On the dining table, dishes were served one after another.
The chefs at the Golden Grand Hotel were truly skilled; simple ingredients were cooked to perfection, bursting with color, aroma, and flavor, and served piping hot.
The rich fragrance quickly dispelled the subtle stagnation in the air caused by Phainon, who "resembled" Kevin.
Hyacine provided attentive service, refilling tea and water with her ever-bright smile.
Stelle and March 7th ate heartily, praising the food incessantly, while Dan Heng ate quietly, with refined, precise movements.
Mei gradually returned to her normal state, chewing slowly and occasionally feeding Kiana a bit of food.
Kiana, meanwhile, turned her shock into appetite, seemingly trying to "eat away" the fright she had just received.
Mouth full of roast meat, she mumbled, "Mmm… this tastes good… better than at home… never mind, let's eat, let's eat."
Bronya did not eat much, but she was very focused, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the bustling restaurant as if observing something.
Shinji also sampled the dishes; the flavors were excellent, carrying a home-cooked warmth and solid culinary foundation that was comforting.
Yet, Shinji's thoughts wandered involuntarily, drifting into the deeper recesses of "his" memories—memories about why these three girls had gathered at the near-bankrupt "Under the Starry Sky" Studio.
Fragments of memory gradually became clear, layered atop the calm (at least on the surface) dinner scene before him.
Kiana Kaslana: In his memory, it was a blindingly sunny afternoon. He—the Captain—was busy cleaning up the aftermath of their last failed project, feeling overwhelmed.
The office door burst open with a bang, and a girl swept in like a gust of wind, her blue eyes shining fiercely.
"Hey! Captain! This young lady has come to save your crappy Studio!"
She stood with her hands on her hips, speaking arrogantly, as if she had her own radiant spotlight.
"Kiana? Why are you…" Shinji (the Captain) was stunned.
Shouldn't Kiana be enjoying life in her family's luxurious manor? Or attending lessons to prepare for managing the Kaslana Family business she would inherit?
"Hmph, don't mention it!"
Kiana pouted, casually pulled over a chair, and sat down. "I was about to grow mushrooms out of boredom at home!
Headmaster Theresa—oh, that's my aunt, who looks like a primary school student but has terrifying seniority—she said I'm idle all day, doing nothing but playing games or watching anime, which supposedly disgraces the Kaslana Family!
She somehow heard that your place was about to go bankrupt and actually said, 'Since you're idle anyway, why not go help your good-for-nothing childhood friend and experience the hardships of the common people? So you won't be fooled like an idiot when you inherit the family business later!'"
She imitated Headmaster Theresa's feigned mature-child voice vividly and lifelike.
Then she dropped her expression: "What the heck! This young lady is very smart!
However… since Headmaster said so, this young lady will reluctantly come to help you out!
Let's get this straight: I don't need a salary, but snacks must be unlimited! And you are not allowed to make me do boring work!"
Her reasoning was simple, direct, and a little nonsensical.
But the Captain, looking into Kiana's blue eyes—which seemed casual but hid a hint of unwillingness to be controlled and a desire to do something "of her own"—could not refuse.
Thus, the Kaslana Family's young lady stayed at this precarious Studio as an "Artist (and Snack Connoisseur)."
Raiden Mei: Mei's arrival was more "logical." Almost the second day after Kiana moved in, she appeared at the office door wearing a simple, elegant long dress and carrying a small luggage bag, her smile gentle and slightly apologetic.
"Shinji, sorry to bother you," she said softly. "Kiana… insisted on dragging me along. She said experiencing the hardships of the common people alone would be too lonely, and she worried she might bankrupt your Studio by herself, so she needed someone to keep an eye on her."
She walked in, her gaze sweeping across the cluttered but surprisingly lively office, her eyes serene and clear.
"I… also have some interest in your Studio.
Although my father hopes I will quickly familiarize myself with the group's affairs, he also said that when one is young, one should try different possibilities."
She paused and looked at Shinji.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I stay here and do things within my capabilities? For example, character design or scene concept art?"
Her reason was impeccable, her posture humble, even invoking her father's name.
But Shinji knew it was largely because of Kiana.
Mei always followed Kiana quietly, cleaning up after her chaotic energy, supporting her whims.
Perhaps, deep down, she also yearned to break free from the preplanned life template, even if only for a short while, to breathe different air.
Thus, Mei became another artist in the Studio, quickly indispensable with her delicate brushwork and solid foundational skills.
Bronya: Her arrival was the quietest, and also the most complex.
It was a drizzly evening. Only Shinji remained in the Studio, staring blankly at project documents for the future.
A soft knock came at the door.
Opening it, he saw a silver-haired girl outside, carrying the dampness of the rain.
Her backpack looked quite worn.
"Bronya?" Shinji was surprised.
Though they were old acquaintances—thanks to Kiana and Mei—Bronya's personality was independent and introverted.
"Mm," Bronya nodded flatly. "I heard you need people here."
She entered, her gaze sweeping over the office, silently observing.
She didn't comment, just placed her bag on an empty table.
"My own Studio went bankrupt last month," she stated plainly. "The project direction was wrong, and the funding chain collapsed."
"Sorry…" Shinji didn't know what to say.
He only knew Bronya's love for games was pure, far beyond Kiana or Mei's playful interest. Running her own Studio was likely her true ambition.
Bronya shook her head. "No need. A lesson learned."
She paused, gathering her words. "Teacher Welt… suggested I come here and take a look."
"Teacher Welt?" The name made Shinji's heart skip a beat.
Welt Yang, one of the founders of the Anti-Entropy Group, a legendary academic and business figure, and Bronya's mentor during university.
"He said that although 'Under the Starry Sky' is in a poor state, you, Captain, have an… unrealistic tenacity."
Bronya repeated Welt's words evenly.
"The Anti-Entropy Group's technical resources and market channels might cooperate with potential independent Studios in the future.
He asked me to 'observe,' or rather… 'intern.'"
The reason sounded like a business inspection, slightly condescending yet charitable.
But Shinji, looking into Bronya's calm eyes, sensed it wasn't so simple.
Why would Welt Yang take interest in a small, almost-bankrupt Studio, sending his most promising student to "observe"?
Perhaps Bronya, after her failure, needed a place to start over. And here were people she knew, as well as a sense of mutual sympathy.
Regardless, Bronya stayed as a programmer and artist, her skills astonishingly comprehensive, becoming the Studio's most stable and inscrutable technical core.
The fragments of memory pieced together the story of how these three girls joined:
Kiana was "exiled" to experience life; Mei was "dragged along" by Kiana; Bronya came "recommended," bringing the sobriety of a seasoned learner and the eye of an observer.
"If you want to read advance Chapter.
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