Back in the alley outside the café, Akira descended lightly to the ground, releasing Astraea once her feet touched the cobblestones. She could have arrived in an instant with magic, but perhaps the comfort of his embrace had been something she was unwilling to give up just yet.
"Thanks to you, I won't be too late." Astraea said with a soft smile, smoothing the folds of her pure white dress. The flawless fabric traced her gentle curves, the faint sway of her skirt giving her a quiet elegance.
"Let's hurry, Astraea. Or you really will be late." Akira replied with a faintly helpless smile, taking her hand through the sleeve.
She responded by intertwining her fingers with his, the two stepping out of the alley together.
Inside, the air was warm and scented with roasted beans. Akira glanced up, sensing the presence of three divine auras above them.
"They're upstairs." He murmured.
"I'll leave you to your conversation." Akira said quietly. "I'll wait here."
Astraea's fingers lingered at his cheek for a moment, her eyes soft.
"Then I'll trouble you, Akira." She said before ascending the stairs.
The sliding door to the balcony opened with a gentle sound.
"Sorry, am I late?" Astraea entered with an apologetic smile.
Loki puffed out her cheeks like a sulking child. "Too slow! Making us wait like you're some big shot, huh?"
"You've fallen low if that's your idea of teasing." Freya murmured, her voice like velvet, though the gleam in her eyes suggested she was enjoying herself.
Demeter waved her over with girlish enthusiasm. "Astraea, here, sit next to me."
Astraea stepped forward with a grace that seemed to smooth away the earlier sparks between the others. "Forgive me, there was a small matter on the way that delayed me."
She accepted the cup of tea Demeter poured with a quiet thank you.
Loki leaned in, smirking. "What's the matter? Couldn't bear to leave your little guardian?"
Her glance downstairs was pointed enough to make the meaning clear.
A faint blush touched Astraea's cheeks, though her voice remained gentle. "Loki… must you tease me so?"
Loki's sharp eyes caught something, and the corner of her lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Oh my, did you just blush, you little nympho? Demeter, did you see that?"
"Mm-hmm." Demeter chuckled softly, her hands covering her mouth as she nodded, her gaze warm with amusement.
"Hmm, could it be…" Loki leaned forward with exaggerated suspicion, "…that Astraea has found herself a partner?"
Freya, seated gracefully with her usual elegance, lifted her teacup and took a slow sip. Her faint smile carried a hint of teasing.
"You're looking gentler than usual, Astraea."
"Oh my!" Loki slapped her own cheeks in mock surprise. "Our loving goddess of justice, pouring all that affection into just one person? Unthinkable!"
Then, with deliberate drama, she raised three fingers. "Huhu, so who is it? The passionate red flower? The honest elf? Or… the only male little star?"
"Oh my!" Demeter let out a small, playful gasp, covering her mouth as her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Astraea sighed softly, caught between shyness and helplessness at their relentless teasing.
"Yes, yes… it's just as you think. It's Morning Star."
Loki clicked her tongue, scowling as though she'd been robbed of her fun. She wanted gossip, not to be force-fed a public display of affection.
Astraea's gaze softened with undisguised fondness, and her serene smile all but dazzled the other three goddesses.
"Tsk."
"Congratulations, Astraea."
The tone, however, was different. Loki's words dripped with mischief, while Demeter and Freya genuinely meant it.
Loki continued with a sly smirk, "But you're a virgin goddess, and now you suddenly have a partner? If this news spreads, the heavens will explode in chaos."
She imagined the scene with relish. Male gods pounding their chests in despair, lamenting the loss of the goddess most of them had dreamed about. After all, Astraea was the undisputed number one on the list of goddesses whose lap everyone wanted to rest their head on, while being gently patted. And for countless eons, she'd never entertained a single suitor. For some male gods, this revelation might just be the final straw.
"That sort of thing doesn't matter." Freya brushed the concern aside with a lazy smile. "Compared to the children in the Lower World, those useless male gods can stay far away."
"Well, there are still some good ones." Demeter added diplomatically.
Then, as though a thought suddenly struck her, she clasped her hands together, her face brightening.
"Ah! Speaking of which, thank you, Loki, Astraea, for sending your children to help me the other day."
"Hehe, then how about some of your finest wine in return, Demeter?" Loki chimed in immediately.
"You're welcome." Astraea replied warmly. "The farm is important."
Demeter only smiled, deciding not to press the matter further. Instead, she made a mental note to send them fresh fruits once she returned.
Freya asked casually between sips of black tea, "By the way, are you looking after the children again?"
"Mm. I stayed at the orphanage for a while, then went to help on the shopping street." Astraea's tone was light, but she was mindful enough to wear a modest long robe to avoid drawing attention.
Of course, Loki wasted no time picking at her. "Here you go again, that hypocritical 'justice' act. We're gods too, you know. Can't you have a little self-awareness?"
Coming from a goddess who spent her days either drinking or flirting with the girls in her Familia, the remark carried a certain irony.
"This is just like when you drink your favorite liquor and go wild afterwards." Astraea said with a gentle laugh, lifting her teacup. "It's simply my hobby."
Her eyes softened further, as though peering through the floorboards to where her precious child sat below.
"Besides, the children are constantly fighting for the city. If their goddess doesn't act as a role model, who will?"
"Ugh. I just can't stand that good-girl act of yours." Loki waved her hand dismissively. "Even Artemis is better, at least she prefers to punch people right away."
For once, her tone shifted from teasing to something more serious. "With our current omniscience and zero authority, there's no way to truly enforce fairness in the Lower World. You practice a 'justice' you know is selfish and that's exactly what I dislike about you."
Astraea only smiled in response, a smile used to criticism, and one that carried both understanding and acceptance of the flawed nature of justice.
"That's fine." She said gently. "I like this futile ideal that can only exist down here. Maybe you should try it sometime."
"Haha, then count me in." Demeter chimed in. "I'll bring food."
Loki groaned, clearly irritated at the alliance forming before her eyes. "Honestly, how is it that hypocrites, nymphos, and idiots are all so popular with the children? The Lower World is hopeless."
Astraea replied with a soft, "You're right." (So what?)
She took another sip of tea, her voice calm.
"Come to think of it, is it really okay for me to be here at this 'tea party'? My Familia is much smaller than yours."
Demeter, who had come without invitation, said nothing, she was only here to offer her thanks to two friends.
"We're just chatting and sharing information." Loki replied, lounging back into her chair. "Compared to the careless gods, you who actually patrol will always have more insight."
Her lips curled in mock envy. "Not to mention, you've got the legendary UR card. Be proud of it, I'm jealous enough to want to steal it."
Freya nodded, her smile carrying an almost predatory gleam. "Yes, I personally value you highly. Your children are exceptional. If they weren't already yours, Astraea, I might have been tempted to claim them for myself."
"Ugh, can't you fix that bad habit? One day you'll start an all-out war with Ishtar, you greedy collector." Loki snapped.