Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess

TN: I also started an original novel here. Please support me by reading! Just click on the title! Thanks!

I Reincarnated As A Trash Prince

Love at First Sight Is…

After moving into this place, I’d never once had a reason to use the old low dining table—yet today, I finally pulled it out. It used to be an unwanted item at my parents’ house, and it’s been sleeping in my closet here ever since. But at long last, its time to shine has come.

While I worked, the three guys—still inexplicably sitting in formal seiza—seemed to reach their limit.

Their posture broke all at once, each of them groaning in pain.

“Why were you even sitting in seiza in the first place?”

“Uh… I dunno, just kinda…”

“Felt like she’d scold us if we sat casually…”

“Yeah… something like that…”

So they’d been sitting that way because they were afraid Sara-san would get angry at them. I suppose that’s the impression they have of her—strict, unapproachable.

Well, against everyone except me, that image isn’t entirely wrong.

“You’ve been waiting. Pardon the delay.”

Speak of the devil—Sara-san returned at the perfect timing. She carried a tray loaded with teacups, snacks, and various other things.

The three of them stiffened again. Even as she set tea and sweets in front of them, they were so tense they didn’t dare move an inch.

“Kazunari-san, I’ll be tidying up in the kitchen. Please call me if you need anything.”

“Sorry, I’ll help later.”

“Hehe… Housework is my responsibility. Please don’t worry about it, and enjoy your conversation with your friends.”

“““…………”””

With a graceful bow and a soft “Please take your time,” she headed back into the kitchen. The three of them simply watched her leave in a daze.

“…What… was that just now…”

“…I never knew Satsukawa-senpai had a side like that…”

“……….”

It looked like their shock had progressed beyond disbelief into genuine confusion. And honestly, I couldn’t blame them.

After all, the only version of her they’ve ever seen at school is either the “reject-all-stupid-men mode” or the “cold, self-disciplined goddess” persona.

Her real self? She only ever shows that to me.

“Well… anyway. You guys had something to talk about, right?”

Setting that aside, I should hear Yamakawa out.

I was almost certain this was about Hanako-san. And if so, then I had something to say as well.

“A-ah, yeah. It’s about Hanasaki-san.”

“Okay. What about Hanako-san?”

“…What do you think she thinks of me?”

“…Hah?”

I expected something about her, but that question came out of left field. I was so taken aback I couldn’t immediately respond.

He must have been holding in a lot to ask something like that.

“Hey, Yamakawa. The way you asked that… does that mean you’re ready for me to be blunt?”

“Y-Yeah. But the way you’re saying it sounds like—”

“Then lemme ask this. What exactly made you fall for Hanako-san?”

I ignored his half-finished thought and went to the root of the issue.

I already knew his feelings started the moment he saw that selfie she accidentally sent to my phone.
In other words—pure love at first sight.

Love at first sight isn’t bad in itself. But for the three of us involved in that incident—me, Hanako-san, and Tachikawa—it’s the one thing we can’t tolerate. Even Sara-san has always been that way.

We’ve all developed a distaste for romance based solely on looks.

So I wanted to confirm whether there was anything beyond that.

“…It was love at first sight.”

“Well, yeah, I figured. And?”

“Thing is, I’ve barely talked to her. I hardly know anything personal. But every time I try to talk to her…”

“She shuts you down instantly, right? Honestly, with how annoyed she looks every time, the fact that you still haven’t given up is impressive. Takanashi, just tell him straight.”

“Yeah, today’s the perfect time. Since you’re closest to her, he’ll take it better from you than from us.”

…Let me put it like this.

Yamakawa:
– Fell for Hanako at first sight.
– Knows nothing about her.
– Barely spoken to her.
→ Most superficial approach possible. Already disqualified.

Kawamura & Tanaka:
– Saw how annoyed Hanako was.
– Think it’s hopeless.
– Want him to stop.

“…Shut up! I just wanted to hear it from—”

“She literally told you that you were bothering her the other day.”

“I wasn’t confessing or anything—”

“And you know she doesn’t talk to any guy except Takanashi. That’s why everyone assumed they were dating.”

“Just because he isn’t doesn’t mean she magically becomes available for you, dude.”

Yamakawa opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, unable to counter them. No sound came out—probably because deep down… he already knew.

Which meant…

“Yamakawa, since you asked—you’re gonna get the truth. First off, the thing Hanako-san hates most is falling for someone based on appearance alone. Same for me.”

“…………Eh!?”

I didn’t want to interfere in others’ love lives. But this time, he asked—and it’s also for Hanako’s sake.

The moment I said it, he started panicking, rummaging through his memories for something—anything—that would justify his feelings.

Nothing surfaced.

Eventually, he looked at me… and his shoulders slumped.

“…It’s just… it really was the first time it ever happened.”

Then he began speaking—slowly, honestly.

“When I saw that selfie on your phone… it felt like lightning went through me. And when I met her for real, it hit me even harder. Like… like my ideal type had taken physical form. And then, by some miracle, she transfers to our school? I thought… that has to be fate.”

His explanation was clumsy, but I got it.

He saw someone who matched every trait he dreamed of. Then she transferred in. To him, that felt like destiny.

To anyone else, it looks like delusion, self-serving fantasy, and convenient interpretation.

But love makes people believe in ridiculous things.

“But then everyone said she transferred because of you—that she was dating you. So I figured I had no chance. But when I found out that wasn’t true…”

Ah. So when the misunderstanding was cleared up, his feelings reignited even stronger.

“And on Saturday, on my way home… I ran into her. So I called out to her. But she looked really annoyed… and I couldn’t say anything else…”

First I’d heard of that. He looked away, like he couldn’t bear to see my reaction.

Maybe he’d already connected the dots—based on what I’d said earlier—about why she was annoyed.

Hanako expresses things through her attitude. And at this rate, things would only get worse.

So I took responsibility.

“Yamakawa. Ideally, this is a conversation the two of you should have yourselves. But given the situation, I’ll say it: Hanako-san won’t change her attitude toward you. Not now, not ever. And I’m not saying that lightly.”

He didn’t break down or shout.
He just lowered his eyes.
Deep down, he already knew.

I can’t say everything, but… both Hanako-san and I have dealt with the same kind of trouble. That’s why I started living alone. That’s why I avoided everyone. And she… she has trauma related to men. Especially shallow guys. And guys who look shallow.”

More accurately, men who remind her of Yamazaki—the worst of the worst.

“…I mean, I’ve been told I look stupid, but shallow—?”

“I get it now. So that’s where the ‘hate love-at-first-sight’ thing connects.”

Kawamura had already figured it out. Smart guy.

“What? You understood?”

“Yeah. Think about it: you fell for her looks. You know nothing about her. You never tried to get to know her first. And instead of taking it slow, you immediately started showing interest. From her perspective, you’re just some guy hitting on her because she’s pretty.”

“…………”

“That really does make you look shallow. Like you only care about her appearance and nothing else.”

“!?”

“They’re right. So she developed disgust toward you. And once she decides that’s who you are, there’s no recovering from it. It’ll only look like you’re making excuses afterward.”

A stranger.
Who knows nothing about her.
Who approaches her with obvious desire based solely on her looks.

Of course she’d hate that.

Even Hayato, who’s actually close to her, still hasn’t fully recovered from a misunderstanding where he seemed “shallow.” Yamakawa had no chance.

“…So I’ve been acting like a jerk doing everything she hates most…”

It hit him hard. His eyes lost focus as shock overcame him.

If Hanako weren’t the one involved, things might not have been this severe…

“…Look, Yamakawa. I don’t think you’re shallow. You’re a good guy. You just got carried away. And I get why. But this time—”

“…Thanks for telling me. Really. Now I can stop making her uncomfortable.”

My attempted comfort was clumsy, but he understood me anyway.

He accepted it.

“That settles it, huh.”

“Yeah. And… I should apologize.”

“Told you talking to Takanashi was the right call.”

He looked sad, but… relieved. He finally accepted reality.

And that was what mattered most.

“Are you finished speaking?”

Sara-san returned precisely when the conversation wrapped up. In this small apartment, she must have heard everything—even if she pretended not to.

“S-Satsukawa-senpai… sorry for disturbing you.”

Now that he’d settled his feelings, he no longer shrank back in fear from her.

“No… hearing your conversation gave me a lot to think about as well.”

“…?”

Something in the conversation must have caught her attention. She looked pensive. She wouldn’t say it here—I’d ask her privately later.

“My apologies. I digressed. Kazunari-san, it’s nearly lunchtime. What would you like to do? Are you going out?”

I checked the time—nearly noon. I hadn’t noticed.

“What do you wanna do?”

“We didn’t mean to stay this long… Sorry.”

“Sorry, Takanashi. And sorry, Satsukawa-senpai.”

“No, it’s fine. In fact, I realized something: we should prepare proper items for guests in the future. It seems we may have visitors again.”

True. We can’t predict how friendships will evolve. And not only mine—hers too.

“…Why does it feel like this is Takanashi’s house, but Satsukawa-senpai is the one managing everything…?”

“In a sense, yes. I handle all of the housework here.”

“!?”

Tanaka must have muttered that under his breath, not expecting an answer.

His shock was understandable.

“I never thought I’d ever get to talk to you, Satsukawa-senpai…”

“Indeed. I likely wouldn’t have spoken to you either, were you not Kazunari-san’s friends.”

“S-Setsu… seriously…?”

“Yes.”

Kawamura, mustering his courage, spoke to her—only to be struck down by her directness. She always answers according to my standards, which tends to shock other men.

“A-Actually!! Do you… uh… come here often!? You seem really used to this place… even doing the cleaning…”

It looked like Yamakawa had regained his bright personality—probably thanks to sorting out his feelings.

“I do not ‘visit’ here. I live here.”

“““……huh?”””

Since meeting Sara-san, I’ve seen that “pigeon hit by a bean gun” face countless times. These three were no exception.

“W-W-W-Wait… Takanashi…”

“N-No way… don’t tell me…”

“…you’re lying… right…?”

“…It’s true.”

“““—！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！！”””

They were beyond shocked—practically petrified. Well, at least they didn’t scream. The neighbors would complain.

“S-So you’re… you’re living together!?!?”