Hanachirusato obeyed, though her brows still pinched together.
Watching her, Xia Zhi recalled the first time he had Massaged Ganyu.
Back then, she had been torn—wanting to continue protecting Liyue, yet feeling excluded. Lost and weighed down by doubt, until he eased her worries with stories.
Now, as a master, since he had promised his disciple to help Hanachirusato, he had to see it through.
"Tell me," Xia Zhi asked, "you doing alright with your phone?"
"Pretty well. Qiqi's taught me a lot."
"You joined the group chat?"
"I did. Everyone's so lively in there."
"Good. You should chat more too. Just say whatever you like—no pressure, you don't even have to meet them face to face. Later, let's add each other as friends."
Xia Zhi already knew her nickname from Ganyu.
"'Hanabi.' And Mr. Xia's?"
She had already heard it from Qiqi, but hadn't added him yet.
"'Xia Zhi'"
He chuckled. "And yours nickname suits you."
In Inazuma, "hanabi" meant fireworks.
Like the ones sold at Naganohara Fireworks.
Hanachirusato opened her eyes and glanced at him massaging her shoulders. "I just picked it randomly."
"Words and actions we make casually," Xia Zhi said softly, "often reveal our truest selves."
"…You mean I'm like hanabi?"
"Exactly."
"How so?"
"Hanabi only bloom for a moment. They light up the night sky with their most beautiful view, then vanish without a trace." He paused, then added in a lower voice, "You're the same. If you hadn't met us, then the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual would've been the brightest, most fleeting moment of your short life."
Her expression shifted.
"The ingredients of hanabi," Xia Zhi continued, "include gunpowder, matches, tobacco cakes, dust, torch sticks, firework powder, fuses. Ugly things, foul-smelling, dangerous and explosive. Harmful if mishandled."
His voice grew subtle.
"You're the same. Born of dark filth. Calamity itself was your raw material. Ugly, dangerous."
Hanachirusato stayed silent.
"Am I wrong?" he asked gently.
She dodged, changing the subject. "Mr. Xia, you seem to know a lot about fireworks. Do you understand how they're made?"
"I do. Just a little."
That was true—he'd picked up a Firework Mastery skill earlier at Naganohara Fireworks, and with his alchemy background, he could do quite a lot now.
"If you can make them, then why did you order fireworks at the shop today?"
"Klee wanted to buy some. I couldn't say no. Small requests like that should be indulged."
"Mr. Xia really spoils children."
"Children are meant to be spoiled."
"Then… in Mr. Xia's eyes, is Qiqi still a child?"
"Of course."
"…I see. That's nice…" Hanachirusato murmured.
They both fell quiet.
The room grew still.
After a moment, Xia Zhi said, "This side's done. Turn over."
"Mm."
She obeyed.
The view was lovely.
He kept massaging.
"Mr. Xia," Hanachirusato suddenly asked, "do you like fireworks?"
"I do."
"Even if you can't see them with your own eyes?"
"Actually… it's precisely because I can't that I like them even more."
He remembered last year's Moonchase Festival in Liyue, when everyone had gathered at the docks to watch fireworks.
Back then, he'd only had regular glasses. He couldn't see like he could now. All he could do was use the system's god-view to catch glimpses of reflections on the water.
The brilliance hadn't been clear, but the joyful atmosphere was enough.
But because he kept lowering his head, Yaoyao and Qiqi had misunderstood. The two little girls had squeezed his hands in comfort.
That warmth had stayed with him.
Such kind kids deserved nothing but spoiling.
The memory softened his face into a tender smile.
With his current sky-high charm, that smile was devastating.
Hanachirusato stared, stunned.
Her cheeks flushed.
She realized her earlier question might've had another meaning.
Since her nickname was "Hanabi," asking if Mr. Xia liked fireworks was almost like asking if he liked her.
Shameless.
But his firm answer filled her with a guilty little joy anyway, even though she knew he hadn't meant it that way.
Maybe this was the side effect of the Golden Circlet he'd given her…
The thought almost made her feel justified.
When the Massage ended, she put her yukata back on and thanked him earnestly.
Xia Zhi waved it off with a smile. "No need."
He used to take a token payment for Massages, but that hardly mattered now. He only offered them to friends anyway.
Hanachirusato stepped outside.
Qiqi looked at her. "Did you remember anything?"
She blinked. She'd been so comfortable, she'd almost forgotten that was the whole point.
"…Some things came back, but nothing really important."
"That's fine. Bit by bit, it'll all return."
"Mm. Go on, it's your turn."
"Okay."
Qiqi slipped inside.
Watching the door close, Hanachirusato thought of what Mr. Xia had said earlier.
She couldn't help but sigh. Having a master who spoiled you like a child… that was really nice.
––
Qiqi lay down on the little bed as naturally as breathing.
Her figure had grown compared to before, but she was still very much a girl.
Wearing the newly bought yukata, she looked like a bud on the verge of blooming.
"Master, there's something I should tell you."
"What is it?"
"I told Hanachirusato about the Magical Girl thing."
"That's fine. You two live together. She was bound to find out sooner or later."
"She… kind of wants to become a Magical Girl too."
"Oh? She didn't mention it to me."
"She said she's still thinking about it."
"Alright. Let her decide when she's ready."
"Okay."
"How's your own training been?"
"No problems."
"Good. Try talking with Hanachirusato more. It'll be good for both of you."
"…I understand, Master."
Qiqi gazed at him as he Massaged her.
This was the happiest part of her day.
––
After finishing with all the girls and taking his own bath, Xia Zhi returned to his room.
He opened his Blessing Panel. Two new entries had appeared: [Kitsune's Blessing] and [Tanuki's Blessing].
He'd gained them from his recent encounters with Yae Miko and Rii.
That also unlocked two new transformation abilities: [Kitsune] and [Tanuki].
He tried them out. [Tanuki] simply made him quicker and nimbler. [Kitsune] gave him a charm skill—but no tails, unfortunately.
[Charm]: Stirs the target's desire, making them infatuated. Effectiveness against the opposite sex: +100%. Against youkai targets: +50%.
Xia Zhi pondered. Ganyu happened to fit both categories—female and adeptus.
He went next door to test it.
The scent of coconut milk instantly grew thick in the air.
And then… nothing more.
Though, he had to admit—while Ganyu wasn't from Inazuma, seeing her in a yukata was quite the treat.
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