The next day, early morning.
Keqing, clutching her Raiden Shogun plushie, opened her eyes.
Her slightly hazy gaze glanced out the window.
The sky was still dimly lit.
Liyue Harbor was currently asleep.
Keqing rolled over, burying her face in the plushie.
She nuzzled it gently.
Feeling its fluffy warmth, the corners of her lips curved slightly upwards.
"Phew, a new day!"
Keqing, driven by efficiency, did not linger in bed.
As planned, she was to set sail today.
Heading towards the sea area near Inazuma for a salvage mission.
"If I delay too much, there'll be too much to do."
After a quick wash and dressing, Keqing picked up the sword by her bed.
"..."
Her gaze instinctively swept over the various plushies on her nightstand.
Amongst the many Rex Lapis plushies...
The fierce-looking General plushie stood out conspicuously.
Keqing's purple eyes flickered, and she instinctively picked it up.
"I'll bring you along for this voyage."
Perhaps it would bring good luck.
...
Outside the harbor, a girl in a cloak approached.
Her signature purple twin tails swayed back and forth.
"Morning, Ganyu."
"So, so early, Keqing."
Ganyu's words were slurred as she quickly covered her mouth.
She hadn't expected Keqing to arrive so early.
"There's still a trace..."
Keqing pointed seriously at her mouth.
"W-wait a moment, this is...!"
Ganyu's face flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
She had been caught eating Qingxin alone.
"I'll be heading off first."
Having entered work mode, Keqing said no more.
She had eaten plenty of leaves during her wilderness survival training.
"Okay."
Ganyu patted her chest, finally swallowing.
"Here is the sea chart, please take care of it."
"And this token for meeting with the Inazuman personnel."
"There are no extra reinforcements this time, so..."
She looked at Keqing boarding the ship, her expression apologetic.
Liyue Harbor was currently swamped with affairs and short-handed.
Everyone was still adjusting after the departure of the Geo Archon.
"Understood."
"I will head to the first batch of Millelith encampments."
Keqing nodded slightly, then thought of something.
"By the way, why don't I see Lumine?"
A golden-haired girl in a white dress appeared in her mind.
She was a girl as clear and beautiful as sunlight.
If she were here, this mission would be much easier.
Ganyu blinked and recalled:
"Ah, she has already departed for Inazuma."
"But the Sakoku Decree?"
"When she left, there was no news of it yet."
Keqing furrowed her brow slightly, a sense of unease creeping in.
Going to Inazuma like this...
She hoped Lumine wouldn't run into any trouble.
Like being put on a wanted list or something.
...
Inazuma City, Komore Teahouse.
Sunlight streamed in through the window.
"Mmm."
In his sleep, Qin Yu frowned slightly.
He seemed to be dreaming.
As for the content of the dream...
"Your Excellency, please don't stab me."
Qin Yu extended his hand, instinctively reaching out to the floor beside him.
He seemed to have touched something.
A soft, small foot, still warm...
"Feels nice, I'll touch it for a bit longer."
Qin Yu's lips curved upwards slightly.
His fingers became exceptionally agile, playing with it intently.
The air suddenly turned cold.
"!"
A terrifying sense of danger made Qin Yu jolt awake.
Beside him, a cold, elegant figure stood still.
It was the shrine maiden wearing a fox mask.
She was now staring at him coldly.
Not good, there's killing intent.
"..."
Qin Yu closed his eyes and turned his back.
It must be the way he woke up that was wrong.
Why would a shrine maiden be beside him so early in the morning?
"Wake up."
A crisp voice, accompanied by the sound of air being split, rang out.
The shrine maiden held a wooden sword.
She directly struck Qin Yu on the backside.
The person was now thoroughly awake.
The sudden appearance of the shrine maiden was not a dream!
"Good morning! Your Excellency..."
"Hm?"
The shrine maiden raised the wooden sword in her hand.
"...Good morning, Sakura."
"..."
After some chaos.
Qin Yu gently pushed open the door, observing his surroundings.
Speaking of which, Ayaka shouldn't be nearby, right?
She had said she'd go home after eating ice cream last night.
But faced with the girl's gentle, watery persuasion, he couldn't resist.
He ended up staying the night here.
If that girl saw him and Sakura coming out of the room together this early in the morning...
"What are you looking at."
From behind him, something hard pressed against him.
Qin Yu's whole body tensed.
"Sakura, put down the sword first..."
"Get out."
Qin Yu took a step forward.
Behind him, the aloof shrine maiden followed.
The wooden sword remained pressed against Qin Yu's lower back.
"Sakura, why are you suddenly here?"
Qin Yu felt a strange sensation.
Sakura snorted lightly, not responding.
In Inazuma, she could go wherever she pleased.
Qin Yu's fingers twitched.
He recalled the soft foot he had touched in his daze.
That delicate, smooth sensation...
He had been so close to tickling her sole.
"Cough, I reached out just now..."
"What are you talking about."
The wooden sword pressed against his lower back tightened slightly.
A chill ran down his spine.
"Nothing, I was just having a dream..."