Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 206: And Thus, A New Chapter Begins…

And Thus, A New Chapter Begins…

Splash…

Sigh… so much happened today, I feel exhausted.

Soaking in an early bath, I found myself reflecting on everything that had transpired.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think Hanako-san would transfer to my school. She had mentioned before that her previous school felt boring, but the suddenness of it all left my mind reeling. And to think she’d be in the same class, sitting right next to me… what were the odds?

Then there was the matter of “big sister” and “little brother.”

I used to think she was only joking when she called me that, so I never pressed the issue. But after hearing it so many times today, even I couldn’t dismiss it as just a casual tease anymore. Technically, we’re classmates, but her birthday is slightly earlier than mine. Still, I doubt that’s the simple reason behind it.

Part of me was curious, of course. But more than that, if there was something deeper weighing on Hanako-san’s heart, I wanted her to know she could always come to me with it.

To me, Hanako-san isn’t just a friend.

She’s an irreplaceable, precious companion… someone I consider a true best friend.

And then… finally, Sara-san accepted the role of student council president. There were aspects of it that seemed inevitable, but if this was her true decision, I had always intended to support her wholeheartedly, no matter the outcome.

What I hadn’t expected was being appointed as the next vice president myself. It caught me off guard, but if it meant being able to support Sara-san, then it was exactly what I wanted. I silently renewed my vow to stand by her side and give it my all.

…I wonder what Sara-san is doing right now.

Today, I had planned to finally set aside time to talk with her, but she was called home unexpectedly, leaving our conversation for another day. The most important topic I wanted to discuss was about working part-time at the Satsukawa household, and consulting with Masaomi-san about us. That was something I wanted to prioritise above all else.

And although it wasn’t exactly a “discussion,” there was also what happened at school today. I know it’s just my possessiveness speaking, but the fact remains—too many guys try to approach Sara-san, and it bothers me. What should I do…? It’s not like I can gather the whole student body and announce our relationship. Thinking that way, who do I think I am?

I wondered today in the council room… if I just openly declared everything, would that actually keep other guys from approaching her…?

No, enough. If I don’t get out of this bath soon, I’m going to get dizzy.

It was while I was relaxing after my bath.

The TV was on, tuned to some random comedy program. I wasn’t watching; it was just background noise to keep the room lively.

With a towel draped over my head, I was messaging Yuuji and RAIN.

“Same class, and sitting next to each other? That’s way too convenient to be a coincidence.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. But honestly, I’m happy about it.”

Just having a close friend in class can make ordinary days feel completely different. Simply knowing Hanako-san was there made even routine lectures feel somehow special.

“Hey… is there something going on between you two? Even with this transfer, she obviously sees you as someone special.”

“That’s just it… I’ve been meaning to set aside time to talk to her properly about it, but, older sis—”

Knock knock…

Huh…?

Suddenly, someone knocked on my door, and I sent the message halfway through my sentence without thinking.

Who could it be at this hour?

“Sorry, someone’s here.”

“Got it.”

I quickly sent that to Yuuji and—

Click!

What…!?

Right after the knock, I heard the door unlock. The only person with a key was Sara-san, which meant—

When the entrance door opened, sure enough, it was her.

But what shocked me wasn’t just that she had come—it was the state she was in.

She had a suitcase in each hand and a large bag slung over her back.

“S-Sara-san! What’s going on?!”

I stood there frozen in shock as she set down her suitcases in the entryway. Hastily taking off the bag from her back, she then practically launched herself at me like a lost child who had finally found her parent.

“Kazunari-san!!!!!!”

I was so stunned by her sudden action, but I caught her in my arms and held her close. She clung to me tightly, as if refusing to ever let go.

“Kazunari-san! I… I…!!”

It was immediately clear that something was terribly wrong. The fear in her trembling voice, the way she clung to me so desperately… it wasn’t just worry—it was a profound, suffocating anxiety that threatened to crush her spirit.

“Sara-san, please… calm down! I’m right here. It’s okay. No matter what happens, I will always be here with you!”

I spoke softly, cradling her firmly yet gently in my arms, hoping to ease even a fraction of her distress.

How long did we stay like that…?

Though she seemed to have calmed down slightly, she still looked terrified at the thought of letting me go.

“…Kazunari-san… I know this will be a great inconvenience for you. But… I…”

At that point, it became clear to me.

She was genuinely afraid of leaving my side, and judging by her luggage… something must have happened at home that made her leave. The reason she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud was likely because she felt guilty for imposing on me. But if that was the case, then there was only one thing I could say.

“I’ve never thought of you as a burden, Sara-san. I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

I gently stroked her hair as I spoke, hoping to soothe her trembling heart.

“…Kazunari-san…”

She called my name in a small, almost childlike voice. I pulled her into a firmer embrace, then continued.

“I don’t know what happened… but if staying here with me will let you smile again… if it will give you peace of mind…”

She slowly lifted her face, her eyes filled with fragile hope, waiting for the rest of my words.

“Please… stay here. I will always be by your side. Besides, this house has always been your home too, right? You don’t need to hold back.”

I tried to keep my voice bright and calm so she wouldn’t feel pressured. Watching her bury her face against me, refusing to lift it again…

“…Kazunari-san…”

Hearing her sob my name broke my heart. For Sara-san to cry like this, whatever happened must have been truly unbearable.

I couldn’t imagine Masaomi-san or Mayumi-san doing something to hurt her, but if they had, I didn’t think I could ever forgive them. As I held her trembling form tightly in my arms, I prayed with all my heart that this was simply a misunderstanding.

Currently, Sara-san is taking a bath.

She needed time to calm down, and since I had just gotten out, it was ready for her to use right away. But there was another reason, too.

My phone began to ring. I quickly put it to my ear, and before the first ring had finished, the call connected. The speed surprised me, but at least I didn’t have to wait in anxious silence.

“Hello, Takanashi-san! I was just about to call you myself! Is Sara there with you right now…?”

Mayumi-san’s voice sounded unusually frantic, and she called her “Sara” without her usual affectionate “-chan.” That alone told me something serious had happened.

“…Yes, she’s here. She’s taking a bath right now. She was extremely upset when she arrived, so I thought it best to let her calm down first.”

I decided to tell her the truth so she wouldn’t worry. We could talk after that.

“Ah… thank goodness. When she didn’t come home for so long, I peeked into her room and found it completely ransacked. I was just about to call you when you called me.”

So that explained the quick connection. But right now, I needed to know what had happened. Depending on the situation, I wasn’t about to hold back my anger.

“Can you please tell me what happened?”

“Yes… but first, please calm down, okay? I know how deeply you care about Sara-chan, and I’m so grateful for that, but please listen with a clear head.”

…I thought I was speaking calmly, but apparently my voice had become harsher than I realised.

“Before I explain… did Sara-chan tell you anything?”

“No, not yet. But… if I’m being honest, she seemed terrified of being apart from me. She wouldn’t let go of me for quite a while.”

“…I see. So she overheard after all…”

That small murmur from Mayumi-san told me this was not something directly spoken to Sara-san, but something she had likely heard by accident. At least that meant it probably wasn’t anyone harming her directly, which let me breathe a little easier.

“Today, she mentioned that Masaomi-san had something important to tell her. Is that what this is about?”

“Yes. I yelled at him when I first heard it, too, but… he didn’t mean any harm. It seems Sara overheard the conversation and ran off before anyone could explain.”

“…Is it something I’m allowed to hear?”

I suspected it might be an extremely private family matter, so I wanted to confirm first. If it was something I shouldn’t hear, I would consult Natsumi-senpai instead.

“Of course. In fact, I’d like you to listen. Let me say it plainly, but please stay calm.”

“…Alright.”

Her voice lost its usual cheer and became serious, making me instinctively brace myself. Just how grave was this situation?

“Masaomi-san… he brought up a marriage meeting for Sara-chan. The potential partner is the son of an executive from Saba Electronics. The company president is technically a relative, and he’s always adored Sara-chan like a granddaughter.”

…A marriage meeting… for Sara-san…

The shock of those words was so strong that everything else faded from my mind. A marriage meeting meant meeting this guy, having private talks… and, depending on how it went…

“Takanashi-san! Calm down! Nothing’s set in stone yet!”

“…Huh?!”

Her loud voice snapped me back to reality, but the shock still lingered in my chest. No wonder Sara-san clung to me so desperately tonight…

“Apparently, the president thought it would be good for her to start overcoming her aversion to men by interacting with boys her age, and when this proposal came from the executive’s family, he thought it might be a step forward for her… but…”

From my perspective, it felt like unnecessary meddling, but to them, it was probably out of genuine concern for Sara-san’s future.

“And Masaomi-san? Where is he now?”

“He’s at the president’s house, explaining that the meeting will have to be postponed. Sara-chan disappeared before they could talk to her, so I told him she was staying with Natsumi-chan to calm him down. Honestly…”

Mayumi-san sounded visibly frustrated, her usual composure slipping away.

“He never intended to force her into it. He only wanted to ask how she felt, and if she showed even the slightest discomfort, he would have declined immediately.”

“I see… so it wasn’t forced, then.”

“Exactly. But this is just the beginning. Once these talks start, others will begin making moves too. Even if they cancel this time, next time might come from someone they can’t easily refuse. And depending on the situation, Sara-chan might have to at least formally meet the person…”

I understood what she was trying to say.

From now on, these proposals would keep coming. She was the daughter of the company’s second-in-command, after all. There would be plenty of people scheming to connect their sons to her, thinking only of their own gain. If the president thought it was good for her, these offers wouldn’t stop. And one day, they might come from someone they couldn’t simply decline.

Which meant… the only way to stop this was—

“That’s why, Takanashi-san…”

“I understand. I know what I have to do. Please… let me talk to Masaomi-san. I know Sara-san is too afraid to even discuss this right now, so I’ll speak to him myself.”

I had to let him know clearly that there was already a man by Sara-san’s side. That she didn’t need anyone else. And if he could tell the president that as well, then these meddling proposals would finally stop.

“….”

“…Mayumi-san? Is something wrong?”

Her sudden silence made me anxious, but then—

“Hehe… she really is my daughter. She chose a wonderful man. I’m so glad she found you, Takanashi-san.”

Her usual gentle tone returned for a moment, before fading into solemnity again.

“Takanashi-san, you may not realise it yet… but Masaomi-san isn’t just anyone. He’s an executive at Saba Electronics—a very, very large company. The people around him aren’t ordinary either. The president, the board members… these are the people you’ll have to deal with if you stay by Sara-chan’s side. To them, ‘we’re dating’ sounds like childish play. If you want them to truly back off—”

Her words sank heavily into my chest.

“If you want them to truly back off… you’ll need to show them that you and Sara-chan share something far deeper. That you’re not just dating casually, but that you’ve pledged your future to one another… that you intend to walk through life together, as her fiancé. Only then will they understand that there’s no need for further proposals.”

My breath caught in my throat. The weight of her words was overwhelming. It wasn’t enough to simply be her boyfriend.

That meant…

“Of course, you’ll first have to convince Masaomi-san. And if you want to make this official, you’ll need your own parents’ approval too… I know this is far too heavy a burden for you both right now, and I’m sorry to place it on you. So for now… just tell me one thing.”

“…One thing?”

Is it okay?

“Do you intend to walk beside Sara-chan, now and forever…? Do you have the courage… to call yourself her fiancé?”

And with those final words, Mayumi-san posed to me… a question that carried a weight I had never felt before.