It seemed they couldn’t keep up with the adults’ discussion. Rindo looked at the garden. There was a decorative fountain, a statue, and a flower bed.
Itecho noticed him staring. “Azami, how about you go get some air in the garden with Lady Nadeshiko and Lord Liam, if they don’t mind?”
“May we?”
Rindo didn’t actually want the kids to be friends, but his voice got higher as he happily took in his senior’s consideration.
The other adults seemed concerned, too, and insisted. Nadeshiko fidgeted.
“Can we? But…even if we can’t do anything, shouldn’t we stay here…?”
Technically yes, due to her position.
However, Itecho said, “Lady Nadeshiko, if there’s anything important, we can tell you right away. Please, could you handle this part of the diplomatic process?”
“You mean…”
“Making friends, of course.”
Nadeshiko nodded awkwardly.
“The original purpose of the trip was to form a friendly bond. I believe you can take point as ambassador on this, Lady Nadeshiko.”
“Ambassador…”
“It’s an important job. Azami, would you mind watching over her?”
“Please, allow me. Everyone, let’s let the children step outside for a moment. We’ve been having meetings the whole day, so I’d appreciate if we could let them have some time before concluding…”
The conference was going to end soon. Even if something important came up, Itecho would tell him all about it later. Rindo wanted to stay, but at least one of their Guards had to be watching over them.
“Allow me to accompany them. You stay here, Lord Jude.”
They couldn’t have the person who knew of Kyokoku’s circumstances leave.
“But I shouldn’t leave you with all the work, Lord Azami…”
Jude seemed restless, but Rindo gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry.”
“…Lord Liam, do you want to eat cookies over there? By the fountain.”
Nadeshiko and Liam wrapped cookies in a handkerchief and put them in their pockets before jumping off the chairs. Then, Hanakiri, still in the carrier next to Shirahagi, barked.
“Mr. Shirahagi, could we let Hanakiri out?” Nadeshiko asked, and Shirahagi smiled softly.
“Yes, it should be fine to let him loose in the garden.”
Hanakiri was let out of the bag and ran swiftly toward Nadeshiko and Liam before zipping past them.
“Hanakiri, calm down.”
“This dog is so fast!”
The adults watched with warm gazes while the kids followed Hanakiri. He stopped in front of the fountain and barked. It was hot today, and the mist must have felt refreshing.
The Church garden’s fountain was covered with stones of all colors, and just looking at the water was soothing. However, Liam was uneasy about Hanakiri’s presence.
Rindo suggested Liam try petting Hanakiri a little, and he did. “It’s so soft,” Liam commented. Hanakiri was happy about the compliment, as he stayed put and let himself be petted. Nadeshiko cheerfully took out the translation gadget Rosei gave her and spoke into it.
“Lord Liam…what kind of cookies do you like?”
The translation immediately showed up on-screen. Rindo checked it, and the translation was correct.
Liam’s eyes lit up.
“Nadeshiko, press this button next. Now it’ll translate him for you,” Rindo said, and Nadeshiko quickly pressed the button. Liam looked at her, waiting for when it was okay to speak, and Nadeshiko nodded with a smile.
“I like the ones with walnuts.”
The correct Yamatoan translation popped up.
Liam looked at Rindo and beamed.
Rindo reluctantly acknowledged to himself that Liam was cute.
“I like the ones with a mix of plain and chocolate. Like…the swirly ones…”
“I can bake those.”
“You can bake? That’s amazing.”
“I used to live in a restaurant. We also sold homemade sweets. I’ve baked some. Just three times, though…”
“I can’t bake anything. You must be talented.”
“I’m good with cooking when I can shred stuff and then mix it all up!” Liam spoke with confidence, but then his expression clouded over. “But they haven’t let me cook since I became a god. They say there’s no point.”
“…”
Nadeshiko pouted.
“They say I should use my time to practice using my powers…”
Liam went to pick up a green leaf at the foot of a nearby tree and returned.
“How do you practice? I do this.”
The leaf’s color faded away.
It was the most basic practice of Life Putrefaction. The power to control life and death grabbed attention, but the most important thing was to manifest the season, and it began with this.
“I practice building up life power in my body.”
“Building it up? Not sucking it?”
Liam tilted his head.
Nadeshiko pointed far away. “Yes. You take it from the leylines and store it.”
It wasn’t visible from the city, but she was pointing toward a sacred mountain full of leylines.
“Then, even when there’s no mountains nearby, you can heal people… Last year, I healed someone far away from the mountains… I was so worried before I got there… Because of that incident, I want to store the power so I can help people at any time.”
Nadeshiko placed her hand on her belly and rubbed it right below her belly button. A regular human couldn’t feel it, but life power was stored there.
That’s my Autumn. Rindo felt proud. She says it like it’s nothing, but it’s not something all her predecessors could do.
Liam realized this, too, and was surprised.
“That’s near the end of the technique book. You can do that already?”
Nadeshiko looked at the ground bashfully. “Umm… I only learn what I’m good at… I’m not very skilled… So I can’t do the ones in the middle.”
“That’s still amazing.”
The incident with the Archer of Dawn last year had pushed her one step forward as a goddess.
Liam hadn’t even done the Season Descent yet, so Nadeshiko was a model to aim for.
“Will I learn to do that, too?”
“You should once you learn how to heal. You store the life power you draw forth within your belly.”
“You draw it out?”
“Yes. But it might be hard to grab the leylines here in the city… I can see the mountains, but they’re far away… It must be hard to draw here.”
Liam had a question mark written on his face. It was too early for him to understand.
“I can’t heal properly yet… Once I’m ready to learn, will you teach me…? Like, can I ask you on the phone or can I text you…?”
Liam’s request for help was shy but sincere, and Nadeshiko replied with a smile.
“Of course, if I can help you. Rindo…”
“Yes, your number. Lord Liam, do you have a phone?”
“Yes! Jude…”
Jude had been looking their way the whole time. He ran up to them before Liam could finish shouting his name.
“What happened, Liam?”
“Jude, get my phone. I’m getting Nadeshiko’s number. Where’s my backpack?”
“I should be asking you that. Let’s go look for it. We’ll be back soon, Lord Azami.”
Jude smiled awkwardly at Rindo and took Liam back to the table.
“Let’s wait for them, Nadeshiko.”
“Yes.”
Nadeshiko sat down on the edge of the fountain and started eating a cookie. Her eyes followed Liam.
Well, this much should be fine.
Rindo had been staunchly against this at first, but looking at Liam now, he seemed very far away from being in love.
He simply wanted to be friends with Nadeshiko.
Perhaps Nadeshiko needed someone like this, since she had no friends her age in the Town.
And I have friends overseas, too.
He thought of the classmates he still talked to, both men and women.
If it’s like that…
He convinced himself he could allow it, as her guardian.
Although the gods were already working to forge the friendship between the two children…without Rindo’s permission.
“Nadeshiko… Seems like you can be friends with Lord Liam, huh?”
Rindo felt a bit hurt saying it aloud. She looked so much more like a child than when she played with him, which left him conflicted.
“Yes.”
“Do you like the cookies?”
“Yes, they’re good.”
“…”
Nadeshiko’s reactions weren’t unfriendly, but her expressions were less animated than normal.
Rindo placed his hand on his hip, wondering what was going on. He wanted to do something about this awkward mood.
“Umm… Are you mad at me, Nadeshiko?” He cut to the chase, but she shook her head vehemently.
“No way…”
“Then what are you upset about?”
“I’m not upset, Rindo. Really.”
“…Indeed, maybe you are not upset. I’m only assuming. But I’m worried you don’t like me anymore, since you’re being so curt…”
Nadeshiko looked at him uneasily. “Rindo, you don’t have to worry about me…”
“You didn’t deny it. You don’t like me anymore.”
“Y-you should know that’s not true, even if I don’t say so clearly…”
“I want you to deny it.”