Chapter 65. Oolong Tea?
Controlling the little Knight again and again only to die each time, Kaguya's eyes gradually went blank.
Half an hour later, Xander finally couldn't stand the pangs of conscience and hurried over to persuade her to stop.
Looking at her husband's face, Kaguya's vacant gaze slowly regained its sparkle.
She then said with an apologetic look, "Forgive me, husband. I failed to clear it."
"No, no, no. I was kind of bullying you."
It was supposed to be a bit of fun at her expense, but her fragile, obedient look made Xander feel guilty instead.
Wasn't it a bit too much to bully his trusting, well-behaved fiancée like this?
He couldn't help but reflect inwardly.
Of course, if Kiana were the one in the hot seat, he would absolutely laugh out loud.
No Charms.
No Dash.
Not even a Nail upgrade.
And then making someone fight the Mantis Lords' trio version like that—was this really something a human would make another human do?
Off to the side, Bronya muttered a complaint under her breath, then stepped forward and took Kaguya by the arm.
"Come on. Ignore this idiot. Let's go downstairs for snacks."
"But…"
Kaguya glanced at Bronya, then turned her head to look at Xander.
"Don't worry about him. Let that schemer reflect on himself."
Bronya had thought it was just the regular Mantis Lords fight.
Who knew Xander would put on the hardest variant.
When the three Mantis Lords dropped in together just now, she nearly lost it.
This was pure griefing.
"Seele, let's go!"
"Mm!"
Even Seele looked at him with puffed-up cheeks this time.
She and Bronya each took one of Kaguya's arms and marched out of the studio in perfect solidarity, leaving Xander alone in the room.
Just when he thought Bronya and Seele were truly angry, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He looked at the screen.
Three messages had arrived almost at the same time, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
Seele: Brother, I'm going down to comfort Sister Kaguya. Don't forget the pastries we left upstairs for you~
Bronya: I only did that to comfort Kaguya just now. Don't get the wrong idea.
Kaguya: Husband, I was merely focused, not discouraged. Thank you for your concern. The game is truly wonderful. I love it.
Each one with her own little thoughtfulness.
Xander couldn't help but chuckle, sat down in his chair, and picked up the controller Kaguya had set down.
He wondered what faces they'd make if they knew the other two had messaged him as well.
What he didn't know was what was happening downstairs at that very moment.
"This way, husband (brother) won't worry anymore, right?"
The three phones bumped together lightly.
Kaguya and Seele exchanged a glance and both smiled in relief.
"You two spoil him too much," Bronya grumbled.
But Seele quickly countered, "Bronya-sis, you were the fastest to send yours!"
…
The stage on the screen reset.
The controller buttons started clack-clack-clacking again.
The very same boss Kaguya had struggled with just now was, under Xander's control, handled with ease.
The Knight weaved through the three mantises' attacks, graceful as a swallow, flipping through the air without falling even once.
With a series of clear ding-ding-ding chimes, the fight was over in minutes.
The three Mantis Lords returned to their perches and bowed to the Knight in respect.
"Not bad."
He ran it once, spotted a few more optimizations, set down the controller, opened the document to sort his notes, then had Hatsune recompile the file.
After that, he shut down the studio computer.
It was about time.
Little "spy" Seele had already "secretly" told him no one was actually mad anymore.
Since that was the case, it was time to head down.
…
Early the next morning, Reisen came to pick up Kaguya, who had stayed the night as a guest.
They'd played so late that Xander had simply suggested Kaguya sleep over.
After breakfast, Seele and the others picked up schoolbags they hadn't touched for over a month.
"You didn't sleep well? Why so sleepy?"
Frowning at Xander's constant yawning, Bronya asked, puzzled.
At breakfast she'd figured it was just because he'd just gotten up.
But they were about to head out for school, and he still looked exhausted—that was a bit abnormal.
"…"
Xander didn't answer.
He just tilted his chin toward something behind Bronya and sighed helplessly.
Bronya looked back, and there was Seele with her head down, cheeks flushed, silent as a mouse.
"Heh. Serves you right."
She instantly understood.
She shot her sister an approving look, then gave Xander a scornful jab.
Even though there was a driver, Xander had suggested Kaguya stay over.
Seeing Bronya and Seele show no objection, he thought he'd concealed his little scheme.
But come nighttime, Black Seele and Seele had taken turns, "tormenting" him until the wee hours.
Only then did he realize that, in front of Seele and Bronya, his little schemes were nothing at all.
Not calling him out to his face already meant they loved him—and indulged him—plenty.
Pleasurable was pleasurable.
But the exhaustion was very real.
If he actually did manage to realize the grand plan of hugging the two sisters left and right in the future, then…
At that thought, a chill ran down Xander's spine.
His training had gotten lax lately.
That wouldn't do.
For the sake of his future happiness, he had to double down on exercise!
At the entryway, while changing shoes, Seele noticed Xander rummaging in the sundry cabinet and leaned over curiously.
"Brother, what are you looking for?"
"Mm."
Xander nodded and soon fished out a little metal cube.
"A lighter?"
"Yeah."
He flipped open the lid.
Ding.
A spark.
Satisfied that it worked, he slipped the lighter into his pocket.
"Brother, what do you need a lighter for?"
At that, Seele turned serious.
Even Bronya, who had opened the door, stepped back in and fixed him with a stern stare.
"Relax, relax. I'm not interested in smoking."
"Really? Seele really, really hates the smell of smoke."
Just picturing kissing brother and getting a mouthful of smoke made Seele scrunch up her face.
More importantly, smoking was terrible for your health.
She didn't want to see him mistreat his body.
Bronya's gaze went icy.
"Speak honestly.
Or you're not leaving this house today."
They edged in, one soft and one hard, backing Xander into a corner until he raised both hands like a certain country's salute.
"Really, for real. I just have a feeling something bad might happen today. Better to be prepared, that's all. I truly have zero interest in cigarettes."
"What thing?"
Seele believed him… maybe seventy or eighty percent.
But she still asked the final question.
"It hasn't happened yet, so I don't know how to explain it.
Seele, Bronya, trust me, okay?
What's so great about smoking anyway?
If I want to feel good, I'd rather hug you both and steal a kiss."
Hearing that bare-faced line, both Seele and Bronya flushed for a heartbeat.
Bronya coughed twice and stepped aside.
"Smooth talker."
"Brother mustn't lie to Seele, okay!"
Seele came right up, took his hand, and spoke earnestly.
"Of course!"
Seeing him nod like a pecking chick, Seele and Bronya were satisfied.
If it wasn't smoking, then everything was negotiable.
Soon, the three headed out and split up on the way to school.
Before long, Xander ran into Ken Sugisaki, whom he hadn't seen for over a month.
"Morning. How was summer break?"
He waved with a grin, and they walked shoulder to shoulder.
"Ha~ Morning. Not bad."
Another yawn from Xander.
"Why so sleepy? Didn't sleep well last night?"
"Yeah."
Ken burst into laughter.
"Don't tell me your girlfriend wouldn't let you sleep?"
"…"
"…No way, right?"
"What are you imagining. I just stayed up too late gaming."
Xander had zero intention of bragging.
Guys who aired out their private life with their girlfriends in public were either fabricating from the ivory tower or just scum.
Besides, he wasn't even lying.
That kind of "game" counted as a game, didn't it?
Seeing Ken relax and smile again, Xander gave a tiny shake of his head.
You don't want your bro to suffer, but you don't want him driving a luxury car either.
They steered the topic back to normal, and with Ken recounting summer vacation antics, they soon reached school.
The soft AC breeze chased away the summer heat.
Xander flopped onto his desk and closed his eyes contentedly.
Class time.
Time to nap!
The bell rang a few times, and the classroom chatter finally pulled him back.
"Yo, our game designer is awake~"
A familiar voice came from nearby.
On his desk sat a yakisoba bun and a carton of yogurt.
Kitahara and the others had lined their desks together on the other side, chatting as they ate.
Seeing Xander wake, Kitahara cracked a joke with a grin.
"Seven million units sold on your debut. You're something else, Xander."
Kirito chimed in with a sigh of admiration.
"Mmm… keep it low-key. The game being good is one thing, but most of that was thanks to Elysia and Eden."
He wasn't being modest.
Without those two, sales would have been at least halved.
Stretching lazily, Xander took the yakisoba bun and dug in without ceremony.
Seele had overslept that morning, so she hadn't had time to make lunch.
The bread hit the spot.
Hearing Xander mention Elysia—speaking as if they were familiar—Kitahara asked reflexively, "You and Miss Pink Elf♪ are close?"
"Close? I suppose so."
Thinking back to fireworks and tenderness that night, Xander kept his face calm.
"Then do you know the post Miss Pink Elf♪ made half a month ago? Was the person in the photo a guy or a girl? That thing trended for ages!"
Kitahara's eyes shone with gossip.
Xander flicked a glance at him and answered casually, "A guy."
And that guy is sitting right in front of you.
He added that line only in his heart as he took a sip of yogurt.
"So it really was…"
Kitahara tut-tutted a few times in wonder.
Seeing this, Xander raised an eyebrow.
"What, not curious who it was?"
"Who?"
"Me."
"You've got quite the imagination."
All three burst out laughing, and Xander laughed along.
"Oh right, I bought a big bottle of oolong tea earlier. We can all have some after the bread."
Seeing everyone nearly done eating, Kitahara spoke up.
Ken and Kirito didn't suspect a thing and thanked him happily.
Only Xander's eyes went wide, suddenly sharp.
It's happening for real!
Kitahara went back to his desk, fiddled with something behind his back, and soon returned with four cups of pale yellow liquid.
"Here, drink up. Class is about to start."
Just as Kitahara looked excitedly at Ken and Kirito, Xander said, "Hold it!"
"?"
"What's up?"
With cups in hand halted mid-air, Ken asked, confused.
"Don't rush."
Xander shot a sidelong look at Iori Kitahara, whose whole body had gone a little stiff, then slowly pulled the lighter from his pocket.
Keeping his eyes locked on Kitahara, he held the flame over the surface of the "oolong tea."
"Why so nervous?"
The corner of Xander's mouth curled.
Good thing he'd prepared.
Breaking into a sweat, aren't you, little bro?
"I—I'm not. Haha."
Kitahara's gaze skittered everywhere, not daring to meet Xander's eyes.
"Heh."
Xander gave another cold snort.
Click—
A bright flame bloomed, and he slowly brought it close to the pale surface.
A petty trick like this, and you dare show off in front of m— Hmm?
The flame touched the tea.
To his surprise, nothing happened.
No ripple at all.
Wait. That's not right…
Frowning, he lifted the cup and sniffed lightly, then took a tiny sip and smacked his lips.
Uh-oh.
It really was oolong tea.
He was the clown!
H-how could this be?
Ken and Kirito looked over in puzzlement, not understanding what he was trying to do.
Both were thirsty after bread, so they picked up their cups without hesitation and took a big drink.
At that moment, Xander noticed the slowly rising curve at Kitahara's mouth.
A bad feeling flashed through his mind.
Sure enough, the instant the "oolong tea" hit their tongues, Ken and Kirito's faces twisted in agony.
Pfft—
They both sprayed it out.
At the moment his plan succeeded, Kitahara leapt to his feet, pointed at the three across from him, and cackled.
"Didn't expect that, did you! I figured you'd be observant and suspicious, Xander, so I specially prepared real oolong tea just for you. Fell for it, didn't you? Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!"
But he failed to notice the synchronized darkening of his three buddies' faces.
Over his head, a blood-red "DANGER" flashed ominously.
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