SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 29 out, this is Chapter 30 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Jean

Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.

Chapter 30: Teyvat Arc: Morning Sparring

Time passes...

Early one morning, Mitsuko was in the kitchens preparing breakfast when she heard Zhongli play the jade xiao.

In the courtyard of his residence, Zhongli placed the instrument back to its original place and summoned his 'Vortex Vanquisher' spear. His sharp eyes caught the dangling true love's knot tassel tied around the spear's shaft, recalling Mitsuko had gifted it to him as a token of thanks after completing her training with him. Taking up his trademark weapon, he started wielding the spear in practice.

"Is something wrong?" Mitsuko asked worriedly, stopping in mid-step when the spear was suddenly sent flying into the pillar beside her.

"Nothing." Zhongli composed himself. "I just got distracted." he retrieved his weapon. "Egg roll?" he noticed the Inazuma breakfast dish. "And 'Jade Parcels'?"

"I also have 'Fullmoon Egg' in the steamer." Mitsuko supplied.

In the pavilion later...

"The dishes this morning taste good." Zhongli praised, resting his chopsticks on the chopstick stand.

"Thank you." Mitsuko blushed, pouring out a pot of freshly brewed herbal tea. "It'd be getting warmer soon. I intend to make some berry mizu manjuu as dessert."

"That would be greatly appreciated." Zhongli nodded.

Mitsuko's mental bells went on high alert when she sensed Zhongli's relaxed posture change. Jumping back out from the pavilion to dodge the older man's palm strike, she struck out a pointed foot at the Geo Archon, who instantly blocked it with a hand.

Zhongli slapped the foot away, Mitsuko retaliated with a hand knife thrust which her opponent parried off effortlessly. Twirling his outstretched hand around her wrist, he sent her flipping in mid-air before she landed right into his arms.

Mitsuko tried to free herself by sending a high kick at Zhongli's face, which Zhongli blocked with an open palm. He then ducked under her swinging arm, kicking her ankle to force her to take on a front split pose.

Mitsuko swirled her legs to return to a standing position and sprung towards Zhongli with a hand knife thrust.

Zhongli blocked off the thrust and parried Mitsuko's arm away. Mitsuko side-stepped his follow-up punch, grabbed his wrist and tried to flip him over when Zhongli merely slapped her hand away, freeing himself.

"You lack inner strength and experience in fighting." Zhongli lectured. "When your opponent changes their moves slightly, you get confused. You will need to learn to find the opponent's weakness during the fight. Let's continue." he attacked Mitsuko.

The younger girl managed to fend off the beginning of his relentless strikes, but being a lot more experienced, Zhongli easily regained the upper hand. Gently gripping her wrist in his hand, he twirled her around as if they were dancing, before catching her in an outstretched arm.

"You still lose." the Prime Adepti smiled.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.