"Ryoji San? Ryoji San?" A soft, gentle voice called out to him through the haze of sleep.
Ryoji stirred, slowly lifting his head, his expression dazed as he blinked himself awake.
Standing before him was a girl with long golden hair braided into a neat plait. Her features bore a faint resemblance to Souji, Nero, even ahoge…
She gazed at him warmly, lips curved into a kind, welcoming smile.
Huh? Why does it feel like I keep running into fateful encounters with girls in this school?
"…Jeanne?"
"Yes," she replied with a nod. "I'm Jeanne, Ryoji San. It's time to hand in your homework."
"…Homework?"
The word slipped out of his mouth as he repeated it blankly. And then it hit him like a bucket of cold water. Instantly, the drowsiness vanished. That single cursed word, homework, was enough to wake him faster than any alarm.
This was the classroom.
Last night, he'd only gotten home at dawn. After a short nap, he'd dragged himself to school, but exhaustion had won; he'd dozed off on his desk… and now it was time to submit homework.
Jeanne, the class representative, was the one who had roused him.
After all, no one else dared disturb the divine visage of a sleeping god. And so, the duty fell to her alone.
"Hmph." Ryoji put his hands on his hips and flashed a calm, self-assured smile.
"I didn't do it."
"…That's… hardly something to be proud of."
For a moment, Jeanne just stared, dumbfounded.
Never in her life had she met someone who could declare their lack of homework with such unshakable pride. She honestly didn't know how to respond.
"Um… how about this? You can borrow mine. Just hurry and copy it down?" Jeanne offered gently.
'An angel!'
If I'd had a class rep like her back in school, homework would've never been a problem. No more being punished by Sensei at the classroom door!
"No, no need for that." Ryoji waved his hand dismissively, radiating confidence. "I may be a good student, but I simply chose not to do the homework. Just explain it to Sensei like that, and it'll all work out."
"…What kind of 'good student' says that?"
A dull ache started pulsing in Jeanne's temples.
'So this was the rumored god. He really wasn't normal. His logic jumped in ways human minds simply couldn't follow.'
If this had been her little sister, Jeanne would've grabbed a whip if necessary to make sure the homework got done. But she couldn't treat Ryoji the same way. Strictness didn't quite fit when it came to a god.
"…Then I'll just tell Sensei you forgot it at home. But please write it properly this time. I'll be collecting again tomorrow."
After a moment's hesitation, Jeanne finally retreated.
"Ugh… homework again…" Ryoji slapped his cheeks, shaking off the remnants of sleep.
Thanks to Scáthach's permission, his attendance in Student Council didn't matter much. Homework, however, was still unavoidable.
And being hounded for it every day was getting irritating. Maybe he should find someone to handle it for him…
"Akick. Who's the top student in our grade?"
"Seriously? I'm swamped, and you're still bothering me?!"
"Alright, alright, keep at it then."
Akick's face turned an ugly shade of blue.
He hadn't done his homework either and had just managed to borrow someone's notes to copy. Unlike Ryoji, he hadn't earned Scáthach's indulgence. If he failed to turn it in, Sparta-Sensei would annihilate him.
"I know!"
Suzuka Gozen, seated nearby, shot her hand up cheerfully. "The best in first-year is Jeanne! For second-year, it's President Nero. As for third-year… uh, I forgot."
"…Jeanne's actually the top of the year?"
"Mm-hm. That's probably why Scáthach-sensei picked her to be class rep, don't you think?"
Ryoji nodded thoughtfully.
So… should I have Jeanne do my homework for me?
But looking at her serious, no-nonsense expression, he doubted she'd ever agree. In fact, knowing her, she'd probably scold him for even thinking about passing his homework off to someone else.
Thinking it over, asking someone else in class to ghostwrite his homework really wasn't a good idea.
"Uwah… so sleepy. I'll just nap a bit more."
A yawn escaped his lips as drowsiness washed over him again.
Ryoji decided to abandon the chaotic thoughts swirling in his head. Resting his head on the desk, he drifted back into dreamland.
No one came to disturb his slumber. Not even the Sensei bothered.
After all, Year 1, Class 1 had plenty of Heroic Spirit teachers, but without their past-life memories they saw no reason to interfere with Ryoji. If even the homeroom teacher didn't dare, why would they?
A god at school was, after all, a privileged existence. Every student on campus understood that.
When he awoke again, the clock was edging past three in the afternoon. Nearly dismissal time.
The bell rang. Without a word to anyone, Ryoji headed straight for the Student Council room.
"Ahhh~ this feels good!"
Soaking in the council room's private hot spring, both his mind and body were quickly refreshed.
"Of course it does! This is one of my masterpieces!"
Steam filled the air.
Wrapped in nothing more than a short towel draped across her front, Nero let out a proud, confident laugh.
"…Wait. Why are you just strolling in here like it's nothing?"
"Hmm? This is my hot spring room. Why wouldn't I be allowed in?"
Nero's answer was so matter-of-fact it left no room for argument.
Fair point. Can't even bring myself to argue.
Ryoji, a towel loosely covering his lower body, leaned back into the soothing warmth of the water.
Nero's eyes swept over him like laser beams, scrutinizing him with the intensity of an art critic.
"Truly flawless. Even for one as impossibly picky as myself, I can't find a single imperfection in your form!"
Gone was the frail, underdeveloped frame of the past. Ryoji now stood tall and well-proportioned, brimming with vitality. Enhanced by the subtle radiance of divine charm, his presence was strikingly sensual, so much so that even other men would have a hard time looking away.
Nero stared at him openly, her gaze filled with admiration, the occasional sound of a swallowed breath slipping free.
"Ryoji… tell me honestly. Do you think I'm only attracted to your appearance?"
"Hm? Don't tell me you're not?"
"…You're really that blunt, huh?"
Nero blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by his unfiltered honesty.
This man truly said whatever was on his mind, with not a hint of pretension.
And in truth, what Nero despised most were those two-faced villains who spoke one way while scheming another. Ryoji's forthrightness, if anything, reassured her. It made her believe she hadn't misjudged him.
Yet, precisely because of that, unease flickered in her chest.
"…But doesn't that make you feel I'm not serious? That my feelings aren't genuine? Love should be something one gives with sincerity."
From any angle, it really did look like she was merely enthralled by his outward beauty, driven only by a desire to claim it.
Just like emperors and nobles of old, forever helpless before the allure of a beautiful face.
"I don't think there's anything strange about that."
Ryoji replied carelessly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Feelings always begin with attractiveness value. Isn't love at first sight just that? And besides, if I were ugly, would you even look twice at me?"
Nero shook her head without hesitation.
She adored beauty, thrived in extravagance, reveled in luxury.
Yes, even an ugly man with a beautiful soul would earn her praise… but the truth was, she would never notice that inner beauty in the first place.
It might sound shallow, but it was reality.
"So there's no need to rush. Just take it slow."
Ryoji's words carried a carefree ease, as though none of this weighed on him at all.
(End of Chapter)
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