Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

The room was quiet except for the bubbling of the hotpot.

"Sorry, but I've figured it out again," Ren said confidently, pointing at Kamisato Ayaka.

"How could it be..."

Yoimiya and Chisato exchanged glances of disbelief.

After several rounds of the game, Ren had successfully guessed right every time.

Aside from Mei, who had been eliminated early due to her comically poor poker face, the others found themselves utterly outmatched.

Ren's relentless precision was overwhelming.

"This doesn't make sense..."

Ayaka bit her lower lip in frustration.

As the eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan, maintaining composure was second nature.

Yet, under her Master's sharp gaze, she felt as though her very thoughts were laid bare.

How does he see through me so easily?

"Alright, no excuses this time," Ren said as he plucked a meatball from the hotpot and popped it into his mouth.

Delicious.

The girls stared at him with mixed emotions.

They had lost every round, and there was no way around it now.

The plan was to punish Ren.

But somehow, the roles had been completely reversed.

They were the ones about to face the consequences.

"...Anyone still feeling a round or two?"

Ren's gaze swept over the group, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

It was as if he was choosing his next target.

"Sorry..."

Both Ayaka and Chisato lowered their heads in apparent defeat, their voices tinged with regret.

Ren chuckled softly.

The atmosphere is perfect—should I do something memorable?

After a brief moment of thought, he leaned back and said casually:

"It's useless to struggle."

"Even if you scream, no one will come to save you."

The words slipped out, bringing an unexpected sense of satisfaction.

Finally, a chance to deliver the ultimate villain line.

Is this the hidden wickedness all men secretly dream of?

"!"

The girls, delicate and beautiful, bowed their heads in silence.

If he were to demand something outrageous...

What would they do?

Ayaka and Chisato exchanged glances, their faces turning pink.

For some reason, resistance didn't even cross their minds.

"?"

Ren's expression darkened.

Why are you two blushing?!

You're making me look like some kind of depraved villain!

Let's be clear—he wasn't.

"Since no one's speaking, I'll begin the punishment," Ren said, trying to adopt a serious tone.

He'd think of something simple—just enough to scare them.

"Oh."

Ayaka and Chisato's eyes gleamed suddenly, their expressions shifting.

In that moment, they seemed to reach a silent agreement.

The more severe the punishment, the bigger the victory.

A strange sense of competitiveness had emerged.

They looked at Ren with unwavering determination and said in unison:

"Please punish me harshly!"

Ren froze.

Can you two please act normal?

"I-I'll just excuse myself..."

A certain lively girl tried to sneak away amidst the chaos.

But before she could take more than a few steps—

"My nonbiased referee, where do you think you're going?"

Ren placed a hand on Yoimiya's shoulder, his smile calm but far too knowing.

He hadn't forgotten her betrayal.

Teaming up with Ayaka to set him up as the target, huh?

"A-ha-ha... I just remembered something..."

Yoimiya stiffened, her hands flailing awkwardly.

Takahashi, let me explain myself first!

The next moment—

"Ugh..."

Yoimiya found herself back in her seat, her face full of defeat.

This is the worst—now we're all in the same boat.

She sneaked a glance at Ayaka, silently mouthing: Sorry, bestie!

"Yoimiya-san, what's wrong?" Ayaka asked, her brows furrowing slightly.

For some reason, she felt an ominous chill.

Beside Yoimiya, Ren turned over the cards she had written earlier.

"So, these are the punishments you came up with?"

"I-I just wrote them randomly..." Yoimiya mumbled, her legs fidgeting under the table.

Among the cards was one with "hug time" written on it—intended as a secret gift for Ayaka.

But now, things had taken a very different turn.

If it ends up in Mei's or Chisato's hands, what will happen?!

Hanamizaka's love guru is officially panicking.

"Shoulder massage, back tapping... surprisingly normal," Ren remarked with a chuckle, shuffling the cards without looking further.

"Wait, wait!"

Seizing the moment, Yoimiya lunged to grab the cards.

Slap!

Ren mercilessly swatted Yoimiya's hand away.

"You're bullying me again, Takahashi!"

Yoimiya puffed her cheeks, her face full of indignation.

"Perfect timing—you're joining the punishment too," Ren said offhandedly, ignoring her protests.

If you're going to be a spy, you need to be ready to pay the price when you're caught.

"Huh—?!"

Yoimiya froze, her mind going blank.

She had officially dug her own grave.

One by one, the girls began flipping their punishment cards.

Ayaka and Chisato completed their tasks first.

They had drawn the "shoulder massage and back tapping" card.

Ren sat back as the two young ladies diligently worked on his shoulders.

To be honest, it felt... pretty nice.

The only odd thing was that, as they massaged, they kept leaning closer and closer to him.

When questioned, the girls earnestly explained:

"Applying body weight helps enhance the massage's effect."

Their reasoning was sound. Ren reluctantly let it slide.

Next, it was Mei's turn to draw a card.

"..."

Without saying a word, Mei calmly picked up a card.

For someone as aloof as her, participating in a game like this seemed a bit unfair.

"Oh no... it's going to be the hugging card, isn't it?"

Yoimiya clenched her hands together nervously, her anxiety building.

Please, not that card!

Wait a second...

Her thoughts suddenly spiraled.

If it's not Mei hugging Ren... then it'll be me.

No! Either way, there's hugging involved!

She glanced at Ayaka, silently apologizing to her best friend.

Sorry, Ayaka. Also, sorry, Mei-nee!

Mei flipped her card, her expression unchanged.

She looked at Ren and asked plainly:

"What does 'hug the winner' mean?"

"?"

Everyone froze for a moment, stunned by the question.

There it was—the ultimate card.

"Wow, it really is a hug..."

Ayaka's gaze darkened slightly, her eyes glinting with frustration.

My 'best friend,' huh? How did the grand prize end up in someone else's hands?

"Aha... ha... ha..."

Yoimiya covered her face, retreating into ostrich mode.

Darn it. Another failure!

Ren instinctively looked toward Mei, her cold and serene presence unnerving him.

Am I really supposed to hug her?

"..."

Mei also turned her gaze toward him, her expression calm.

"If you're not comfortable, we can skip—" Ren started.

"No."

After a brief pause, Mei shook her head.

Her eyes met his, and her demeanor grew more serious.

"This is a 'game.' I accept," she said softly.

Her words carried a quiet weight, as though she had reminded herself of something.

Once, her life had been filled with noise and companionship, the lively chaos of others surrounding her.

She had taken it all for granted, believing it to be eternal.

Until, one day, the world around her fell silent.

Now, as she gazed at Ren, she wondered:

Is this because of that 'weakness' I feel?

If it's Ren... could this truly last forever?

"Alright," Ren said gently, extending his hand.

He understood that Mei wasn't very expressive, nor was she one to initiate conversations.

She struggled to participate in something as simple as a game.

But her willingness to stay here, to be part of this, was her own way of fitting in.

Perhaps this is just how she connects with others—quietly observing while leaving her mark on everything.

Mei didn't object to the idea of a hug.

She sat perfectly straight, her posture solemn, as if preparing for a formal ceremony.

"..."

A hug isn't a formal ceremony, Mei!

The other girls exchanged glances, finding it hard to even feel jealous.

Nothing about this looks romantic.

"It's fine," Ren said, shaking his head.

So... how should I approach this hug?

Mei sat there, exuding an aura of icy detachment.

For a brief moment, Ren felt as though no typical gesture would ever work on her.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

Crack.

A soft noise broke the quiet.

Mei's gaze shifted as Ren unwrapped a small dessert, its sweet aroma filling the air.

He held it out to her, wordlessly offering it.

The same as always—nothing had changed.

Ren smiled, gently motioning for her to take it.

But instead of accepting it, Mei turned her head away.

What's this?

For some reason, her chest, once filled with newfound warmth, now resisted.

She didn't dislike the dessert.

She didn't dislike Ren's gestures.

And yet, she found herself pushing back.

"..."

Mei sighed inwardly.

As expected, I can't...

Just as her heart began to cool again—

"Alright, I understand," Ren said softly.

His voice carried a hint of teasing, as if he were coaxing a child out of a tantrum.

The next moment, a subtle sweetness spread across Mei's lips.

This feeling...

"!"

Thud!

The sound of something dropping broke the silence.

Both Ayaka and Chisato fell quiet, their gazes fixed on the scene before them.

Mei blinked, her eyes widening slightly.

Ren, still holding the dessert, had pressed it gently against the corner of her lips.

His gesture was both firm and tender, as if comforting a stubborn child.

The audacity!

Without thinking, Mei took a bite.

The sweetness lingered, curling her lips into the faintest of smiles.

...So sweet.

Ren blinked in surprise.

Mei smiled.

She's beautiful.

Meanwhile, the air in the room grew heavier with a sour tension.

Clearly, jealousy had joined the party.

---

T/N: WOOOO

Ahem! Esteemed audience, gather closer! You stand in the presence of brilliance, the likes of which Fontaine has never seen! Truly, you're witnessing a masterpiece in motion, a living legend in the making, an—

Oh! But wait! Where was I? Right, me! As you all know, such brilliance doesn't manifest from nothing! It takes effort, dedication, and a sprinkling of your… oh, how shall I put it? Generosity! If you desire to be immortalized alongside my unparalleled splendor, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

And yet, I must ask: why do mortals so often hesitate to seize an opportunity like this? I mean, really, supporting me is tantamount to—oh! Imagine if I personally rewrote every law in Fontaine! The brilliance! The upheaval! The dramatic courtroom soliloquies! And naturally, I'd—

"Furina, enough. The audience is here for the translations, not your Fontaine fantasy chronicles."

Wait, Wise! I wasn't done captivating them!

"You've captivated them plenty. Now, mortals, if you wish to contribute to something truly extraordinary, the link is there. Support and bask in the glory of my—"

—our—

"my hard work."

Hmph! Fine! But I'm still the true star of this end note. Obviously.

— Furina ✨ (reluctantly sharing the stage with Wise 👑)