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"You're Meteria's adopted boy? I didn't expect you to come to Orario." Recognizing Takumi's identity, Hephaestus looked genuinely surprised.
After taking Meteria into her Familia, she had heard a few things about him in passing. Now, staring at the handsome youth before her, she took a slow breath to steady the flutter in her chest. She rarely fussed over Familia matters—yet here she was, suddenly wanting to bring Takumi into her own ranks. There was something about him, an unusual pull that set her heart quietly—dangerously—stirring.
After a few seconds' thought, Hephaestus set down her work. "Since you came to see Meteria, I'll take you to her."
She gestured for him to follow. With a goddess leading the way, Takumi naturally had no reason to refuse.
Hephaestus walked ahead with measured grace. From behind, that narrow waist and the round, lifted lines below it drew a faultless silhouette. Even with conservative clothes, the shape alone made it easy to imagine just how tight and springy her figure was.
Feeling his unhidden gaze, Hephaestus sensed it at once; a blush bloomed over her lovely face. She cursed the bold boy in her heart—yet alongside the rebuke rose a faint, undeniable pride. No one had ever looked at her like this. Goddess or not, she too craved to be found beautiful. She'd just buried that wish after too many cruel jabs.
Enjoying his attention despite herself, Hephaestus soon stopped before Meteria's rooms—only to hear pleading from within.
"Meteria~~ We eat sweets together—we're friends! You have to help me this time. Hephaestus wants to throw me out. She said unless I find Familia members, I'm not allowed back. I just want to stay home!"
Hestia's voice carried, followed by Meteria's helpless reply.
"Hestia-sama, I really can't help with that."
"Hee-hee-hee~~ Then I've got a great idea, Meteria. You know my situation—recruiting Familia members is utterly impossible. I've already visited the Guild so many times; no one even looked at me. Could you, um, help spread the word? Say some nice things for me? Maybe we can… coax two people into joining?"
Hearing that slippery little laugh, Hephaestus' fist clenched. Face darkening, she kicked the door open.
"Hestia!!!"
The thunder in her voice froze the petite goddess like a statue where she knelt before Meteria. Stiff as a puppet, Hestia turned her head and met the fury flashing in Hephaestus' left eye.
I'm doomed. That single thought filled Hestia's mind.
"You—you were supposed to be at your shop! I saw you there! Why are you—"
"Don't change the subject. We're settling this—now."
Hephaestus' fist tapped down on Hestia's forehead. The tiny-yet-busty goddess trembled, waves rippling through her bre—well, everywhere. Watching, Takumi couldn't help noticing the black twin-tails, the cute, youthful face, and the… unreasonable curves. The blue ribbon that ran under her bust and tied behind her arms strained with every flustered move, so taut he half-expected it to snap the next second.
This poor ribbon is carrying too much, he thought wryly. I want to help with the load!
Shifting his gaze, he found Meteria seated beside Hestia. She and Alfia could have been mirror images—silver hair, heterochromatic eyes, charming features, a voluptuous figure—yet where Alfia felt like a cool, dark queen, Meteria radiated the serene warmth of a princess. The instant their eyes met, that familiar little spark leapt between them.
"Takumi-kun!!!" Meteria sprang up and flung her arms around him. A soft avalanche surged in, threatening to bury his face.
Compared to Alfia, Meteria was even more openly affectionate; her fragrance hit him so hard his whole body sang. Sensing how much he'd grown, a hot blush rose on her flawless cheeks.
"Mm~ It's only been half a year, but Takumi-kun, you've… grown so big." Unlike Alfia, who stubbornly insisted she was "Mom," Meteria's gaze carried a maiden's shyness.
"Ahem—Meteria Mom, maybe… ease up a little first." He murmured, tugging her lightly by the trim waist. In this position, keeping things down was a losing battle.
"Okay~" She let out a soft note and touched down on the floor. Pale, delicate toes peeked out from the hem of her ankle-length dress—then hid like a startled fawn.
Meteria's embrace, however, had already caught Hestia's curiosity. She looked up—and locked eyes with Takumi.
Zzztt—!
The little shock again; at this point Takumi was numb to it. Boosted further by his trait [Goddess's Favor], Hestia's favorability spiked in an instant.
Staring at the handsome, sturdily built youth, Hestia wore the vacant, dazzled look of a certified simp. She popped to her feet; the kind of soft bounce that followed did not belong on a petite frame. She grabbed both his hands.
"He—hey! You're Meteria's kid, Takumi-kun, right? You must be new. Want to join my Familia? I—I'll help however I can!"
Knowing she had… nothing else to offer, Hestia paused and then spoke as earnestly as she could—the absolute most she could promise right now.
Watching Hestia invite a boy she'd just met, Hephaestus' face went black as the bottom of a forge. She was about to lay into Hestia again when Takumi answered.
"Okay."
Two simple syllables froze all three women.
Hestia hadn't dreamed he would agree; her pitch was literally just her. Hephaestus hadn't expected it either—she'd been about to extend her own invitation. Meteria… was simply stunned, having lost the thread of how the situation had flipped so fast.
...
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