As expected, she would ask.
Normally, when faced with such a question, Qin Yu would have said, "It's nothing," and quickly changed the subject to avoid worrying the other person.
But now, she wanted to be worried about.
Even if nothing was actually wrong, Qin Yu would have claimed there was. In truth, something was bothering her—otherwise, she wouldn't have acted this way.
However, Qin Yu was reluctant to reveal too much, opting instead to reply vaguely, "I guess so. How did you know?"
"I just had a faint feeling. After all, we have this, don't we?"
Keqing smiled and raised her arm, the bracelet catching the room's light and twinkling slightly.
"Mm... you're right," Qin Yu murmured, touching her own bracelet.
Though their connection wasn't as strong as before, some degree of mutual understanding still remained.
"Plus, you just look like something's on your mind," Keqing added with a teasing grin.
"Ah ha ha..." Qin Yu laughed awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Evaluation: C-
Points... whatever. Qin Yu sighed inwardly, no longer caring about evaluations or points.
Keqing being here was all that mattered.
The atmosphere having eased, Keqing seized the moment to press further: "Then, can you tell me what happened? If there's anything I can do to help, I'll definitely do it."
Keqing, you can't help with this. No, nothing is needed at all.
What Teacher needed, she has already obtained.
As Qin Yu thought this, she endured the lingering dizziness and said, "I saw Teacher today..."
"Eh?" Keqing exclaimed in surprise.
Qin Yu recounted the entire story to Keqing, omitting only her personal conversations with Teacher. When she finished, Keqing's eyes shimmered with tears.
Crossing her arms, she leaned back against the sofa, silent for a moment.
"Your mother was a wonderful person. To me, she was a reliable elder whom I looked up to and learned from. I wish I could have gone with you," Keqing said, her voice filled with nostalgia and regret.
But Qin Yu thought that if Keqing had come along, she would have only embarrassed herself further.
Though Keqing felt a pang of sadness, she knew Qin Yu was suffering even more.
"So you want to drown your sorrows in alcohol?" Keqing asked understandingly.
"Mhm," Qin Yu mumbled.
At Qin Yu's vague reply, Keqing sighed. "I understand, but this isn't a good way to cope."
"I know. I just wanted to do something to relax."
Qin Yu pulled out the toy ring she always carried from beneath her collar.
Don't lose it again, Teacher had said. Again? Qin Yu toyed with the ring, her thoughts drifting into the depths of her memories. In a daze, she recalled a distant memory.
-
I did lose it once when I was little.
No, wait, it was stolen.
"What's this ugly thing? Give it here!" A group of older kids, emboldened by their early growth spurt and sheer numbers, snatched the toy ring away.
Despite my desperate attempts to resist, I couldn't stop them.
When Keqing returned home and heard what had happened, she grabbed her wooden sword and stormed out to get the ring back. But the chastised bullies claimed they no longer had it.
"We threw it into that cave over there," they taunted. "If you're so tough, go get it."
Keqing immediately swapped her wooden sword for a real one, ready to charge into the cave and retrieve the ring. She told me to wait at home.
But I couldn't shake off my worry and stubbornly followed her.
"Why did you come along?"
"Just in case something happens, I can protect Keqing... or something like that!"
"Isn't it supposed to be me protecting you? Fine, since you insisted on coming, stay close!"
"Okay!"
-
And then... what happened next? Qin Yu strained to recall, but this time the barrier was stronger than ever. Even a fleeting attempt to touch the memory sent a sharp, tightening pain through her head.
Noticing Qin Yu's pallor, Keqing quickly asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
"Just a bit of a headache."
"See? I told you not to drink so much," Keqing said helplessly. "I'll get you a glass of water."
Just as she stood up, Qin Yu pulled her back down onto the sofa.
Evaluation: C+
Startled, Keqing turned to Qin Yu. "Qin Yu? What's wrong?"
Qin Yu didn't reply, keeping her head lowered. Keqing tried to gently pry her hand loose, but Qin Yu only gripped tighter, as if pleading, "Don't go."
The sensation felt like stepping back in time.
Amidst a wave of nostalgia, Keqing asked, "Aren't you thirsty?"
Qin Yu shook her head silently.
"I see... Don't worry, I have plenty of time now. We can talk for as long as you like. But if you need to rest, just let me know."
To reassure Qin Yu, Keqing offered a warm smile.
Qin Yu's face flushed even hotter.
What am I doing? she couldn't help but think.
Evaluation: B
"...Sorry," Qin Yu said, releasing her grip.
"No, the one who should apologize is me. Your teacher entrusted you to my care, after all." Keqing's eyes dimmed slightly as she spoke.
Qin Yu cut her off, not wanting to hear it. "We've already discussed this."
"Right. My mistake," Keqing admitted, chastising herself.
"I just remembered something."
"Hm?"
Qin Yu lifted her right leg and hugged it close, murmuring, "When I was little, someone stole my ring. You went to a cave they mentioned to get it back, and I followed you..."
Keqing's heart stopped for a split second, then resumed beating with a frantic rhythm.
"And then what happened?" Keqing leaned forward urgently, supporting herself on her forearms.
Whoa, her face is so close!
Qin Yu averted her gaze, flustered. "I... I haven't remembered that part yet."
Keqing relaxed slightly.
That particular memory was the one that shouldn't be recalled.
Yet Qin Yu was slowly piecing together the truth, and one day she would inevitably remember it. Keqing thought, Since I've already decided not to stop her, the only thing I can do in this situation is...
Hmm, I'd already made up my mind about that anyway.
"It's okay. If you ever remember, I'll rush to your side."
Qin Yu nodded, twisting a strand of hair between her fingers. "Mm-hmm."
Evaluation: A-
If Keqing said that, then the memories that followed must be the so-called "painful memories." Did they encounter danger there?
But both of them were still alive and well.
Qin Yu hesitated, then tried to remember again.
No luck. Only a throbbing headache.
I'll leave it for now then.
Neither Keqing nor Qin Yu spoke, a brief silence settling between them.
"I think your mother would be so happy to see you," Keqing said finally. "So... promise me you won't hurt yourself like that again."
Ha? Do you really think I'm so untrustworthy that you have to say it so many times? Qin Yu felt a twinge of annoyance, but she knew it was wrong to feel that way, so she nodded.
Keqing tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You can... tell me anything. I won't mind. Of course, you can also make requests of me."
Requests?
"Anything?" Qin Yu asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and nervousness.
Keqing's cheeks flushed. "Ahem, not anything, but as long as it's not too outrageous, I won't refuse."
After all, she had never been able to refuse Qin Yu anything; now she was just making it explicit.
"But! In return, you can't drink like that anymore. Can you promise me that?"
Even if you didn't keep emphasizing it, I wouldn't do it again anyway, Qin Yu thought, nodding in agreement.
"Say it properly: 'I won't drink like that anymore'," Keqing insisted sternly.
"I won't drink like that anymore."
"No, louder. This isn't for me—it's for yourself."
How troublesome.
Qin Yu reluctantly shouted, "I! Won't drink like that! Anymore!"
"Good," Keqing beamed, her face radiant with satisfaction.
This isn't good at all. What if the neighbors complain?
Evaluation: A+
But first, I want to complain about you.
Qin Yu sighed inwardly. Just then, Keqing's slightly nervous voice came from beside her.
"Is there anything you want to do to me right now?"
I want you to say that out loud!
But that would be terrible. What just happened might get a complaint, and this might call the Millelith.
"...Leg."
"Leg?" Keqing asked, puzzled.
Qin Yu recalled a time when she used to rest her head on Keqing's lap, though that was when they were much younger.
I want to try that again.
"Can I rest my head on your lap?" Qin Yu asked.
"Oh, you mean this? Sure. But take it slow when you lie down and get up, or you might get dizzy—you've had quite a bit to drink, after all."
Keqing's calm acceptance put Qin Yu at ease.
As Qin Yu rested her head on Keqing's lap, she couldn't help but feel something was different.
"It doesn't feel the same as before," she murmured.
"That's because we've grown up," Keqing replied.
She was also wearing tights now.
Keqing's body heat radiated through the fabric, a comforting warmth. Compared to the tipsy lightness from the wine, Qin Yu much preferred this sensation of warmth seeping into her skin.
Keqing lowered her head to gaze at Qin Yu's profile, then couldn't resist tugging gently at her hair.
"Hmm?"
"Nothing."
Then why did you tug my hair? Qin Yu thought, but she was too lazy to pursue the matter and let it go.
Seeing that Qin Yu didn't seem to mind, Keqing brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and pressed her hand against her cheek.
The sensation was slightly different from before, but the warmth and the sense of contentment remained exactly the same.
Evaluation: S
"If you hadn't chased after me, none of this would have happened," Keqing murmured.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I really think it's great that we're back together now."
Aren't you embarrassed to say something like that? Qin Yu wondered.
"What do you think, Qin Yu?"
Don't ask me.
Qin Yu didn't want to answer, but refusing outright felt rude. Instead of speaking—some words were too difficult to say aloud—she responded with action, covering the back of Keqing's hand with her own.
"I see," Keqing said, understanding Qin Yu's meaning. She smiled contentedly.
Evaluation: SS-
Feeling Keqing's warmth, Qin Yu gradually felt the emptiness in her heart begin to soften.
"Teacher said..." she murmured softly.
"Hm?"
"As long as I still believe I'm her daughter, then we'll always be mother and daughter. That bond can never be broken." Qin Yu shifted her position slightly.
The warm, humid breath that accompanied her words brushed against Keqing's thigh, causing Keqing's face to flush even deeper.
Strange... I've never felt this peculiar way before.
Keqing said, "She's right. Even without blood ties, you're still family, and that bond is unique."
"I agree. What Teacher said makes perfect sense."
But...
Even though Qin Yu understood intellectually that she needed to move forward, the moment she thought about her only family member being truly gone, the emptiness in her heart felt even more pronounced, like a gaping wound.
So while she understood, she couldn't accept it just yet. It hurt.
Once she was alone again, a cold wind would sweep through her heart, causing the emptiness to ache faintly.
"But still... it's just..." Qin Yu hesitated.
"I understand."
Invisible bonds like this were what truly mattered, but Qin Yu still yearned for something tangible—something she could see, touch, and feel.
A face. Skin. Warmth.
Qin Yu thought she wasn't the romantic type, unable to find much warmth in intangible things.
She needed to capture someone with her eyes, touch them with her hands, and feel them against her skin to find comfort and warmth, to fill the emptiness in her heart.
Just like now.
Keqing's warmth was sweeter than the expensive wine they had shared earlier. Qin Yu felt herself sinking deeper into it, her eyes, ears, face, neck, and breath growing warmer.
I want more.
Evaluation: SS+
No, this feels too strange!
Qin Yu sat up abruptly. Keqing asked in surprise, "Not going to rest your head on me anymore?"
"No..."
Qin Yu rubbed her face, Keqing's warmth still lingering there, refusing to dissipate. An indescribable mix of emotions surged through her—confusion, bewilderment, and restlessness.
Keqing didn't sense anything amiss, only a faint disappointment.
"Qin Yu," Keqing called out.
"Hmm?"
Keqing took Qin Yu's hand, her voice gentle, "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come to me."
The familiar warmth of her palm radiated into Qin Yu's hand.
Not enough.
Qin Yu asked uneasily, "Is that... okay?"
"Of course! I can't replace your mother, but aren't we childhood friends? We've even been handcuffed together again. So whatever you're going through, you can always come to me!"
Keqing pressed her hand to her chest and said, "We've been apart for so long, but my desire to cherish your feelings has never wavered."
Qin Yu couldn't resist reaching out with her other hand to cup Keqing's cheek.
"Qin Yu..."
Keqing was slightly surprised, but driven by the longing in her heart, she placed her hand over Qin Yu's.
"Looking at us now, we've really grown up a lot," Keqing said with a smile.
"Mm..."
Qin Yu thought to herself, That's right.
They had both matured, blossoming from young girls into graceful young women. Qin Yu couldn't help but gaze intently into Keqing's eyes.
"Qin Yu?"
"...Your eyes haven't changed."
Keqing's cheeks flushed. "Is that so?"
"Mm."
As Qin Yu felt the warmth in her palm intensify, her heart began to race. Overwhelmed by an irresistible longing, she leaned closer to Keqing.
"Keqing..." Qin Yu whispered.
The sound of her name, spoken so softly by Qin Yu, sent a tremor through Keqing's body. It was the first time she had ever heard someone call her that way. The warmth in Qin Yu's voice and tone seemed to melt her consciousness into a blissful haze.
Her composure shaken, Keqing couldn't respond, only holding her breath as she watched Qin Yu's face draw closer and closer.
I want more warmth.
So.
Give it to me.
Driven by impulse and a desperate longing for warmth, Qin Yu pressed her face closer to Keqing.
But just as their lips were about to touch, Qin Yu stopped.
One centimeter apart.
Why did she stop? Keqing couldn't hold her breath any longer, but she dared not gasp for air. Through her trembling breaths, she could feel Qin Yu's breath, closer than ever before.
She wanted to glimpse Qin Yu's expression, her eyes, but ultimately refrained. Her heart pounded uncomfortably, yet a conflicting surge of emotion welled up within her.
Keqing placed her hand on Qin Yu's cheek and pressed her lips to hers, taking the initiative.
Evaluation: SSS-
Soon after, Qin Yu turned her face away without a word. To avoid being seen, she embraced Keqing, resting her head on her shoulder.
Keqing's face flushed crimson. After a moment of awkwardness, she returned the embrace.
She didn't know what to say.
We're both girls, yet... and childhood friends at that. Why had Qin Yu wanted to do this? But why had she responded so readily herself?
Keqing's mind was in turmoil, yet the embrace felt utterly comforting.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"Qin Yu...?"
Keqing tried calling out to Qin Yu, but there was no response. It was only then that she noticed the soft, steady breathing beside her ear.
She's asleep!
So, what had just happened was just a drowsy mistake? Is that all it was? Keqing couldn't help but touch her lips.
I don't hate it.
And I didn't expect it to feel... quite nice.
But... we shouldn't have done that... right? Keqing sighed deeply, fretting over how to interact with Qin Yu afterward.
If my younger self and Qin Yu knew this would happen today, what would they think?
I can't even imagine. Is it because we've both grown up?
We're both women, and we're very close... So, doing something like that shouldn't be a problem, right? The more Keqing thought, the dizzier she felt.
What am I going to do now?