(Sutamai) Event: ‘If The Gods Were to Appear Before You’, Part 1

[nhp]

EVENT STORY INDEX

 

1.

 

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

 

A short skit by some performers was being projected on the massive 4K TV screen.

 

 

—“I’ve completely lost my way in this scorching desert. Water, please… give me water… God, save me…” 

 

 

Miyase & Kujo: …… 

 

 

—“It is I, God. I shall bless upon thee, poor traveller, the nectar of life.”

 

—“Oh, sweet lord, water! It’s an oasis!! Thank you, God! It’s water! I have water!!”

 

 

The traveller, who had been happily drinking his water, all of a sudden turned solemn.

 

 

—“It’s me. I am God.”

 

—“The heck! You were God too? I totally didn’t pick up on that.”

 

 

Miyase & Kujo: Pfft—

 

 

—“The shenanigans of the gods with too much time on their hands…”

 

 

Rei: Ahaha! What a surreal story.

 

Miyase: It’s very entertaining *chuckles*.

 

Kujo: I felt quite the unique sense coming from it.

 

Kirishima: This skit was the one that quickly became all the rage, right?

 

Kaname: It apparently got popular on the variety show, Commander Sausage.

 

Rei: You sure know your stuff, Kaname-kun. Were you always a fan of sketch comedies?

 

Kaname: … There were people loudly chatting about it in the classroom, is all.

 

Kirishima: You say that, but you were watching that skit just now pretty seriously.

 

Shindo: Kirishima, will you goddamn pick already if you’re going to watch the TV or pour the beer—it’s going to spill.

 

Kirishima: Yeah, yeah, I gotchu.

 

Kujo: …

 

 

It was a weekend night.

 

I had wrapped up a case through a breakthrough from ‘sharing’ information with Kujo-san.

 

Instead of going out for drinks to celebrate, I had been invited over for dinner and was partaking in the occasion. 

 

The dining table was lined with exquisite liquor and the lavish dishes that Miyase-san had cooked up.

 

 

Kujo: I do enjoy this time spent, but it would seem that I’ve had a few one too many drinks.

 

 

2.

 

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

 

Miyase: Well then, shall I brew up some hot tea for you?

 

Kujo: Could you?

 

Miyase: Of course. I’ll go make enough for everyone as well. I won’t be long now, so please hang tight.

 

Rei: Thanks. If it’s not too much trouble, I’ll give you a hand.

 

Miyase: That won’t do. Please allow me to wait on you to the very end.

 

Rei: But…

 

Kujo: Until Go gets back, I’d like to take a stroll through the garden to clear my head of the alcohol.

 

 

As he said that, he peered at me with a gentle look.

 

 

Kujo: If it pleases you, won’t you join me for a bit?

 

Rei: (Oh…)

 

 

My mouth relaxed into a smile after realising that I had been given ‘something to do’ in my role as a guest. 

 

 

Rei: In that case, by all means!

 

Kujo: Come, let us take a walk upon this spring evening.

 

 

* * *

 

-Kujo Household: Garden-

 

When we stepped outside to the garden, we were greeted by the mild temperature of a late-April’s night.

 

 

Rei: Thank you for inviting me to this wonderful dinner today.

 

Kujo: The important thing is that you, yourself, were able to have a pleasant time.

… Pfft—

 

Rei: ?

 

Kujo: No, I just remembered how truly amusing your debate over shochu with Shindo was.

 

Rei: Oh, right… Sorry. I got heated up in the moment, and completely went off track there… 

 

Kujo: Not at all. You should come by again, whenever.

It would also make Go happy, seeing as you eat whatever he cooks with such bliss that it’s worth all the preparations.

 

Rei: Thank you. Miyase-san’s cooking really is delicious no matter what dish I eat.

Oh—!

 

Kujo: Is something wrong?

 

Rei: Over there… 

 

 

3.

 

-Kujo Household: Garden-

 

My gaze was directed at the cluster of dandelions.

 

Unwittingly, I shared a look with Kujo-san.

 

 

Kujo: There was a photo of dandelions stuck to the packaging of the synthetic drugs for this case, wasn’t there… 

 

Rei: When its relevance was brought up during the interrogation, supposedly, it was because the flower has the meaning, ‘The words of God’.

 

Kujo: God, huh… I can’t think of anything more to say to that other than, ‘I see’.

 

Rei: I’m with you on that one… Kujo-san—

 

 

When I righted my posture and took on a serious expression, Kujo-san’s gaze shifted from the dandelions back to me.

 

 

Rei: Once again, I must thank you for providing information to us in this matter.

 

Kujo: There’s no need for that. Kirishima was grateful on our end too.

He said it was all thanks to the intel from the NCD that we were able to avoid contact with the dangerous drug dealer. 

 

 

The mastermind behind the illicit drug trade had tried to get closer to Kujo-san with the purpose of raking in funds.

 

From that link, we managed to get our hands on important details on the culprit, and from an end perspective, there was merit in the outcome for both sides.

 

—The dandelions playfully swayed in the evening spring breeze.

 

 

Kujo: The words of God, huh… 

 

 

As if murmuring that to himself, Kujo-san looked up towards the sky.

 

When I also went to do the same for no particular reason… 

 

 

Rei: Oh!

 

Kujo: A shooting star…

 

 

5.

 

-Kujo Household: Garden-

 

It was as though a line the colour of stars was being traced across the night sky with the soft sweeping tip of a brush.

 

 

Rei: Oh, another one!

 

Kujo: Quick, a wish—

 

Rei: But it’s long gone out of sight… 

 

Kujo: Let’s aim for the next shooting star.

 

Rei: Yeah, you’re right.

 

 

The both of us idly stared up at the night sky with nothing else to occupy us.

 

 

Kujo: … Do you know why they say it’ll come true if you wish upon a star?

 

Rei: No… Come to think of it, I’ve never really bothered to consider where the belief came from.

 

Kujo: There are many theories to it, but—“When the gods sneak a peek at Earth, they open the door to the skies”.

“In that instant, the light from the heavens is cast down.”

“If your wish reaches the ears of the gods when they’re looking upon us, then it will definitely come true.”

 

Rei: Wow… I’ve learnt something new. So basically, it’s not the stars that are doing the granting, it’s the gods.

 

Kujo: That would be the case.

 

Rei: Then I guess it feels like even if you wish for something rather unrealistic or, you know, in your dreams, it’ll come true.

 

Kujo: What would your wish—

 

Both: !!

 

 

A star was shooting across the sky. Without thinking—

 

 

Kujo: World peace.

 

Rei: A FULL EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP!!

 

 

We had said our wish out loud at the same time, and then silently looked at each other.

 

 

Both: …… 

 

 

7.

 

-Kujo Household: Garden-

 

I gave a big smile to Kujo-san, and then turned to once again face the sky absent of any shooting stars.

 

 

Rei: Hey God, that wish just now was my mistake.

 

Kujo: …

 

Rei: MY WISH IS WORLD PEACE! PLEASE FORGET THE WHOLE EIGHT HOURS SLEEP THING!! THANKS!!!

 

Kujo: Pfft—

 

Rei: Go ahead and laugh… 

 

Kujo: Forgive me. It sounds like work is busy.

 

Rei: A-Ahaha… It’s at times like these that you can’t think up on the spot a wish you’ve always dreamed of, huh.

 

Kujo: Then how about giving it some thought at your own pace, starting now?

This wish inside your dreams that you speak of… I’m interested to know, for example, what this would entail.

 

Rei: Hmm, let’s see… 

A wish I’ve always dreamed of… dreamed of… dreamed… 

H-Hnnghhh!!

 

Kujo: … If it stresses you out that much to think about, then it’s going to make me feel like I asked something awful.

 

Rei: No, it’s actually fun trying to come up with something? Kinda like fantasising this and that on how to use the jackpot from the lottery that you haven’t even won.

 

Kujo: I see. What an interesting food for thought.

Very well then. If you hit upon a wish by the next time we meet, do tell me.

 

Rei: (In a way, he seems like he’s having fun as well.)

 

 

It was a rare moment where it was just the two of us alone together.

 

At that gentle expression he was showing me, my mindfulness over any sense of space between us easily came undone. 

 

Suddenly, I too thought about wanting to know of his own wish that he’s dreamed of having.

 

 

Rei: Um, so what do you say to each of us coming up with something?

 

Kujo: Each of us?

 

Rei: Yep. What you said earlier about ‘world peace’ is also a wonderful wish with a broad outlook.

But I was thinking, why not narrow down that range a little more?

I’d like to hear a wish of yours that’s specific to you—one that’s made up of dreams… 

 

Kujo: Made of dreams… Hmph. You always have a unique way of saying things.

 

Rei: To put it harshly, it’d be called being completely self-centered, wouldn’t it? Ahaha.

 

Kujo: That’s not a bad thing either. We’ll make it our assignment to come up with a wish until next time.

 

Rei: Great idea! It sort of has a nostalgic ring to it.

 

Kujo: I thought the same when I was listening to the conversation between Kaname and Kirishima this evening.

 

 

We exchanged a friendly smile amidst our friendly talk.

 

 

Kujo: Let us shortly head back as we both ponder on our wishes.

 

Rei: Yeah, good point.

 

 

I got the feeling that another star had shot across the night sky behind me.

 

 

10.

 

-Inside the car-

 

Kirishima: You okay there?

 

Rei: Sorry that you ended up having to see me home…

 

 

Kirishima-san had gone out of his way to accompany me, even though there was already a driver in the car that he had called over. 

 

Before I knew it, my world was swimming with alcohol, and it was magnifying the vagueness in a weightless way.

 

 

Rei: I was trying to hold myself back, but… it looks like the effect of that shochu worked way more badly on my worn out body than I thought… 

 

Kirishima: Get in heaps of sleep once you’re home. Oh, hey, we’re here.

 

 

The door automatically opened up.

 

 

Rei: Thank you so much.

 

 

After saying my thanks to the driver as well, I undid my seatbelt.

 

 

Kirishima: Night, Rei.

 

Rei: Good night.

 

 

* * *

 

-In front of Rei’s apartment-

 

I got outside, and when I considered waiting to see off my ride, I had Kirishima-san mouthing at me through the window to get going.

 

I bowed my head deeply, and then turned my back to make my way towards the entrance of the building.

 

However—

 

 

Rei: (… Huh? My purse is open.)

(Shoot! My phone’s not in here!)

 

 

It was either in the car or I had probably forgotten it at the Kujo manor. 

 

I turned on my heel, thinking that I might still be able to catch them in time. Immediately—

 

 

Kirishima: REI!?

 

Rei: !!

 

 

My vision was ablaze with a blinding flash of light.

 

And my body was enveloped in the shock of not knowing what was left from right, up from down, or front to back.

 

In between my loss of consciousness and staying alert, the thought that strongly popped up inside my head was…

 

… my assignment with Kujo-san.

 

The ‘wish inside my dreams’ that I wanted to entrust to God.

 

 

* * *

 

-Hanging Gardens-

 

??? (Natsume): Yikes… It’s like a scene out of a flopped action movie.

 

 

12.

 

-Temple of Gods-

 

Seated at the round golden table, the gods were amusing themselves with the topic of discussion—that is, the wishes of a mortal—as they relieved their boredom.

 

 

??? (Kujo): Right then, let us commence council in relation to Izumi Rei’s wish.

 

??? (Seo): How many hundreds of years has it been since we’ve seen such a fierce desire, I wonder.

 

??? (Makoto): She’s sent in several requests, but taking into account her current circumstances, they’re all rather erratic in nature. 

 

??? (Kaname): Isn’t that exactly why they’re a ‘prayer to God’?

 

??? (Kyosuke): It was right before she lost consciousness, after all. I’m sure she must’ve also been in a state of confusion.

 

??? (Seki): Regardless of how impossible it can be thought of as—

We must absolutely grant the wishes delivered to us through the light of the fallen star.

 

??? (Yui): It doesn’t sound like her wish is a boring one, so let’s jump straight into mapping out a plan so that we can get to granting them.

 

??? (Hosho): But… whether someone who’s only half a god as I am will be able to properly make them come true is…

 

??? (Seo): There’s no need to worry.

It’s not just Izumi Rei, but the way these humans think is very simple and transparent.

 

??? (Kujo): That’s especially true to beings such as ourselves with an omnipresent perspective.

 

??? (Seo): Precisely.

 

??? (Seki): We’ll start by deciding who should go first. 

 

??? (Arakida): I’ll go.

 

??? (Yui): What’s gotten into you? You’re taking action for a change. Did Izumi Rei catch your interest?

 

??? (Kyosuke): Her wish was an honest and adorable one to boot, that’s for sure.

 

??? (Arakida): … Whatever. I just wanna hurry up and get the job over and done with. 

 

??? (Natsume): …… 

 

??? (Seki): What’s wrong? You’re looking gloomy there.

 

 

14.

 

-Temple of Gods-

 

??? (Natsume): I’m not feeling this whole cute thing towards a human, and I’m also disturbed by how convenient her wishes are.

 

??? (Kaname): I reckon from where we stand though, the wishes of these mortals are always full of things that would try our patience, in any era.

 

??? (Yui): What he said. When people around the world spot a shooting star, it’s ‘money, money, money’.

 

??? (Natsume): Can’t say I find myself liking those sorts.

I can’t be as open-minded as you all are.

 

??? (Arakida): If you rip off that outer layer, then the lot of them are just the same basic creatures, those humans.

They’re not a bunch to go getting picky with emotions about. I’ll be back.

 

 

* * *

 

-Rei’s Home: Living Quarters-

 

Rei: ……

Mmf—! H-Huh? It’s… morning? Since when did I hop into bed… 

 

 

The familiar room was quiet, and it dawned on me that it was still early morning right now.

 

Only the oddly loud clunking noise of the washing machine running was sounding out.

 

 

Rei: (Wait, did I set off a timer for the laundry?)

(… Or more like, that’s some hell of a ruckus. Maybe it’s broken?)

 

 

I rushed out of bed and headed for the washroom.

 

 

* * *

 

-Rei’s Home: Washroom-

 

Rei: (Holy heck! It’s shaking like crazy!?)

 

 

If I recalled, last night, I was treated to dinner at Kujo-san’s place and had come home a bit on the heavily drunk side.

 

The likelihood that I must’ve ended up tossing something in that needed cleaning was there.

 

I frantically reached out with my hand to press the stop button—and that was when it happened.

 

 

Rei: (Huh!? The lid opened up on its own!)

 

 

??? (Arakida): … Tch. Why the heck is the entrance here of all places?

 

Rei: !!???

 

 

16.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

Arakida (?): ……

 

Rei: …

 

Arakida (?): ……

 

Rei: Err… 

 

Arakida (?): What?

 

Rei: You’re… Arakida-san, aren’t you?

(He’s wearing an outrageous costume though… On top of that, he popped out of the washing machine.)

 

Arakida (?): If that’s how I look to you, then I guess my vessel is this “Arakida” person.

 

Rei: … Huh?

 

Arakida (?): But I’m not Arakida—I’m God.

 

Rei: ??????

 

Arakida (?): God doesn’t possess a physical body to begin with. So what your eyes are picking up on the vessel is nothing more than your own interpretation.

 

 

A cold sweat ran straight down my back.

 

 

Rei: … Why did you show up out of my washing machine?

 

Arakida (?): It’s often the case when going back and forth between Earth and Heaven. Don’t dwell on it.

That aside, getting down to business—I’ve come here this time to grant you the thing that you’ve so strongly wished for.

 

Rei: What I… wished for?

 

Arakida (?): “To live everyday like a lazy billionaire”.

 

Rei: H-Huh!? A b-billionaire… No, c’mon, I’ve never wi—

(Hold on. I feel like I did wish for it. But when? And why?)

(I can’t really remember…)

(Anyhow—!)

Um, so… I don’t think he’s worried, but just in case, I’m gonna give Hattori-san a call.

 

Arakida (?): What?

 

Rei: It’s all good. I’ll leave out the part where you came out of my washing machine.

 

Arakida (?): You’re not up to believing that I’m God?

 

Rei: Of course I believe you’re God, uh-huh! Yep, God! I totally get it!

 

Arakida (?): … I’ll prove it to you.

 

 

As Arakida-san (?) said that, he lightly fluttered his wings, then lifted up his arm, and—

 

 

Rei: !!???

 

 

Appearing out of nowhere before me was stack after stack high of hundred-dollar bill notes… Money… Lots of it…

 

 

Arakida (?): That’s a billion there.

 

Rei: A BILLION!!???

 

Arakida (?): You’re officially a billionaire. Go on and laze around all you want.

 

Rei: (WHAAAT!?)

 

 

18.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

Arakida (?): You convinced that I’m God now?

 

Rei: (Oh, I see, this is a dream… That’s gotta be it. Otherwise, I’m seriously losing my mind.)

(Something as lucky as being a billionaire and having a billion dollar fortune is like, way up there with my imagination reaching its breaking point… Yep, I’m dreaming.)

 

 

In that case, I was going to stop already with being baffled over the unrealistic phenomenon. I switched out my thinking and decided to completely enjoy myself to the fullest. 

 

 

Rei: Then, I guess… I’m in your capable hands, God Arakida-san.

 

Arakida (God): Duh.

 

Rei: For a start… 

 

 

All the while still holding onto a very real sense of confusion, I regarded the piles of stacked bills.

 

 

Rei: … It’s making me anxious, so I’m going to shove this mountain of notes into my closet.

 

Arakida (God): I can do that much in a flash.

 

Rei: Huh?

 

 

God Arakida-san raised his hand—and poof!—the stack of bills were gone.

 

Following that, the closet door opened up on its own, and inside was a billion dollars neatly stored away.

 

 

Arakida (God): You happy now?

 

Rei: Ooh! That saved me big time. Thank you.

(I wonder if anything is possible with God’s power…)

 

Arakida (God): Get a move on being lazy already. I can’t leave until I see it through to the end.

 

Rei: Oh, sorry… Then, next is… 

 

Arakida (God): … 

 

Rei: … Me heading into work, for now.

 

Arakida (God): Huh? What nonsense are you spouting?

 

Rei: Er… 

 

Arakida (God): Wasn’t it your wish to laze around everyday? Performing labour equates to undoing the wish.

 

Rei: But, like—

 

Arakida (God): ‘Lazing around’ is what’s called wanting to take your sweet time doing nothing at home.

If you work even with me giving you the billion dollars, then it means that I wasn’t able to grant you your wish.

Don’t go making me look like a fool.

 

Rei: R-Right, I see… 

 

 

After caving in to the pressure of a seemingly grouchy God Arakida-san, I sat myself down on the sofa.

 

For the time being, as one of the basics of lazing around, I turned on the TV.

 

God Arakida-san remained standing in a corner of the room as he kept watch over me with quite the stern expression.

 

 

—“We disrupt your regular news broadcast to bring you an emergency announcement.”

 

—“At present, we believe that a man has taken a female employee hostage and is holing himself up inside the convenience store at—”

 

 

Rei: That convenience store is one in this neighbourhood—!

 

Arakida (God): … 

 

 

20.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

—“According to those who evacuated the premise, the man was heard to be yelling, ‘fork over the money for the dope!’ and ‘I’ll kill her if you don’t’.”

 

—“From what we know, the situation is that the man is holding what appears to be a kitchen knife to the female employee’s throat.”

 

 

Rei: Could he be a drug addict? If so, the chances of him being sane enough to let the hostage go alive is slim.

(Even right now, at this very moment, he may have—)

 

 

Not being able to sit still and do nothing, I stood up and looked at God Arakida-san.

 

 

Rei: Um, hey, is it possible to put this perp holing himself up to sleep or, you know, something along those lines using God’s power?

 

Arakida (God): Adding on wishes that don't have anything to do with your lazy lifestyle is not permitted.

 

Rei: I’m simply asking a favour of God while watching TV at home—so hah! It checks off the lazing around box!

 

Arakida (God): What a reach… Either way, even if you didn’t ask, I have no intention of letting blood be spilt on my watch. 

 

 

Upon him having said that—

 

 

—“This just in! We’ve received word that the perpetrator holing up inside has all of a sudden fainted!”

 

 

Rei: (Thank god…)

(Nope, uh-uh—I can’t relax unless I confirm it with my own eyes!)

Hey God, I’ll be back in a bit!

 

Arakida (God): What, you—!

 

Rei: I’m only stepping out to go buy some chips and whatnot that are essentials for lazing around!

 

Arakida (God): Wait—!

 

 

* * *

 

-In front of the convenience store-

 

I had rushed onto the scene of the crime, and outside the convenience store were tonnes of press crowding the place.

 

I focused my concentration on the rabble that I could hear coming from the masses.

 

After learning that the perp did in fact pass out, and that the case was accordingly resolved, I breathed easy.

 

 

Rei: (Wait… this is a dream, so what I am getting worked up for? Sure is strangely real though…)

 

Arakida (God): You satisfied now?

 

Rei: W-Wha—!? If you go outside looking like that, you’re sooo going to be arrested!!

 

Arakida (God): No one else can see me besides you.

 

Rei: Huh? Wow, being God is handy… 

 

Arakida (God): Time to head back and continue lazing around.

Your wish will have come true if the rest of your life is spent living in a way that you never ever cross paths with these kinds of dangerous places again.

 

Rei: !

 

 

I froze on the spot, not knowing how to respond or what face to make.

 

 

Rei: (What is this…)

 

 

A murky emotion was building up inside me, and eating away at my chest.

 

 

Rei: ……

 

Arakida (God): Hey, you there? The heck you standing like—

 

Rei: I’ve thought it over. Please let me take back my wish. 

 

Arakida (God): What?

 

Rei: (Even if this is a dream…)

I’m going to head back home, then get ready and go to work.

 

Arakida (God): !

 

Rei: It doesn’t matter how many millions of dollars is inside my closet, I have a duty to fulfil as a narcotics agent.

 

Arakida (God): You… 

 

Rei: It’s because you get to do it on the occasional day-off after working like mad that there’s joy to be had in lazing around.

Thank you for making me realise that, Araki—no… Thank you, God.

 

Arakida: What are you mumbling to yourself about?

 

Rei: !!??

(Arakida-san and God Arakida-san are appearing side-by-side inside my dreams!?)

 

Shiba: What are you doing here, Matori-chan?

 

Rei: Shiba-san too…

 

Shiba: We just happened to be changing out shifts for the stakeout nearby, so I dragged Sosei along with me to come see what was up ♪

 

 

22.

 

-In front of the convenience store-

 

Arakida & Arakida (God): …… 

 

Shiba: You feel that? There’s like a strange aura about.

 

Rei: H-Huh?

 

Arakida (God): Don’t let him shake you up. Sometimes we get humans that are sensitive to our presence.

 

Rei: I see…

 

Shiba: What?

 

Rei: Huh?

 

Shiba: What did you mean by “I see” just now, Matori-chan?

 

Rei: OH, THAT! NO, IT’S NOTHING AT ALL!!

 

Shiba: That so?

 

Rei: Y-Yeah, ahaha… 

 

Arakida: If you’re here, then I’m assuming you’re a witness to the incident?

 

Shiba: Or rather, were you caught up in it? You’re not hurt or anything, are you?

 

Rei: No, I’m not, but thanks for asking. I saw it on the news, and was only coming to check on the situation since my place is closeby.

 

Shiba: Oh, okay. Phew.

 

Arakida: … There, you got to confirm that everything is settled. I’m heading back.

 

Shiba: Hey, wait up, Sosei. Guess this is bye-bye then, Matori-chan.

 

Rei: Yeah, catch you—

 

Shiba: Bye-bye to Sosei with the wings too.

 

Arakida (God): !!

 

Arakida: What?

 

Rei: W-Whatchu talking about, d-dude??

 

Shiba: Fill me in next time, ‘kay? Laters~

 

Arakida (God): (Who is that guy…)

 

Rei: (Shiba-san’s character setting within my dreams is a medium for the supernatural?? Wait, huh? Is God in a different category to spirits?)

 

Arakida (God): Hey.

 

Rei: Y-Yeah?

 

Arakida (God): I’m done here too, so I’m off.

 

Rei: Oh, thanks for all your troubles. Although saying that is kinda weird as well… 

 

Arakida (God): … If I leave now, the money inside your closet will also disappear.

 

Rei: Sure, no big deal. Thanks for letting me dream big, even for a split second.

 

Arakida (God): … Seems like there really is no need to tear off that outer mask for folks like you.

 

Rei: Huh?

 

Arakida (God): Straightforward, and clumsy, and an idiot… the type you can’t hate.

See ya.

 

 

After leaving behind a gentle expression and tone of voice towards the end, God Arakida-san vanished from my sight in the blink of an eye.

 

 

24.

 

-Hanging Gardens-

 

??? (Natsume): … Hmm, right. This Izumi Rei person might be one of those corporate slaves that’s becoming an issue on Earth.

 

??? (Kyosuke): We’ll go grant the next wish. You’re up to it, aren’t you, Brother?

 

??? (Makoto): … I suppose I have no choice but to go with you.

 

??? (Kyosuke): It’s been quite some time since we’ve gone down to the surface, so I’m looking forward to it. I wanna put lots of smiles on people’s faces.

 

??? (Makoto): Even if their wish comes true, there are also humans out there who, for them, it won’t have any direct bearing on their smile.

The situations in which the expression of the emotion of smiling applies to, varies between people, after all.

 

??? (Kyosuke): I know that already. Still, isn’t it okay for God to wish about wanting to see the smiles of humans?

 

??? (Natsume): You have a fancy for odd things.

 

??? (Kyosuke): I fancy humans. Catch you later then.

 

??? (Makoto): We’re leaving you in charge while we’re away.

 

 

* * *

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

I had finished work and upon coming home, I quickly washed up and was just becoming aware of my empty stomach.

 

 

Rei: (This dream sure is long…)

 

 

Thinking that I may as well get to eating something until I wake up, I headed for the fridge, and—

 

 

Rei: !?

(This time it’s the fridge that’s shaking!)

 

 

I had given thought to the idea that maybe God Arakida-san had possibly come back, but…

 

 

 

Makoto (?): What a narrow exit… Or is it an entrance in this instance?

 

 

Kyosuke (?): Ahaha. Not that it matters either way.

 

Rei: !!

 

Kyosuke (?): Oh, good evening. We’ve come to grant you your wish.

 

Rei: (Now it’s a pair of gods that are the spitting image of Kyosuke-kun and Makoto-san…)

 

 

26.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

Rei: … Please help yourself to some tea.

 

Kyosuke (God): Thank you.

 

Rei: Oh, it’s pretty cramped when you have wings, huh. Sorry… 

 

Kyosuke (God): Nope, not at all. We’re sorry here too for barging in out of the blue.

 

Rei: No, don’t worry about it. I’ve built up quite the tolerance through God Arakida-san, so yeah.

 

Kyosuke (God): Ahaha. A human’s ability to adapt sure blows me away in every era.

 

Makoto (God): Your second wish is in the state of being granted. 

 

Rei: Huh?

 

Makoto (God): “To not get fat no matter how much I eat”.

 

Rei: !!

(Looking back, I feel as if I did wish for something like that along with the billionaire lifestyle…)

(But… when? My mind’s hitting a blank…)

 

Kyosuke (God): You can now fully savor eating delicious stuff whenever, and as much you want.

 

Makoto (God): Unleash your appetite to your heart’s content. Starting with—

 

 

God Makoto-san stared long and hard into my eyes as I sat there still feeling a little dumbstruck.

 

 

Makoto (God): … I see. Grilled chicken breast topped with spring vegetables in sauce, huh.

 

Rei: !!???

(That’s what I thought about wanting to eat when I was looking at my phone on the train ride home and an ad began playing.)

 

Makoto (God): I’m going to do a bit of research on this grilled chicken breast thing. Give me a minute.

…… 

 

 

Despite saying that he would do research, all God Makoto-san did was sit there and close his eyes.

 

 

Rei: ?

 

Kyosuke (God): Right this very moment, inside his head, he’s flipping through the number of books he’s read up to this point.

 

Rei: Are you saying he’s memorised everything?

 

Kyosuke (God): Amazing, isn’t it?

 

Rei: (Man is God’s HDD storage huge…)

 

Makoto (God): … I see. So it’s a simple dish that makes the most of its ingredients.

 

Kyosuke (God): Reckon you got this?

 

Makoto (God): Yeah. You ready and set to go with your powers?

 

Kyosuke (God): Yep. Leave it to me.

 

Rei: ?

 

Makoto (God): Then—

For the chicken meat—a crispy outside with a tender and juicy inside, and grilled until the meat juice is dripping beautifully.

For the spring vegetables sauce topping—soft and chewy bamboo shoots, and sweet spring cabbage, plus… 

Fresh onion slices, and also add in smally diced baked potatoes.

As for the seasoning, let’s go with a Japanese style soy sauce flavour that gives off a slight garlic aroma.

 

Kyosuke (God): Sounds good. I think I’ll be able to replicate that perfectly.

 

 

True to those words, God Kyosuke-kun had raised his arm, and where his hand stopped above the table… 

 

A plate of scrumptious-looking grilled chicken had materialised.

 

 

Rei: T-That was incredible!!

 

Kyosuke (God): I’ve still got a long way to go. Unless I pair it with my brother’s power of language, I can’t use my power of creation.

 

Rei: (By ‘brother’, I guess that means they’re siblings even as gods… Well, it is my dream.)

 

Kyosuke (God): I think I did a pretty neat job of it though. If you could give it a taste-test… 

 

Rei: Thanks for the meal. But before I dig in… 

 

Kyosuke (God) & Makoto (God): ?

 

Rei: If it’s alright with you two, would you like to join me? Seeing as you’ve made plenty to go around.

 

Kyosuke (God): Thanks for thinking of us. But I want you to have the whole thing.

 

Makoto (God): The concept of eating doesn’t exist for us. 

 

Rei: That figures, huh… 

 

Kyosuke (God): Don’t hold back, and go on and stuff yourself, ‘kay?

 

Rei: (This is all insane, but… it’s a nice dream.)

 

 

28.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

Even after I was done gobbling up the mouth-watering grilled chicken with no complaints…

 

God Makoto-san and God Kyosuke-kun continued to serve out a new dish, one after the other.

 

The next thing I knew, there was a considerable lineup of extravagant delicacies before my eyes. 

 

 

Kyosuke (God): If you’ve got a request, then keep on firing them our way.

 

Makoto (God): Because no matter how much you eat, you’ll no longer get fat.

 

Rei: (While I’m glad to hear that… does the part where I am able finish off everything also come attached to the wish?)

(Since I can’t get fat, maybe that means the limit on the amount of food I eat is gone too?)

 

 

Normally, following the joy of something tasty, there’d come the joy of being satiated and satisfied.

 

But that sensation had completely become empty and hollow.

 

 

Rei: ……

 

Kyosuke (God): What’s wrong? You’ve stopped eating… 

 

Rei: No, it’s just… they really are all delicious.

But seeing as I don’t get full, there’s no satisfaction to be had there either, and… that made me feel kinda sad somehow… 

 

Kyosuke (God): You feel… sad?

 

Makoto (God): Are you saying that there’s sentiment involved in the act of replenishing one’s energy known as eating?

 

Rei: Sorry. It’s spoilt of me to say, isn’t it? Or would you call it asking for the unreasonable?

 

Makoto (God): You don’t have to apologise. For us who don’t understand what it means to be full, there’s probably a range of emotions out there that we can’t possibly imagine.

 

 

It was arrogant of me to even think that they were pitiful for not knowing the sheer bliss of a filled stomach.

 

 

Rei: Is there no way for God to feel full?

 

Kyosuke (God): I don’t think anything is impossible for God, but… who knows. How about you, Brother? Got something in that head of yours?

 

Makoto (God): … In one of the old journals, there was a god who satisfied his hunger through mortals.

 

Rei: Huh? As in… like a sacrifice?

 

Makoto (God): There do exist gods who perceive humans as offerings, but that wasn’t the case for the text I read.

However… I’ve yet to unravel his words.

It was noted down that he took in the human emotion of love as part of himself… 

 

Rei: Love…

(Maybe—!)

Um, so you’re able to eat the same things as us, right?

 

Kyosuke (God) & Makoto (God): Huh?

 

 

30.

 

-Rei’s Home-

 

Rei: Sorry to keep you waiting.

 

 

I placed two steaming bowls in front of the pair sitting in their chair with their wings uncomfortably tucked in.

 

For tasting purposes, I also prepared my own share.

 

 

Rei: I call it, the go-to late-night egg drop udon!

 

Makoto (God): Udon…

 

Kyosuke (God): I’ve actually caught a glimpse of it before looking out from the door in the sky.

 

Rei: Please do give it a try. You’ve purposely gone through all this effort of coming down to Earth to grant me my wish.

To such kind gods as yourselves, it’s a meal packed with appreciation and love.

(Since I am always in the care of both Makoto-san and Kyosuke-san who are a mirror image of them.)

 

Makoto (God): Love…

 

Kyosuke (God): Kind of gets the heart racing… Thanks. Here goes nothing.

 

 

The two of them picked up their chopsticks as if appearing puzzled, then at the same time, they ate the udon with a munching motion.

 

 

Kyosuke (God): Oh, it’s yummy.

 

Makoto (God): … Is this the taste of human love?

 

Kyosuke (God): It’s warming up my stomach. Is this that satiated feeling you mentioned?

 

Rei: Err… that might just be the udon’s temperature.

 

Kyosuke (God): So it’s not, huh… 

 

Makoto (God): But it’s hard to call this action of eating the udon as simply a means of energy. 

There’s no helping this emotion that’s welling up…

What’s more, I feel as though it’s responding to your ‘love’.

 

Kyosuke (God): Yeah. It’s tricky to put into words that would come across as clear to humans, but…

Warm, delicious, cheery, and… fun. This udon gives off that sense.

 

Rei: (Though it’s probably different from being full, it seems like they can register the feeling of happiness… I’m glad.)

 

 

When all three of us had made clean work of our bowls, it occurred to me that the feeling of fullness had returned to my body.

 

 

Rei: I’m like, somewhat, stuffed over here.

 

Kyosuke (God): What… 

 

Makoto (God): There may have been a tear in our powers due to the irregular behaviour of ingesting mortal food.

 

Kyosuke (God): I wasn’t even aware that was a thing…

Sorry. We’ll grant you your wish again right away.

 

Rei: No, it’s fine like this.

 

Kyosuke (God): Huh? Why… 

 

Rei: Getting to enjoy eating something tasty, becoming happy through a full stomach, turning that into proper energy—

 

 

In that way, I was able to live out everyday doing my best. And if my tank was depleted, I’d replenish it once more. 

 

That repeating cycle was probably my own love towards myself.

 

 

Rei: I’ll work hard to self-manage my body shape!

 

Makoto (God): Then I take it that it’s fine to void the wish?

 

Rei: Yep. I got to have a nice dream, so thank you.

 

Makoto (God): By the way, the calorie count for the food you ate today—

 

Rei: Please adjust all of that together with the wish!!

 

Kyosuke (God): Ahaha.

This is why I find humans so loveable.

 

Makoto (God): ……

 

 

* * *

 

-Hanging Gardens-

 

??? (Natsume): That’s what she says, but I can already picture her glaring at the scale tomorrow anyway.

 

??? (Yui): Izumi Rei… What a fascinating mortal.

 

??? (Seki): Should we go next?

 

??? (Yui): Yeah, why not? I’m in good condition, plus I’ve taken down data.

 

??? (Kaname): Hang on a second.

 

??? (Yui): What? You wanna go first?

 

??? (Kaname): It’s not that—

 

??? (Kujo): We’d like to offer up the suggestion that we join forces to grant Izumi Rei’s next wish, if you’re so willing.

 

??? (Yui): Join forces?

 

??? (Seki): And her third wish would be—

 

??? (Kujo): “An Oasis of Heart-throbs”.