In the early morning, dewdrops dripped from the tips of the green grass, splattering into countless fragments that seeped into the earth.
The sun had just risen over the horizon. Riku, who had spent the entire night learning a vast amount of knowledge using the meditation technique taught by Vanir, not only grasped the concepts thanks to his natural talent but also used the meditation technique to restore his fatigued mind.
At the entrance to the manor, everyone who had stayed overnight gathered together.
Keqing had already left after dinner last night. She, who was normally burdened with a mountain of official duties, had been working at full capacity to handle all her plans for the next month to help Riku. For her, Riku, who aimed to end the war of the gods with merely human strength, was like a dream. She had come to Mondstadt last night, using the power of the chat group, just to see Riku with her own eyes.
After dinner, Keqing had spoken privately with Riku for a few moments before hurriedly returning to Liyue. She planned to use her newly gained power to finish her official duties without rest as quickly as possible.
Hiroshi curiously asked Riku about what they had talked about.
Riku said that Keqing simply spoke about Liyue's situation of living alongside the gods for thousands of years and shared her wish.
After listening, Riku just smiled and said, "I believe you can achieve what you said. And now, after hearing you, I have a strong desire to meet this highly respected Geo Archon."
Upon hearing Riku's answer, Keqing left with a thoughtful expression.
"Hiroshi, I have reported the chat group's matters to the Archon, including Riku's situation. The Archon hopes that after everything regarding Riku is settled, you all can visit Liyue."
At this moment—
Hiroshi, Riku, and Lumine smiled and waved at everyone as a white cloud carried the three of them away, disappearing on the horizon.
"Um, is there anything we need to do next?"
A timid, animal-like voice rang out. Tokimoto Nifumi timidly raised her small hand, staying close to Klee.
Yesterday, the extremely shy Tokimoto Nifumi had suddenly joined a strange chat group while on a break from work. People there were chatting with anime names and avatars, and strangely enough, she also suddenly had some incredible knowledge appear in her mind.
After panicking for a while, Tokimoto Nifumi calmed down with the help of friendly group members. Once she understood the chat group, she saw that someone was uploading information about fate. She decided to upload what she knew.
Then, with the thousand points she earned, she tried purchasing the adventurer's card recommended by everyone in the chat group, as well as a basic magic ability.
A miraculous thing happened—a new blue status panel appeared in front of her, followed by magic knowledge surfacing in her mind, and she suddenly felt a strange sensation inside her body.
Before she could calm down, a group mission appeared. In the subsequent live stream, she saw characters she once thought existed only on the screen, like Kuroneko, whom she had cosplayed as.
Tokimoto Nifumi spent the rest of the time curled up on her sofa, either nervous or excited as she watched the live stream, silently praying for everyone's safety.
After understanding Riku's situation, Tokimoto Nifumi decided to do her part for Riku, giving him her remaining 500 points.
She even went to the otherworld last night to cheer Riku on and fulfill some of her own small wishes—like meeting Kuroneko and seeing the otherworld scenery.
It was there that she met her new friend, a little elf named Klee.
Tokimoto Nifumi was fond of this cute little girl who clung to her, asking her to teach her emoticons, especially after Klee let her hug an adorable panda.
And so, she stayed overnight. Yes, the incredibly shy Tokimoto Nifumi, under Klee's adorable "attack," decided to take another day off to stay in this otherworld for the first time.
Having woken up hugging Klee this morning, Tokimoto Nifumi was still in a bit of a daze.
Kuroneko looked at Tokimoto Nifumi, who seemed like a little animal, and stepped forward, holding her hand with a smile.
"Today, we'll just accompany you on a walk around Mondstadt, Nifumi."
Turning around, she held Klee's small hand. Kuroneko, Klee, and Nifumi set off for Mondstadt together.
Infinite and Xiaohei had already returned last night. Kazuma Satou, Megumin, and Aqua also left last night. Everyone was preparing for what was to come, adapting to their new powers, readying themselves for battle.
As for Shirou Emiya, after dropping Miyu off at school today, he would return to Teyvat to take on commissions, trying to catch up to the main group as soon as possible.
Kuroneko decided to stay after talking with Hiroshi last night. She returned home with Hiroshi and her sisters, and then explained everything frankly to her parents. She decided to take a month off from school to stay with Hiroshi.
This was Hiroshi's first time at Kuroneko's home. He was incredibly nervous when he entered. After all, he had come to ask them to entrust their daughter to him.
After knocking on the door and with encouragement from the three daughters of the Kuroneko family, Hiroshi looked at Kuroneko's mother, who opened the door, and said:
"Auntie, hello. I'm Hiroshi, Ruri's boyfriend. I'm here today to ask if you would entrust your daughter to me."
Kuroneko's mother looked at Hiroshi in surprise, covering her mouth. She glanced at Kuroneko, who stood resolutely beside him, then smiled helplessly. "Come in, let's talk inside."
Leading Hiroshi to the living room, Kuroneko's mother prepared tea and smiled at Hiroshi before stepping out with Hinata and Tamaki, leaving him alone with Ruri.
Kuroneko entwined her fingers with Hiroshi's, feeling the dampness of his hand. She squeezed tighter, looking at Hiroshi's anxious face. "Relax, it's okay. Dad will understand us."
"I do not understand!"
A series of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, and the wooden door to the living room burst open. A handsome man wearing loose pajamas stormed in, shouting in response to Kuroneko's words.
"Dear!"
Kuroneko's mother's voice called from outside the door. She stepped in and gave Hiroshi an apologetic smile before staring at her husband. "You know what Ruri is usually like, don't you? Since she chose to bring Hiroshi home, we must respect her decision."
Kuroneko's father glanced around nervously, then plopped himself down across from Hiroshi, looking at their clasped hands. He muttered, "But Ruri is only sixteen! How could I hand her over to someone else so soon?! I don't agree!"
"Dad, Mom."
Standing up, Kuroneko bowed to her parents. "Please listen to what I have to say."
Seeing her serious expression, Hiroshi also stood. Kuroneko's father reluctantly nodded, sitting beside her mother, ready to listen.
"Ruri, let me explain."
Hiroshi held Kuroneko's hand tightly, looking at her parents. He smiled, took a deep breath, and said, "Auntie, Uncle, I'm here to ask if you could entrust Ruri to me."
"Originally, I hoped to come at a more appropriate time, but something important requires us to act together, and I had no choice but to visit like this."
Kuroneko's mother held down her husband, whose face was flushed with anger. She took a deep breath, looked at Kuroneko, who continued to gaze at her unwaveringly, and sighed, telling Hiroshi softly, "Please continue."
Hiroshi nodded, looking at Kuroneko's furious father with an apologetic smile. He raised his hand and pointed at the air, channeling his spiritual power, and images began to appear in the air.
Kuroneko's mother watched the images in shock, staring in disbelief at Hiroshi's glowing white fingers. Her husband, who had tried to break free, just scowled at the images.
"Dear, did you already know about this?"
Kuroneko's mother asked, looking at her displeased husband.
Kuroneko's father sighed, looking at Ruri with surprise. "I always knew this day would come."
"Ruri's sudden support for the family's finances made me worried, so I secretly followed her, fearing she might be doing something bad. Instead, I saw my daughter flying, shooting wind blades from her hand. I knew she must have encountered something."
Picking up Hiroshi's teacup from the table, Kuroneko's father drank deeply and muttered, "But soon, Ruri became interested in cooking and matured bit by bit. I thought she had changed, but it turns out you, Hiroshi, were the reason behind all this."
"Dear."
Kuroneko looked at her father, who was deeply moved, astonished. She thought she had hidden things well, yet her father had seen right through her.
"Oh, that explains it. I was wondering why Ruri had changed so much recently. I just thought she had given up on those strange hobbies of hers."
Kuroneko's mother said softly, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"Wait!"
Kuroneko's father raised his hand to interrupt his wife, standing and pointing at the images Hiroshi was playing, quickly saying, "Rewind. Show me those images again!"
Hiroshi silently rewound the footage, which happened to be showing Riku's world—Disboard. Since he began, Hiroshi had been showing footage of his conversation with Kuroneko last night and the tasks they had to complete next.
Looking up, Kuroneko's father fixed his eyes on Hiroshi, gritting his teeth as he asked, "So, the scene in the footage is the world where you and Ruri are going for the mission?!"
Hiroshi nodded quietly.
Kuroneko's father grabbed Hiroshi by the collar, yelling, "You're not taking my daughter to that place!"
"Dad!"
Kuroneko held her father's hand, looking into his eyes. "Dad, even without Hiroshi, I would still go there."
Seeing his daughter's determined expression, Kuroneko's father reluctantly released Hiroshi. He strode towards the door, then gestured at Hiroshi to follow.
"Kid, come with me!"
Nodding, Hiroshi patted Kuroneko's hand, smiled at Kuroneko's mother, and followed her father out.
After leaving the entrance, Kuroneko's father led Hiroshi down the street. He bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter at a convenience store and walked to the nearby riverside.
Under the streetlights, Kuroneko's father squatted down, gesturing for Hiroshi to sit next to him.
Taking out the lighter, he lit a cigarette and took a deep puff.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
"Didn't expect to choke on smoke today."
After coughing, Kuroneko's father glanced at Hiroshi, who was patting his back, and offered him a cigarette.
"Kid, want one?"
"No, no. I don't smoke, Uncle."
"Good. When Riko got pregnant with Ruri, I quit, and it was hard."
Patting his chest, Kuroneko's father looked at Hiroshi. "Call me Dad."
"Huh?"
Startled, Hiroshi looked at the beautiful man before him. "Dad, does this mean you approve of me and Ruri?!"
Kuroneko's father threw his half-burned cigarette to the ground, crushing it forcefully. He looked at Hiroshi and smiled. "Do you think I don't know my daughter? Once she decides on someone, she won't give up. I always worried she'd get fooled by someone because she was too introverted. But lately, she's become happier. I thought she had started changing, but it turns out you're the reason."
"Kid, I trust my daughter's judgment, so I trust you!"
Standing up, Kuroneko's father patted Hiroshi's shoulder. "Take care of my daughter, Hiroshi. No matter what happens."
"I will protect her, no matter what!"
Hiroshi nodded firmly, looking into his father-in-law's eyes.
"Alright, kid. I accept you. So, when's the wedding?"
Kuroneko's father asked, smiling. "I've been saving for her dowry. I want her to have a grand wedding."
"Ah!"
Hiroshi shouted in surprise. Seeing Kuroneko's father's expression start to darken, he quickly said, "Ruri just started high school. I planned on marrying her after graduation."
"Besides, I plan to officially propose after this mission."
Scratching his cheek, Hiroshi blushed.
"Alright, Hiroshi."
Kuroneko's father smiled, examining Hiroshi closely. He seemed satisfied.
"You remind me of myself when I went to propose to Riko all those years ago."
Throwing the cigarette butt in a nearby trash can, Kuroneko's father turned back towards home, glancing at Hiroshi. "Do I smell like smoke?"
Hiroshi placed his hand on his father-in-law's shoulder, channeling some light energy. "Not anymore."
"Oh, that's convenient. Teach me that sometime. What exactly is the mission you and Ruri are doing? Who gave it to you? Can you refuse it? It seems dangerous."
"Dad, it's Ruri and I who chose to do this. The mission is to assist the savior in fighting the gods to save the world. But don't worry—I will keep Ruri safe. We are prepared."
"What?!"