Gender Nuetral Reader X Yoimiya DISCONTINUED for now..

ch.8] Day of (PT.1)

^artist is I believe @_yuelight on twitter^

(A/N)

first of all, yes, for all intents and purposes, I'm headcannoning that Gorou is genderfluid. also I haven't looked over/edit this yet, apologies eheh

though say yet, but have never actually gone back to edit my jirou fic, much less any of this one..

(yoimiya's POV btw):

I'd never been an early riser, so while I was growing up-- by the time I woke, the whole house was already awake and moving; half way into their day before I'd even started mine. But my excitement must have gotten to me today, because I woke up early, and to a steaming pillow. 

Weird thing about Pyro visions is that it's a passion-based element and therefore can be triggered by all sorts of emotive reactions. So I guess it was only natural that the day of the festival I'd accidentally emit some sparks. But it didn't take long to extinguish the little flames. They licked my palms painlessly as I blew them out with an irremovable grin on my face engenderated by the anticipation of today.

"There." I said, content. Sleepy golden eyes swiveled over to the second bed in my room and it's inhabitant, peacefully asleep. They smiled sweetly in sleep, as if always incapsulated by a nice dream. This didn't help my own chronic-smiling condition of the present.

My ears went up in flames.

"Ah!" I covered them with my hands and turned around to face the wall against the head of my bed, sufficiently embarrassed. This had happened an abnormal amount in the past week or so, and I'd been quick to make sure that (y/n) didn't notice, but every conversation we have I'm in constant subdued terror that I won't be able to control it. 

It may not be as big a problem as I'm making out to be- them seeing, I mean- but Liyue people are smart, right? Don't they read a lot of books and stuff? And (y/n) seems fairly worldly, so what if they already know that a Pyro visions' sparks are caused by peak increases in emotion. Then they'd know just how smitten I am!

"Snap out of it, Yoimiya. You've gotta focus today." I clapped my hands before my face, determined to focus on my goal. It was the same that it always was of course, to bring hope to my friends and neighbors. Not to obsess over this new adorable curiosity that takes human form in (h/c) hair and (s/c) skin. "You got this, YoiYoi." I huffed.

"Morning pep talk?"

I turned to find (y/n) chuckling to themselves as they sat up in bed.

"Yep!" This cheery response of mine seemed to both delight and surprise them.

"Wow, you're not easily embarrassed, huh?"

"Should I be?" It was a genuine question. I'd never fully understood this thing that people call 'embarrassment'.

"No, no, it's great. I've never met someone quite like you." (y/n) giggled. The melodious sound reddened my cheeks.

Outside, the streets of Inazuma city were littered with pre-setup attractions and stands, and all the various hullabaloo had attracted a few curious foxes, who stood by watching from the front gates. The sun had barely risen, and yet the children of the city were already running around playing games. I supposed they're just as excitable as me; unable to sleep.

I was called by the kids to join in their festive playing, and inticed as I was by the chance to redeem myself in their eyes after yesterday's draw with Itto, I had a lot of work to do. At least that's what I told myself as I began meandering about the quiet morning market, pretending to have purpose in my stride- something I rarely had to fake.

It was true, I did have a lot to do. But it wasn't work, or preperations, or helping out various friends (who all still remained asleep for the most part). No, my work lay far nearer. Right by my side, in fact. 

(y/n) strode alonside me, eyes darting every which way as they took in all the sights of the place whic they hadn't yet obsorbed. I was determined to figure out a way to make them stay. At least a little longer.

You see, I'd discovered that I was biromantic when I was five years old. I'd marched up to the Kamisato residence, on a whim, and professed my undying love to Ayato, with the determination that could only hold water without questioning. He'd been tending to the gardens at the time, and was mid-way through struggling to lower a bucket of water over the grass when I approached. 

"No, you're not."  He'd said as he turned towards me. My confidence faltered at his own. How could such a small little boy hold so much sincerity and conviction. "You're not in love with me." He re-stated.

"Well. Why not?" Little me had asked, with a huff of impatience. A young Ayaka had appeared on the scene at this point. We hadn't met back then, so I shooed her off quickly, under the impression that I should be feeling humiliated by my rejection which the little stranger had just witnessed. "I'm not embarrased." I clarified to Ayato afterwards.

"I know," He'd responded calmly. "That's exactly why you're not in love with me. Because if you were, you'd care if I loved you back. Which I don't. Besides," He blew a silver strand of hair out of his face as he turned to resume his messy water-pouring. "You don't like boys like me at all. You like obnxiously ignorant boys, sweet girls, and kids like Gourou." It was as simple as that. As simple as he'd made it. 

Of course I'd questioned his reasoning, but it didn't take long for the truthfulness of his words to truly set in, even with my adolescent factor taken in. 

Then, and now, liking all these different kinds of people was never the problem. The problem was, and remains, figuring out if they liked all different kinds of people too. Or, more simply, people like me-girls. 

From the moment I'd first met them, I'd gotten the feeling that (y/n) was like that Gorou kid I used to know, in that they didn't quite fit into those words "boy" and "girl" that people throw around so often, as the rest of us did. And I could tell too, that this wasn't news to them. They seemed to be a fairly self actualized being. It was actually very interesting just how much. 

So this being the case, their identity and awareness of it, wouldn't it be safe to question the possibility of their  awareness of non-run of the mill romantic interests as well? And maybe thereafter, their potential possession of such interess.

This was what I found myself pondering at the moment. This, and how I could get them to stay. The latter, after all, did have a hand in the former, because I wasn't going to begin unpacking my growing feelings right before sending them packing. I think that the best course of action is to first learn how to extend their stay, then see how things go from there. 

Because I'm pretty good at telling my deep feelings apart from all else emotional and confounding, and that little smile of theirs. That's it.

That is the deep feeling rousing in my gut.

Now how to make them stay..

"So," (y/n) said, breaking me from my thoughts. "What's the layout of today's plans?"

(A/N)

again, so sorry for the quality. If the gacha gods ever grant me motivation, i'll edit my shit. promise T T