烟绯少女之事件簿：自新的逆转 序幕
The File of Young Yanfei: Turnabout New Leaf, Prologue

"Yanfei."

"Keqing."

This world's Yuheng approached me and gestured for a handshake. I followed suit. "Good game, and I must say, you never fail to amaze me. This game has proven that once more."

"Is that so? Thank you, too, Keqing."

"Just like the old days, huh, Yanfei?"

'Old days'.

The moment she said those two particular words, the handshake stopped, and a sudden cold wave surged through my veins.

"Yes, quite," was all I managed to reply. She did catch me off-guard with that comment, and that must've been on purpose.

Keqing smiled as she slowly let go of my hand. She checked her watch for a bit. "Well, Ganyu and I'll be leaving soon. Do take care, Yanfei, and enjoy your day with Hu Tao."

Not yet.

I don't want to waste my chance to ask her.

Just as Keqing turned away, I called her.

"Keqing." She turned back to me, a confidently smug expression that looked like it was expecting what I was going to say. "One last question, if it's alright."

"What is it?"

"Be honest. You noticed something different about me, haven't you?"

Keqing chuckled. She slowly inched closer to my ear and then whispered, "Do you really want to know what's going on my mind, Yanfei?"

"I made myself clear, Keqing."

Keqing humphed. "Well, you asked for it." Her voice sounded ominous. She put her hand on my shoulder, and at that moment, it felt as if the both of us were transported to a imaginary void,

"You are bound to keep something secret either by something that defies all logical reasoning or by your personal intentions — perhaps even a mixture of both. Yet, no matter what, I will find out what it is. I will find out the truth about you, Yu Yanfei, through my methods. And, I will not relent."

Sharp, just like the Keqing I know, but only more relentless. She really knew I wouldn't be giving up this secret that easily. Though, I felt this cold unease rapidly building up, trying to blow away the flame of my unwaveringness that I had kept.

I whispered back, "Just what will you gain from learning it, Keqing?"

The next words she whispered shook me to the core — a feeling akin to when I had introduced who I really was in front of Taotao, and when I had faced Feng for the first time.

The flame had just been blown away.

"Only the real Yu Yanfei would know."

Ah~, that sure was one epic game! I'm really glad that Yanyan's and Feifei's volleyball skills are literally the same; we really sync with each other! 'Course, it wouldn't be achieved without our teammates, hee-hee.

Hm, Yanyan sure is taking quite a while in my CR. I wonder if she ate something that made her tummy ache really bad without me knowing? I pouted at that thought.

Oh yeah, right now, we're taking a short break at my home before we head out for our lunch. Both of us were the last ones to leave the stadium after the get-together, but as we were on our way to a restaurant for our lunch, Yanyan suddenly wanted to take a quick CR break. Luckily, we passed by my home.

Still, it's been a few minutes already. Ai-ya, maybe she did eat something wacky.

Knocking at the door, and wanting to lighten the mood a bit, I said, "Yanyan? You finally done with your heated argument with your colon?" I giggled at that.

No response.

I tried again, but this time, with a more serious tone, "Yanyan? You okay there?"

No response again.

Shit, not good.

Jiggling the doorknob, I was surprised that it wasn't locked, but that was the least of my concerns. I quickly opened the door, scanning for her, and what was revealed to me tore my chest up into pieces.

My Yanyan. Curled up in the corner.

"Y-Yanyan!"

I wasted no time going to her side and slowly fixed her unkempt hair, the sounds of muffled sniffles and gasps reaching my ears.

She's crying. My Yanyan. Crying.

I helped her up and got seated on my bed with her by my side. Yanyan leaned on my shoulder as she continued weeping, muttering "I'm sorry." non-stop in between sniffles. I wiped her tears away, reminding her to just let it all out as she muttered out those words.

That's why she was unusually silent back in her car, and why she wanted to take a short break.

But, just what could've caused her to tear up so suddenly?

Wait, could it be that Keqing…?

Anger slowly fueled up in me. Of course, that's it. She was in good spirits right before Ganyu and I tidied stuff up. What the hell went on in their little conversation?

"No, Taotao. It's not really her fault," Yanyan muttered.

It's not? "Then, what seems to be the problem, Yanyan?" I asked in the sweetest tone I could come up with. "I'm all ears for you."

My soul briefly left me when she said the following words.

"I'm sorry for not being the one you truly know, and truly love."

I know.

I know that — despite the same name, body, and soul — the Yanfei before me isn't the Feifei whom my heart had been aching for the days and nights after she introduced her true identity to me and before my grandpa's passing.

I'd be lying if I said I never wished, even in the slightest fleeting thought, for Feifei to come back, wherever she is right now in the universe.

But, as the time passed with Yanyan and me together, especially during my grandpa's case, some things just seemed to click altogether.

It's the exact same feeling I've had since the day my Feifei saved me.

I was right to say that I could fall in love again, on the night she arrived in this world. The only difference now is the new memories we've made and will make, but hey, I slowly came to accept that fact. I've been looking forward to it, and it's brought me the same joy as the times Feifei and I had been together.

No matter how long it'll take, when Feifei does come back, I also pray to whatever gods above to allow me to see the Hu Tao who Yanyan loves as well. At least once before Yanyan gets sent back to Teyvat and Feifei back to Tehiatik.

Now, I know both my Feifei and my Yanyan are strong and unwavering, so there really was something that triggered Yanyan during that particular conversation. We've even made this issue clear on the night we both solved grandpa's case.

And, I know Yanyan's taken both our sentiments to heart.

I guessed it right, a specific line shook Yanyan when she talked with Keqing. But this time, it brought forth one particular issue that's causing her distress now.

Memories.

Yanyan realized that one aspect that drew the line between Feifei and her. That mere difference marked these two as different people. I knew, however, that mere words of reaffirmation won't be enough this time. A wacky cosmic conundrum's really one big pickle that can't be resolved that quickly, this past month taught me.

And, knowing Yanyan, Feifei, or possibly any other Yanfei in the universe, she needs evidence. That is, of course, what both Yanyan and Feifei drilled in my head, a lesson kept close to my heart.

Then, it hit me.

I knew exactly what to do to drive these sullen spirits around her away.

If it's the issue of memories that need to be tackled, then I gotta fight fire with fire. This time, I'll do it with the proof Yanyan needs.

"Wait right here, Yanyan. I wanna show you something."

I fumbled through my 'secret stash' of the mementos privy to me and Feifei. Well, Yanyan now has access to this epic box, too. But, truth be told, I even haven't showed her this yet, let alone tell her of its existence. A fault on my part, but I guess it happened for a reason.

A-ha! Found it, and it's still in good shape. The yellowish, worn-out condition of the paper and the rust of the staple wire marked all the years it had to endure. I hid it behind me to give Yanyan just a little bit of surprise to cheer her up. After I'm done, I'll show her the rest of the 'secret stash' I have.

"T-Taotao? What's that you're hiding?"

Wiping some more of her tears on her cheeks, I flashed her the cover of the letter I'd made for Feifei for a dare all those years back.

On that day.

That one stormy day.

"Yanyan, before I say anything else," I smiled and put my arm around Yanyan, calming her down some more as I locked with her pretty teal eyes, "lemme tell you a story."

The story of how this poor little spooky girl managed to fall
for the school's smartest and most beautiful student she looked up to and deeply admired.

Guest B
Oh yes, the mysteries don't stop coming, be it a great one or not.

Thought-provoking questions, too! Good eye. :D

Hehe, which route, indeed?

Stay tuned, and thank you for leaving a review!