Chapter 7 A Day Off and the Debate in the Tavern

Morning at the Academy of Gods

"Good morning! I, Kurogami Masayuki, have awakened!" Kurogami Masayuki exclaimed excitedly as the dawn bathed the academy in a vibrant red hue.

"Too noisy, big brother! I'm still sleeping!" Mizuchi Haruka, still lying in bed with the blanket pulled up, protested. Perhaps, the princess of the flower tribe was always the one to wake up the latest among the trio of friends.

"Hey, do you want me to pull your blanket? Wake up for me!" The comedic play between Kurogami Masayuki and Mizuchi Haruka continued in the Academy of Gods. Every morning, Kurogami Masayuki was the first to wake up, while Mizuchi Haruka always wanted to sleep as much as possible. Each time Kurogami Masayuki woke up, he wanted to wake up the sleepy princess of the flower tribe. In turn, Mizuchi Haruka resisted by trying to continue sleeping, ignoring all the noise and other efforts made by Kurogami Masayuki to make her wake up. Whenever he felt that his noise and other efforts were ineffective against Mizuchi Haruka's stubbornness, he would pull her blanket. Every day, this comedic play unfolded regularly, and the one enjoying this repeated play was always Snow Sky Dog.

"Don't laugh, snow wolf! You should help me deal with this sleepyhead!"

"Snow wolf won't do that because he loves me!" Mizuchi Haruka replied while yawning.

"Hey, girl! Are you trying to recruit me as an ally against Big Brother?" Snow Sky Dog laughed, with a charming smile that seemed to seduce all the goddesses in the academy. If that were true, the Water Deity of the Gods would not let him go easily.

"Snow wolf, you better not interfere in this matter. Otherwise, I'll handle you too!" Kurogami Masayuki said to Snow Sky Dog, that whether it was said seriously or in a playful manner was uncertain. Perhaps Kurogami Masayuki was just joking; he wouldn't handle the person he was closest to in this academy.

"Fine, big brother! I want to see which is more powerful, my 'Thousand-Year Ice Blade' or your 'Youkai Slayer.' " Snow Sky-Dog showed no fear of facing Kurogami Masayuki; instead, he seemed eager to test the strength of Kurogami Masayuki.

"Just wait, snow wolf! If you want to fight me, ask for permission from the master! Otherwise, let me handle the sleepy princess, Mizuchi Haruka, who wakes up late every morning."

"If you want to deal with the flower princess, go ahead and do it comfortably; I won't interfere." Snow Sky-Dog said calmly.

"Snow Sky Dog, don't you love me anymore?" Mizuchi Haruka played her usual trick again. She wanted to use her sweetness to manipulate Snow Sky Dog.

"Well, initially, I did find you charming, but as time went on, I found you too aggressive. What kind of woman is so assertive, my dear? I should love a more feminine girl." Snow Sky-Dog spoke with a honeyed tone as if pouring honey into the ears of the charming girl.

"You terrible man! If I'm an assertive woman, you should be happy about it! In any case, will you help me deal with the one disrupting my sleep?" Mizuchi Haruka, stubbornly refusing to open her eyes, replied.

"Do you dare, snow wolf? You should be careful! Remember, among our trio of gods, I am the strongest deity." Kurogami Masayuki pulled Mizuchi Haruka's blanket as he spoke. The battle of pulling the blanket went on for a long time, and in the end, Kurogami Masayuki had to admit defeat to the stubbornness of the flower princess.

Snow Sky-Dog suddenly remembered something.

"Oh! You should let the only girl in our group sleep, as today is a day off for everyone!" Snow Sky Dog winked at Mizuchi Haruka. "Beautiful girl, just sleep, sleep until evening, as today is a day off for all students."

"I won't sleep until evening! I still have to eat breakfast and lunch." Mizuchi Haruka replied but still refused to open her eyes. She covered herself with the blanket and continued to sleep.

"Nothing more to say! This flower princess has no willpower at all!" Kurogami Masayuki shook his head in frustration. Then he said to Snow Sky Dog, "Let's go have a few drinks, my friend; this time, I'll pay."

"Sure, let's go, big brother!"

At the tavern.

In the quiet tavern, Snow Sky Dog and Kurogami Masayuki sat facing each other, each holding a cup of wine. The sparkling lights illuminated them, casting a warm atmosphere in the resting space. They forgot about the blanket-pulling war earlier and are now focused on the drops of wine and reflections on life.

Snow Sky-Dog raised his cup, brought it to his nose, and savored its aroma before speaking:

"This journey, Masayuki, sometimes not every step is a step forward. There are steps backward and necessary detours, and time is the most important factor. In waiting and patience, we find shaping for ourselves."

Kurogami Masayuki looked intently at his wine cup and responded:

"I don't agree with your opinion. Every battle takes place not only in the external world but also within ourselves. Every warrior needs to be vigilant, facing challenges not only from the outside but also from within. That is the key to ultimate success."

Snow Sky-Dog frowned, lifted his cup, and said:

"But, Masayuki, vigilance is also accepting that there are moments when we need to pause and reevaluate ourselves and our direction. Sometimes, time is our greatest ally."

Kurogami Masayuki smiled lightly and said:

"But time can also be our greatest enemy. If we hesitate too much, we may miss important opportunities. The battle doesn't wait, and we need to face it every day."

The two continued to exchange their perspectives, each sentence, each cup, but neither could convince the other. The debate only increased their understanding of the importance of time and vigilance in life.

Finally, after a short time, they looked at each other and laughed.

"We might not be able to convince each other," Snow Sky-Dog said.

"But at least, we understand more about each other and how each faces the world," Kurogami Masayuki added.

They raised their wine cups together, letting their final thoughts fade into the emptiness of the night, in the gentle melody of the tavern.

The day off was a rare moment for them to comfortably enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

"Snow Sky Dog, why do you want to visit the human world on a day off?" Kurogami Masayuki asked, looking into the distance. "It's interesting enough here."

"Ah, Masayuki, that's because each place has its beauty," Snow Sky-Dog replied in the gentle breeze. "The human world has beauties we have never experienced. Humans, though weak, have unique and profound aspects."

Kurogami Masayuki nodded.

"Indeed, there are marvelous souls in the human world," he said. "Yet, there are also challenges and difficulties."

Snow Sky-Dog gazed directly into Masayuki's eyes.

"That is precisely why we need to undergo them. To gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the three worlds, not only in favorable moments but also in challenging trials."

In a tranquil moment, they sensed each other's presence, like harmonious souls wandering through this world.

"Why did you choose a day off to explore the human world?" Kurogami Masayuki asked unexpectedly.

Snow Sky-Dog smiled.

"Because a day off is a moment for people to relax and enjoy. On a day without work, they can take the time to explore, to appreciate the small beauties in their daily lives."

"So, you think I should relax more too?" Masayuki said with a hint of humor.

"Exactly," Snow Sky-Dog replied. "Life is not just about battles. It is also about serene moments, moments we can enjoy and share."

They continued to sit there, using wine to soothe away worries and fatigue and to share thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. In the silent night, Snow Sky Dog and Kurogami Masayuki learned more about each other and themselves, yet the journey ahead still held many discoveries.