For Some Reason, the School Goddess Likes to Hang Out at My House - Chapter 35: The Goddess's Errand

Episode 35 – The Goddess’s Errand

“Was this what you meant by errands, Wakamiya-san?”

“No, I-I was just checking on Neko-chan…”

“Uh, sorry.”

Goddess bitterly smiled, perhaps reminiscing on her earlier misunderstanding.

“What was the errand? Are we going to be studying right now?” 

“We were going to study, but right now, it’s more of a suggestion.”

“…Suggestion? Seriously, we always study.”

I sighed in annoyance, but honestly, I was happy.

I get to study with Wakamiya, but above everything else, I was enjoying the time I spent with her more.

“First, can I say something about you before I tell you my suggestion?”

“Yeah?”

As I look at her, she melancholically sips her tea.

Her posture was perfect as she was sitting there elegantly and composed.

“You’re still an introverted, unsociable hermit.”

“Umm, straight to the point… Well, you’re not wrong.”

A straightforward point of view, thrown without proper choice of words, pierced my heart.

I have too much in my mind…

I wish I could split it up like a part-time job, but it doesn’t work that way.

Maybe I would have made a friend or two if I spent more time at school rather than at my part-time job. 

Well, it’s hard to act all the time, so I can’t.

“So I thought so.”

“What?”

“How can I get you to have a normal conversation with me, Tokiwagi-san. A conversation in my own style.”

“It’s a bit vain of me to say this, but I think my bad temperament is as deep-seated as a fungus. I don’t think it will change overnight.”

“I know.”

It’s tragic that she didn’t even hesitate when affirming my words.

Well, it’s better than a bunch of fake pretty  words…

“I’m hoping it will be fixed over time… “

“Huh… And how long will that take…?

I’m hoping that before you get a job, I want you to at least not cause trouble for the society. At the rate you’re going, job hunting will be really difficult.”

“Isn’t that a long way from now!?”

“Sure enough, I want you to work hard.”

“You know, I’m only in my first year of high school…”

“I think future life planning is important, don’t you? By calculating backwards from there, we can see what we need to do now.”

[TN: It means if you have a goal set in your mind, you will be knowing what you need to do now at the present.]

“You’re so perceptive.”

Designing the future in the first year of high school is… usually impossible, usually.

Even if I could, it would be something vague like “I like this” or “I like that”.

Well, maybe you’re so perfect because you’re one of the handful of people who can do that.

I, on the other hand, can’t even see an inch ahead…

“Wakamiya-san, do you know what you want to do in life?”

“Yes, Of Course. I do have hopes and dreams.”

“Hmm. Can i get a reference for that?”

“It’s a secret.”

“At least a little bit…”

“It’s a secret.”

“Damn, she won’t budge…”

‘I will not talk about it’

That’s what her eyes are telling me.

I sighed and shrugged.

She won’t give up no matter how much I try.

I am well aware of that.

“You’re unsociable, blunt and have no social skills.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say.”

“It’s true, isn’t?”

“Yeah, it’s true.”

“But there are some good things about you”, Wakamiya muttered.

It was subtle enough to be heard, but I pretend not to hear anything.

Don’t praise me.

I’m not used to it…

I unhappily snorted.

“I want to help you break out of your shell.”

“Putting an end is… impossible. Human nature doesn’t change that much.”

“That’s not true, is it?”

“No, no, no, no. Values and essense don’t change unless there’s a big impact, you know? A Little of that won’t affect you at all.”

“Hmmm. I knew Tokiwagi-san would say that. Impact is important, isn’t it?”

“Umm, well… I guess so.”

“Here’s a suggestion, how about we call each other by our first names from now on?”

“That’s…”

The unexpected suggestion left me speechless. 

My mind was confused and filled with questions.

I couldn’t think straight.

“I believe that the act of calling someone by their first name can break down one of the barriers that can separate people from each other. That’s why I’m proposing this as a first step.”

“Well, that might be a good idea…”

Without waiting for my reply, Wakamiya said,”Then, I’ll call you by your first name first.” And took a small  breath.

She looked straight at me and smiled.

That charming smile made my heart flutter.

“…Towa-Kun.”

The once demanding goddess now seems unconfident as she whispers my name in a soft, quiet voice.

I feel my heartbeat increasing and pulse rising.

“Say it…”

“No,…the problem is”

“Say it.”

There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

I clicked my tongue in my mind.

“Ummm… Rin.”

“Yes…”

The reply was not the usual clear voice, but like a weak, faint voice.

She seemed to be shaking, as if she were in agony over something.

“”……………..””

Silence filled the air.

I glanced at Rin, but when our eyes meet, we both look away from each other.

When I raise my head a little, our eyes meet again, and then we quickly look away again.

My face is hot.

Goddess’s face was as red as a tomato.

From Rin’s point of view, I’m sure I’m also red as a tomato too.

I can understand that much without a mirror.

“Umm… hey, I’m fine calling you by your first name, but can we only do it if we’re alone together?”

“…why?”

She sorrowfully asked.

She put her hand on my knee and looked up at me.

Her eyes were clear and moist.

If I look straight into them, I feel like I’ll be sucked right in.

I turned my face away from Rin and looked down at the floor.

“It’s hard to quit right away, and we’ll die of embarrassment. So, can we keep it a secret between us?”

“Secret… I suppose.”

Rin puts a finger on her cheek and pretends to think about it for a moment.

“All right. You don’t want me to call you by your first name outside.”

“…yes, that’s right. Don’t slip your tongue outside, okay?”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“No. I am just reminding you.”

“I know, I know. It’s our little secret.”

The secret part sounded like it had some strange overtones, but… okay.

Rin let out a small laugh, “Fufuu~”. She smiled looking happy about it.

“Ahh, …yeah”

I just replied plainly.

She may have thought I was being unsociable again.

But I can’t help it.

I can’t look at her any more than I already have…

Then I turned away to escape her smile, pretending to change my position.