Chapter 8: Furina's Diary
———
January 13th, Sunny.
This is the 29th day since Liu Yuan appeared. Almost a month has passed without me realizing it.
Liu Yuan said I have no concept of time, so she suggested I write a diary to feel the passage of time more clearly.
Actually, I did keep track of time at first… but I gave up later…
Time… time— almost five hundred years have passed. Time really flies so fast. It seems like I spend every day at the Opera House and Palais Mermonia, right?
I used to be able to get used to it… but now I just feel so bored, so bored…
But… Liu Yuan is here.
What kind of existence is Liu Yuan, anyway?
Is she my hallucination? A fantasy? Something I simply imagined to relieve my boredom? It's too strange, but she can control Hydro! She can also see others' emotions— she's really amazing! Compared to her, it feels like she's the real Hydro Archon…
I hope… Liu Yuan can always be here…
---
February 26th, Rainy.
Liu Yuan, that idiot! Books, books, all books! Are books really that good to look at?! Ahhh! What should I do? I want to bite her to death! You damn spirit!
This girl reads every night. I don't know what's so good about books. At first, she would secretly watch me sleep late at night, but now she reads all night long.
Is my charm not as good as those books?! Ahhh, you damn spirit, I'm angry, angry, super angry!
Tomorrow for breakfast, I'm going to eat two extra desserts!
Even though I'm angry… I hope Liu Yuan always stays.
---
April 11th, Rainy.
Liu Yuan… seems to have figured something out.
She asked me if I was the true Hydro Archon.
I… I didn't know how to answer. She seemed to have understood something. She didn't press, didn't ask further, and went back to reading.
I'm so scared… Have I… have I been too unrestrained lately? Although Liu Yuan is my spirit, this kind of thing must never be told to anyone! Never!
Furina, you need to calm down. You are the Hydro Archon. Absolutely— don't overthink it. Liu Yuan hasn't noticed, she hasn't found out.
Don't overthink it, just be your Hydro Archon with peace of mind. Don't overthink it— you are the Hydro Archon, this is unquestionable. After five hundred years, no one has the right to question your identity!
Liu Yuan…
---
April 15th, Rainy.
After that day, I tried to recover my composure, trying to ignore Liu Yuan's existence…
If you really are just my illusion, then disappear…
No, don't disappear… Why do I have such thoughts? Why? Clearly… clearly I can't bear to part…
Liu Yuan didn't speak to me. Every day she just followed me to the Opera House, then back to Palais Mermonia… It feels… like so much is missing without her.
Liu Yuan… don't disappear…
---
May 13th...
Morning.
Today, I woke up exceptionally early. I sat up, quickly got out of bed, and went to the changing room to get dressed.
I lightly lifted my feet, taking hesitant steps toward Liu Yuan.
"Liu Yuan…"
She didn't speak at first; she looked up, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked— so natural, just like before.
"I…"
I hesitated. For the past month, I've really wanted to explain why I got so angry when she asked that question, why my reaction to whether I am the Hydro Archon was so strong.
But Liu Yuan suddenly shook her head.
"You don't need to explain to me…"
"W-what?"
"I said, you don't need to explain to me."
Liu Yuan stood up from the carpet. The book in her hand floated back to the shelf as she lowered her gaze slightly, her deep blue eyes meeting mine.
"Perhaps it's because of my memory blank, so I'm actually quite curious about everything. I used to think a question was just a question, so I yearned for answers. But I later learned that an answer is also a truth, and the truth can be good or bad. Knowing it might not always be good.
So, you don't have to force yourself to tell me the real truth, and you don't have to feel guilty for not answering my curiosity.
You are always you, Furina. I don't know what you're carrying, but you must be doing very well.
Don't feel guilty about anything, because you've done your very best. You're the best, Fufu."
Liu Yuan said this with a smile.
"I… I'm not guilty! I'm the Hydro Archon! I wouldn't be like that! And who allowed you to call me 'Fufu'! My name is Furina! Don't just casually change my name, you bastard!"
The tsundere Fufu shouted, trying to hide the violently fluctuating emotions inside.
Liu Yuan… guessed it— she must have guessed it! But she didn't guess too much…
This girl can see emotions… I should have known she would definitely suspect.
This girl is so smart…
Are the later words meant to comfort me? Hmph! I'll… I'll reluctantly accept them!
But what do you mean by that 'Fufu' at the end?! Is this… something you can just say casually?!
My face suddenly burned, and the serious atmosphere evaporated— replaced by my own blush.
I didn't notice that the reason I reacted was also a kind of confirmation from the young girl.
For five hundred years, everyone saw Furina's dignity as the Hydro Archon, but… no one saw my loneliness.
I was good at hiding it— hiding those emotions for centuries.
Unfortunately… I met a girl who could see into people's hearts.
My loneliness, my sadness, my burdens, my pain.
Everything was seen by her.
__
Unbeknownst to Furina, Liu Yuan's reason for reading gained another point:
1. Satisfy her own thirst for knowledge.
2. Make Furina happy.
__
"Hmm? I thought our relationship was already at a point where we could call each other that… Is it not?"
Liu Yuan lowered her head, thoughtful. Do I still have problems with emotional control and interpersonal relationships?
But the book said that using nicknames among friends can enhance relationships, right?
Did I use it wrong?
Liu Yuan, who tried to apply knowledge from books, was now lost in confusion.