I had been swept up in a Hero Summoning and brought to the otherworld of Trinia. By the end of my first year there, I managed to clear the trial set by the world’s god, Shiro-san—with a great deal of help, of course. After saying a proper farewell to those who had looked after me in my original world, I finally returned here to stay.
Having finished my rounds of greetings to my friends, I went to visit Shiro-san, only to be met with a sudden challenge for a "revenge match." Honestly, I had no idea what she was talking about.
"Umm... Shiro-san?"
"Yes?"
"A revenge match?"
"Yes. A revenge match. It is frustrating to remain defeated, so I shall win this time."
"..."
Shiro-san’s nature as a total airhead was nothing new, but this development was entirely unexpected. Did a revenge match mean she was going to put me through another trial? I had thought she was satisfied with how things had ended before.
"No, it is 'not that,'" she clarified.
"Pardon?"
"It is not a rematch of the trial. As you suspected, I am satisfied with that result... even if I am still a bit disgruntled that you cleared it in a single attempt."
She was still holding a grudge over the one-shot clear?! Well, whatever. That didn't seem to be the point right now. If it wasn't about the trial... then what was it?
"This time, I am taking revenge for my defeat during our very first meeting."
"Wait... you mean when I received your blessing?"
"Precisely. At that time, you told me: 'You cannot give me what I truly want.'"
"I... yeah, I suppose I did say that."
I remembered it clearly. When I first met Shiro-san and she offered to grant me anything I desired, those were the words I had given her in return.
"And so, this is my revenge. Let us see if I truly cannot give Kaito-san what you want."
"I... uh..."
I couldn't quite grasp her intentions. The old Shiro-san might have been confused, but the current one should have known that I didn't care for supernatural powers. What was she planning to give me? Nothing came to mind.
As I puzzled over it, Shiro-san lightly flicked her finger. A dazzling light instantly filled the area. When the radiance faded, I was struck speechless.
"Mom... Dad..."
"It’s been a while, Kaito. Though I guess we did see each other in that dream during your trial," my mother said.
"It’s a strange feeling," my father added. "To think that we, who were supposed to be dead, are standing here 'alive' as if it’s the most natural thing in the world."
"You're... alive... again?"
My brain couldn't process the situation. The shock was so overwhelming that I couldn't even organize my thoughts. I stood there dazed, merely echoing their words like a parrot. Shiro-san watched me with a faint, knowing smile.
"Why do you look so surprised? I am a god. Bringing humans back to life is a simple task. In truth, negotiating with the Earth God to let me have their souls was far more of a hassle."
"You got them from Eden-san? Then..."
"Yes. These two are undeniably your parents. They aren't just copies with the same memories."
I felt my heart skip a beat. Mom and Dad... were actually alive? Just like that?
"We can save the emotional reunion for later," Shiro-san interrupted. "I have already spoken with Lilia Albert. I shall have her explain the details of their new lives to them."
"Right! Well, Kaito, see you in a bit!" my mother cheered.
"I know you're confused," my father said, giving me a nod. "I haven't fully wrapped my head around it either... but being able to live with you and your mother again... I’m happy."
With another wave of Shiro-san's hand, Mom and Dad were enveloped in light and teleported away. I still hadn't regained my composure, but one thing had finally sunk in: I would be able to be with my parents again.
As the reality took hold, my eyes began to sting. Was this really allowed? Could such an unbelievable miracle, such absolute happiness, really happen to me?
"Who would dare complain?" Shiro-san asked. "I am the god of this world. Here, I am the law."
"Shiro-san..."
"As long as I am here, you have no need to choose between one thing or another. You need never give up on anything again. I am not an impartial god. I will blatantly play favorites with the one I love. I will never allow you to have a future that is anything less than happy."
She declared this with a look of absolute triumph—and it wasn't my imagination; the three-dimensional letters for "TA-DA!" actually appeared floating behind her. I couldn't help but let out a weak, tearful laugh.
It was unfair. Truly, completely unfair. How was I supposed to win against someone like this?
As tears streamed down my face, Shiro-san erased the floating letters. She looked at me with a smile that was so beautiful and gentle it took my breath away.
"Well? Kaito-san, was I finally able to... give you what you wanted?"
"...Yes."
"I am glad. Then, at last, I can say these words. I didn't want to say them while I was still 'losing' to you."
"Wait... what?"
"Kaito-san, you were the one who taught me emotions. You were the one who defeated the 'end' that I represented. I love you. Please... make me something even more special to you."
Her voice, once so monotone and hollow, was now vibrant and full of life. It was a confession of love. Bathed in the radiance of her smile, I slowly gave my answer.
Even if Mom and Dad hadn't been brought back, I probably would have said the same thing. But this miracle was the final push I needed. The fact that Shiro-san had gone to such lengths just for me made me happier than words could say.
"Yes... with pleasure."
I had realized it long ago. I was already in love with this chaotic, eccentric, and utterly precious goddess.
While Lilia was halfway through explaining the state of the world to them, Kaito’s mother, Akari, happened to glance out the window.
"Mom?"
"Oh, it’s nothing."
Akari had actually arrived in this world before her husband, Kazuya. The reason was simple: Eden, who was obsessively protective of the life from her own world, had been reluctant to hand over their souls to Shallow Vernal, even if it was just a "limited-time loan." Akari’s soul had been settled on first, so she had been sent over a few months earlier than Kazuya.
Akari thought back to the time before she had taken the name Luce and met Kaito—back when Shallow Vernal had proposed a certain bet.
"Personally, I have no need for your specific souls," Shallow Vernal had said then. "Creating similar strangers would be easy. However, since I am doing this, I want the stage to be perfect. That is why I chose to use the real you, even though the effort involved was more than I anticipated."
"What if we said we didn't want to become an obstacle for Kaito?" Akari had asked.
"Then so be it. I would simply create copies. However... since preparing you has been such a chore, I shall offer you an incentive."
"An incentive?"
"Yes. The possibility is low, but... if Kaito-san should clear the trial in a single attempt, I shall allow you a small window of time afterward to speak freely with him. A time for a 'proper farewell.'"
Akari remembered the shock of that offer. At that point, Shallow Vernal had no intention of actually resurrecting Akari or Kazuya. Her interest began and ended with Kaito; everything else was irrelevant to her.
"And yet, here we are, alive again," Akari mused. "Shallow Vernal-sama spent two years negotiating with our world’s god just to bring our souls here permanently."
Akari had never met Eden, but she knew that if even Shallow Vernal found the negotiations "troublesome," they must have been nightmarish. Borrowing a soul was one thing, but taking one forever required effort on a completely different scale.
But Shallow Vernal had done it. She had finally started to look at the people around Kaito, realizing that they were factors in his happiness.
"Kaito really is a son to be proud of," Akari whispered. "To think he could change a god’s heart like that..."
Simply passing the trial wouldn't have led to this. Kaito had won because he changed Shallow Vernal herself. He had taught "love"—the desire for a partner's happiness—to a being who had previously only sought Kaito for her own satisfaction.
Because Kaito had won in the truest sense, the goddess had granted him a miracle.
(As a side note, Eden Maman complained incessantly during the negotiations, but she finally agreed under three conditions: 1. Akari and Kazuya’s new bodies would be made by Eden. 2. A clone of Eden would reside permanently in Trinia. 3. Shallow Vernal would not interfere with Eden’s private time with Kaito.)
Serious-senpai: "It’s over... It’s all over... The airhead goddess has completely switched sides. She’s officially declared her favoritism... There’s no room left for anything serious..."
???: "I’m pretty sure there never was to begin with... Hey, wait, where are you going?"
Serious-senpai: "I’m leaving! I shall seek out a new Horizon of Seriousness yet unknown!"
???: "Sure, sure. Just be back in time for dinner~"
Serious-senpai: "..."