STORY!! 👇 Afternoon. School’s just ended. The sky is orange, birds can be faintly heard in the distance. One by one, students are filing out of the school gates, backpacks on their shoulders, faces tired. But all attention lands on one spot… Xiao Standing right at the gate. With Ganyu The light-blue-haired girl stands calmly, her bag held with both hands in front of her. Xiao leans slightly on the gate, expression blank as usual, though he nods here and there as Ganyu talks. From the side, they look kinda close. And for those who don’t know… they might think: “They look good together.” — ✦ ✦ ✦ — BUT. Behind the concrete wall that separates the school gate... someone is peeking through a tiny crack. Lumine. She’s covering her mouth like she just saw a ghost. Her eyes wide, chest rising and falling too fast. “Xiao…? With Ganyu…?” Her knees almost give out, but she keeps hiding, stealing glances. And on the other side of the wall, leaning casually like it’s just another boring day... Aether. Hands in pockets, face totally unimpressed. "Why do you look like that, Lu?" he asks, glancing at his sister. Lumine sighs, still watching Xiao and Ganyu with gloomy eyes. "No... it's nothing... I'm just... curious." Aether glances at Xiao still chatting with Ganyu, then looks back at Lumine. "Well... to be honest, Xiao fits better with Ganyu. They're both calm. Both lowkey." "Totally different from you-drama every five minutes and flirting in the hallway until two people wanna throw an eraser." Lumine gasps and almost hits Aether. "WHAT. NO. THAT WAS JUST-" But Aether's already walking away, completely ignoring her. "Anyway I ship that. Bye." — ✦ ✦ ✦ — On another side of the wall... Hu Tao and Furina are squatting like ninjas. Furina is kneeling, phone aimed at Xiao and Ganyu through the bushes like she’s covering a crime report. Her eyes laser-focused. Furina's snapping pics nonstop. "THIS-THIS IS GOLD-PRETTY SURE THEY'VE WALKED HOME TOGETHER TWICE THIS WEEK." Hu Tao stands, leaning on Furina’s head. "I'm tired of watching Xiao chase Lumine only for Aether to show up like some emotional nuke. Honestly, Ganyu makes more sense. She gives off that 'approved by future in-laws' vibe." "Right? Ganyu’s adopted by Xianyun, and Xianyun is tight with Xiao’s dad, Lord Zhongli... THIS IS BASICALLY ARRANGED MARRIAGE MATERIAL!" Furina adds while still taking pics. Hu Tao nods quickly. "This is national level gossip, man." Furina grins slyly, face looking dangerously excited. "Finally... a new ship to obsess over. I’m exhausted watching Xiao get emotionally bodied every week." "We ship. Cap." Hu Tao says like it’s law Furina zooms in on Xiao’s face. "Yep. Ganyu is calm, quiet, sweet, and not guarded by a rage-issue sibling." They glance at each other "Shall we... ship this?" Furina lifts a brow suspiciously Hu Tao exhales confidently and places a hand on Furina’s shoulder. "...Ship? Babe. I already bought the merch." — ✦ ✦ ✦ — Meanwhile, at the front of the gate… Ganyu and Xiao are chatting while Ganyu holds a feather. Xiao nods calmly. His eyes are sharp but still. "Then I’ll give you Lady Xianyun’s notes, okay? But... it’s for the assignment, right?" Ganyu says, closing her notebook. Xiao gives a faint smile, not answering. "It’s for a very... personal assignment." Ib @mrs.monoka #au #xiaomi #xiao #ganyu #hutao #lumine #aether #GenshinImpact - @kazuhamyonly1