Utaha seemed as though she had more to say, but the situation felt awkward. They had just met moments ago, and they didn't even know each other's names.
Though she wanted to continue the conversation, she couldn't find the right words. This kind of situation was completely unfamiliar to her.
As the school's most popular girl, she was known for her aloof demeanor. Even when boys mustered the courage to confess their feelings, she would always turn them down with sharp, cutting words.
This was the first time she had ever initiated a conversation, and gathering the courage to do so had taken all her strength.
Now that the moment had passed, all the bravery she had summoned was gone.
In the end, all the things she wanted to say were reduced to one sentence.
"Thank you for your feedback today. I'll take my leave now."
Without waiting for Yami's response, Utaha turned and quickly walked away.
Yami watched her go, puzzled by her abrupt exit, but he didn't call out to stop her.
If this had happened before his experience in crossing worlds, he might have felt excited at seeing Utaha in person. But after living through countless life-and-death experiences in Orario and other worlds, encountering all kinds of beings, Yami's heart had grown resilient.
While things around him could stir his emotions, they would never overwhelm him. Besides, forming a connection with the girl he had just met wasn't a priority; they each had their own lives and tasks to focus on.
Still, he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself.
"To be fair, the female characters in slice-of-life dramas are indeed very beautiful," Yami muttered to himself. "And the light novel I've been curious about is now right here in front of me. I guess that crosses something off my list."
Closing the book in his hand, Yami put the light novel back on the shelf. He hadn't finished reading it, but there was no time to get caught up in leisurely activities now. There was a big battle ahead—time for that would come later, after everything settled down.
Just as he was about to place the book back on the shelf, a pale hand reached out, taking the book from his grasp.
"What could have captured your attention so much, Yami? Let us have a look too," came a soft, amused voice.
The hand belonged to the Goddess Hestia, who smiled slightly as she began flipping through the pages of the light novel.
Yami didn't try to stop her.
"Have you all finished browsing?" he asked casually.
"Yes, there's not much here. To us, it's nothing significant. If we were more accustomed to life in the Lower World, we'd probably be done even quicker!" Goddess Hestia said with pride, patting her chest confidently.
Despite her childlike appearance, even mundane things could bring her great joy.
Meanwhile, the moon goddess Artemis seemed distracted. Her gaze was fixed on the bookstore exit, where Utaha had disappeared moments before. Though the girl was no longer visible, Yami had a distinct feeling that Artemis was still thinking about her.
"Yami, was that girl your friend?" Artemis asked nonchalantly. "You seemed to be chatting quite happily with her, as if you knew her well."
As expected, the moon goddess couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
"That's right, Yami," added Hestia, jumping into the conversation. "Could that lovely girl have special abilities? If so, would you consider letting her join my Familia?"
Hestia's enthusiasm was unmistakable, and Yami couldn't help but smile. She hadn't forgotten her secondary mission—to find promising recruits for her Familia. Since Artemis had already gathered some talented individuals, Hestia couldn't allow herself to fall behind.
Though Hestia often acted carefree, there were moments when her ambition came to the forefront.
However, that wasn't one of those moments.
"Well," Yami began with a sigh, "in a way, I know her. But she doesn't know me. The light novel I was reading was written by her, but we're not friends."
"She spoke to me to get my opinion on her work. As for whether she has any special talent... I couldn't say."
Humans couldn't lie to gods, so Yami gave them an honest account of the situation.
Hearing this, both goddesses reacted differently. Artemis nodded as if nothing had happened, but her heart swelled with happiness, while Hestia looked visibly disappointed.
"Oh, I was hoping she might be an exceptional child. What a shame," Hestia grumbled, pouting slightly.
"Don't be so discouraged, Hestia," Artemis said kindly. "There are plenty of talented children in this world. You'll find someone suitable if you keep looking. We'll be here for a while, after all."
As if on cue, the quiet Goddess Hephaestus, who had been absorbed in reading a book, suddenly spoke up.
"She's right. There are more opportunities ahead," Hephaestus remarked as she placed the light novel back on the shelf. Without hesitation, she picked up a new book and cradled it in her arms.
"This one looks interesting. I think I'll buy it and give it a read. Is that alright?"
Yami, being part of the Hephaestus Familia, naturally had no objections.
"Of course. Let's head out then; I still have some errands to run," Yami replied.
With a nod, the three goddesses made their way toward the shop's exit, ready to continue their journey.