Chapter 188. Kiana: Sirin, go easy
"How was it?"
After a long telling, Elysia took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and asked with a smile.
"A very nice story, but…"
Looking at Elysia, Kaguya's eyes held a bit of disdain. "Back then, Husband was still a little kid, wasn't he?"
"Yep. Xander was super cute when he was little~"
Not noticing Kaguya's look, Elysia replied happily, only for Kaguya's next words to leave her stunned on the spot.
"Girls mature earlier than boys by nature. Back then, Husband was still a child whose mind hadn't fully developed. Add how close you were to him…"
You brat, caught red-handed trying to date a minor, huh!
"Eh? I'm not—that's not what happened—don't talk nonsense!!"
Elysia's hair practically puffed up as she flusteredly waved both hands.
"How nice."
Just as she was about to explain a few lines, she heard the slightly sour note in Kaguya's voice.
Elysia's expression froze again. Seeing the faint envy on Kaguya's face, she couldn't help but retort, "So you were just jealous."
"What else? Little-Husband Xander, you know. I really want to hold him in my arms."
Imagining that scene, a faint blush rose on Kaguya's cheeks.
"I get it, I get it. Little Xander was super cute!"
As she spoke, Elysia pulled out her phone and waved it at Kaguya. "I've got tons of photos. Want to look together?"
"!!! Of course!"
Compared with the harmony out on the terrace, another room in the dorm at this moment felt a bit strange.
On the second floor in Sirin's bedroom, the bright light illuminated her little expressionless face until it looked glossy—clearly, she was still sulking.
At her side, Kiana wore a pasted-on smile, sat next to her, and tentatively grabbed her arm.
"Sirin~"
"Hmph!"
Sirin yanked Kiana's hand away and scooted her butt a bit farther over.
"C'mon, Sirin, forgive me, okay? I really didn't mean it~"
She'd indeed been a little out of her mind yesterday, thinking that while Sirin wasn't back yet, maybe she could hog the plan she and Sirin made for herself and secretly use that command voucher.
What happened? Either Xander got dragged off by Bronya and Seele, or he was monopolized by Elysia. She couldn't find the slightest opening at all.
Also, going back on their pact gave Kiana quite a pang of conscience, but just when she decided to repent and tell Sirin, Sirin had already heard from someone else that Xander was back.
That left Kiana in a bind.
If she hadn't been the first to speak, from Sirin's perspective, wouldn't she be a blatant traitor?
"I was racking my brains at home to help you, and that's how you treat me?"
Shooting a cold glance at Kiana, Sirin turned her head away again.
"I'm sorry, okay? I know I was wrong, Sirin—please forgive me this once~"
The syrupy tone made Sirin shiver on the spot. She shoved the sticky-sweet Kiana away and rubbed her arms, folded across her chest.
"Back off, back off. Talk like a normal person. Don't be gross!"
"Mmm…"
Cheeks puffed with grievance, Kiana lightly tugged Sirin's sleeve. "I really do know I was wrong. At that point I was actually going to tell you, but who knew you'd already heard the news in advance."
"At that point? At that point it was already how long after Xander got back. What were you going to do—wait until you and Xander were getting married to tell me so I could come back, and then I'd conveniently be your bridesmaid, is that it?"
Getting hit with that, Kiana felt Sirin's imagination was pretty rich, but she still hung her head, guilty, and stubbornly rebutted, "I—I'm not interested in Xander."
"Heh~"
Sirin finally let out a laugh of anger. Just like last time, she raised her hand to Kiana. "Fine then. Since you're not interested, hand that voucher over to me!"
"Here."
Under Sirin's disbelieving gaze, Kiana, lips quivering, reluctantly pulled a neatly kept card from her pocket. Seeing the familiar pattern and Xander Masato's signature in the corner, Sirin's eyes snapped wide in shock.
No way, bro.jpg
You actually gave it up.
Sirin tentatively stretched out her hand, meeting Kiana's eyes, and first tapped the card with her fingertip. The cardstock texture felt a bit rough. After confirming Kiana wasn't playing her, Sirin quickly clenched the card tight in her hand.
"Hey, hey, hey—careful. Don't crease it."
Seeing Sirin treating the card she had cherished so roughly, Kiana cried out in heartache.
"It's going to be used anyway. Besides, aren't you not interested in Xander?"
Though that's what she said, Sirin still subconsciously eased her grip, rubbing her fingers to gently smooth the little creases on the card.
"R-right, not interested. It's just that guy always sees me as his bro. Sirin, don't you think that's weird? I'm a bona fide beautiful girl!!"
"So you want Xander to realize you're a girl, got it, mm-hmm-hmm, I know, I know."
Her perfunctory words cut off Kiana mid-whine. After carefully placing the card in the drawer, Sirin turned to look at her.
"I'll still help you with that thing from before."
Sirin's lips moved as she spoke slowly.
"Really?!"
To mend things with Sirin, Kiana had thought her stuff was going to go down the drain. Who knew she'd get such a surprise?
"The reward for that favor was this voucher to begin with. Since you gave it to me, of course I won't break my word. I'm not like you. When I promise something, I do my best to carry it out."
"Boohoohoo, Sirin, I like you best!!!"
Moved to tears by her bestie, Kiana couldn't help pouncing forward.
"Get away! Don't wipe your snot and tears on me—ugh, gross!!!!"
The room once again filled with the usual noisy bickering of the two girls.
…
The next day.
Eyes narrowed, Bronya noticed that while Xander Masato was a bit better, he still seemed somewhat drained. She immediately shot a suspicious look at Kaguya.
Kaguya first glanced at Elysia; Elysia instantly hugged Mei and started playing dumb. Next, Kaguya had no choice but to meet Bronya's gaze. Though her heart was pounding with guilt, her smile remained composed.
After staring for a moment and seeing Kaguya make no odd moves, Bronya could only furrow her brow and put her doubts away.
At the side, Seele opened her mouth but ultimately didn't say it aloud.
Because she had to get up early to cook for everyone, Seele happened to see Elysia coming out of Xander's room when she woke. The two locked eyes, and silence fell in the quiet hallway.
She'd wanted to scold her loudly, but—well—Elysia had given too much.
The photos stuffed into her arms showed the kind of clingy, spoiled side of Xander that he almost never showed in front of her and Bronya. Seele was instantly flustered and lovestruck, her heart beating like a deer, and immediately declared she hadn't seen anything just now.
Sorry, Bronya!
Compared to last night, Sirin's mood shift was also rather noticeable.
"In a better mood?"
Seeing her back to a relaxed smile, Xander asked curiously.
"Mhm-hm. I mean, I've got something to be happy about~"
Thinking of the command voucher in the drawer, Sirin couldn't keep the smile from the corners of her lips.
As the words fell, she noticed Kiana's expectant gaze beside her, so she gave Kiana a reassuring look, then turned her eyes back to Xander.
"Xander."
"Hm? What is it?"
That gentle call made Xander, who was wrestling with breakfast, look up. Facing his slightly puzzled expression, the words Sirin had planned to say suddenly stuck in her throat.
T-this is still the dining table, and everyone's here. Asking him out directly wouldn't be great, right?
"N-nothing. I just wanted to call your name once."
"?"
Tilting his head more confused, Xander didn't dwell on it and smiled lightly. "Then—Sirin."
"Mm?"
"I want to say your name too. Is that not allowed?"
"!!!"
The warm voice instantly set Sirin's face aglow with blush. She quickly turned her gaze away, sat with her head lowered, and gently twirled the side-bang by her forehead with one hand, muttering softly.
"I-if you want to say it, then say it. I-I'm not going to stop you."
In that moment, the sweetness around Sirin was almost cloying.
Kiana: "?"
Girl, weren't you supposed to be helping her? Why are you flirting for yourself?
She hastily tugged Sirin's hem. Noticing Kiana's anxious eyes, Sirin finally came back to her senses and gave an awkward dry laugh.
She pressed her hand in the air to signal Kiana to relax, then turned her gaze back.
Unfortunately, by then Xander had already been pulled by Bronya into discussing work matters. Kaguya, Elysia, Seele, Mei—and even Griseo—kept chiming in from time to time, so the invitation never made it out of Sirin's mouth, leaving Kiana fretting on the side.
"Griseo also wants to try going to Gensokyo to paint?"
"Mhm."
Her rosy little cheeks bobbed as Griseo spoke softly. "I want to help Mr. Knight."
Under the tutelage of the first-generation Eromanga-sensei, Griseo had grown a lot these past few days. Aside from being a bit unpracticed and often needing to go bathe, everything else was fine. By now, seeing Elysia-sister and Mr. Knight together still made her a little shy, but she could face it calmly.
"No problem at all. The concept art team is really short-handed. They'll absolutely love having Griseo join!"
Purely in terms of technique, Griseo's level needed no comment. The "child-labor exploitation" joke he and Bronya had discussed had long been treated as a gag. But who could've known the ox would put on the yoke by herself and want to run in the fields?
Since that's the case, Xander certainly wouldn't be polite about it. Practice is practice no matter where it happens, and going to the company could conveniently help him out, right?
"Um… if I go to the company, will I need to work with lots of strangers?"
"Griseo, you don't want to?"
Hearing that, Griseo nodded and stepped forward to gently grasp the corner of his clothes. "I… want to be with Mr. Knight."
The stares from all around instantly turned scorching. Xander forced a smile and took Griseo's hand.
"Alright then. Griseo can work in my office. Your Bronya-sister will be there, and Kaguya-sister, and Seele-sister too. That should be fine, right?"
"Mhm. If it's like that."
Griseo showed a cute smile and nodded.
"Loli-lover!"
Walking at his side, Bronya pinched his waist and leaned in to whisper in his ear.
"I'm not. I didn't. Don't slander me."
"Brother, Griseo is still little…"
"What—Seele, you too… Has my reputation really fallen this far?"
"What do you think, Mister Can't-Count-How-Many-Boats-You're-Standing-On?"
"…"
He'd only divided up his love into many portions, that's all. "Scumbag" sounded awful.
Too lazy to argue with Bronya, who was besmirching his character, Xander turned to Elysia, who was walking with them toward the door.
"Heading out this early?"
"Mhm! Because today's the day Eden gets back~"
She sidled closer, nudging Griseo behind her.
Looking at the round, plush backside that had shouldered her aside, Griseo's small hand holding her brush suddenly felt a restless itch.
"Ah—are you feeling lonely without big-sister Elysia to keep you company, Xander? Be a good boy and endure one more day, okay? Tomorrow big-sister Elysia will—yaa!!"
The fairy lady suddenly bounced up. She clutched her butt, cheeks flushing red as she looked at Xander.
"Xander!"
That half-chiding, half-pouting coo made Xander's whole body shiver. Remembering the bliss of last night, he suppressed the surge in his chest and asked, "What's wrong?"
"You're asking me?!"
She shot him a glare. In that instant, the sultry look made Xander's mouth go dry.
"That place is a no-go. I heard it hurts a lot, and it's bad for your body too. Xander mustn't be a naughty boy!"
Xander: "?"
Wait—what is she even talking about? Why doesn't he get it?
Just then, Griseo quietly moved the hand holding her brush behind her back, eyes calm, looking like none of this concerned her.
"Mm~ Not going to keep chatting with you, Xander. Eden's plane is about to land. There's also a good friend of Eden's and mine coming this time. I'll introduce her to everyone tonight, okay? See you, everyone~"
With that, Elysia changed her shoes and hurried to head out. Of course, before leaving, she didn't forget—under Bronya's unfriendly gaze—to give a peck at the corner of his lips.
"This time it really is 'see you tonight'~"
Licking her lips, Elysia waved with a squinty smile and soon disappeared down the path.
Bang!
Just as Xander was about to head out, he felt his clothes yanked. The door slammed shut, and a force pressed him straight against the back of it.
Looking up, he met Bronya's eyes.
"I want one too!"
Cheeks puffed, her voice carried a faint sourness.
Face lightly flushed, this slightly gap-moe look was quite adorable, and of course Xander bent down to satisfy her little demand.
"Brother, Seele also…"
"Husband…"
Left and right, Kaguya and Seele blocked his way completely. Nothing to be done—naturally, he had to satisfy them all.
At that moment, quietly watching the scene, Griseo suddenly raised her hand. "Mr. Knight, I also…"
"You can't!"
"?"
Griseo drooped her head in grievance, and finally—under Bronya's look that said "you pervert"—she gave Bronya a kiss on the cheek, which made her happy again.
Cut to Gensokyo.
After Xander's return, Gensokyo Company was like a game console finally slotted with a high-performance graphics card—the whole company began operating swiftly and efficiently.
Though he was mainly in charge of the Yu-Gi-Oh! side, he would still carve out time every day to drop by Cities: Skylines.
As for the game's entire production process, to train Sugisaki Ken, Xander didn't interfere too much. He would only check in from time to time and fix some shortcomings. Later, he even pulled Kitahara and Grandpa Kirito over, and the three of them studied and learned together.
In the gradual flow of time, the Mini-Game Festival arrived.
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