They float into the sky, dazzling, and blazing, burning into all kinds of different bright and beautiful colors. They whistle until they bloom, these flowers live a fleeting yet purposeful life. These flowers keep shouting, round after round, encouraging me to listen to my heart.

I look at her, even though this is her millionth time watching the exact same thing, she still held the same expression as the first time I saw her. Like a little goldfish seeing the stars from its little pond. That same expression I fell in love with at first sight. The lights she radiated, they were just as bright as the first time I saw her.

"Beautiful isn't it? I can never get bored watching it. That has to be the loveliest fireworks I have ever seen." She laughed overloading my heart. Even in this crowded night market, I can hear my heart beating, loud and fast.

"Hey, are you even listening!" She hit my shoulder, her face pouting. "Anyway, what I was saying, ehm." She cleared her throat before continuing.

"Thank you Aether. Because of you, Inazuma is more peaceful than ever. Those vision hunt decree jerks are no more. Since you are here, it has been a very fun time for me. Either it's fighting or helping, or even as simple as fooling around. But soon you will go away..." She did not finish her sentence.

"Once you leave, can you promise not to forget about me?"

Forget? There is no way I can forget about her.

"Pinky promise?" I have my finger entwining with hers.

"C'mon! Let us enjoy the festival to the fullest!"

She grabbed my hand, rough yet delicate, such is the hand of a craftsman.

We ate like there was no tomorrow. She even joined the eating contest, but ended up not finishing even half of it. We laughed a lot and we bought a pair of stupid masks to wear.

"What is your fortune Aether? Bad luck huh? Wow look at this Aether mine is very great luck. If you want to, I can share my luck with you!" she smirked.

What a naive and optimistic way of thinking, but that is why I really love her.

We walked and talked about a lot of things from Amakane Island through the Byakko Plain. We talked about the children we played with and the house she almost burned down.

"Hey! You were also a part of it!"

We laughed again. It is true, I was never bored, not once when I was with her. Every time I am feeling a little cloudy or getting beaten up in my own thoughts, she would lift me up with her giggles.

"But I do think that you are much livelier than the first time I met you hehehe!" She jumped around avoiding all the puddles on the road.

I would not deny that it is true that I have talked a lot more often ever since I met her but, she probably did not notice that, she is the reason for it.

"Yoimiya," I said as I stopped in my tracks.

"Hmm? What is it, Aether?"

Just like the light of the moon is not its own, and so is my smile not my own..

"What are you talking about Aether?"

I kneeled down to her, she looked flustered and confused.

Her smile is as bright as the sun, but can one keep all the light of the sun to one's self?

"I love you Yoimiya, will you continue to light my way till the day our brief moment ends?"

"A-Aether? It's not nice to joke about this kind of stuff. Wait, are you serious!? I-I am not ladylike at all! I am too carefree, and I don't think I will make a good wife. I always thought that Lady Ayaka is far more suitable for you."

I hold her hand. So what? Yoimiya, the one that I love is you. Even if all she said is true, I love those parts of her too.

"I'm sorry but I need time to think about it."

And so she ran away. Since then, she has always been avoiding me.

It has been a week since. I accidentally saw her talking with Thoma. I saw them from a distance as they laughed and she blushed. I could not hear their conversation, but I realise that I already have my answers.

It was not that I did not understand, I just did not want to admit it. Even before I was here, they had always been together. He is tall, dependable, talkative. They make a perfect pair. But I did not want to leave without saying anything. At the last minute before my departure, I went to her house, I saw her shadow but she still hid from me.

At this point, everything was already too late. I walked to Naganohara Workshop. I told Ryuunosuke that I will leave Inazuma now to Liyue. I gave them some naku weed, a parting gift for me. I am sure that she has heard everything.

I am still here, I thought that if she wanted to properly turn me down, now is the only time left. Instead, she ran away from the back door. I have said my last goodbye.

Since the events, the storms are no longer blocking Inazuma from the rest of the world, but I had not found the time to return until now. The traders on Ritou are no longer facing discrimination. It was more peaceful than ever and I wish that this peace can last forever.

Good bye Inazuma, good bye Yoimiya.

"You look unhappy. Heartbreak?" Is it that obvious?

"Bahahaha, don't worry kiddo, here have a drink with me."

I refused captain Beidou's offer, there was only a few more minutes before the ship leaves anyway. The wind is awfully cold tonight.

"Teyvat is vast, I am sure she is the one who is gonna regret not choosing you." She patted my back. I felt a little better thanks to captain Beidou.

Just before the ship raise its anchor, we heard someone shouting from a distance. Their shouts got louder and louder as the person neared us.

"Wait! Aether WAIT!"

The crews try to stop her. "She is with me." Beidou came to her aid. "Long time no see Ms. Naganohara." Beidou greeted Yoimiya, but the latter ignored her.

Yoimiya ran toward me, I got off the ship and,SLAP, the sound echoed in all of Ritou. I touch my cheek and it hurts like crazy.

She grabbed me by my clothes, shaking me back and forth.

"Don't you want to know my answer? Why did you leave just like that? Didn't you say that you love me?" My head is still spinning and the burning sensation on my face eroded my sense of thinking.

Why is she going so far just to reject me? But when I look at her face, my hand is still holding my numb face. I had never see Yoimiya this mad before. Her face is puffing up and she was holding herself back from crying.

B-but...I thought that she was going out with Thoma.

"Thoma? Pfft. Time out, time out. Where did you get that idea? He only helped me sort my feelings out. Without his help, I wouldn't be here now. And he also helped me to prepare this."

She shoots out a flare, and following it is dozens of fireworks, scattered from all over Narukami Island. With all sorts of different colors. Pretty, but the pain in my cheek is overpowering all of my feelings right now.

"Yes! Aether, My answer is yes! You always come to my side when I need you. You always come to my side when I want to. You treat me as a girl, and for the first time I...I fell in love and it is with you Aether." She continued to shake me back and forth.

Yoimiya, I, do not know how to make up with her. I am such a coward. I cannot believe that I made her cry. I did not even think that I deserve her love anymore.

SLAP, in the exact same place, with the same strength as before. All the eyes on the harbor and ship are now looking at us. As painful as it was, it was nowhere as painful as looking at her face right now.

"I am the one who did not explain everything! It should be me who is not worthy of your love." She cried on my shoulder,

She closed her eyes, and our lips met. She smelled like gunpowder. To prepare all this just for me. I am so petty. I tried to leave without hearing anything nor talking about it. I love her very, very much.

After we kissed, she whispered into my ears."Aether, I am so sorry, but I accidentally left snot on your shoulder."

I tried but I cannot hold it back anymore.

I explode with laughter. Even after everything, she was worried about snot?

"Geez Aether, I am serious right now! And here I thought that you would treat me nicely."

I-I did not mean to- "Ahaha, just kidding Aether, but that was the first time you are laughing freely like that. Thank you Aether for loving me, please take care of me properly."

I feel relieved, I hug her tightly one more time.

"So does that mean that we have to tie our knot now? Don't worry, the ceremony can be done after we find your sister."

I kissed her one more time, I promised to see her again as soon as I could, and I also promised to send her letters.

But she held my hands and asked, "Then why don't I tag along with you?" Absolutely not! A reckless and rash decision like that will only bring harm to her.

What about her father and the people here? They will miss her and what is a summer festival without their queen being here for them.

"Nah, don't worry about us. After everything you did? I think we can handle the matter here ourselves without you guys." It was Thoma along with Ryuunosuke and the children who approached us. The children wrote farewell letters for us. After everything I said, I was kind of embarrassed to look at Thoma right now. But he said that it was fine, that is not the first time he had experienced that, whatever that means.

I smiled at them, bowed to Ryuunosuke for his blessing. I am not sure if he heard me clearly but he smiled and nodded.

"Time is ticking guys!" I had forgotten that Beidou was waiting for us.

The ship got delayed, but strangely none of the crews looked angry. Instead they look really delighted for the both of us.

On the ship I asked Yoimiya if she will miss Inazuma.

"Of course, but I am sure that I will regret it more if I did not tag along with my newlywed husband," she teases me.

I cannot wait until Lumine meets her. Just where are you now, sister?

"Look! Aether look!" Yoimiya woke me up from my daydreaming. As usual her smile penetrated through the dark cloudy skies in my mind.

She was very excited when we saw Liyue Harbor from a distance. She looked at my worried face and hit me on my back. "This is not the end, Aether. On the contrary, I believe that our story is only just beginning," she giggled. Thank you Yoimiya, for staying here by my side.

**Authors message**

Hi, How do you enjoy the stories? I hope you do.

10K views this month alone! That is absolutely insane! This is all thanks to all of you reader, and my friend Zaphy who willingly edited these stories. I love reading all your comments, most of them are funny. So please keep them coming, I am also open for critiques, just DM me if you have any advice for the story ^ ^. (Or if you just want to talk to me, I am also open for chat.)

Anyway, about some complaints I receive, maybe I will postpone or just not make one for Sayu. I am sure you understand what I am talking about. Should I also take back Qiqi, diona and paimon's chapter back? What do you think? I am very sorry for everyone that feels disturbed about this.
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I hope it is okay with you guys if I keep writing these Authors messages in future chapters instead of dumping them into 1 chapter. (P.S, Please pray for my Yoimiya to come home.)