Love and Hate

"Sorry, the shrine is rather humble, and I fear the hospitality is lacking. Please forgive me."

In the cherry blossom grove behind the tiny shrine, two masked children arrived carrying tea sets, while the high school girl apologetically set a cup of tea before Fiona.

As for why she was not receiving her guest in the shrine's Main Hall? The shrine's "Main Hall" was the dwelling place of the deity; for anyone unrelated to the deity to enter was sacrilege. And aside from the Main Hall, there were no other buildings in this tiny shrine.

"I am the one asking something of you. Forgive my presumptuous intrusion."

The lady who had adapted to the local customs sat on the grass. Fiona accepted the clear tea and took a sip.

"Excellent tea!"

Its fragrance was delicate and refreshing, clearing the mind and soothing the spirit. As expected of something belonging to a "deity."

Her gaze swept lightly across the surrounding cherry blossom grove. A sheet of white paper was pasted onto every cherry blossom tree, each bearing two black brush-written characters: "Bloom."

"What is this?"

"Oh, this is the Divine Art I've been practicing."

The high school girl who called herself an "apprentice matchmaking deity," Momozono Nanami, explained, "I only became a deity not long ago, so I have to keep practicing Divine Arts before I can take on this shrine's responsibilities."

?

The girl clenched her fist with fiery enthusiasm, brimming with energy.

But in Fiona's eyes, she looked unreliable no matter how she looked at her.

"May I ask, since you are an 'apprentice matchmaking deity,' then the former owner of this shrine..."

Judging by the shrine, it clearly had not existed for merely a day or two. Besides, the Island Nation high school girl before her had just