When I came to, I found myself on what appeared to be a school rooftop. The wire mesh fencing and concrete floor left a distinct impression. I tried to gather my thoughts... I’d gone to Kaori's shop with Noin, where Olivia had joined us for a chat about the upcoming party.
Everything had gone smoothly, and we eventually parted ways. I went home, spent the rest of my day as usual, and went to bed—or so I thought, until I ended up here.
Right. Since I was in a dream, I already knew who was responsible. A cheerful voice rang out, as if to confirm my suspicions.
"A school rooftop really captures that feeling of youth, doesn't it?"
"I guess. Though at my high school, the rooftop was strictly off-limits..."
"Oh, that happens a lot. You see it all the time in stories, but in real life, they're usually locked up for safety and stuff."
"True... Anyway, hello, Machina. I assume this is a dream again?"
"Hello, my beloved child! You're exceptionally cute today, too! Yep, just like always, we're inside my child's dream. I decided on the rooftop for today's setting!"
The person before me was Machina, the main body of the goddess Eden. Marked by her single mechanical wing and rainbow-colored eyes, she frequently staged these dream interferences.
Since I tended to forget these encounters once I woke up, meeting her like this often brought moments of sudden clarity. Especially regarding Mana—with these memories intact, it was obvious she was exactly like Machina.
While I was lost in thought, Machina flashed a bright, twinkling smile and held out a carton of what looked like milk and a wrapped roll.
"Today's snack is coffee milk and coppepan! Very student-like, right? This one’s filled with strawberry jam and margarine. Personally, I think it’s the most delicious kind there is!"
"That combination is certainly a classic," I agreed.
"Right, right! Of course, other fruit creams are delicious too, but I really think the combination of strawberry jam and margarine is the best. It just doesn't work with French bread. Because it's a coppepan, it really brings out those two flavors!"
As usual, she was surprisingly down-to-earth for an omniscient and omnipotent god. When she took the form of Eden, the sense of danger was overwhelming, but as Machina... well, it felt a bit rude to say this to a goddess, but her clumsiness made her feel approachable.
Granted, she was still plenty dangerous whenever she actually lost her cool...
For now, I sat on the edge of the rooftop and partook of the coppepan and coffee milk I’d received from her. It had been quite a while since I last ate a coppepan, but just as Machina said, its simple flavor was exquisitely delicious.
"Speaking of bread, you know about melon pan, right?"
"I do."
"People usually say the cookie crust on top should be crunchy, but I actually really like it when the top is moist... 'Soggy' might be a harsh word for it, but I’ve always been fond of that style of melon pan."
"Ah, I get that. It kind of sticks to the back of your teeth, but that soft texture has a deliciousness that the crunchy ones don't have."
"Exactly! That's it! As expected, my beloved child understands."
When she was in her form as Eden, we had many peaceful conversations. Since she visited about five times a week, we had plenty of chances to talk. Setting aside her rampages, she mostly listened to my stories calmly.
In contrast, when she was in her state as Machina, she was the one who brought up various topics. Since her personality was naturally bright, talking to her like this was very enjoyable.
Of course, that came with the footnote "as long as she isn't rampaging," but I felt like my previous wariness toward her was at least starting to fade.
"I'm a fan of raisin rolls with margarine in the middle," I offered.
"Oh, those are a classic! They're delicious on their own, but even better when they're warm. The only problem with heating them is the risk of the margarine leaking out the moment you take a bite."
"I know what you mean. It gets all over your hands."
"Exactly! Plus, it's not like it happens every time; sometimes it leaks and sometimes it doesn't, so it's tricky. Well, I end up warming them anyway because they're so good... Speaking of raisins, there's also steamed bread..."
Watching Machina laugh brightly while her expressions changed one after another, I couldn't help but smile as well.
We continued to chat about bread with the approachable goddess, enjoying a strange yet peaceful moment together.
Serious-senpai: "Wait, what? His opinion of Machina is actually pretty decent... He keeps adding the 'as long as she isn't rampaging' disclaimer, but it really feels like they’re getting close."