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Standing like a statue from how unprepared she had been, Yami herself tapped the notebook again, repeating the question.
[Why are you leaving Sayaka's room, master?]
—A massage, I gave him a massage so that tomorrow his cold attitude will disappear, I think—.
Not even he, convinced of his words, sweating cold, without being able to know the reason for it, looks away from Yami's clear heterochromatic eyes.
[Massage, what is that?]
Tilting his head slightly, Javier wasn't sure if Yami's way of acting was cute, but he breathed calmly, following her lie.
—I'll give you one tomorrow, it's late, I also need to rest for tomorrow, good night, Yami—.
—?—. [If you say so, master, I'll wait until tomorrow, good night]
Sighing as he watches her leave, Javier walks briskly back to his room and throws himself onto the bed.
—Uh, I have to be very careful, I can't let Yami, because of some bad decision of mine, have a twisted personality.
Declaring his oath with the best of intentions, Javier rolled around in bed before falling asleep, pillows and quilts thrown off, unaware that the God core throbbed, illuminating the room with a light pink glow.
--------------------
[Thursday, April 18]{4:59 am}[Valderrama Mansion]
Opening his eyes, he looks at a ceiling that is already familiar to him.
—Mn, I have to make breakfast and bento for everyone—.
Stretching and yawning, Javier changed into shorts and a sleeveless shirt, along with some running shoes. Hurrying down the stairs, the mansion's lights flickering on as he walked, he reached the kitchen.
Washing his face in the sink, Javier takes out several ingredients: greens, eggs, cheese, lard, passion fruit, and rolled oats.
As the knife clanged against the cutting board in the kitchen, another sound intervened. Javier glanced over his shoulder and saw a long black skirt.
[Good morning, teacher, what time to train].
Blocking his view with his notebook, Javier, still pecking, looked at Yami; for some reason, he was being friendlier than necessary.
—Mm, why don't you train with Rinka-chan and Sasa-chan, by the way, are they up yet?—.
Finishing cutting the butter into small pieces, she immediately added them to the already hot pan. While she waited, she grabbed a large pot full of boiled Quaker so her vision wouldn't be obstructed by Yami's notebook again.
[Slow, master, fast, just like me. And they're awake, I saw them start running on their own. Sayaka's face is red for some reason, and Rinka was chasing her; it must be some kind of master training.]
Stopping what Javier was doing, he turned around and looked past Yami, being able to see Rinka and Sayaka running, but at the sight of a stranger, Sayaka looked exhausted seeing her red face and watery eyes, but the truth is that she was running away from Rinka who was smiling from ear to ear.
—Hehehe, no, they're just playing. Yami, if you want to run with me, we'll go after I finish cooking.
… [Do I want ice cream?]
—Aaaah, I knew there was something fishy about you showing interest in training! Let me tell you, Yami, there's no ice cream until the afternoon.
—…—.
—Do you have something to say?—.
…..[I'm bored, there are no good movies on TV, I'll help here.]
—Kug—.
Feeling as if an eclipse had begun without anyone knowing, Javier watches as Yami relaxes and is eager to help.
—Then… bring me the sieve.—
—Now look, all you have to do is pass this liquid through this sieve and stir slowly without letting it spill over the sides. When you're done, pour it into this bag and come back. If you see that this jug is full, move it to this side and put in this other one, and when you fill it, put it in this bowl. That should be enough, you understand.
Nodding several times at Javier's demonstration, Yami takes the ladle and scoops out several spoonfuls of hot Quaker, sifting it through the sieve and discarding the residue. Javier, closely observing Yami's work, sighs when he sees that there's nothing unusual.
-Looks like I'll be able to serve the bentos before the pork rinds are finished-.
Javier thought, taking out three thermal containers, putting in them portions of rice, roasted pork, cooked plantain, and chopped tomato and cabbage salad.
[April 18, 2028]{6:02 AM}[Location: Valderrama Mansion]
Uncomfortable, simply uncomfortable, seeing Sayaka running down the stairs, as if she were escaping from someone, Javier not thinking that would be Sayaka's first reaction as he felt inhibited, Rinka by far remained calm but with a smile on her lips, who upon noticing Javier's gaze on her, raised her thumb and her lips moved.
{Well done}
-That girl, seriously, did she manage to get the information out of him, or is she just guessing, based on Sasa-chan's reactions-.
Unable to affirm or deny possibilities, he let those thoughts remain in the corner of his mind.
Letting things flow like the flow of a river, Javier and Yami ran around the mansion, increasing their body gravity. This didn't affect their speed; they just kept running as normal.
Running for a full hour, Javier and Yami, without breaking a sweat, began to eat the breakfast that was still smoking as if it had just been served, after an hour, and while they ate in silence, the news coming from the living room was heard.
[7:38 AM]
—Rinka-chan, don't forget what we talked about—.
—I know! You told me that on the way over. I'll call you when I finish classes and get into the club.
—...bye then—.
Raising her hand in farewell, Rinka disappeared into the entrance along with the other students.
Driving Javier, Sayaka did not speak to him.
—Sa-sasa-chan, let me know when you're going to enter your club, so we can work out our schedules—.
Speaking as relaxed as he could, his gaze was on the road and he glanced in the rearview mirror as he watched Sayaka's actions.
-Moron-.
-Hey-.
—Imbecile!!!, Pervert!!!, Demon!!, Disgusting!!!, Pig!!!—.
Like a prisoner being freed, Sayaka's eyes shed tears as did her heart; she released everything she felt from the pounding, screaming at Javier as it echoed in her ears.
"Hic, uu, ug, hic, uuuuuuuu."
Sayaka sobbed, unable to say anything else, Javier, driving without the slightest hint of apologizing or comforting her, smiled shamelessly as he looked in the rearview mirror at Sayaka covering her face with her hands.
—What's your reason for so much insult? Aaah, hahaha I remember you showed a delighted expression last night, why don't you admit that side of you?
-Be quiet!!...-.
Only able to shout that word, without raising his face, he expressed what he felt in a low voice.
—...I'm not like that, I just want to be a normal girl, fall in love like any other girl my age—.
Looking back up at the rearview mirror, Javier and Sayaka's eyes, red from crying, shouted at him again.
—Why won't you let me be normal? Why didn't you let me drown in my lust? Why do you force me to be rational? If all you want is to play to your pleasure, let me lose myself in my lust, let me be an unscrupulous woman!
Sayaka on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Javier saw a loss between reality and his past.
Kriiiiiiii!!!!
Slamming on the brakes without considering the consequences of his actions, Javier quickly gets out of the vehicle and tries to open the back seat door.
—W-what are you going to do to me?—.
Frightened by Javier's actions, Sayaka, who always kept the door lock closed, Javier simply opened it even though it was closed, pushing her into the seat.
—Kyaaa, no!!, no!! Leave me alone, don't make me be someone I don't want to be! I'll do anything, just don't make me be that person—.
In his last moments, he struggled to get away, but his struggle was in vain, as a person was sitting on his stomach while his two hands were held above his head.
—Stop being weak, Sasa-chan, you're not! Listen...—.
Leaning down to Sayaka's ear he whispers.
—... You're just a masochistic whore, with a horny, lustful, hopeless body—.
—Lie!! This isn't me, my body isn't like that, it was them who made me like this, their treatment, their training were what did this to me!—.
—Stop denying that part of you, now, that was yours from the beginning, that's how you were born, that's how you will die and you will die when I decide, I will never allow you to kill yourself, listen—.
—Then let me forget!! Let me forget everything, including my body!! You are God, right?! Then make me forget.
—Never. You have no say in how your body is managed. That is my will as God.
Opening her eyes as wide as they would go, seeing Javier's seriousness, a small glow illuminated Sayaka's head.
—So you're a fucking God—.
With those words, as he calmed down, no longer struggling to get out, Javier released Sayaka's hands, who first covered her breasts. Seeing this, he laughed and leaned back, leaning against his elbows, causing Sayaka to turn her face at the sight of his breath so close.
—Hehehe, don't doubt it, I'm a shitty God, because I'm the hentai God—.
—Get up… Hey, what are you doing?—.
With a tickling sensation on her sensitive skin that made her emotions fluctuate, Sayaka blushed at the act of being smelled, as a reflex, tried to push Javier away.
—This isn't right, just because you're a masochist doesn't mean you're not a pretty girl, fu, fu, and you smell really good, and we even use the same shampoo.
—Yes, yes, now get up, we'll be late.
Trying not to let her see the emotions pounding in his chest, Javier sits back down on Sayaka's stomach, keeping all his weight on his knees, but leaving a little bit of weight behind, to let her know where he is.
-Alright...-.
-So far so good, he needs a little more psychological work, so that his past doesn't affect him when he's in his rational state, but hey, I'm doing a good job if I do say so myself-.
With those thoughts, Javier returns to his seat, driving once more.
—You did something to me, right?—.
—Hm, I wouldn't say exactly, but your new ability—.
—I saw him this morning, [serene mind] is his name—.
—Hm, when I gave it to you, I was thinking about you and your future. I was worried that some psychological problem might affect you because of your past, and just as I thought, it happened.
—. ..I-in the skill description it says it activates at midnight—.
—As a passive skill, you don't have to do anything, but if the host is in a stressed state or has very strong emotions, the skill will be activated for a long time.
—Hmmm—.
—By the way, the [Serene Mind] skill can be activated under certain conditions, but it will take time for you to learn it.
Without receiving any response from the back seat, Javier takes a quick look in the rearview mirror and sees Sayaka looking out the window, her face flushed.
Driving in the most relaxed way, without any interaction with the other, the sea breeze tickles the nose.
—... Wow!! Look at that speed, how fast can that kid go?
—40 km per hour minimum—.
—Wait Karasuma!!!—.
—Hey, are these normal bikes?—.
—Wait Tenma!!!—.
—...—.
Having no words to express what Sayaka saw, Javier chuckled as he watched the last boy on a bike in a black jacket disappear.
—How much exercise must they have done to be able to exert that much strength in their legs?…—.
—...Why the smile?—.
—Oh, no problem. It's just that the scent of an innocent and fun romance reminded me of something when I was human.
I don't understand Javier's words, Sayaka leans against the window, letting the wind ruffle her hair a little, but that doesn't stop her curiosity.
—Romance, what romance?—.
—A love triangle, the girl who was following the first boy is madly in love and the last boy with a beard and sunglasses is in love with the girl—.
—How do you know that? I could barely see the silhouettes of their uniforms.
Curious to know more about the alleged romance, Javier didn't respond, but you could see how happy he was about something.
—Why are you, God? Right?—.
—...—.
Without answering, Sayaka, not wanting to continue the conversation, leaned back in her seat, returning the silence in the car.
-------
Having left the car parked as they had always done since the beginning of school, as they walked to the Institute, Javier began to sing softly.
[There are so many things that, even though it's hard for me, I want to tell you...
Yes, I continue like this
I won't hold out for long.
Feelings,
That I can't even describe them with words,
They never get here and get lost out there...
We are near and far too
Although the sky is always blue, you have to look elsewhere...
Everything goes around and around
Everything goes around in circles (x2)
I know it's not easy
Although confused
I will try to reach your arms...
Everything goes around and around
Everything goes around in circles (x2)
Above the clouds
Alone in this sky I will dream
Fly until I reach you…]
Ah, Javier, who didn't care if the others ended up hearing him sing. Sayaka, on the other hand, found it embarrassing and went ahead, leaving Javier behind, who walked as he always did, neither slow nor fast.
Being in a good mood, he repeated the song for the second time until he reached the front of his class and raised his voice.
—Good morning!!!, Good morning, beautiful ladies!!, Hello, plain, unattractive boys!!!—.
Starting the morning, like this at the Institute, everyone accustomed to his eccentric way of being, Javier, in good spirits, approached a desk.
—Miss Kuroda-chan, how was your morning?—.
—Hm, very good for your information, but it's going to ruin, now back off, Chu, chu—.
—Mooo, you're not at all sincere with your heart. But I know...—
Putting on an acting performance, quickly switching from his cheerful delivery to a sentimental one, Javier gently took Hikari's hand while covering it with his other.
—... I know we can no longer hide this feeling, remember, remember last night when we talked under the big moon as a witness to our bright future, when you sat next to me and we hugged making our hearts beat strongly...—.
Hikari, who was listening to the sweet honey coming from Javier's lips, her red cheeks making her face burn with shame, quickly moved her hands away to hide her face from everyone's view while still shouting her shyness.
—Ahhhh, I hate that guy!—.
—Yeah, yeah, Hikari, he's not a bad guy—.
—You say that because it's not you who is saying those words.
—Hmm, don't hide it, it's obvious, you like being spoken to like that, besides, nobody pays attention to me because of my height, it's a point against me, unlike you—.
—Jee, I didn't know you had a height complex.
Shrugging his shoulders at a minor matter, he pointed at himself with his thumb.
"Even though it may not seem like it, my height helps me a lot, and my motor skills will help me get a scholarship. Besides, being tall is convenient. You know when to take things from high places, right?"
Startled by Javier's gaze, as he leaned on his desk, he expressed sadness.
—I'm sorry, Kanroji-san, I didn't mean to hurt you—.
-What are you taking about?-.
—Your height, that wasn't why it didn't bother you, but because in your beautiful eyes I already seemed to have a special someone, I didn't want there to be a misunderstanding and for your romance to be a spasm because of me—.
—No, no, you're not mistaken, there's no one there.
—Seriously, my eyes don't deceive me, but don't worry, I guarantee the man you fell in love with. He'll accept you for who you are, and you'll be happy together.
—Too close!—.
Cutting through the air with a karate chop, sending Javier stumbling back, Hikari grabbed Javier's tie and brought it sharply up to his eyes as she tightened her grip on the tie.
—I heard, I think I heard that you just like to annoy—.
—You must have heard wrong.
—Seriously, why, are you a pain?—.
—Hahaha, Kuroda-san, don't get so upset so early, smile, you look prettier—.
—You're stupid, leave!—.
Letting go of Hikari for the sincere praise that caught her off guard, Javier quickly runs away, waving goodbye to Nanami and Hikari, and going up the stairs, he notices Sekai and Makoto.
—Sekai, Makoto, good morning—.
—Good morning, Javier, it seems things didn't go well for you with Nanami, hahaha.
—Don't say such things, feelings are confusing, but I'll reach his heart—.
—You're quite the Don Juan, you're going to make a lot of girls cry if you keep this up.
—My chest will be their handkerchiefs for tears—.
Joking with Sekai and Javier, Makoto who was behind Sekai raised his hand.
With a signal, they bumped fists, then high-fived and shook hands before greeting each other.
—Good morning, Javier, did you see the movie yesterday?
—I lay down on the couch with some popcorn next to me—.
—I can imagine—.
—Right, you heard about the new Idol, what was her name?—
—Idoly Pride and Project Cinderella, something like that I think—.
—Mmm, Idol? Your Ito—.
—What's wrong? Is there anything wrong with having any interest?
—No, but, Mmm, it will be my intuition, but surely you will not use those poor girls, to satisfy... Your i-ma-gi-na-tion—.
—K, you d-dummy! I-I would never do that kind of thing—.
—Hey, Makoto, wouldn't you?—.
—Javier, that means you—.
—Of course, we are men, it is clear that if we see a super pretty girl, who dances and sings, while wearing a colorful outfit, it is more than obvious what we have to do—.
—Wow, I didn't know you were that kind of guy, I'll have to reconsider our friendship.
—What nonsense are you talking about, Sekai-san, don't girls do the same?—.
-Hey!!-.
"Why are you surprised? We're in the prime of our youth; it's no wonder we don't do it when we're alone. It would be strange to tell him out loud. Well, I'm going to my seat; it won't be long before the bell rings."
Leaving behind a tomato-red Sekai, and a shy Makoto looking repeatedly.
—So, you do that too?—.
—Kuh, you idiot!!—.
—Wow, that really hurts!—
—You are a man without delicacy, how can you ask that kind of questions!—.
Javier, who had let the two fight like cats and dogs, looked at Setsuna, who was completely immersed in her reading.
—Good morning, Setsuna-san—.
-Good morning…-.
-She liked [The Veil], mm, as expected from Setsuna, she was hooked on the story, hehe, she looks really cute, she looks like a doll, ku, my hands are itchy, but…-.
Moving before his mind could comprehend his actions, Javier leaned back in Setsuna's seat, his arm hanging over her small shoulder as his other hand began to pinch her cheeks.
—...—.
—Annoyed—.
—Mala, just a little more, or you prefer the book to me—.
—The book—.
—Quick answer—.
Acting as if Setsuna's response hurts him, Javier changes into a man desperate for the answer.
—You're saying that book is worth more than I am.
—Exactly, and you weren't the one who recommended it to me.
—... you're right, but I feel lonely, you don't pay attention to me anymore, all because of that book—.
—Aaah, listen Javier, if you're going to start bothering me like every morning, I ask you to sit down quietly.
—...bad, Setsuna, you're so, bad, what happened to our promise as children? Remember we've been friends since childhood, we said we'd get married when we grew up, now you're cheating on me, with that, that thing!—.
Javier, covering his eyes as if crying, fell to the floor, acting like a helpless woman before her husband, abandoning her. Setsuna, losing patience, slammed the book shut, making Javier's shoulders jump.
Pla!
—You're not my childhood friend, it's Sekai—.
—Gaf!—.
—Therefore, there is no promise—.
—Kuffff!—.
—We barely know each other—.
—...—.
Inert from Setsuna's forceful words, Javier, with dead eyes, watched Setsuna approach and crouch in front of him, pinching his cheeks.
—It's time you stopped acting.
—mmm, if you kiss me, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts—.
-Pervert-.
Back in her seat with red cheeks, Setsuna seeing the book on her desk, decided to put it away, until she could calm her feelings.
Javier, his cheeks red from the force of the pinch, sat back in his seat and leaned back on his desk, waiting for class to begin.
—Another couple's argument—.
—You're wrong, Sekai, you've already decided which club to join. Remember that it's mandatory to join one.—
—Yes, yes, well, I already have one in mind and you, you haven't told me—.
—I've been looking and thought about joining a cooking club.
—Mm, and you, Javier, because your face is long.
—Nothing, I also have one in mind, but nothing decided.
—What are you talking about? Wow, Javier, what happened to your cheek? It's all red.
-... Nothing-.
Makoto, the dense type, didn't notice the quick glance he gave Setsuna before answering. Sekai smiled and, with her thumb and index finger, tried to pinch the other cheek.
—Hey, what aces!—.
—Nothing, I just thought you'd like to have both the same.
—As expected of childhood friends, they are exactly the same.
—Hehehe, that's what you get for being too annoying.
Smiling Setsuna seeing Javier's distressed face at Sekai's joke, Makoto didn't take any hint.
-Xavier-.
-Big-.
-Big-.
—Sasa-chan, how strange that you visit me, something happened—.
-...no, nothing-.
Leaving aside Sekai and Setsuna's two comments, upon noticing Sayaka's glamorous body, Javier sent a quick glance at Makoto, who looked foolish.
—...but I was looking through my stuff and realized you didn't give me my bento—.
—Oh, sorry, I forgot, let me see I saved them here—.
Checking his backpack, Javier freezes, taking out a plastic object.
-Frozen-.
—It looks like there's something written on the cover.
Just like Sekai said, the cover had writing in black marker.
—Yami nee-san—.
—...Damn you, Yami, you'll see when I get back home—.
Crack.
Crushing the tub with her hand, the lid fell off the container, rolling across the desk until it reached Setsuna, who picked it up.
[Come back with more ice cream, Yami]
—Take my bento, I'll eat something from the cafeteria—.
—Isn't it yours?—.
—My mistake, I take responsibility, just take it before you change your mind.
—As you wish—.
Knowing Javier was joking, he immediately grabbed the bento and left the classroom.
Sitting, Javier puts the destroyed tub of ice cream in his backpack.
—What are you going to eat?—.
—I have money, I'm going to get food from the cafeteria... well, it's not bad once in a while.
—... You want some of mine—.
-Alright?!-.
—I don't care, I don't eat much—.
—Then I will gladly accept.
Seeing a smile she had never seen on Setsuna, Sekai couldn't help but think about her best friend.
[Good heavens, Setsuna, you are very easy to read, well it's time for your friend, Sekai, to reveal the true intentions.]
Keeping that thought to herself, the conversation continued with Makoto.
—By the way, Makoto, which club are you going to join?—.
—None, I'm not very interested—
—So you're going to join the club, go home—.
—More or less that—.
—As expected of you, Itou-kun—.
—What's with that sarcastic way of saying it, Sekai-san?—.
—Just like I speak—.
—Liar, I know you want to say something—.
—Everyone to your seats!!—.
Abruptly ending the conversation with the arrival of Professor Tenma, Javier does his duty as the president of his class.
—Stand up… Respect… Sit down!—.
—Good morning everyone, well I'll start taking the roll… Aoi Tokyo—.
Present!.
—Udaka Tomo—.
Present!
—Sakamoto…—.
—Ryuto Miyake…. Ryuto Miyake!.. didn't come then. Okay, that's all. Now everyone go out and line up outside the classroom, we'll go watch the club presentation—.
Everyone leaving in an orderly fashion, Javier walks quickly through the crowd to Makoto.
—Hey, do you know something about why he didn't come?
—I don't know, I spoke to him yesterday, but it didn't seem like he was going to leave until we were talking about which club to join.
—It must have been something last minute, we'll know when he comes.
Leaving the topic aside, Javier and Makoto talk about clubs while Setsuna and Sekai talk in the background.
—Tell me what will you do?—.
—Nothing, I just think I'll give him some of my bento.
—Hmmm, that sounds like a couple, but don't worry, leave it all to me, your childhood friend, to figure out the reasons for getting so close to you.