The following afternoon, after finishing the last of her trivial tasks, Keqing kept her promise and took Qin Yu to the streets of Liyue Harbor.
Dressed in simple, unassuming attire, Keqing smiled and asked, "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
"You're asking me...?" Qin Yu glanced around.
Although she had wanted to go out with Keqing, they had already explored most of Liyue Harbor. Now that they were actually out, she didn't quite know what to do.
Oh well.
"You decide," Qin Yu said, twirling a strand of her hair.
It doesn't really matter anyway.
"I... just wanted to go out with Keqing," Qin Yu admitted, finally voicing her true feelings. She stole a glance at Keqing's reaction, gauging her response.
Evaluation: D
A blush crept across Keqing's cheeks as she thought, Qin Yu has definitely changed, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
"Let's just wander around for a bit," Keqing said, clearing her throat.
"Mm-hmm."
Keqing naturally took Qin Yu's hand.
Seeing the bracelet Qin Yu always wore on her wrist, a vague idea flickered through Keqing's mind. But just as she tried to grasp it, it slipped away like quicksilver.
What was I just thinking? Keqing wondered, a little frustrated.
"Why the long face?" Qin Yu asked, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"I'm trying to remember what I was just thinking."
"Did you figure it out?"
"No," Keqing said, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Are you pushing yourself too hard again?" Qin Yu asked, worried. "If you keep this up, you might turn into a fish!"
"That won't happen! And I'm not pushing myself. I'm not the same person I used to be!" Keqing declared, patting her chest with unwavering confidence.
Qin Yu finally relaxed.
"But what was I thinking about just now?" Keqing mused, still lost in thought.
If you can't remember, just let it go.
Qin Yu noticed that Keqing's attention was still drifting elsewhere, and a twinge of dissatisfaction stirred within her.
Isn't there something more important than forgotten thoughts? Like... The more Qin Yu thought about it, the more irritated she became. She poked Keqing's side.
Evaluation: C-
"Yikes! What was that for?" Keqing jumped in surprise.
Ugh, asking what it was for?
Qin Yu didn't answer, continuing to poke.
"Wait, Qin Yu? Stop poking! It's so ticklish! Stop, stop, stop!" Keqing frantically protested, blushing and squirming.
Seeing her like this, Qin Yu's dwindling annoyance vanished, replaced by a different kind of feeling. Yet her hand still didn't stop.
Interesting.
Realizing Qin Yu was "incorrigible," Keqing grabbed her hand, panting, "I told you to stop!"
"Well, Keqing, you wouldn't stop."
"Eh?" Keqing looked puzzled.
Qin Yu turned her face away, murmuring, "Never mind."
If I said it, Keqing might find it troublesome.
Even though Keqing would accept anything, there's no need to voice every thought in my head.
Is Qin Yu sulking? Keqing recalled Qin Yu's childhood sulks, which looked much the same, and a realization dawned on her.
In situations like this, treating Qin Yu to something usually worked. After all, she had always been a foodie since childhood.
But that approach was appropriate when they were just "childhood friends" or "friends." Now that Qin Yu and Keqing were "lovers" and "family," a different method might be better.
Or rather, perhaps she wanted a different approach... In any case, she needed to do something! Once the idea struck her, Keqing acted without hesitation, pulling Qin Yu into a secluded corner.
Qin Yu was about to ask what was wrong when Keqing suddenly pressed her lips against hers.
Evaluation: C+
"If something's bothering you, you can just tell me," Keqing said, her face flushed crimson.
Qin Yu's heart fluttered at Keqing's sudden move. "I know," she murmured softly.
"Then... what was wrong earlier?" Keqing pressed.
I don't want to say.
I was just sulking because your attention wasn't on me—how could she ever admit that aloud? Qin Yu resorted to vague excuses.
"Just a little dissatisfied. It's fine now," she said.
But this only made Keqing more concerned.
"Dissatisfied? Why?"
Why do you have to ask?
Qin Yu didn't want to utter a single word; she simply wasn't in the mood. She cursed inwardly, but when she met Keqing's gaze, her heart began to race even faster.
"...If you do it again, I might feel like telling you," she blurted out.
When Qin Yu came to her senses, she realized she had already said the words and immediately regretted them.
What have I just said?!
Evaluation: B
Keqing's heart raced as she slowly closed the distance again, until they were pressed together.
Evaluation: A-
Evaluation: A+
Pulling back slightly, Qin Yu, still fighting her embarrassment, kept her promise and revealed the truth: "Because you've been clinging to the idea you were trying to forget."
"Eh? Just because of that?" Keqing asked, surprised.
"Is that... wrong?" Qin Yu pouted.
Keqing snapped out of her daze and shook her head.
"No, it's not wrong."
In fact, she was quite pleased. Having grown accustomed to this side of Qin Yu, Keqing found herself feeling only warmth.
"It's definitely my fault. I was the one who asked you out on a date. I'm sorry—Ah!"
Before she could finish, Keqing's eyes suddenly lit up.
The word "date" had successfully triggered her memory of that fleeting thought.
"I remember now! I wanted to do something with you earlier," Keqing said with a smile.
Qin Yu's interest was piqued. "What is it?"
"It's just... you'll find out later," Keqing stammered.
"Don't keep me in suspense," Qin Yu grumbled.
Then she reached out her hand.
"Let's go then."
Keqing clasped Qin Yu's hand, her smile widening. "We won't have to walk far. I remember there's a perfect place nearby."
A shop? Are we buying something? She said we'd do it together—is this about exchanging gifts? Qin Yu speculated, a flicker of anticipation in her heart.
"Mm, take me there."
Anywhere is fine.
Evaluation: S
Soon, Keqing led Qin Yu into a shop specializing in decorative items.
Though labeled as "decorations," most of the items were actually small accessories aimed at young women.
The craftsmanship was surprisingly good, and the simple, understated designs perfectly suited Qin Yu's tastes.
"Qin Yu, what do you think of this?" Keqing asked, holding up a hairpin.
"It's quite nice. Are you thinking of buying it?"
Keqing brushed aside a strand of hair as she replied softly, "Sort of. Even though we've already exchanged the most important things, there's nothing wrong with exchanging smaller gifts too."
That's true.
Qin Yu stroked the bracelet on her wrist, wholeheartedly agreeing with Keqing's sentiment.
Exchanging small gifts like this from time to time wouldn't be bad at all, especially items they could wear. Qin Yu imagined Keqing constantly wearing the hairpin she gave her, and a wave of joy washed over her.
Qin Yu picked out a hairpin with the same design but in a different color.
"Then I'll take this one."
Keqing beamed. "Great! How about picking something else? Like a necklace?"
A necklace?
To Qin Yu, a necklace carried even more significance than a hairpin. After all, it was worn around the neck.
Giving someone a necklace also implies locking them down, Qin Yu had heard countless times.
Of course, the meaning varied from person to person, but perhaps because she'd heard it so often, she always superimposed this interpretation, equating a necklace with another neck-worn accessory.
Before, it was handcuffing Keqing; now it's locking her down... Qin Yu found herself tempted.
Naturally, there was no ambiguity here. She absolutely wasn't thinking anything strange.
Ningguang was quite capable of indulging in such odd thoughts all on her own.
Twirling a strand of hair, Qin Yu replied, "Sure, we can do that."
But if this keeps up, will I end up wearing matching accessories with Keqing and the others from head to toe? Qin Yu's mind wandered off on a tangent.
Upon receiving Qin Yu's consent, Keqing's cheeks flushed crimson.
"W-what's wrong?" Qin Yu asked awkwardly, noticing Keqing's reaction.
"It's just... it makes our relationship feel more real," Keqing replied shyly.
Evaluation: SS-
Don't suddenly say things like that.
Qin Yu's ears flushed slightly. She gripped Keqing's shoulders, turning her around.
"Let's pay for the hairpin first," Qin Yu whispered.
"Hey, don't push me!" Keqing exclaimed in surprise.
After buying the hairpin, the two agreed to look at necklaces next. If they found matching pairs they liked, they'd buy them; otherwise, they'd decide later.
But before that, Qin Yu had to give Keqing the hairpin she'd just bought.
Keqing touched the hairpin Qin Yu had placed in her hair and chuckled softly.
"Stop grinning like an idiot," Qin Yu murmured, averting her eyes.
"Weren't you smiling just now?"
"No, I wasn't."
Keqing crossed her arms dismissively. "Yes, you were! I saw it with my own eyes—how could I be wrong?"
"I don't remember that," Qin Yu insisted.
"Stubborn as ever. Still, I'm really happy. I'll wear this every day from now on," Keqing said with a warm smile.
The familiar rush of accelerated heartbeats returned. Qin Yu gazed at Keqing's face for a long moment before gently touching her own hairpin, her expression softening as she replied:
"You don't have to wear it every day. I'll get you other things later, you know? A bracelet would be enough to wear every day."
"That's true."
Keqing suddenly fell silent.
"Oh, right, Qin Yu."
"Hmm?"
Keqing took Qin Yu's hand and stepped closer, until their bodies were nearly touching. She parted her lips slightly, as if about to confess something deeply personal, but then hesitated and closed them again.
In the end, she spoke anyway.
"Are you coming to my place next?"
Evaluation: SS+
"Eh?"
Keqing's home? A simple invitation to visit... that didn't quite seem right.
Qin Yu felt confused. "What do you mean?"
"N-nothing, really. I just want to spend some time with you at home."
Is that true? Qin Yu thought, half-believing. If it was just a casual invitation, she'd be a little disappointed. But if there was another meaning behind it... then it meant...
Flushing and with her heart racing, Qin Yu averted her gaze. "What about the necklace?"
"That... it's up to you."
Ha?
"Choose one," Keqing said, the warmth radiating from her palm making Qin Yu's mouth go dry.
Another choice.
Another decision left up to me.
Qin Yu's feelings were complicated. She wanted to give up thinking, but hearing Keqing's voice, feeling the warmth of her skin, and meeting her eyes stirred a restless yearning within her.
"The necklace..." Qin Yu began.
Keqing let out a soft sigh, whether from relief or disappointment.
"Let's talk about it later," Qin Yu whispered.
Keqing's eyes widened slightly, then she replied with obvious nervousness and joy, "Mhm... mhm, this way."
After what seemed like an eternity of walking, Qin Yu arrived at Keqing's residence.
The moment the door closed, Keqing embraced her, pressing her lips against Qin Yu's. Qin Yu closed her eyes, choosing to surrender to the feeling.
Evaluation: SSS-
"Keqing..."
Keqing responded, her face flushed, "Mm?"
Why had she called Keqing's name? Qin Yu herself didn't know why it had slipped out, but Keqing's immediate response filled her heart with satisfaction.
"Nothing," Qin Yu said, brushing aside a strand of Keqing's hair.
Keqing's eyes sparkled as she grasped Qin Yu's hand. "Mhm, I'm here. I'll always be here. I'll never leave you again."
Qin Yu smiled.
"Mmm."
Then she closed her eyes, once again surrendering to Keqing's tender warmth.
Evaluation: SSS
Evaluation: SSS+
This bracelet needs a wash.