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The lantern rises slowly into the sky, the wind carrying it out over the valley. Xiao watches it go and turns to Lumine, finding its golden light reflected in her eyes.
“Was that for Menogias?” she asks.
“Mm. For everyone, really, but I did have him in mind. He would have made a much better lantern.”
“Yours was lovely.”
“His would have been colourful, and shaped like some kind of animal. He probably would have made us all make them, then redone them when we went to sleep.”
Lumine smiles. “He sounds like he was a good friend.”
“He was,” Xiao agrees. The lantern is high in the sky now, barely visible against the setting sun.
“Do you want to go watch the kites?” Lumine asks. “There are supposed to be more competitions tonight—best design and stuff.”
“Don’t you have to get back?” She shakes her head. “What about Paimon?”
“She’s staying with Cloud—with Xianyun and Shuyu tonight. I… I wanted to spend time with you. If it’s okay.”
Xiao nods. He wanted that too—that’s why he invited her—but he didn’t think she’d stay past releasing the lantern. “We can watch from over there.”
They climb the small mountain to its peak, where the Liyue Harbour skyline stretches out in front of them. Lumine rummages around in her bag and comes up with a picnic blanket for them to sit on, as well as a small cake. “Want some? It’s winter melon-flavoured.”
“No thanks.”
She narrows her eyes. “Try one bite.”
Xiao doesn’t think she’ll let him argue. She passes it over, and he takes a bite. He can’t help but make a face at the texture.
Lumine laughs and takes it back. “It’s okay. More for me.”
She munches on her cake as the harbour lights up, the first kites taking to the skies. There are familiar shapes, swallows and butterflies, and others Xiao hasn’t seen before—animals and human faces and even ruin guards. Lumine points to a crudely-drawn anemo slime with an angry face. “That’s you,” she says. Xiao rolls his eyes.
Lanterns join the kites as the sun slips below the horizon, and the way they sway in the breeze lulls Xiao into a rare state of calm. He’s so fixated he doesn’t realize Lumine has moved closer until her hand covers his on the blanket. He starts, but despite his instincts, he doesn’t pull away.
This festival is a celebration of new beginnings. He didn’t dare hope that tonight could be one for them, too, but—
“The best part of Lantern Rite is spending it with you,” Lumine says.
She leans in until her lips touch his.
Fireworks explode in Xiao’s chest. The kiss is chaste, their lips closed, but his heart races and his face flushes when her nose brushes against his. She tastes like winter melon, and this time, Xiao enjoys its sweetness.
“I don’t—I don’t want to hurt you,” he mumbles.
“You won’t.”
“My karma—”
“—hasn’t hurt me so far. If it does, I’ll stop. I promise.” Lumine hesitates. “Unless you don’t want—”
“No!” Xiao grabs her wrists before she can move away. “I do. Please. I really want—”
He doesn’t get to finish, but it’s fine, because she’s kissing him again, and this time it isn’t chaste. Her tongue slides into his mouth; her leg grazes his. He hasn’t done this in ages, not since long before anyone in the city below them was born, but it comes back easily with Lumine guiding him. She’s so soft, everywhere: her mouth; her hair, where he threads his fingers through it; her waist, where his hand settles. The blanket, as she eases him onto his back.
She kneels beside him, catching her breath, and pushes a stray hair out of his face. “Xiao…” She trails off.
He thinks he understands. He has things he wants to say too: that he’s wanted this for so long, that she makes him happy in a way he no longer thought possible. But things still feel fragile, and besides—she already knows.
Her thumb strokes over his cheek. “Happy new year,” she says.
“Happy new year.”
His vision is filled with the kites overheard, until she straddles his lap and bends down to kiss him. Then all he can see is her.