Wait, when did you turn straight?? ✔

Chapter 7

"Hey", Dain greeted them at their meeting place.

"Good morning, Dain", Amber greeted him while Childe just gave him a glare. Lumine elbowed him to remind his manner and gave Dain a smile, "hey, Dain. Thanks for borrowing the boat. Did you have to take days off because of us?"

"No, I haven't taken any vacation this year so it is fine", he answered with a shrug.

"Damn, stop taking all the work. We can't work as much as you can when we join the company", Aether complained.

Dain chuckled and messed up his hair, "try to keep up with me when you start working next month."

"Next month?!", Childe turned back to Lumine, "that soon?"

"The sooner, the better. We need to learn as much as we can from Dain", she shrugged.

'Great, they are going to work together. Can this even get worse?', he frowned deeper.

"Good morning, everyone!", Barbara greeted them pulling her suitcase with her left hand, Hu Tao with her right hand. Hu Tao's following her sleepily, "sorry for the delay", Albedo, Scaramouche and Venti behind them.

"Now, where is that ice woman?", Scaramouche checked his surrounding.

"I am here, dwarf. Am I too tall for your sight?", Signora snorted at him. Rosaria and Keqing waved at them from behind her.

All of them exchanged introductions with Dain. "Ok, we're all here. Lead the way", Aether said.

Dain led everyone to the boat and checked everything for the last time while everyone is getting on.

"Everyone's onboard. Ready to depart, captain", Aether and Lumine saluted at Dain playfully.

He smiled at their playfulness and ordered in deep tone like a pirate captain, "anchor up."

"Aye Aye, Captain!", they replied with a grin and rushed to his side to learn more about controlling the boat.

"They really love Dain, huh?", Amber spoke to Childe with an amused smile on her face. Meanwhile, Childe's busy glaring at Dain.

Since it is still dark, almost everyone snoozed off on the back of the boat.

Lumine looked back at their friends and found them asleep, including Childe. She slowly started, "Dain, can I tell you something?"

Both Dain and Aether looked at her, Dain nodded at her, "go on, princess."

"You warned me about Childe, right?", she spoke slowly.

"Yeah, what's wrong? Did he make you uncomfortable? I can still turn back to throw him off the board", he asked her in rush.

"No no, it is just-", she hesitated. Aether gave her an encouraging nod.

"I-like-him-and-I-am-going-to-confess-him-during-this-trip", she told him hurriedly.

But, Dain caught her words and looked at her seriously.

She gulped and continued, "I know he is not into me but I think, at least, he should know."

When he is still silently watching her, she looked down, "I really like him so please don't try to stop me. I know that he will reject me but still...."

She heard him sighed and let Aether took over the wheel. He turned to her fully and put his hands over her shoulders, "Lumine, I know I'm maybe too overprotective but I am not going to do anything you don't want. You don't need to worry. If you think you want to let him know, you can. I'm your side."