NAGANOHARA FIREWORKS RESIDENCE - HANAMIZAKA - MORNING
Sunlight streamed through the paper screens of Yoimiya's room, painting everything in warm golden tones.
Klee woke slowly, peacefully, for the first time in weeks without the anxious knot in her stomach that had become her constant companion. She lay on her futon—set up next to Yoimiya's at the older girl's insistence—and just breathed for a moment, savoring the simple comfort of waking up safe.
The necklace rested against her chest, its steady pulse a gentle reminder rather than an urgent demand. She touched it gently, feeling the transformed magic—no longer curse but blessing, no longer prison but promise.
And from the futon beside her, she felt an answering pulse. Yoimiya's necklace responding to hers, the connection between them alive and well but no longer painful.
"You're awake," Yoimiya's voice was sleep-rough and fond. She rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand, smiling at Klee with an expression so soft it made Klee's chest feel warm. "Good morning, Spark Knight."
"Good morning, Queen of the Summer Festival," Klee replied, testing out the formal title and immediately giggling at how ridiculous it sounded in the morning quiet.
Yoimiya laughed too, reaching over to ruffle Klee's hair. "Okay, let's agree—no titles before breakfast. Just Klee and Yoimiya. Deal?"
"Deal!"
They lay there for another moment, just looking at each other, both still amazed that this was real. That after everything—the curse, the journey, the battles—they were actually here. Together. Safe.
"How do you feel?" Yoimiya asked, and Klee knew she wasn't just asking about physical wellness.
"Good," Klee said honestly. "Really good. The necklace doesn't hurt anymore. I can feel you through it, but it's nice now. Like..." She struggled for words. "Like when you hold someone's hand. You know they're there, and it makes you feel safe."
"Yeah," Yoimiya agreed softly. "That's exactly what it's like." She touched her own crystal, feeling its gentle warmth. "I can sense you too. Your emotions, kind of. Not specific thoughts, but like... general feelings. Right now you're happy. And hungry."
"I am hungry!" Klee admitted. "What's for breakfast?"
"Well, my dad's been up for an hour already—I can hear him in the workshop. But I promised I'd make you a proper Inazuman breakfast today. Think you can handle miso soup, rice, and grilled fish?"
"I can handle anything!" Klee declared, sitting up with enthusiasm. "I'm the Spark Knight! I've eaten dried jerky for three days straight! Real food sounds AMAZING!"
Yoimiya laughed and stood, offering her hand to help Klee up. "Come on then. Let's get you fed before you start trying to fish-blast the harbor for breakfast ingredients."
They moved through the morning routine together with easy familiarity—washing up at the basin, Yoimiya helping Klee with her hair (which was always a disaster in the morning), Klee helping Yoimiya choose which hair ornaments to wear ("The red ones! They match your outfit!").
It had only been a few days since the curse broke, but they'd fallen into comfortable patterns as if they'd been doing this forever. Maybe it was the necklaces' connection making everything feel natural. Maybe it was just that some people fit together perfectly from the start.
In the small kitchen, Yoimiya proved surprisingly competent at cooking despite her usual chaos in other areas. She moved with practiced efficiency—starting the rice, preparing the miso soup, grilling fish over a small brazier.
"My dad taught me," she explained, catching Klee's impressed stare. "He said any good artisan should understand the art of patience and proper technique. Cooking requires both. So does fireworks-making. Same principles, just... less explosive results. Usually."
"Usually?" Klee asked suspiciously.
"There was an incident with some experimental cooking fuel and a badly placed fuse," Yoimiya admitted. "We don't talk about it. The ceiling has mostly been repaired."
Klee giggled, then helped set the low table where they'd eat. It was domestic and comfortable and wonderful—so different from the desperate journey, the fear, the pain. This was what they'd fought for. This quiet morning, this simple breakfast, this chance to just be together.
Yoimiya's father—a elderly man with kind eyes and calloused hands from decades of fireworks work—joined them briefly, patting Klee's head with grandfatherly affection.
"Good to see you looking healthier, young one," he said in his raspy voice. "My daughter's been fretting over you like a mother hen. Haven't seen her this worked up since... well, since ever, honestly."
"Dad!" Yoimiya's cheeks flushed pink.
"Just stating facts." But his smile was gentle. "Eat up, both of you. Growing girls need proper food. And Klee—you're welcome here as long as you want to stay. This house could use more laughter."
He returned to his workshop, leaving them to their breakfast.
The miso soup was perfect—warm and savory, the tofu silky and the wakame seaweed adding just the right texture. The rice was fluffy and slightly sticky, perfect for picking up with chopsticks. And the grilled fish was seasoned beautifully, the skin crispy and the flesh tender.
"This is so good!" Klee said around a mouthful of rice. "Way better than the dried food I was eating on the journey! And way better than the congee at Bubu Pharmacy! No offense to Doctor Baizhu but this is AMAZING!"
"I'm glad you like it." Yoimiya watched Klee eat with obvious satisfaction, the way people do when they've made food for someone they care about. "There's more if you want seconds. Or thirds. You're still too skinny from all that traveling."
They ate together in comfortable quiet, the morning sun warming the small kitchen, the sounds of Hanamizaka waking up drifting through the open windows—shopkeepers greeting each other, children playing in the distance, the peaceful rhythms of neighborhood life.
This was what home felt like, Klee thought. Not a place, exactly. But a feeling. Being with someone who cared. Being somewhere you belonged.
After breakfast, they cleaned up together—Klee insisting on helping despite Yoimiya's protests that she was a guest. "Guests don't wash dishes!" Yoimiya argued. But Klee was stubborn, and eventually they compromised with Yoimiya washing while Klee dried and put away.
"So," Yoimiya said casually while scrubbing a bowl, "what do you want to do today? We could work on fireworks in the shop. Or go down to the beach. Or just explore Hanamizaka—I could show you all my favorite spots. Or—"
"I want to do everything!" Klee declared. "All of it! Every single thing! I want to see where you grew up and where you play and where you make your fireworks and—" She paused, suddenly shy. "Is that okay? Am I being too much?"
"You're never too much," Yoimiya said firmly. "You're exactly right. And yes, we can do everything. We have time now. All the time in the world. No curse rushing us. No journey to complete. Just... us. Together. However long you want to stay."
The question hung in the air, unspoken but present: How long would Klee stay?
Eventually, she'd have to return to Mondstadt. Face Master Jean. Deal with the consequences of running away. Return to her duties as a Knight of Favonius. But that was a problem for future Klee.
Present Klee just wanted to stay here, in this moment, in this feeling of belonging.
They finished the dishes and were preparing to head outside—Yoimiya wanting to show Klee the morning market in Hanamizaka—when a knock came at the door.
"I'll get it!" Klee ran to the entrance, pulling open the sliding door with enthusiasm.
And stopped, staring.
Kamisato Ayaka stood in the doorway, elegant as always despite the early hour, her expression warm and slightly amused at Klee's obvious surprise.
"Good morning, Klee," Ayaka greeted with a small bow. "I hope I'm not interrupting. May I come in?"
"Oh! Yes! Of course!" Klee stepped aside quickly, remembering her manners. "Um, welcome to Yoimiya's house! Though it's not my house so maybe I shouldn't be welcoming you? But you're welcome anyway!"
Ayaka's smile widened slightly. "Thank you. And this is partially your house now, isn't it? At least for the time being."
Yoimiya appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Lady Ayaka! This is unexpected. Is everything okay? Did something happen?"
"Nothing concerning, I assure you. Quite the opposite." Ayaka accepted the offered seat at the low table, settling with practiced grace. "My brother and I would like to extend an invitation. We're hosting a small gathering at the Kamisato Estate this afternoon—nothing formal, just tea and conversation with friends. We hoped you both might attend."
"Both of us?" Klee's eyes went wide.
"Of course both of you. You're quite the topic of conversation in Inazuma City right now, Klee. The girl who crossed two nations to break a curse. The Spark Knight who fought through armies to reach her—" Ayaka paused delicately, "—companion. People are calling it the most romantic thing to happen in Inazuma since the Raiden Shogun lifted the Sakoku Decree."
"Romantic?" Klee's face scrunched in confusion. "But I'm eight. Romance is for grown-ups. We're just best friends. Really, really good best friends. With magic necklaces. And a soul bond. But still best friends."
Ayaka and Yoimiya exchanged glances over Klee's head—one of those adult looks that suggested they understood something Klee didn't quite grasp yet.
"Of course," Ayaka said smoothly. "Best friends. My apologies for the imprecise terminology. Regardless, you're both invited. The gathering is at two this afternoon. And—" She looked at Yoimiya specifically. "—the children will be there. Saika, Matsuzaka, and Iwao have been asking about you both constantly. I believe they'd be quite disappointed if you didn't attend."
"The kids!" Yoimiya's face lit up. "I haven't seen them since everything happened! Are they okay? They must have been so worried—"
"They're fine. Energetic as ever. And yes, very worried, but now very eager to meet Klee properly and hear about her adventures." Ayaka stood, preparing to leave. "Two o'clock. Dress casually—this is meant to be comfortable, not ceremonial. And Klee, there will be plenty of food. I understand you have quite the appetite after your journey."
"I do!" Klee confirmed enthusiastically. "Traveling makes you really hungry! Especially when you're fighting through armies and exploding things and—"
"Indeed. We'll see you both this afternoon then." Ayaka bowed slightly and departed, leaving Klee and Yoimiya staring at each other.
"The Kamisato Estate," Klee said slowly. "That's really fancy, right?"
"Very fancy," Yoimiya confirmed. "But also really nice. Ayaka and Ayato are good people. They helped protect me when the Tenryou Commission was hunting me. They... they're part of why we were able to reunite. I owe them a lot."
"Then we should definitely go!" Klee decided. "And I get to meet your neighborhood kids! The ones you told me about! This is going to be so fun!"
They spent the rest of the morning preparing—Yoimiya showing Klee around Hanamizaka as promised, introducing her to shopkeepers and neighbors who'd heard stories but wanted to meet the legendary "girl from Mondstadt" in person. Everyone was kind, welcoming, treating Klee like she was already part of the neighborhood despite only being there a few days.
This was what Yoimiya's life was like, Klee realized. Surrounded by community. Known and loved by everyone. The Queen of the Summer Festival wasn't just a title—it was a statement of how central Yoimiya was to this place, these people.
By early afternoon, they were heading toward the Kamisato Estate—Yoimiya in a fresh festival outfit, Klee in her cleaned and repaired Knights of Favonius uniform. They walked together through Inazuma City's streets, and Klee noticed something: people stared. Not hostile stares, but curious, interested ones. Whispers followed them.
"Is that them?"
"The cursed girls?"
"I heard they fought through three commissions to reach each other."
"So romantic..."
Klee tried to ignore it, but Yoimiya just laughed. "Get used to it," she said. "We're famous now. Infamous? One of those. People love a good story, and ours is apparently pretty good."
"I don't feel famous," Klee muttered. "I just feel like me."
"That's because you are you. Fame is just what other people think about you. Doesn't change who you actually are." Yoimiya squeezed Klee's hand. "Come on. Let's go see the kids. They're going to be so excited to meet you."
---
They arrived at the Kamisato Estate to find the entrance gates already open, Thoma waiting to greet them with his characteristic warmth.
"There they are! The heroes of the hour!" He ushered them inside. "Everyone's in the garden. Fair warning—the kids have been bouncing off the walls with anticipation. I think Saika's been standing at the window watching for you for the past hour."
"That sounds like Saika," Yoimiya said fondly.
They were led through the estate's beautiful corridors—traditional architecture, immaculate gardens visible through every window, the quiet elegance that marked the Kamisato clan's wealth and taste. And then into a private garden where—
"MISS YOIMIYA!"
Three small figures barreled toward them—Saika in the lead, Matsuzaka and Iwao right behind. They crashed into Yoimiya in a tangle of hugs and excited chatter.
"You're okay!"
"We were so worried!"
"The curse is really broken?"
"Is this Klee?"
"She's so small!"
"Can she really blow things up?"
Yoimiya laughed, nearly knocked over by their enthusiasm. "Yes, I'm okay! Yes, the curse is broken! Yes, this is Klee! And yes, she can really blow things up—trust me on that one!"
Klee stood slightly back, suddenly shy. These were Yoimiya's kids. Her neighborhood, her people. Would they like Klee? Would they be jealous that she'd taken so much of Yoimiya's attention?
But then Saika detached from the group hug and approached Klee directly. She looked Klee up and down with serious evaluation, then broke into a huge smile.
"You're the one who crossed two nations to save Miss Yoimiya," Saika said. "That's really cool. Like, hero-level cool. I'm Saika. These are Matsuzaka and Iwao. We're Miss Yoimiya's... um... what did you call us, Miss Yoimiya?"
"My little siblings," Yoimiya said warmly. "My favorite terrors. My unofficial fan club."
"Yeah, that." Saika grabbed Klee's hand. "Want to see our secret fort? We built it behind the estate! It's got a rope bridge and everything!"
And just like that, Klee was welcomed into the group—no jealousy, no resentment, just immediate acceptance because Yoimiya cared about her and that was enough.
"I'd love to see your fort!" Klee said enthusiastically. "Does it have any good places to hide bombs? Not that I'm planning to put bombs in your fort! But it's good to know! For future reference!"
"Oh, we're going to be friends," Matsuzaka declared with satisfaction.
The children ran off toward the garden's far end, their voices fading into excited chatter about forts and bombs and adventures. Yoimiya watched them go with a soft expression.
"They like her," she said, sounding relieved.
"Did you think they wouldn't?" Ayaka had approached silently, two other figures with her—Ayato and Thoma.
"I worried they might be jealous," Yoimiya admitted. "Or feel like I'd replaced them. But they just... accepted her. Just like that."
"Children are better at that than adults," Ayato observed. "They don't overcomplicate affection. If you care about someone, they assume that person must be worth caring about. It's elegant in its simplicity."
They settled at a low table in the garden—cushions arranged around it, tea already prepared, small sweets and snacks artfully displayed. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, dappling everything in green-gold light.
"So," Ayato said, pouring tea with practiced elegance, "how are you both adjusting? The past few days must have been... intense."
"That's one word for it," Yoimiya said. "Overwhelming is another. Surreal is a third. But mostly... good? Really good? It's strange. We went from cursed and suffering to blessed and together so fast it almost doesn't feel real."
"The necklaces truly transformed?" Ayaka asked, curiosity evident.
Yoimiya pulled hers out from under her clothes, showing the golden glow that had replaced the red. "Completely. They still connect us—I can feel Klee's emotions, sense when she's nearby, that sort of thing. But it's not painful anymore. It's just..." She smiled. "Nice. Like always having someone with you even when they're not physically present."
"A soul bond," Thoma said thoughtfully. "That's what the old stories call it. When two people are connected so deeply that distance becomes meaningless. It's considered one of the most precious gifts the gods can grant."
"Even if it started as a curse?" Yoimiya's tone was wry.
"Especially then," Ayato said. "Some of the strongest bonds are forged through shared suffering. You and Klee endured something terrible together. Survived it together. Emerged from it together. That's not something that fades easily."
They sipped their tea in comfortable silence, watching the children play in the distance—Klee's distinctive blonde hair bright among the darker-haired Inazuman kids, her laughter carrying across the garden.
"She's good for you," Ayaka observed quietly. "Klee. I've known you for years, Yoimiya. You've always been energetic and cheerful, but there was something... restless underneath. Like you were always moving to avoid standing still. But now, watching you watch her—" She gestured gently. "You look settled. Content. Like you found something you didn't know you were looking for."
Yoimiya's cheeks flushed slightly. "She's eight years old. I'm not—we're not—it's not what people think it is."
"I know," Ayaka said gently. "I'm not suggesting romance in the traditional sense. But connection? Bond? Whatever label you use, it's clearly profound. And it suits you."
"She makes me want to be better," Yoimiya admitted quietly. "More patient. More careful. More... responsible? Which is weird because she's the irresponsible one—she runs away from home and crosses nations and fights armies. But when I'm with her, I want to be the person she thinks I am. Someone worth crossing nations for. Someone worth all that faith and determination."
"You already were that person," Ayato said. "She just helped you see it."
Thoma had been watching the tea cool in his cup, his expression thoughtful. Now he looked up at Yoimiya seriously.
"I need to tell you something," he said. "It's about Klee. About her people from Mondstadt."
Yoimiya's stomach dropped. "What about them?"
"They're coming." Thoma's expression was sympathetic. "Jean—the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius—sent word yesterday. She, along with Outrider Amber and Spindrift Knight Eula, are boarding a ship from Liyue Harbor. They should arrive in Inazuma in approximately three days. They're coming to..." He paused. "Well, to retrieve Klee. And probably to have some very pointed conversations about international incidents, cursed artifacts, and children crossing nations unsupervised."
Yoimiya's hand went to her necklace automatically. Three days. They had three more days before Klee would have to face her guardians. Face the consequences of running away. Face the possibility of being taken back to Mondstadt.
"Does Klee know?" Yoimiya asked.
"Not yet. We thought you should be told first, so you could decide how to tell her." Thoma's expression was gentle. "Jean is... from what I understand, she's not coming in anger. She's coming in relief. But there will still be consequences. And likely a very emotional reunion."
"Three days," Yoimiya repeated softly. She looked toward where Klee was playing with the other children—building something elaborate with sticks and rope, explaining her vision with animated gestures, already fully integrated into the group.
Three days of peace before reality caught up with them.
"We'll make them good days," Ayato said, reading Yoimiya's expression accurately. "The Kamisato clan will ensure Klee's remaining time in Inazuma is memorable. And when the Knights arrive, we'll facilitate a... diplomatic meeting. Smooth the way as much as possible."
"Thank you," Yoimiya said. "For everything. For protecting me. For helping us reunite. For... all of this."
"You're welcome," Ayaka said warmly. "Though truly, you two did most of the work yourselves. We simply provided support. The courage, the determination, the journey—that was all you and Klee."
They continued talking—about the political aftermath, about the Raiden Shogun's continued interest in the situation, about rumors that Yae Miko had been "invited" to explain herself at Tenshukaku. But Yoimiya's attention kept drifting to Klee.
Three more days of this—of morning breakfasts and afternoon adventures, of showing Klee her world and learning about Klee's in return, of soul-bond connection without the pressure of curses or consequences.
She'd make them count. Make them perfect. Make them memories strong enough to last through whatever separation came next.
Because one thing was certain: Master Jean was coming. And when she arrived, everything would change again.
But that was three days away.