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Bringing Mai-senpai Home
Watching Bocchi-chan return home, Kitahara Makoto withdrew his gaze and turned to look at the Bunny Girl beside him, suggesting:
"I'm so hungry, Mai-senpai, do you want to go eat something together?"
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest: "I'm not hungry."
Kitahara Makoto said as usual: "Since senpai isn't hungry, then just watch me eat."
Sakurajima Mai: "..."
Led by Kitahara Makoto, the two walked together towards the nearby Commercial Street. The reason they didn't call Bocchi-chan was because the Little Miss Anxiety was eager to go home and definitely wasn't in the mood to eat out. It was perfectly fine for isolated individuals like him and Sakurajima Mai.
The night was quiet.
A silver moon hung high in the sky, casting down moonlight like water.
"Hey~"
Sakurajima Mai suddenly spoke softly, breaking the silence.
"What's wrong?" Kitahara Makoto slightly turned his head to look.
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest and said: "Don't call me senpai anymore. Kitahara-kun and I aren't in the same school, so I've never been your senpai... And aren't you a bit too practiced at calling me 'Mai-senpai'?"
Kitahara Makoto said helplessly: "No choice, after all, Mai-senpai is older..."
"Huh?!"
Sakurajima Mai's pretty face hardened, and a hint of killing intent seeped into her eyes.
"My deepest apologies, I just said something nonsensical." Kitahara Makoto raised his hands. "Should I call you Sakurajima-san from now on?"
Sakurajima Mai said softly: "My surname is a bit too long."
Kitahara Makoto pondered for a few seconds: "Then I'll just call you... Mai?"
"Rejected." Sakurajima Mai was expressionless. "Calling a stranger by their first name is quite rude."
"How am I a stranger?" Kitahara Makoto retorted, "We're clearly partners who've adventured together, aren't we?"
Sakurajima Mai ignored him, her eyes slightly downcast:
"I'm going home tomorrow morning, so I naturally won't be involved with Kitahara-kun anymore. Partners are too distant."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
It had been a while, and Kitahara Makoto really couldn't remember where Mai-senpai lived, but it definitely wasn't Tokyo.
If two people didn't arrange to meet beforehand, the probability of running into each other on the street was actually minuscule. Once Sakurajima Mai left Tokyo, it was highly likely he would never see her again.
"That's for the best..."
Kitahara Makoto thought to himself.
As long as there's no more contact in the future, he can naturally avoid the axe future, provided the System doesn't pop out and cause trouble...
The whole way was silent.
The two walked silently to the Commercial Street.
It was already past nine o'clock at night, and the Commercial Street was gradually becoming quiet. There weren't many students left; office workers in suits became the main customers of the Commercial Street.
"Mai-san, what do you want to eat?" Kitahara Makoto turned to ask.
Sakurajima Mai raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear: "I can eat anything. Kitahara-kun, you decide. Someone with no money has no right to be picky."
This Mai-senpai, besides the Bunny Girl outfit she was wearing, had neither a phone nor a wallet. She was essentially empty-handed, stranded on the street.
Kitahara Makoto looked around: "Mai-san really likes to give people difficult problems... Then let's start with a serving of takoyaki as an appetizer, followed by some yakitori skewers, and finally a bowl of ramen."
These past two days in the Otherworld, everyone could only eat wild fruits to survive. Kitahara Makoto's mouth was truly bland at this moment, and he urgently needed rich sauces to satisfy his taste buds.
"Please give me two servings of takoyaki."
Kitahara Makoto stepped up to a food cart.
The takoyaki vendor was an old grandmother with white hair, but her movements were quite nimble.
"Do you want takoyaki sauce?"
"Of course, a lot of it."
"Alright."
The old grandmother quickly served two portions of takoyaki. She handed one to Kitahara Makoto, but the other she didn't hand to Sakurajima Mai, but instead to the White-haired Beast-ear Girl.
After Beast Eared Girl Kohana followed Kitahara Makoto to the Reality World, she remained quiet the entire way, simply observing the world before her with wide, curious eyes, unlike a real child who would be full of questions.
As a strange tale creature, she didn't need to eat human food, so Kitahara Makoto hadn't bought any for her, but when the old lady offered the takoyaki, the Beast Eared Girl readily accepted, extending her small hand to take it.
On the other hand, Sakurajima Mai, who was standing nearby, was completely ignored by the old lady.
Kitahara Makoto glanced at Mai-senpai, understanding dawned in his heart.
Sure enough, Mai-senpai's 'Adolescence Syndrome' had already manifested, her presence had vanished, and now no one could see her.
Kitahara Makoto's thoughts swirled as he pointed at Bunny Girl:
"Excuse me, this takoyaki is for her."
The old lady looked bewildered, staring in the direction Kitahara Makoto was pointing: "...What are you saying, customer?"
"Huh?"
Kitahara Makoto deliberately showed a surprised expression: "What do you mean?"
Sakurajima Mai turned around: "Kitahara-kun, let's go."
"…"
Kitahara Makoto paid the bill and then caught up with Sakurajima Mai, bringing the Beast Eared Girl with him.
"Mai-san, it seems like others can't see you?" Kitahara Makoto asked, knowing the answer, "Walking along, such a cute Bunny Girl, yet no one has approached her for a chat or a photo. It's strange no matter how you look at it."
He couldn't pretend not to notice the abnormality, nor could he say he knew everything, since Sakurajima Mai had never spoken about her unusual phenomenon. So, Kitahara Makoto could only ask, despite knowing the answer.
Sakurajima Mai looked at the bustling pedestrians on both sides of the street, her voice carrying an indescribable coolness: "That was a few days ago. During my weekend break, I went to the Enoshima Aquarium, and that's when I realized people started ignoring me. It got progressively worse—shopping malls, hospitals, coffee shops… no matter where I went, no matter what clothes I wore or what I said, no one would look at me again."
"Is that why Mai-san dressed up as a Bunny Girl?"
"That's right."
"It seems Mai-san has encountered something truly incredible," Kitahara Makoto sighed. "Since Mai-san is ignored by others, how do you cross the street?"
Sakurajima Mai couldn't help but glare at him: "I'm only ignored by people, it's not like I've turned into a ghost. Of course, I'll still look at the traffic lights when crossing the street."
"I see," Kitahara Makoto mused. "Then why can I and Hitori-chan and the others see Mai-san?"
Sakurajima Mai pouted slightly: "That's precisely what I want to ask you."
"Sorry, I have no idea," Kitahara Makoto said, offering the takoyaki in his hand. "Want to have one to tide you over?"
"I…"
Sakurajima Mai parted her pink lips, wanting to refuse, but the words caught in her throat, unable to be spoken.
The round takoyaki, glistening with a rich brown sauce, emitted an enticing aroma, and the bonito flakes sprinkled on top gently unfurled under the heat… She wanted to eat it! She desperately wanted to eat it!
She had entered the Otherworld earlier and had been there for an estimated four or five days, surviving only on wild fruits. At this moment, facing the takoyaki brought to her lips, her inner foodie instantly awakened, every cell in her body screaming.
Eyes: "Can't look away! Absolutely can't look away!"
Hands: "If you don't move, I'll move myself!"
Mouth: "I'm already parched with hunger!"
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