Hera sat disguised in class with a smirk on her face.
“My revenge plan is working perfectly, and I have my next step figured out,” she thought. “There is one person who must hate Yuko more than anyone else. And all I needed to do was look at the exams.”
Her gaze turned to Oda Hideyoshi, who was sitting next to her.
“You were overthrown, humiliated by that girl. I know you were hiding it back then, how you’re trying to be nice when you’re filled with resentment. Even now you must be plotting against her, how to crush her, how to make her know that you’re the superior one.”
Hideyoshi’s thoughts were different, “This is a biology class, so why are we spending most of it talking about cells? I’ve learned too much about cells already. Why can’t we just learn about animals?”
After school, Hera stayed in the room. Hideyoshi stayed as well to play on his laptop. She sat on his table, leaning over in front of his computer and looking him in the eyes.
“Oda Hideyoshi, I know what happened to you,” she said.
He asked, “What happened to me?”
Hera answered, “You used to be the number one student in the school, but then Sanda Yuko took your place. She surpassed you at everything and took what was rightfully yours.”
“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Hideyoshi shrugged.
“But you want revenge, don’t you? You want to prove that you’re better than her, to beat her at something and take back your rightful place. Well, I can help you with that.”
“No thanks,” he told her. “I’d have to do a lot of work to beat her, and I don’t want to bother.”
Hera groaned, “Fuck it. I’ll just do this the normal way.”
Clouds formed around her as light flashed. The teenage girl was gone and the goddess stood in her place, covered in heraldry and symbols of power.
“I am not Mamoru Mizuki, but the goddess Hera! The woman known as Sanda Yuko is a daughter of Zeus, and I’m going to make her pay for it!” she declared.
Hideyoshi said, “Nice special effects. How did you pull them off?”
“These aren’t special effects!” Hera snapped. “I’m actually a goddess!”
“Suuuure you are,” he rolled his eyes.
She asked, “Why don’t you believe me?”
“Well, gods don’t actually exist for one thing,” Hideyoshi answered.
Hera waved her hand. Hideyoshi was turned into a snake, a dung beetle, an owl, and then back into a human.
He took frantic breaths as shock flowed through him, “Okay, I stand corrected. Gods do exist.”
“Then help me crush Yuko!” she smiled. “Do this, and I will make you king of all of Asia!”
Hideyoshi put on his most diplomatic voice, “Sorry, but no thanks. I don’t want to be king.”
“Huh? What kind of mortal doesn’t want to be king?” Hera’s eyes widened in shock.
“Well, being king sounds like a lot of work. I mean, it isn’t like kings just do nothing all day. I’d also have to worry about invasions, being assassinated, people betraying me. I just don’t want that kind of stress in my life,” he said.
The goddess sighed, “Those are pretty good points. I’ll accept that. So, what do you want for helping me fight Yuko?”
“Let’s see…” Hideyoshi came up with something. “My face on the 1,000 yen note.”
Hera objected, “I can’t put you on yen unless you are a member of government.”
“That’s what I want. If I don’t get it, then I’m not going against Yuko,” he stated.
“Dammit, why are you so useless?” she groaned. “I’ll just do it myself.”
The goddess left the room. When she was gone, Hideyoshi burst out into shaking fits and took ragged breaths.
He said, “That was close. I was sure Hera would crush me for refusing her. I…I need to tell Yuko.”
Hideyoshi got up and started running; however, a realization came to him.
I can’t tell Yuko Hera’s after her. She’d never believe me, and she might try to confront Hera on her own if I tell her it’s another student. What I need to do is get as much information as I can and find a way to tell Yuko.
He found her running through the tennis area of the school grounds. Yuko was playing against four other girls and winning. Hideyoshi’s jaw dropped.
“She’s that good? There’s no way she isn’t a daughter of Zeus.”
The boy walked over and said, “Hey, Yuko, do you have a moment to talk?”
“I do,” she spoke without emotion as she kept playing.
“Is that moment right now or later?” he asked.
Yuko answered, “I can talk and play tennis.”
“Alright,” Hideyoshi said. “Can you tell me anything about your father?”
“Yes, he’s a good person who supports me,” her voice remained stoic.
“Oh, then he’s in your life?”
“He is. Why do you ask?”
Hideyoshi chose his words with care, “I heard a rumor that your father was missing.”
Yuko’s hand slipped and the tennis ball flew past her. It hit a wall and bounced off, hitting Yuko in her back.
“Ow.” Somehow, even this pain didn’t remove her stoic voice.
“Are you alright?” Hideyoshi asked.
She nodded, “Yes, and the rumor is true. I’m talking about my stepfather. I never met my real father. Mom says that he was the best lay she ever had.”
His eyes widened in shock, “Your mother told you that? Isn’t that inappropriate?”
“It is,” Yuko said.
She picked up the ball, threw it in the air, and hit it as hard as she could with her racket. It blasted past the other girls before hitting the wall behind them. Ricocheting off it, the ball slammed into Hideyoshi’s face, knocking him to the ground.
She knelt over him, “Sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he stated. “As long as that wasn’t intentional.”
“It was an accident. I got mad and hit the ball too hard, but I didn’t want to hurt you,” there was still no emotion in Yuko’s voice.
Hideyoshi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good. Now, another question. Has anyone done anything suspicious around you recently?”
“Suspicious?” She thought for a moment. “Our new coach is a bit weird. Hideyoshi, do you want to play with my balls?”
“What?” he jumped up in shock.
Yuko held out a tennis ball, “We can play volleyball if you like it better.”
“We’re not playing with balls right now,” Hideyoshi grabbed her arm. “Come on! I need to tell you something.”
He dragged her to the side and made sure they were out of earshot of everyone.
“Is this the part where you violate me?” Yuko asked.
Hideyoshi replied, “Why would I violate someone as ugly as you?”
“That was good,” she said. “You’re getting less useless than before.”
“But you’re still the same idiot. Can’t you see I’m trying to tell you something important?”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t joke around if you’re serious. What is it?” she wondered.
He told her, “This is hard to believe, but the goddess Hera is going after you because your real father is Zeus.”
Yuko’s voice was ice, “Are you insane? Are you making fun of me? Did I go too far and drive you to this?”
“You didn’t go too far. I’m telling the truth,” Hideyoshi insisted.
“No, I don’t believe you,” she remained stoic. “You offered to help me and I’ve treated you with nothing but disdain. Yes, I’ve gone too far from the start and now you’ve gone too far too. Goodbye now. Don’t worry about me. I’ll handle myself.”
The girl walked away while a sinking feeling went into Hideyoshi’s stomach. He shouldn’t have told her that so soon, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say. And now, he might have doomed Yuko.
Ved'ma Story 