Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

The room fell into a brief silence.

Mei stared at Ren, her gaze calm and detached.

"He's feeding her..."

The other girls clasped their hands in front of their chests, their mouths slightly agape.

No one had expected that the ultimate "winner" of the game would be…

Mei, who had barely participated at all.

Ayaka and Chisato exchanged helpless glances.

Sure, it was just a simple act of feeding.

They weren't jealous at all. Definitely not.

But still… could their "fair referee" care to explain why things had turned out this way?

"Ughhh..."

Yoimiya covered her face, clearly attempting to avoid any further attention.

Suddenly, a chilling aura swept over her.

"..."

Ren subtly winked at Mei, as if signaling for help.

Come on, at least react a little! My arm's been raised for ages.

Mei let out a faint scoff, her lips twitching ever so slightly.

Crunch.

She leaned forward and bit into the sweet treat Ren was offering, her cold gaze fixed firmly on him.

For some reason, this piece of dessert felt extraordinarily sweet.

"!"

Somewhere in the room, it felt like something cracked audibly.

Ren's eyes lit up.

For a fleeting moment, an immense sense of satisfaction filled his heart.

Mei hadn't refused.

That cold and aloof demeanor, mixed with quiet compliance...

Who could resist feeding such a lovable shrine maiden?

"Well? How does it taste?" Ren asked with a smile.

Mei casually snatched the remaining dessert from his hand and replied coolly:

"Average."

"..."

Ren retracted his hand silently.

Okay Mei. Whatever makes you happy.

"Alright then, 'punishment' over," Ren announced, casting a sidelong glance at Yoimiya.

Yoimiya flinched, the cold aura around her making her squirm in her seat.

She didn't feel relieved at all.

Ayaka and Chisato exchanged subtle glances, as if silently acknowledging a shared realization:

There's a new challenge in town.

But before they could act on it...

"Yoimiya, why don't you sit with us for a bit?"

The two young ladies gently pulled Yoimiya to sit beside them.

Their camaraderie appeared warm and friendly.

But... there was plenty of time tonight to "bond" and exchange thoughts.

"Ugh... I-I'm not hungry anymore..."

Yoimiya pouted, looking thoroughly defeated as she glanced at Ren for help.

Help me, please!

---

In the cozy room, the sounds of playful chatter and laughter from the girls filled the air.

After the game, the dinner concluded peacefully.

The evening passed quickly as the group chatted about various topics.

From the Vision Hunt Decree to the hopes for Inazuma's future...

Outside, the moonlight poured in through the windows.

Night deepened.

"..."

Mei's cold gaze drifted toward the window.

Outside the Komore Teahouse, a chilling breeze rustled the air.

Faintly, shadows seemed to flicker in the distance.

She turned her attention back to her hand, her fingers lightly brushing against the opened wrapper.

Though she had only sampled the dishes at dinner, she had yet to set down the half-eaten dessert in her palm.

She gripped it gently, as though unwilling to let it go.

"Mei? What's that in your hand?"

Across from her, Ren's curious eyes fell on her clenched fist.

Mei shook her head lightly, her tone calm.

"Nothing."

Ren frowned slightly but chose not to press further.

It feels like she's been preoccupied all night.

Ever since she started carrying that knife… what has she been thinking about?

"Well, it's getting late. I should—"

"Takahashi, you're not going anywhere!"

Behind him, Yoimiya clung to the doorframe, her voice trembling.

Two young ladies, Ayaka and Chisato, approached Ren, one on each side.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?"

"I-I..."

Ren smiled helplessly, patting Yoimiya's head.

Good luck. You'll need it.

---

As the night wound down, Ren stood at the door, waving goodbye.

Before him were the slightly weary faces of the girls.

Having "bonded" with Yoimiya, they now appeared pleasantly tired.

"Goodnight, Ren," Ayaka said softly, her eyes warm.

"See you tomorrow, Renny," Chisato added with a gentle glance in his direction.

Ren furrowed his brows.

Why does it feel like these two are plotting something?

Surely not... right?

Yoimiya, who looked utterly drained, waved faintly as though bidding him a silent farewell.

"Goodnight," Ren replied, his gaze drifting toward Mei, who lingered quietly in the background.

"And Mei... goodnight to you, too."

"Mm."

Mei nodded slightly, her tone as calm as ever.

The hand holding the dessert tightened ever so slightly.

This time, she wouldn't let go.

---

Inside the small teahouse, only the girls remained.

They exchanged glances, the room momentarily silent.

"..."

Mei slowly stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait, Mei-nee."

"It's not over yet," Yoimiya said mysteriously, suddenly appearing with a pile of bedding in her arms.

"Here, this is yours."

"...What is this?"

Mei reached out to take the bedding, her voice calm.

"Hehe," Yoimiya grinned.

"Of course, it's for sleeping together!"

"How can we sleep without our own blankets?"

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Nothing beats the warmth of late-night chats before bed!

"It's late. Let's all get some rest," Ayaka said gently, already spreading out her bedding nearby.

Her ease with the setup showed it wasn't her first time doing this.

Here, in this quiet haven, they could put aside their titles and responsibilities.

They could simply enjoy the rare, carefree moments of being ordinary girls.

"Then I'll join you," Chisato said after a brief pause, accepting her own blanket.

She laid it out next to Ayaka's without hesitation.

If someone tries anything in the middle of the night…

She'd be the first to know.

Ayaka's eyes flickered, her soft smile fading slightly.

So you do have your own ideas about this, don't you?

"Sleeping together?" Mei murmured softly, clearly hesitant.

Her mind was preoccupied, craving solitude to think about how to deal with a certain someone.

Not to mention the task of cleaning up the lurking shadows outside.

"But Mei-nee, you already agreed earlier," Yoimiya chimed in, her tone playful as she employed her best puppy-dog eyes.

After a moment of silence, Mei sighed lightly.

"Fine."

"Yay! Mei-nee is the best!"

Yoimiya pumped her fist in triumph, flashing a victory sign.

Tonight was sure to be another cozy, harmonious night!

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the teahouse…

"Ah-choo!"

Ren sneezed.

---

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

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Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨