nhp | (Sutamai) Event: ‘If The Gods Were to Appear Before You’, Part 2

31.

-Hanging Gardens-

??? (Seki): Heart… throbs?

??? (Yui): I’ve heard of that term before. The throbbing is your heart in (figurative) pain from being (metaphorically) pierced.

It’s an adjective used for men whose looks are strikingly well-put together… Or is it a noun?

??? (Seki): Humans are always so clever with how they use words.

Though what does an oasis have anything to do with it?

??? (Kaname): It could be that in her own little world, a heart-throb is on the same level of existence as the greenery seen in a desert.

Seems like these mortals are unconditionally fond of beautiful things in any era.

??? (Seki): I see…

??? (Yui): Nonetheless, how are we to go about granting this wish, specifically?

??? (Kaname): I’ve carefully gone over the practices where you can efficiently get comfort through attractive men, and from the information collected on current day Japan…

??? (Kujo): The answer is in female-oriented games.

??? (Seki & Yui): Female-oriented… games?

??? (Kaname): They feature a bunch of handsome guys spiralling in love with you.

We’re thinking of using that as a reference.

??? (Kujo): But with only two people making up the character routes available, the possibility that it couldn’t ever hope to be an oasis arose.

Which is why we’d like to request for your cooperation as well. What do you say?

??? (Seki & Yui): ……

* * *

-Rei’s Home: Living Quarters-

As I drank my coffee before heading into work, I gave pinching my cheek a go.

Rei: (It hurts… but also doesn’t? Hmm…)

A night had already passed by within this unusually lifelike dream.

Rei: (Why aren’t I waking up?)

(I wonder if my memory being hazy before going to sleep has something to do with it…)

(To begin with, am I actually dreaming in this very inst—)

???: What the—there’s so little space in here…

Rei: !?

The voice I heard was coming from the bed.

When I looked towards it, the sheets were sticking up and billowing about wildly.

Rei: (First the washing machine, then the fridge of all things, and now it’s the bed!?)

34.

-Rei’s Home: Living Quarters-

The rippling blanket was slowly lifted up, and out came—

??? (Kujo & Kaname): …

Rei: (Kujo-san and Kaname-kun!?)

Kujo (?): The circumstances on Earth have improved quite a bit too for the doorway to be a bed.

Kaname (?): The last time we came, it was a river with a school of piranha, wasn’t it…

Kujo (?): That’s right. But the piranha back then were omnivores, and a lot bigger than the ones nowadays.

Kaname: They were megapiranha though. It was before they evolved, after all.

Rei: (This discussion over the evolution of piranha… was in the useless internet trivia I read the other night.)

The costumes were very flattering on the both of them as they made bizarre conversation influenced by my brain’s random stash of information.

Just as I was coming to terms with the figures gradually emerging out from my bed—

Rei: (Oh, our eyes met.)

Kujo (?): Good morning.

Rei: Huh? Oh, yeah… morning.

Kujo (?): Our apologies for the abrupt visitation. It is I, God.

Rei: (That’s the same line as the one in the skit I watched at Kujo-san’s place…)

Kaname (?): We’ve come to grant you your wish.

Rei: Thanks… Um, for the record, what’s my wish this time…

Kaname (God): “An oasis of heart-throbs”, duh.

Rei: (Oh boy, this may be the most ambiguous reveal I’ve faced so far…)

Kaname (God): For starters, put this bread in your mouth and make your way jogging down the street. Then take a turn at whichever corner—

Oh, right, you’ve got a line as well.

Kujo (God): It’s, “Oh no, I’m going to be late!”

Rei: W-What does any of this even mean??

Kaname (God): It’s a strategy that I looked up on Earth’s internet as being the universal pattern for having an encounter with a hottie.

Rei: ???

Kujo (God): Rejoice and doubt not in your heart of God’s blessing.

Kaname (God): Let’s hurry up and get going. They’re already standing by and waiting.

* * *

-Neighbourhood-

I had no idea… that running with food in your mouth would be so much harder than expected.

Rei: “Ogh vno! Eym gwoing tovee wate!”

(I can’t even properly say my line!)

As I prayed about wanting to wake up from this wacky dream as soon as possible…

Kaname (God): Might have to ask you to pick up the pace there a little.

According to my research, the average human’s running speed is apparently sixteen kilometres per hour.

Since that was what my guardian god was saying, I pushed it into high gear, and—

Rei: Wah—

??? (Seki): Whoops.

Rei: (Even Seki-san is a god!?)

37.

-Neighbourhood-

Seki (God): … You okay there? Sorry about that. Are you hurt?

Rei: N-No… Same here, it was my bad.

Seki (God): Now with that out of the way, how about we get married?

Rei: EXCUSE ME!??

Kaname (God): Hey, you’re like, jumping ahead a hundred lines here.

Seki (God): Sorry, it’s just, they all lead up to me proposing in the end.

So I considered going with the love at first sight setting in order to make the wish come true faster…

Kaname (God): … It is what it is, I guess.

We’ll go with this and switch to Oasis Scenario No.7—“Please stop fighting over me”.

Rei: (He’s talking silly with Kaname-kun’s face…)

??? (Kujo): You’ll have to hold off on that wedding.

Rei: W-What the—!

(His arrival is coming from out of nowhere!?)

(Actually, did he or did he not just get here slipping through the walls…)

Kujo (God): I’m the one she’s getting married to. It’s a struggle to even bear-ith letting other men lay their eyes on her… a struggle to even bear with.

Rei: (He meticulously corrected himself where he stammered…)

Seki: Wait—it’s me who’s in love with Izumi. I have been since a few years ago.

Rei: (What happened to that ‘love at first sight’ setting…)

Kujo (God): Then I vow my love, even for the next ten billion years.

Rei: (He’s ignoring the natural lifespan of humans!)

The inside of my head was exploding with comebacks.

And the high-pitched honking sound of a horn only intensified the chaos.

Paying no heed to the traffic laws, a bright-red open roof car nonchalantly entered the scene.

Yui (God): Sorry it took so long. I’m here to snatch you up, babydoll. Go on and hop in the car.

Rei: (He’s breaking character beyond God-tier levels!?)

As if dealing the finishing blow, he gave me a breezy wink, and I felt a migraine coming on.

Yui (God): What’s gotten into you, sweetcheeks? You head over heels for me, that it?

Rei: No… Um, your vessel is giving off a very different impression to the person that I’m actually aware of.

Yui (God): … So she says. Well?

Kaname (God): Then, if you could go with Scenario No.2, “The Mad Scientist”.

Yui (God): Got it. Scenario No.2 it is.

Rei: (???)

Yui (God): Please marry me, Izumi. Becoming the wife of a god, and also researching into the secret of life is a fun way to live.

Rei: Oh… it’s a bit closer to the real thing.

B-But I’m not sure how to react to all these rushing events…

Kaname (God): For times like that—

—A: Go with the happily married life! (Good End)

—B: Start off by sharing a diary (Normal End)

—C: “I worship the devil, so…” (Bad End)

Rei: OH MY GOD!? THERE ARE THESE OPTIONS SOMEHOW APPEARING IN MID-AIR??

It was probably something close to a hologram… even though I was able to quite clearly see it with my own eyes.

Yui (God): It means that you can pick and choose your favourite guy to be a part of your oasis.

40.

-Neighbourhood-

Yui (God): That was my understanding, but—hey, even the end-game is completely showing.

Kaname (God): It’s deliberate. This is all just an act anyway to grant the wish while fulfilling her romantic desires.

Yui (God): Makes sense…

Rei: (I guess??)

Seki (God): It’s time to select an option, Izumi. We need to move onto the next branching point.

Rei: R-Right, see, even if you tell me that…

Kujo (God): She seems to be at a loss with herself.

Yui (God): If you don’t agree with any of the choices, then there’s the Heart-Pounding Flirt with God Mode available as well.

Rei: Huh? F-Flirt with? W-What??

After dishing out some new mumbo jumbo, God Yui-san got out of the car, and came closer this way.

Yui (God): To start with, I suppose—yeah, try lightly touching my arm.

Rei: W-Why, may I ask?

Yui (God): Don’t be shy. C’mon, here.

Rei: Wha—

He grabbed my hand and guided it towards his arm.

Upon touching it, an odd sparkling sound like magic chimes rang out. Simultaneously, a heart mark burst forth.

Rei: What in the world…

Yui (God): *Blush* Scoot up beside me, Izumi.

Rei: Out of the blue much!?

Yui (God): This is standard stuff given the ‘flirt with God’ mode.

Our heart gauge will fill up equivalent to the amount we’ve been touched, and a special dialogue will activate.

Kaname (God): If you control and map out your options, you can also have an oasis of forever friends.

Rei: Forever… friends?

41.

-Neighbourhood-

Kaname (God): Say you’ve closed the distance between us to a certain extent, but then go off on a date with someone else—

If that happens, I’ll be in the position of a forever friend as part of your oasis.

Rei: Err…

Kujo (God): It doesn’t appear as if she comprehends.

Kaname (God): … Alright, we’ll put it to practice then. Think of me as forever your friend, and try discussing about the one.

Rei: Um… I really have no clue what any of this means right now, and it’s not helping.

Kaname (God): We’re talking relationship advice here. Just wing it and it’ll be fine.

Rei: Ugh… Er, then, “There’s someone I’m in love with but it’s like they totally don’t even see me in that way”.

So something like that or?

I recalled the protagonist’s line from a TV drama that I happened to have seen recently.

When I was done—

[Thud]

Kaname (God): Hey—

Rei: !!

A wall suddenly popped up right behind me, and God Kaname-kun placed his hand to the side of my face.

Rei: (He’s using a move that’s like straight out of a textbook!!)

Kaname (God): … Why not forget about that person, and be mine?

Rei: !!!

Kaname (God): Don’t see me as a friend… but as a man.

Rei: I-!!

Kaname (God): … Well?

Rei: Oh… yeah, my heart may have skipped a beat there with the forever friends mode.

Kaname (God): Hmm, the effect of the oasis is confirmed then.

While saying that all businesslike, God Kaname-kun proceeded to move away, and the wall behind me also disappeared.

Yui (God): You’re so simple, Izumi.

Rei: No arguments there…

Seki (God): By the way, you can also choose your ending.

Once again, a hologram appeared in mid-air.

—Normal Ending

—Happy Ending

Rei: (I guess anything goes at this point…)

With the happy ending, is it what you said earlier, Se—God?

You know, about getting married and all.

Seki (God): That’d be it.

Rei: Then, with the normal ending, what would happen to everyone?

Seki (God): In my case—

44.

-Neighbourhood-

Seki (God): We would fail to overcome the gap between humans and God, and despite being separated and apart, we would think of each other.

That’s apparently the ending.

Rei: Oof, very angsty.

Yui (God): With my normal ending, any romantic sentiment is gone from my interest in you.

You become a truly fascinating experimental subject as a mortal.

And until I’m satisfied with my research, you’re unable to return to Earth.

Rei: H-Huh? It’s quickly diving down the psychological horror genre, don’t you think…

Yui (God): In the happy ending, I come to know and understand you as a human and I make you happier more than anyone else.

Kujo (God): In my scenario, if it’s the normal ending, then…

……

Rei: ?

Kujo (God): … I take away your memories so that you can live a normal happy life, and then I vanish from your sight.

I make it so that it’s as if we never met.

Rei: Another heart-wrenching one… Oh, but if there’s no memory of it then I suppose there wouldn’t be any pain there either.

Kujo (God): … In the event of a happy ending, I impersonate being mortal and grow old together with you. But after your death, I go back to being a god.

Can that honestly… be called happiness though?

Kaname (God): What do you mean?

Kujo (God): Pretending to be a proper human, and being beside your dearest in a false form…

I can’t seem to get my head around it… what it is that I’m able to leave them with, and what it is that I’m left with.

Should that be the case, I think the route where I strip them of their memories and fade away would be a blessing to them.

I’m sure the reality that exists where the one I love is happy will stay with me too…

Yui (God): What a very human-like emotion… or is it a human-like turmoil?

Kujo (God): I merely felt for a brief second that I couldn’t fathom it.

Rei: (Even God is thinking this and that for the sake of granting my wish, huh…)

47.

-Neighbourhood-

I was being surrounded by a bunch of handsome gods unconditionally seeking after my affections.

This rapid development amidst my exhausting everyday work life was indeed turning out to be an oasis.

But it struck me that I was okay with it being a dream, and not actually reality.

Rei: I’ll admit that I do feel as if I did wish for an oasis of heart-throbs…

But I’ve come to realise that I was wrong.

Yui (God): … Wrong?

Rei: Yep.

Kaname (God): What are you saying?

Rei: Yeah, good-looking guys are eye-candy, and I have thought that their smiling faces on the ads inside trains and such do make me feel better.

But if I’m going to ask for an oasis that’s exclusive to me only, then the least I should do on my part is be an oasis to them too, you know…

Which was why I didn’t feel right with getting the gods to just give me what I want.

Seki (God): …

Rei: I can’t explain it very well, but I’d like to take back this wish.

Yui (God): … You sure?

Rei: Uh-huh!

I had a hilarious time with all you gorgeous gods. Thank you.

* * *

-Hanging Gardens-

??? (Natsume): Again with this recurring theme…

??? (Seo): It’s rather intriguing.

After having a taste of her self-serving wishes, she’s going through the steps of understanding the true nature of her heart.

??? (Hosho): She’s really honest with herself.

??? (Natsume): ……

??? (Seo): Shall we go next and grant her her wish then?

??? (Natsume): What? Haven’t they all already been dealt with?

??? (Seo): There’s still one remaining.

??? (Hosho): I-I’ll do my best!

??? (Seo): We’ll be heading off now.

??? (Natsume): … Hold up.

??? (Hosho): Huh?

??? (Natsume): Before that, I’m going. There’s something I wanna confirm.

50.

-Neighbourhood-

The manhole rattled noisily and then opened up from underneath.

??? (Natsume): Ugh… the worst place to come out of. So is Izumi Rei not at home or what?

Man: A-ARGH!?

??? (Natsume): ?

Woman: Hey, what is it? Why’d you suddenly scream?

Man: N-No, just now… I thought that manhole over there opened and closed on its own…

Woman: You’re obviously seeing things. Jeez, don’t say such scary stuff… Let’s hurry and get home.

??? (Natsume): ……

* * *

-Supermarket-

Rei: Beer, chuhai, and… oh, I’m almost out of shochu too. Maybe I should treat myself a bit and buy an ex—

??? (Natsume): Aren’t you overdoing it with the alcohol there?

Rei: Natsume-kun!?

Natsume (God): (So my vessel is this “Natsume-kun” person.)

Rei: (Another god costume… so I’m guessing that this is still all in my dreams?)

Then… the whole thing with me being late to check over the documents at work today was also a dream, huh…

I was relieved knowing that was thankfully the case. But a mistake was still a mistake, even inside a dream.

Rei: Alright, I gotta pull myself together so that I absolutely don’t make the same blunder in real life!

Natsume (God): So you screwed up, huh.

Rei: What’s this—a god that can read my mind!?

Natsume (God): You full-on blurted it out loud.

Rei: Y-You don’t have, like, special god powers that make people unconsciously blabber, do—

Natsume (God): You’re totally making it out to be my fault when you’re the one who was rambling away…

On second thought—what, just because you messed up, you’re gonna drown yourself in booze? Isn’t your line of thinking way too simplistic?

Rei: There’s nothing I can say back to that…

Natsume (God): Well, whatever. I’ll do you a service and grant you the wish of letting you vent your feelings with alcohol.

(If I alter the contents of the can or bottle into a high-grade premium liquor, then these mortals easily get drunk.)

Rei: Thanks! Sounds like it’s going to be a blast with God joining me for drinks.

Natsume (God): … What?

54.

-Rei’s Home: Living Quarters-

Rei: And this here’s the latest side dish to go with sizzling plates—fresh onion slices drizzled in ponzu.

Natsume (God): ……

Rei: I’ve heard that the concept of eating doesn’t apply to God, but you can get a feel for if something’s delicious, right?

Natsume (God): … I guess.

Rei: Let’s jump straight into toasting then! Raise your glass.

Natsume (God): …

Rei: CHEERS!!

[Clink!]

Natsume (God): (How did it come to this… I was thinking of leaving too once I had readied the alcohol and was done casually seeing through the wish.)

Rei: Mhmm! This beer is super good for some reason… Is it because I’m dreaming?

Natsume (God): (It’s ‘cause I turned it into the ultimate liquor with my powers.)

Rei: Drink up, Natsu—I mean, God. It’s tasty.

Natsume (God): … Then, I will. Thanks.

Rei: That’s the spirit! Oh, feel free to gorge yourself on the snacks as well.

Natsume (God): (She seems strangely happy somehow. She’s grinning while looking this way too…)

… What?

Rei: Huh?

Natsume (God): It’s hard to drink when you’re being stared at to death.

Rei: Whoops, sorry. I’m just happy that my wish came true.

Natsume (God): (Wishing to forget about your failures with alcohol—humans really are selfish and hopeless—)

Rei: I know that I’m still plenty wet behind the ears, but…

Natsume (God): ……

Rei: Even so, I can’t help not getting bummed on the days I stuff up.

If I had been drinking alone, then more than likely, I think I would’ve started having negative thoughts.

Natsume (God): …

Rei: Which is why I’m grateful to have someone here I can toast and enjoy drinking with.

Natsume (God): … What are you going on about?

Rei: Huh?

Natsume (God): Your wish… is “To drown myself in booze and escape from reality”, isn’t it?

Rei: W-What!? Okay, f-fine, I suppose that’s one way to put it.

But the wish I made when I was filling up my basket at the supermarket was that I wanted to have fun savouring every drink tonight.

And then tomorrow as well, I’d have regained the strength to give it my all once more.

Natsume (God): … In your eyes, alcohol is…

Rei: Energy for the body and soul!! Ahaha, jokes!

Natsume (God): (She’s grinning like mad again…)

(… She’s kinda different to how I thought.)

(No matter the era or how wise they are, I’ve seen people lose to alcohol.)

(That’s why humans who try to use it as an escape are nothing but a bunch of deadbeats beyond saving…)

(I assumed I was right in thinking they were that sort of creature, but…)

Rei: *Sigh* That hits the spot. Maybe it’s because I’m drinking together with God? I feel like I can definitely work hard tomorrow too.

I’ll be sure to… even after waking up.

Natsume (God): …

Rei: Hm? What are you smiling about, Natsu—God?

Natsume (God): Nothing really. I was just thinking that there are all kinds of mortals out there too.

Rei: Well, yeah, there’s not just one type of god either, right?

Natsume (God): … Perhaps that’s true.

C’mon, drink up. You can always do your best tomorrow.

57.

-Rei’s Home: Living Quarters-

Rei: Uurghh… can’t drink… no more… ehehEH…

Natsume (God): Did I make her go overboard…

Seo (God): Fine liquor imbued with God’s power will end up imparting onto humans extreme euphoria and a sense of intoxication, after all.

Natsume (God): Wait, since when were you here? Where did you come in from anyway?

Hosho (God): From the closet… Sorry that it's turned out with us running into each other…

We thought now would be the time to grant Izumi Rei’s final wish, so…

Natsume (God): Right, the full eight hours of shuteye one.

Seo (God): Looks like it’ll be a little chilly tonight. Let’s give her a warm and cozy sleep.

Hosho (God): And may all her fatigue be gone with rest…

Seo (God): We want to help restore your energy with our powers.

Rei: Zzz… zzz…

Natsume (God): What a carefree snoozing face.

Seo (God): There’s still traces of the alcohol left, so I’m sure she must be having a blissful dream.

Hosho (God): When I look at her sleeping face… I feel as if it makes even me happy.

Natsume (God): … I guess I can relate.

Hosho (God): Huh?

Seo (God): I see… so that’s how it is. Your perception of humans has changed from your interaction with her.

Natsume (God): Yeah, well, I was just thinking that there are somewhat interesting humans out there too.

Let’s head back already. I have a policy not to work outside hours.

* * *

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Rei: H-Hnghh… ngh…

Kaname: Oh…

Kirishima: … Rei?

Rei: Err… huh?

Miyase: How are you feeling?

Kujo & Shindo: …

Rei: W-Wha—!?

The view that I woke up to was everyone from the Kujo Household all present and accounted for.

59.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

I hastily sat up.

Kirishima: Hey, don’t get up so fast.

Shindo: Are you experiencing any headache or urge to throw up?

Rei: … No? I do feel completely refreshed though… Um, why am I here?

I retraced my still scattered memories within my awakening consciousness.

Last night—a car—I was drunk. Kirishima-san was also there. I had forgotten my phone and when I turned back around, there was a light and—

Kirishima: You almost ran into a road bike last night.

Rei: What…

Miyase: Thankfully, it seemed like Kirishima-san had got out of the car to give you your phone at that exact timing.

Kirishima: I was able to just barely cover you, but you wouldn’t open your eyes while I had you, so that freaked me out… for real.

Man, it’s a good thing you’re up like normal.

Rei: I’m sorry… Thank you for saving me.

Kirishima: Nah, as long as you’re okay, then all good.

Rei: Did you… suffer any injury, Kirishima-san?

He appeared to be fine from what I could see, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

Kirishima: Not a sweat. I ain’t got a single scratch on me, so don’t make that face. C’mon, give us a grin.

Rei: T-Thank god…

The feeling of relief gave way to a weak smile.

Rei: (The impact from that time was Kirishima-san having saved me…)

(True, I was taken by surprise. But in hindsight, I had been feeling incredibly flushed…)

Although it was crazy, I had supposedly blacked out on the spot, partially from being under the influence.

Shindo: You don’t have any bruises on you either, so your diagnosis comes down to just being in deep sleep.

Rei: That is, I’m… I’m so, so sorry for causing you all this trouble!

Kujo: The responsibility also falls on me for having made the alcohol readily available.

I’m glad that it didn’t turn into something serious.

Rei: N-No, please, all the fault lies with me! I really am sorry!

As I repeated my apologies, I somehow found myself staring fixedly at Kujo-san and Kaname-kun.

Kaname: … What?

Kujo: Perhaps you are feeling unwell somewhere, as thought?

Rei: No… Um… You two are human, right?

Kaname: What…

Rei: You’re not actually gods or anything, right?

Kujo: … God?

Miyase: Izumi-san, what…

Shindo: Hey, you sure she really didn’t hit her head?

Kirishima: ‘Course not, man. I had her fully covered…

60.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Kujo: What’s this about being a god?

Kaname: Did you have a bizarre dream or something?

Rei: A dream…

It felt as if I did, but also didn’t, dream it.

Rei: (Wait… huh? Why did I think of gods anyway?)

When I realised it, the question that had left my mouth had lost all its meaning.

Rei: Sorry, I kind of said something weird.

I think I probably did see a dream to that effect. My memory of it is already vague though.

Kujo: … At any rate, I’m glad that you’re okay.

Rei: More than okay, like… I completely snoozed away for eight whole hours.

Kujo: The shooting star granted you your wish then.

Kaname: Good for you, huh. Seems like you’ve been pretty busy lately.

Kirishima: Must be what they call a happy fluke.

Shindo: You mean a happy coincidence.

Kirishima: Yeah, that.

Miyase: Oh, speaking of happy things, I’ve pickled the ginger overnight for breakfast. It’s delicious.

There’s also white rice, eggplant, tofu and miso soup, and rolled omelette as well. I’ll grill up some salted salmon too.

Rei: (Just imagining it sounds mouthwatering…)

Right as I was thinking that, my all too honest stomach let out a loud growl.

Rei: (!?)

Kujo: …

Kaname: Just now…

Rei: (I-I’ll pretend as if nothing ever happened here, y-yeah—)

Shindo: That rumble sounded like an earthquake.

Rei: !!

Shindo: …

Rei: (H-He’s looking at me! I guess it was pretty obvious… Time to come clean—)

Kujo: That was my empty stomach making noise just now.

Rei: Huh?

Kirishima: No kidding!?

Kujo: Yeah.

Kirishima: Your tummy growls are hella awesome, Kujo-san! They’re the best!!

Kujo: I-Is that so?

Kirishima: Uh-huh! The number one in the world!

Kujo: Pfft—being c-complimented as the world’s b-best for the sound my s-stomach makes is—

Kaname: It does get a laugh going.

Rei: (Kujo-san is so nice…)

… You sure you’re not a god?

Kirishima & Kujo: What…

Rei: Oh…

Shindo: Maybe you really did hit your head somewhere… Should I book you in for a close examination?

Rei: No, it’s fine! I really am okay!!

I-I’m just so hungry that I blurted out something weird! Ahaha…

Kaname: I think what you’re saying right now is already weird in many ways…

Miyase: *Chuckles* I’ll go and prepare breakfast. Let’s all enjoy it together.

Kirishima: I’ll give you a hand.

Miyase: Thank you.

Shindo: To be safe—Kaname, you walk on Izumi’s right side.

Kaname: Got it.

Rei: ?

Shindo: It’ll be a pain if you suddenly collapse or something the moment you start walking.

As he said that, Shindo-san had moved to my left side after I had gotten up from where I was resting.

Rei: Shindo-san… and you too, Kaname-kun—thank you.

Shindo: No need for the thanks. Looks like I’ll be able to use that earthquake-sounding stomach of yours as a good laugh for a while, after all.

Rei: !!

Kirishima: So it really was you, Rei!?

Well hey, it’s the number one in the world! Be proud and blurp it out!

Kaname: What even.

Rei: If my hungry tummy rumbling becomes someone else’s laughter, then…… I shall wish for nothing more.

Shindo: How gracious of you.

Miyase: Haha.

Kujo: (The shooting star… No…)

(The gods or whoever appear to have also granted me the wish of my own little world peace.)