Gender Nuetral Reader X Yoimiya DISCONTINUED for now..

ch.7] Just maybe..

(A/N)

IM SORRY THIS TOOK ME SO LONG TO UPDATE/GEN

There were three nights until the summer festival. Three nights more, and the swelling stars which you laid under now seemed as though they had already half-passed. Yoimiya lay beside you on the red-ish Inazuma grass, her hair falling perfectly into the peach-tinted night nature around you. As she slept through her earlier promise of stargazing, you thought of the grass back in Liyue. Sure, technically it was greener- on the other side, but you preferred the red.

Because here, when you lay under the stars- or when you'd gone out for a  late-night snack- you weren't at risk of being verbally assaulted for your gender expression as you were in Liyue. So the grass really was just fine. Hellishly low bar, but still- You tossed your half-eaten lavender melon up into the air, catching it soundly in the palm of your hand. It made a soft smack sound upon landing. 

Here people didn't know who you really were, or at least hadn't had enough time to tighten the noose around their various assumptions. You weren't sure if this was good or not, as you were never much a fan of hiding, but if it let you bask in this peace for a little while longer, you thought you could live with it.

Your (e/c) eyes slipped across the sky and back down at the fizzled-out firework beside you. You hadn't known her for very long at all, but in some ways she reminded you of Xinyan- your buzzing excitable childhood best friend- and if you were any bit right on that matter, then surely Yoimiya too would be okay with the whole [binary non-conforming umbrella label you fall under] thing. 

You internally frowned at your own childish attachment.

And why would I care if she wasn't?  Common sense corrected the web-like slew of fore-thoughts. 

'SknXxk.. xxK'. Yoimiya's sudden and abrupt snore surprised you and you laughed heartily in response. This chuckle was followed immediately by a guilty gasp at the possibility of awakening her and your hand slapping over your mouth. Still, a small chortle snuck through your splayed fingers.

"Screw common sense actually, 'cus that was cute as fvck." 

There were three nights until Inazuma's inaugural summer festival. Three nights more.

Two nights. Only two. You turned over in bed, met by Yoimiya, on the opposite cot, sticking her tongue out at you playfully. You both giggled.

One night. Yoimiya was showing you how to assemble a firework, and activity that had replaced your bow lesson out of necessity. According to her, you'd sucked it- at anything but a catalyst for that matter- and this was more your style. Only one night left!

You ran through the market juggling a box of flint slabs and paint for the kids to decorate festival stalls with. Earlier this night you'd been caught trying to sneak off to sleep, and as punishment for your apparent inability to help unload the enormity of tasks and tribulations for the celebration following, Yoimiya had put you sternly to work. It wasn't like any of it was difficult- as the archer had already relayed with exaggeration in response to your grumbling and groaning- but you were tired.

Maybe it was all the new experiences, people, and setting you'd been surrounded with, but you strung it more to the drains of this complex emotional attachment for your temporary landlord which continued to fester in your gut. You'd weighed often the benefits of telling Yoimiya of your not-so-friend-shaped feelings over the last couple of days. The obvious answer of course was: no. But, you couldn't help but think about your peculiar best friend back home, who'd been screwed over her whole life for her boldness and yet, whose forthright unyielding nature was what you admired most. So you thought about being more like this idol of yours for once and telling the "Queen of the Summer Festival" at her Queen's ball what'd been on your mind.

And so, as you'd done the night and the night before, you rehearsed what you might say whilst weaving through the pre-festive festivities painting Inazuma City:

Hey, Yoimiya, so!-  Nope.

Hey, so, Yoimiya!-  Definitely not.

Um, Yoimiya? .. So, I know we only really met a few days ago, but I can't help but feel drawn to you. To your personality, your exuberance, you fiery confidence and gorgeous stature, and your drive for hope. I don't know if you even like people like me or not. 

I guess that's not clear enough. What I mean is that- and I don't know if you've noticed- but I don't fit into either binary. Male or female. I never have, and never will. And I don't know if you're straight, or not, or something else entirely. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you return my feelings at all. All I want is to spend more time around you, and so, that's why I was wondering- if this hasn't weirded you out yet- if maybe, just maybe..

"..I could stay in Inazuma. With you." The festival fireworks exploded behind you as Yoimiya's eyes grew wide.

🌙twelve hours earlier☀️...