I Knew That the Childhood Friend, Who Was Praised as a “Goddess” at School, Actually Had Another Side as a Arrogant “Demon God.” However, After a Girl, Who Was Praised as an “Angel,” Transferred Into Our Class and Started Getting Involved With Me, My Childhood Friend’s Behavior Became Strange - Chapter 1: My Childhood Friend Is Called a Goddess at School

Chapter 1: My Childhood Friend Is Called a Goddess at School

April. The cherry blossoms planted in the schoolyard were in full bloom, and the petals danced through the spring breeze like a snowstorm. In that kind of dreamlike scenery, I was walking toward the school building with my childhood friend.

Students on their way to school greeted us. Of course, I wasn’t the main target—they were greeting my childhood friend.

“Good morning, Unasu-san! And oh, hi to you too, Ogami-kun.”

“Good morning! It’s another nice day today.”

“Hina-chan, morning! Oh, and you too, Ogami-kun.”

“Morning. See you later!”

“U-Una…Unasu-san, g-good morning!”

“Good morning. Let’s have a good day today.”

“Gwah… What a beautiful smile…”

My name is Takayasu Ogami. I’m just a completely normal high school guy with no particular traits.

And the one next to me, returning greetings to other students while flashing her “Goddess Smile,” is my childhood friend, Hina Unasu.

She’s the girl known as the “Goddess” of this school.

Her wavy blond hair reaches her waist. That glossy, golden hair shines so brightly it looks like a halo is surrounding her.

Her skin is pure white like fine silk and completely unblemished. It almost tells people that she’s too sacred to ever be hurt.

Even her figure lives up to the title of goddess. Her large chest is obvious even through her uniform. It asserts its presence like it’s ready to embrace all living beings in the world, and just looking at it makes you feel like you’re wrapped in the goddess’s compassion.

On top of that, the smile on her beautiful face is insanely powerful. It’s called the “Goddess Smile” and has charmed countless male students. No, not just male students—even the girls too.

Students struck by that smile are as if they’ve become worshippers of a god, looking up to her with awe and devotion.

Hina had already captured the heart of one boy who greeted her. He was pressing his chest and gazing at her with heated eyes after seeing her smile.

“Takayasu, you look like you have something to say?”

“…Not really.”

Hina kept smiling while giving off a little pressure toward me.

Whenever she talks to me at school, she’s usually in this “Goddess Mode.” A bit of her real self leaks out, but it’s not enough for the other students to notice.

With that, and while receiving many greetings from passing students, we entered our classroom.

Somehow, since elementary school, I’ve always ended up in the same class as her. This year too, we were placed in 2-F together.

“Unasu-san, do you have a moment?”

As soon as we entered the classroom, a handsome guy walked up with a sparkling smile and spoke to Hina like he’d been waiting for her.

If I remember right… that was Okazaki from the next class.

He’s handsome, the ace of the soccer team, and very popular with the girls.

“Okazaki-kun, do you need something from me?”

“Unasu-san. Could you come behind the gym after school today? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

As soon as I heard that, I realized—it’s a confession. A guy calling a girl behind the gym can only mean that.

At the same time, since Hina responded as usual, I knew he was going to be rejected.

“Okay. Behind the gym after school, right?”

“Yeah, it’s a promise.”

Okazaki left the classroom with a confident look.

That confidence will surely turn into despair after school.

I ignored their conversation and went to my seat. I’m not interested in something with such an obvious outcome.

My seat is in the last row, second from the hallway. This class has only 29 students, one fewer than other classes, so the seat next to mine—the very last one by the hallway—doesn’t exist.

“Alright, here we go…”

“Oh man, Unasu-san is super popular again today. I’m jealous you’ve got such a beautiful childhood friend!”

“Kenshi.”

The guy who turned around from the seat in front of me to talk was Kenji Hontani—short black hair, slightly tanned skin. I met him in first year, and we get along pretty well.

“So what do you think will happen with that confession?”

“She’ll turn him down.”

“You know that? You and Unasu-san really are close. Like a veteran married couple or something… When are you two gonna start dating?”

He asked how I could tell she’d reject him. It’s because Hina’s had feelings for someone for a long time.

She once told me herself: “There’s someone I’ve always liked. But he won’t look my way.” She still sometimes vents about how her feelings won’t reach that person.

At that time, whatever small feelings I might’ve had for her were completely shattered, but let’s leave that aside for now.

If Okazaki was the guy she liked, she would’ve acted differently. But her response was completely normal. That’s why I knew—Okazaki isn’t the guy she likes.

“It’s not like that. Hina and I are just childhood friends with a long, annoying history.”

“Really? I get the feeling Unasu-san really likes you or something.”

In a way, what Kenji said is true.

But not in a romantic way—more like I’m her favorite target for teasing.

“Good morning, Unasu-san!” “Hina-chan, you’re so pretty today too!”

“Morning, everyone. That’s not true! I think Sacchan looks way better. Oh, did you change your foundation?”

“You’re so good at compliments, Hina-chan! Yeah, it’s the new one that came out this spring!”

Hina was surrounded by girls, chatting away with them.

She’s popular with the girls too. She never acts full of herself because of her looks and always cares about others, which probably explains why even girls adore her.

…Well, behind the scenes, she does say some biting things though.

“I’m late, I’m late—ouch!”

Just then, a girl who barely made it in time for school tripped near Hina and fell hard. She scraped her arm badly, and blood was coming from her elbow.

Hina immediately pulled out a bandage from her pocket and, with her “Goddess Smile,” offered it to the fallen classmate.

“Here you go. It’s dangerous to run, you know♪”

“Th-thank you…”

The girl blushed bright red as she took the bandage.

Ah… Another pitiful worshipper added to her list.

The classroom erupted at her gesture.

“As expected of Unasu-san! She’s so kind!” “She’s the goddess who descended upon this shitty world with no dreams or hope!” “I’m joining the Goddess cult!”

Hina isn’t just called a “goddess” because of her looks.

No matter who it is—regardless of their position in the social hierarchy, age, or gender—she’s always kind and respectful like a true goddess.

If someone’s being left out of a conversation, she draws them in. If someone’s in trouble, she helps them out right away. That’s how everyone ends up admiring her and becoming her worshippers.

And on top of all that, she’s athletic and gets great grades.

It’s all these things combined that make people call her a “goddess.”

But I know the truth because we’ve known each other for so long. That goddess side… or rather, her real self.

To me, she’s not a “goddess” at all, but a selfish “Demon God” who constantly messes with me.

I don’t know why she acts completely different between “school” and “home”—or more accurately, between “in front of everyone” and “in front of me.”

I once asked her about it, and she just dodged the question with, “There’s a lot of reasons.”

…Anyway, I’ve been complaining about her a lot, but it’s not like I hate her.

Our relationship, for all its chaos, is actually comfortable. She’s the kind of girl friend I don’t have to walk on eggshells around… something like that.

We’re second-year high school students now. I figured we’d continue our usual school life, chatting away with the Demon God Hina and the others.

But things started to change little by little… all because of a girl who suddenly transferred into our class.