As Qin Yu finished reminiscing about the past, she couldn't help but sigh.
How embarrassing!
If Keqing hadn't opened the door and pulled her out, she would likely have become a legendary hermit of Liyue's social anxiety scene. Childhood experiences really do shape adulthood.
But thinking about it now was mortifying.
At that moment, Keqing gave Lumine and Paimon a brief account of their first encounter.
Many details were omitted, which suited Qin Yu just fine. If Keqing had recounted every detail of their shared history, Qin Yu would have felt uncomfortable.
Our specific stories are for us to remember, not for others to know.
"Oh, that's how it happened! That's wonderful! It's so lucky Qin Yu met such a good friend," Paimon beamed.
An opportunity!
Qin Yu seized the moment, wrapping her arm around Keqing's. "Yes, I'm incredibly lucky," she said with a radiant smile. "If she hadn't brought me out of my room, I definitely wouldn't be standing here today!"
Evaluation: B (Keqing)
Keqing's fair face flushed crimson. Qin Yu's sudden physical contact had caught her completely off guard, especially in front of others. Wait a minute... this feeling... could it be that she's remembering something?
"You've remembered?" Keqing asked in surprise.
"Mm-hmm."
A genuine smile blossomed on Keqing's face. "I see..."
Evaluation: A- (Keqing)
Paimon exclaimed, bewildered, "Remembering—what does that mean?"
"Qin Yu lost a portion of her memories due to some... special circumstances," Keqing explained succinctly, her tone carrying a hint of warning not to press further.
She quickly changed the subject.
"We've talked long enough, Qin Yu. Shall we head out now?" Keqing asked eagerly.
Qin Yu shook her head, holding up the missing person poster.
"Then I'll help you," Keqing offered with a gentle smile.
"We..."
Lumine was about to offer when Qin Yu and Keqing simultaneously said, "No need."
There's no reason for her to do it herself.
After saying goodbye to Lumine and Paimon, Qin Yu and Keqing temporarily split up, each taking charge of posting the notices in their assigned areas. Before long, they had finished posting all the missing person posters.
Reuniting, Keqing invited, "Ready to go?"
"Mm-hmm! We still have time during the midday break. We can talk about anything you want," Qin Yu replied with a smile.
"Then let's go to your room."
Sure, but let's not do anything weird.
Qin Yu recalled their previous private moments, which had always ended in kissing, and felt slightly nervous and uneasy.
The more she remembered their important memories together, the more her affection for Keqing deepened... or rather, returned.
But even so, kissing was inappropriate.
After all, friends don't do that.
I don't mind it, and I probably wouldn't reject her, but we shouldn't. The more it happens, the more our relationship will drift in unpredictable directions.
Still, the past and the feelings tied to it remain unchanged.
Qin Yu whispered, "Keqing, today I've been remembering so many things about our childhood."
"...Yes," Keqing replied, her voice filled with mixed emotions.
The more they recalled, the greater the chance of remembering everything that happened that day. Keqing felt both relief and apprehension, though she kept these feelings to herself.
"I know you're worried about me, afraid I'll remember those painful memories you mentioned."
Qin Yu desperately wanted to ask Keqing about the so-called "ritual" and "saving a life," but she knew Keqing would stubbornly refuse to answer. Once Keqing made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to change it, unless there was an overwhelming reason to do so.
So Qin Yu decided to give up on asking, ignoring the heat rising to her face as she continued, "But I don't think it's a bad thing. Remembering these past events has made me realize... Keqing, you're my hero!" Qin Yu forced herself to meet Keqing's gaze directly.
Ugh, how embarrassing!How does Shenhe manage to say things like this so casually? Qin Yu wondered.
Even with the Red String connecting them, Qin Yu found it difficult to utter such words often.
But upon reflection, this was exactly the kind of thing her character would say, and it would even earn her Points. With no downside and only potential benefits, she felt a sense of ease.
Evaluation: S
Keqing, her face flushed crimson, stared blankly at Qin Yu.
Those words struck her heart like a thunderbolt, shattering every thought and idea, leaving only raw, burning emotion.
Keqing lowered her head. "Really?"
Surely I don't have to say it again? I don't want to.
"Really!"
Qin Yu took Keqing's hand and pulled her forward. Keqing gazed at her retreating figure, then down at their intertwined hands, biting her lip. A storm of emotions still raged within her.
Not hearing Keqing's reply, Qin Yu felt slightly surprised.
Why is she so quiet?
Fortunately, they had already reached the rented apartment. Qin Yu fumbled for the key, unlocked the door, and ushered Keqing inside. After closing the door, she asked Keqing to wait in the living room while she went to fetch some snacks and tea.
But Keqing suddenly pulled her toward the sofa with surprising force.
"Wait, Keqing?"
Qin Yu asked anxiously, but received no response.
Instead, Keqing pinned her down.
Dazed and confused, Qin Yu had no intention of resisting Keqing. The sudden weight forced her back onto the sofa. Fortunately, the cushions softened the impact, sparing her a painful jolt.
Feeling a surge of irritation, Qin Yu asked with feigned concern, "Keqing, what's wrong with you?"
Keqing braced herself with her hands on either side of Qin Yu's head, her face flushed. "Say it again."
"Say what?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled.
"That line... 'You're my hero.' Say it to me again."
Ha? Are you trying to kill me?
Qin Yu couldn't help but turn her face away. "That's so sudden... Why?"
"I want to hear it."
If you just want to hear it, go listen to a recording! I'm not a playback device!
...Tch, no way out of this.
After a brief hesitation, Qin Yu finally met Keqing's gaze again and said:
"You're my hero. From the moment we first met, you led me out of my room and have stayed by my side ever since. I'm really... happy."
A smile bloomed on Keqing's face.
Evaluation: S+
But it vanished as quickly as lightning, replaced by a look of melancholy. Keqing averted her gaze. "But I couldn't protect you right away back then, and I even left you afterward. That hardly makes me a hero."
Not this again?
Qin Yu's irritation flared anew. They'd already discussed this before, and she thought they'd put it behind them. Why was Keqing still dwelling on it?
"It doesn't matter. That's how I see it. You can't talk me out of it," Qin Yu said, her voice deliberately firm.
"I miss when you used to say things like that when you were little..." Keqing said softly. "Qin Yu, you're a hero to me too. You saved me—even though you haven't remembered it yet. And... I can talk to you like this now, all thanks to you."
Qin Yu's heart raced.
Me too? The old me was so amazing! Though I can't remember exactly what I did... Qin Yu muttered to herself, unsure where to look.
Evaluation: SS-
Wait, why is this happening? Weren't we just supposed to talk?
Remembering the reason for Keqing's visit, Qin Yu quickly reminded her, "S-speaking of which, Keqing, what did you originally want to talk about? And... this position makes it hard to talk."
First: You're too close.
Second: You're way too close!
Third: It was too easy for something strange to happen.
Therefore, Qin Yu desperately wanted Keqing to get off her so they could have a proper conversation.
Whether Keqing heard Qin Yu's inner thoughts and chose to ignore them, or only caught the first part of her rambling, she didn't get up. Instead, she maintained the ambiguous posture and responded. This is terrible.
"You said you want to live with Shenhe."
Is that what she came to talk about? Ah—right, this apartment was rented exclusively to me. If I'm moving out, we do need to discuss how to arrange things afterwards.
So that's what it is! Qin Yu realized.
"Yes, please give this apartment to someone else when the time comes..."
"No! That's not what I wanted to ask!"
Whoa, that's loud.
Qin Yu stiffly replied, "Isn't it?"
"No. What I wanted to ask was... you said Shenhe is your 'prospective family member.' What about me?"
Keqing pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes filled with anxiety as she gazed at Qin Yu. "To you... am I family?"
Qin Yu hadn't expected Keqing to ask this question.
No, I should have seen it coming. After all, she hasn't forgotten the wonderful times we shared as children.
That's one of the reasons Keqing agreed to be shackled to me again.
Even though we've both changed, we're still seeking what remains unchanged from the past.
Qin Yu had wondered before: To Keqing, am I family?
I bet Keqing has wondered the same thing.
There had been no opportunity to break through this paper-thin barrier until Shenhe's arrival.
Keqing's question made the answer obvious. Joy welled up in Qin Yu's heart, warmth flooding her body until her breathing grew slightly labored.
Evaluation: SS
Qin Yu already knew the answer, but she still wanted to hear Keqing confirm it herself.
So she asked, "Keqing, what... what do you think? Do you consider me your family?"
"Of course!"
Keqing's immediate response swept through Qin Yu's heart like a refreshing breeze. This straightforward affirmation filled Qin Yu with delight, and a genuine, heartwarming smile blossomed on her face.
"Me too," Qin Yu replied.
The light in Keqing's eyes brightened even further.
She wasn't afraid of their relationship changing, but she hoped the change would be for the better, not the worse. That's why Qin Yu's response brought her such immense joy.
"Then... does that mean I became your family before Shenhe did? After all, we were like sisters since we were little!" Keqing leaned closer, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Eh? Ah... uh, sure," Qin Yu mumbled vaguely.
Is that true? I guess so. It probably is.
But Shenhe was the first to say it to me. From a purely chronological perspective, Shenhe was undoubtedly first, Qin Yu thought.
Never mind, it doesn't matter.
Let's proceed with the original plan, Qin Yu thought. When the time is right and I'm fully prepared, I'll reveal my true nature to Keqing.
But... can I really do this? Qin Yu felt uneasy again.
As long as I follow the same approach as before, just like with Hu Tao and Yanfei—taking things slowly and backing off if anything feels wrong—it should be fine.
That's how I'll handle it. The same goes for Shenhe.
What if they all accept me and don't hate me? Qin Yu suddenly thought of this possibility. That would be wonderful, of course, but how would I consistently earn Points then?
Lost in thought, Qin Yu suddenly heard Keqing whisper softly, "Qin Yu."
That familiar feeling.
Keqing had used that same unusual tone before when calling her name.
Even before her mind could process it, Qin Yu's body instinctively remembered the earlier sensation.
Seeing Keqing's unwavering gaze fixed on her, Qin Yu tensed slightly. Her heart raced faster, and a bewitching flush colored her cheeks, further stirring Keqing's desire.
Every word Qin Yu spoke had planted seeds of desire in Keqing's heart. Now, those seeds had accumulated, and a single touch had detonated them.
And the explosion had just occurred.
Keqing pressed a hand against Qin Yu's cheek, still unsatisfied despite feeling her warmth.
"May I?"
Just as before, Qin Yu didn't answer. Keqing took this as tacit consent. Her watery eyes reflected Qin Yu's face as she drew closer and closer. Finally, Qin Yu closed her eyes.
Evaluation: SS+
A few seconds later, Keqing, slightly breathless, asked, "One more time, please?"
"...This isn't something family members should be doing," Qin Yu murmured.
I know, Keqing thought.
Yet she couldn't suppress the urge.
"Just one last time."
Just one more.
Qin Yu didn't respond, and Keqing slowly leaned in again.
Evaluation: SSS-
During this far more prolonged contact, countless questions flashed through Qin Yu's mind: When we first met, she opened my door, and now we're kissing... Why does Keqing always want to kiss me?
If our childhood selves knew that our future selves would be pinning each other down, kissing and being kissed... what would they think? The more Qin Yu thought, the more confused she became.
If doing this earns Points and even raises my level by one each time, then doing it multiple times... No... If Shenhe and the others knew my true nature, they could use this to earn Points too... No, that's wrong!
Stop thinking.
But without thinking, the sensations only grew sharper, leaving her overwhelmed and passively accepting.
Fortunately, Keqing pulled away a moment later. After exchanging a lingering glance, both women averted their eyes, falling into a delicate but not awkward silence.
Neither spoke.
Qin Yu sat up, about to speak, when Keqing's hand secretly grasped hers.
Turning her head, Qin Yu saw Keqing's shy yet radiant smile. "I'm actually really happy you remembered our first meeting."
"Mm..."
Another moment of silence passed.
Keqing hesitated, took a deep breath, and with newfound resolve, embraced Qin Yu.
"Whoa!" Qin Yu exclaimed involuntarily.
Why is she hugging me? Does she want to take things further? Is she going to unbutton my clothes first? No, no, absolutely not! Even if it might give me some Points, it's still out of the question!
As Qin Yu's mind raced with bizarre scenarios, a soft voice murmured in her ear:
"From now on, I'll always be by your side. You'll do the same for me, right?"
Her shyness hadn't completely faded, but now it was mingled with a profound warmth.
Qin Yu returned Keqing's embrace, saying, "Mm, that's exactly what I want too. I'll always support you, help you, whenever you need me... No, even if you don't need me, I'll still be there for you. I'll never let you go."
Keqing had grown accustomed to Qin Yu's somewhat intense declarations since childhood. In fact, she felt a sense of nostalgia.
"Still as clingy as when we were kids, huh?"
"I am not!" Qin Yu protested, pouting.
"I don't mind it at all," Keqing countered. "On the contrary, to me... it's quite nice."
Qin Yu remained unconvinced.
"Who's being clingy?"