"Tap-tap-tap, la-la-la~"
In the early morning, a fiery-red puffball darted through the streets of Mondstadt. Some early-rising citizens, seeing the little red ball scurrying along on her short legs, couldn't help but smile from the heart. Truly, cuteness appeals to everyone, regardless of age or gender.
'I remember Acting Grand Master Jean saying Brother Su Bai lived here.'
Klee curiously poked the two small fox statues by Su Bai's front door, funded by Diluc. Seeing the two tails on the backs of the fox statues, Klee became even more certain this was Su Bai's home.
Thump-thump-thump~
A series of knocks dragged Su Bai from his dreams. Groggy, he clutched his aching back as he climbed out of bed. Those nuns had nearly drained him dry... One really shouldn't be too greedy. He'd have to take on fewer jobs like this next time.
This all started three days ago. Ever since those nuns witnessed the power of the talismans, they'd practically treated Su Bai as their wholesale supplier. Who knew where they got so much Mora? For the more practical talismans, they'd buy hundreds at a time.
Broke and wanting to live comfortably in Mondstadt for the foreseeable future, Su Bai had worked overtime these past three days, finally finishing all the talismans last night.
Rosaria was a straightforward person. Seeing Su Bai drawing talismans day and night, she waved her hand and gave him a hefty overtime bonus on top of the original payment. Su Bai accepted it without a second thought. After all, his adeptal energy was overused to the point his back ached; he deserved some good food to replenish himself.
Clutching his back, Su Bai slowly opened the door. There stood Klee, holding a small white 'something' in her arms, smiling up at him. Su Bai was instantly wide awake.
"Brother Su Bai, good morning! Klee came to see you!"
"Good morning, little Klee. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Come inside, I'll get you something to eat."
Su Bai carried Klee to the table and poured her a glass of milk. Klee's beaming smile instantly twisted into a frown. She'd thought after Brother Albedo went to Dragonspine, she wouldn't have to drink milk anymore. Who knew Brother Su Bai's house would have milk too? Ugh, why does the world have to have nasty things like milk?
Still waking up, Su Bai didn't notice the reluctance on Klee's face. Of course, even if he had, he'd pretend not to see it. Milk is good for children—that's what Sister Ganyu told him when he was little.
"By the way, little Klee, what's that you're holding?"
"Oh! I almost forgot! Brother Su Bai, this is a gift for you! A special-edition Jumpy Dumpty: 'Foxy Bomb'!"
Klee wiped the milk from her mouth with her sleeve. The practiced motion reminded Su Bai of when he was little. After finishing his milk, he'd use Sister Miko's tail to wipe his mouth while she was grooming it... and ended up hung from the Sacred Sakura for a whole day. Ah, some memories are better left unrecalled.
"Brother Su Bai? Brother Su Bai?"
"Oh, uh, I'm here."
Klee shook Su Bai's hand, pulling him from his memories. He hefted the 'Foxy Bomb' she'd placed in his hand. It was quite heavy, at least twenty or thirty pounds.
"Little Klee, why is this bomb so heavy? Is it meant to be thrown at people?"
"No, no! Klee made this by reading Mommy's notes and combining it with how to make Jumpy Dumpties. Klee worked on it for a long, long time and only made one!"
Unaware of the destructive potential of the item in his hand, Su Bai casually stored the bomb in the subspace of his Vision. Since it was a gift from little Klee, he wouldn't refuse it even if it were just a rock.
"Little Klee, did you come to play with me today? How about I call Diona and we go see the ocean?"
Su Bai's words made Klee fidget a bit. Seeing her swaying while looking down, Su Bai guessed immediately: Klee probably wanted his help with something.
Su Bai placed a hand on Klee's head, gently ruffling her hair. Feeling the warmth on her head, Klee narrowed her eyes slightly, enjoying it. She'd only felt this kind of warmth from Mommy and Brother Albedo before.
"Little Klee, just tell me straight out what you need help with. No need to be polite with your Brother Su Bai."
"Then... then Brother Su Bai, can you help Klee buy some materials to make fireworks? Because Acting Grand Master Jean forbids Blanche from selling bomb-making materials to Klee, so Klee can't make fireworks anymore."
(A/N: Blanche is the owner of Mondstadt's general store. Honestly, if Timmie hadn't run out of wheat that one time, I wouldn't even know Mondstadt had a general store.)
"Oh, is that all? Consider it done! Write down what you need. We'll buy it after we go to Good Hunter for breakfast."
Su Bai patted his chest, agreeing readily. Thinking she could make fireworks again, Klee immediately jumped for joy.
"Yay! Thank you, Brother Su Bai!"
"Alright, alright. Let's go get breakfast first. I don't know what Lumine's been up to these days, always heading out first thing in the morning."
Having earned a big pile of Mora, Su Bai wanted to treat Lumine to a meal but couldn't find her. Lumine and Paimon seemed exhausted lately, always just taking a bath and collapsing into bed as soon as they returned. Last night, Lumine fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Su Bai had no idea why they were so tired.
Inside Mondstadt's general store, Su Bai stared disbelievingly at the string of zeros on the bill. He couldn't understand why some simple alchemical materials for making bombs could be so expensive. This sum was enough for Yoimiya to make fireworks for a whole year!
"Shopkeeper, you're not jacking up the price because I'm a foreigner, are you?"
"Sir, you must be joking. Our prices are consistently the lowest in Mondstadt. Besides, the materials you're purchasing are all rare alchemical components; they're inherently quite valuable."
"On top of that, you said you wanted all of them, which is why the total is so high. Would you... like me to put some back?"
Su Bai's heart ached. If he'd known these materials were this expensive, he never would have said, 'Wrap up everything on this list. I'll take all you have.'
Feeling Klee's expectant gaze from across the street at Good Hunter, Su Bai paid the Mora with a grimace. Well, there goes being rich. Back to being broke, and it didn't even last a day.
'Forget it, forget it. For a child, being hands-on is a good thing. These materials should keep Klee busy for a while.'
After storing away the alchemical materials that had bankrupted him once more, Su Bai called for Klee, ready to head home. But Klee tugged his hand, pulling him in a different direction.
"Little Klee, did we take the wrong way?"
"No, no! Klee wants to take Brother Su Bai to see Klee's home and the firework barrels Klee made! After Klee makes the fireworks, we can set them off together, Brother Su Bai!"
Dragged by Klee to a small cottage, Klee happily took out a key and unlocked the door. Su Bai, who had been picking his teeth, caught sight of the room's interior. His pupils constricted, and in an instant, he pulled Klee behind him, shielding her.