Chapter 18. Seele, You Also Don't Want...
Xander's first-day results were not ideal.
After packing up, he told the guys to head back to the hotel first.
He then avoided the crowd and went to Bronya's booth.
After a busy day, he saw Kiana slumped over the mecha-themed booth table.
Only when he stepped in front of her and blocked the light did she finally struggle to lift her eyelids.
"Ah, it's Xander."
Her voice was weak, clearly so tired she didn't even want to say hello.
Her head drooped, and even the tuft of white hair on top seemed to lose its shine.
Judging by that, Bronya's results today must have been quite good.
"Mm. You worked hard today, Kiana."
"Mm."
Kiana accepted the praise without the slightest humility.
No helping it—most of the heavy lifting had fallen to her today.
Seele didn't like dealing with strangers.
Mei had something to take care of and couldn't come.
Sirin was helping Bronya stream to build hype.
Bronya needed to coordinate the whole show.
So Kiana had no choice but to be the workhorse.
"Yo, here to admit defeat?"
"Admit defeat?
No, I just came to check on you."
Following the voice, Xander turned and saw a clearly cheerful Bronya, with Seele behind her, eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
It felt like a long time since he'd heard Bronya speak in such a playful tone.
Even at yesterday's get-together, she had said very little.
From the first time their game flopped up to now, today's strong performance finally let Bronya's long-suppressed feelings relax a little.
Although she'd been busy all day and wasn't sure how things were on his side, she already felt like she could pop the champagne early.
"Looks like things are going pretty well for you?"
"Hmph~ So-so.
We only, like, easily made the top ten~"
She was totally putting on an act.
Noticing the corners of her mouth that she just couldn't hold down, Xander laughed to himself.
This sudden childlike look was actually kind of cute.
"How about your side?"
Without looking at him again, Bronya rested her hand on Seele's little head and asked offhandedly.
"My side was pretty quiet.
Basically nobody came today."
He told the truth.
"Really?! …Ah—no, I mean, that's truly unfortunate."
A flash of elation crossed her face for an instant, but she quickly pressed it down.
From her twitching lips, you could tell it was tough to hold back.
"If you want to laugh, then laugh."
You can only laugh for now, he added inwardly.
His helpless tone finally let Bronya drop the pretense and show her pride.
She was just short of planting her hands on her hips and laughing to the sky.
After being suppressed for so long, finally getting to hold her head high felt great.
"Aiya, don't be discouraged.
I know your ability best.
Once we team up again, we'll make it big and strong and create brilliance anew!"
She patted his shoulder in comfort.
"Mm.
Make it big and strong, and create brilliance anew."
He smiled and answered.
After a few casual lines, he suggested, "Want to grab dinner together?
We can take a walk afterward."
Temptation clearly flickered in Bronya's eyes, but she soon shook her head.
"Even though I really want to, let's pass today.
We found a few small issues during the daytime demos.
I need to hurry back and optimize before launch.
Have Seele go with you."
"You're really serious."
"It's not about being 'serious.'
I just don't want to let players down."
"Alright.
Good luck."
"Mm. You too."
"Then, Bronya-sis, see you tonight~"
Seele waved to the fired-up Bronya.
"Mm. Have fun, Seele."
"Bronya-sis, see you tonight~"
At some point, Kiana had popped up on Xander's other side, waving just like Seele.
"Mm, have fun, Ki—
Get back here!!!!"
Snatched by the scruff of fate in an instant, Kiana flailed in a panic.
"Hey, hey, hey?
W-Why?
I want to rest too.
I want a big meal too.
You black-hearted boss—you're abusing your employees!"
"Shut it.
If you leave, who's moving the stuff?
You're the one who said you'd help all day.
Don't tell me you're backing out?"
"Th-this, I, I…"
"I'll treat you to a big meal after we're done."
"Hooray!
Bronya forever!"
At the promise of a feast, Kiana instantly looked like she'd been injected with chicken blood, working hard as if that wilted look earlier hadn't been hers at all.
Taking Seele outside, they stepped into a wide, empty street.
Only after she looked left and right to make sure there were no acquaintances did she hug his arm and chide playfully, "Brother, you were too bad just now."
As the only person there who had actually played his game, Seele knew very well how powerful it was.
She had tried Bronya-sis's game too.
How to put it… it wasn't really comparable.
One was a game.
One felt like art.
"Seele, don't talk nonsense.
I didn't lie."
He caught her mischievous little hand that was fidgeting on him and, pinching the soft pads of her fingertips, replied.
"But that's exactly what's most infuriating.
When Bronya-sis loses in a few days, she'll definitely be embarrassed."
"What, Seele—you already believe your dear Bronya-sis will lose?"
"Th-that—Seele never said that.
Brother, please erase that memory!"
She froze for a moment, and her gaze began to wander.
If Bronya-sis found out, she'd probably get her butt smacked again.
"Seele, you also don't want your Bronya-sis to know you think she'll lose, right~"
He slipped into full Far-East-netizen mode and threatened her with ill intent.
"Seele—uu… Brother, don't tell Bronya-sis.
Seele will do anything."
Azure eyes misted over.
Leaning against him, she whispered clingily, and his heartbeat sped up despite himself.
Ah—no—Seele, you were this cooperative all along?
Head clouded, he completely failed to notice that deep in her slightly lowered eyes, a faint excitement quietly surged.
...
"Hey, hey, hey, can you hear me?
Good morning, everyone~"
Sitting in her streaming room at home, Sirin smiled and waved at the screen.
[Good morning, Miss Pufferfish~]
[Miss Pufferfish is as cute as ever today~]
[What are we playing today, Miss Pufferfish?
Are we continuing yesterday's mecha mini-game?]
[I tried yesterday's game.
Kinda hard, but it felt pretty good.
Might pick it up after release.]
[...]
The rolling chat quickly filled her second monitor.
Unable to read everything, Sirin picked a few at random to reply to.
"Hmph-hmph, that game was made by my good friend.
Of course it's great.
If you like it, don't forget to buy a copy at Titan Games after the Mini Game Fest ends.
Also…"
She suddenly took a deep breath and shouted into the stream, "How many times have I told you—do! not! call! me! Puffer! fish!"
[Ahh, that's the good stuff.
Thank you, Miss Pufferfish.]
[Got it, Miss Pufferfish.
Understood, Miss Pufferfish.]
[Miss Pufferfish, could you scold us one more time?
My friend says he likes hearing it.]
[Miss Pufferfish, please, just one more scold.
It's about to happen…]
Seeing the screen instantly filled with "Miss Pufferfish," Sirin puffed her cheeks in anger yet again.
At once, "Miss Pufferfish" was spammed even more.
This scene played out almost every day in Sirin's stream.
It had basically become the audience's expected daily interaction.
"Phew, forget it.
I'm too lazy to scold you.
Today we'll continue with a new game.
It's by another friend of mine and is also part of this Mini Game Fest.
If I remember right, the name is…"
As she spoke, she typed a few letters into the Mini Game Fest page's search box.
"'TO THE MOON' (To the Moon)."
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