Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 278: Rivalry.

Rivalry.

I was heading to the next classroom, but there was something I needed to take care of first.

It was about Sara-san.

I had to apologize for breaking our promise not to keep secrets from each other; that much was certain. But right now, that wasn’t the issue. Ever since we’d left the classroom earlier, Sara-san had been acting… strange.

To the casual eye, nothing seemed off. But to me, it was obvious. She looked lost in thought, almost dejected, as though something heavy weighed on her heart.

And if that were true, there could only be one reason: what had just happened.

So it fell to me; no, it wasn’t about duty. It wasn’t about being her boyfriend.

Even if it was something small, if it was within my power to ease her mind, I wanted to do it for Sara-san.

That was all.

“Sara-san.”

“I’m truly sorry, I—”

The moment I spoke, she bowed her head slightly, as if she already knew what I was going to say and felt guilty for it.

Of course, she had nothing to apologize for. If anything, I was the one who had lost my temper first. Yet she clearly didn’t see it that way.

In that case… what should I do?

If our positions were reversed, what would Sara-san do for me?

What did I want to do for her?

There was only one answer.

So, in moments like these, I should take the first step.

“Sara-san… thank you.”

Carefully; gently, so as not to overwhelm her; I slipped my arms around her back. I almost never initiate hugs like this, so honestly, it took a lot of courage. I didn’t know I had.

I knew she wouldn’t push me away. I knew she wouldn’t dislike it.

And yet… doing it myself still made my heart race.

“Kazunari…-san?”

“I lost my temper when she insulted you, but… you got angry for my sake, didn’t you? It made me happy. So… thank you.”

Pat… pat…

Just like she always does for me, I reached around from behind and gently stroked her hair. I was extra careful with the pressure; the last thing I wanted was to mess up her beautiful, silky black strands. Slowly, tenderly, the way she always makes me melt.

“Fufu… In that case, I’m the one who should be thanking you. The fact that you got angry on my behalf… it made me truly happy.”

Perhaps her heart had settled, because she relaxed completely, leaning her weight against me as if entrusting everything to my arms.

It was so precious I nearly squeezed her tight on instinct, but I held back; her uniform would wrinkle.

…Come to think of it, hugging in school uniforms is surprisingly difficult.

Pat… pat…

“That girl was… something else, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. Last year’s Miss Contest winner, if I recall. I never paid attention because I had no interest, but… come to think of it, Natsumi called her ‘that narcissist bitch.’ Was she talking about her?”

“She was shockingly full of herself, that’s for sure. Even the two from the Natsumi-senpai fan club said she’s awful. I wonder if senpai’s had run-ins with her too?”

“Who knows… We could ask Natsumi, but either way, I’m not interested.”

“True… After the way you demolished her, Sara-san, if she still tries something, she’s got guts.”

“…You’re so mean, Kazunari-san.”

Squeeze…

Her voice carried a hint of playful sulkiness as she clung to my chest. Usually I’m the one being spoiled, but Sara-san acting this way; letting herself be vulnerable; was unbearably cute.

Pat… pat…

“Fufu… Kazunari-san…”

She nuzzled against my chest like a pampered cat. This level of cuteness should be illegal… Fine. More headpats it is.

Pat… pat…

“…H-Hanako-san. What do we do…?”

“She’s completely blind to her surroundings again. Old habits die hard.”

“…Ahaha, yeah, but… I feel kind of relieved?”

Sara-san stopped nuzzling, then slid her own arms around my back. We shifted naturally into a proper embrace, holding each other close.

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks, as long as you understand me. The real me… belongs only to you.”

“Sara-san…”

“The old me, who once chased everyone’s approval, would laugh at me for saying this. But now… as long as you understand me, as long as you stay by my side, that’s all I need. That alone makes me happy…”

To be honest, I’d gotten angry earlier because that girl had judged Sara-san without knowing the real her. And yet, even so… I didn’t want to show this Sara-san to anyone else.

This adorable Sara-san, the one who melts only for me; I want to keep her all to myself. That possessive feeling is definitely there.

But saying that out loud would only contradict everything I’d just fought for.

“Fufu…”

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I just remembered how you were earlier. You’re always wonderful, Kazunari-san, but… the strong, forceful you from a few minutes ago; I love that side of you too.”

Right; in the heat of the moment, I’d told her to “shut up and stay out of it.” I’d never spoken to her like that before…

“Kazunari-san… please don’t apologize, okay? I was happy. So… no apologies, understand?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

…She beat me to it again.

I wasn’t going to apologize per se, but I had planned to say something about being too rough; and she read me like an open book.

“You’re welcome to be more forceful with me any time, you know? If you ever told me, ‘Just follow me and be quiet’… I’d gladly obey.”

“W-Wait, seriously—?!”

“Fufu… But if you did, I’d no longer get to see my adorable Kazunari-san who lets me spoil him. That would be terribly troubling, so… please find the right balance?”

“Uh… how exactly am I supposed to—”

I’m not doing it on purpose! I’m not trying to act cute or strong; it just happens.

“I’m sorry, that was a strange thing to say. But for now…”

She lifted her face from my chest and moved the hand that had been around my back to the nape of my neck.

This position…

“Kazunari-san… thank you for getting angry for me. Knowing how you feel… truly made me happy.”

“Sara-san… I was happy too.”

We gazed at each other from inches away. A soft smile bloomed on her lips, then she slowly closed her eyes. A gentle pressure at the back of my head guided me forward—

“Hey, lovebirds! Get a room already! You know where we are, right?!”

““—!?””

Hanako-san’s sharp jab snapped us back to reality.

…Yeah. We were in the middle of the hallway.

It was late after school, so traffic was light, but not zero.

Hanako-san stared at us with utterly unimpressed eyes. Toudou-san had both hands over her face, yet was blatantly peeking through her fingers. A few passing students gawked from a safe distance, and; wait, is that Yuuri-san and the others grinning in the back?!

“S-Sara-san, shall we… move on?”

I hurriedly released her. She looked just a little disappointed, but slowly let go all the same. We stepped apart, putting proper distance between us again.

“Yes. Next is the third-year classrooms, I believe.”

“Let’s get this over with. And seriously… Marina can be surprisingly—”

“W-W-W-W-WHAT are you talking about!? I don’t know anything!!”

For some reason Toudou-san was panicking, but the real problem was Yuuri-san’s group. If they got involved we’d lose another hour, so we needed to escape.

“Anyway, let’s head to the next classroom.”

“Yes. Regrettably, we’ll have to continue this tonight. I was the one being spoiled just now, so… next time it’s your turn, okay?”

“Eh… w-well, I mean—”

“Fufu… Tonight, in bed, please let yourself be thoroughly spoiled by me♪ I want to dote on my adorable Kazunari-san to my heart’s content…”

“I-I-I-IN BED!?”

“Marina, volume. And calm down; my wife has no ulterior motives… probably. You’re overthinking it… whatever ‘it’ is.”

“Uuuuu… Hanako-san no baka!!!”

This was bad. If we stayed any longer, even Toudou-san would get dragged into the abyss.

We needed to move. Now.

…Well, I can think about tonight… tonight. Sara-san always keeps her promises, so I already know exactly how it’s going to go.

***

Side: Kusuhara Reina (The “Takapi” Girl)

I have always been aware; objectively aware; that I am extraordinarily blessed.

From the moment I was born, my path was decided. I am, in every sense, one of the chosen.

The Kusuhara family has been an entrepreneurial dynasty for generations, running multiple companies. As the daughter of its current president, I entered this world already carrying that weight and privilege.

My older brother and I both had our futures laid out from birth. He would inherit the presidency; I would take a key executive role. Accordingly, I was raised from early childhood to befit the station of a president’s daughter.

The results spoke for themselves: top grades without fail, and once I reached middle school, my mother’s beauty manifested in me as well. Confessions poured in; my popularity knew no bounds.

Of course, no one was truly my equal. My position allowed only friendship with commoners, nothing more.

My future was set in stone: the elite course at this academy, then an appropriate university, and eventually a leadership role in the family business.

Some might hear that and think I was chained by my house. But having one’s career predetermined is hardly the same as having no freedom. Outside of that single obligation, I could do as I pleased. I never once resented it.

On the contrary, the benefits far outweighed any restriction. Money, status, the VIP treatment that accompanies being a president’s daughter; even an ordinary person could understand how enormous those advantages are.

My ever-present entourage; mocked as “hangers-on” by some; are all sons of company executives. They follow me because it benefits them, and I accept their service because it benefits me. A perfectly clear hierarchy.

Thus my school life had been flawless, unclouded, sailing smoothly ahead.

Until that day.

A day I will never forget; the summer of my second year in middle school.

Even as a child I understood that the global recession was hurting Father’s company. Yet I believed he would fix it, as he always did. Instead, what awaited us was acquisition and demotion to subsidiary status by an overwhelmingly larger conglomerate.

In my father’s generation, our centuries-old family-run company ended. It was reborn as a subsidiary of Sanami Electronics.

The only silver lining was that the management structure remained intact. No purge of executives; Sanami Electronics merely stationed a few “auditors” who doubled as overseers. The form, at least, was preserved.

So I was still a president’s daughter.

But that title now rested on thin ice; valid only for as long as the parent company remained pleased.

A position balanced on a knife’s edge.

In exchange, new advantages appeared. This academy, for instance; is almost entirely funded by Sanami Electronics. My admission here came with considerable “flexibility” thanks to our new relationship. As the subsidiary president’s daughter I was treated preferentially, and my retinue followed me in. Gradually my authority at school solidified. Rumors spread that crossing me meant the school administration would intervene; naturally I never possessed that kind of direct power, but Father might.

Attention snowballed. More boys drawn to my looks, more girls wanting to ride my coattails. By high school the ulterior motives were blatant, but that was only natural given my station.

Everything was still on track for a triumphant school life; until I learned that, in this academy, there existed one person; just one; who was a thorn in my side.

Her name: Satsukawa Sara.

I knew the name even before enrolment. Father’s words are burned into my memory.

……………

………

…

“Reina, a young lady named Satsukawa will be in your year at high school. You are to get along with her.”

“…Very well, but this is the first time you’ve ever given me such an order, Father. Is there a reason?”

“She is the daughter of Executive Director Satsukawa at Sanami Electronics headquarters. From our position, she is above us.”

“…Even if he is an executive of the parent company, you are still the president, Father. Is it truly necessary to be so deferential?”

“There are things you do not yet understand. Just obey.”

“…Understood.”

“And whatever you do, do not cause trouble with that young lady. If conflict seems imminent, yield. Never, ever oppose her.”

“…Yes, Father.”

No matter that it came from my father, I could not accept it. If she were the president’s daughter I might grudgingly understand, but the child of a mere executive? Why must we grovel?

I am a president’s daughter. Our statuses are not so different. No; in breeding and refinement, I am clearly superior.

If I was forbidden from touching her directly, then at the very least I would make her feel the gap in class; I would make her acknowledge that I was above her.

Carrying that resentment, I entered the school… and immediately encountered the infamous “Satsukawa Sara.”

The entrance ceremony.

The new-student address is an honor given to the top-scoring freshman.

Having dominated academics my entire life, I was certain it would be me.

Yet the one chosen was her; Satsukawa Sara.

My first academic defeat.

And of all people, to her.

The first shock, the first humiliation of my perfect life; delivered by none other than Satsukawa Sara.

My initial impression: a classically Japanese beauty, different from my own polished style. Graceful movements, serene aura, long, lustrous black hair.

She lacked my refined elegance, yet during her speech she stood with breathtaking poise and dignity.

She instantly became the talk of the school. During every break, upper-class boys prowled the first-year wing; an absurd spectacle.

I could grudgingly admit her looks were exceptional, and I had always taken pride in mine. So a spark of rivalry was inevitable.

I told myself her entrance-exam score was a fluke.

Time passed without direct interaction… and the gap only widened.

I never once beat her on a test. The confessions she received far outnumbered mine. Then she claimed the vice-presidency of the student council; essentially the school’s heroine role; and the boys’ rose-tinted obsession grew worse.

Before long, Satsukawa Sara was dubbed the “Lone Goddess,” and an actual fan club formed.

I didn’t even have one.

Infuriating beyond words.

I couldn’t understand it. “Lone” sounded noble, but really she just rejected everyone around her. She lacked basic social skills; a defective who couldn’t function in society.

How could someone like that become so popular?

But I saw through it instantly.

That title “Lone Goddess” was a convenient mask that turned her flaws into virtues.

By framing her lack of sociability as “strict with herself,” people twisted it into something admirable. That was the hidden truth behind the nickname.

Once I realized that, it was obvious the title had been manufactured. And who had orchestrated it?

Satsukawa Sara herself; pulling strings from the shadows, inciting supporters, even forming a female-led fan club under Yūzuki Natsumi. A thoroughly two-faced woman.

Then I learned a Miss Contest would be held at the school festival.

The perfect opportunity to gain new followers and cement my position further. When the committee personally invited me, refusal was impossible.

And I heard Satsukawa Sara would participate via the student-council nomination.

This was my chance to expose her true nature; even if I had to play dirty; and crush her once and for all.

Yet on the day of the event… she vanished.

She must have learned I was participating and feared that losing would destroy the façade she’d built. Cancelling last-minute after becoming unreachable; it was an unmistakable flight.

The contest ended in my overwhelming victory; expected, so no particular joy; but I regretted missing the chance to destroy her directly.

If not for Father’s command to never touch her…

……………

………

…

After the contest, we spoke once.

“I simply prioritized work. I had no interest to begin with,” was all she said.

And those eyes; utterly cold, impossible to tell if she was even looking at me; devoid of emotion.

There was no way someone like that could be genuinely popular. Which meant she was definitely scheming behind the scenes.

And today… we crossed paths again, unexpectedly.

Just remembering it makes my blood boil.

I; Kusuhara Reina; was rendered speechless by her pressure.

I have faced all kinds of people; students, adults, even those with real power; and never once backed down.

Yet before her I could say nothing, do nothing; I simply stood there and took it.

From another girl my own age; a mere classmate!

The force she radiated was on another level from the Miss Contest. And those eyes; no longer indifferent, but burning with a will so intense it felt as though she would not permit my very existence.

Under that gaze I froze.

Why did she show such ferocious anger…?

She had brushed off my provocations before, dismissing everything with disinterest.

The answer is obvious.

Satsukawa Sara calling a boy by his first name, allowing him to do the same; unthinkable under normal circumstances.

And her final line…

In other words, she is in love with Takanashi Kazunari, and he with her.

That is why she displayed unimaginable rage when he was insulted.

At last, the untouchable Satsukawa Sara has revealed a clear weakness.

If an opportunity arises…

And Takanashi.

I thought he showed promise; someone who spoke to me normally despite knowing who I was, perhaps even a potential ally who could understand me.

Yet he claimed complete ignorance of me.

For all my fame in this school; rivaling even that so-called “goddess”; for first-years to confess to me repeatedly; and he dares feign ignorance while humiliating me in front of the entire class?

Unforgivable.

I will make both him and Satsukawa Sara pay the moment I find an opening. That tiny girl they call “Angel” too; anyone with a grandiose nickname is rotten by definition.

But being unable to strike directly is truly frustrating.

Under normal circumstances I would show no mercy, yet now I’m forced into roundabout methods. How tedious.

First, I’ll remind everyone who stands above whom at this year’s Miss Contest.

Once Takanashi’s existence is exposed on stage and the myth of the “Lonely Goddess” crumbles… I can’t wait to see how much of her popularity remains.