Stairway to the top, just 3 points away?

The conversation then shifted to Kiana's character in the game. "The main character was modeled after me! Hmph, your daughter is pretty awesome!" Kiana said with a glowing sense of pride.

Cecilia responded lightly, "Well, of course I play too. Games made by my talented daughter are always good." However, her expression didn't seem to reflect much joy about Kiana being the main character.

Cecilia then revealed another piece of information. "Speaking of which, I'm on the same Abyss list as Sirin. But of course, I'm number one!"

Upon hearing this, Kiana asked, "Then, mom, what's your name?"

"[Stairway to the top, just 3 points away?]" Cecilia replied.

The room fell silent. Mei and Bronya exchanged glances of disbelief but didn't dare to say much. Kiana was also momentarily dumbfounded. As someone who was involved in the game's development, she was still actively trying to understand it.

She knew that things like Abyss were usually dominated by the first place player. So the real reason for Sirin's current obsession with the game was…

Cecilia stood before them all, slowly picking up her apron and meticulously arranging the cutlery one by one. She gently curled a loose strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face and looked at the three people before her with a smile on her face.

"Why don't you say anything?" The question hung in the air, a palpable tension wrapping itself around the room. The three individuals present found themselves at a loss for words, their minds racing to formulate a response. The atmosphere grew colder, the silence stretching out like an endless chasm.

Just as the quiet threatened to swallow them whole, a burst of energy erupted into the room. The tardy arrival of the purple-haired little angel was like a breath of fresh air, her presence instantly dissipating the frosty atmosphere. She tumbled down the stairs with a thud, her voice ringing out cheerfully, "Mommy, I'm coming to eat!"

The sight that greeted them was Sirin, affectionately referred to by Kiana as her annoying second sister. She was clad in a casual housecoat, her hair a wild mess of purple waves cascading down her shoulders. Despite its disheveled state, there was an undeniable softness to it. A star-shaped hair ornament adorned her head, adding a touch of whimsy to her appearance. Her golden eyes, usually radiating an aura of majesty, were half-closed as she rubbed them sleepily while yawning.

Suddenly, her eyes sparked with excitement. She took two quick steps towards Mei and reached out with one hand. "Wow…! The real-life Raiden Mei! Mei, sign me up, Queen of Thunder sounds so cool!" In her outstretched hand were a book and a pen.

Mei couldn't help but wonder if Kiana's second sister always carried these items around with her. It was an amusing thought. Yet seeing the love and admiration that Kiana's family had for her warmed Mei's heart. With a smile on her face, she happily agreed to sign the book.

"What's the matter, second sister? I'm the main character here, why won't you let me sign for you?" Kiana's voice echoed in the room, a hint of disgruntlement in her tone. She stood there, her hands clasped together in front of her, her brows furrowed in confusion.

Sirin responded with a sneer, her eyes gleaming with disdain. "Hehe," she scoffed, "You're just a fool who got lucky in the district. If I were in the game, I'd definitely outshine you!"

Kiana huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're really getting on my nerves! Hmph!" She turned away from Sirin, refusing to engage any further.

Under the gentle and calming gaze of Cecilia, the two ceased their bickering and obediently took their seats at the table. The room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional clink of cutlery.

"Sirin, where's Bella? Why isn't she coming down?" Cecilia's voice was soft yet firm as she addressed Sirin. Sirin was busy admiring her newly signed book, a wide grin on her face as she carefully tucked it into her pocket.

At the mention of Bella's name, Sirin's movements faltered. She seemed to panic for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. With her head bowed low, she mumbled something under her breath.

"Bella is resting in bed! She stayed up late last night and doesn't need to eat, so let's not disturb her!" Sirin's voice was a mix of defensiveness and concern. Her eyes darted nervously around the room, as if expecting Bella to appear at any moment.

Cecilia sighed, a look of exasperation crossing her face. "How many times have I told you not to let Bella play the game on your behalf?" she chided gently. Bella wasn't particularly skilled at gaming, but she was always eager to help Sirin. Every task Sirin assigned her was treated as a top priority, often leading to late-night gaming sessions.

It was fortunate that Bella was a Honkai dragon. Any other creature would have succumbed to exhaustion under Sirin's relentless demands. But Bella, with her extraordinary stamina, managed to keep up.

"Alright, let's eat!" Cecilia declared, effectively ending the discussion. Kiana, ever the enthusiastic eater, lunged forward. She devoured the dish in front of her in mere moments before eyeing the others' plates with a predatory gleam in her eyes.

In the past, Bronya would have been her first target at the dinner table. Kiana always had to be on guard against Bronya potentially snatching away Mei's attention. But today, it seemed everyone was safe from Kiana's food-snatching antics.

But at this moment, a new challenger emerged, proving to be even more of a nuisance than Bronya. "Kiana, you're going to pay for this! How dare you steal my food!" Sirin's voice was filled with indignation. She had been just about to savor her meal when Kiana swooped in like a ravenous bird, snatching away her food.

This was an affront that Sirin could not tolerate. A battle ensued at the dinner table, with neither Kiana nor Sirin willing to back down. They squabbled and bickered, each trying to claim the contested food as their own.

Cecilia, observing the spectacle from the sidelines, merely sighed and continued eating her meal in silence. Once everyone had eaten their fill, the conversation shifted from the battlefield of the dinner table to more pleasant topics.

Kiana took it upon herself to introduce Mei and Bronya to the others. Although they had learned about Mei and Bronya from the game, hearing about their experiences firsthand was a different matter entirely.

"So, Mei and Bronya's experiences are extremely similar to the game?" Cecilia asked, her gaze resting on the purple-haired girl from the Far East. "Don't be nervous, Mei! Just think of me as someone your age. I'm happy about it!"

Mei's fingers twisted together unconsciously. She wasn't sure why she felt so nervous. Perhaps it was the presence of Kiana and Cecilia-sama that made her feel as if she were walking on thin ice, afraid that one wrong word could shatter the fragile peace.

"Yes… Yes, Cecilia-sama, our experiences align closely with those depicted in the game," Mei responded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cecilia's laughter filled the room, light and carefree. "Call me sister, remember, no aunts!" she said, her tone devoid of the sternness one would expect from a figure of her stature.

Kiana's eyes widened in shock. "Mom! How can Mei call you sister? That's… that's not right. We're good friends!" She rushed to intervene, her words tumbling out in a hurried jumble. This was a crucial moment for Kiana, and she was determined to steer the conversation away from this unexpected turn of events.

Bronya, ever the observer, was mentally taking notes. However, she quickly dismissed the idea of calling Cecilia 'sister'. It didn't seem practical for her.

Kiana's mind was racing, searching for a way to divert the conversation. "By the way, mom," she began, "I remember the boss mentioning that he wanted to discuss dubbing the next part of the storyline with you and Sirin. I thought I'd give you a heads up before he reaches out."

Kiana breathed a sigh of relief. She had successfully managed to change the topic and distract Cecilia. She couldn't help but feel grateful for having such a convenient excuse at hand.

After all, what would happen if Mei actually started calling Cecilia 'sister'? The mere thought made Kiana shudder. It just didn't feel right…

As expected, Cecilia's interest was piqued by Kiana's words. Her face took on a thoughtful expression as she mulled over the idea. "Getting me and Sirin to dub? He did mention it a while ago. Are they moving forward with our storyline now?"

Kiana responded with a sheepish giggle, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. "I'm not sure! I just remember Luo Mo mentioning it once." She admitted, her voice laced with uncertainty. If it hadn't been for the urgency of the situation, she probably wouldn't have remembered it at all.

Cecilia wasn't surprised by Kiana's lack of clarity. "Well, I'll just ask him when I get the chance," she said, unfazed by Kiana's unreliability.

She then changed the subject, turning her attention back to Kiana. "Speaking of which, your big sister Durandal will be visiting the academy soon. You've always wanted to become the strongest Valkyrie, right? Would you like to train with her?"

Kiana's eyes widened in alarm. "No, no, no! Absolutely not!" she exclaimed, vehemently shaking her head. The thought of training with Durandal was daunting. Her training regimen was notoriously intense - far too intense for an average human to handle.

"By the way, mom," Kiana quickly interjected, eager to change the subject, "the boss went to Great Aunt Delisa's villa today! I… I think I'll go upstairs and rest for a bit."

The villa was actually Kiana's room. She had offered it as a temporary resting place for Mei and Bronya during their stay.