What type of girl do I like? How am I supposed to answer a question like this, especially if the person in front of me has feelings for me? Should I lie to make sure she isn't hurt by my words? No... She'll know if I'm lying or not. I guess the only choice I have is to be honest.
Takei gave up on escaping and began to explain his preferences.
"Hmm, physical appearances don't really matter that much to me. I don't discriminate based on appearances. Personality-wise is mostly the same. If there was one thing though, I like girls who don't mind the silence."
In this scenario, Takei meant the natural silence that ensued after a conversation reached its end. Forcing a conversation to continue was something he disliked a lot. He would rather the conversation end and enjoy the comfortable silence than listening to something forced.
"I see..." Akari smiled.
It seemed that Takei had given an acceptable answer that the goddess liked. Luckily for Takei, he managed to survive the ordeal that had terrified him.
"Hey, Takei?" Akari asked.
An ominous feeling welled up in Takei's stomach. Just like many times before, he felt that she was going to ask something unreasonable of him.
"...Yes?" He cautiously replied.
A moment of silence ensued before Akari managed to ask him the question that was on her mind.
"What do you think of me?"
Takei's body instantly froze due to the difficult question presented.
What kind of trap is this?!
He realized that the question posed an inherent danger to him. Depending on his answer, he could either change the status quo or maintain it.
With limited options at his disposal, Takei decided to try escaping as an option first.
"I think I hear Airi calling for me..."
He stood up and tried to leave the room, but his arm was quickly locked in place by the goddess.
Takei turned around and saw Akari tightly holding on to his arm.
"Please answer the question..." Akari begged with teary eyes.
Seeing the goddess acting cute like this was incredibly hard for Takei's heart. Saying no to such a face was impossible for him, or rather anyone else at this point.
Takei tensed up after realizing that there was no escape. He sighed and gave up all hope of escaping. It seemed that he had lost all will to resist.
Instead, a raging fire appeared in his eyes. Takei had completely switched over to his offensive mode.
Let's just give it my all!
Takei coughed to clear the air, and began to pour his heart out.
"You... are a special individual in my life. Someone completely irreplaceable. You're a precious person to me."
Takei started out strong, but he slowed down after he realized what he was asking of her.
"So that's why... please, don't leave me..."
The explosive start turned into a sorrowful ending. Takei was on the verge of breaking down. He no longer had the will to care about his dignity.
As his knees started to buckle and give out, Takei collapsed while standing. Luckily for him though, the goddess caught him in her arms mere moments before he would've hit the ground.
She laid him out on the ground and rested his head on her lap. Then, she started to stroke his hair and began to assuage his fears.
As Takei started to relax after feeling the sudden softness, Akari consoled him in a gentle voice that was only filled with warmness."It's okay, I won't leave."
Tears streamed down Takei's face as he felt the warmth and softness that he so desperately lacked.
"I'll stay by your side, now and forever."
That was the last thing that Takei heard before the pitch black darkness overtook his consciousness.
***
When did it start?
Ah, middle school, was it?
That girl was the cause of it all.
Don't you hate her for what she did?
Anger, hate, malice... All of these are feelings that are inside of you.
Instead of confronting her, you ran away.
Running away is the only thing that you do.
Isn't it pitiful?
Well, not that it matters anymore.
You ran away and met someone new.
A blissful dream you're living in, huh?
Well, I've got some news for you.
That dream will soon be shattered.
It's up to you if you want to face reality or keep living ignorantly.
Everything is up to you.
***
An indescribable softness was the first thing that Takei felt when he awoke from his slumber. The back of his neck was currently feeling the softness directly, which left Takei feeling copious amounts of joy.
He slowly opened his eyes to discover two giant mountains that obscured his vision. They were heavenly mountains that any man would want to climb, but Takei resisted the urge.
"Are you awake now?"
A calm and gentle voice awoke him from his stupor. It seemed that Akari had finally noticed that he was awake.
"Yeah, I am. How long has it been?" Takei asked.
Akari thought for a second before replying. "About two hours."
The goddess explained that Takei had been sleeping on her lap for two hours. This was way longer than Takei had expected he had been out for.
"I'm sorry for this, but couldn't you have woken me up?" Takei inquired.
Akari tilted her head at this. "Why would I? You looked really peaceful."
The goddess's reasoning was unexpected but at this point, Takei could only sigh at the sound of it.
He slowly got up from Akari's lap, relishing the warmth that lingered.
Then, Takei bowed down in front of her. "I'm really sorry about breaking down and all of the trouble I've caused you..."
Akari seemed to know that he had some past troubles, but she remained quiet and never pressed the subject. As a result, Takei was very grateful for her patience. Although Akari was usually very kind, Takei believed that she had some leeway to be annoyed about the situation.
Contrary to his expectations though, Akari just gave a wry smile. "I don't mind, rather I would be willing to give you a lap pillow whenever you wanted?"
"Guys might get the wrong idea if you say that to them," Takei retorted.
Akari shook her head. "Do you think I would say this to other guys?"
"Nope," He quickly denied.
Takei knew that Akari was especially aware of other men, so she would never do something so brazen. He knew that he held a special role in her heart, but Takei didn't know if he could accept it right now. That's why he kept pushing the thought of Akari's confession out of his mind.
To simplify, Takei was running away because he was scared. Denial kept ringing in his head. He didn't want to believe that Akari held special feelings for him.
As Takei was having an internal debate, Akari was still staring at him while waiting for an answer. After noticing how long he had been silent, he decided to apologize for his earlier remark.
"I'm sorry, I'll keep relying on you then," Takei stated.
Akari nodded and stood up from her sitting position.
"Well, since everything is over. Can you help me roll out the mattress?" Akari asked.
Takei looked at her with a confused gaze that seemed to ask for an explanation. "Huh? Why?"
"Because, I'm sleeping over tonight?"
As expected, the goddess is always three steps ahead.
---
Akari's True Affection Meter: 20 -> 23%
Holy mother mode activated.
Stats granted: +100 Charisma, +100 Healing, +100 Charm, +100 Heroine Power (Stats are doubled if Takei is the person being affected by the holy mother mode).
This "volume" will cover both of their respective pasts. There will obviously be more fluff, but there will be some serious chapters mixed in. There's still a bit of chapters to go before their pasts are dealt with, so enjoy the fluff while you can.
Sugar-san: The author really has a sadistic streak, doesn't he?
Serious-san: Undoubtedly.
(Sugar-san and Serious-san will take over commentary during volume two for me, while I take a well needed break from the postscript section)