That last sentence is your real thought, isn't it, Brother!
Seele silently griped, pouted, then closed her eyes and simply sprawled in Brother's arms.
Brother is too bad.
Seele definitely has to keep an eye on him and stop him from going out to lead others astray.
"It is interesting. Look—the moment they finish cursing the other side, they start cursing you."
Bronya laughed and opened a post.
Reading the comments like "Xander the Old Thief and I are irreconcilable!" and "Xander the Old Thief is just a scriptwriter; what does he know about Setsuna and Touma? Pah!", Xander instinctively wiped away nonexistent cold sweat, then gave a dry laugh.
"Ahem, ahem. Outstanding people naturally draw some criticism. It's fine, it's fine…"
Knock—knock—knock.
At the sound of knocking, Kaguya came in carrying a tray of freshly made juice.
She set the cups on the table near them and immediately received cheerful thanks from all three.
Smiling and waving it off, Kaguya saw there was no space to squeeze in, so she simply stood behind her husband, bent down, and wrapped her arms around his neck, her soft chest resting atop his head.
Not large, but enough.
Silently giving his verdict in his heart, Xander suddenly saw a straw from one cup held in front of him.
"Husband, would you like to try mine?"
Her gentle voice sounded by his ear, and when he looked up he met Kaguya's tender gaze.
Just as he was about to drink, two more straws joined in.
"Brother, try Seele's!"
"Mine tastes good too, Xander—hurry and try it."
"..."
Staring at the three straws lined up in front of him—clearly already used and beaded with droplets—and at the three pairs of expectant eyes behind them, Xander patted his stomach and looked at the cup in his own hand that he'd barely touched.
Welp, I'm probably going to make a few extra trips to the restroom today.
…
Burp—
Rubbing his stomach, now flooded with juice, Xander slumped in his chair and half-closed his eyes, enjoying Kaguya's and Seele's attentions.
Standing behind him, Kaguya bent down and slowly kneaded his shoulders, the softness against his head pressing in rhythmic time with her motions.
Seele, not to be outdone, hugged Brother's arm and gently kneaded it.
Glancing at Bronya, who wasn't making any move, Xander lifted his only free right hand and gave a pointed blink.
Seeing that, Bronya smacked her lips in annoyance and rolled her eyes, but under his gaze she finally—very reluctantly—tugged his arm over and buried it in the deepest valley among the three.
Tsk, this is the life.
Softness enveloped him.
In a lazy tone, Xander said, "By the way, tomorrow is New Year's. Kaguya said she plans to go pay respects and make a wish. Do you want to go?"
"Pay respects?"
"Mm. This concubine plans to visit the nearby Moriya Shrine."
Anticipation flashed in Kaguya's eyes.
This time it wouldn't be the usual cold ceremony, but a joyful outing with family and friends.
"I'm fine with that."
"Seele wants to go too!"
Aside from the nighttime festival, the three besides Kaguya weren't that interested, but since Kaguya was, it was fine to accompany her—and it would be a chance to experience the local customs.
"Great, then let's all go together!"
She clapped her hands, unable to hide the happiness blooming on her face.
"In the morning we'll go to the shrine, then later in the morning we'll go out shopping together, in the afternoon we'll head to the hot spring we reserved, and at night we'll join the festival."
She listed tomorrow's plan item by item while swatting at the unruly hand that had slyly unbuttoned and slipped into her neckline.
"Packed to the brim."
"Yeah, and the day after tomorrow we have to head back to Siberia."
At that, Xander grimaced.
"Siberia…"
Thinking about getting on a plane again, he suddenly missed the passenger ship they'd taken on the way here.
Standing at the bow hugging Seele and reenacting "You jump, I jump" in the sea breeze—wouldn't that be nice?
Why did it have to be that high-flying contraption.
"Siberia…"
Kaguya's expression shifted too, because this time Xander was dragging her back with him as well.
Remembering the first time she saw that strong-willed lady Cocolia at the banquet, Kaguya had already imagined the scene of her flinging a bank card in Kaguya's face and saying with disdain, "I'll give you five hundred million. Leave my son."
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