Episode 5: Rumors and Truth

I was in a terrible mood again today.

The idiots in class were acting like they owned the place, and since more people were joining them, the class had become so low-brow that it was hard to believe we were high schoolers, which just made me sick.

Deciding to just ignore them, I headed straight for the flower beds as soon as lunch started because I wanted to be alone.

While thinking I’d calm my nerves at the flower beds, since it’s starting to get hot, I found myself thinking it might be a good idea to increase how often I water them… or something like that.

It’s not like I’m in the gardening club or have any responsibility here, so why am I even thinking about this… I almost laughed at myself without even meaning to.

But… I was also secretly hoping I might run into Satsukawa-senpai, whom I’d practically run away from the other day. I knew I’d been rude, so I really wanted to apologize.

「Hello.」

Satsukawa-senpai was already at the flower beds, watering the plants.

The spray from the water reflected the sunlight and sparkled, and seeing Senpai caught in that light made her look like she really was a Goddess.

I was totally mesmerized and lost for words.

「………」

「Takanashi-san? Is something wrong?」

Senpai called my name.

To think she actually remembered it…

I was honestly happy.

The shock of it snapped me back to reality.

「Sorry, I was just spacing out for a second. Anyway, hello, Senpai.」

「Hello, what brings you here today?」

Talking to her today, she doesn’t feel scary or cold at all.

I wonder what that whole vibe from before was about…

Anyway, I felt like I could actually talk to her like this.

Since I was there, I decided to mention what I’d just been worried about.

「It’s getting hotter, so I came to see if I should start watering them more often.」

「I see. Actually, I was thinking the same thing.」

Senpai let go of the hose trigger, stopped the water, and looked over at me.

Then, she seemed to notice the bag I was carrying.

「By the way, have you already finished your lunch?」

「Ah, no, not yet.」

「In that case, please leave the care of these children to me. Go ahead and eat.」

「Sorry, if you’ll excuse me.」

I sat down on the usual bench and pulled my lunch out of the bag.

Is Senpai in a good mood today?

Looking back at our first meeting and that harshness from last time, she feels like a totally different person.

「If you don’t have enough to drink, you’re welcome to have some from that bottle. There are disposable cups over there too…」

「Wait, really? Thank you so much!?」

「No, please, take your time…」

I was stunned since I never imagined she’d say something like that to me.

Looking at Senpai’s face, she isn’t smiling… she’s expressionless as ever, or rather, she just doesn’t look like she’s in a bad mood.

Whatever the reason, she was definitely being kind, and that honestly made me happy.

Senpai waited for me to finish eating, and spoke to me once I’d settled down.

「Until now, we’ve just been taking turns watering when we could, but since it’s going to get hotter, maybe we should set a proper schedule.」

「You’re right, that’s probably a good idea.」

It looked like Senpai was thinking the same thing after all.

She looked like she was about to say more, but then she suddenly noticed something and looked a bit flustered… or at least, that’s what it felt like to me.

「I’m sorry, I should have confirmed this first… to begin with, Takanashi-san, you’re looking after these little ones out of the goodness of your heart, right? Can I assume you’re willing to keep helping out from now on?」

I see, so that’s what she was worried about.

It’s true that it’s not a requirement, and whether I do it or not is totally up to me.

But I already feel like this is one of my few places where I belong, and I’d hate to leave something I started half-finished.

And… to be honest, it was also because I was interested in Senpai.

「Of course. I started this because I wanted to, so I’ve got no reason to stop now.」

「Thank you. In that case, I look forward to working with you from now on.」

Senpai gave me a small bow.

I’d seen how strict she was with others and heard all those rumors about the「Lonely Goddess,」so I thought she’d be a much harsher, stricter person who was hard to approach.

But I guess rumors are just rumors.

She doesn’t seem like that at all, and her manner is very polite.

When I talk to her, she gives me a proper answer, and she even starts conversations herself.

「To continue our discussion, would it be alright if we basically alternated days, between myself and Takanashi-san?」

「That works for me… but if I’m not in the way, would it be okay if I keep coming here during lunch?」

「I don’t mind, but… are you sure you want to?」

I came here specifically because I wanted to stay out of the classroom as much as possible, and I wanted to keep it that way if I could.

I didn’t think I said anything weird, but Senpai looked a bit puzzled.

I wonder why?

「As you probably know… I’m not exactly what you’d call friendly, even if I’m being generous.」

I see, so that was the reason.

But that’s not a problem for me.

In the first place, I don’t feel that way about her at all.

「No, actually, it’s more like I just don’t want to be in the classroom, or rather… after coming here a few times, I feel like this has kind of become where I belong.」

When I told her the truth, Senpai just nodded like she was a bit convinced.

Looking at her closely like this, even though she seems expressionless, her face actually moves a little bit, doesn’t it…

「I see… I think I understand that feeling a little bit too.」

「Is that so?」

That answer was unexpected, but if that’s the case, maybe she’ll accept it.

「Yes. Then I’ll keep coming at lunch like I have been, whenever I can. But if both Takanashi-san and I can’t make it, the flowers will be in trouble, so would it be okay with you if we exchanged contact info just in case?」

This was totally unexpected.

It’s true that there’s a possibility of that happening, but I never thought I’d be exchanging contact info with Senpai…

「Ye-yes. Then Senpai, is RAIN okay?」

I went with the safe option, the most commonly used messaging app.

I took my phone out of my pocket and opened RAIN.

I pulled up my barcode, and Senpai scanned it.

「…I’ve got you registered. How about you, Takanashi-san?」

「Yeah, I’ve got you too.」

This was the first time I’d exchanged contact info since starting at this school, and I honestly couldn’t believe it was the Goddess herself.

Senpai looked at her phone and spoke.

「Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve ever added a guy’s contact info on RAIN… it feels… a little strange.」

It seemed Senpai was thinking the same thing.

As far as I could tell from her expression, she didn’t seem to mean it in a bad way, but…

「Ah, was there something wrong?」

「No, it’s not like that. There are guys around me, like classmates or student council members, but… I just thought it was strange that you, out of all of them, ended up being the first.」

I see.

Normally, there should’ve been plenty of people it wouldn’t be weird to exchange RAIN with.

But since she didn’t do it with any of them, and I, in this weird middle-ground position, became the first… I guess it would feel a bit strange.

「Actually, it’s the same for me. I haven’t exchanged info with a single classmate since I got here… it feels weird that the Student Council Vice President is my first contact.」

When Senpai heard that, she looked a bit worried… or at least, that’s what it looked like to me.

「That… isn’t a bad thing, is it?」

「Of course not. I’m honestly happy. I feel like I might accidentally end up sending you messages that aren’t just about business.」

I tried to make a joke, but I actually did feel like I wanted to message her.

「That is what the app is for, after all… if you have something to talk about, please go ahead.」

After getting a polite, standard response from Senpai, the warning bell for the end of lunch break rang.

「Ah, I’ve got to clean up fast…」

「I’ll help too.」

「Thanks, I appreciate it.」

I pulled off the nozzle and wound up the hose.

Since it was just watering today, we were done in no time.

So we should have plenty of time to get back.

「Well then, see you tomorrow.」

「Yes, good work today.」

It just kind of happened, but I actually managed to exchange RAIN with Senpai.

That made me a little happy, and I felt like I could actually survive the miserable afternoon ahead.