Chapter 118. A Game We Absolutely Won't Lose!
Sneaking up behind Ken Sugisaki, Xander took advantage of his inattention, rushed forward, threw an arm around his neck, and bumped him so hard he stumbled.
"Yo, it's been a year—you've gotten a lot taller~"
Ken Sugisaki had been a little angry about being bumped, but the moment he heard that familiar voice, his expression melted into a smile.
"You punk, you mess with me the moment you're back, huh."
He raised a fist and thumped Xander on the shoulder, and when he noticed Xander acting just like before, Ken Sugisaki quietly let out a breath.
"Tch, who told you to stand here spacing out. Right—where are Iori and Grandpa Kirito? Where are those two?"
"They're sitting inside, just waiting for you."
"Then what are we waiting for—let's go~"
"Okay, okay~"
It wasn't just Ken Sugisaki. Xander also let out a breath in relief.
He'd really worried his relationship with his brothers would become like Kong Yiji and Runtu—separated by a pathetic thick wall—and that would be way too miserable.
But when he walked into the private room and saw Iori Kitahara and Grandpa Kirito laughing happily, Xander instantly realized he'd been overthinking it.
Grandpa Kirito wasn't very versed in social niceties, while Iori was simply straightforward and a bit dopey, and only Ken Sugisaki was the one who tended to overthink things.
The four of them sat around the table, and after just a few words, they were back in their old groove.
"At the time we thought you'd gone off to do who knows what, and then without a word you turn up with something like this. That's really something."
When the topic turned to Pokémon, Iori Kitahara sighed as he poured oolong tea.
"Now that you know how awesome your bro is, shouldn't you kneel and kowtow twice."
"Get lost!"
With a laughing curse, Iori handed out the poured oolong tea to the others.
The scene left the other three momentarily dumbfounded. They looked at each other, their eyes subtly strange.
"What's with you guys?"
Seeing the three suddenly fall silent, Iori asked in confusion.
Without answering him, the three each fished a lighter out of the private room's drawer, lit the flame, and held it over the surface of the oolong tea. Only when they saw it wouldn't catch fire did they breathe out in relief.
At that, how could Iori not understand what his brothers were thinking. He said, half laughing, half crying, "Hey, hey, hey, you guys. You watched me pour the oolong tea. How could I have secretly swapped it for booze!"
"Given there's… precedent, we can't not guard against it."
Ken Sugisaki sighed.
"Has my credibility really fallen this far?" Iori was flabbergasted, slapping the table in protest.
The three exchanged glances again, then nodded to him in perfect unison.
"You… you all…"
Seeing Iori's twisted-up expression, the three couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing, and in the end even Iori was laughing along with them.
This kind of pure joy, free of any extra baggage, really did make people feel light.
Only after they finished eating did Xander bring up the real business.
"By the way, you three are reporting to the company tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. Planning to take the morning train."
All three nodded.
"I see. The company's pretty close to St. Freya. If going back and forth feels like a hassle, you can apply to Logistics for the employee dorms. They're right next to the company—really close."
When Xander finished, Ken Sugisaki asked, "How are our jobs going to be arranged?"
Iori Kitahara and Grandpa Kirito immediately pricked up their ears.
"Job arrangement, huh. Perfect timing—I was just about to tell you."
He set his backpack on his lap, lowered his head, and pulled a document folder out of it.
"Having you do other things would waste your abilities, so for now you'll follow me and make a simple game to get familiar first. The St. Freya Mini-Game Festival—remember it?"
"Of course I remember. Isn't that where you released your first game? Back then we all went to help," Ken Sugisaki chimed in.
No, that actually wasn't the first game.
With a silent gripe, Xander kept his face straight and nodded. "As long as you remember. The company's dev division is split into different teams. Scarlet Devil Mansion and Eientei aren't hiring for now. Since there are only three of you, we'll temporarily list you separately to follow me. Once you're familiar, I'll assign you to a new team. As for what you three will be in charge of later… we'll see how you coordinate on the upcoming game. Try different facets and see what suits you best."
"And the game you'll make will participate in this Mini-Game Festival."
At that, Grandpa Kirito frowned a little. "There's less than three months left before the Mini-Game Festival starts. Won't the schedule be tight?"
"Relax. I've already written the game design doc for you. Letting you design it solo right out of the gate would be asking too much."
He waved the document folder in his hand at them, dispelling Grandpa Kirito's doubts along with it.
"This is our target, then?"
"Mm. There are three copies inside. Read them when you get back. Divide up tasks among yourselves, then report back to me. If there's anything you don't get, ask me anytime."
This was already spoon-feeding them. The three exchanged looks, then solemnly accepted the document folder from him.
To be trained by Xander with this much thought and care—no need to think hard to know what that means.
As for worrying about being pigeonholed into this field on purpose, they'd have to be brainless to think that. They already loved games, and now they had a chance to enter a company with unlimited potential. Working under their own brother meant not having to care about stuffy red tape. What could be better than this?
Seeing them looking like they were about to catch fire, Xander arched a brow with a smile. "Well—confident about placing in the Mini-Game Festival?"
"Of course. We'll bring you back the championship!" Iori Kitahara patted his chest, full of confidence.
"I'll do my best!" Grandpa Kirito nodded vigorously.
"Don't worry. With the four of us brothers, a mere Mini-Game Festival is something we can casually cut down beneath our horses!" Ken Sugisaki gave a thumbs-up, his pearly teeth practically gleaming.
"Alright then, you said it~ If you don't take first…"
"Then I'll bring my head to you!"
Iori got hot-blooded in an instant, waving his hand and making his guarantee!
"..."
That left both Kirito and Ken Sugisaki at a loss, and Xander also froze for a beat before smiling wickedly. "Alright. But a reminder: the whole Scarlet Devil Mansion team will also make a game to enter, led by the other two."
"Can I take that back?"
"Nope~"
…
By the time they got home it was already very late.
Grandpa Kirito greeted Suguha and then headed straight to his room. He turned on the desk lamp, sat down, took out the file Xander had given them, and began studying it carefully.
The very first page was the game's title, and Grandpa Kirito read it out in a low voice.
"Plants vs. Zombies?"
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