Toyohama Nodoka heard Mai and Tohru's conversation and felt her head spinning.
She gulped and mumbled,
"Mai-sis, you and these people…what exactly…"
Her face was grim and pale, as if all her worst assumptions had just been confirmed.
"Could it be you really got caught in showbiz's shady deals? And that's why you quit the industry?"
"Huh?"
Mai was dumbfounded by Nodoka's suspicion.
What in the world…?
Sensing Nodoka was jumping to wild conclusions, Mai hurriedly explained:
"Rei Ao-kun is my boyfriend and fiancé. My mother knows about it too."
By stating her relationship outright, she cut off Nodoka's misinterpretation.
"W-what?"
Nodoka was once again shocked. Fiancé? How come she never knew?
"Enough about that,"
Mai sighed, rubbing her temples to change the subject. There wasn't much she could—or wanted to—explain in front of Tohru and the others. Actually clarifying every detail would be a massive headache.
She then looked to Rei Ao:
"Rei Ao-kun, I assume you know why we ended up like this?"
"Of course."
With the talk back on track, Rei Ao got straight to the point:
"This is caused by Puberty Syndrome."
"Huh?!"
Both Futaba and Mai visibly reacted to that term, having previously experienced Puberty Syndrome themselves.
Mai frowned.
"I'd thought my Puberty Syndrome was over and done with. Why is it happening again?"
"No one's proven someone can't have it more than once, but this time the problem isn't with you."
Rei Ao gestured at Nodoka, who looked both embarrassed and guilty.
Mai understood:
"So…it's Nodoka's Puberty Syndrome?"
"What…are you people talking about?"
Nodoka felt a gulf separating her from them. With a trace of exasperation, Mai began explaining Puberty Syndrome—how a strong emotional desire can produce bizarre, supernatural effects.
"So, Nodoka, what feelings were so intense that you ended up in this situation?"
"I…"
Nodoka was at a loss for words. Even if it sounded absurd, the evidence right before her eyes forced her to believe it. Tears rolled down her cheeks at last.
"I'm not sure… I was in my room, and Mom said yet again how I don't measure up to you, Mai-sis. I–I just wished I could become you…and then…"
"Got it—so you wanted to be Mai, and now you are."
Emilia clicked her tongue.
"Why is the world full of such weird phenomena?"
Ilia added:
"Futaba-senpai's dealt with it before."
"And this younger sister of Mai's," Tohru observed, blinking, "seems to really idolize her."
Suddenly, Tohru changed tack:
"Though at second glance, it's more envy or jealousy."
"…"
Nodoka bowed her head in shame, hands twisting in her lap. Tohru had nailed it. Mai sighed. She hadn't realized Nodoka's inferiority complex was this serious. Nodoka's mother was indeed strict, and constantly comparing her to Mai…
Seeing Nodoka like this, Mai's heart softened. She gently embraced her:
"It's not your fault."
"Mai-sis…"
Such warmth shattered Nodoka's last shred of self-control, and she burst into sobs. Nobody tried to stop her. Sometimes, venting was best. After all, that pent-up turmoil was precisely what had triggered her Puberty Syndrome.
While Mai patted Nodoka's back consolingly, she opened the chat app to message Rei Ao:
Sakurajima Mai: "Rei Ao-kun, you can make us switch back, right?"
Rei Ao: "Sure, that's pretty simple."
Rei Ao: "But I don't plan to do it."
He gave a meaningful smile.
Sakurajima Mai: "Huh?"
Frieren chimed in:
Frieren: "What's going on now? You're all up late chatting."
Rei Ao: "Aren't you up too?"
Frieren: "I'm researching new magic, obviously. But sounds like trouble on your end."
Rei Ao: "Not quite. Put simply, Mai and her cousin swapped souls."
Frieren: "Ah, soul stuff. Should be easy for you, though."
Rei Ao: "Indeed.
But I'm not going to forcibly fix it."
Mai blinked in confusion:
Sakurajima Mai: "Why not?"
Rei Ao, wearing an enigmatic expression:
Rei Ao: "I could forcibly erase this Puberty Syndrome—but that wouldn't solve the deeper issues of your cousin's heart."
Sakurajima Mai: "Huh?"
Mai looked at him questioningly.
Rei Ao: "She admires you, but also envies and resents you. Let her personally experience what it's like to be Sakurajima Mai. That might untangle her insecurities."
"…"
It was clearly for Nodoka's own good, but Mai nonetheless glared suspiciously.
Sakurajima Mai: "You've got more than altruism in mind, right? Planning to lay hands on Nodoka?"
Rei Ao sighed dramatically:
Rei Ao: "You know me so well, Mai—indeed, the woman most in sync with me."
Sakurajima Mai: "You!!!"
Rei Ao: "Calm down. Before you showed up, I'd already 'been with' Nodoka in your body. You can't expect me to leave someone I've been with to someone else, right?"
Tohru laughed:
"I get it—'Don't let good water flow to another's field.'"
"Good one, Tohru,"
Rei Ao praised.
"…"
Mai was speechless. This guy was shameless. But in its twisted way, he had a point. Worse, she knew she couldn't stop him. After all, even her own mother approved of him.
Sakurajima Mai: "Hmph, do as you like. Then what about me?"
She wanted no part of going off to live in Nodoka's place.
Rei Ao: "Relax, I'll make Nodoka's mother temporarily forget about her. You can just stay at home."
"…"
Seeing Rei Ao already had everything figured out, Mai could only shoot him a fierce glare and remain silent. We
~~~
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