The Goddess At My University

Chase mostly slept uninterrupted, save for the faint beep of the washing machine signaling that Diana's clothes were done. It woke him up briefly, as he was a light sleeper. Groggily, he got up, threw her clothes into the dryer on the cold setting to prevent shrinking—completely forgetting not to touch her underwear—and then shuffled back to the couch. He laid down and fell asleep almost instantly.

Around 10 a.m., he stirred awake to the sensation of something poking his cheek. Grogginess gave way to mild surprise as he opened his eyes to find silver ones staring back at him. "Hmm, you finally woke up. You sleep for a long time," Diana said, her tone amused.

Chase groaned softly, wishing for a moment that yesterday had been a bizarre dream. But the sight of Diana confirmed otherwise, and he sighed, resigning himself to the reality of the situation. He turned to check the time on his phone: 10:11 a.m. With all the enthusiasm of a zombie, he shuffled off the couch, heading toward the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Diana followed him with curious eyes, tilting her head slightly as he muttered, "Hmm," under his breath. Then, seeming to remember something, he pivoted and walked to his room.

She raised an eyebrow, confused by his sudden change in direction. "What are you doing?" she asked, but he didn't answer.

Chase rummaged through a cabinet in his room that held spare toiletries. He grabbed a green electric toothbrush and handed it to her before moving to another drawer to retrieve a face towel. Without a word, he passed it to her and turned back toward the bathroom.

Diana stared at the toothbrush in her hand, tilting her head. "What is this?" she asked, frowning.

"A toothbrush," Chase mumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep. He headed toward the bathroom without waiting for further questions.

She followed him, still holding the toothbrush up. "It doesn't look like a toothbrush."

"It's an electric toothbrush," he explained, glancing over his shoulder. He then pressed the button to demonstrate, and the moment it buzzed to life, Diana flinched, her silver eyes going wide. "What is it doing?!" she exclaimed, pulling her hand back as if it had bitten her.

Chase stared at her for a moment, blinking in surprise, but then sighed, too tired to deal with her antics. "Sure," he muttered, pressing his toothbrush against his teeth. "You just hold it against your teeth. That's it."

Diana hesitated, still eyeing the toothbrush with uncertainty, but her curiosity quickly got the better of her. She leaned in closer to observe how Chase was brushing his teeth with his electric toothbrush.

"Strange," she muttered under her breath. She was still watching him intently, her grip tightening on the toothbrush, eager to try it herself.

Chase, however, was already back to his routine. He glanced at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His hair was a little messy, but, as always, it remained in perfect curls, despite the way he'd slept on it. It was difficult to style and control, but it never looked bad, even when he had clearly slept on it wrong. He didn't think much of it, though, just focusing on his teeth for now.

After brushing for a while, he rinsed his mouth with mouthwash before spitting it out. He adjusted the faucet to warm water, splashed some on his face, and grabbed a simple facial cleanser. As he rubbed it into his skin, he tried to wake up fully, the cold splash of water and the rhythm of his movements helping shake off the last of his grogginess.

Once done, Chase turned to Diana, signaling that she could use the bathroom now. His voice was deep and rough from sleep as he said, "I'm going to make breakfast. Your clothes are in the laundry room still, so you can take a shower. Than after we eat, we'll head to the mall."

Diana watched him leave, still mildly entertained by his early-morning sluggishness. Despite his apparent dislike of mornings, he seemed oddly reliable.

Diana turned her attention to the sink, mirroring Chase's actions. She wetted her toothbrush, then applied the toothpaste, followed by more water. She paused, wondering why he did all those steps—wasn't it too much? She clicked the button to turn on the electric toothbrush and was immediately surprised by how strong the vibrations were, but she quickly adjusted and held it to her teeth.

As she began brushing, she was caught off guard. Every time she'd brushed her teeth before, it hadn't been this easy. She'd always hated it, especially because the paste tasted unpleasant and it took multiple rinses to get rid of the foamy residue. But this time, it was different. The paste didn't feel as overwhelming. She realized that the process was much smoother when the toothbrush was wet first, making the paste easier to manage. She started to wonder if it was because she'd wetted it.

I could learn a lot from him, she thought. I didn't know simply wetting it could cause such a big difference.

Meanwhile, Chase stood in the kitchen, checking his fridge. He opened the door only to find it mostly empty, forgetting he needed to go real grocery shopping. He sighed. Guess he'd have to order more groceries. Deciding to ask Diana what she wanted for breakfast, since he was making it for both of them and wasn't picky, he made his way back toward the bathroom.

As he neared, he heard the hum of the electric toothbrush. He stopped, watching Diana brush her teeth with a look of mild amusement. Is brushing your teeth usually this fun? he thought, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you having fun?" he asked with a small grin.

Diana, who had been so caught up in her surprise, sputtered out some toothpaste foam. "I didn't know wetting toothpaste would have such a big difference," she said, her voice still a bit bubbly.

Chase's jaw dropped as he stared at her in disbelief. Was she dry brushing before? I mean, people do that, but… He shook his head, choosing to stop thinking about it for now. "What do you want to eat for breakfast?" he asked, trying to move on.

Diana paused, as if this were a life-altering decision, then finally said, "Oatmeal, with fruit and honey… please." She added the "please" with a slight blush, a little embarrassed at her politeness toward a male.

Chase nodded without hesitation. "No problem," he replied before turning back to the kitchen.

As he passed by the counter, he noticed the empty tray of cookies. No way, she's an absolute glutton, he thought, shaking his head in disbelief. Determining that oatmeal was in order, he decided to order the ingredients she'd requested. He'd get fruit, but since she hadn't specified which kind, he picked his favorite: blueberries.

As he added everything to his online cart, he decided to grab some orange juice, too. And, since he was already ordering, he figured he might as well add more ingredients for cookie dough—he was running low on that. With everything added to the cart, he stopped to think if he needed anything else when he heard the bathroom door open.

Diana walked out, freshly finished with brushing her teeth and washing her face. "I thought you were cooking?" she asked, eyeing him curiously.

Chase turned toward her. "I have to order the ingredients first. Anything you want from the store while I'm ordering?"

Diana shook her head, and without another word, she walked toward the laundry room. She opened the washing machine, expecting to find her clothes, but instead, they were in the dryer. A flash of anger crossed her face, and she stormed back into the kitchen, holding up her clothes.

"You touched my underwear!" she yelled, her silver eyes flashing with fury.

Chase blinked, confused. He forgot he'd even done that until he recalled moving her clothes to the dryer while he was half asleep. "I'm sorry. I forgot, and I was half asleep when I did it," he said apologetically.

To his surprise, Diana paused, then pouted. "It's fine this time. I believe you," she said, her voice softening as she turned on her heel and walked away.

Chase sighed in relief, grateful she wasn't upset. He quickly completed the order, now having to wait for everything to arrive. The sound of the shower turning on signaled that Diana was getting ready.

Chase made his way toward his bedroom, expecting to find a mess of cookies on his bed. But to his surprise, Diana had left no trace behind. He made his bed, noticing her white sneakers were a bit dirty. He moved them to the shoe rack in his room for easy access, then sat back on the couch, picking up his phone to play his favorite mobile game again.

After some time, Diana emerged from the bathroom, still in her old clothes—ripped jeans and ankle socks that clung to her small feet. Her hair was damp, but it wasn't until Chase looked up that he noticed she was wearing his hoodie. He raised an eyebrow at her, confused.

"I like it," she said simply, shrugging.

Chase didn't care much about it. He had more hoodies, after all. But then he noticed her wet hair. "Do you need help drying your hair or something?"

Diana hesitated, unsure. She didn't want a male to get too close, especially for something like this. She was used to her roommate helping her, but her damp hair was uncomfortable, so she reluctantly muttered, "Yeah."

Chase chuckled lightly, then went to grab the blow dryer. He plugged it into the wall in the living room and gestured for her to sit on the couch. As he carefully blow-dried her hair, he noticed how long it was—almost reaching her waist, while his was much shorter.

While he worked, Diana pouted. "I thought the food would be ready by now."

"They're taking longer with the delivery," Chase replied, smiling. "But we have all day to go to the mall. No rush."

Diana nodded, then, as though trying to offer a compliment, she added, "You don't need to hide your appearance. I can protect you from those girls."

Chase felt a bit touched by her words, but she wasn't finished. Her expression shifted, and she smirked, almost smug. "It's not just that," she continued, her voice full of confidence. "I'm already very beautiful. We'd get attention no matter what."

Chase blinked, clearly taken aback by her unshakable pride. "I didn't think you'd be so—" He stopped himself, unsure how to finish the sentence. He hadn't expected her to sound so self-assured, so confident.

Diana caught the hint of hesitation in his voice and smirked deeper. "What? Are you surprised?" she said, then added almost casually, "I like you, you know. You're unique."

The words hit him like a punch to the chest. Chase froze, mouth slightly agape. She likes me? His heart raced, and the weight of the moment settled heavily on his shoulders. Fear crept in. There was no way liking him would come without complications. He shifted uncomfortably, torn between confusion and a bit of panic.

Diana noticed the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes and, with a flash of understanding, leaned back slightly. "You're lucky you're different," she added, her tone softer now but still dripping with pride. "It's why I'll protect you."

Chase blinked, his mind still trying to catch up. He wasn't sure whether he should be worried or flattered. He finally managed to speak, though his voice held a note of disbelief. "Unique, huh? I didn't think you'd see it that way."

"I do," she said, her voice firm but not unkind.

Chase paused for a moment while drying her hair, trying to shift the focus. "Hmm, what episode did you make it to?" he asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.

Diana crossed her arms, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. "I finished it," she declared. "But the ending made no sense! They left so much unanswered. It's ridiculous!"

Chase raised an eyebrow and, intrigued, grabbed his phone. He opened his anime-watching app and scrolled to her progress. "Wait," he muttered, eyes widening. "You really stayed up and watched all 20 episodes of the first season?"

Diana tilted her head. "What's wrong with that? It was good… until it wasn't."

Chase couldn't help himself—he burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking as he tried to keep the blow dryer steady.

"What's so funny?" Diana snapped, her face flushing with frustration. "You think I'm stupid for watching it all?!"

"No, no," Chase said between laughs, waving a hand to reassure her. "It's just… you've only finished the first season. There's a whole second season you haven't seen yet."

Diana blinked, clearly confused. "Second season?"

Chase handed her the phone, showing her the continuation. Her expression shifted instantly, her annoyance replaced by pure joy. "There's more?!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat.

"Yeah," Chase said with a grin, resuming drying her hair. "There's a whole extra season. Glad I could help."

Diana grabbed the phone eagerly and started the first episode, her silver eyes gleaming as she became engrossed. "You're the best," she murmured absentmindedly, her attention glued to the screen.

Chase couldn't help but chuckle softly as he resumed drying her hair, watching her eyes light up with joy as she dove into the first episode of the second season. She really is a child, he thought to himself, amused by how quickly her frustration had melted into excitement.

Then another thought struck him. Although, now that I think about it, Artemis was known to spend a lot of time in a childlike form. Maybe that explains why she acts like this sometimes.

The realization made him glance down at her, engrossed in his phone, completely oblivious to anything else around her. It was such a strange contrast to the commanding and confident persona she carried earlier. Shaking his head slightly, Chase finished drying her hair just as a knock came from the door.

"That's probably the food," he said, setting the blow dryer down as he finished. Diana didn't even glance up, too absorbed in the anime to register his words. Chase smirked. Yep, definitely a child. With that thought, he headed for the door.

Chase grabbed the groceries from outside and set the bags on the counter. He started putting away the perishables first: the juice and fresh fruit went into the fridge, while the honey and dry cookie ingredients were placed in the pantry. For the oatmeal ingredients, he left out what he'd need—oats, a bit of brown sugar, milk, and some fresh blueberries—leaving the rest of the blueberries in the fridge for later.

Reaching for his light blue apron, he tied it securely around his waist, glancing briefly at the couch where Diana was lying on her stomach, engrossed in Arrows of Eternity. One of her legs swung idly in the air. Chase chuckled softly at the sight. The anime wasn't bad—he'd watched it before and would rate it a solid 7/10. Decent storyline and characters, but it wasn't quite his favorite.

Still, it was amusing to see her so captivated. She'd clearly fallen into the binge-watching phase.

Chase began preparing the oatmeal. First, he measured out the oats, adding a bit extra to account for Diana's appetite. He poured them into a pot of water and turned on the stove, letting it simmer gently. While waiting, he rinsed some of the blueberries he'd left out, checking for any soft or squished ones, and set them aside in a small bowl.

Next, he added a splash of milk to the oatmeal as it thickened, stirring carefully to avoid clumps. A pinch of salt, a sprinkle of brown sugar, and a drizzle of honey followed, creating a sweet, creamy base. He tasted it with a spoon, nodded in approval, and then gently folded in the blueberries, careful not to crush them. The mix smelled heavenly, with a comforting blend of sweetness and warmth.

Glancing over at Diana again, Chase shook his head in amusement. She hadn't moved except to kick her foot back and forth.

He poured the oatmeal into two bowls, setting hers on the counter where she could easily grab it. Removing his apron, he called out, "The food's ready. I'm going to take a shower now. Don't eat all of it—I still haven't eaten, after all."

The half-joke earned no immediate reply, and Chase smirked to himself. She might actually eat all of it, he thought. Well, at least if she does, I still have salad.

With that, he headed toward the bathroom, leaving Diana to her binge-watching and, hopefully, some restraint with the oatmeal.

"She really is a child," he muttered to himself. Then, a thought crossed his mind: If I ignore the fact that she's a male-hating goddess who could obliterate me in an instant… she's actually kind of adorable.

Chase grabbed a pair of simple black sweats, a cotton white t-shirt, and fresh underwear with black socks. He tossed them onto the bed, then made his way back into the living room. Diana was still on the couch, her attention fully consumed by the anime.

He chuckled quietly to himself as he walked past her, the scent of breakfast still lingering in the air. He headed toward the bathroom, the soft sound of the shower water running in his mind already.

He shut the bathroom door behind him, the warm steam beginning to rise as he prepared to shower, his thoughts on nothing more than the simple routine of getting cleaned up.