( LAST WARNING NOTE TO EVERY READERS: I would like to confirmed something that the reason why this book is "mature" because most of the parts are related to some violence, s//lf h//rm, and etc that are inappropriate and disturbing most of the readers. If you see something about Y/n's past, please immediately skip. If in case this makes you uncomfy, the admin would like to say sorry for it and hoping you will feel better :'( 

Y/n's POV

    When we return back at home, Amber was waiting inside, "Glad you guys are back! Hey hey, let's play a game!!" she holds my hand and dash inside my bedroom as everyone followed us.

"WAIT I DIDN'T GIVE YOU ANY PERMISSION TO GO IN MY BED-"

Too late... 

This is... getting more embarrassing.

Amber, Aether, and Paimon stood there in my door after what they saw.

Grapes and apples all over the place. Even my Fermented Grapes jar. Disaster, right..?

That's me after drinking all my fermented grapes before so I didn't let Venti visit my bedroom when he stayed.

"You were... really drunk. Totally a disaster..." Venti tried not to laugh and Paimon shouted at him, "Says to the one who will literally drink 40 bottles of wine and playing the lyre so ridiculously to the drunkards in the tavern!" Aether was just standing laughing in the background, and Amber closed the bedroom. "A-alright, let's go... to the living room instead."

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Everyone is sitting on the floor. Venti asked Amber, "So Outrider Amber, what is the game you want us to join?"

Amber was so excited, " I wanna play Truth or Dare with everyone here! "

This game sounds familiar to me... and everyone was wondering, especially Paimon "You mean the game where someone is going to ask someone to pick Truth or Dare ? Like if they pick Truth, they will ask a question to them- something funny or honest questions. Or if they pick Dare, they'll ask them to do anything they wanted?"

Amber nodded, "Yep! Exactly that!"

Paimon just happily floating, "So who will be first? Hmm.. why not you go first, Amber?" Amber nodded which accept Paimon's, and look at us to which she wanted to ask first.

"Ah Venti! Truth or dare?" Amber asked

Venti thought, "Well.. let's say Truth!"

"Do you have a crush on Barbara?" Amber smirked at him. 

Venti's sweat just dropped scratching the back of his neck, "E-ehe.."

"Oh~ So that's a yes?!" Amber smirk more

I asked "Who's... Barbara?"

"Oh- Never heard of her? She's the famous idol in Mondstadt. And the Acting Grandmaster's little sister. She's also currently working at the Favonius Church. Always praying for Barbatos daily. Her singing is the best!" Paimon explain.

An idol huh... that was my childhood's dream. But I lost my interest in it..

Venti is a bard... and Barbara is an idol of Mondstadt. They'll be cute together... cause they like music, too. And they are well known.

Amber's POV

  Hehe.. I got Y/n's trap!

Making this kind of question for Venti might lure her, which successfully happened. Just as I thought.

Barbara doesn't like Venti for some odd reasons. And one of those reasons is that Venti stole the Holy Lyre der Himmel. At first, I thought Barbara like Venti, so I start to do my best for them to get along. But it failed.

It looks obvious that Y/n have a slight crush on Venti. Well yeah, slight. Because her feelings will grow more once her and Venti get a long together well! 

A shipper? Matchmaker, you say? You're probably right~

"Well.. I don't have any interest on her, but her music and the way she sing is soothing!" Venti said. 

"Ooh~ I really agree. Barbara's voice is really cute. A true idol of Mondstadt." Paimon commented

" Okay then. Venti, it's your turn to ask anyone here. " I said.

"Alright, let's see.." Venti looked at Aether, "Traveler! Truth or dare?"

Aether cutely responded, "Dare."

"Hehe, please get the dandelion wines I've requested you from the beginning! A Traveler shouldn't decline someone's request, you know that?" Venti smirks as if he had a victory a trapped both Aether and Paimon. Paimon, however, went mad "Stop with... All your b-!!"

--

Hey, that sounds wrong.

Well, that actually suits her-

I know, but this is against the rules...

Got it.... hehe

--

Paimon, however, went mad, "Stop with... All your bad jokes, Tone-deaf bard!" Venti just laugh teasing the little pixie.

Aether just sighed, "Alright fine. Luckily, I have one dandelion wine with me. So I don't need to go 450m from there." 

Venti smiled happily, "Thank you, Traveler~ Well I'll save that wine for later~☆"

"So it's my turn huh.. Well then, Y/n. Truth or dare?"

Y/n's POV

 "So it's my turn huh.. Well then, Y/n. Truth or dare?" 

I woke up when they mentioned my name, "O-oh. Well I'll go for Truth."

"Hmm.. do you have a sibling?" Aether asked me

When he asked me about it, my body froze. Sudden memories flashing to me. Memories I never know... memories I've never encountered, but feels like I already have. 

"..."

"Y-y/n, are you okay? I-I can ask you another question instead-"

" I already have.. and I think it'll be you instead, Aether." I smiled at him.

Venti and Paimon have a confused look in their face, looking at both of us. While Amber just didn't know what to do. Aether smiled back to me, "I.. really appreciate that, Y/n. I also feel like you're like a little sister for me. I don't know why I felt this, but it feels... heart-warming." 

I'm glad I dodge the question. 

But... I do really mean it, that Aether feels like... a kind big brother to me. 

Unlike... this 'big brother' the past told me.

"Oh.. so you just mean by not 'blood-related'" Venti thought

" Sigh... I'm glad. I don't like another plot twists this time!" Paimon complain.

Hmm.. now's my time to ask someone.

"Paimon, truth or dare?" I asked Aether's companion. Paimon cried and hugs me, "WAAAAH!! Paimon is  glad you didn't forgot her! Anyway, truth!"

"A-are you edible?" I asked without thinking

"Anyway, dare!"

I asked, " Ahaha.. well, I heard Aether saved you from drowning. But I wanna know how and why... the fact that you're floating and can fly?"

"..."

"..."

"You know what? Paimon need to drink some of your fermented grapes in the jar hiding inside your storage. See you later! Amber just... do whatever the hell you want with these three!" Paimon head out to get the jar in my storage at the kitchen.

Well too bad, Amber was.. asleep. She's snoring in the ground, but Aether carries her to the sofa and give her a blanket, "It'll be a shame if I leave her sleeping in the ground. So I'll carry her there." 

Aww.. such a nice big brother.

( after some time of playing the game with Venti, Aether, Paimon and I )

"Y/n! Truth or dare?"

"H-heh- me again?"

The one was asking me is none other than Venti. 

" Oh um.. T-truth!"

Venti tilted his head, "Again? You just use truth a lot more than dare. Make things fair, Y/n~"

"But there's no such a rule as fairness in this game~" I laugh

"Are you sure?" Venti smirked.

"Heh?"

"If that's your choice then.."

"Wha-"

"Do you like me?"

My face are heating up so hard, but everything is covered by my scarf, "W-what did you just asked just now?"

"Come on, Y/n.. isn't this obvious?" Venti put the strand of my hair behind my ears. I can feel his hot breathing the more he came closer to me. "You're gaining more feelings.. your face is getting hotter..~" he whisper in my ear.

"V-venti p-please..!"

"Ehe~ Come on, let's just do something more fun~ In a teasing way, of course~" Venti winked, looking at Aether who just wide eyes open, along with Paimon.

"Is this... one of this game purpose?" Paimon whispered at Aether. Aether shrug.

"H-hey, the two are watching-"

"Oh, Y/n! Paimon just need to clean your room with Aether. Cause we can't just sleep in the living room for long..." Paimon snickered with Aether and run away. "Have fun playing!"

"T-that's cheating!!"

Venti came more closer to me. His lips curved into a grin and his eyes having a hint of.... l-lust...!?

W-wait, did he just drink the dandelion wine and got drunk or something?! I'm in a big trouble now... tss, drunkards. 

"Y/n... I'm serious.." Venti looked at me. His eyes are so adorable that I can't help myself to stare it. They're beautiful. 

"I l-like you.." Venti stutter and smirked. 

My face just heat up more than usual that I almost faint. Did... my friend just... like me back? I don't know but I feel happiness inside me. Some happiness I never felt before, the happiness I need... it's been so lo-

"Gotcha!" Venti giggles, "Aether, I already did your dare earlier."

Oh.

"E...eh...?" I stop blushing and try to figure it out. Looks like.. it was just a dare...

It's impossible a guy like him to like someone who looks... miserable. And we just got to know each other for like a week now. 

"But.." Venti whisper at me

Huh?

"Aether dared me... to ask out my feelings for you. It's not a lie... I swear...~" Venti's face went red. " So Y/n... truth or dare?"

I have nothing else to do with this bard anymore. But I sighed and answer him

"Truth."

" Will you ever kiss me..?"

"Dare"

"Kiss me.."

H-heh....

Heeeh?!!!

Once again, my face heated up, and he also is. No, he's not blushing. He's drunk and that's the reason why his face heated up.

Too bad, he suddenly fell into me, and his head landed to my chest. "Soft.."

Sigh.. I think I can't trust this Truth or Dare game. Cause anyone can lie on it. Even answering the question with a lie, or doing things that was meant only just an act.

Venti started to snoring. The moonlight.. I looked through the window. It's beautiful. 

I realized Venti is already fast asleep..

"Heh.. goodnight... Venti." I smiled, and slowly kiss his forehead. Until everything went black..

And nightmare came.

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" Please I'm begging you..! "

A man .. my big brother was mad and started to shouted at me releasing his anger towards me,  " I was supposed to confess myself to the one I love... but you ruined everything because of your damn cries!! If I confessed to her, and we're now together... Now I can leave you alone in this hell!!"

My tears are flowing more. His shouts are covering the room. Whenever he see something, like pillows, clothes, blanket, or any materials that caught his eyes, he will throw it to me harder. He will curse at me, and telling me I was useless, worthless, and everything related about me being the burden of the family and the main reason why our mom and dad left me. In fact, I'm just an orphan.

Big brother... how does it really feel to have one? How does it feels to have a family? Does it meant to be like this? To me...?

It always happened to me. Every day. I never feel peace, or being happy in the place. This house.. This isn't a home for me... 

He will always grabbed my neck harder, so I'll have trouble breathing. I will have trouble inhaling just for air.. but only a small amount of it. He will curse, and spit a saliva on me when he's done.

Traumatic.. isn't it?

He can even punch me, or kicked me in a stomach. My big brother is also addictive to gambling.. so we're always in debt and having no money and all.

And after all this torture, he'll locked me in the room.

But this time, it's not.

"Why.. you always hurt me like this..." I asked. 

"You know why? Huh?? HUH?!!" He shouted " 'Cuz you're such a burden! That's why your real mom left you, and now you let MY real parents leaving me alone because of you! You're the main problem of my life, and I would like to END my problem!"

Haha...

So I'm always the problem..

He suddenly grabbed his scissors, and I was confused when he grab it and walk to me. He grab my head and slowly my hair... and started to cut them...

"You know, if you're only strong enough and become manly, I think you can also just end my life so I won't suffer this bullshits you just made to me. And everyone else's." 

I was crying, but every time I cry he will hurt me. He even slash my skin with his scissors if I won't shut up... but I did bite him before he could cut all of my hair. So the thing he didn't cut is my front hair.. while the back of it is already cut. 

He laugh at me and spit is saliva on my hair. And walked out and locked the room.

I.. once wished to be a person like him.. To be stronger... and also, smart..

I want to be a person... who he really think I am, even I'm just an orphan.. and without the comfort feeling everyone would called, 'love'.

But...

I came... to be...

The 'real' me..

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"Traveler!! Wake up!"

Venti started to shake me, causing me to woke up in my nightmare. It was in the middle of the night. I wasn't crying, cause I never cried before.

"There you are.. I noticed that you were shouting random things and calling Aether. But sadly, Aether and the others left." Venti said while having a towel with him, "You were shouting 'big brother' and some stuff. Your voice was like in pain.. but you're not crying. And you're also sweating, traveler."

" Don't mind me.. it's just a nightmare." I assured him.

" Just a nightmare? Heh, even from the beginning when we first met I don't even trust you fully because you're mysterious besides of Aether." Venti tried his best to joke around, "Never mind that. But Y/n.. I wanted to ask this question."

I looked at him to wait his question. Venti just sighed and ask, "Do you remember anything?" 

...

This is one of the questions I'm trying to avoid. Because.. once I woke up in Windrise, I don't even remember any single thing... but a past that is whispering to me.

But I can't lie to my friend, so I simply answer, "No.."

"Hm, but you did remember that we met in Windrise, right?"

"Y-yeah.. I remember that. That's when I woke up."

"Ehe.. I see." Venti sighed again, and stood up. He gave me a hand, " Come on, Traveler! Let's go to the roof top. We can talk more stuffs there." 

I nodded and get his hand, "Alrighty then."

~

When we reached it, we sat together there and looking to the moon. It's bright and big, and the stars are twinkling. "Wow... what a beautiful scenery indeed." Venti smiled

"S-so why here?" I asked him

"Hehe, glad you ask! I wanna talk some stuff here while looking at the moon. It's beautiful."

" It's all about the moon then?"

" Yeah.. cause it reminds me of you. Beautiful~" Venti cooed. He looked back in there, "It shines brightly in the night, along with the stars. Even its light doesn't belong to it, but it shines so brightly as what it wants to be."

Is he.. comparing me to the moon now?

"Anyway, Traveler. Mind if I play a tune for you?" He summoned his lyre, with a white flower in it, "Don't worry. It doesn't cost any mora. Originally it just cost an apple~ But I'll just play the lyre for free. Just for you only~"

I honestly love the way he plays the lyre. It's relaxing. While he waits for my answer, he just randomly plucking the strings and strums it checking if the tune is right. "P-please do. I would like to hear your lyre."

He smiled at me, "Then please put your head to my shoulder. You will like it~"

I looked away, my cheeks are having a pink tint on it. I put my head gently to his shoulder. He also lay his head to mine, "Alright.. Traveler, I hope this will help you."

Narrator's POV

https://youtu.be/LVqyrKUia58

He started to play the lyre, and his aquamarine braids are glowing. The winds blows gently as he plays. When you hear it feels like it also echoes. You wonder if the whole world will hear him playing- it's very magical. It relaxes you, and you look at the moon. "The moon.. reminds me of you." Venti whispered as he continues playing the lyre. He's smiling while playing, and closes his eyes like he feel the song and the music he's playing. He started to humming with it, and you hum with him even you don't know the song. You have some tune that you didn't follow, and Venti just give a small laugh every time you do those funny, yet cute mistakes. 

The wind.. and Venti.. along with his lyre comforts you. It calms you down and forgot all the pain you had in those nightmare. It feels like you don't want to lose him. 

You started to cuddle in him, because the wind makes you cold especially at this time- midnight. Venti noticed it, he looked at you even he continues to play his lyre. He can't do anything because his hands were in his lyre- he's playing of course!

But instead, the wind calms. So it won't make you cold. You noticed that the green cape Venti was wearing covers you. You started to wonder why. Maybe because of his anemo powers? He use his power to put the cape on you.

You smell his scent in it, it makes you blush... even there's a hint that some of it are the scent of the dandelion wine. But mostly, it's the scent of the white flower Venti's hat and his lyre has. It's beautiful.. white flower. It symbolizes it's purity. 

You listen to his playing, it also makes you sleepy. His body is warm and so is the cape. Your body can't control it and decided to move more closer to the bard. Venti smiles, he doesn't mind it at all- he likes it the way you cuddle him.

After some time, you fell asleep. Same time Venti just finished the song he played in the lyre. He gently pats your head, 

" In the wind, it will blows in time

What is that for?

I am leaf, and watch me how I soar

As I will make sure you will be safe, a friend of mine "

He gently carries you and flew to the ground. And put you in the bed. He kissed your forehead, "I'll make sure you'll feel better, Traveler. Tomorrow, I'll promise."