Quite a bit of time had passed since then.
The state of my class remained abysmal. The idiots were in full swing, and the room was such a disaster that I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone mistook it for an elementary school classroom. During breaks, gibberish that hardly sounded like Japanese filled the air, and obnoxious shouting echoed all the way down the hallway.
I didn't want to spend a single second in that room unless I was in the middle of a lesson.
Instead, the flowerbeds had become my sanctuary.
On the days Senpai came by, she handled the watering while I took care of the weeding and the fertilizer. On the days she didn't show up, I did the watering myself. It wasn't a formal arrangement, but since I was there every day anyway, that was just how things had settled.
Senpai had likely realized that I wasn't fitting in with my classmates. She saw me there every single day, and after all, she already knew about the incident on the rooftop. I was grateful that she never brought it up.
We didn't have many deep conversations, sticking mostly to light small talk. Even so, I didn't find it awkward—or at least, I liked to think I didn't.
One afternoon, however, I was caught off guard when I happened to spot her in the hallway after school. She was walking with several other students, and I was debating whether or not to call out to her when their conversation reached my ears.
"Make those decisions and act on them yourself. How much longer do you intend to keep acting like a middle schooler?"
"Y-Yes! I’m very sorry!"
"This document is summarized far too sloppily. You’ve performed this exact task several times now, haven't you? Try to put some thought into how to organize your work more efficiently."
"I'll be careful... I'll try using other materials as a reference."
She wasn't saying anything incorrect, but she was incredibly strict—especially her tone. It wasn't a simple reprimand; her voice carried a sharp, authoritative weight that felt like it had a deeper purpose behind it.
She had never spoken to me like that. I wondered how I would react if she ever did.
The final proof of her reputation came when a showy guy stepped out to block her path.
"Yo, Satsukawa-san, 'sup!"
"............"
"Huh? Something wrong?"
"...I don't believe I have time to entertain children."
"Eh?"
That cold gaze of hers... it was staggering. It wasn't just her words; she looked at him with an expression of utter disdain, as if she truly believed he wasn't worth a second of her time.
"You're being awfully familiar. To begin with, I don't even know who you are."
The showy guy froze solid at her blunt dismissal. I didn't know if they had actually met before, but the guy had clearly approached her on the assumption that she would recognize him.
...As expected of The Aloof Goddess.
...She’s as harsh as ever, isn't she?
...I wonder why anyone follows her.
...Because she gets results. She isn't just talk, so a lot of people actually look up to her.
...I think that coldness is part of her beauty.
...Since she became Vice President, the vending machines and the school rules have been getting a lot better, you know?
I could hear the surrounding students whispering to one another. To be honest, I thought she was just making enemies for herself acting that way, but the people walking with her didn't look particularly upset, even while they were being scolded. Maybe there was a reason for it? Or maybe they were just fine with it?
While I was lost in thought, Senpai and her group reached me. I had been leaning against the wall, spaced out, so I hadn't noticed that she was looking right at me.
"Good afternoon, Takanashi-san."
"!? Good afternoon, Senpai."
I hadn't expected her to address me here. Given the atmosphere, I’d assumed she would just ignore me and walk right past. Yet, her voice was the same gentle tone she always used with me, without a trace of the severity she’d shown moments before.
For a moment, it felt like the voices of the crowd around us had simply vanished.
"Yes. Are you on your way home, Takanashi-san?"
"Yeah. Well, the classroom is..."
"Ah, of course. ......Unfortunately, immature people are everywhere, after all."
She whispered the last part, so I couldn't quite catch it.
"My apologies, I have an appointment to keep, so I’ll take my leave now. I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Y-Yes. See you."
Leading the group of what I assumed were Student Council Officers, she walked away briskly. As they passed, the others gave me looks that clearly asked, "Who the hell is this guy?"
...Who is he?
...He was actually having a normal conversation with her.
...Wait, didn't the Goddess seem... different just now?
...Who does he think he is, getting that close to the Goddess?
I was too preoccupied to care much about the reactions around me. Even though I was somewhat aware of her strictness, seeing it firsthand was a shock. If that was her default personality, I was terrified that one day something might happen to make her treat me the same way. If that happened, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to talk to her anymore.
I wondered why she was so polite to me. From what I had heard, she certainly wasn't that way with anyone else. My head was filled with a flurry of questions as I walked home, and before I knew it, I was at my front door.
Today, I went to visit the local Shrine.
Calling it a "visit" sounds a bit formal; really, I just wanted to fold my hands and make a wish. My current situation felt like it wouldn't be resolved without some form of divine intervention.
When I finished my prayer and turned around, the Grandmother was standing there. I hadn't even heard her approach.
"My, my! Wonderful! I’ve finally found you again."
It was the same old woman I had carried bags for before.
"Ah, hello. Are you doing well?"
"Thanks to you, yes. I’m so sorry I couldn't thank you properly the other day."
"No, please don't worry about it. I was in a hurry myself."
I had only carried her bags for a short distance; it wasn't the kind of thing I expected a formal thank-you for. I had only helped her because of the lingering awkwardness I felt anyway.
"I simply must give you something..."
"Really, it was just a few bags. Please don't let it bother you."
"But still..."
Crunch, crunch...
The sound of footsteps on gravel reached us.
"Grandmother, so this is where you were."
That voice...
"Sara-chan, you're here."
"Yes. Oh, my apologies. I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation..."
Halfway through, her voice shifted toward my back. She was likely apologizing to me.
"Sara-chan. This young man is the one who helped me with my bags the other day."
"Is that so? I’m sorry, thank you for looking after my grandmother... Truly, thank you very much."
When I turned around, Senpai was in the middle of a deep, polite bow.
"Um, Senpai..."
The moment she heard my voice, Senpai jerked her head up.
"Eh! Takanashi-san!?"
It was the first time I had ever seen her look so genuinely shocked. Then again, I was just as stunned. What were the odds of a coincidence like this?
"Yes... Um, so she’s your grandmother?"
"Yes, she is. I had heard that a kind young man had helped her, but I never imagined it was you, Takanashi-san..."
It was a surprise to me, too. It was a cliché thought, but I couldn't help but feel that the world was a very small place.
The Grandmother, who had been watching us exchange words, spoke up.
"Oh? Is he a friend of yours, Sara-chan?"
"Takanashi-san has been a great help to me," Senpai said.
"Senpai has been a great help to me," I said at the exact same time.
Our words and timing overlapped perfectly. The Grandmother let out a soft chuckle.
"I see, I see. So I finally get to see Sara-chan's boyfriend. If you have the time, please stay for some tea."
Boyfriend... Honestly, we weren't anywhere near that kind of relationship. I figured Senpai would find the suggestion awkward, even if I didn't.
"Er..."
"My apologies, Takanashi-san, but I would like to express my gratitude properly as well. Could you spare us a little of your time?"
Senpai didn't seem bothered by the comment at all, asking me in her usual tone and expression. Since she was asking too, I couldn't exactly turn her down flat.
"All right. Just for a little while, then..."
"Thank you. Right this way..."
Following Senpai’s lead, I stepped into the Main Building adjacent to the Shrine.