As time ticked by, dark clouds gathered overhead once more, covering the sky.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had originally planned to have dinner out with Yuen before heading back, but the sudden change in weather disrupted her plans.
She had no choice but to return to her apartment early.
….
Meanwhile.
Following the address from the dossier, Yuuki Asuna had arrived early at the entrance of Kasumigaoka Utaha’s apartment complex.
She had been knocking on the door for quite some time.
Even though there was no answer, Yuuki Asuna persisted, knocking relentlessly.
Standing beside her, Shirai Rei couldn’t watch any longer.
Rubbing her forehead with a headache, she tried to intervene.
“They likely aren’t home, Miss.
There is no need to keep knocking.” Yuuki Asuna glanced at her, unconcerned.
“Rei-san, maybe she’s hiding Kami-sama inside and deliberately refusing to open the door.” “…” If anyone were inside, hearing such loud and incessant knocking would surely provoke a reaction, even if they had been fast asleep.
Miss’s intelligence really does plummet whenever Yuen-sama is involved…
Shirai Rei thought helplessly.
After another five minutes.
Yuuki Asuna, likely exhausted from knocking, finally stopped.
She lowered her hands, sighed, and crouched down against the wall.
It seems no one is home after all…
Yuuki Asuna’s suspicion faded.
Shirai Rei produced a folding stool from seemingly nowhere.
“Squatting is uncomfortable, Miss.
Please sit here.” “Aren’t you going to sit, Rei-san?” Yuuki Asuna didn’t accept it immediately.
Although Shirai Rei was an employee, she had long considered her an older sister.
Shirai Rei shook her head.
“I am not tired.” “Thank you.” Yuuki Asuna accepted the stool politely.
Just as Yuuki Asuna sat down, a pleasant, mature female voice—tinged with confusion—rang out.
“Who are you people?” Yuuki Asuna and Shirai Rei looked up instinctively.
“Kami-sama!” Ignoring Kasumigaoka Utaha’s question entirely, Yuuki Asuna sprang up and threw herself at Yuen, who was standing behind Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Seeing a strange girl hugging Yuen, Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned instinctively.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she saw Yuen reach out and pat the girl’s head with a practiced, familiar motion.
“Asuna, what are you doing here?” Yuen was a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected to see Yuuki Asuna here.
Yuuki Asuna shook Yuen’s arm playfully, pouting as she complained, “If I hadn’t come, Kami-sama would have been abducted by a wicked woman.” Wicked woman…
Kasumigaoka Utaha’s frown deepened.
There were only three women present; she naturally understood who the girl was referring to.
However, making a scene outside wasn’t appropriate.
Kasumigaoka Utaha suppressed her annoyance and put on a polite, business-like smile.
“Otouto-kun, do you know each other?” Before Yuen could respond, Yuuki Asuna’s face turned grim.
She stepped forward to confront Kasumigaoka Utaha face-to-face.
“Otouto-kun?
How dare you address Kami-sama like that when you visited his shrine just a short while ago?” Kami-sama was an ancient deity with a history spanning over two thousand years.
For a mere seventeen-year-old girl to address him so casually was utterly disrespectful.
“Kami-sama?” Is this some new kind of roleplay?
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Yuuki Asuna with amusement.
“Are you saying that Otouto…
Yuen-kun is the god of Yuen Shrine?” “That’s right.
And I am Kami-sama’s shrine maiden.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s expression grew even more peculiar.
This girl, who clearly had the look of a wealthy young lady, didn’t seem like a chuunibyou lost in fantasy.
Kasumigaoka Utaha slowly shifted her gaze to Yuen.
She felt she and this girl were on completely different wavelengths; communication was impossible.
Yuen knew it was time to step in.
He smiles at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
“…Utaha, just as Asuna said, I am indeed the god of the shrine.” “Huh?” Kasumigaoka Utaha looked completely bewildered.
Recovering her senses, she immediately walked up to Yuen, placed her hand on his forehead, and muttered to herself, “He doesn’t have a fever.” Before she could feel his temperature for more than a few seconds, Yuuki Asuna hastily pulled Kasumigaoka Utaha’s hand away.
“Please do not touch Kami-sama.” “Asuna, it’s fine.” Yuen patted Yuuki Asuna’s head, then looked back at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
“I know you won’t believe it, Utaha, but it is the truth.” “You say you’re a god.
Can you prove it?” Kasumigaoka Utaha assumed Yuen was just playing along with the girl.
Yuen raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
“…How would you like me to prove it, Utaha?” Kasumigaoka Utaha hadn’t expected Yuen to be so stubborn.
She rolled her eyes.
Noticing the torrential rain pouring down outside, she said with a playfull smile.
“I’ll believe you if you can stop the rain.” “Are you sure that is all you require?” Yuen asked with a faint smile.
Truth be told, changing the weather was effortless for him.
He simply preferred to let nature take its course.
“Yes.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded confidently.
She didn’t believe for a second that Yuen could do it.
Yuen withdrew his gaze and turned to face the heavy rain outside.
His lips parted slightly, and he spoke in the gentlest voice in the world.
“Stop.” The moment Yuen finished speaking, it was as if time itself had stood still.
Every single raindrop froze in mid-air.
Then, the raindrops reversed their course, flying back up into the sky until they vanished completely.
The dark clouds parted, and sunlight streamed down.
Passersby on the street, witnessing such a miraculous phenomenon, hurriedly took out their phones to record videos and take photos.
After doing this, Yuen turned back.
Kasumigaoka Utaha’s smile was frozen on her face, and Shirai Rei’s eyes were wide with shock.
Yuuki Asuna, on the other hand, looked like a lovestruck fan, her eyes filled with adoration.
“Kami-sama is amazing!” Aside from the Dimensional Space, this was the first time she had witnessed another of Kami-sama’s abilities.
“Utaha, do you believe me now?” “You…
really are a god?” Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a complex mix of emotions.
She had completely accepted Yuen as her “Otouto-kun”, only for him to turn out to be the deity enshrined at the shrine.
Thinking about how she had brought a god home…
it was truly absurd.
“Yes.” Yuen nodded.
Kasumigaoka Utaha licked her slightly dry lips.
“Then…
does that mean you can’t live at my place?” I knew she was a wicked woman…
Yuuki Asuna thought from the side.
“Yes.” Yuen replied apologetically.
Kasumigaoka Utaha’s gaze turned resentful.
“…Why didn’t you say so earlier?
I bought all these clothes for you for nothing.” “You didn’t exactly give me a chance to explain, Utaha.” Yuen laughed helplessly.
Kasumigaoka Utaha thought about it carefully.
Back at the shrine, she had indeed misunderstood everything on her own.
Although it was her fault, she still felt dissatisfied.
“Fine.
Consider these clothes my offering to you, Kami-sama.
In return, remember to bless my new book so it becomes a bestseller.” Leaving those words behind, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked straight to her apartment door, unlocked it, and went inside.
She didn’t forget to close the door behind her.
Her attitude clearly signaled that guests were no longer welcome.
Yuen looked silently at the closed security door until Yuuki Asuna tugged at the corner of his sleeve.
“Kami-sama, we should go too.” Yuen withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and smiles.
“Let’s go.” ….
After Yuen and the others had left.
Inside the apartment entryway, Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned her back against the door and slowly slid down to a crouch.
Tears spilled from her eyes, much to her frustration.
“Liar…” Even though they had only spent a day together, she had genuinely come to see Yuen as her Otouto-kun.