When I got home, Dad and Mom had already gone back to work. During those two days of exams, they had taken leave to stay with me. Now that the exams were over, they immediately returned to work.
After dinner, I turned on the TV right away and locked onto SH Education Television’s Education Online. After all, I had been on TV today, so I definitely had to watch carefully. At eight-thirty, Education Television’s Education Online finally started. I watched the TV with full anticipation. Finally, the reporter who had interviewed me during the day, Shin Garei, appeared. But this time she wasn’t a reporter—she had become the host! Watching the lovely Shin Garei on the screen, I once again became intoxicated by her myriad charms.
"Every year’s college entrance exam has finally come to a complete end today. Let’s take a look at the report brought back from the exam site." The scene changed, and I appeared on the TV screen, foolishly answering her questions. The whole segment lasted less than ten seconds before the footage cut to a proctor. Perhaps because of the news interview, this proctor seemed very excited, talking endlessly into the camera. I swear I could clearly see the flying spit on the TV screen. Next was the director of our SH Education Bureau, an old man in his fifties speaking in bureaucratic tones! I sat there grinning foolishly at Shin Garei on the TV, not snapping out of it even after the entire twenty-minute program ended.
At that moment, someone suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck from behind, a pair of lips pressed against my right cheek, and a coquettish voice reached my ears: "Good little brother, I was wondering why you weren’t playing on the computer today and were watching TV instead. So you were watching a pretty female reporter?"
I quickly pulled her hands away, turned my head, and said, "Don’t talk nonsense. I wasn’t! I was just watching myself on TV." My face burned hot, whether because Kavuri had kissed me or because she had hit the nail on the head.
Kavuri gave an ambiguous smile and said, "Is that so? Even though I didn’t show myself today, I was watching everything! Your heartbeat sped up the moment you talked to that female reporter! You like her, don’t you?"
I stammered and couldn’t say anything. I knew in my heart that I did seem to like that Shin Garei a little, especially her understanding smile!
"I knew I was right. Just mentioning her and you start spacing out again. If you like her, go after her! I’ll help you, okay? You just need to do me a small favor!" Kavuri’s brown eyes roamed over me back and forth.
I tilted my head away and didn’t look at her. But no matter which direction I turned, she would always appear right in front of me! "What are you two doing? Playing hide-and-seek?" Athena finally appeared. As if I’d found a savior, I quickly ran behind Athena and said, "Sis, you finally came out!"
Athena asked, "What are you two doing? Kavuri, are you bullying him again?"
"This time you’re wronging me. Your good little brother is thinking about a woman, and I was getting ready to help him chase after her!" Kavuri said with an aggrieved look.
"Who asked for your help? You definitely have no good intentions. Which girl is it?"
Before I could even open my mouth, Kavuri had already jumped in: "You’ve seen her too. She’s that female reporter who interviewed him outside the exam site today!"
"It’s not what she said. I just admire her a little!" I hurriedly explained, though my lowered head made it obvious to anyone that I was lying.
Athena said with a smile, "If you like her, go after her. What’s there to be embarrassed about?"
"Hehe, little brother, as long as you agree to do me a small favor, I’ll go knock her out, tie her up, and throw her right onto your bed. How about that?" Kavuri said, winking at me.
"Get lost! If you’re delusional enough to break the seal and go out to harm people, I’ll take you down with me first!" Athena said angrily.
"Tch. If Fuitsu is willing, can you stop it?" Kavuri paid no attention to Athena’s warning.
Athena jumped up in frustration. She realized that it was just as Kavuri said—if I was determined to help Kavuri, she would only be able to watch helplessly with no way to stop it! Thinking of this, Athena turned around, her sapphire eyes fixed tightly on me, and said with a very serious tone, "Fuitsu, right now you only know our identities. If you release Kavuri because of a moment of soft-heartedness, the world will fall into chaos. I know you have many questions, but for certain reasons I can’t tell you now. Give me one year. After one year, I will tell you the truth about all of this. You have to trust me. Kavuri is not as simple as you imagine. During this year, no matter what, you cannot agree to any of her requests! Promise me, okay?"
Seeing Athena’s serious expression, I knew she wasn’t joking. I quickly nodded. Although I didn’t know the reason, in my heart I was more willing to believe her!
Seeing me agree, Athena broke into a happy smile. She turned to the furious Kavuri and said, "I suggest you put away those little schemes of yours. Since ancient times, justice has always defeated evil!"
Kavuri glared at Athena resentfully and said, "We’ll see!" Then she left in a huff.
Athena walked gently to my side and said, "Thank you for believing me. These days with you have been truly happy."
"You’ve helped me so much, so of course I believe you!" I said with a look that said this was only natural.
"Mm, my good little brother, if you like a girl, go after her. Don’t forget you still have your big sister to help you!" Athena said with a smile.
"But... but I’m afraid she won’t like me." I said, my face flushing red.
"Hehe, if you don’t go after her, how will you know she won’t like you? You need to have confidence in yourself no matter what you do. Besides, you have me helping you. How could a goddess not handle one little reporter?" Athena said, a bit frustrated at my lack of spine.
"But—"
Before I could finish, Athena cut me off: "No buts. From now on, act like a man. Be decisive and have some confidence in yourself!"
After being scolded by Athena, I didn’t dare look up. Athena smiled wryly and shook her head, quietly making plans in her mind: Maybe it’s time to give him some intensive training. Then help him chase that female reporter. Perhaps with the nourishment of love, he’ll get better. This matter still needs Demeter (Greek goddess of agriculture) to handle. We’ll wait a few days until Demeter wakes up, then talk.
Athena said to me softly, "Do you really want to live your whole life like this? Being looked down upon?"
Hearing Athena’s words, I slowly raised my head and looked at her, saying, "No, I don’t want to be looked down upon."
"Then you need to take action to prove your worth. At the very least, you need the courage to take that first step. These things you must do yourself—no one can help you! Pitiful people always have something hateful about them. You may feel sorry for yourself, but what you don’t realize is that the person who created this situation is you yourself."
I looked at Athena’s encouraging gaze, and warmth filled my heart. Her words struck me like a blow to the head. That’s right. I’m not worse than others. What others can do, I can do too. In the past, I rarely realized this. Because I’d been bullied since childhood, over time I began to believe that I truly couldn’t do anything. This belief had formed a subconscious in my mind. Whenever I faced something, the first thought that came to me was that I couldn’t do it, and I never even tried. Listening to Athena’s encouraging words, the deeply hidden unwillingness to be ordinary stirred in my heart once again. My gaze became resolute, and I nodded firmly, saying, "I understand, Sis! I will work hard. I don’t want to be an ordinary person!"
Athena said happily, "That’s right! Now you’ve got some energy! Don’t worry, I’ll always help you. Work hard!"
I nodded and clenched my fists tightly!