#i miss inazuma i want another irodori festival or something

[kujousaramybeloved]

inazuma event when

[throwaway-yandere]

To whoever may read this letter,

I hope you are having a good Irodori Festival! I know I am. Learning about the different Kasen has been a very fun so far, and I hope to learn even more!

Ah, but these last couple of days have been pretty rough. The current season has a nasty cough going around which I seem to have caught. My nose is also constantly running, which means I have a pack of tissues with me at all times.

Hopefully, you stay safe and healthy during this festival! Maybe if I figure out who you are we can meet up! (When I'm not sick, anyways...)

-Honey on a Stick 🐝

cw: none, no yandere whatsoever, but the letter is so phcking irredeemable for plot reasons hAHHAHAHAH- (and also, this brainrot is the reason why I thought of this event lmao. wanted to write something with this premise after playing the recent windblume festival.) congrats, Honey, you're the first one who received a non-yokai letter. but at what cost, really?

From this yandere genshin secret pen pal event

✥ YOU GOT A LETTER FROM YOUR SECRET PEN PAL!!!

"What on earth is this letter? Is this even a letter? Why did you use nearly half of the stickers you bought from the Irodori booths? Just what is this?! Why is there a crumpled dead leaf here with a wet stamp? Hold on. Did you just stamp a dead leaf and taped it?!? You BIG LUMMOX.”

“This, my friend, is how professionals press leaves on a parchment.”

Tighnari’s ears dropped, horrified. 

“Cyno, is this how little you think of us forest rangers? You are ruining the reputation of my subordinates— why did you even insert a dead leaf here? No, wait, genuine question: what are you hoping to achieve? Is this for aesthetic purposes or are you trying to inflict your pen pal with The Withering?”

“Relax, my dear ranger, Blue Eyes White Dragon—”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Big Ears here knows what he’s doing.”

“Well, I sure hope Big Ears knows he’s doing a terrible job 'cause this letter looks like it belongs in the biodegradable trashbin,” Tighnari groaned. “You’re supposed to press flowers, not damn weeds.”

“… Oh, that didn’t occur to me.”

“Seriously?!”

After visiting Mondstadt together, Big Ears' "subordinates", which include "Blue Eyes White Dragon, the TCG master," and "Fructose, the amateur alchemist," have chosen to travel to Inazuma after listening to Tighnari's advice. As expected, they were rather out of place during the festivities. They were unaware that they would be attending another festival shortly after Sumeru's events, but fortunately, Thoma was keen to make them feel at home. The "Fixer" claimed that he experiences homesickness as well and said, "why not join the Pen Pal or Yokai event to be distracted for at least a little while?”

Unfortunately, Cyno is more than dedicated to his new and self-proclaimed title.

“I’m going to MURDER you.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t you laugh at me, Cyno!”

“Who is Cyno? My real name is Nyco, the Best Sumeru Forest Ranger—”

“Oh, shut up already!” Tighnari groaned, pinching his forehead. "Give me that damn letter—”

"Language."

"Collei is with Sayu—"

"You mean Fructose is with Sayu."

"Cyno."

Cyno cleared his throat.

"Fine. Inspect my letter to your heart's content."

Tighnari snatched the literal (and brittle) leaflet from Cyno's hand. He examined the contents, his gaze filled with scrutiny. 

"Oh, your poor pen pal... Already sick and this letter is about to make them feel worse."

"Big Ears is plenty charismatic, isn't he?"

"No, he isn't."

"My jokes there are my best ones."

"Your best joke is my worst joke, and you're proud of that?"

"Honey will like it."

"If they did, I'm taking Collei and leaving you here in Inazuma."

"Understood. Come back once I have pollen in love with Honey. I'll invite you to our wedding," Cyno joked. An untrained ear would've missed the teasing lilt of his voice, and Tighnari had more than enough experience to know when his friend is in a light mood.

Tighnari did not sigh nor groan. He had come to terms that his best friend is hopeless. Instead, he handed Cyno back his letter, visibly disgusted.

"Take this back. I'm gonna go ahead and write a eulogy for my deceased Mahamatra friend. Be right back."

"You mean Bee right back?"

"OH MY— ENOUGH, BIG EARS— I MEAN, CYNO!!!"

Cyno chuckled softly to himself as Tighnaru stomped away, ears up in the air as though he can't bottle up his frustrations anymore. 

As Tighnari left, Cyno looked at the letter he received again, smiling.

"Honey, we'll be home soon. We haven't met yet but welcome to the family. I have a hunch that Fructose is going to adore you..."

"..."

"No, Collei is going to love you."

[dokitm-arch]

from monie - “xiao!” even though aether calls out for the yaksha excitedly, knowing that it wouldn’t take too much time for said adeptus to arrive at the traveler’s call, he couldn’t help but be brimming with excitement. ever since he had left inazuma, after partaking in the irodori festival, to return to liyue, all he could think about was the look on xiao’s face once he gave him his gift.

on the one hand, what aether had gotten xiao as a gift wouldn’t be much of a surprise, as it just so happened to once again be almond tofu. knowing how the adeptus could be, this offering was a simple one and done deal, but aether wasn’t going to stop there. especially when the almond tofu itself didn’t really look like almond tofu. instead, this time aether tried to model the almond tofu after one of inazuma’s sweets, sakura mochi. for the traveler’s first attempt, he felt like he had done a good job of it. though for good measure, there still were some almond tofu decorating the three mochi in the middle, just to still have that level of familiarity as well.

another gift that aether had gotten him, as part of his time in inazuma and its festival, was a mask, but he had taken a few liberties to make sure the colors matched xiao’s own mask, even with its kitsune shape. now, aether knew that xiao already had a mask that was more tailored to him as liyue’s vigilant yaksha, but he still wanted to give him something that was a bit on the lighter side of things. one that wasn’t always tied to his role as a protector of liyue. he didn’t care if xiao wouldn’t have much use for it, he just thought it was a fun little gift to give.

there was a change in the air, barely much time after the traveler had uttered the words of xiao’s name, did xiao himself finally appear. even with aether’s general excitement, he could feel his heart racing, and having to remind himself to keep it together.

“i wasn’t sure if you’d make it all the way to inazuma if i called your name,” he nervously starts, hints of pink dusting his cheeks at his explanation, already pulling out two packages; one that held the almond tofu and one that carried the mask. “so i came back to liyue… to jueyun karst, just to be here for you today. there was no way that i could miss it.” knowing that xiao was well aware of what he meant, as it was the adeptus’ birthday, aether extended his arms with his offerings, golden eyes shining and a smile that was just as bright on his face. “happy birthday, xiao!”

aether’s voice was undoubtedly in the air,  rushing through the gushes of wind with excitement as if the breeze itself was about to whirl with a song and dance. for all he’s concerned, xiao was almost too quick to be summoned by the spot where the traveler was - in the outskirts of jueyun karst, a land the yaksha was far too familiar with, where he’d see a familiar face gleaming with joy upon witnessing the dark, brooding swirls of xiao’s power. by this point, he knew he could trust aether and has since developed a much calmer stance albeit with his arms still crossed. 

things in liyue have changed quite drastically since traveler left for inazuma in pursuit of his sibling. although he tried to accommodate, it was proven to be much more difficult than he thought. the old times have not perished, he’d say, but the new ones improve life and push forward with modernizing as humans take stride in creating a new future, without the help of adepti. such a concept continued to fall on his deaf ears, as proven by his ongoing duty to eradicate demons and their built karma so he could carry them. it wasn’t that he tried to belittle humans but rather just wished to keep them away from such a heavy burden. he, himself, must carry the screams of unsatisfied... 

no. he couldn’t think of that right now when aether had gone out the way to prepare everything for an occasion xiao always found redundant. despite his beliefs, it didn’t mean he’d refuse these offerings. besides the almond tofu which clearly peaked his interest way more, he notes another peculiar item: a mask, painted with same shades of color schemes he’s adorned with, which clearly didn’t fit with the cultural styling of liyue’s masks. right off the bat, he’s able to guess this came from his trips to inazuma and was meant as a gift from faraway land. honestly, now...he couldn’t help but feel a little bashful. 

to aether’s words, the yaksha hums as arms tighten across his chest.   ❛ while i wouldn’t be of any need to be in inazuma at any times, your calls would be enough to summon me, no matter where the wind may carry you. i will always hear your calls. ❜   he responds before reaching to accept the gifts with a little bit of curiosity in his eyes,   ❛ but, this...i like this. thank you, aether. although, i have to ask... this isn’t almond tofu. what are these supposed to be...? do you... want to share them, with me? i can’t eat all of these, by myself. ❜   ah, how freeing he felt speaking like this. really, it’s the traveler’s own influence, he’d say... xiao didn’t feel the need to hold back whenever in his presence. maybe this was the beginning of myriad of his mind...or maybe not. either way, he wouldn’t give in too much to the sweetness. after all...a yaksha is not meant to lay down.