If there's one thing every Creation can agree on about the Land of the Gods, it's that the food is amazing.
In fact, Celesia can say almost for certain that she hasn't had a bad meal since she got here. Apparently it's more than just the food. She's overheard Mirukoji claim that the cigarettes are better too. Celeisa has decided to just take his word on that.
Because there really is only other Creation that Celesia eats with.
Marine suggested this place the other day. Apparently they did really good 'Italian' food. Celesia's still not sure exactly what that means, but Meteora was very interested.
With how highly their landlord recommended it, Celesia had expected Marine to accompany the two of them. But when Celesia asked, the artist declined the invitation, claiming that she 'didn't want to intrude'.
Celesia had a pretty good inkling as to what Marine implied by that, though she was a little confused as to why Marine made that small, but high-pitched squeal of happiness while seeing Celesia and Meteora off. In fact… their landlord seemed to be doing that a lot whenever she found the two of them together…
At any rate, Celesia was grateful. Her meals with her fellow Creation seemed to be the highlights of her day. There was always good food, and good conversation to be shared between them. With Meteora, Celesia felt like she could speak freely about anything, from any of her lingering uncertainties about the world of their Gods, to the memories and experiences of her home. And in turn, Celesia felt that she could listen to anything Meteora talked about in turn, from her insights into this new world, to tales of the many heroes she had traveled with in her own world.
And tonight was no different. Celesia and Meteora sat across from each other in a small booth in an isolated corner of the restaurant, something they typically looked for, given that the nature of their conversations tended to draw odd looks from other patrons. The two girls had just finished a delicious appetizer and Celesia just wrapping up regaling Meteora with a story of two of her friends.
Then the Librarian brought up a topic of more… current concerns.
"Celesia. I am… concerned about Sota."
Any lightness of their conversation evaporated. Celesia's easygoing mood was replaced with worry.
"What is it? Is he okay?"
Meteora did not answer immediately, taking a breath to prepare her thoughts.
"I spoke with him earlier today. I believe he is greatly troubled by something."
"Did he tell you what it was?" Celesia asked, though she already had a guess as to the answer.
Meteora shook her head.
"He did not say anything specific. However, he asked for advice concerning a 'friend' who is dealing with feelings of jealousy and regret towards another 'friend'. I think it is apparent that he was being deliberately obtuse and the first 'friend' is in fact Sota himself."
A small part of Celesia wanted to chuckled at Meteora's assessment of this 'I have a friend' deception, mostly because Celesia herself tried that same ploy years ago when she had been confused over her feelings towards a childhood friend. Thinking that she was fooling anyone seemed a bit silly now in hindsight. However, there were more pressing concerns at the moment.
"So why the deception?"
Meteora shook her head again.
"I do not know. I did not reveal to him that I saw through his obtuseness and I made it clear that he could be completely honest with me. However, he still did not say anything. In fact, that was the point where he ended the conversation completely. I think that itself gives an indication of his current emotional state."
Celesia nodded in agreement. Sota was a good kid. Shy, but friendly and amicable, and not a liar or manipulator. If he was hiding something, and Meteora's assessment made it pretty clear that he was, it was not out of any malice or ill-will. Something else was holding him back.
"Could someone be threatening him?" Celesia was intimately familiar with this possibility. A close friend of hers was once in that situation, and jumping to conclusions had nearly gotten the both of them killed.
Meteora did not answer right away, clearly mulling over the prospect.
"That is a possibility. Perhaps we should inform the Director. She could assign someone to discreetly watch over Sota."
Celesia nodded in agreement. She understands Meteora's worry for Sota. He wasn't like Meteora, herself and the other Creations. Like everyone else in this world of Gods, he's… fragile. Celesia represses a shiver at the memory of how they found Magane's Creator. And Sota wasn't a Creator like Matsubara or Marine either. He had no real part in this conflict, just a random kid who got caught in the middle of this battle among Creations. Celesia didn't want to see that random coincidence get an innocent like Sota hurt… or worse.
However… part of Celesia started to wonder. She knew how she felt towards the boy…
But what about Meteora?
"Hey, Meteora?" Celesia spoke, the pang of uncertainty flaring up, "Do you… like Sota?"
It took a moment before Meteora answers, as if she needed to decipher the meaning of Celesia's question, or maybe she needed to formulate her answer. She takes a sip from her drink.
"I value Mr. Sota's friendship, and I wish for his continued wellbeing. However, if you are asking if I hold a romantic attraction towards him, then No. I do not."
The table descended into momentary silence as Celesia processed this. Meteora's answer was concise and to the point, spoken with the same soft but even tone she always uses. However, when Meteora next spoke, the certainty of her tone wavered.
"Do you?"
Celesia's eyes widened briefly as the implicit meaning of Meteora's question sinks in. The young mage said so much more with those two words than with the two dozen she used before.
Celesia racked her brain, trying to formulate an answer. She knew the answer, she just couldn't think of the words to use for it.
But then Celesia realized she didn't need to.
Slowly shaking her head, the red-haired Knight reached across the table, gently placing her hand over the Librarian's. As Meteora's eyes started to widen, Celesia gave her the warmest smile she can muster. Meteora was still for a moment.
Then she smiled back, and her hand turns to grasp Celesia's.
No words are necessary.
They understand each other perfectly.
