The Goddess At My University

Chase had finally finished his routine, applying cologne and deodorant before letting out a sigh. His hair was still wet, and he realized he'd forgotten the hair dryer in the living room again. Resigning himself, he walked out of the bathroom, half-expecting Diana to have some sort of reaction like before.

Instead, he found her intensely focused on the TV, playing a game on the console. For a moment, Chase just stood there, watching her in stunned silence. Her precision was uncanny. With a single fluid motion, she sniped someone across the map. His jaw dropped.

This is not normal. She's so good it's scary. Imagine what she could do with headphones.

After another perfectly executed kill, Chase couldn't hold back anymore. "Have you played this game before?"

Diana didn't even turn around, her eyes locked on the screen. "No, my first time playing a video game ever was yesterday."

The controller, which also doubled as a mic, transmitted her words to the rest of the players in the lobby. Instantly, the chat exploded with disbelief:

"Stop lying, you damn hacker!"

"Report her! No one's that good on their first try!"

Diana smirked, oblivious to the growing hostility. "The dialogue of these computers is so realistic. They even respond to what I say in real life," she said, impressed. "Who knew mortal technology had advanced this far?"

Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. "Diana…" he started, his voice wary. "This is online. You're playing against real people in real-time."

Finally, Diana turned to face him, her silver eyes wide with disbelief. "No way! Then why do they have responses to their deaths? And their moves are so predictable. I thought it was normal to play like this."

Chase could only stare at her, struggling to find the right words. Meanwhile, the lobby fell eerily silent as other players processed what Diana had just said.

"Diana," Chase began, "the people talking on the controller? They're real people, too. And the way you're playing? That's not normal. You're… you're really good. If you were a streamer, you'd make a ton of money."

"Streamer?" Diana repeated, tilting her head. Her face reddened slightly at the unexpected compliment. "I don't know what that means."

"It's a lot to explain," Chase said with a sigh, though he couldn't help but feel a little impressed.

The lobby came alive again as one of the players on the mic spoke up, their disbelief clear. "If you're really not hacking, you might be the best in the world. Those sniping skills are insane."

Diana's lips curled into a proud smirk. "Might be the best? I am the best archer to ever live. This is child's play. Show some respect, mortal."

The player on the mic sputtered. "Wait… 'mortal'? Is that supposed to be an insult? Or do you have a god complex or something?"

The match ended, and the countdown for the next one began. Seeing the timer ticking down, Chase acted quickly, reaching over and taking the controller from Diana's hands.

"Hey!" she exclaimed, spinning around to glare at him. Her irritation instantly turned into a wide-eyed blush as her gaze landed on his half-bare torso. His damp, slightly messy hair and toned physique were on full display, making her face flush a deep red. She quickly turned back to the screen, her voice uncharacteristically small. "What… What are you doing?"

Chase didn't seem to notice her reaction, too focused on navigating the menus. "I'm taking you out of the lobby before the next match starts," he said.

"But I want to play more!" Diana huffed, her face still burning.

Chase smirked slightly, finally glancing at her. "Relax, I'm not stopping you from playing. I just want to show you something."

Still flustered, Diana avoided looking at him as he opened the weapon customization menu. "What's this?" she asked, trying to sound composed.

"You can change your class," Chase explained, selecting her sniper rifle. "And customize your weapon. See these attachments?" He toggled between scopes, barrels, and other options, explaining what each one did. "This lets you make the weapon work the way you want it to. Faster aim, better accuracy, less recoil—stuff like that."

Diana leaned in, watching intently, her earlier embarrassment temporarily forgotten. "I didn't know you could do this. Why didn't the game teach me this in the tutorial?"

Chase chuckled. "Im suprised they had a tutorial this time, even so this game franchise has been out for so long that they don't usually need to cover everything. But now that you know, you can play even better."

Diana's silver eyes gleamed with excitement as she absorbed the information. "Hmm, very well. Adjust it for me this time. I'll handle it myself next time."

Chase made a few quick changes to her class, then handed the controller back. "There, you're all set. You can play one more match before we leave, but when we get back, you're making your own account. You need your own progress."

Diana's cheeks flushed again, this time from excitement. "My own account? You mean I get to start from scratch and build my own profile?"

"Yep," Chase said, grabbing his clothes to head back to the bathroom. "But don't go breaking every lobby you join, okay? I don't think the gaming community is ready for you."

Diana smirked, gripping the controller. "Hmph. If they can't handle me, that's their problem."

Chase could only shake his head as he walked back to finish getting ready. She's going to be a nightmare online… he thought, but a small smile crept onto his face anyway.

Chase quickly dried his hair since it wasn't as long as Diana's, revealing the golden curls he'd been hiding with black dye. They were now perfectly dry and softly bouncing with each movement, catching the light in a way that seemed effortless. Pulling on his shirt and hoodie, he stepped out of his room to find Diana still immersed in her game.

He walked over and sat next to her, curious to watch. She was really good. Chase couldn't help but wonder, Could she beat me in a 1v1? Nah, not a chance in Gun Game. That mode, where each kill upgraded your weapon, was his specialty. He'd grown up playing it and didn't lose often.

Still, Diana's rapid improvement was nothing short of extraordinary. She was playing a mode where you had to collect dog tags to confirm kills, though she clearly had no clue. When the scoreboard popped up, it told the whole story: 72 kills, 9 confirms—and those 9 were probably accidents.

As she exited the lobby, Diana turned to him, eager. "Let's go," she said, clearly intent on hurrying back to the game.

"You're forgetting something," Chase said, leaning back.

Diana blinked, checked her pockets, and pulled out her wallet and keys. Satisfied, she tucked them back in and looked at him, confused. "What?"

Chase chuckled, shaking his head. "Didn't you want a selfie?"

Her cheeks immediately turned crimson. "Oh… right." Pulling out her phone, she handed it to him without meeting his eyes.

Chase smirked as he opened the camera app, flipping it to the front-facing mode before handing it back. "Here. Click this when you're ready."

Diana mimicked the pose she'd seen earlier, her blush deepening as she shifted closer to him. Her soft, shy smile was a stark contrast to her usual confidence. Chase gave her a bright, genuine smile, his golden curls perfectly framing his face, his ocean-blue eyes flecked with rose gold catching the light. He looked effortlessly perfect, more so than even Diana expected.

Diana fumbled, taking what felt like forever to find the right angle, her frustration growing with each adjustment. Chase held his pose, suppressing a laugh as she worked. Finally, she tapped the button, capturing the shot.

The picture was stunning. Her warm cheeks and hesitant smile complemented Chase's brilliant grin, his curls and glowing eyes giving him an almost angelic appearance. But as Diana stepped back, she found herself missing the brief closeness between them, and her expression faltered.

Chase noticed. "What's wrong? Didn't like the picture?"

Diana quickly shook her head. "No, I liked it. Just… something else." She waved him off, her cheeks still warm as she perked up and looked at the photo again, this time grinning quietly to herself.

Chase raised an eyebrow, watching her mood shift back to normal. I guess she did like it, he thought with a small, amused smile.

Chase stepped into the room, heading straight for his shoes by the door. He slipped them on with a practiced motion, his mind still preoccupied with the events of the day. Diana followed close behind, her silver eyes darting to him before mimicking his actions. Without hesitation, she reached for the all-white pair she'd worn earlier, carefully sliding them on as if trying to mirror his every move. There was an almost endearing awkwardness to her mimicry, but Chase said nothing.

Chase put the game console in rest mode, grabbed his keys and wallet, and opened the door, gesturing for Diana to step out first. She walked out, her attention split between the real world and her phone, as she tapped away at the mobile game she'd started playing the day before.

They headed toward the elevator, and Chase decided to ask a question that had been on his mind. "Did you ever finish that anime you were watching?"

Diana nodded without looking up. "The ending was quite good, but there's still a lot I don't understand—like who her mother is and why they keep calling her the best archer to ever live." Her silver eyes sparkled with excitement, even as her focus remained on her game.

Chase chuckled, noticing her upbeat mood. She even skipped a little as they walked. As they stepped into the elevator, he added, "If it's not canceled, you could check when the third season will come out. Or you could read the manga."

Diana tilted her head, puzzled. "Manga?"

"It's like the book version," Chase explained quickly.

"Oh." She nodded, her curiosity satisfied for now.

Chase glanced at her phone screen. "What Act are you on in the story?" he asked.

"Act 4, Chapter 2," Diana replied, still engrossed.

Chase raised an eyebrow. "You're moving pretty fast." He hesitated before asking another question. "Have you been 100%ing each act?"

Diana looked at him, confused. "100%?"

Chase smirked and explained, "It's when you explore every path in each quest, in every chapter of the act. It might feel tedious, but the rewards are worth it."

Diana's eyes narrowed in thought. "But how do I know which paths I've already taken?"

"The dotted lines mean you haven't explored them yet," Chase explained.

Diana nodded in understanding, but Chase didn't elaborate further. He knew Act 5 would be the real test of her skills. That's when the difficulty spike hit—and while developers had softened it over time for new players, it still wouldn't be easy. Then there was Act 6, where most players burned out entirely. He doubted Diana would quit, but it might push her to explore other game modes for a while.

Still, he smiled to himself. If she made it past Act 6, Act 7 was much smoother—developers had taken player complaints seriously, making it far less frustrating. For now, though, he decided to let her discover all of that on her own.

As the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival on the ground floor, Chase and Diana stepped out and began walking through the lobby. The receptionist spotted them immediately and waved them over with a grin.

"Hey, Chase!" she called out, holding up her phone. The lock screen displayed a picture of her and Chase together from earlier that morning. In this picture, Chase had his black hair, and his smile was subdued, not showing the brightness Diana's had.

Chase's face immediately turned red. "You actually made that your lock screen?" he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

Diana's silver eyes flicked to the phone, and something stirred in her chest—an uncomfortable, unfamiliar sensation. She ignored it, focusing instead on her curiosity.

As Chase turned to walk away, clearly embarrassed, Diana stayed behind. She leaned closer to the receptionist, lowering her voice. "Tell me," she whispered, "how did you set your screen to a picture?"

The receptionist raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Let me see your phone," she said, holding out her hand.

Diana hesitated briefly before handing it over. The receptionist quickly navigated to Diana's gallery and noticed her own lock screen—a photo of her and Chase taken just recently.

In this picture, Chase had his golden curls bouncing, full of life and brightness. His genuine, toothy smile and sparkling ocean-blue eyes stood out, making the image feel almost alive. The receptionist blinked in surprise. He looks even better here than in mine, she thought, a hint of envy creeping in.

"Do you want this picture on your lock screen, home screen, or both?" she asked.

Diana tilted her head, not fully understanding the options. "Both," she said decisively.

The receptionist made the changes quickly and handed the phone back. "All set!"

Diana glanced at the screen and smiled to herself, slipping the phone into her pocket before walking back to Chase.

"What were you two whispering about?" Chase asked, falling into step beside her.

Diana flashed him a mischievous grin. "Secret," she teased, skipping ahead lightly.

Chase watched her for a moment, confused. Diana wasn't usually so open with strangers. Chase didn't say anything, just walking beside her as they exited the lobby.

Unexpectedly, Diana grabbed his hand again.

He looked around, noticing how few people were in the lobby and outside. There wasn't much of a crowd, and he realized it would be nearly impossible for her to get lost. He didn't mind, though; he figured she was just being cautious, maybe wanting to keep him close.

Chase glanced down, slightly surprised, but didn't pull away. The people around them were few, and he didn't think anyone would bat an eye. Besides, he figured she must've wanted to stay close for comfort. He just kept walking, his thoughts returning to the grocery store they were heading to.

When they reached the store, a cool breeze from the automatic doors hit them. Chase let go of her hand to grab a cart, though Diana's slight pout didn't escape his notice.

"Stay here for a second," he said, motioning for her to wait near the entrance.

After retrieving a cart, Chase walked back over to Diana. She brightened instantly and fell into step beside him as they began navigating the aisles. Although there were only a few people in the store since it was night, Chase couldn't help but notice that even in the quiet of the evening, people still seemed to be aware of him and Diana.

He moved quickly down the aisles, grabbing the usual items: some breakfast essentials like eggs, milk, bread, cereal, and oatmeal; lunch items like sandwich bread, deli meat, and chips; and dinner staples such as vegetables, pasta, and chicken. He made sure to pick up some fruit too, considering that Diana didn't mention much about food but seemed to eat a balanced diet when she had it. He also had to grab frozen foods for snacks when he didn't feel like cooking.

Diana walked quietly beside him, her gaze flickering to the shelves here and there. She saw some things that caught her eye, but she stayed quiet, only picking up a few things and slipping them into the cart.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chase noticed her hesitance. He paused for a moment and said, "If there's anything you want, grab it and put it in the cart. Or if there's something you want for dinner or breakfast, or if you want me to make something eventually, just tell me, and I'll get the ingredients."

Diana looked at him, and after a brief moment, she named a few things: "Goat chops, goat curry... and oatmeal." She added, "Oatmeal is my favorite breakfast, and goat is my favorite meat."

Chase thought about it for a second. He had learned how to cook goat once, though he never really made it often. He'd only tried it a few times, but it was quite good. He didn't mind getting it. So, he grabbed a good amount of oats, noticing how Diana seemed to really like oatmeal.

Once they had all of that, Diana, seemingly satisfied with her breakfast and dinner choices, went off on her own. Chase glanced back and saw her start to grab items from different aisles. She picked up various types of cookies, brownie mix (which she thought was just for brownies but didn't know it yet), and several kinds of cake mixes. Diana grabbed juice boxes too, the kind meant for kids, picking out a few different brands.

Chase could tell where this was heading, and he started to pick up the pace. He didn't want to rush her, but it was becoming more like a shopping spree, and he didn't want to be here all night. He slowed his pace when he realized Diana was enjoying herself and was simply being cautious with what she chose.

After about 30 minutes, they were making their way back toward the registers. Along the way, they crossed paths with a couple of men who made no effort to hide their interest in Diana. One of them grinned at Chase, taking a step closer. "Hey, man," he said, trying to be casual. "You got yourself a good one there. Mind if I take her out for a bit?"

Chase gave him a hard stare, but before he could say anything, Diana spoke up, her voice cold and biting. "Gross," she muttered, practically spitting the words out as she gave the guy a glare that made him take a step back. Diana didn't wait for any more remarks, and with a huff, she turned her back on them, walking ahead as if she couldn't care less.

Chase blinked, a little surprised by the intensity of her response, but he didn't comment. He caught up with her as they continued through the aisles.

Not long after, they crossed paths with a group of girls who giggled and whispered, eyeing Chase. One of them stepped up to him and smiled brightly. "Hey there, handsome. Mind if we hang out later?"

Before Chase could even process the words, Diana had already hooked her arm through his with an almost possessive gesture. She gave the girls a sharp glare, her eyes hard and unamused. "Flee" she said, her tone firm.

The girls didn't need to be told twice. Diana's glare was enough to make them shuffle away, muttering under their breath as they left.

Chase had to admit, he was starting to feel like a bit of an object, but he was more amused by the way Diana handled things. She wasn't shy about keeping unwanted attention away, and it seemed to work every time.

By the time they were ready to check out, Chase had a cart full of essentials, and Diana had... well, a lot of cookies, mixes, and juice boxes. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, and Diana shot him a playful look in return.

"Well, I did say you could pick whatever you wanted," he said with a smile as they approached the register.

When they reached the register, Diana pulled out her card. Chase was surprised and was about to say something, but Diana cut him off. "You paid for breakfast, and I eat a lot," she said, her cheeks turning pink. She also felt a little guilty, knowing she'd be making him cook extra dinner once they got back. She didn't realize it until now, but the volleyball from earlier had made her really hungry. Her stomach felt like it was eating itself, and she didn't like this feeling at all. She quickly swiped her card to pay.

As Diana finalized the payment, Chase glanced at the female cashier. She had been sneaking glances at him since they approached the register, but this time, their eyes met. The moment they locked eyes, Chase felt something odd stir within him. Unknown to him, his eyes began to glow a soft pink, and the cashier's reaction was immediate. Her cheeks flushed, her breath hitched, and she wobbled, reaching behind her to grip the counter for support. Her face was a mix of dazed embarrassment and confusion.

Chase blinked, confused by her reaction. His eyes lingered on her trembling hands and unsteady posture before realization began to dawn on him. Did I just… do that? he thought, his stomach tightening. His gaze dropped quickly to avoid further eye contact, but it was too late.

Diana sniffed the air and winced, covering her nose. The sudden smell was sharp and fishy, making her grimace. "Hurry up, Chase," she urged, not knowing what had just transpired but eager to leave the awkward atmosphere.

Still dazed, Chase looked at Diana, who was now frowning at him. He caught sight of her pulling out her phone, and with quick motions, she opened the camera app. Tilting the screen toward him, Chase froze when he saw his reflection: his eyes were faintly glowing pink. He gasped softly, realization sinking in. Diana, clearly unsettled, shoved her phone back into her pocket and nudged the cart handle toward him.

Chase grabbed the cart, his movements hurried and tense. Without a word, he began walking briskly toward the exit. Diana followed close behind, still puzzled by his sudden urgency.

Once outside, Chase exhaled sharply, scanning the area around them. The streetlights illuminated the nearly empty parking lot, and he realized they'd need to call for a ride again. He glanced at the bags of groceries and sighed, knowing they'd have to wait a while before heading home. Despite his desire to leave as soon as possible, he kept himself composed, hoping Diana wouldn't press him for an explanation.