Volume 1 - CH 24

Posted on March 25, 2022by Soafp

Translator: Soafp

Word of the test showdown by the gods spread quickly.

The topic affected not only those in question, but also many students.

“It’s Akazawa-san, isn’t it? You’re perfect in both studies and athletics.”

“Umi-chan’s not half bad either. Every time she takes a test, her ranking goes up.”

“It must be Tsukiyo-sama. She was second last year at the end of the school year.”

“No, it’s Mayuki. Last midterm, she came in second in her class.”

People from different factions are arguing all over the place.

Thanks to this, the students’ awareness of the test has grown stronger. There was less chatter during recess, and all the students were staring intently at their desks.

I was not interested in the divine confrontation, but I was studying hard. When everyone else in the class was studying, I felt a sense of duty to do the same, and my concentration was up. I think I can expect to get a good score in this class.

“–As expected of you, Shota. I didn’t expect you to make it a competition.”

Mahiro speaks to me with the same face as usual.

“That was the best thing to do in that situation.”

“Only Shota can say that. I know the goddesses don’t get along very well with each other, so no one has ever done anything to fire up the competition.”

“……Is it bad?”

“I don’t think it’s a problem. Look, it seems to have motivated everyone.”

I am relieved to hear that. Despite some acrimony, the test competition event seems to be stimulating for the students.

However, it’s an overreaction to a mere greeting at the end-of-term ceremony.

It should be the principal, not the student, who should be giving the address. Having the students greet others is a dereliction of duty.

“The goddesses are very motivated because it’s their chance to get some publicity.”

“They are really want to be like that. A goddess.”

“Having the title of god is very important in this school. It has a great deal to do with higher education and employment.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s not just about looks. It’s also about earning the trust of the students. Besides, you’ve heard that winning, say, a college beauty pageant, for example, is good for getting a job, right?”

Some professions may require good looks. In fact, I hear that Miss Contest winners are active as female announcers.

“It’s quite famous, Tenkain’s god system.”

“I understand that, but there’s no need to bicker so much. The air was terrible when I was forced to attend the meeting. If I had made a mistake, it could have turned into an incident.”

As far as I can tell from the explanation, there is no merit to fighting. They have been elected as goddesses, albeit by a tie vote, and there is no point in winning it again this year.

Winning the goddess title at least once would be advantageous for higher education and employment. It may be an honor to win consecutively, but I don’t feel that there is any particular benefit.

“Maybe it’s for the privilege.”

“……. I’ve never heard of Privilege and all that.”

“When a God has been chosen, there are privileges that come with it. You get all-you-can-eat in the cafeteria, you get a room reserved for God, and so on. The current gods don’t make much use of it.”

All-you-can-eat and even a room dedicated to God? I’m honestly jealous. I wonder if I’ll have a chance to be a male god too, by some mistake.

…… Well, I don’t think so.

There is no way I’m going to get a chance to be a male god. [TL: Something tells me this is going to happen]

” The rest, I think, is pride. Right after the Tenkain Contest last year, the goddesses suddenly became very motivated. Before last year’s contest, they weren’t really interested in each other, but then all of a sudden, they got all intense.”

“…… So that’s how they got on so badly?”

“I think it started after the contest.”

Just after last year’s contest?

I was not here then, so I can’t even imagine what happened.

“That being said, I’m curious too. Maybe something happened at the God Conference. If so, it might have something to do with male god.”

“Speaking of male god, I heard that he suddenly entered the game too.”

There is no information about the male god who seems to have participated in this competition. I have no interest in the man to begin with, but he must be confident in his academic ability since he is participating in this competition.

“He is a perfect superhuman handsome man. Are you interested?”

“I’m not interested in bastards, but is God a handsome man and a beautiful girl.”

“I’ve heard that there have actually been many cases in the past where a male god and a female goddess have become a couple. The meetings are basically just the two of them, so they can get close.”

“That’s very common.”

When the male god’s talk came to a close, the topic drifted in the direction of testing. I talked about the scope of the test and the trends of the questions.

Then, when lunch break was about to end.

“Shota, would you like to study with me after school?”

Perhaps caught up in the study fever, Mahiro suggested it.

“A study group, huh? Sounds like a good way to make progress.”

“I also want to show Aoyama-san how good I am. I’m going to aim for a high ranking this time. As a member of the Blue faction, I want to avoid disappointing results.”

“I don’t mind. Then, after school—-“

That’s when it happened.

I heard a voice from next door that sounded like an abandoned cat. I turned my head to see Nekoda, who was slumped over her desk like a zombie, with tears in her eyes.

As I stared at her, she turned her head around and met my eyes.

“…Nekoda?”

“Please, let me join you!”

Teary-eyed Nekoda grabbed me and Mahiro by the arm and bowed deeply.

Thus, the three of us decided to have a study session.

The study session was to take place at a nearby family restaurant.

We could have dinner and drinks. It was not too expensive, so it was an easy choice.

A few dozen minutes into the study session.

“……, are you dumb?”

“Don’t call me dumb!”

Nekoda’s academic performance was more serious than I had expected.

Not only was there a problem, but at this rate she would have to deal with a red mark. It was so bad that I wanted to ask why it was so bad.

Apparently, she made up with Akazawa, which was a turning point for her, and she is always playing around after school.

It must be a reaction to being suppressed until now. She went to karaoke clubs, arcade games, and shopping as if she was releasing her anger at not being able to play with her friends.

Thanks to this, her grades plummeted.

Last year it was a little lower than average, but now it is near the bottom of the class. Apparently, she also got the lowest score ever on the mid-term exam.

“Didn’t Akazawa-san teach you?”

“Yuuhi is really into it this time.”

“…… I see.”

No time to teach the slow learner, either.

On the contrary, I’m curious as to why she’s so obsessed with winning.

There’s no point in complaining. While cooperating to teach Nekoda, Mahiro and I studied on our own.

Two hours passed.

Nekoda complained that she had reached her limit, so we decided to take a break and have a meal. We each ordered and started eating. Nekoda had a big appetite and ate more than me and Mahiro.

“…… Speaking of which, Nijitani, have you bought a smart phone yet?”

She asked me such a question over a glass of juice after lunch.

“I wanted to ask you too. I can’t wait to exchange contact information with you.”

I recall the uproar when I once told him I didn’t have a smartphone. I thought I had lost it with my hillbilly pushiness, but it seems that it is indeed impossible for high school students today to be without smartphones.

“What level of countryside were you in where you were, if you don’t need a smart phone? I heard that even in the countryside, smartphones are now required.”

“I don’t know if I’d call it that. It’s too far away to give you a tour.”

“Then show me your graduation album. Oh, that’s right. Let’s show each other our graduation albums.”

Showing each other graduation albums?

I was a little shaken by the offer.

I simply want to see it. I heard that the school has gone to pieces since I transferred there. I’m curious to see how things have changed.

“I’m sure Nijitani is curious too. Yuuhi’s junior high school days.”

It certainly bothers me a bit. I’m also curious about the other two goddesses besides Akazawa. I especially want to see how Kuromine has changed.

“Well, let’s show each other after the final exam.”

“Then let’s show each other at the launch!”

“Roger that.”

“I’m feeling super motivated. Let’s do our best!”

Nekoda, excited, turns to her notebook.

“…… Well, thank you, Natsuka and Nijitani. You really don’t have to go out of your way to help people like me.”

Me and Mahiro look at each other and laugh.

“Don’t worry about it. Teaching Nekoda is a good review for me.”

“That’s right. I’m glad we had a good time learning together.”

After lunch, we started studying again. The study session, held in a cheerful atmosphere, was moderately focused and very satisfying.