"...—mi! Nanami! Nanami Rubio! It's time to get up!"
Nanami stirred as she heard the familiar voice of her mother.
"Geez, you aren't a child anymore! It's about time that you got up by yourself!"
Nanami sat up and smiled at her mother.
"Even though you have said that 4352 times, you still wake me up."
"You even counted that?! If you are aware of how many times I told you that, then you should get up by yourself!"
Nanami's mother pouted.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for waking me up every day."
"Ugh, you missed the point! Anyways, get ready because you're going to be late for school!"
"Okay."
After making sure that her mother had left her room, Nanami collapsed onto her bed.
"Haaaa, this is so exhausting."
Nanami stayed up every night. It was exhausting for Nanami, but it was necessary to protect her mother.
Her mother is in a constant state of danger due to her position as heiress of a major company. All kinds of people including her family are aiming at her, but Nanami's oblivious mother was completely unaware of her position. As a result, Nanami ended up eliminating dangers for her mother at night.
The first time that Nanami killed someone was when she was 8 years old. At that time, she overheard some people plotting to kill her mother, so she eliminated them. Nanami was a very smart girl. She knew that if she had not eliminated them at that time, then it would already be too late. That's why she, with her trembling hands, used a kitchen knife to kill them.
Nanami also knew that this could not be considered self-defense because they haven't harmed anybody yet, so she hid that she murdered them. At that time, she only thought of her mother.
(Who would protect my mother, if not me?)
Nanami gazed at her hands.
"How dirty."
(Indeed, it wouldn't do for the hands of my mother to be stained. If my kind mother were to learn of the things that I did behind her back, she surely would die of guilt.)
"Nanami! When are you going to get down here?"
Her mother's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Coming!"
Nanami got prepared for school and grabbed a piece of toast before heading out. She almost left the door when her mother stopped her.
"Hey, you forgot your lunch!"
Her mother waved the packed lunch at her. She grabbed her lunch and said her thanks before leaving the door. She ran at her top speed to school. Nanami's top speed was so fast that windows would break as she passed.
Onlookers would wonder, "What was that?" for a few moments. Unable to come up with the answer, they would just continue on with their daily lives.
On Nanami's way to school, she saw a kid riding a bicycle in front of a front of a truck. She leapt and pushed the boy away, but the truck's impact crushed her instead.
If it were any other normal day, she and the boy would have been safe, but she was exhausted from staying up later than usual.
Her whole body was in pain yet she thought nothing of it. Nanami's thoughts comprised of nothing but her mother.
(Am I going to die just like this? Dying would mean that I wouldn't be able protect my mother anymore! I can't die like this! I need to protect her!)
Soon, her consciousness faded away.
•••
In front of Nanami was a divine being with lustrous golden hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to know everything. Her beautiful figure was complimented by clothing in the style of Ancient Greece. Her noble aura gave comfort to Nanami.
(Is she a goddess?)
Such thoughts were not abnormal considering the aura and appearance of the divine being. It would be more abnormal if one did not have such thoughts.
"Hello, little one. It is as you say. I suppose that I am something somewhat like a goddess."
(Wait, can she read my mind?)
The goddess chuckled. Her voice sounded like a bell.
"Yes, indeed I can, but you can't really speak since I only brought your soul here."
(What's your name?)
The goddess seemed surprised for a moment, but quickly composed herself.
(Umm... is it that you can't answer?)
"Fufufu... That's not it. I was just surprised because no human has ever asked me that before. In response to your question, I don't have a name and I'm simply referred to as a goddess or 'it.'"
(Isn't that kind of sad? People like being called by their names.)
"Perhaps a little bit."
The goddess seemed a bit lonely to Nanami. Nanami thought of an idea.
(Why don't I give you a name?)
"A name?"
(Yes, a name.)
"To think that I'd be name by a human, nevertheless, a 16-year-old... how strange. Go ahead, human child."
(My name is Nanami and I'm not a child!)
"To me, you're a child. Well, go ahead, Nanami."
(Your name shall be Zuhi which means light)
"Zuhi... what a nice name. I shall now be known as goddess Zuhi!"
In that moment, a bright flash blinded Nanami's eyes.
(...What happened?)
"It seems that we've been bound by contract because you gave me a name."
(The kind of thing that happens in games?! With a goddess?! How is this even possible?!)
"Well, it might be because most gods and goddesses have already have been given names by the Creator."
(Then, how come you haven't?)
"It's because I'm a new goddess and the Creator has been too busy to do so."
(Who is the the Creator?)
"The Creator is— oops, it seems that it's time for you to go."
(Go where?)
"The world where you will be reincarnated."
(Why?)
"Well, time's up. I'll explain it all to you later."
Zuhi pushed Nanami through a door.
"Well, off you go~"
(Wait, I still need to—)
Nanami lost consciousness and when she opened her eyes, she was in an unfamiliar room with two strangers.