Elysia and Hokuto were having an enthusiastic discussion about Kevin's fan-content potential.
Kevin, watching the two talk so excitedly, didn't interject.
He simply sat to the side, quietly slurping noodles while listening to their conversation shift from "cool" to "cold jokes."
By the ti he finished eating, the discussion had co to a close.
Elysia's attention quickly drifted to sothing else.
She peeked into the kitchen, where Su and Hua were making dumplings, and happily joined in.
She was determined to make dumplings full of cute girlish affection for everyone.
Hokuto stayed outside, intending to chat with Kevin for a mont.
But then—
Mobius, who had just been sparring with Vill-V, suddenly ca over and sat down across from him.
"Mobius?"
"You must be quite satisfied with these three chapters of the Elysian Realm," Mobius said.
"Mhm."
Hokuto responded without hesitation, "Especially Elysia's character developnt. Seeing everyone like her more because of the reversal made really happy."
"Reversal?" Mobius nodded slightly. "That's the part you're most satisfied with? I suppose that makes sense."
"But aside from Elysia's reversal, you must also be pleased with the slice-of-life monts scattered throughout the Realm?"
Hokuto nodded. "Mostly because the players love them. If the players are happy, I'm happy."
"Heh, the players really do love the Elysian Realm content. They've even made all sorts of s about the Fla-Chasers."
Mobius suddenly gave a cryptic smile and asked, "Do you know what players online are saying is the 'hardest' thing in the Realm?"
"Isn't it... Mobius's mouth..."
Hokuto answered without even thinking—but midway through the sentence, he realized what he'd said and tried to stop himself.
But it was already too late.
"Ahem, ahem."
He coughed, pretending to play it off.
"So you do know," Mobius narrowed her eyes at Hokuto.
"My lab's currently short a lab assistant. Interested?"
"I don't think I'm qualified."
"No need to be modest. I think you're a perfect fit. After all, my assistants usually don't need scientific ability—just the right qualifications to be researched."
She smiled dangerously. "So, as long as you agree, we can imdiately sign your five insurances and one fund, and most importantly, your accidental injury insurance."
Hokuto: "..."
He had no idea how to respond to that.
Just as he stood there speechless—
Swoosh~~~
The kitchen door burst open from inside.
A wave of white steam rolled out, carrying the rich aroma of freshly made food.
Leading the charge, Elysia held a plate and bead proudly as she led Sakura, Hua, and Su out of the kitchen in single file.
"Everyone~~ Ti to eat~~"
"Coming!"
Hokuto quickly got up—glad for the excuse to escape Mobius.
Only...
He didn't expect that once everyone had gathered—
Elysia would suddenly pull out a special drink just for him.
"Tada! Elysia's Signature Special Drink! Hokuto, down it in one go!"
She filled a glass with a dark green mystery liquid and handed it to him.
"This is..."
Hokuto sniffed it and instantly recognized what it was.
"Bitter lon juice?"
"Mhm! I made this using a recipe I specifically got from Theresa—even Theresa doesn't like drinking it."
Elysia said it like it was sothing to be proud of.
"...What I'm wondering is, why did you go out of your way to prepare this for ?"
Hokuto was genuinely curious why Elysia suddenly brought him a glass of bitter lon juice.
"That... I need to ask you sothing, Hokuto."
Elysia's expression turned uncharacteristically serious.
She asked, "When you write those stories... do you feel heartache?"
Hokuto didn't hesitate at all: "Of course. Definitely."
"..."
Really?
Everyone else, seeing how quickly Hokuto answered, twitched at the corner of their mouths.
"Well, let's just take your word for it."
Elysia pointed at the bitter lon juice.
"If you really do feel heartache, then drinking this bitter lon juice shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"We want you to rember this taste, and think twice the next ti you write sothing painful."
"Otherwise... we'll make you drink ten cups of this."
She said it while putting on an adorably fierce face—clearly aning it.
Hokuto looked at the bitter lon juice... then at the Fla-Chasers surrounding him with less-than-kind intentions.
In the end, he picked up the cup.
Gulp gulp gulp~~~
Downed it in one go.
...
Everyone spent the evening chatting and laughing deep into the night.
Since it was the Abyss settlent night, everyone stayed up to ring in the new year, each hunched over their phones trying to grind out points.
Occasional bursts of discussion popped up.
"Kosma, I learned how to ult-cancel."
Griseo held up her phone for Kosma to see.
Kosma: "..."
Griseo: "..."
Griseo and Kosma exchanged a long glance.
Soone looked around and realized everyone was grinding scores—and couldn't help but complain.
"How are you all this good at grinding? Stop being so competitive!"
"You're saying that while glued to your own phone? You're the biggest tryhard here," soone replied.
"I'm just trying to stay in my tier. I can't grind anymore. I'm giving up,"
Pardofelis curled up on the sofa like a cat, announcing her surrender.
"If anyone pretends to give up but secretly keeps grinding, I hope they never land a crit again."
Hokuto smiled quietly while listening to their very-player-like conversations.
He was just wondering if he should take out his own phone to join in when—
Ring ring~~ ring ring~~
His phone suddenly rang.
"Kiana?"
Hokuto answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hokuto, Hokuto, it's almost midnight!"
"Oh."
Hokuto glanced at the wall clock. "Yeah, it's almost the new year."
"We're counting down over here... listen."
She turned on speakerphone—and sure enough, there was a lively commotion on her end.
Theresa and the others were shouting together.
"Five! Four!..."
"Three!" Elysia's voice suddenly joined in.
At that mont—
The voices from both sides overlapped through the phone.
Kiana, Theresa, i...
Elysia, Griseo, Eden...
People with completely different personalities ca together in a surprisingly heartwarming and festive mont.
"Three! Two! One!"
"Happy New Year!" *n
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