Chapter 4. Choosing the Mascot

I told Chongyun and Xingqiu what had happened the following day in school. Chongyun insisted on announcing it to the class like what he did for his date with Xingqiu, but Xingqiu shook his head and stopped him, remembering the embarrassment that it had caused him. I saw Hu Tao walk in and wave at us. Chongyun hurriedly turned away and told us to pretend like we never talked. Hu Tao came over anyway. 

"Good morning, everyone. Isn't the breeze so cool? It's like the last breath of a dying person... so cold, and chill..."

Chongyun and Xingqiu shook their heads wildly, looking a little terrified. 

"What were you talking about just now?" Hu Tao asked with a smile. I couldn't help it. She was torturing me with all her little giggles and smiles. Too cute-

"Oh!" Chongyun burst out suddenly,"Yanfei told us what happened with you two the other day-"

"Are you dating now?" Xingqiu cut in excitedly. 

"Eh... not really..." Hu Tao blushed, shoving a few strands of her hair behind her ear. She's just so cute I couldn't help but repeat that to myself over and over again.

"But you kissed! Isn't that making out?" Chongyun guessed, Xingqiu elbowed him hard in the ribs.

"Don't say stuff like that they're not even sure if they really love each other."

We went over to our seats just as Mr. Diluc came strolling in.

"Alright, class today we're going to do pair work (the class cheered briefly) you're going to pair up with whoever's sitting next to you."

That means I'm paired with Hu Tao. I looked at her as she looked at me with an excited gasp.

Childe had been paired with Chongyun while Xingqiu with Bennett.

Venti had been paired with Amber, Aether with Razor, and Albedo with Surcose, who was blushing furiously, and Lumine with Xiao. 

We were supposed to discuss who the new mascot would be for the sport event, which was in two weeks. 

"Who should we pick?" Hu Tao asked.

I shrugged and looked at the list of choices:

1. One of our pairs as Rex Lapis [DRAGON FORM](debate will be held afterwards)

2. The head chef (as an Almond Tofu)

3. Ningguang (Rex Lapis)

4. Paimon

"I think we should pick Ningguang. I've never seen her in a Rex Lapis costume before," Hu Tao suggested,"But which form of Rex Lapis?"

"Dunno, I figured we should keep Paimon as the mascot like we did for the past four years, we would't have to do much." I pointed out.

"Aww... but I do wish there was someone who would dress as a ghost for the event." Hu Tao mumbled. I chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at me and smiled with a giggle which then again got me to go all red in the face.

An hour later, Mr. Diluc called us to stop our discussion and we started voting. The number of votes had been written on the board:

One of our pairs as Rex Lapis [DRAGON FORM](debate will be held afterwards) 6

The head chef (as an Almond Tofu) 1

Ningguang (Rex Lapis) 2

Paimon 5

"Guess it's Rex Lapis... now. Who do you think, among the pairs in this class, should dress as Rex Lapis?"

The entire class pointed their fingers towards me and Hu Tao. 

"What?!" we both exclaimed. We both hesitantly jabbed a finger at Venti and Amber, who both looked at each other in confusion.

"Hands down, ladies. Majority wins," Mr. Diluc sighed lazily,"Hu Tao and Yanfei will be the ones dressing as Rex Lapis during the event."

"But why?" I raised a hand and asked.

"Because you two are of the same height, the back and the front of the dragon will look equal with you two in control of it."Xingqiu answered loudly, winking at Chongyun, who winked back. Oh well, guess that's settled then.

After school, Hu Tao and I decided to take another route around Liyue Harbour. We went into the woods and killed some boars to bring home. We went up a hill and sat down together.

"Yanfei,"Hu Tao turned to me,"about what Chongyun said earlier in school... is it true? When we kissed... were we really making out?"

"Don't take that to heart, Hu Tao, he probably didn't know what he was saying. Besides you saw how Xingqiu elbowed him in the ribs, right? That probably meant that he was wrong." I reassured, not even sure myself.

"I guess..." Hu Tao said as she stared at the sun about the set,"when the moon comes out, so will the ghosts."

She smiled cheekily at me. I rolled my eyes with a smile and said,"Yeah sure."