The soft rustling of leaves accompanied their steps as Felis and Hestia strolled through Guild Plaza Park. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers, mingling with the distant chatter of adventurers resting by the fountain. It was a calm afternoon—the kind of peace that felt almost out of place in a city where dungeons and deities shaped daily life.
Felis exhaled, his hands resting casually in his pockets. "Not bad. I didn't expect to find a place like this so close to the Guild."
"Right? This park is a hidden treasure," Hestia said with a proud smile, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked beside him. "Most adventurers are too busy rushing in and out of the dungeon to appreciate it."
Felis tilted his head, golden eyes drifting over the scenery. Benches nestled beneath shady trees, children playing with wooden swords, and elderly couples enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun—it was a different side of Orario. A softer, more human side.
"Do you come here often, Hestia-sama?"
"Sometimes," she admitted. "Back then, I was staying with Hephaestus, but she wanted me to start my Familia and stand on my own. She… well, she drove me out, but not in a cruel way. She still looked after me in her own way, like giving me the church to stay in. But before that, I didn't really have anywhere to go. I was surrounded by people, but without a Familia of my own, I didn't truly belong anywhere. This park was one of the few places where I could just… exist, without feeling like I was out of place, without being reminded that I was alone in a way that really mattered."
Felis glanced at her, sensing the weight in her words. It wasn't dramatic or tragic—just an honest recollection of how things used to be.
He had always associated Hestia with warmth, with a stubborn energy that never seemed to waver. But now, he saw a different side of her—not the overly familiar "anime Hestia" that had lived rent-free in his head, but a woman with her own experiences, her own struggles, and her own quiet moments of solitude.
'She's not just a character I already know... She's Hestia.'
A subtle but undeniable realization settled in his mind.
"Felis?"
He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. Hestia was watching him, her blue eyes filled with curiosity.
"Lost in thought?" she teased. "Thinking about how lucky you are to have such a wonderful goddess?"
Felis let out a short chuckle. "Something like that."
Hestia grinned, satisfied with that response, and playfully swung her arms. "Well, it's true! And since you're part of my Familia now, that means you have to take me out to nice places like this more often!"
Felis smirked. "So this was your plan all along?"
She puffed out her cheeks. "You make it sound like I'm scheming."
"Aren't you?"
Hestia huffed but didn't deny it, making Felis chuckle again.
They continued their stroll, the afternoon sun casting a golden glow over the park. It was a simple moment—nothing grand, nothing dramatic. Just two people enjoying each other's company.
And yet, for Felis, something had subtly shifted.
Orario wasn't just a setting.
Hestia wasn't just a familiar face from a past life's memories.
This world was real.
And so was she.
---
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long golden shadows over Orario, Felis and Hestia made their way toward the abandoned church that served as their home. Or, rather, what used to be an abandoned church—because ever since they hired the Goibniu Familia to handle the renovations, it had been slowly but surely transforming into something livable.
Felis had to admit, he was curious about the progress. While the place had its charm in a "run-down but full of potential" way, having proper repairs would make a huge difference. No more drafty nights, creaky floors, or the constant worry that a loose ceiling beam might introduce itself to his skull.
As they approached, the sound of hammering and muffled conversation could be heard from inside. The crumbling walls were gone, replaced by sturdy reinforcements. Patches of rotting wood had been swapped for fresh panels, and in place of emptiness stood the beginnings of real furniture.
"Wow," Hestia breathed, eyes wide with excitement. "It already looks so much better!"
One of the Goibniu workers noticed them and gave a friendly nod. "Ah, Hestia-sama! Felis-san! We were just about to wrap up for the day."
"How's it looking?" Felis asked, scanning the progress.
"Repairs are coming along smoothly. We've reinforced the main structure, so no more worrying about things collapsing on you. Next, we'll focus on finer details—flooring, finishing touches, and making sure everything is sturdy enough to last."
Hestia clasped her hands together. "Thank you so much! You guys are lifesavers!"
The worker chuckled. "Just doing our job. Oh, and some of your furniture has already been delivered. It's in the back room if you want to check it out."
That got Hestia moving real fast. "New furniture?! Come on, Felis!"
With a sigh—but an amused one—Felis followed her inside.
The back room was no longer just a sparsely furnished space with aging walls. Now, neatly arranged furniture awaited them—chairs, a sturdy table, shelves, and most importantly, a brand-new bed that was a clear upgrade from their old one.
"New furniture!" Hestia cheered, practically vibrating with excitement. "Come on, Felis! Let's set everything up!"
Felis smirked. "So I get the heavy lifting, and you get the fun part?"
"Exactly!" she declared without shame, already untying a small bundle of cloth she had brought along.
With a sigh—one that held more amusement than protest—Felis got to work.
---
Moving the furniture wasn't too difficult, though Hestia's enthusiastic directions made it twice as time-consuming.
"Okay, put the table there!"
"…No, wait! Let's try it against the other wall!"
Felis exhaled slowly as he adjusted the weight. "Hestia-sama, if we keep moving this thing, I might start charging an hourly fee."
She giggled but gave him a look that clearly said, You wouldn't dare.
Eventually, the room took shape. The simple wooden table now sat in the center, surrounded by matching chairs. A bookshelf stood against the far wall, waiting to be filled. The two new sofas they had ordered from the Goibniu Familia were finally in place, replacing the old, worn-down ones.
And the bed—larger, sturdier, and much more comfortable-looking than their previous one—was neatly positioned in the corner.
Hestia practically threw herself onto it, stretching out like a starfish. "It's so much better than the old one!"
Felis raised an eyebrow. "It's not like the last one was terrible."
She shot him a knowing look. "Oh? So you liked waking up with springs poking your back?"
"…Fair point."
Hestia smirked in triumph, rolling onto her side. "It's big, too! We'll both fit easily, even with me clinging to you."
Felis paused, giving her a flat stare.
Hestia's face turned a shade of red that could rival a tomato. "I-I mean—not that I'm saying we should! That was just—a hypothetical!"
Felis chuckled, shaking his head as he turned back to setting up the shelves.
While he handled the heavier furniture, Hestia worked on the finishing touches. She carefully laid out a cloth over the table, placed cushions on the sofas, and even pulled out a few trinkets she had somehow collected despite their limited funds.
At some point, she tugged at Felis' sleeve and handed him something—a small, handmade charm. "Here. For luck."
He raised an eyebrow. "You make this?"
She grinned. "Yep! I had some spare thread, so I figured, why not? Every home needs a bit of luck, right?"
Felis examined the charm—a simple braided loop with a tiny knot at the end. It was crude, clearly amateurish, but… oddly charming.
'Not bad, actually.'
With a small smirk, he found a spot for it—hanging off the bookshelf near the entrance. "There. Now luck will greet us every time we walk in."
Hestia beamed, clearly pleased.
---
By the time they stepped back to admire their work, the space had changed. It was still the same church, still small and modest, but now… it felt lived in.
Theirs.
Hestia sighed contentedly, hands on her hips. "It's really starting to feel like home, huh?"
Felis glanced around, taking in the warmth of their shared effort. He wasn't sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, he had stopped thinking of this place as just a temporary shelter.
He leaned against the back of one of the sofas, golden eyes flickering toward his goddess.
"Yeah," he murmured. "It really is."
And for the first time in a long while, that thought didn't feel strange at all.
---
After a satisfying inspection of their improving home, Hestia was practically glowing with excitement. Seeing the church slowly turn into a real home must have made her eager to fully settle in. And what better way to mark that than with a proper home-cooked meal?
"Felis, we should cook dinner together tonight!" she declared as they stepped back onto the streets of Orario.
He arched a brow. "We should?"
"Yes! We finally have a real table and chairs! Eating outside all the time is nice, but I want our first meal in our new home to feel special."
Felis could already see where this was going. "And let me guess, we're stopping by the market next?"
Hestia grinned. "Of course!"
He sighed but didn't argue. It wasn't like he minded—plus, he had a feeling he'd be carrying the groceries regardless.
The market was still lively despite the setting sun, vendors calling out their last deals of the day as shoppers made their final rounds. Hestia flitted from stall to stall with the enthusiasm of someone who rarely got the chance to do proper grocery shopping.
"Ooh! Fresh vegetables!"
"Ah, that meat looks good too!"
"Ooh! Should we get fruit for dessert?!"
He smirked. "You sure we're not overdoing it?"
"No such thing!" she huffed, puffing her cheeks. "This is a celebration meal! We have to go all out!"
And so, with an armful of ingredients (mostly being carried by Felis, as expected), they made their way home, ready to enjoy their first real night in a space that was slowly becoming theirs.
---
By the time they arrived back at the church, the sky had deepened into twilight, stars beginning to twinkle overhead. Inside, the newly placed furniture gave the once-empty space a warm, lived-in feeling.
It wasn't just a shelter anymore.
It was home.
"Alright!" Hestia clapped her hands. "Time to cook!"
Felis rolled up his sleeves. "You can cook, right?"
She gasped. "Excuse me?! Are you doubting your own goddess?!"
He smirked. "I'm doubting the 'goddess' part has anything to do with kitchen skills."
She huffed. "Just watch! I'll make something amazing!"
Felis was about to tease her further, but when he saw the way she practically glowed with excitement—how much this simple moment seemed to mean to her—he decided to let her have this one.
Instead, he just shook his head with a small smile. "Alright, alright. Let's get started."
The evening was filled with the sizzle of ingredients, the occasional clatter of dishes, and plenty of playful banter.
Despite her usual lack of cooking expertise, Hestia was surprisingly competent this time—though Felis had a sneaking suspicion it was because she was really trying to impress him.
A simple yet hearty meal came together: grilled meat seasoned with a blend of herbs, a light vegetable stir-fry, and fluffy bread on the side. She even managed to make a decent soup, though Felis noticed she kept sneaking nervous glances at him whenever he took a sip.
He finally set his spoon down and gave a slow, deliberate nod. "Huh. Not bad."
Hestia beamed. "Really?! So it's good?"
"Yeah," he admitted, leaning back slightly. "Honestly, I was expecting a disaster."
Her expression immediately soured. "Wha—! You—! You can't just insult me right after praising me!"
Felis smirked, lifting a piece of bread. "It's called managing expectations, Hestia-sama."
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, but the effect was ruined when she took a triumphant bite of her own cooking. "Hmph! Well, I am a goddess, you know. Of course, I can do something as simple as cooking!"
Felis raised an eyebrow. "You almost dropped the salt in the soup twice."
Hestia coughed. "D-Details!"
He chuckled, shaking his head. "But seriously… this is nice."
Hestia blinked, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity in his tone.
"Not just the food," he continued, setting his plate down. "But this. Sitting down to eat together. After a long day." He glanced around the church—their church—before his golden eyes settled back on her. "Feels like home."
Hestia's face softened, a slow, genuine smile spreading across her lips. She placed her fork down for a moment, looking at him with a warmth that reached her deep blue eyes.
"…That's because it is home," she said softly. "And as long as we're together, it always will be."
The meal continued with warm conversation and easy laughter. As Felis leaned back, watching Hestia happily dig into her food, a thought settled in his mind—one he hadn't considered before.
Maybe, just maybe...
This wasn't just a life in Orario.
It was his life.
And for the first time, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
---