My words spark widespread shock. Hasebe, meanwhile, shakes her head even harder.
I flash Kamuro one last smile before turning back to my group to resume our chat. They need a moment to recover before joining me, trying their best to ignore Kamuro, who's still standing there like a statue.
After a bit, she pulls herself together and leaves.
"Are you sure that was the right move, Kōenji-kun?"
Now that it's just us, Hirata asks.
"Kōenji-kun didn't do anything wrong. That girl barged into our conversation first."
Karuizawa defends me without my prompting.
"Princess or whatever, we're all on the same level here, especially now with class tensions running high."
Satō's point is fair, though there's one thing to correct: we're *not* on the same level…
"So, you're a god, huh?"
Hasebe asks next.
She seems more interested in my self-comparison than the situation itself.
The rest of the group looks at me, awaiting my response.
"I told you, we're stars. I was just acting like one."
I reply.
"But calling yourself a *god*?"
Hirata presses, still not sold on my explanation.
"I was being humble, Hirata. I'm way more than that, really."
'Why do I love boasting like this? It's practically second nature now. But I've got the chops to back it up, so…'
I only manage to shock Hirata more. Poor guy…
"I don't mind playing the star."
Azuna murmurs.
"If Kōenji-kun's a god, then I'm… hm… an empress."
"Don't let this guy corrupt you. He's a pathological narcissist."
Hasebe snaps.
'That's not nice.'
"Hey, look. She's back."
Karuizawa cuts in, pointing out a development.
"She's got someone with her this time."
Satō adds.
"Is that the princess?"
Azuna asks.
Sure enough, Kamuro's back, but now she's with someone else.
It's a petite teenage girl with lilac hair. She walks with a cane and is quite small for her age.
Despite their slow pace due to the girl's disability, they reach our table.
The girl steps forward.
"Hello, everyone. Please forgive my approach, which might seem rude. That wasn't my intent."
The group looks at her with sympathetic eyes.
Hirata shoots me a glance, as if I forced a disabled girl to come here.
'Dude, don't fall for her appearance. She's way more capable than she looks.'
"I take it you're the princess?"
I say.
She turns her attention to me, smiling faintly before giving a small curtsy.
"It's an honor to stand before a deity like you."
"The pleasure's mutual. It's not every day a princess seeks me out."
The rest of the group looks lost.
Understandable—this kind of theatrical game is for elevated minds only.
"I'd like to request an audience with kami-sama."
The girl declares.
"For what reason?"
I ask.
"I have matters I'd like to discuss with kami-sama, preferably one-on-one."
I glance at her small frame for a moment before standing.
"Very well. What kind of deity would I be if I couldn't answer the prayers that reach me?"
At my words, she straightens up and gives me a cheerful smile.
I excuse myself from my group and start to follow her, but…
"I only granted an audience with the princess."
I say this to Kamuro, who tries to tag along.
She wants to protest, but the girl cuts her off.
"It's fine, Kamuro-chan. I'm in the hands of a god—nothing to fear."
With that, Kamuro stops and lets us go.
The girl and I leave the noisy cafeteria and head to the campus park, which is pretty empty at this hour.
"Sorry for making you match my pace."
She apologizes for slowing us down due to her disability. We're moving at a snail's pace.
"There's a misunderstanding, princess. You're not imposing anything. I *chose* to walk at this pace."
I give a proud reply, which draws a soft giggle from her.
We finally stop and sit on one of the many public benches.
"Now, may I hear what you have to say, princess?"
I start the conversation.
"First, allow me to introduce myself properly."
She places her right hand on her chest.
"I'm Sakayanagi Arisu, a student in the current Class B. My companion earlier is a classmate."
Sakayanagi Arisu, one of the novel's key characters. She doesn't appear until volume 5, but she's one of the few the protagonist acknowledges as formidable. Outwardly, she's a cute, frail girl, but she can bring far more imposing people to their knees.
"Pleased to meet you, Sakayanagi-san."
I respond with a cheerful expression.
"I invited you here because I wanted to talk with the representative of the class that bumped us down to B just a month after school started."
She says.
"Oh? What makes you think I'm my class's representative?"
I ask, playing dumb.
"Doesn't kami-sama know everything?"
I burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, fair enough. It's not like we're hiding it anyway. I *am* Class A's representative. So, what do you want to discuss?"
Sakayanagi returns my smile.
"Just what Kōenji-san thinks of this school's system and your future aspirations."
'Interesting…'
Her gaze on me sharpens, waiting for my answer.
"I'm not sure how that's useful to you, but I'd like to hear your answers first, Sakayanagi-san."
"That's only fair."
She places her right index finger on her cheek, as if pondering.
"For me, it's a bit sad that students have to compete against each other, but it's also the most logical rule governing our society: the strong dominate the weak. I'd say the system isn't bad in itself—it just sorts through the crowd and polishes the diamonds. As for my aspirations, I plan to lead a fun school life, but at the top."
Her eyes turn slightly mischievous as her smile grows.
"May I have your answers now, Kōenji-san?"
I smile.
"So that's how you see it, huh? Indeed, this school's system rewards merit—not just academic but in all areas that'll serve us in society later. What do I think? It's a fantastic form of training. Recreating a societal context of conflict to climb to the top, preparing the next generation from a young age—it's brilliant. As for my aspirations…"
My smile widens.
"I see this school as a tutorial for the life awaiting me. Failing here means no shot later. I'll rise to the top of this school, then to the top of the world. That's my take. Hope you're satisfied."
"Truly marvelous. You won't be a dull toy after all."
Her words carry a hint of arrogance and pettiness.
'A toy, huh…'
"Unlike you, Sakayanagi-san, I don't see this as a game. I plan to take it seriously. You'd be better off targeting the other classes unless you want to end up at the bottom."
A chuckle escapes Sakayanagi.
"How intriguing. That only makes me want to play with you more, Kōenji-san."
"I've warned you, Sakayanagi-san."
She stands from the bench.
"I look forward to facing you again, Kōenji-san."
She extends her hand with a cheerful look, but the vibe is a challenge—a declaration of war between our classes.
"It won't be a face-off, Sakayanagi-san. It'll just be your class crashing against ours."
I take her hand happily, smiling.
Our hands clasp briefly before parting.
"Sorry for taking your time."
Sakayanagi bows before straightening.
"No worries. I allowed it in the first place."
She smiles, grabs her cane, and starts heading back to the cafeteria, but…
"What…"
I scoop her up in my arms.
"I told you, dear little girl, nothing's imposed on me. I've decided to walk at a faster pace."
I feel her body tense slightly.
"You can go ahead, Kōenji-san. It won't bother me."
"You still don't get it, Sakayanagi-san. *I* set the rules, and I've decided we'll move at *my* pace."
With that, I walk with Sakayanagi in my arms. Her body doesn't resist, but I know her mind's another story.
'Caught off guard, little lady? Too bad you're so good at hiding your emotions… Most students here act like adults, which is honestly absurd. They're barely 16 to 18!'
Faster than before, we reach the cafeteria, where I set Sakayanagi down near Kamuro before rejoining my group. Kamuro's expression is conflicted, and she's not the only one. All eyes were on us the whole time.
Back at my group's table, everyone's staring at me.
"Pervert."
Hasebe mutters, and though the other girls don't say it, I can tell they're thinking the same.
"A proper deity must care for their followers."
I retort, striking my cool pose and flashing a gentle smile.
With that, we dive back into our original conversation.
Meanwhile, the war between our class and Sakayanagi's has begun.
Who'll come out on top?
My class, obviously…
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