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Nov 30

9:34am

After many delays and conflicts, it was once again finally the day of the festival. A sparkling smile was plastered on your face as you walked down the school hallways to your clubroom.

Upon entering, you were greeted by a tight embrace from your best friend, Hu Tao. "Y/N, YOU MADE IT ON TIME!" The brunette exclaimed with joy. "Yes surprise."

"Where's your emo boyfriend?" She asked you while looking behind you to see if he was perhaps hidden.

"Stop. He'll be here in a bit," You told her, rolling your eyes at her comment. Hu Tao laughed while patting your shoulder. "Then let's go check out how things are going while waiting," she suggested, with you humming in response.

You then followed her out of the clubroom and to the school yard, where the festival was taking place. The moment you walked out the exit, a certain ginger made his appearance with a wide grin. "HII Y/N, where's your emo boyf-" He began blurting out before being interrupted by you.

"He'll be here soon." An annoyed sigh escaped your mouth after hearing Hu Tao laugh from behind.

As if things couldn't get any more chaotic, Itto had also managed to spot you. "YO," He shouted, causing all three of you to jump by his incredibly loud voice. "Are you guys excited for the onikabuto fight? I KNOW I AM!!"

"Stop yelling you giant, they're standing not even 4 feet apart from you." Heizou crossed his arms, also joining in on the conversation. "How the hell are you guys finding us so fast...?" The brunette genuinely seemed confused.

Then the very male you had been oh so impatiently waiting for had also finally made his appearance.

"It's hard not to, you guys are so loud." Xiao rolled his eyes, earning an enthusiastic laugh from both Hu Tao and Childe.

"Omg Xiao." You smiled at him, before noticing Qiqi had also been standing next to him. "Wait, you were allowed to bring Qiqi too??"

Xiao nodded while looking at the little girl beside him, "Ningguang allowed me to bring her."

"Stan Ningguang. An absolute Queen." Childe remarked, with all of you nodding your heads, agreeing.

"Alright, let's go enjoy the festival now!" Hu Tao exclaimed excitedly, earning a small laugh from you. "Sure." You grabbed Qiqi's hand and began walking forward, with the others walking beside you.

"Where are we headed first?" Hu Tao asked, before you shrugged your shoulders in response. "I don't know. You guys can decide."

Childe cleared his throat the moment you finished talking, shifting everyone's attention towards him. "Yeah?" You looked at him, raising a brow. "We should totally do the onikabuto fight first," The ginger suggested.

"I like that idea!" Itto immediately approved. Not being surprised by Childe's suggestion, you agreed along with the others.

You all then began following Itto to his stand. "Shouldn't you be there at all times since y'know, you're in charge of the onikabuto fights?" Hu Tao asked Itto.

"True." The silver headed male placed a finger on his chin, leaving you all not even surprised at how he didn't try to defend himself.

His stand didn't take long to find so you were able to arrive there quickly. However, once you did, you instantly regretted doing so. A certain indigo haired man had been arguing with a certain dark haired female.

"You totally lost! You owe me 1k mora, pay up." Mona told him, while having her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed at the other male. "No." Scaramouche continued refusing to pay even after losing the bet to her.

"So you decided to come to the festival after all," Hu Tao said to Scaramouche with a grin. Scaramouche looked at the group with a slightly surprised expression. "Oh. It's you guys."

"Itto, thank the archons you're here. Scaramouche lost the onikabuto fight to us and refuses to pay up after betting 1k mora," Mona explained with an annoyed face. She was clearly not planning on leaving without the money.

'Wait us?' You thought. Looking behind her, you noticed Zixin had also been standing there, waiting for the two to resolve their dispute.

Itto let out a loud laugh as he aggressively patted Scaramouche's shoulder, completely frightening the smaller male. "Don't touch me," Scaramouche scowled at him.

"HAHA Scaramouche! If you lost the bet, then you need to pay up!" Itto told him, with Scaramouche's face only getting more and more irritated after hearing Itto's loud voice. "No."

"Hey Xiao, you should tell him to pay. He's your bestie after all," You said to Xiao, who sighed in response. After contemplating it for a brief moment, he eventually did. "If you lost, you should pay." Xiao said to him with a straight face.

Scaramouche stared at Xiao for a few moments displaying a betrayed look, before averting his gaze and scoffing. "Fine."

He handed over the mora to Mona, whose face lit up by the sight of the money. "Can we go now?" Zixin sighed, relieved that Mona would no longer argue with Scaramouche. "Yes."

"Hey Itto. I challenge you to an onikabuto fight." Childe said to the giant, who looked more than happy to comply. "Bring it on, tiny."

While everyone followed behind Childe and Itto, you glanced at Xiao before holding his hand. "By the way, did you talk to Zhongli?" You asked him.

Xiao hummed, "I did."

"What'd he say?"

"He approved."

Your face immediately lit up with excitement. "He'll adopt Qiqi?"

Xiao gave you a small smile as he tightened his grip on your hand, "He will."

A bright smile took over your face as you looked at Qiqi, who looked back at you with just as bright of a smile. "Qiqi, you'll be like our little sister. That's so cute." You bent down on your knees and gave her a quick hug.

The purple headed girl nodded while returning the hug, "Qiqi is happy."

Xiao smiled once more as he patted the little girl's head. "So, before going to the other stands, is there something you'd both like to get first?" You asked the two, while getting back up. The two answered simultaneously.

"Almond tofu."

"Coconut milk."

You looked at them in disbelief. Of course.

While letting out a brief sigh, you smiled as you shook your head. "Why am I not surprised... but sure, we can get you almond tofu and coconut milk first I guess."

They both nodded. "Let's go then." You grabbed one of Qiqi's hand, before Xiao grabbed the other one. You shot the teal headed male a surprised look as he quickly averted his gaze from you.

You felt as if your heart had just melted. Xiao had finally started showing affection more openly. Not to mention more frequently as well. A quiet chuckle escaped your mouth as you noticed him getting a bit embarrassed.

You then quickly shook off your thoughts and began walking forward, with the two walking beside you. At this very moment, all three of you couldn't have been any happier.

Reminiscing the last few months you spent together, you were surprised at how far you all have come. You could have never imagined that things would turn out this way. Although there were times you truly felt hopeless, you were relieved that you hadn't given up.

To put it briefly, you were simply overjoyed. And nothing could ruin this moment.

Qiqi was safe, Xiao had finally stopped blaming himself, and you were able to have a clear conscious. Even Zixin had managed to find a sense of redemption that he had so desperately been searching for.

If you could make one wish right now, it'd be for things to remain like this forever. But even if that wasn't the case, surely you'd have no trouble overcoming any obstacle with Xiao by your side.

And now, you also had Qiqi with you. With them being with you, there was nothing else for you to worry about.

After all, those were the very two who you'd soon call family.

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