CH 22

It was early in the morning.

The song-like chirps of the birds passed through my ears early in the morning. That "hohoohohoohohoo" sounds like the oriental turtle dove.

[It's really interesting how the bird really sounds, "hohoohohoohohoo"! You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7gJQI8bgKM]

When I looked out the window, a few stars were shining faintly like they were going to disappear soon.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes that were tired from studying and headed to the bathroom. There, I wet my messy bed hair and combed it without much thought.

"Fwaaahhh..."

Sleepy.

I woke up without waiting for the wake-up call from the Goddess.

I felt a bit disappointed, but also relieved that I didn't have to feel the pressure over that call... it was a complicated feeling.

"This is also thanks to Wakamiya-san."

I looked at my face in the mirror. Then I pinched my right cheek.

I didn't notice it until Kenichi told me, but he might be right. My complexion looked better. At least, I didn't look dead anymore.

"Yesterday... many things happened, huh."

Everything kept changing yesterday. It almost felt like riding a crazy roller-coaster.

Some bits were tiring, but the other bits were nice.

However, some pent-up feelings kept sticking in my body at the same time, which made me feel uncomfortable. That's probably why I couldn't sleep well. Then I woke up early...

"...I really have to thank her."

I picked up my folded shirt from the closet. It had no wrinkles. I guess Wakamiya had tidied it up.

How should I return Wakamiya's favor back? Free donuts?

No, she valued rules more than anything. There's no way she would accept that. But then, I couldn't think of any other good ideas.

Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.

When I was thinking about such a thing, my smartphone on the desk began buzzing. The screen glowed, displaying, "Social Goddess".

I glanced at the clock before accepting the call.

"So it's already this time..."

She always did the wake-up call at the precise time. Not missing even a minute. She's just like a sophisticated machine.

"...Good morning."

"Good morning, Tokiwagi-san."

I heard her clear voice over the phone. The usual monotonous flat voice.

"You're punctual as usual."

"My principle is to keep my promise."

"How conscientious."

"Rather than that, it's unusual for Tokiwagi-san to wake up first. Today is the first time that happened. Did something happen?"

"Well, sometimes I just want to get up before you wake me up."

"Ohh~" I heard a clapping voice sound and her impressed voice over my smartphone. Wakamiya sounded surprised.

"I'm the kind of guy who will do things if I have to."

"Fufu. That's a relief. ...I'm happy, but I feel lonely."

"What do you mean?"

"Since my task to wake you up in the morning is gone, the things I look forward to have decreased."

"Looking forward, eh..."

I didn't really understand why she would look forward to waking me up, but she might already miss the task that she had determined to do.

"But I just woke up early by chance today, so... I'll have to rely on you again..."

"Please leave that to me. I will wake you up on time."

As usual, her voice had no intonation. But I could sense a bit of excitement there.

"Have you eaten breakfast?"

"No, not yet."

"Is that so? If you like, shall we eat together?"

I couldn't see her face now, but this was a bit embarrassing. I scratched my cheek and replied, "Sure..."

"Then, I'll be there in thirty minutes."

"Okay."

◇◇◇◇◇◇

After we finished our meal, I looked at Wakamiya who was washing the dishes. Her slender legs were very beautiful. I guess I could describe it as elegant legs with no dirty stain at all.

How could she have excellent proportions even at that body parts? I couldn't understand. I definitely would believe her if she said she was a model.

"I'm sorry for the wait. Let's go to school now."

"Yeah... Eh, but we won't make it in time if we walk, you know?"

The time was around 7 o'clock.

We would be late if we walk from here. In the first place, I also didn't want to make a girl walk that far.

"It's okay. I'm riding a bicycle today."

"Eh? Is that so? You sure are prepared."

The Social Goddess with a bicycle?

I couldn't imagine her pedalling a bicycle. But I could see her being the 'Pied Piper of Hamelin' attracting the people who were going to the city...

Well, let's not overthink it.

"Yes. I thought that I can chase Tokiwagi-san with a bicycle if you run away."

"I won't. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Someone who ignored me at the bicycle parking lot and passed me even after I called him... You are guilty of them."

"...I'm sorry."

Apparently, she unexpectedly held a grudge against me. I meekly apologized, willing to kneel down if she asked me to.

"Please just don't do that kind of thing anymore. If you do... I will do what I did yesterday without accepting any of your argument."

"Anything but that, really..."

I took a deep breath and dropped my shoulder. If she did that, I would incur the hatred of the guys around me...

"But Wakamiya, about the bicycle... Isn't that a bit hard?"

"Why? I can ride a bicycle."

"No, it's not about that..."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, as a girl... um, your skirt... you know?"

I averted my eyes from Wakamiya who stared at my face. Then I heard Wakamiya's chuckle.

"It's alright. There's no problem at all."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Would you like to confirm that?"

"Huh!?"

Immediately after finishing her words, Wakamiya slightly raised her skirt without any hesitation.

I hurriedly cover my face with my hands.

...It's a secret that I peeked from the slight gap between my fingers.

And what I could see was——

"...Navy blue shorts..."

"Yes. Is there anything else besides that?"

"Hahaha..."

As expected from the Social Goddess. She had perfectly considered the exposed skin between the top of her knee-high socks and the hemline of her skirt.

I was relieved but also disappointed. It's like I lost.

How frustrating.