Episode 57: The Meddlesome Goddess (Friend Ver.) Final

「Sorry to keep you waiting, breakfast is ready.」

I’ve had everything from a body wipe to a change of clothes this morning, and now she’s making me breakfast. I’m seriously being over-nursed right now.

「Is this the last of the laundry?」

And right in front of me is a pretty massive pile of laundry. I’m feeling incredibly awkward about it, but Senpai doesn’t seem to mind at all.

I thought she might get mad and tell me to do a little bit myself…

It was the same when we talked about cleaning. She doesn’t show a hint of reluctance, and it doesn’t feel like she’s exasperated or angry either…

She really is a god… no, a goddess.

「I’m really sorry… I haven’t done any of it, I feel terrible…」

「It’s quite alright. That is why I came, after all. I have heard that men find it quite difficult to keep up with these things.」

「I appreciate you saying that… By the way, who told you that?」

「Natsumi.」

As expected of Natsumi-senpai, she’s a reliable senior who always provides backup where it counts.

「Also, I was told that even if I find something weird while cleaning, I should stay calm and pretend I didn’t see it.」

「Pffft!」

「Um… what exactly does “weird things” refer to?」

I take it back.

Isn’t that person just making fun of me?

「W-well, who knows? I don’t own anything that people would call ‘weird.’」

I don’t, okay?

…As long as she doesn’t see my PC…

「I have no intention of meddling with your possessions, Takanashi-san, but she was being so vague that I became curious. I shall have to grill Natsumi about it later.」

「N-no, I’m sure she was just being considerate in her own way, so let’s let it go. It’s fine.」

If possible, I’d like Senpai to stay just the way she is…

And… it looks like it’s time for me to go to sleep now…

Why? Because the exact same situation from yesterday is happening again.

Stroke… stroke… stroke…

Pat… pat… pat…

Augh, I can’t help but feel like I’m being treated like a child…

But it’s no use, I honestly think this is pure happiness…

「Leave the rest to me and get some proper rest…」

「Zzz… zzz…」

Fufu… it seems that doing this is the best way to get Takanashi-san to rest.

There may be more opportunities in the future, so I shall make sure to remember this well.

Now then, let’s start with the laundry.

The weather is lovely today, so if I hang it out early, I might be able to fold it before I head home.

While the washing machine is running, I shall clean. I cannot use the vacuum cleaner, so I will tidy up using the broom and dustpan I brought from home.

I’ll organize everything clearly so Takanashi-san won’t be troubled later…

Of course, I mustn’t forget to check on Takanashi-san… he doesn’t seem to be sweating too much.

By the time I finished hanging the laundry on the balcony, it was just the right time to prepare lunch.

I should probably wake Takanashi-san up in a little while.

Lunch ended, and Senpai prepared apples for dessert…

Yeah, there’s a plate of apples perfectly carved into bunny shapes.

I know it’s weird for a guy to say this, but Senpai’s feminine power is probably off the charts.

I’m sitting at the table mindlessly eating apples while Senpai is in the kitchen doing the dishes… I wonder what other people would think if they saw this.

Since most of the items were thin, the laundry dried faster than I expected.

I’ll fold them and put them away in the dresser as far as I can tell where they go.

And as the tidying up reached its final stages…

…Looking back, I wonder if this is what Natsumi meant by「weird things」…?

I thought I would gather the things he said he wouldn’t use for a while and put them in the closet, but something was hitting the back. When I pulled it out, it was a graduation album.

………My apologies, Takanashi-san.

I will pretend I never saw this graduation album. Natsumi told me to do so, after all.

………Yamasaki Kazuma, Sasagawa Yuzuha…

Sigh… I must change my mindset.

I’m glad Takanashi-san was asleep…

Now, my work is finally down to the last task… Shall I start preparing dinner?

We finished dinner, and Senpai is tidying up.

Once that’s done, she’ll be heading home.

It’s getting late, so I can’t keep her here for no reason.

「Well then, it is about time I took my leave…」

「…Sara-senpai, thank you so much. Seriously, I don’t even know how to thank you…」

「No, if we go back to the source, it was that rain where you protected me.」

「That’s exactly why. It happened because I didn’t bring an umbrella. So, I’m the one who should be saying thank you.」

It is absolutely not Senpai’s fault.

It was definitely my own doing.

「Fufu… then, ‘you’re welcome’… I suppose.」

「I’m feeling a lot better now, so I think I can manage to go to school tomorrow.」

「If you feel unwell tomorrow, please do not push yourself. Either way, I will check in with you via RAIN tomorrow morning.」

「Yes, thank you.」

「I shall return this key to you. Well then, Takanashi-san, excuse me.」

「Sara-senpai, thank you so truly much. I’ll definitely pay you back for this.」

I bowed with everything I had.

Setting aside my parents, I’ve never been taken care of like this by anyone.

She did all this for someone like me, I can’t even think of a way to repay her.

Senpai stepped closer and placed her hand on my forehead.

「One last temperature check ♪」

「Sara-senpai…」

Sara-senpai looked into my eyes from point-blank range and spoke.

「It is rude to say this to you, Takanashi-san, but these past three days have been truly fulfilling for me… However, I am also reflecting now on whether I might have overdone it a bit… Did I cause you any trouble?」

「It’s okay. It was full of things that made me happy, there wasn’t a single thing that was a nuisance.」

「I see, that is good to hear. This has been a good experience for me as well. I believe I can put it to use in the future.」

In the future… someday, will Senpai do all these things for someone who isn’t me? That thought…

Senpai stepped away from me and put on her shoes.

「Well then, I shall take my leave for today. See you tomorrow.」

「Yes, see you tomorrow.」

And so, the frantic few days that started from that rainy day came to a close.

Maybe it was because Senpai had been by my side the whole time, but I felt a strange sense of loneliness…