Summer Nostalgia

Chapter Three: Wonder and Betrayal

Where's your gavel? Your jury?
What's my offense this time?
You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me,
Well sentence me to another life.
- Ignorance; Paramore

Chapter Three: Wonder and Betrayal

"Oh, a goddess seeking help from a human? That's news." Karamatsu chuckled as he slowly put teabags on two cups of hot water. "Though that's because you just came in this world few months ago, I presume?"

Choromatsu shyly nodded.

"So, how's this world for you?" Karamatsu asked him as he offered his guest a cup of tea. Choromatsu took it and experimentally sipped. Ah, it doesn't taste nice, he thought.

"Oh, it's not for your taste? I'll get other beverages that might suit yours then."

"Ah, no! No need. I just came here to ask for your advice," Choromatsu squeaked.

"Don't sweat it. It seems like it will be a lengthy conversation. You need something to calm your nerves." Karamatsu then called for a church staff to prepare coffee. "So, what's the matter about?"

"It's about the laws existing between the races."

Karamatsu set his teacup down and looked straight at Choromatsu's emerald eyes. "Hmm...that's an interesting topic." He stood up, getting a journal that seemed to age through the years. "In my 25 years of existence, I have already mastered the deals when it comes to the races in this world." Karamatsu slipped his reading glasses on as he skimmed through the pages of his notes. "You can just go through your questions."

Choromatsu audibly gulped then finally spoke, "I-Is there a law that two opposite races cannot be friends?"

The question surprised Karamatsu making him look at the goddess weirdly and suddenly laugh lightly as he closed his journal. "You know, there are no rules when it comes to dealing with your feelings, Choromatsu."

The staff that Karamatsu talked to earlier came back with a cup of coffee and offered it to the goddess, in which he accepted. "But... But Jyushimatsu told me that–"

"Shh..." Karamatsu smiled at him. "Don't think about what any other creature would say to you. Listen here–" he pointed at Choromatsu's chest "–for here lays the truthful answers that no other people can tell you. What does your heart say about this friend of yours?"

There was a looming silence for a few minutes as Choromatsu glanced at his reflection on the dark beverage on his hand. After a while, he muttered, "I don't really know. I still don't know what I really want."

"I see. That's understandable," Karamatsu smiled at him. "Like I said, there are no laws regarding emotional relationships between two opposite races, however, there are many factors that are taken into account.

"Although, I personally think that a creature's race should not be a hindrance when it comes to these things. It's like you're stopping a seed of rose from being planted on a fertile land–or like preventing a miner to see a ton of gold!" Karamatsu exclaimed as he dramatically stood up, pointing to the female staff that just entered the room. He asked her, "You! May I ask how will you feel if you received a bouquet that contains only single kind of flower?"

"Uhh..." The staff thought hard for a moment. "I will be happy but a bit disappointed, I guess? I think it's more wonderful when they are different," the staff replied as she smiled and got out of the room awkwardly.