Chihu Rock, Wanmin Restaurant.
The crew that had gathered in the main hall had already dispersed. Having just returned from the sea, they followed their routine of dining together at Wanmin Restaurant before going about their own activities.
At a table in the hall, Beidou was still drinking heartily from a large bowl, recounting one sea adventure after another with great enthusiasm.
Sitting quietly across from her, Hiroshi held Kuroneko (Ruri Gokou) close, listening attentively to Beidou's tales and occasionally asking questions.
"Da-da-da~"
Klee burst into Wanmin Restaurant, coming to an abrupt stop. Raising her hands high, she turned and laughed at Liyue and Qiqi, who had just followed her in.
"Hehehe," she giggled, "Klee is the first one!"
The conversation stopped as everyone turned to look at the cheerful Klee. Hiroshi smiled warmly at her and reached out to pat her head.
"Klee, did you catch a big fish?" he asked with a laugh.
"Mm-hmm!" Klee nodded rapidly, raising a massive frozen fish block in her hands. The vibrant, rose-like color of the fish meat inside the transparent ice was stunning.
With sparkling eyes, Klee excitedly exclaimed, "Brother Hiroshi, we caught a super big fish!"
Placing the heavy fish block onto the already strained wooden table, Klee energetically gestured to illustrate the fish's size.
"This giant fish called Haishan is the biggest one Klee has ever blown up, except for that bad demon god!"
"Brother Hiroshi, please cook it into something delicious. Klee wants everyone to eat together."
"Alright," Hiroshi said with a smile, pinching Klee's chubby cheeks before lifting the massive fish block and heading toward the kitchen.
Zhongli caught Liyue, who had jumped into his arms, and chuckled softly. "Liyue, are you happy?"
"Mm-hmm," she replied shyly, burying her head in Zhongli's chest. "Klee and Qiqi are good friends, so I'm very happy."
"And everyone we met was so kind. They all want me to visit their homes."
"And what do you think about that?" Zhongli asked gently, stroking her head.
Smiling, Liyue hugged Zhongli tightly. "I like everyone too, and I want to visit their homes with you. Everyone will surely like you because you're so good."
On the opposite side of the table, Beidou downed her drink and laughed heartily as she watched Klee swinging her legs in anticipation of the meal.
"I knew I wasn't mistaken that day," she said. "Looks like I've gained a formidable little sister."
Meanwhile, at Liyue Harbor, Mona swallowed the last bite of fish with a blank expression. Staring at the enormous fish steak Klee had placed before her, she slowly buried her face in her knees.
"I want to die," Mona muttered quietly, tears welling in her eyes.
Curling into a ball, she desperately wished for the ability to turn back time.
As faint whispers reached her ears, a cerulean magic circle formed beneath her feet. Streams of water coalesced from the air, forming a giant watery veil that enveloped Mona and the enormous fish.
With a splash, the watery curtain vanished from the harbor, leaving only a starlit reflection on the ground.
In a laboratory, a blue light appeared, and Mona, along with the giant fish block, materialized within.
Thud!
The fish landed with a heavy sound as a door opened, and a white-haired woman stepped out. Her eyes, reflecting the starry sky, softened as she saw Mona curled up on the floor.
Squatting down, the elderly woman gently stroked Mona's head. "Seeing you like this reminds me of your childhood," she said kindly. "Every time your divination failed, you'd curl up alone in a corner of your room."
Mona looked up at the smiling woman, sniffled, and buried her face in her knees again. Scooting slightly away from the woman, she tightened her curl.
The woman chuckled softly and stood up. Her eyes glimmered with blue light as she gazed at the frozen fish block, a nostalgic smile crossing her face.
A small piece of fish slid into her hand with a flash of blue light. Turning to Mona, who was secretly peeking at her, the woman smiled and headed to the kitchen.
"Wait a bit, Mona. With such excellent fish, I'll make your favorite fresh fish soup," she said.
"Hmph!" Mona stuck out her tongue at the retreating figure. "You stingy old lady, you must want something from me."
She sighed softly as she looked around the familiar laboratory—or rather, observatory. Despite the old furniture and new expensive stargazing equipment, she muttered, "That fish was a gift from someone else."
Soon, the rich aroma of fish soup filled the air. Mona sat at the old but clean dining table, blowing on her bowl of hot soup to cool it. Tasting it cautiously, her eyes lit up as she began gulping it down.
Wiping her mouth, Mona let out a satisfied sigh and blushed as she saw her master smiling at her.
"I just didn't want to waste food," she said defensively. "Go get a bowl for yourself, Master."
Shaking her head, the woman replied, "I only made that one serving."
"Huh?" Mona looked at her in confusion.
"Now, listen carefully," the woman said, her expression turning serious. "I need you to do something for me."
"When I was younger, I had a friend named Alice. She was extraordinary, a true genius in all things arcane."
The woman's face softened with a bittersweet smile. "Alice and I competed our entire lives, but even as my time draws to an end, I have never bested her."
"But I don't want you to surpass Alice's heir. I want you to find Alice's child and return to me the [Fifty-Year Agreement] that I entrusted to her."