Chapter 244 Mei: If ME Corp goes bankrupt, remember to take me in~
"Aw, Xander, don't be mad, okay~"
Kiana, who had been huffing just a moment ago, was now glued to his side, cooing in a voice that gave even Seele goosebumps.
"I think this shows a lack of trust in me!"
Arms folded, Xander Masato—having switched to the offensive—naturally had to enjoy a bit of the girls' flattery to soothe the pain of being shunned just now.
He got up from the chair and sat down on the sofa. Even with his face taut, the girls weren't upset; they hurried over again.
"Isn't this proof that you write great stories, Xander? You know, when Ushio collapsed just now, it broke my heart~"
Kiana moved in a flash, flipped, and lay down beside Xander, resting her head on his thigh.
Her long white hair spilled loosely behind her. She took Xander's hand in both of hers, gently pressed it to her cheek, and, eyes narrowing, rubbed against it like a well-behaved kitten.
Lowering his head, Xander saw that Kiana's eyes were still a little red, which roused sympathy. He couldn't help pinching her cheek lightly. Her reaction made Kiana let out a "hehe" laugh.
"Brother, Seele has always believed in Brother!"
Seele blinked. Seeing that Kiana was already lying on Brother's lap, she settled for second best and sat on his other side, holding his hand as she spoke softly.
"Just now Seele tried to persuade the other Seele not to be so impulsive, but the other Seele wouldn't listen to Seele..."
Her voice turned a bit dejected; Seele looked pitiable.
Veliona: "?"
Uh, sis?
This isn't what we agreed on just now. Weren't you the one who voluntarily gave up the spot?
Thinking back on the memory just now, Veliona realized Seele actually did say it—but only whispered it when Veliona was already charging forward. At that time, Veliona couldn't hear anything and just rushed in.
Good grief, so you planned this from the start, huh?
The fact that Seele hadn't lied made Veliona's face flush red then white; she could only seethe powerlessly on her own.
Ignoring the voice in her heart, Seele's gaze turned small-animal-like. Still holding Brother's hand, she sneakily placed it over her own chest.
"True, the other Seele was a bit impulsive. It's not your fault, Seele."
The softness in his palm made Xander's thoughts drift for a moment; his attitude shifted at once, and he nodded in agreement.
But before Seele could smile, Xander's tone flipped: "However, both Seeles are you. One makes a mistake, both sides get punished!"
"Eh?"
Seele froze.
Feeling his hand squeeze her chest and then withdraw, Seele looked up and met Brother's eyes—and easily read the three words hidden within.
Need to pay extra!
For a moment, Seele couldn't help it and laughed. Hugging Brother's arm happily, she said, "Brother, so childish~"
A little flushed, Xander held back from making a sound.
"Brother, wait for Seele a sec~"
With a smiling "muah" on his cheek, Seele stood up and pat—pat—ran toward Bronya.
Just then, Sis Elysia also walked over, gently hugged him from behind, leaned to his ear, and whispered, warm breath brushing his skin: "Xander, thank you for bringing us such a beautiful story~"
"As long as Sis Elysia likes it."
With Elysia, he stopped pretending and smiled gently as he replied.
"But Xander, you really are bad—making so many girls cry."
"Ahem, without those parts for contrast, how could the final miracle feel so beautiful?"
He offered an explanation; Elysia nodded in agreement, then poked his cheek with a finger. "But making girls cry is still a fact. Let me think—how about you make it up to me by going on a date with me next weekend?"
"How would I dare refuse Sis Elysia's invitation?" Xander nodded solemnly.
"Sweet talker~ All right, I'll stop teasing you. I'm going to the bathroom—my eyes are red; that won't look good."
With that, she cupped Xander's face and kissed the corner of his lips, then stood and, in a very good mood, headed toward the bathroom.
"Xander~"
As soon as Elysia left, Kiana called out in a syrupy voice. Lowering his head, he saw her eyes sparkling, her desire obvious.
He couldn't resist pinching her cheek and said with a chuckle, "There's enough to go around. I won't forget you."
"Hehe~"
His palm slid slowly down from her cheek, brushing past those moist lips. The rosy tip of her tongue even playfully licked his palm, a jolt of tingling electricity shooting through him.
His fingertips traced along her delicate collarbone, climbed across the lofty mountains, paused at the peak, and finally arrived at her warm, flat belly.
When he squeezed that supple waist, Kiana couldn't help laughing. Blushing, she grabbed his hand, buried her face against his stomach and rubbed, turning her head to pant, "So ticklish, Xander, don't pinch."
After teasing Kiana for a while and leaving her breathless, Seele came back again.
She had whispered with Bronya for quite a while just now. After getting Bronya's permission, she returned with cheeks burning and heart racing.
"Brother~"
Sitting down where she'd been before, Seele tugged on Brother's shoulder, leaned straight to his ear, and in a trembling, rosy-cheeked voice said, "Brother, tonight Seele and Sis Bronya..."
At first, Xander didn't think much of it, but as he listened to Seele's voice, his heart sped up quickly.
When Seele finished, he looked at her—face already scarlet—and, suppressing his excitement, asked, "Are you serious? Bronya really agreed?"
Seele didn't speak—she just nodded lightly and let out a shy "mm."
"Hiss..."
He took a deep breath, looked at Seele, and drawled, "Ahem, if I recall, there's a blindfold and rope in the cabinet..."
Hearing this, Seele shot him a reproachful look. Unable to bear the shyness any longer, she stood up and left a stumbling sentence: "Se—Seele is going to make dinner!"
"Xander..."
Before he could calm his excitement, he heard a slightly resentful voice from beneath him—Kiana.
"What's wrong?"
He was in a very good mood now, so he immediately lowered his head to ask.
Meeting his eyes, Kiana blushed, her tone complicated: "You bumped the back of my head..."
When Seele and Xander were whispering, Kiana, lazily lying there and toying with his fingers, suddenly felt something knock the back of her head. She understood quite a bit now and caught on fast.
"Bumped..."
Kiana's words also made Xander realize the situation. His old face flushed; he quickly picked Kiana up and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Ahem, accident, accident..."
"You didn't have that reaction to me just now..."
Her aggrieved voice carried a hint of defiance. Kiana pressed tightly against him, showcasing her charms.
Good grief, so that's why she's unhappy?
Not knowing what to say, he could only hold Kiana and coax her for a while.
There was still some time before dinner. Bronya went to the bathroom to wash her face, rested a bit, and then came to sit beside him.
Seeing that Kiana on the other side had completely fallen into clingy-kitten mode, Bronya couldn't help curling her lip.
"Not going to comfort me a little? I'm very sad, you know."
When Bronya sat down without speaking, Xander covered his chest and spoke "painfully."
"Enough, cut the act. No one actually went all out just now."
She couldn't be bothered to play house with him—Seele and Kiana were the ones who delighted in that.
"Tsk, calling it out ruins the fun."
He rolled his eyes at Bronya, sounding displeased.
"What, still not satisfied with what Seele told you just now?"
Feeling a small hand clamp onto the soft flesh at his waist, Xander immediately grinned sheepishly. "Satisfied. Very satisfied. I truly didn't expect you'd agree."
"That's only to satisfy you."
Putting on a show of strength, Bronya shot him a glare and snorted softly.
She couldn't exactly say that she liked that feeling—emptiness that stretched on, followed in an instant by fulfillment, could she?
Relaxing her body against him a bit more, she glanced at him and said coolly, "Hand."
"Oh, oh!"
Xander hurried to wrap his free arm around her at the belly. Bronya nodded in satisfaction and leaned lazily against his shoulder.
Silence for a time, broken only by tiny motions.
Later, Kaguya joined them as well, and the four lazed about until dinner.
By then, the girls' moods had returned to normal.
"Right, Xander, did you get the email from Mama Cocolia?"
After dinner, they'd gathered in a ring around the sofa. Bronya asked.
"I did—this autumn, right?"
"Mm."
Bronya nodded.
Their voices drew the others' attention; the idle chatter stopped, and everyone looked over.
"So we're moving this autumn?"
Seele asked, looking at the Xander already surrounded.
"Mm. That's the plan."
"Not waiting until after graduation?" Kiana cast a worried glance at Mei beside her and asked in a low voice.
"Technology won't wait for us. If we don't go this autumn, we'll be completely behind."
Xander shook his head.
Honestly, going to this university was only to get a diploma. The game-design professors called him "teacher" when they saw him.
A whole year had gone by. Aside from attending two classes out of curiosity at the start, he'd never gone again. Staying in school or not made little difference. When the time came, he could just have Theresa send him a diploma—she needed him as an honorary alumnus to burnish the school's image anyway.
"Virtual tech is advancing rapidly. Anti-Entropy, using the TITAN engine as a base, has developed a new virtual engine, and the first batch of access is expected to be granted this autumn. If we want to make a game in time for the very first launch of VR pods, we can only start this autumn."
Bronya added an explanation to Kiana.
"B-but it's not like we can't make games here..."
"Kiana, I'm fine."
Gently pressing down the agitated Kiana, Mei spoke softly.
"If it's like that, won't Mei be separating from us very soon..."
Thinking this, Kiana sniffled and spoke sadly.
After they returned from Cocolia's Orphanage, Xander gathered everyone at home to discuss this.
Naturally the girls had no objections—what they truly cared about was being together. As for where they stayed, as long as it wasn't somewhere awful, it didn't matter. Even Eden, who'd been called over, could only nod helplessly under Elysia's wheedling.
Except for Mei.
As the sole heir of ME Corp., there was no way she could go alone to another country. She wanted to, but she knew her father definitely wouldn't approve.
Just now, she'd seemed a little out of place at home; a separation like this might actually be a good thing, letting Kiana and the others have fewer concerns.
Comforting herself thus, Mei's expression stayed gentle as she stroked Kiana's head.
"Mei, you really can't come with us?"
Bronya frowned and asked.
Mei shook her head. "Sorry—ME Corp. has run into some problems lately. Father's getting busier and busier. I want to stay and help him."
"I see." Seele's gaze dimmed a little.
Sensing the mood dip, Mei quickly continued, "We still have half a year, don't be so sad. It's not like we'll never see each other again. Who knows—if ME Corp. goes bankrupt one day, I'll come join you. When that happens, remember to take me in, okay~"
She even cracked a joke at the end.
Raiden Ryoma, hard at work at his desk, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he looked around in puzzlement, found nothing amiss, and buried himself once more in his pile of busywork.
"As if ME Corp. could ever go bankrupt..."
Kiana muttered, knowing Mei was only trying to comfort them.
No one picked up her line, and Mei went on: "All right, all right. If you all keep this up, I really won't want to stay behind alone. Oh—according to the studio plan, there's one more game to make before we move. Has that been decided?"
"That'd be even better then..." Kiana muttered again.
Mei didn't respond—she only smiled and patted Kiana's hair.
"Not yet."
Xander shook his head.
"After getting back, I just finished clearing last year's backlog. These last two days I've been busy with Clannad stuff. I haven't even made a new folder yet."
As for the separation, Xander felt okay. The future was long; there would be chances to reunite.
Besides, he had a hunch the wait wouldn't be long.
"Have you decided on a genre?" Bronya asked.
"Not yet... Since everyone's here today, why not throw out some ideas?"
After this, he'd be focusing on VR games. This one might be the last PC title for the next few years—naturally he was a bit conflicted.
"Giant robots!!"
Bronya's eyes lit up at once.
"For Seele, if it could be something with simpler controls, that would be nice."
Seele raised her small hand, too.
Soon the girls were chiming in one by one. Xander listened carefully, nodding or shaking his head from time to time.
He took out his tablet to jot notes. After a bit, Kiana's voice drew his attention.
The mood had recovered. Kiana twisted the hem of her clothes and said bashfully, "If there were a kind of two-player game we could play together, that'd be great."
"Two-player?"
Xander repeated, and his interest stirred.
This world did have two-player games, but they were basically ones like Cuphead—titles of modest scope. There were plenty of classics, but there hadn't been a single true blockbuster.
Hearing "play with Xander," Seele, who'd been thinking, perked up, too. "I think Kiana has a point."
Very quickly, the decision won unanimous approval. Even Bronya sighed and gave up her giant robots, making Kiana—who rarely felt so indulged—giddy and silly with delight.
"Alright, then we'll make a two-player game!"
Xander nodded and circled the words "two-player" on his tablet.
"Isn't half a year too long just to make a two-player game?"
After Xander spoke, Bronya raised a point.
Understanding what she meant, he couldn't help laughing. "Who says a two-player game can't be a blockbuster?"
Whether it was the mind-blowing ideas of Portal 2, or the cinematic storytelling of A Way Out that shocked players—both were mesmerizing masterpieces. "Two-player" has never been synonymous with "small."
But if, in his previous life, you asked a gamer to recommend a great two-player game, they would definitely say that name.
Thinking of this, Xander lifted his pen and wrote four characters on his tablet:
It Takes Two
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