Tatsuki, of course, wasn't that kind of lust-driven man. More than seeking bodies, he preferred hearts—the pleasure of two souls connecting in both body and spirit.
He set Alina down gently. A soft touch on her shoulder—golden light flashed, and a light green long dress appeared, wrapping her body.
That grassy-green color hit Talulah like a critical strike.
"Alina, you haven't seen Talulah in a long time. You two should talk." Tatsuki smiled brilliantly.
"Mm… thank you, Master." Alina nodded, cheeks tinted pink. She clearly caught the hidden meaning in Tatsuki's words.
"I must properly enlighten Talulah," she thought to herself.
Tatsuki then left the Realm of Chaos, leaving the two to talk in private. There's nothing that opens a heart faster than honesty.
He believed Alina could pull Talulah out of her self-blame—and also that she might shift Talulah's thoughts, erasing any lingering traces of that… "Lala" tendency.
…
Afterward, Tatsuki went to the Student Council. Kaguya informed him that the building he requested had been found—roughly twenty units in total.
He decided to check it out over the weekend.
…
When he returned home after school, Tatsuki did his usual "cat time."
Now there were three cats at home—Neko, Haru, and a new one: Yukino-nyan.
Yukino sat in Tatsuki's lap, while Haru and Neko lay curled up in hers. On one side, the warmth of the man she loved. On the other, the soft fluff of the cats she adored.
As both Tatsuki's girlfriend and a top-tier cat lover, Yukino-nyan was completely lost in bliss.
Kanae and the others were already used to the scene. Each went about their own business, not bothering them.
Only Eriri lay on the sofa sketching her doujin, occasionally using her smooth little foot to poke at Tatsuki.
"Hey, tomorrow I'm selling my doujin—come with me, okay?" Eriri leaned against him in a spoiled tone.
Tomorrow was Saturday. If he postponed the house viewing to Sunday, he indeed had time. But… selling doujins, huh…
Tatsuki raised his head toward Sayuri, who was massaging his shoulders from behind. "Aren't you going with her?"
Sayuri smiled softly. "Of course I am. But if it's just the two of us, we might be short-handed."
Eriri puffed her cheeks. "My dad used to go with me before…"
As soon as she said that, she realized her mistake, clapping her hands over her mouth and glancing nervously at Sayuri.
Sayuri didn't mind at all—she simply leaned forward and kissed Tatsuki on the lips, hanging on him completely.
Her actions seemed to say to Eriri, What 'dad'? Isn't he right here?
"..."
Yukino turned her head awkwardly. Kissing was fine, but… why do it while I'm sitting on your lap?!
Sayuri lifted her head and giggled. "Then this time, let Dad and Mom go with you too."
"Yes, Dad has plenty of time." Tatsuki said kindly, smiling.
"Ha!?" Eriri exploded instantly, entering her invincible Wind-Fire Wheel mode.
The commotion even scared Haru and Neko, making their fur puff up.
Tatsuki didn't care; he hugged Yukino closer, resting his chin on her freshly bathed, rosy shoulder, inhaling her soft scent. Occasionally, his lips or tongue would brush her fair neck, making Yukino's body tremble and her cheeks burn red.
Teasing Yukino like this was endlessly fun—and addictive.
Just as Tatsuki was wondering if he should take it a bit further—
Ding-dong!
A message notification.
He didn't have many contacts, and those who texted him usually had good reason.
It was from Haruno.
Haruno: "Hey, I'm free this weekend. Want to hang out?"
Tatsuki: "A date?"
Haruno: "Of course. I'm really looking forward to it."
Tatsuki: "Sure, but I might need to check out a house first."
Haruno: "Oh? Planning to move?"
Tatsuki: "Yeah, this place is getting too crowded."
Haruno: "Tch tch, found yourself another girlfriend, huh?"
Tatsuki: "Not exactly. More like… a subordinate I've tamed."
Haruno: "Got it. So, not conquered yet."
Tatsuki: "..."
Tatsuki clicked his tongue—Haruno saw right through him.
Haruno: "Hehe, if you're moving, then I'm moving too. I want to share a room with Yukino."
Tatsuki: "That's not up to me—it's Yukino's choice."
Haruno: "Aww, and here I was about to help you achieve your sisters sharing a bed dream. Guess not."
Tatsuki: "Wait—no! I'm in! I'll convince Yukino!"
Haruno: "Tch. Just be gentle with her, okay? Oh, and if her eyes roll back, take a few pics for me."
Tatsuki: "..."
Haruno… you devil. If Yukino finds out, she'll cry for sure.
"Stare—"
Tatsuki turned his head… Yep. Yukino already knew.
Yukino lifted her head, her tone cold as ice. "Tatsuki, will you do what my sister said?"
Tatsuki shook his head without hesitation. "Of course not. I love you so much, Yukino—how could I ever bear to see my cute Yukino rolling her eyes?"
"!!!"
Yukino's face turned red as she glared at him. "Don't say rolling eyes!"
"Not saying it!" Tatsuki immediately mimed zipping his lips.
Only then did Yukino relax a little. Her whole body had been tense just a moment ago.
She really was terrified.
That day, she had personally seen Eriri's face—eyes rolled back, tongue out— If she imagined herself in Eriri's place, she would have died of embarrassment on the spot.
And worst of all—sending those photos to her sister? Unthinkable.
Though… speaking of photos… Yukino cupped Tatsuki's face, hesitatingly mumbling, "You can… send my sister's photos to me instead."
"Huh?" Tatsuki was stunned.
Yukino? Where did my pure, kind Yukino go?Haruno! You've corrupted your adorable little sister!
Then a wicked idea popped into his head. He whispered in her ear, "Photos aren't exactly safe, you know… I could just transmit what I saw directly into your mind."
"!!!"
Yukino froze up. Why… did that sound so weirdly indecent?
Seeing her hesitate, Tatsuki's eyes lit up. There's a chance!
And so, he began his relentless persuasion routine.
Eriri and the others watched as Yukino went from hesitant, to dazed, to blushing—and finally nodding shyly.
They all sighed inwardly. "Yukino's been completely sweet-talked…"
…
"Kanade, you're getting really good at this." Tatsuki leaned against the bed, enjoying Kanade's gentle massage.
The cat was already asleep—no earthquake could wake her now.
"..."
Alright, Kanade couldn't talk anyway, so he was just praising out loud.
But soon, his attention was drawn to the chat group.
Not because of anything else—but because there were new members.
[Ding! The Water God has joined the chat group!]
[Ding! Tingyun has joined the chat group!]
…
"Hmm… how boring. Isn't there anything more entertaining?"
A girl in a blue gown twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, visibly restless. This was the continent of Teyvat—specifically, Fontaine's Opera Epiclese, the grand courtroom-theater.
It was the highest seat in the Court of Fontaine. The throne-like position above the Balance of Judgment.
The seat reserved for none other than—Furina.
The Water God. Fontaine's greatest star.
To outsiders, it might be hard to imagine why this nation's deity was called a superstar. But step into the magnificence of the Opera Epiclese, and you'd understand.
Whether it was for a performance or a trial, Furina always appeared at her designated seat above the audience. Her laughter, her fury, her theatrics—they were often more captivating than the performance itself.
People bought tickets not just for the art, but for the emotional spectacle. In that, Furina far outshined the ever-impartial Neuvillette.
Reverence doesn't always come from looking up in awe. In Fontaine, people's respect for Furina was unique, or rather, love might be a better word.
She wasn't perfect, nor was she the strongest. But when she stood on that stage, she was the one they could always rely on. Because she had never let them down.
A popular metaphor often used in Fontaine's literature described her well:
"Furina is like the unfading memory of youth that lives forever in people's hearts."
After all, who doesn't wish their youth could last forever?
Now, having just finished presiding over another trial, Furina sat alone in the vast, empty courtroom. She felt… a little bored. A little tired.
To others, Water God was a title of glory. To her—it was a weight that suffocated.
Her hand brushed along the armrest of her seat. How long had she been sitting here? Hundreds of years, perhaps.
She was the Water God—that was her role, and it could never change.
In the silent Opera Epiclese, no one could see the usually radiant, confident, and dramatic Furina wearing a faint expression of loneliness.
Only when she was alone could she afford to show it—such was the burden of the Water God.
"…What's this?" Suddenly, she straightened up. Her divine composure returned instantly as her eyes locked forward.
"Apocalypse… Chat Group?"
Something entirely unheard of appeared before her.
…
Meanwhile, atop a grand astral ship—a lavishly dressed fox-eared woman gazed at the stars from the deck.
Around her sailed multiple vessels of the Sky-Faring Commission.
She was Tingyun, the Receptionist Envoy of the Xianzhou Luofu. She had journeyed across countless worlds, forging trade and alliances. Now, she was returning to Luofu with the merchant fleet.
(Note: Regarding when Tingyun was replaced and whether she truly died—there are many theories. In this story's setting, she was swapped shortly after re-entering the Xianzhou, replaced by "Phantylia.")
Her eyes reflected the starlit sea as she narrowed her foxy gaze, a teasing smile curling her lips as she flicked open her fan.
"Oh my, it seems I just discovered something quite extraordinary."
...
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