Meanwhile.
After walking for a while, Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly realized how bold she was being and discreetly released Yuen’s hand.
She stole a glance at Yuen beside her.
Seeing no teasing expression on his face, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
“Where are we going, Utaha-san?” Yuen was naturally aware of the girl’s subtle shift in mood, but he had no intention of teasing her.
After all, he had only recently cleared up the misunderstanding between them.
He didn’t want a small matter to ruin the progress they had made.
Of course, Yuen didn’t think Kasumigaoka Utaha was petty, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
“I’m taking you to lunch, obviously.” Kasumigaoka Utaha replied instinctively.
Then, a thought occurred to her.
Her eyes blinked curiously under the sunlight as she asked, “Speaking of which, do gods need to eat?” Yuen shook his head gently.
“Whether I eat or not doesn’t matter much.
I only eat a little when I get a craving.” “I’m envious.” Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn’t help but sigh.
Whenever she pulled an all-nighter writing during the holidays, she would inevitably wake up the next day starving.
If she didn’t need to eat, not only could she sleep in longer, but she could also save a significant amount of time and money.
As if sensing its owner’s thoughts, Kasumigaoka Utaha’s stomach let out a protest—a loud growl that cut through the air, significantly louder than usual.
In the blink of an eye, Kasumigaoka Utaha’s fair face turned beet red.
Although it was a perfectly normal physiological reaction, having someone hear her stomach growl was incredibly embarrassing for a refined young lady.
Yuen chuckled softly.
“It seems you really are hungry, Utaha-san.
Let’s find a restaurant quickly.” Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at him, her face burning with shame and indignation.
“Don’t laugh!” ….
Saitama Prefecture.
After finishing the wrap-up work for Kasumigaoka Utaha’s signing event, Machida Sonoko, having nothing else to do, drove back to her family home.
She had been puzzling over how Yuen knew what her grandmother looked like when she was young for the entire day.
After parking the car, Machida Sonoko got out, found her keys, and opened the gate.
A familiar, elderly figure was lying on a rocking chair under the tree in the courtyard, swaying gently back and forth.
“Grandma, I’m back.” Hearing a voice by her ear, Noguchi Miyu shakily held onto the armrest to sit up, slowly opening her eyes to look in the direction of the sound.
Afraid her grandmother couldn’t see clearly, Machida Sonoko closed the gate and walked straight over, crouching down beside her.
“Ah, it’s Sonoko-chan.” Noguchi Miyu said, recognizing her granddaughter.
A warm smile spread across her face, revealing her gums where few teeth remained.
She reached out a thin, withered hand and patted Machida Sonoko’s short hair.
“Why did Sonoko-chan suddenly come to see Grandma today?
Did you run out of money?
Grandma will go inside and get some for you right now.” With that, Noguchi Miyu started to get up.
Machida Sonoko hurriedly stopped her.
“…No, Grandma, just stay seated.” Noguchi Miyu asked again, somewhat confused, “Then is Sonoko-chan here to ask Grandma for candy?” “Grandma, I’m not a child anymore.” Machida Sonoko is really helpless.
She was thirty years old, yet her grandmother still treated her like a five-year-old.
“Sonoko-chan will always be a child to Grandma.” Noguchi Miyu’s smile didn’t falter.
“Grandma~” Machida Sonoko buried her face in Noguchi Miyu’s lap.
“There, there~” Noguchi Miyu gently stroked her granddaughter’s smooth hair.
“Did your mother pressure you to get married again, Sonoko-chan?” Machida Sonoko shook her head.
“Not recently, Grandma.” “Then why did Sonoko-chan come to see Grandma?” Noguchi Miyu didn’t think Machida Sonoko missed her just for the sake of it, considering she had visited only three days ago.
Machida Sonoko didn’t hide her purpose and immediately stated the reason for her visit.
“I met a handsome young man who looked about ten years younger than me.
He accurately described what you looked like when you were young, Grandma.
I wanted to ask if you know him.” Noguchi Miyu thought for a moment and shook her head.
“A young man?
I don’t know any.” During New Year’s, only older relatives visited.
She had never met any young men.
Machida Sonoko mumbled, “That’s strange.
could he really be a god?” “A god?” Noguchi Miyu’s eyes suddenly flew open, looking strangely excited.
“Did little Sonoko just say ‘god’?” Machida Sonoko nodded.
“…Ah, yes, Grandma.
The young man I met claimed, rather chuunibyou-ishly, to be the god of that Yuen Shrine you mentioned before.” Noguchi Miyu spoke urgently, her breathing quickening slightly.
” Sonoko-chan, was the young man you mentioned…
extremely, extremely handsome?” Machida Sonoko was confused.
“Huh?
Grandma, didn’t you say you didn’t know him?” Noguchi Miyu felt genuinely happy for her granddaughter.
“…My dear granddaughter, you have met the true Kami-sama.” “Any human who interacts with Kami-sama receives a blessing.
That is precisely why I have lived my life free of illness and disaster until now.” “Huh?” Seeing her grandmother’s serious expression, which didn’t seem like a joke at all, Machida Sonoko started to panic.
If Yuen really was Kami-sama, her behavior today had been excessively rude.
“Sonoko-chan, what’s wrong?” Noguchi Miyu asked.
Machida Sonoko lowered her head, afraid to look at her grandmother.
“Um, Grandma…
I think I treated Kami-sama as a swindler…” “Sonoko-chan, you fool!” Noguchi Miyu smacked Machida Sonoko on the head in exasperation.
Although the hit carried no real force, it was enough to make Machida Sonoko feel aggrieved.
She asked fearfully, “Will I die, Grandma?” Noguchi Miyu rolled her eyes.
“The gentle Kami-sama wouldn’t hold a grudge over something like that.” Hearing this, Machida Sonoko immediately relaxed, relieved.
As long as she wouldn’t die, it was fine.
“Well, I can just show respect next time I meet him, right?” “Next time?” Noguchi Miyu scolded, her gentle grandmother demeanor vanishing.
“Do you think Kami-sama is so easily met, Sonoko-chan?
Meeting him once at the shrine uses up a lifetime of luck.
Even I only met him once back then.” “Shrine?
I didn’t go to the shrine at all, Grandma.” Noguchi Miyu paused.
“Then where did you meet him, Sonoko-chan?” “At my workplace.” Machida Sonoko answered honestly.
“Kami-sama…
descended the mountain?”