My Game Studio is Full of Valkyries?!

"Whew~~"

"It really is just like you said, Kiana—the story just keeps getting better."

Elysia let out a breath and turned to say something to Kiana.

But Kiana's expression was off.

She looked like she was about to cry.

"Kiana?"

Elysia was a bit surprised. "So you're that fond of the Queen?"

She thought Kiana was sad about the Queen's departure.

And that was part of it—but the real reason Kiana felt like crying… was because of what was coming next.

"I... I..."

Kiana hesitated, then said softly, "Go on, Elysia."

"Mm."

Elysia nodded, her expectations growing thanks to the intensity of the previous plot.

She tapped the screen.

The in-game narration began to scroll, and Elysia read it aloud to the audience.

A soul quietly faded away...

All the Core Gems had returned to Kiana's hands.

The moment she touched them, fragments of consciousness flooded into her mind like a tidal wave, instantly swallowing her awareness whole.

Chaos. Chaos. Chaos...

She clenched her teeth, using the last bit of strength she had to stay conscious.

No one knew how long had passed.

When she opened her eyes again, what appeared before her was endless white.

She blinked. Gradually, the scene came into focus—

The pure white St. Freya Academy, with only its center brushed in a blaze of crimson.

The moment the words "blaze of crimson" appeared—

Elysia's voice, reading the narration, suddenly lowered.

"Only... the center was brushed with a..."

The last few words were so soft they were barely audible.

Normally, viewers in the livestream would be spamming reminders for her to read louder.

But not this time.

Their attention was locked on those two words—crimson red.

Is... is it her...?

The screen shifted.

The camera slowly panned away from behind Kiana.

That crimson figure stood silently in the distance.

"Himeko!"

Elysia's hand clenched on instinct.

So did the hearts of everyone watching.

They had waited so long. Hoped so long.

Was this... the scriptwriter's final act of mercy?

Elysia urgently moved the character forward.

In her heart she shouted, "Hurry, Kiana! Run faster!"

As if afraid that figure would disappear if she didn't.

But—

As she neared the last stretch, she hesitated.

What if it was just a mirage?

A fragment?

Players now understood how Raven had felt chasing after her brother.

The fear. The anxiety...

They felt it all.

In the end, Elysia still had Kiana approach Himeko.

A short animation played.

A warm melody filled the air.

Tears sparkled in Kiana's eyes, though she held them back.

Her lips parted, as if to call out that familiar name—

But not a single word escaped.

It was Himeko who turned and greeted her first.

"Long time no see, Kiana."

That face, etched deep in memory, appeared right in front of her.

Still that same warm, gentle smile.

Still that comforting voice.

Like it was just yesterday.

Like she had never left.

In that moment, Kiana's voice trembled, sorrowful beyond words:

"Himeko... sensei..."

The voice echoed not only from the game—

But also from beside Elysia.

Kiana, gritting her teeth to keep herself together, looked exactly like her in-game self.

[Long time no see, Himeko-sensei... I missed you so much.]

[Just a few words and I'm completely broken. Completely.]

[Whoever told me to get more tissues earlier—thank you. I actually needed them...]

[Is this... truly the final farewell?]

...

Elysia's heart ached too. She was completely drawn into the scene.

On screen, Himeko looked at Kiana gently and asked in a soft voice:

"Did I... show up too suddenly?"

It felt like Himeko was asking them.

The players.

They shook their heads.

And so did Kiana.

"That's good then."

"You've changed a lot."

Himeko's warm voice helped calm Kiana's emotions a little.

"Himeko-sensei... you haven't changed at all."

"Oh? That actually makes me kind of happy."

Kiana bit her lip.

Elysia's hand, hovering over the screen, trembled as she clicked forward.

Still, she kept a smile on her face.

Because in a moment like this, you had to smile—

Right?

After a long silence, Kiana finally asked what was already clear in her heart:

"This is just a remnant of your consciousness, isn't it...?"

"...Yeah. At least, time doesn't flow here."

"But we can still talk like this. I'm sorry... for not being there with you."

Hearing Himeko's gentle voice, tears welled up in the players' eyes.

They reached for tissues.

Watched the scene.

Cried.

And laughed.

When Himeko said a line, they would instinctively respond like Kiana.

Just like Elysia.

She didn't cry, but—

When Himeko said, "I'm not the only one who thinks you've changed a lot, am I?"

Elysia replied in her heart:

Yeah, I think so too. I wish they could all go back to how it was at St. Freya, with you.

When Himeko said, "I'd like to visit St. Freya one more time..."

Elysia would respond—

To be honest, this part of the story wasn't a knife.

It was just so sweet it made you cry.

...

In-game, Himeko led Kiana into the pristine St. Freya Academy.

"Kiana, let's enjoy this timeless moment together."

The moment her voice fell—

The white space began to change.

St. Freya was painted with its rightful colors.

"The scenery changed?" Kiana was a little surprised.

"After all these years as a teacher, I remember every corner of St. Freya."

Himeko stretched lazily and walked deeper into the academy.

"This youthful campus... I really missed it."

"Yeah... I remember how I always wanted to grow up quickly. But I never expected that growing up would be so painful."

"If you could go back—would you make a different choice?"

Kiana thought for a moment, then shook her head gently.

"Probably not. Otherwise... it wouldn't really be me, would it?"

At this point, the Kiana in-game had already composed herself.

Outside the game, Kiana wiped her tears, balled up the tissue, and also calmed down.

The story that followed really did feel like pure sugar.

The two of them strolled through a memory-painted St. Freya, enjoying a long-awaited heart-to-heart between student and teacher.

Reminiscing about the past.

"Ah, I remember... at night, Himeko-sensei's light was always on."

Kiana was reflecting on how hard Himeko had worked.

Himeko smiled and shared the truth.

"It wasn't that hard. Sometimes... I just got drunk and forgot to turn it off."

...

"See that bush over there? That's where you always hid when skipping class.

I always wondered—why there? It was so easy to find you."

Kiana scratched her head. "Haha, it had the best sunlight."

...

"Remember that wall, Kiana?"

"Mm, I used to climb over it all the time."

Himeko recalled,

"Theresa was so troubled by it. She raised the height of the wall three times, but you still got over it."

Kiana blinked. "So that's why it got harder every time."

"But she never raised it again after that."

"Wh-why not?"

"She was afraid you'd get hurt."

...

One memory after another.

Such gentle words.

Such silent love.

Sweet.

Warm.

Funny.

So very, very heartwarming.

But why—

Why couldn't they stop the tears from flowing?

Why were they pouring down so uncontrollably?

[Uuuuuaaaaaa——]

[Just one simple sentence captured both Theresa's helplessness and her love. I can't stop crying.]

[This kind of sugar... it hits straight into the heart. Well done, scriptwriter. (grits teeth)]