My talks with Fate-san and Life-san were over, and next, I was supposed to speak with Chronoa-san alone. But... what was this overwhelming sense of relief I felt?
Simply knowing she wouldn't resort to the same seductive tactics as the other two provided a level of comfort that was in a league of its own.
Chronoa-san took her time approaching me, moving with deliberate slowness. When she finally reached my side, her head was surprisingly low.
She stood about 180 centimeters tall, so her head should have been quite high even while sitting. But as I’d noticed, she was keeping it low.
She was crouching so deep in the water that it reached past her shoulders and up to her neck. Clearly, she was mortified.
"M-Miyama... d-don’t look this way! Absolutely do not look at me!"
"I-I know. I won't look."
"Ugh... Why must I... endure such an ordeal..."
"I... I'm sorry."
"Ah, no, forgive me. I did not mean to blame you."
Since I was at least half the reason Chronoa-san was suffering through such embarrassment, I offered an apology. Being the kind person she was, she hurriedly denied it. Incidentally, the other half of the blame rested squarely on Shiro-san.
I couldn't see her face, but she was likely bright red and flustered. The contrast with her usual stoic self made her seem incredibly cute, but voicing that would surely draw her ire, so I kept my mouth shut.
"I... I shall speak honestly. I have never shared a bath with a man before. Consequently, I haven't the slightest idea how to behave."
Yeah, I figured as much. I could tell that easily enough from her reactions.
"In the first place, surely there is no benefit for you in sharing a bath with the likes of me?"
"..."
"Why are you silent?"
"Ah, no, well... I'll be honest too. Of course, I'm a bit overwhelmed and flustered, but... being with a beautiful woman like you, Chronoa-san, well, I can't help but feel happy about it."
"Wh-What!?"
Well, I was a healthy man. While I found the situation difficult due to the nerves and shyness, part of me was genuinely happy to be in a mixed bath with such beautiful women.
In a way, it was like having the finest delicacies dangled right in front of me while being forbidden from taking a single bite. It was a struggle, but...
Hearing my words, Chronoa-san let out a shocked sound, fell silent for a long moment, and then whispered softly.
"...Are you serious?"
"About what?"
"I mean... you have called me beautiful before... and c-cute... but were those words spoken from the heart, rather than just to tease me?"
"I’d like to think my personality isn't so bad that I'd tease someone like that. Everything I've said to you has been the truth. I think you're a truly beautiful and wonderful woman, Chronoa-san."
"I... I s-s-see... I... u-umu... Should I offer my thanks?"
"Who knows?"
What was this? This was incredibly embarrassing! Chronoa-san was acting far more demure than usual—strangely feminine, even—and it was making me hyper-aware of her.
It was probably a good thing I was looking away. If I saw her face right now, I’d be too embarrassed to speak.
A silence that could only be described as bittersweet settled between us. After a while, Chronoa-san spoke again, her voice slow and measured.
"Miyama. Since we have this opportunity, I shall share my true feelings with you."
"Your true feelings?"
"Yes. I... I find you 'frightening.'"
"Huh?"
Those words, spoken so quietly, were entirely unexpected.
Afraid of me? Chronoa-san, the Supreme God of Time and one of the most powerful beings in this world, was afraid of me? But why?
As if answering the question in my mind, she continued in a quiet, solemn voice.
"You have been in this world for only a few short months. And yet, you have effortlessly changed things that remained stagnant for hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of years."
"..."
"You are bringing transformation to this world; that is an undeniable fact. In the past, there have been others who brought great change... The First Hero was one of them."
She was talking about Noin-san.
Noin-san was a legendary figure who had fundamentally transformed the world, a hero whose name was still celebrated today. She was the one who had torn down the walls between the Three Worlds and unified them. Honestly, I felt it was presumptuous to even be compared to her. But the way Chronoa-san spoke, it sounded like she saw me as her equal—or perhaps something even more significant.
"Even so, it took her ten years. I do not mean to suggest that speed alone dictates worth, but even so, Miyama, you are bringing about change far faster and on a much grander scale than the First Hero ever did."
"..."
"Everyone who crosses paths with you is changed. Shallow Vernal-sama, the God of Fate, the God of Life... That is precisely why I find you frightening. When I speak with you, it feels as though my very self—which has not wavered for eons—is being changed against my will. It is... terrifying."
The fear of changing. That was a feeling I, as a human, could understand to a degree.
Change wasn't always for the better. To change was, in a sense, to lose your past self; it was a leap into the unknown. Because of that, I found her perspective perfectly valid. I had no grounds to argue.
However, Chronoa-san didn't stop there. She continued, a faint, wry smile touching her voice.
"...But at the same time, I find you... I find you likable."
"Eh?"
"The changes you bring are not bad. Shallow Vernal-sama, the God of Fate, the God of Life... I feel that the God Realm itself is changing for the better. So, while I fear the change, I also find myself looking forward to it."
"Chronoa-san..."
"Miyama. Though I fear how you might change this world, I wish to see what lies at the end of that path. I want you to show it to me. I have high expectations for you."
Having said her piece, Chronoa-san picked up a sake cup, handed it to me, and poured.
My gaze naturally drifted toward her. There she was, the beautiful and powerful goddess, looking at me with her heterochromatic eyes while wearing a gentle, serene smile.
"And so... Miyama..."
"Yes."
"From this point forward, I want you to remain as you are—the person who can meet my expectations. If you do, then I shall remain your ally, forevermore."
"I'm not really that impressive of a person, and I think the things I can do are actually quite small... but you're right. If possible, I want to continue being someone who doesn't let you down. That's what I want."
Honestly, I felt she was overestimating me. I wasn't anyone special; I was just an ordinary guy who happened to be incredibly lucky with the people I met.
But if someone held expectations for a person as insignificant as me, I wanted to do everything in my power to live up to them.
"You are a warm person. I think I finally understand why everyone is drawn to you."
"E-Er, thanks?"
"Fufu... Miyama, would you pour for me as well?"
"Ah, yes. Here you go."
I saw a side of Chronoa-san's smile I hadn't seen much before. It was stunning—almost divine.
As we poured sake for one another and lightly clinked our cups in a toast, her tension seemed to melt away. Her slender, beautiful body became slightly more visible in the water, and my heart hammered against my ribs at the sight of her skin glistening with droplets of hot water.
"Since we have this opportunity, tell me more about yourself. Anything will do. I wish to know more about the man named Miyama Kaito."
"All right. In exchange, tell me more about yourself, Chronoa-san."
"Is that how it is? Fufu, very well. But do not expect any grand tales, understood?"
"Oh, I'm definitely going to expect plenty of those."
"Good grief, you really are something else..."
As I spoke playfully, she let out a happy, wry laugh.
Perhaps it was because we’d finally spoken from the heart, but I felt my impression of her had changed significantly.
Dear Mother, Father—I’m truly glad I got to hear Chronoa-san’s honest feelings. While I think she might be overestimating me, her expectations made me happy rather than burdened. It won't be easy, but I’m going to keep trying. I want to continue being someone who can live up to Chronoa-san's expectations.
Serious-senpai: "Don't let them fool you! They're making it look all deep and meaningful, but look closer! They're just flirting! It's still pure sugar!!"
[Serious-senpai's Next Turn]
Serious-senpai: "Wha—!? Wait, what? Hold on, that wasn't in the script! I'm not... I'm not ready yet!"