After the badge girl's insight, the group of fans who had come to "boost sales" was suddenly enlightened, as if they had achieved great enlightenment.
The background of this pair of sisters was probably far more unfathomable than their guess of "old prestigious family"!
And even just considering the "Stelle" sisters personally, being able to handcraft artifacts of this level already qualified them as "national treasure-level" artisan masters hidden among the common folk!
At least for the Homu circle, this was a top-tier content creator who should be enshrined and worshipped!
"Stelle sisters... you..." The twin-tailed girl's voice was filled with reverence. "What... who on earth are you?"
The two "national treasure-level figure masters" who had listened in shock the entire time: "..."
Shu was panicking.
The figures were just things they had projected from the "models" in their minds that fit the Homu image, using [Wish] last night during the renovation to create an atmosphere and fill the shop.
Essentially, it was just a more refined sculpting operation. They had never considered issues like craftsmanship, era, or origin.
After all, who would have thought that someone would dare to claim that after a full six-month hiatus, they could still guarantee they had seen every style of Homu figure on the market?
You have to know, Homu was a top global IP with an explosive production rate!
Alas! Today, Shu had truly witnessed what a hardcore Homu fan was.
"Just... made them casually," Shu replied somewhat hesitantly, and regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.
"A hobby... a hobby..." Shu immediately corrected him, but his voice was so weak he didn't even believe it himself.
To the fans, these back-to-back replies further solidified the image of "reclusive masters with hidden talents."
This is the level they can achieve just by making them casually?
And it's all for the love of it?!
What would happen if they took it seriously?!
After the shock, the girls' gazes towards the two "Stelles" completely changed.
A sense of pride, "our group has a super big shot," twisted their gazes into adoration.
The two Shus returned this adoration with helpless, awkward smiles, then resignedly walked to their workstations, preparing to "normally" start the afternoon's business.
It seemed someone had spread the news of their return to [Hmoe Random Play]. A large crowd of people who had come seeking them out had already gathered at the shop's entrance, waiting for the opening bell.
There were so many of them that Shu was reminded of his time hiding in a convenience store in Nagazora City.
And the lifelessness that had inadvertently appeared on their faces was also noticed by these fans with stars in their eyes.
"I get it!" The badge girl clapped her hands, a wise light flashing in her eyes. "The Stelle sisters must be reclusive masters focused on artistic creation and collection! They're not good at these mundane business matters!"
Shu: "?"
"I can't believe even someone as strong as the Stelle sisters has something they're not good at?!" the short-haired girl immediately responded. "No... we can't let the masters be troubled by these trivial matters!"
"Sisters!" the twin-tailed girl raised her arm and shouted. "The time to repay the favor has come! We'll stay and help the Stelle sisters manage the afternoon's business!
"Greeting customers, introducing products, cashiering, and inventory... we'll take care of everything we can! So the sisters can concentrate on... well, on creating and resting!"
Shu & Shu: "Aren't we sisters?"
At this moment, the girls' insightful observation skills suddenly disappeared. No one saw the bewilderment on their faces. They just nodded one after another, rubbing their fists, their eyes burning with the blazing fire of "contributing to our idol."
Before Shu could voice his refusal, the fan club had already started to act on its own.
The badge girl proactively stood by the cash register and began to familiarize herself with the simple operating system.
The twin-tailed and short-haired girls began to tidy up the slightly messy shelves and started discussing more optimized classification labels in low voices.
The other few girls stood near the entrance, preparing to welcome the upcoming customers, their faces beaming with what they considered to be quite professional smiles.
"Stelle sisters, you can just sit in the rest area over there!"
"Leave it to us! We guarantee we'll complete the mission!"
"With us here, the afternoon's turnover will definitely double!"
The two "Stelles" were half-pushed, half-invited, and placed confusedly in the rest area reserved in the corner of the shop. A cup of hot tea, brewed by who knows who, was even thoughtfully placed in front of them.
They looked at each other, holding the warm teacups in their hands, watching this group of girls who had suddenly become full of energy and had clearly defined roles, listening to them already practicing standardized lines for greeting customers...
Their minds were in a state of extreme bewilderment.
"Maybe we should..." Shu felt this wasn't right.
"Let's just do it ourselves..." Shu felt this was particularly not right!
The two of them raised their hands in an "Erh-kang"* pose, trying to fight for a little room to struggle, but as soon as they raised their hands, these Kiana fans all turned their heads in unison and, in one voice yet chattering over each other, vetoed the two Shus' idea. [T/N: A meme from the drama "My Fair Princess" where the character Erh-kang stretches out his hand dramatically.]
"The team-building tenet of the [Kiana Energy Station] is to emulate the best Lord Kiana, and strive to help the weak and solve troubles!"
"The Stelle sisters are now members of our [Kiana Energy Station]. Let's just consider this our team-building activity!"
"What if the Stelle sisters are too tired and not in the mood to produce more content for us... no, I mean, to participate in our [Kiana Energy Station] team-building activity?"
Can't you guys coordinate your excuses before you refuse?!
The two Shus gasped sharply.
Were they breaking down?
A little.
After all, their life of disguise seemed to be sliding into an indescribable vortex at a completely out-of-control speed.
Was it absurd?
Without a doubt.
When these fans simultaneously used the same keywords to give three different reasons to brush him off, Shu truly felt the absurdity and ridiculousness of this world.
But at least... they probably wouldn't have to personally face those scalp-numbing customer questions and probes this afternoon.
In sync, the two of them let out a long, silent sigh, numbly picked up their teacups, and took a sip.
Warm, slightly bitter, with a sweet aftertaste.
This was the taste of tea.
It was also their current situation.
The wind chime at the shop's entrance rang again, and the first batch of afternoon customers walked in with curiosity.
But what greeted them was no longer the pair of mutually disdainful, cold beauties, but several young girls with exceptionally brilliant smiles, who introduced the products with extra effort, and who were also secretly promoting the [Kiana Energy Station].
Seeing the customers' surprised expressions, the two Shus, who hadn't even swallowed their first sip of tea, once again raised their hands in sync, bringing the teacups to their lips to look busy.
Really...
He was regretting it now.