"I don't want to think about it anymore, I don't want to think about it anymore."
Kiana was shaken by Mei's low and slightly hoarse voice and quickly shook her head.
"Just that one line from Mei... it really had that kind of vibe."
As for what kind—obviously the "yandere" kind.
Elysia suppressed the upturned corners of her lips, then glanced at Hokuto:
"I think the scriptwriter could totally arrange something around that."
Hokuto: "..."
Elysia didn't mind his silence and turned her attention back to Kiana and Mei.
"Mei's emotions—everyone could feel them, right? So sincere and passionate."
Miss Pink Elf paused briefly, waiting for Kiana to recover from the earlier shock before continuing.
"I'm going to ask the next question now. This one's going to be a bit more serious."
"Kiana, how do you feel about being choked in reverse by Mei in the animation?"
Kiana: "..."
You probably have a misunderstanding of the word serious.
That said, this was a question she needed to answer.
She hesitated, then tentatively replied, "Umm... karma always catches up? What goes around comes around?"
"Oh? So that's what Kiana thinks?" Elysia smiled, "I thought you'd feel... like the scriptwriter is targeting you on purpose, playing with memes or something."
"Ehh~~?"
Kiana's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, that choking scene—was it deliberately added by Ho—uh, by the boss?"
"..."*N
"Pfft~~"
Elysia couldn't hold back her laughter upon seeing Kiana's paramecium-like realization.
"Aiya, our Kiana really hasn't changed one bit. I bet viewers watching this will feel so reassured." That line was clearly directed at future players watching the interview.
"Now, for the next question—this one is just a little selfish on my part~~"
Kiana and Mei both looked toward Elysia.
Elysia didn't hold back:
"Kiana, Mei, is there any line of your own that you'd really like the other person to try dubbing?"
"Uh..."*2
Kiana was just starting to think when Mei already answered.
"I do." Mei's tone was firm.
"That was quick, Mei~~"
Elysia couldn't help but press further: "Could it be... you've thought about this before? Been waiting a long time?"
"Hmm... something like that."
Mei answered casually, then turned toward Kiana.
"There's one particularly famous, particularly classic line of mine."
"...I feel like I can guess." Elysia blinked.
It really wasn't hard to guess.
Mei continued, facing Kiana:
"I really want Kiana to say it—to understand how Mei feels. Is that okay?"
Kiana, who had also half-guessed what it would be, scratched her braided hair.
She gave a small, honest nod: "Okay."
Mei smoothly recited the line she wanted Kiana to say:
"I can't do anything."
As expected.
That infamous Herrscher password.
"Alright, Kiana, you can begin~" Elysia encouraged from the side.
"Umm..."
Kiana hesitated, making a very paramecium-like sound:
"I... I can't do anything?"
The same line, spoken in a different voice, carried a completely different tone.
At the very least, when the paramecium said it, the feeling it gave was utterly different.
But exactly how it felt—now that's hard to describe.
And that's where our super, super, super metaphor expert Elysia steps in!
"Sigh~~ The feeling when Kiana reads that line—"
"It's like Theresa drinking bitter melon juice. It's clearly supposed to be bitter, but somehow it doesn't feel unpleasant—actually, it's kind of... cute."
"...Elysia, your metaphors are as unique as ever." Mei commented from the side.
Only Elysia could come up with something like that.
The average person's brain doesn't even run on those kinds of circuits.
"Hehe~~ Hearing Mei praise me like that makes me so happy~~"
Elysia chirped brightly. "Even though I'd love for Mei to keep praising me, we've still got a job to do."
She looked toward Kiana:
"Now it's your turn, Kiana. Is there any line you'd like Mei to try dubbing?"
Finally her turn?
Kiana instantly puffed up with pride.
"Of course! Of course I do!"
"What would you like Mei to say?"
"Hmm... I guess it's gotta be that one."
Kiana thought for a moment, then said:
"Neko charm."
"Ehh~~" Elysia covered her mouth, hiding her schadenfreude grin.
"Kiana's not exactly going easy either."
"..."
Elysia continued to stir the pot, and the interview continued smoothly.
Hokuto, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly.
Elysia really was a 'professional' host.
Impressive.
...
...
In the blink of an eye, over an hour had passed.
As time went on, more and more staff from miHoYo had gathered outside the recording booth to watch the interview.
And why did everyone at miHoYo seem so free?
As mentioned before—
According to current miHoYo policy, when there's a major story update like this, everyone is allowed to rest and relax. It's even fine to not show up for work.
In any case, the interview recording went very smoothly, without any unexpected interruptions.
Though Elysia still seemed a little unsatisfied.
She had so many more questions she wanted to ask.
Unfortunately, Hokuto said that if they kept going, the interview would run too long.
The girls left the recording booth, and Hokuto came out holding the device that saved the interview recording.
Only to find someone standing quietly outside the booth, lost in thought.
"Fu Hua?"
"Ah!?" Fu Hua snapped out of her daze, dazed and confused.
"What's wrong?" Hokuto asked with concern.
A trace of hesitation flashed across Fu Hua's face.
She had actually wanted to tell Hokuto that Vill-V was planning to perform magic during the anniversary celebration.
But... she also felt it might be wrong to secretly spill Vill-V's plans.
"Not used to this kind of situation?"
Hokuto, knowing Fu Hua's personality, spoke understandingly:
"You're not really the type to enjoy lively crowds, huh? Must've been tough getting dragged here by someone."
"..."
Fu Hua said nothing.
Hokuto, after glancing at her silent expression, remembered something.
It was almost time for the Herrscher of Sentience to make an appearance.
"Fu Hua, if you're free sometime soon, how about bringing your little sister, Fu Shibao, over to the miHoYo studio?"
"You want Shi to come to the studio?"
Fu Hua was clearly surprised. As the honest type, she asked bluntly:
"Hokuto... did you take a liking to Shi's body or something?"
Hokuto: ???