Chapter 183

In the golden glow of the morning, Megumin slowly opened her eyes and stared at the familiar, dilapidated ceiling above her.

"Ah, so I'm back," she murmured.

Stretching leisurely, Megumin looked at the golden sunlight streaming through the window and inhaled the scent of fresh grass and flowers carried by the morning breeze.

"Today is such a beautiful day," she said with a smile.

"Indeed, it is a wonderful day," came a calm voice.

"Huh?!"

Megumin froze mid-stretch, her body stiff like a rusty machine. Slowly, she turned her head toward the source of the voice.

There lay Satou Kazuma, casually leaning on his side with an expression of complete nonchalance.

"Good morning, Megumin," he greeted, raising a hand with a cheerful smile. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Kazuma!"

Clutching herself tightly, Megumin realized with horror that she wasn't wearing her usual clothes but a new set of pajamas.

"Kazuma!!!"

Her face turned beet red as she glared at Kazuma, who looked incredibly smug. She clenched her fists tightly.

Thwack!

A single punch sent Kazuma's head into the soft pillow beneath him. Furious and embarrassed, Megumin shouted, "Kazuma! You scoundrel! What did you do while I was asleep?!"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Pulling his head from the pillow, Kazuma immediately waved his hands in defense. "Megumin, calm down! I didn't do anything inappropriate. This is your home, after all!"

"Then why were we sleeping together?!" Megumin demanded, her fists trembling.

"It was your mom's arrangement! I couldn't refuse!" Kazuma explained hastily.

"Mom?"

Megumin's anger dissipated momentarily as she stared at Kazuma in disbelief.

Sitting up, Kazuma gently pulled Megumin into a reassuring embrace. 

"Last night, while you were sleeping, I got your parents' approval," he said softly. "Today, we can hold our engagement ceremony. That's why I'm so happy."

"Really?"

Nestled in Kazuma's arms, Megumin still felt as though she were dreaming.

"Really," Kazuma affirmed, stroking her hair. He then pulled out a set of grooming tools and smiled. 

"Now, sit still. I'll do your hair."

"Okay."

Seated at her familiar vanity, Megumin watched in the mirror as Kazuma skillfully smoothed her bedhead with a wooden comb.

"I'm sorry, Kazuma," she said softly, her voice tinged with guilt. "I got too worked up earlier."

Kazuma chuckled as he gently untangled her hair. 

"It's okay. I'm not mad. Besides, I understand why you'd react that way. I wasn't exactly innocent in the past."

Blushing, Megumin gave a small nod. 

"Exactly. You've done this kind of thing before. Seeing you there when I woke up just made me react without thinking."

She hesitated before adding, "But I did overreact. You really didn't do anything last night, right?"

Kazuma's hand froze momentarily before he forced a laugh. 

"Of course not! Haha… haha…"

"Hmm?! Kazuma!!"

Megumin's eyes widened as she glared at Kazuma's awkward expression in the mirror. Puffing her cheeks, she demanded, 

"What did you do? Tell me now!"

"Nothing, nothing!" Kazuma stammered, quickly pressing her shoulders to keep her from moving. 

"I just wiped you down when I changed your clothes!"

"Oh, is that all?" Megumin relaxed slightly, a smile returning to her face. 

"You should have just told me. I wouldn't get mad over something like that."

"And I licked you a bit," Kazuma muttered under his breath.

"What was that?!"

Megumin's face flushed crimson as she turned to Kazuma, who was now laughing nervously. 

"Kazuma, repeat what you just said. I didn't catch it clearly."

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Kazuma exclaimed, hurriedly picking up the comb. 

"Megumin, I'll finish your hair quickly. We need to get ready for the engagement ceremony!"

Puffing her cheeks, Megumin glared at him for a few seconds before sitting back down with a huff.

"I'll let it go this time because of your efforts last night," she grumbled, crossing her arms. 

"But if you do it again, I won't forgive you!"

"Yes, yes!" Kazuma nodded quickly, leaning close to her ear. 

"Next time, I'll tell you beforehand."

Shoving his head away, Megumin's face turned even redder. 

"You pervy Kazuma."

"Hehe," Kazuma chuckled, his grin widening. "Thanks for the compliment."

"Good morning," he called out cheerfully as he led Megumin out of the room, hand in hand. Kazuma waved at Pious Saburo and Yuiyui, who were tidying up the house. 

"Dad, Mom, is there anything I can help with?"

Outside, Hiroshi worked diligently, manipulating tree branches to create a beautiful framework for the ceremony stage. Nearby, Keqing and Lumine examined a blueprint, directing Hiroshi with a professional demeanor.

Thud!

Hiroshi playfully knocked Lumine's head with a light fist as she bossed him around, tossing her over to Aqua's group of onlookers. Smiling, he turned back to Keqing.

"Let's continue. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can help Shirou with the feast."

Keqing sighed, glancing at Lumine, who had sprawled on the veranda like a defeated fish. Shaking her head, she said, 

"I wanted to teach Lumine some new architectural techniques, but it seems she's already worn out."

"What have you been doing lately?" Hiroshi asked, peering at the blueprint. 

"To tire Lumine out so much that she'd rather slack off than avoid your 'love tap' must mean something big."

"Nothing unusual," Keqing replied, tapping her chin thoughtfully. 

"Just my regular work—planning for the next month, site inspections, architectural projects, and Liyue's land management. Having Lumine's help has made things much easier."

Looking at Lumine's lifeless expression, Hiroshi pressed his hands together in silent prayer. 

"You've been through a lot."

"By the way, how's Paimon?" Hiroshi asked.

"She's doing great," Keqing said proudly. 

"I've trained her to be an excellent assistant. Recently, I even asked Ganyu to teach her further."

Hiroshi whistled. 

"Now that's impressive. Good job."

As time passed, the stage for the engagement ceremony, draped in white roses, stood completed. Hiroshi stepped back to admire the result, nodding in satisfaction.

Turning to Shirou, who had just returned from escorting his sister to school, Hiroshi waved. 

"Time to prepare the feast."