After sending Shiina Mashiro to school, Hozuki Nozomi and Mahiru caught the train together.
On the way, they ran into Sanshokuin Sumireko. Naturally, the three of them formed a group and headed to school together.
As luck would have it, there was an open bench on the train. Nozomi wasted no time claiming it, motioning for the two girls to sit beside him. Shiina Mahiru sat to his left, Sanshokuin Sumireko to his right.
Glancing at Mahiru, Nozomi noticed her head bobbing up and down as she struggled to stay awake. The events of last night had clearly left her exhausted. Without a word, he gently pulled her head onto his shoulder.
"Here, rest for a bit, Mahiru."
"Mm... Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as she closed her beautiful, drowsy eyes.
She ignored the bewildered stares of their classmates around them. She no longer felt the need to be the untouchable 'angel' in everyone's eyes. She just wanted to be herself—to rely on Nozomi and be spoiled by him.
Feeling movement on his other side, Nozomi turned to find Sumireko resting her head on his opposite shoulder as well.
"Hugging left and right... must be nice, huh?"
A teasing voice rang in his ears.
Lifting his gaze, Nozomi found himself looking at a striking girl with slender legs clad in black stockings. Her presence was subtle—so much so that she seemed almost transparent.
"Mai Sakurajima-senpai?" he smirked, tilting his head slightly. "If you're feeling jealous, there's still some space on my lap. Want to give it a try?"
Mai's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You can see me?"
"What kind of question is that? There's a beautiful, elegant actress standing right in front of me. I'd have to be blind not to notice."
She pursed her lips. "Strange... No one else seems to be able to."
"If you don't believe me, take a look around. No one's looking at you weirdly. To them, it must seem like I'm talking to myself."
Nozomi turned to Sumireko and gave her waist a light squeeze. She immediately opened her eyes and glared at him in irritation.
"What, do you like Shiina more now? You let her sleep peacefully, but you wake me up just because I want to rest for a bit?" she huffed, her words laced with jealousy.
Nozomi awkwardly cleared his throat. "No, I just wanted to ask you something, Sumireko. Can you see the person standing in front of me?"
Sumireko frowned. "Don't mess with me. There's no one there."
"You sure? She debuted as a child star and is now a famous high school actress—Mai Sakurajima. You don't see her?"
Raising an eyebrow, Sumireko gave him a flat look. "If this is some kind of ghost story or your way of introducing an imaginary actress girlfriend, I'm not buying it."
"I'm serious." Nozomi glanced back at Mai, confirming once again that she was indeed standing right there.
Sumireko studied his face for a moment before shifting closer, wrapping her arms around his. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Are you actually seeing someone that I can't?"
"I wouldn't joke about this."
"Then... what now?" Sumireko hesitated, her grip on his arm tightening slightly. Her body trembled just a little.
Nozomi smirked. "What else? Just pretend I don't see her."
"...You're the worst," she muttered, closing her eyes again and resting her head back on his shoulder.
Throughout this exchange, Mai had been watching with puffed-up cheeks. "I didn't take you for the indifferent type, Nozomi-kun."
Nozomi shrugged. "Don't take it personally. Isn't this how most people would react?"
"Well, since you're so indifferent, I guess I have no choice…"
A sudden, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Before Nozomi could react, Mai had taken a seat—right on his lap.
The soft sensation made his heart skip a beat. His whole body stiffened.
Mai gave him a mischievous smile. "Consider this punishment for your indifference."
"Tch. You call this a punishment?" Nozomi muttered, his lips twitching.
"Oh? Well, think about it. Right now, no one but you can see me."
She leaned in slightly, her breath tickling his ear. "So if you... react... while holding a beautiful girl on your lap, what do you think will happen?"
Nozomi's mind blanked for a second. "...Wait."
Mai tilted her head playfully. "I'd say... it wouldn't take long for rumors to spread. Something about a 'perverted guy getting erect on the train with two girls beside him'—"
Her voice was full of amusement as she subtly shifted her body.
Nozomi's eye twitched. "You... really like playing with fire, don't you, senpai?"
Mai grinned. "What? It's your fault for being so fun to tease."
Nozomi exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to groan.
Nozomi let out a helpless sigh, shifting slightly in his seat. "Senpai, you're too cruel. At least show some mercy," he muttered, quickly placing his schoolbag on his lap to act as a barrier.
His passive skill had kicked in, the "infinite ammo/Golden Gun" triggering automatically. He didn't ask for this situation, but Mai was really soft… and really warm.
Sakurajima Mai's face turned red as she realized what had just happened. That heat, that sensation… it was more than she expected. Her whole body tensed slightly as she resisted the urge to recoil.
She inwardly cursed this shameless kouhai. But at the same time, a wave of embarrassment washed over her. After all, she was the one who provoked him in the first place.
Still, seeing Nozomi struggling like this, she felt a small sense of satisfaction.
'Serves you right for acting so indifferent earlier,' she thought smugly, though her heart was still pounding from the unintended consequence of her little stunt.
With her face still slightly flushed, she put on a victorious smirk. "You have to help me now, or do you plan on staying like that all day?"
"Alright, alright! I'll help you! Geez, you're really mean, Senpai."
"Not as mean as your... reaction." She clicked her tongue and quickly slid off his lap, putting a safe distance between them.
On the other side, Sanshokuin Sumireko, who had been dozing lightly, twitched her eyelids. For a moment, it looked like Nozomi had been possessed by a ghost.
'Wait, how exactly is he supposed to help a ghost?'
Of course, Nozomi wasn't actually being haunted. Instead, he was looking at a new system notification in his mind:
[Ding! Task triggered: Mai Sakurajima's Dilemma.]
[Your beautiful senpai is gradually fading from existence. Except for you, no one else can see or remember her. If this continues, she won't even be able to interact with objects anymore.]
[Please assist her with securing food and shelter by letting her stay at Sakurasou.]
[Task Completion Rewards: Special skills or unique items, 1,000,000 yen, no penalty for failure.]
'So, the task is basically to invite her back to Sakurasou after school? Well, that's easy.'
Mai, now standing beside him, gave him a curious look. "So, junior, how do you plan on helping me?"
After exchanging contact info, she opted to message him discreetly rather than speaking aloud.
[Mai: Junior-kun, what's your plan?]
[Nozomi: Simple. Come to my place after school. I'll help you move.]
[Mai: Ehh? You're asking me to live with you? I didn't know you had feelings for me~]
[Nozomi: What guy wouldn't be interested in a beautiful, famous actress like you?]
[Mai: Now I'm scared. I don't think I can trust you anymore.]
[Nozomi: Fine, suit yourself. It's not me who's disappearing.]
[Mai: Hey, that's not fair!]
Nozomi smirked as he watched the three dots of her typing indicator appear and disappear repeatedly. Eventually, she sent another message.
[Mai: Hmph! You should feel bad for how heartless you're acting!]
Amused, Nozomi was about to reply when he noticed Mai glancing at his lap out of the corner of her eye, her cheeks subtly heating up.
[Nozomi: Oh? Is Senpai still thinking about what happened earlier?]
[Mai: Shut up, pervert!]
[Nozomi: Hey, I'm just responding to the situation. You're the one who caused it.]
[Mai: Ugh, you're impossible! Anyway… can you come with me to my place after school? I need to pick up a few things.]
[Nozomi: Sure, but I expect a reward.]
[Mai: How much do you want?]
[Nozomi: I don't need money. Just let me use your lap as a pillow.]
[Mai: Perverted junior!]
[Nozomi: So, yes or no?]
[Mai: …Fine! But you're going to regret this someday, I swear!]
[Nozomi: Senpai, you're so cute when you act tsundere.]
[Mai: Then I'd rather be ugly!]
[Nozomi: If you were ugly, I'd just pretend I couldn't see you.]
Mai gasped in betrayal. "How dare you?!"
Nozomi chuckled to himself. He had a feeling that teasing her like this would never get old.
Still, despite all their back-and-forth banter, he could tell that Mai was feeling better. Being ignored by the world, being forgotten by everyone—it must have been terrifying. But now, she had someone who could see her, who would tease her, and who would make her feel real again.
That thought alone was enough to make her smile.
Though… she couldn't ignore the fact that this guy was still sitting there, surrounded by girls, acting all smug.
'Hmph. What a shameless pervert!'