Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 248: The Goddess Makes Her Grand Entrance.

The Goddess Makes Her Grand Entrance.

The chime signaling the start of class had already rung, which meant the teacher would be arriving any moment now.

At this point, there was nothing more I could do. Regarding Mayumi-san, the only option left was to have her continue attending the class observation as my mother.

…I couldn’t deny that this time, she might have gone a little too far.

But if I thought about it as her acting out of genuine concern for me in her own way, then honestly, I felt more happy than troubled by it.

“Kazunari-kun! I’ll be watching from right here, okay?”

As I accepted the situation and began to return to my seat, Mayumi-san called out to me with a cheerful, delighted voice full of encouragement.

I was certain this would draw even more attention from my classmates, yet strangely, the embarrassment was outweighed by a faint sense of joy.

It seemed I had been far more affected—no, more accepting—of Mayumi-san’s presence than I’d realized. And the fact that it didn’t feel unpleasant at all was…

…really, she was unfair.

“Riko, do your best.”

Though her tone was more reserved than Mayumi-san’s, Kayo-san also offered a word of support to Hanako-san.

Being addressed like that in front of classmates must have been embarrassing; Hanako’s cheeks were tinged with red, yet she still nodded happily in response.

Clatter…

Just as Hanako and I returned to our seats, the classroom door slid open and the teacher entered.

Unlike usual, the teacher wore a forced, almost awkward smile while greeting the class. I couldn’t help but think it felt a bit off—though perhaps that was uncharitable of me.

Standing behind the podium, the teacher continued that exaggerated smile while scanning the classroom. Then, suddenly, their eyes widened, and they froze in visible shock.

They were clearly looking at the parents—but surely, it wasn’t Mayumi-san they had reacted to?

The teacher quickly seemed to realize they had drawn attention, cleared their throat, and proceeded to give the signal to begin the lesson.

…

Observation day or not, what I needed to do in class didn’t change.

Admittedly, having Mayumi-san watching made me want to try a little harder, but for me, focusing on the lesson still took priority.

Partly because of a promise I’d made to Sara-san, I had decided never to slack off or skip class. My path forward was already clear, and my first goal was to secure a solid recommendation for university admission.

To do that, I would take classes seriously and study diligently. And, as a small bonus, I figured my attentive attitude might also reflect well in my evaluations.

In that sense, perhaps even my position as the student council vice president might help—if only slightly.

“Alright then, for this next problem… Takana­shi-kun.”

“Yes.”

The teacher usually called on students in seating order, so I had known it would be my turn next. The old me might have been nervous, but now, thanks to my regular review sessions with Sara-san, I had enough confidence to face it calmly.

I stepped to the blackboard and began writing, slowly and carefully, though my handwriting could hardly be called good.

“Yes, that’s correct. It was a trick question, but you didn’t hesitate at all. Well done.”

The overly polite tone felt unnatural compared to the teacher’s usual demeanor, but I supposed it was understandable today.

As I returned to my seat, Mayumi-san beamed at me and mimed clapping, her smile directed straight at me.

The directness made me a little self-conscious, yet being praised for my effort felt… not bad at all.

Come to think of it, when was the last time a mother—well, someone like one—had complimented me about my studies?

…

“It’s a little early, but since we’re at a good stopping point, we’ll end here.”

Though the chime hadn’t rung yet, the third period ended at the teacher’s discretion.

Thanks to Mayumi-san behaving herself during class, I’d managed to get through without any incidents.

Now, all I needed to do was get her to Sara-san’s classroom before my real mom arrived—

Wait.

A serious problem struck me.

Right now, my classmates all believed Mayumi-san was my mother.

In this situation, how could we possibly swap her out without anyone noticing? Unless they were identical twins, the change would be obvious. People would inevitably start asking questions.

No matter what, it would cause a stir.

At the very least, I needed to get Mayumi-san out of the classroom quickly—before my real mom arrived—and send her to Sara-san’s class. If anyone asked, I could say she was a relative; once she was gone, their interest would fade.

“Stand… bow!”

“““Thank you very much!”””

The moment class ended, I moved to act. I had to get Mayumi-san out before it was too late.

“Kazunari-kun, good work! You really surprised me!”

Before I could speak, she greeted me with a radiant smile that stopped me in my tracks.

Her expression made it instantly clear she was genuinely happy about something.

But what could it be? I had only attended class normally; nothing special had happened.

“Fufu~ You’ve got that ‘I don’t know why she’s happy’ look.”

She poked my forehead playfully, grinning mischievously.

From nearby, I heard some of my male classmates muttering enviously:

“…Damn, a mom that gorgeous should be illegal…”

“…If I had a mom like that, I wouldn’t even need a girlfriend…”

“…Cute girlfriend and a hot mom? That’s unfair…”

“I’m just happy to see you working hard for your future. And knowing you’re doing it with a positive attitude makes me feel relieved.”

…That was unfair.

Hearing her say that with such genuine warmth left me completely speechless.

“I know we’ve made you shoulder extra burdens because of us. I’ve always worried whether you were pushing yourself too hard. At home you seemed fine, but I couldn’t see how you were at school. Opportunities like this are rare, so… I might have acted a bit forcefully. Also…”

As I suspected, she had come out of real concern for me.

“…As your mother, there’s no way I’d miss the important event of my adorable son’s class observation!!”

…

I had been touched, but she ruined the mood with that smug grin.

Chime

Crap!

The time I’d had to act was almost gone.

“Ma—”

The moment I began to call her “Mayumi-san,” I froze under an unspoken but overwhelming pressure.

“…Mother, right?”—she didn’t even say it aloud, but I felt it loud and clear.

“O-… Mother…”

“Fufufu~ Yes, I’m your mother.”

I gave in and called her that, and she responded with visible delight. But now wasn’t the time—my mom could arrive at any second.

I reached to take her by the hand—only for her to suddenly spread her arms toward me, as if expecting a hug.

Bad feeling—too late.

She stepped forward, embraced me lightly, and the sweet scent I remembered from before filled my senses, along with the unmistakable softness that sent my thoughts spinning.

“Really, Kazunari-kun… If you wanted this, you should have just said so.”

Male voices around us erupted again with groans of envy.

And then—

SLAM!

The classroom door burst open, hitting the wall with a deafening crash.

“Excuse me!!!!!!”

The voice that followed was unmistakable.

“Sa—Sara-senpai!?”

“Wha—Why now!?”

“She’s even more gorgeous up close…”

“Isn’t she… way too much like Takana­shi’s mom?”

I couldn’t see the doorway from here, but there was no doubt—it was Sara-san.

“…What are you doing?”

Her voice was low—too low.

Even Mayumi-san lost her usual cheer.

“S-Sara-chan… calm down, okay?”

“Today, of all days… I absolutely will not forgive this.”

Sara-san was truly angry.

In the next instant, Mayumi-san pushed me forward to shield herself, forcing me to turn around—only to find Sara-san right there, eyes blazing.

Before either of us could react, we bumped lightly into each other.

The class erupted into speculation and envy.

And then, to my shock, Sara-san slipped her arms around my back and hugged me tightly.

“—Kazunari-san, I’m sorry. My mother has caused you terrible trouble…”

“It’s fine, really… I think she just wanted to check on me—”

“You’re far too kind. My mother doesn’t think that far ahead.”

She stroked my hair gently, and I realized my fears about my mom arriving at her class instead were unfounded.

Sara-san turned to Mayumi-san. “Be quiet. You’ve caused enough trouble for Kazunari-san. I will not forgive you for this.”

Given her usual behavior, she must have assumed that Mayumi had come here purely to play a prank on me. That may have been part of her intent, but I also know she came because she was genuinely worried about me. So, for her to be scolded over a misunderstanding feels unfair… and I can’t help but feel guilty myself.

“…Wh-… wha… wha…”

“…Hey… what’s—”

“I… I think I’m… seeing things…”

“…Haha… no, no way…”

“So… daydreams… really do happen, huh… haha…”

“This is a prank, right? Something the student council cooked up? That’s it, right!? Right!!?”

“Wife, you’d better stop—this is going to cause a scene.”

Hanako seemed to step in to smooth things over, and for once, I was grateful. My big sister always knows how to step in at the right time. But… a scene?

Ah…

Ever since Sara hugged me, I’d completely forgotten—this is still a classroom.

Panicked, I glanced around. The boys and girls alike were staring in utter shock, frozen in place, eyes fixed on us. Even the other mothers looked bewildered, as if they had no idea what was happening.

“Indeed… having a fake mother lingering around would be a nuisance.”

“No, that’s not what I—”

“Kazunari-san, I’ll be taking Mother with me for now. I’ll come to pick you up once class is over.”

Reluctantly, Sara-san released me, but then reached for my tie, fussing over it with small, precise adjustments. The way she gave it a final, firm tug carried such gentle care that it made me feel oddly bashful.

Satisfied, she looked me straight in the eye and gave me a warm, genuine smile.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

The boys—who had been frozen as if time had stopped—suddenly erupted in a strange, guttural roar, like a scream that was being swallowed and yet still forced out. The sound was unsettling, almost inhuman.

“What on earth is that disgusting—”

“Wha—Whaaat is thaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!???”

Before Sara-san could finish her disgusted remark, a thunderous bellow erupted, so loud it seemed as if it might echo through the entire school.

The noise was so overwhelming that even I, Sara, and the mothers all winced at the sheer volume.

“My, my… you’ve only just arrived, and already you’ve gotten quite the show.”

And into this already chaotic classroom stepped…

In other words, the very person whose appearance I had been dreading most.