V6 Epilogue 2: Melancholy of the Goddess

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Translator: Soafp

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I poured a drop of water from a plastic bottle on top of her ear.

“What the heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell!?”

The statement was so shocking that I shot up from the staircase with a bang.

“What's with that weird move!?”

“It was like water in the sleeping ear…”

During lunch break, when I went to the emergency stairs, the moment I arrived, Goddess-senpai clung to me in tears.

When I asked her why, this was the answer I got. I'm the one who wants to cry here.

“You said you weren't going to participate.”

“Ueeeeeen! What should I do, Yukito-kun…”

Goddess-senpai, making an uncharacteristically pathetic face and voice for a goddess.

An unexpected turn of events. Goddess-senpai had ended up participating in the “Pageant Contest,” which had been changed to “Mu-chan's Costume Grand Prix.”

At first, she had refused, but once the contents changed, her classmates and the devout students who adored her had flooded her with recommendations.

As a result, Goddess-senpai was pushed into joining. The surrounding faith was only getting stronger.

But this was bad. Goddess-senpai was one of the top contenders for victory among the second-years, alongside Yuri-san.

I had thought Natsume's victory was secure, but now a powerful rival had appeared.

“What am I even supposed to do on stage!?”

“Don't ask me… Don't you have any special skills?”

“Maybe impressions. Like an exaggerated version of Yuri-san Kokonoe. ‘Hah? I'll kill you.' How's that?”

“You definitely shouldn't do that.”

What a death wish… Even among the second-years, Yuri-san stood out as being especially sharp-edged.

She was already intense enough in normal mode—if she got exaggerated any further, there would be casualties.

The first on that list would be me.

Just yesterday, I nearly died from one of Yuri-san's overly exaggerated lines.

‘Lately, it hasn't been coming.'

‘What hasn't!? What hasn't been coming!? Hey, tell me!?'

‘Fufufufufu. The baked sweet potato truck. Why are you so shaken? Do you have some idea?'

‘Hah? No way! I don't! Not at all!'

End of flashback. I guess “chilling your spine” is what they mean by that.

“Yukito-kun, do something! We're the ones who did the bread-eating race together, right!?”

“That doesn't sound like a deep bond at all.”

Goddess-senpai's eyes were watery. She looked genuinely troubled.

Haa. Fine.

“I hate to give aid to the enemy, but… I'll make you a shrine maiden outfit before the day.”

“Shrine maiden outfit? And then what?”

“Then just chant some prayers or something, and the believers will be overwhelmed with tears of joy.”

And the donations will come rolling in.

“Won't that just make my position even more weird!?”

“That's something you'll just have to accept…”

“This is mostly your fault in the first place, you know!?”

“Don't blame me for everything!”

She blames me for anything and everything. Even my patience has limits, you know!

“Actually, there's no room for denial here—this really is Yukito-kun's fault, isn't it?”

“Yes.”

Honestly, my bad. I was the one who brought up Goddess-senpai in the first place. I regret it.

If this is how it's going to be, then I should prepare a backup plan just in case…

Ignoring Goddess-senpai's grumbling, I was forced to revise my strategy.

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“…And that's why I need you to join.”

“Hihihi… N-no way. Absolutely not!?”

“Don't be so selfish.”

“This is a completely reasonable request!!”

Natsume's advantage was still solid, but I wanted another card in my hand.

So I decided to ask Shakado, who was just killing time in the classroom, to participate.

If I wanted to be fully prepared, her help was essential. This tough battle couldn't be won without everyone's strength.

“I want you to wear this mascot costume of a stylized giant salamander.”

“Hihihi… mascot role?”

“Take a look at this design. The name is ‘Shakado.' Totally an adorable, healing type.”

“I feel like I've heard that somewhere before…?”

“You've only got that feeling.”

“Hihihi… Is that so… Super mysterious…”

Alright, new participant acquired!

“So here you are, Yukito Kokonoe!”

“Sayuri-sensei?”

Sayuri-sensei burst into the classroom, her bad mood at maximum. This pattern was happening a lot lately…

“What's the meaning of that swimsuit you sent me!? You want me to wear it!? Huh!?”

“Eh, but Sanjouji-sensei wore hers.”

“Seriously!?”

A refreshing breeze blew in through the classroom window.

…I had a feeling a new story was about to begin.