As I hugged Eden-san, I felt my heart pounding for a reason different
from before. The conclusion of this strategy that could be described as
all or nothing is…
[…Fufu, my child has become quite spoiled today, aren't you? However,
seeing my child relying on me like this makes me very happy.]
[…E- Eden-san?]
[Unnn? What's the matter, my child?]
Hearing her voice that doesn't hold any trace of darkness in it, I
inwardly raised my knuckles up to the skies. Yes, I had won the bet…
and was able to draw out the really gentle Eden-san that shows up
sometimes.
Now, I will be able to stay safe and sound until the end of the trip, which
is "tomorrow noon".
Relieved, I slowly pulled myself away from Eden-san and called out to
her.
[I'm sorry for getting a little carried away.]
[I don't mind. If you're pleased with my embrace, I would also be happy
for you. I had thought it was too much to build a planet but… seeing you
smile like that makes me happy that I did such a thing.]
O- Ohhh… Amazing! In this state, not only her personality, but even her
sense of values has become sensible. I'm really glad… With her like this,
I would also be able to enjoy this trip.
[Well then, how about we get started and head to the beach?]
[Ahh, you're right. It's only "10:00 am", and it's too early for lunch.]
[Yes, that's right… At 12:00 noon, we'll come back here and have lunch.]
Seeing the gentle smile Eden-san was giving me, my heart couldn't help
but skip a beat. Eden-san's personality usually is quite intense that it's
easy for me to forget that she's a God, and her appearance looks so
perfect that it's too unrealistic.
The innocent smile on her face, combined with the feathers on her
back, gave her the appearance of an angel. Feeling slightly embarrassed
and anticipating the future, I headed to the beach with Eden-san.
Unlike when I'm hanging out with her when she's like usual, this
moment I spend with the harmless Eden-san was far more enjoyable
than I had expected.
[…Oya? What's the matter, my child?]
[Ahh, no, ummm… Your swimsuit looks great on you.]
[Fufu, thank you. You also look charming. I see that you're exercising a
lot and living healthily… As your mother, seeing you grow well makes
me smile.]
[T- Thank you.]
[Since we're on a beach, it would be great if we could try out all sorts of
beach activities, don't you think? I can provide the necessary
equipment, but my child, do you have something you'd like?]
[Ahh, errr…]
Conversing with Eden-san, who wore a black swimsuit that somewhat
gave her an adult vibe, I felt my heart beating fast, and thanks to Edensan's quick preparation of the necessary tools, we were able to play
various games.
Unlike that time I went to the beach with Shiro-san, Eden-san seemed
to be taking it easy on me and I was also able to play as normal.
[…Eden-san, are you fine with this much?]
[Yes, you did great. Well then, let's lightly fry that one.]
[Yes… Even so, it's kind of refreshing to see Eden-san cooking.]
[I guess it really would be. If I want to, I can certainly create a finished
dish… but that would be a bit bland, don't you think?]
[I guess that's true.]
[The care you took in making it isn't insignificant. Even though they are
the same dish, the fact that we took the time and effort to make it
ourselves may enhance the taste of food.]
[I see.]
When lunchtime came, Eden-san suggested that we cook together.
Eden-san seemed to be a good cook, and seeing her instruct me in
cooking while wearing an apron, I could somehow feel motherliness
overflowing from her.
[…Also, as a mother, I want to serve my own homemade dishes to my
children. Well, since my child is helping me like this, I guess I can't
exactly say that this is my own homemade dish.]
Hearing Eden-san say that with an impish giggle, I thought that she was
kind of cute.
[…It's a very beautiful starry sky, isn't it?]
[This night sky is made to look like the one on Earth. You can even see
the constellations you saw back in Japan.]
[Heehhh… I'm not really into constellations and stuff like that, but there
are quite a few of them, right?]
[Yes, my children had quite an abundant imagination. For example…]
As Eden-san lightly moved her finger, the starry sky changed slightly
and a line connected two stars.
[That's the constellation Canis Minor. It's a winter constellation, but it's
quite the interesting one.]
[It's… only made up of two stars?]
[Yes, it apparently looked like the head and torso of a dog.]
When Eden-san said that, a picture of a dog emerged around the two
stars. H- Hmmm, how should I say this… I think it's a bit of a stretch…
No, perhaps, it's just that the imagination of the people of the past was
so great that they could see a dog from just those two stars.
[Incidentally, this constellation is called Coma Berenices.]
[Errr, those three stars?]
[Those three are just the brightest, as it's actually a cluster of many
stars that looked like a lock of hair.]
[It has a lot more stars than the dog huh.]
[Yes. Interesting, isn't it?]
[…Indeed.]
After that, Eden-san continued to teach me about various
constellations, explaining to me their origins.
The next day, after having breakfast with Eden-san, we walked side by
side along the beach, trying to relax until 12:00 noon, when we were to
return home.
Somehow, the two-day, one-night trip was so much fun that I felt a little
sad to see it end.
I guess that was probably because Eden-san was in her gentle mode. It's
not that I don't like the usual Eden-san that much, but I can't help but
wish that she was always like this… though I guess it can't be helped.
However, such a peaceful time came to an abrupt end.
[…Ahhhh… How preciouuuuus, my beloved chiiiiiiild.]
Sounding more childish than usual… A voice filled with "more insanity
than usual" had called out…