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Even though Mai was trying her best to act calm, Jack could feel the helplessness and despair hiding beneath her composure.
If even he gave up on her… then she would truly vanish from this world.
"It's no use… just leave me."
The girl in his arms spoke softly, her voice trembling with a faint sob.
Even her own mother had forgotten her. That wound cut too deep to put into words.
The fact that she hadn't broken down crying yet was, honestly, already proof of how strong she was trying to be.
"Maybe… there's someone out there who still remembers you."
"You make it sound like everyone except you has already forgotten me."
Mai forced a laugh. It sounded thin and brittle.
She wasn't wrong, though. That's exactly what it looked like.
Even Mai Sakurajima herself believed that. That's why she said it.
Jack didn't answer. He knew too well that the only reason he could still see her was because he was no longer human—his body had already turned demonic.
Maybe… he could ask Rias and the others for help. They were demons too. Maybe they'd know something.
But if he did that, the contract he was trying to form would probably be ruined.
Then again, what did that matter anymore?He couldn't just stand by and watch Mai disappear. Not her.
Compared to that, a contract was nothing.
"…Anyway, how about we go and check first?" Jack said, unsure how else to comfort her.
"What's the point? If we just confirm that everyone's forgotten me except you… what good does that do?"
Mai's voice sounded empty, like she'd already given up.
"Yeah, maybe it won't help. But that way, at least I'll still have a reason to stay with you," he said with a small, gentle smile.
"…??"
"To be exact," he added softly beside her ear, "I just need an excuse to stay with you. Is that so wrong?"
"…I guess not…"
"And besides," he continued with a teasing tone, "this is technically our date, isn't it?"
"That's your idea of a date. And weren't you the one who wanted some kind of 'contract,' Mister Demon?"
Mai muttered it like she was trying to convince herself more than him.
Jack smiled. "Well, yeah, if you want to call it that."
"Then I'm definitely not agreeing to it."
"It's because I just… want to be with you, Mai."
His voice was soft but steady.
"Besides," he added, grinning a little, "you've got no one else to rely on right now. If I try just a bit harder, maybe I'll win your heart. I'm not missing that chance."
The blunt honesty caught her off guard.
Mai blinked, momentarily stunned, then shot back, "I'm not that easy to win over."
"…I feel like I've got a pretty good shot though."
"Taking advantage of a girl's crisis—how very demon-like of you."
"Why, thank you," he said with a light chuckle.
In his arms, he could feel her finally relax—her trembling had stopped.
"No helping it…" Mai muttered under her breath.
"Hmm?"
"If you don't want me to go yet… I guess continuing the date wouldn't be that bad."
She said it quietly, head turned down, her tone just a little tsundere.
Jack laughed softly and let her go. He took a step forward, looking at her face—so beautiful even under the dim streetlights—and said gently, "It's still early. Let's go a little farther."
By the time they stopped, it was already 7:30 p.m.
They'd traveled nearly sixty kilometers south of the city—farther than Mai had ever gone with anyone in a long time.
Jack had been asking around on the way, talking to random people on the street.But everyone he asked—people who once just couldn't see Mai—had now completely forgotten she ever existed.
Mai stood beside him the whole time, her face blank.It was like she'd packed away every emotion—sadness, fear, hope—and sealed them somewhere deep inside.Only calm remained.
When another round of questions ended with the same answer, Jack turned to her and shook his head slightly.
"Don't get your hopes up," Mai murmured.
He gave a wry laugh. "Funny. Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?"
"Why haven't you given up yet, Jack?" she asked in that flat, emotionless tone.
"…It's like this," he said after a pause. "Imagine spending a fortune on a game, trying to get a rare character, and you still don't pull them. But they're limited-time—you'll never have another chance. Would you really just quit?"
"…That's your analogy?" Mai sighed. "Sorry for disappointing you then."
He grinned. "Well, it's not just sunk-cost fallacy. It's also because a cute girl like you needs help. A guy with normal taste can't just ignore that, right?"
"…I've never heard anyone make being shallow sound so refined," she muttered.
He ignored her jab and, quite naturally, reached out and took her hand.
"I didn't say you could hold it," she said calmly.
Jack didn't flinch. "Then allow me to ask properly—may I hold your hand, Lady Mai?"
"…And your reason?"
"I like the way it feels."
Mai blinked, speechless.
She turned her face away, looking at the streetlights in the distance.
"…Just this once," she said quietly.
"Huh?" Jack grinned. "That sounds like a soft maybe. Mind if I find another excuse next time?"
"That depends on what kind of excuse you come up with."
Her voice carried a hint of embarrassment, but there was warmth in it too—a trace of joy she couldn't quite hide.
Hand in hand, they wandered deeper into this unfamiliar city.Billboards still displayed Mai's face from old ads she'd shot, though no one around them noticed.
Jack frowned to himself. This was no longer about his demonic contract—it was about finding a way to truly help Mai escape this curse.
"It's getting late," Mai said suddenly. "We should find somewhere to stay… I kinda want a bath."
Jack checked the time, nodded, and scanned the area until he spotted a small hotel up ahead.
He led her inside—thankfully, no one else could see her. Otherwise, walking into a hotel with a famous actress would've been front-page news by morning.
The receptionist gave him a few curious looks. He was handsome, sure, but he still looked like a high schooler. Showing up alone at this hour to book a room? A bit suspicious.
Still, she said nothing, and he got the room without trouble.
A single room.
He had thought about asking for a double, but the clerk had already finished the booking, and Mai didn't say a word—just walked straight to the elevator. So he let it go.
The room was small. Just one bed, a table, a little sofa, and a dresser.
Mai didn't seem to care. She sat down on the bed, kicked off her shoes, and fell back against the mattress.
It had been… one hell of a day.
"..."
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