"Klee, since your big brother Akio said so, when you return to Mondstadt, go check in with Eula's guerrilla squad. I'll give you three days a week to go out with them to clean up monsters—how's that sound?" Jean said, looking at her.
"Klee got it!" Klee nodded excitedly, beaming.
"I have a few rules. First, no using high-powered Bombs. You must not harm your teammates," Jean said sternly.
"Don't worry, Captain Jean! I won't hurt the big brothers and sisters in the squad," Klee promised with a serious nod.
"Second, you have to listen to Eula. Absolutely no going off on your own. If she comes back and tells me you disobeyed orders, then you won't be allowed to go anymore."
"Okay~ Klee will definitely obey Eula!" Klee nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
"Third, once you're back in Mondstadt, no more fireworks in the city, and you're not allowed to bomb the fish in Lake anymore. Understood?" Jean said with a sharp tone.
"Understood, Master Jean!" Klee chirped back.
"Alright, Jean, she's just playful. No need to worry so much," Akio said, putting Klee down with a chuckle.
"You just love spoiling her, don't you?" Jean shot him a mock-annoyed glare.
"She's my little sweetheart. If I don't spoil her, who will?" Akio said, ruffling Klee's fluffy hair.
"Klee loves big brother Akio the most!" Klee said happily. "And Klee has a gift for big brother Akio too!"
"Oh?" Akio looked at her, pleasantly surprised.
Klee held out the delicate little box with both hands, eyes full of anticipation.
Akio took it and opened it gently. Inside was a small, handmade doll. Though a little rough around the edges, it was clearly modeled after the exact same one on Klee's little backpack.
"Big brother Akio, Klee made this doll all by herself~ Dodoco is Klee's best friend. If Dodoco stays with you, then Klee will be happy too," Klee said, then nervously poked her fingers together. "But… it doesn't look that good…"
"Says who? It's super cute! How could it not be?" Akio grinned. Then he took off the jade token at his waist and replaced it with the Dodoco, hanging it there proudly.
"Klee's Dodoco is now big brother Akio's friend too," he said, pinching her cheek with a smile.
"Wow~ Jean, look at him—he's totally turning into a girl-dad," Lisa whispered in Jean's ear, giggling.
"When we have our own child with him someday, he'll be this sweet too. That would be so wonderful," she said dreamily.
"Hey Jean, how about you go give him a little daughter already?" Lisa teased with a sly grin.
"Mm~" Jean's cheeks flushed pink. She shot Lisa a glare. "Then you go have one for him."
"I'd be more than happy to," Lisa said cheerfully. "Having a baby with our darling… that would be pure happiness."
Jean nodded slightly. It really would be.
"What's this? Jean and Lisa want to have a baby with me?" Akio strolled over with a smirk, looking at the two of them mischievously.
"Mhm! Jean says she wants to give you a daughter," Lisa said as she pushed Jean forward.
"Oh? Daughters are great—they're Daddy's little sweethearts." Akio laughed. "I love daughters."
"Just like little Klee. Having such an adorable daughter… the thought alone makes my heart melt," he said.
Jean glanced over at Klee. Right then, she was fiddling with the mini RPG Akio had given her.
Besides loving bombs, Klee was obedient, kind, and sweet. Sure, she could be a handful sometimes, but if she were Jean's own daughter… she couldn't imagine a more blissful life.
"If you both want a child so badly, why don't we… put in a little more effort?" Akio said, grinning as he slipped his arms around their waists.
"Hey! Klee's right here! Don't say things like that, sweetheart!" Jean whispered, blushing furiously. The last thing they needed was for him to corrupt Klee.
"Hehehe~" Akio chuckled. Fair enough—probably not the best time for mischief in broad daylight.
"But seeing how happy she is right now… I really don't want to take her back just yet," Jean said as she leaned into Akio's embrace, watching Klee with a soft expression. "She's never smiled like this in Mondstadt."
"…Did I make a mistake?" she murmured to herself. "Is my way of raising her… wrong?"
"You know, darling," Lisa chimed in, "Klee might always look cheerful, but I can tell… that little girl hides things in her heart."
"Klee's mother is a witch named Alice. She's… a wild one. Very lively—livelier than Klee, even."
"Just like Klee, she's curious about everything in the world. And her power? Terrifying," Lisa said. "Before she went into Stormterror's Lair, it used to be called Stormterror's Ruins. That name change? All because of one of her bombs."
"Klee definitely inherited her mom's destructive side," Lisa added.
"Sweetheart, Klee was placed in Mondstadt by her mother when she was still very small. She told us herself—she can't remember ever seeing her father," Lisa recalled. "Alice said Klee's dad was a famous adventurer… but I think that was just something she made up to make Klee feel better."
Lisa leaned in and whispered, "As a fellow witch, I can tell—Lady Alice has never been with a man. I'm not even sure what Klee's relationship to her really is."
"But… those first couple years after Klee arrived in Mondstadt, she used to cry in her sleep every night," Lisa said, heart aching. "She'd call out for her mama in her dreams. I couldn't help crying myself—she was so little, yet her mother wasn't even there."
"Later, when Klee got older, Alice came back once and taught her how to make bombs. Ever since then, she's been Mondstadt's little sunshine…"
"Klee's a poor thing. She might seem carefree, bouncing around and playing all day, but she's actually very sensitive inside," Lisa said. "I've seen it—Klee crouched by the window, watching the other kids cuddle with their moms."
"And I've seen her during festivals, sitting alone on a bench, staring wistfully at the children surrounded by their mothers." Lisa let out a long sigh.
"What? I… I had no idea…" Jean said, flustered.
"Well of course not. You've always got your head buried in official duties—how would you notice things like that?" Lisa rolled her eyes. "I'm just a 'useless' librarian with nothing better to do, so I saw it all."
A/N: Sorry, everyone! I was caught up with my studies, but I'm back now. You can expect regular updates from here on. Even if I miss a day, I'll make it up the next one. Thank you for all the love and support you've always shown me. Love you all and enjoy the story!