Chapter 170. Plastic Sisters
"Lighthearted and fun?"
Bronya muttered under her breath.
She kept feeling that Xander Masato's smile looked off.
Was this game really lighthearted and fun?
"You really are…"
Clicking her tongue inwardly again and again, Sakura set her cup back on the table, relaxed her body, and soothed the ripples in her heart.
But… lighthearted and fun?
She remembered that when he introduced Pokémon, he also told everyone it was a lighthearted, fun game.
So this must be a game like Pokémon—one that brings people laughter.
Sakura had already started to look forward to it.
Catching her breath, Sakura continued.
"In that case, are the terms still the same as what I said just now?"
Before Xander could answer, Sakura added, "That's actually the negotiation floor price the manager leaked to me. If it feels insufficient, should I file another request for approval?"
With an employee like you, your manager's really blessed.
Finding it a bit funny, Xander shook his head.
"No, that's not necessary. This package is already quite good. But I have to be busy with Apex matters for a bit—about half a month or so. I'll only have time to do this after the Entertainment Invitational ends."
He rubbed his chin, calculating the timeline.
"That's absolutely fine," Sakura said.
"And Anti-Entropy's resource allocation and position changes will also need some preparation time for handovers. If you have requirements, you can raise them now."
She took out a tablet, looking brisk and efficient.
"Is that so? Since you say that, then I won't be polite."
His fingertip tapped the tabletop—tap, tap, tap—the crisp beats seemed to knock straight on Sakura's heart.
Dozens of seconds passed quickly.
Xander raised his head and looked at Sakura.
"You should have plenty of advanced modelers with solid technical proficiency, right?"
Sakura nodded.
A big outfit like Anti-Entropy Entertainment certainly didn't lack for talent.
It was just a small card game—how many modelers could it possibly need…
"Oh, then let's start with fifty."
Sakura's hand jolted so hard she almost flung the tablet.
She blurted out in shock, "H-how many?"
Judging from Xander's casual tone, it was like buying vegetables at a street stall.
These were advanced modelers—key resources at Anti-Entropy Entertainment HQ.
Fifty in one bite? Even robbers wouldn't dare rob like this.
Aren't we making a lighthearted, fun little card game?
"Right, fifty does seem a bit few. How about ei—"
"Wait, wait, wait, fifty. Let's start with fifty."
Sakura forced a laugh.
"Those advanced modelers all have specific critical assignments. If we pull too many at once, the pressure on our side will be… pretty big, haha…"
I was shocked because it was too many, not too few.
Sakura ranted wildly in her heart.
"I see, that's a pity," Xander said.
"If advanced modelers aren't enough, then bring in more skilled modelers. Add another fifty or so proficient modelers."
"Mm… okay."
The boast had been made.
Sakura could only grit her teeth, pick up her stylus, and write down the requirements on the tablet with a slight tremble.
"Any… anything else?"
She asked, feeling her liver quiver, afraid he'd raise another outrageous demand.
"Of course there's more."
"Find a team familiar with AR device software development."
"Sakura, you'll serve as team lead, and about fifty people should do."
"Alright."
That one was perfectly reasonable.
Sakura agreed without hesitation.
After that, Xander listed his requests one by one.
All were conditions that were easy enough to meet.
Sakura secretly let out a sigh of relief.
If it stayed like this, she could report back without getting skewered.
"Oh right, I forgot one point."
"Does Anti-Entropy HQ own a printing company with solid tech? And its anti-counterfeiting capability needs to be world-class."
"That we do."
Sakura nodded, then thought to ask, "For a card game, are you planning to make physical cards?"
"We already have AR glasses. Why would we need physical cards?"
Bronya interjected in puzzlement.
"Hey, don't worry about it yet. Just hear me out."
Smiling, Xander gave Bronya's hand a gentle squeeze, then looked to Sakura.
"We'll also need help from the manufacturer producing the companion hardware for the AR glasses. I've got a little gadget I need them to fabricate."
"No problem. I'll report all of this to the manager as is."
She nodded.
For these minor asks, Anti-Entropy wouldn't refuse.
And printing some physical cards?
They could produce them just for Xander's own fun—it's not like they'd sell gangbusters or anything.
"Anything else?"
"No more requirements."
"But this time, I won't be going to North America."
Gensokyo Company was growing bigger and bigger.
As the boss, he couldn't just run off whenever.
"Eh?"
Seeing Sakura's clear distress, the corner of Xander's mouth curled into a smile.
"What's the problem? I can't go, but that doesn't mean you can't come."
"You want us to work in the Far East? But with that many people involved…"
"No need to bring everyone."
"Just bring that fifty-person team over."
"Gensokyo happens to have spare office space."
"As for the modelers and the rest, they can stay at Anti-Entropy and work remotely, with periodic progress reports."
At the end, Xander added, "I can also help with Ling's school registration."
Sakura opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"If it's only that, it should be fine."
She sneaked a smug glance at Bronya.
Bronya quietly gave a thumbs-up under the table.
Since you're here, leaving won't be so easy.
You came, so… don't leave.
Sakura didn't realize in that moment that the snare had already been set.
All that was left was for her to hop in.
"Refreshing."
"In that case—happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!"
Hearing Xander's words, Sakura fully relaxed and reached out to shake his hand.
Business at last concluded, the personal hangout time that followed was much lighter.
No work talk.
The mood at the table was especially harmonious.
Sakura even ordered a bottle of wine.
Riding the vibe, Xander had two glasses and felt a touch tipsy.
By the time dinner ended, the sky was completely dark.
First, they walked Sakura back to the hotel Anti-Entropy had officially rented.
Then the three of them hailed a cab back.
"Brother, you drank too much."
After getting out, Xander had just tried to step forward when Seele took his arm and stopped him.
He turned back, a bit dazed, looking at her.
He drank too much?
How did he not know that himself?
It was only two glasses.
A bit of cold night air sobered him right up.
"I didn't—"
"Brother, you drank too much!"
Her hold tightened.
Seele rose on tiptoe, face almost pressed to his.
"…"
Looking at Seele's rosy cheeks and the meaningful, dewy light in her eyes, Xander instantly caught on and nodded solemnly.
"Right."
"The wine Sakura picked was too strong. I definitely drank too much."
With that, he let his body go slack, closed his eyes, and leaned part of his weight onto Seele.
"Mm. Don't worry."
"Seele will take—good—care of Brother~"
Playing the part, Seele supported Xander's arm.
Bronya: "..."
Alright, alright.
You're not even back in the room yet and you've started the game, huh?
Nice plan, little Seele.
Use "Xander drank too much" as the excuse to cart him straight to the room.
If not for that, at this hour Xander would definitely get snagged by Elysia and the others, kept playing with them until late night, maybe even wander into Fairy Country by mistake and vanish for an evening.
As the roommate sharing the same interests, Bronya naturally wouldn't expose them.
She moved in to prop up Xander's other arm, smiling as she said, "This guy's too heavy."
"I'll take the other side."
Hearing that, Seele lifted her head and exchanged a look with Bronya.
In less than a second, the two silently signed some sort of pact in the air, smiling as they escorted Xander all the way toward the penthouse suite.
Soon, the elevator delivered them to the top floor's small cluster of rooms.
Bronya, still holding Xander's arm, slid her hand from his tight abs up to his chest.
After a few passes—under Seele's mildly displeased gaze—she finally fished the keycard out of his pocket and gave the reader a light swipe.
The door unlocked.
"M-Master… w-welcome home…"
A shy, trembling voice rose slowly.
Seele and Bronya, who had been brewing their lines, both widened their eyes.
Even Xander, feigning drunkenness with eyes closed, cracked one eye open.
Just a few steps in from the entryway, Sirin stood there, face red to the roots, shaking all over.
She didn't dare look at the people at the door.
She bit down, shame practically exploding off her.
Purple hair fanned out, quivering with her body's tiny tremors.
Golden eyes were misted with heavy dew.
She wore an outrageously revealing, battle-damaged maid outfit that basically covered nothing—upper curves, lower abdomen, back muscles, thighs, lace garters, camisole underwear.
She clutched at the utterly useless skirt hem that dangled to her ankles and failed to hide anything no matter what.
Skirt-Hem-san, look at what you've actually protected! .jpg
Head bowed, her quavering voice sounded again.
"So… do you want to e-eat first, or b-bathe first, or, or… do you want to e-eat…"
Mouth open, her overheated, muddled brain just couldn't spit out the last word.
Sirin felt her reason slipping away.
At last, everyone seemed to hear a taut string snap.
Sirin's slightly broken voice rang out at once.
"No, I can't. I just can't. This is way too embarrassing!"
Crying out, Sirin turned tail and ran, bolting for the bathroom.
At the door, her foot caught.
Thunk—her forehead smacked the door panel.
"Owie!"
Ignoring the pain, Sirin yanked the door open and slammed herself inside.
In the bathroom, the sound of fabric being ripped soon followed.
In the living room, the girls seated in a circle looked at one another.
A few seconds passed before Elysia coughed lightly.
"Ahem."
"This counts as Sirin passing, right?"
"After all, it wouldn't be good if a girl was truly made sad."
"I have no objections," Kiana raised her hand.
The others shook their heads as well.
"What are you all doing?"
Bronya slipped off her shoes and stepped on Xander's foot, telling him to close the eye he'd opened to look at Sirin.
Then, as she and Seele helped Xander in, she asked, confused.
"Of course it's Truth or Dare, which can deepen everyone's bonds."
"We've known each other for so long."
"It's time we were less reserved and more intimate."
Chin lifted, Elysia spoke happily.
"Since Duckie, you're back with Seele and Xander, come join in—it's lots of fun."
"We'll pass," Bronya said, shaking her head.
She hitched up the arm she was holding and put on a helpless tone.
"This guy just drank."
"Seele and I are going to put him to bed."
"You all play first."
"Drank too much?" Elysia blinked.
Xander, drunk?
She often drank with Xander and Eden.
She knew his tolerance—no matter how much, he never ended up like this.
Not far away, Kaguya frowned as well.
Husband… drunk?
Impossible.
They hadn't been gone that long.
And if it was strictly business, even if Welt himself showed up, Husband wouldn't drink to this state.
Faking?
Elysia and Kaguya thought the same thing.
They quickly put two and two together.
Nicely played.
Kaguya didn't mind—she could choose to join in anyway.
But the corner of Elysia's mouth ticked up.
Her smile stayed sweet, her look "innocent."
"That's really a pity."
"But Duckie, it's enough for just one of you to look after Xander."
"When he's drunk he's very well-behaved."
"Put him on the bed and he'll sleep like a lamb."
"Everyone's really looking forward to playing with you two."
"So leave one person to stay with us, okay?"
Hearing that, Bronya's heart dropped.
Uh-oh.
This pink-haired fae clearly knew exactly what Xander was like drunk.
This line was both a threat and a sow-discord open gambit.
Too baby.
She turned her head immediately and met Seele's gaze.
"Bronya-sis."
Seeing those eyes with three parts pleading, three parts put-upon, and the remaining ninety-four parts all little-sister scheming, Bronya's mouth twitched despite herself.
After a moment's silence, Bronya let go of Xander's arm of her own accord.
"Seele loves Bronya-sis the most."
"Heh-heh."
At that sweet smile, Bronya felt her heart turn as cold as a Siberian winter.
Sisterly affection?
Heh.
What a joke.
She turned and left, without the slightest hesitation.
Not until she sat down beside Elysia.
Not until Seele's hand rested on the handle of the innermost bedroom door.
Clinging close to Bronya's arm, Elysia's sweet voice rang out again.
She even raised the volume on purpose, as if to make sure a certain someone heard.
"The grand prize for the ultimate winner this time is Xander's signed 'Do-Anything Voucher.'"
"How about it, Duckie—excited?"
Seele's hand froze on the doorknob.
Bronya smiled.
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