One peaceful afternoon, I sat at a small table I’d recently purchased, sipping tea. Across from me was Eden-san, doing exactly the same.
This had become a common sight. Although this world didn’t recognize the concept of a "week," if I were to apply my old world’s standards, Eden-san visited about six days a week. In short, she was here almost every day.
Exchanging trivial small talk or sharing tea with her had become something of a daily routine for me. Of course, since she usually went on a rampage within thirty minutes—at which point Kuro would promptly send her flying—our sessions were never particularly long.
That said, having spent so much time together, I’d gradually learned to recognize the warning signs of her impending outbursts. While one might imagine her snapping instantly, there were actually several distinct phases leading up to her losing control.
First, there was Phase 1: she would stop calling me "Kaito Miyama" or "My Child" and switch to "My Beloved Child." This was proof that her excitement was reaching a fever pitch—a definite danger signal. At this stage, however, only her choice of words changed. She remained relatively safe.
Then came Phase 2: Eden-san would become significantly more talkative. Perhaps because her rampages left such a strong impression, people tended to overlook it, but the "normal" Eden-san was actually a listener. She usually spent our time smiling gently, asking about my day, and nodding along. When her excitement rose, her word count skyrocketed, and she began to speak with increasing speed. This was a yellow light.
Next was Phase 3: the smile on her face would deepen. Normally, she wore a soft, gentle expression. But when that shifted into a profound, intense grin—like a predator that had finally cornered its prey—it was a red light. At this point, I would usually flow a bit of Magic Power into my necklace to signal Kuro that a rampage was imminent. Kuro always rushed over regardless, but pre-empting the chaos ensured a faster response.
Finally, there was Phase 4: the light would fade from her eyes, replaced by a dull haze and the appearance of Dark Hearts. This was the point of no return. It happened only seconds before the explosion. Her eyes, which usually sparkled with the brilliance of a rainbow, would turn flat and lifeless. It was a sign that her tension had peaked. This was an extremely dangerous state.
While she generally followed these steps, I couldn't always predict her behavior with absolute certainty. These phases didn't always occur in order. Sometimes multiple stages would trigger at once, or she would skip straight to the end. Occasionally, she even manifested in a "First-move Rampage State," appearing at Phase 4 the moment she arrived. There was no discernable logic to it, which made it all the more terrifying.
Yet, when she wasn't on the verge of a rampage, Eden-san wasn't dangerous at all. She would ask after my well-being, worry about my health, and radiate a calm, gentle aura. Without the madness, she truly did possess the maternal, inclusive presence she claimed to have. It was just a shame that her rampages were so frequent that they tended to overwrite everything else. In fact, there was a ninety-nine percent chance she would lose it within thirty minutes.
"…And so, every now and then, I get this uncontrollable craving for junk food," I remarked.
"I understand," Eden-san replied, her smile bright and cheerful. "Such cravings are simply another facet of the joy of eating."
"I suppose so."
It was just idle chatter, but she seemed genuinely happy to agree with me. If only she could stay like this forever.
"Come to think of it, Eden-san, do you have any favorite foods?"
"Let me see. While I have no physical need for sustenance… I am quite fond of hamburgers."
"…Eh?"
I’d asked purely to keep the conversation going, but the answer was entirely unexpected. Eden-san liked hamburgers? I didn’t mean to be rude, but I found that incredibly hard to believe. I couldn't even begin to picture her eating one. Trying to hide my shock, I cleared my throat and continued.
"I see. I like them too. There are so many varieties out there—do you have a specific kind you prefer?"
It was rare for Eden-san to talk about herself. While I was sure she would answer anything I asked, she usually preferred to listen. Perhaps that was why her eyes seemed to sparkle the moment the question left my lips.
"Really?! You like hamburgers too, My Child?! Oh, I'm so happy! We're exactly the same!!"
"…Wait, what?"
My eyes widened. Her voice had changed. Gone was the calm, measured tone of a goddess. In its place was a voice that sounded much younger, brimming with a cute, innocent energy. Even her manner of speaking had shifted.
"My favorite kind… hmm. That’s a very difficult question. There are so many types, and they’re all crafted with such care and delicious detail. It's hard to pick just one!"
"I-I suppose so."
"But if I had to break it down, I think you can categorize hamburgers into meat-based or specialty burgers. Of course, there are plenty of specialty options like fried fish or veggie burgers, but meat is the heart of the experience! Among meat-based burgers, there are three main contenders: beef, pork, and chicken. In my personal opinion, they each have their own unique charms. Chicken pairs perfectly with acidic sauces or spicy seasonings, and it’s wonderful in a teriyaki style. It’s highly versatile with bold sauces. Pork might lack the sheer variety of beef or chicken, but it has distinct strengths—it’s absolutely unrivaled when it comes to cutlets or anything fried. And beef, of course, is the king of the classics. It has a steady, reliable presence that screams 'meat,' and it always leaves you feeling satisfied."
She was geeking out. She was rambling at a mile a minute, but unlike her usual rampages, there was no madness here—only the pure, unadulterated excitement of someone discussing their hobby. Her expression was bright and mischievous, making her look quite young despite her actual age.
"And then, of course, you can't ignore the limited-time specials! There’s something so alluring about the word 'limited,' isn't there? It’s so exciting to encounter a bold, new flavor. But at the end of the day, if you ask me which I love most, I always come back to the simple, classic hamburger. I suppose you could call it a taste of nostalgia. The first flavor I ever loved is the one I… love… the most…"
"…"
She had been talking as if she’d never stop, but as she reached her conclusion, she suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing. Her voice trailed off into a whisper. Then, with the jerky, mechanical movements of a malfunctioning tin doll, she slowly turned her head toward me.
Her face drained of color. Beads of sweat erupted across her forehead, and her rainbow eyes began darting around at high speed. She was the literal definition of someone caught in a total panic.
"…Um, Eden-san?"
"…E-Er, s-so, you see… can we… c-can we pretend that never happened?"
Seeing her look so small and vulnerable made my heart skip a beat. As a goddess, she usually carried an aura of majesty and absolute confidence. She walked with the effortless poise of a superior being. But that aura had completely vanished. Seeing her so worried, practically begging me to forget her slip-up, the gap between her usual self and this side of her was so huge that I found it adorable.
"Ah, well… I don't plan on making a big deal out of it. If you want me to forget it, I will."
"I-I see… Thank you."
To be honest, I was definitely curious. The side of her I’d just seen was a complete departure from the image I’d held of her until now. It felt as if her true self had accidentally slipped out. However, seeing her on the verge of tears made me feel too guilty to push the subject, so I chose to let it go.
Eden-san let out a massive sigh of relief, visibly relaxing. It was easy to get distracted by her usual insanity, but she was an incredibly beautiful woman. Seeing her act so "human" made my heart race in a way I hadn't expected.
"…Well then, it wouldn't be proper for me to stay for too long. I believe I shall take my leave."
And just like that, her voice returned to its usual tone. I could understand her true self slipping out once, but I wondered why even her voice sounded so different. I was sure she could change her voice at will, but I couldn't fathom why she felt the need to. I’d promised not to pry, though, so I kept the question to myself.
It was also quite rare for her to leave on her own without being forcefully ejected by Kuro. Her cheeks were tinged with a faint red; she was clearly dying of embarrassment.
"I-I see. Well, goodbye then."
"I shall make up for this lapse in decorum at a later date… I have an 'Almighty Sphere' that works wonders as a watchdog. Would you like me to give you, say, a trillion of them?"
"…I’m good, thanks."
Almighty Spheres? That sounded like something no one should ever have, let alone a trillion of them. I decided to assume I’d misheard her for the sake of my own sanity.
"Very well. I shall find another way. Until next time."
"Yeah. See you."
I watched as she vanished in a pillar of light, then tilted my head in confusion. It wasn't just that I’d seen a new side of her; it was a shock in more ways than one. I realized that despite how often we met, I actually didn't know much about her. I decided that in the future, I should try to ask her more about her personal interests.
Still, the idea of a goddess geeking out over hamburgers was surprisingly commoner-like. It was a far cry from the terrifying being I usually dealt with.
Serious-senpai: "…Great. Even if she reveals her true self, this is never going to turn into a serious story, is it?"
???: "It’s been obvious for a long time now."
Serious-senpai: "I mean, that mountain of rambling is just her default setting when she gets excited. Even if she turns into a full-blown love interest, is she really going to be any different from how she is now?"
???: "She might stop talking about eliminating everyone else, but that's about it. Her love won't change—if anything, it’ll probably just get even heavier."
Serious-senpai: "…Isn't that just a Yandere then?"