KamiKowa: That Time I Got Transmigrated With A Broken Goddess-Chapter 50: [] Good Intentions

Xavier checked his watch for the fifth time. Ten minutes had passed, and the girls were still in the bathroom.

What are they doing in there? Conducting a séance?

Just as he was considering sending a text to check on Calypso, the bathroom door swung open. Margaret emerged first, Selena followed, her gradient hair catching the light as she tossed it over her shoulder. Naomi stepped out next, her calculating gaze immediately finding Xavier. Finally, Calypso appeared, her cheeks flushed a deep pink that almost matched her eyes.

"There he is," Naomi said, her red lips curving into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Waiting like a good boy, Xavi?"

The fuck?

Margaret nudged Calypso with her elbow. "Remember what we talked about. Don’t let him push you around."

"And text us if you need anything," Selena added, her ocean-blue tipped hair swaying as she leaned closer to Calypso. "Anything at all."

Calypso nodded, her silver hair falling across her face as she ducked her head. "Thank you all for the advice..."

"We should get going," Xavier said, pushing off from the wall. "Nice chatting with you ladies."

"See you tomorrow," Margaret called as they began walking away. "Both of you."

"Bye, Calypso! Bye, Xavi!" Naomi added with a small wave, emphasizing the nickname again.

Xavier waited until they were out of earshot before turning to Calypso. "So..."

Calypso kept her eyes fixed on the floor. "They had questions."

"I gathered that much. What kind of questions?"

"About us," she mumbled, falling into step beside him as they headed toward the exit. "About our... relationship."

Xavier held the door open, letting Calypso pass through first.

"And what did you tell them?"

"The truth. That we’re distant cousins who recently reconnected." Calypso tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, her pink eyes darting up to meet his before looking away again. "They didn’t believe me."

"Color me shocked."

"They think you’re... controlling me." Calypso’s shoulders hunched slightly. "They were trying to help."

Xavier sighed. "Great. So now I’m the creepy controlling cousin."

"It’s not funny, Xavier." Calypso’s voice took on an edge he rarely heard. "They were being kind. They saw how you pulled me away from shopping yesterday and how you’re always hovering nearby, and they were concerned."

They reached the ferry terminal and joined the line of students waiting to board. Xavier lowered his voice further, aware of the crowd around them.

"I’m not trying to control you."

"I know that," Calypso snapped, then took a deep breath. "But they don’t. And I can’t tell them the truth, so now they think I’m in some kind of... situation with you."

The line moved forward, and they stepped onto the ferry. Xavier guided them to the upper deck where they could talk with less chance of being overheard. They found seats near the back, away from most of the other passengers.

"What exactly did they say?" Xavier asked once they were settled.

Calypso leaned back in her seat, her pink eyes tracking a seagull flying alongside the ferry. "They asked if I felt safe with you. If you ever hurt me. If I needed help getting away."

"And what did you say?"

"I told them you’re protective, not controlling. That we have a complicated history but that you’ve never hurt me." A small smile finally appeared on her face. "I also may have implied that you’re just awkward around other people because you’ve been homeschooled your whole life."

"Homeschooled? Really?"

"It explains your lack of social skills," she said, her smile growing slightly.

"I have excellent social skills when I need them," Xavier protested. "I just don’t need them with most people here."

"Case in point." Calypso’s shoulders relaxed a bit. "Anyway, they gave me their contact information and told me I could call them anytime. They’re actually really nice."

"They think I’m abusing you."

"They’re concerned, which means they care. That’s not a bad thing, Xavier." Calypso turned to face him fully. "When was the last time someone cared about your wellbeing?"

The question caught him off guard. In his previous life, people had cared about what he could do for them, what he could provide. No one had simply... cared.

"Fair point," he conceded.

The ferry’s engines hummed beneath them as they pulled away from the academy island.

"I have some news," Xavier said, changing the subject. "I’m working on getting information about Dominic."

Calypso’s eyes widened. "How? Who would know anything useful?"

"Remember Adrian? The walking encyclopedia from orientation? I called him after class. Apparently, he has a comprehensive file on Dominic’s career, including match statistics, public appearances, and corporate sponsorships."

"That’s... actually impressive." Calypso leaned forward. "Do you think it will help us understand how he’s here when he should be dead?"

"Probably not directly, but it might give us clues. Background details, inconsistencies, patterns that don’t make sense."

Calypso nodded slowly. "Smart approach. When will you get this information?"

"Adrian’s sending it over tonight. Fair warning: it’s probably going to be excessive. That kid doesn’t seem to understand the concept of summarizing."

"What did you tell him about why you wanted the information?" she asked.

"That I’m a fan looking for details. He bought it completely." Xavier glanced out at the water. "Everyone wants to talk about their passions. You just have to give them permission."

"A lesson from your previous life?"

"One of many." Xavier turned back to her. "Speaking of which, we should practice more tonight. The practical tomorrow is going to be intense if today was any indication."

Calypso groaned, slumping in her seat. "Do we have to? I’m still sore from yesterday."

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body," Xavier quoted with a straight face.

"That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve been processing souls for centuries." Calypso crossed her arms. "Pain is pain. It doesn’t transform into anything except more pain."

"Tell that to our teacher Phantom. His demonstration today was something else." Xavier lowered his voice further. "Have you ever seen abilities like that before? The time perception manipulation?"

Calypso’s expression grew serious. "Not often. It’s rare, even among the divine. Time is... tricky. It doesn’t like to be tampered with."

"And yet our masked professor seems to do it effortlessly."

"Which should concern you." Calypso glanced around before continuing. "Anyone with that level of control over time perception is dangerous. Even I couldn’t do that in my full divine form."

The ferry hit a small wave, causing the deck to shift beneath them. Xavier steadied himself against the railing.

"So we have a dead student who shouldn’t be alive and a teacher who can manipulate time better than a goddess." Xavier ran a hand through his white hair. "Anything else you want to add to our list of impossibilities?"

"Just the seven Primordial Gates we need to close to break our connection," Calypso said with a small smile. "But that’s practically a side quest at this point."

Xavier snorted. "Right. Just save the world. No pressure."

They fell into a comfortable silence as the ferry continued its journey toward Metro City. The sun was beginning to set, casting the water in shades of orange and gold.

"What do you want for dinner?" Xavier asked eventually. "We could pick something up on the way home."

"Something sweet," Calypso replied immediately. "I still can’t get over how food tastes in this form. It’s so... immediate."

"Sweet isn’t dinner."

"Says who? I’m thousands of years old. I think I’ve earned the right to eat dessert for dinner if I want to."

"Fine. But you’re doing your homework on your own tonight. I have research to do."

"Deal." Calypso sat up straighter. "There’s a bakery near our apartment that has these chocolate things in the window. They look like little mountains with cream on top."

"Profiteroles?"

"Is that what they’re called? Yes, those!" Calypso clapped her hands together. "And maybe those swirly things with the raisins too."

"Pain au raisin," Xavier supplied. "Damn, you have expensive taste for someone who doesn’t contribute to the rent."

Calypso waved a dismissive hand. "I’m contributing my divine wisdom and charming personality. That’s worth at least three months’ rent."

The ferry began to slow as it approached the Metro City terminal. Students gathered their belongings, preparing to disembark. Xavier stood and offered his hand to Calypso out of habit.

She looked at it for a moment before taking it, allowing him to help her up. "This is why they think you’re controlling, you know. The hovering, the hand-offering, the constant checking where I am."

"Would you prefer I let you fall on your old divine ass when the boat rocks?" Xavier asked, dropping her hand once she was standing.

"No," Calypso admitted. "But maybe we could work on making it look less... whatever it is that’s concerning them."

"I’ll add it to the list, right after ’master Input Buffer’ and ’investigate resurrected student.’"

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