The next day, at ten in the morning. After breakfast, Kael leisurely arrived at the entrance of the city library. As before, he had agreed to meet Marin and Saki at ten. This time, Kael was the last to arrive. When he reached the library entrance, Marin and Saki had already been waiting.
"You're too slow, Renjou-kun. Making girls wait during a date is very rude, you know." Marin stood with hands on her hips, leaning forward, glaring at Kael in dissatisfaction.
Her outfit was much the same as before—gyaru style, bold and daring. When she bent forward, Kael could even see a clear line of cleavage. He couldn't help but sigh—Marin was indeed well-endowed.
Though she had unintentionally given him a glimpse, Kael still muttered: "No matter how you look at it, this isn't a date."
For the record, he was late because he had been absorbed in cultivation the night before and overslept.
Marin pulled Saki over. "Isn't Saki your girlfriend? Saying that will definitely lose you points with girls."
Kael calmly replied: "I don't care."
Marin sighed, turning to Saki. "What do you even see in him?"
Blushing, Saki said: "Renjou-kun is very kind. He walks me home every day."
Marin retorted: "Isn't that just what boyfriends are supposed to do? You're too easily satisfied."
Unable to listen further, Kael tapped Marin on the head. "Enough. Stop stirring trouble. Let's go inside."
"Ow." Marin yelped, glaring at him, but didn't argue. She pulled Saki along into the library.
Kael followed.
Inside, the two girls asked the librarian where books on clothing were located. Told they were in the corner of the second floor, they headed straight there. Efficient, purposeful, full of energy. Few JKs had such drive nowadays.
Kael trailed behind them up the stairs. At the second-floor landing, he froze.
He saw a beautiful girl. Long limbs, deep eyes, a small face, and a model-like slim figure. Her pretty face carried a bored expression, radiating mature laziness and charm. She had waist-length black hair, with strands near her cheeks curling inward slightly.
The two-dimensional world was full of beautiful girls—Kitagawa Marin, Ogata Rizu, Shiina Mahiru among them. This girl was stunning, though not much more than Marin. They were evenly matched.
But what truly stunned Kael was her outfit. Black patent leather heels, sheer black stockings wrapping long legs. A tight black bodysuit accentuating her slim yet curvy figure, with a modest but visible cleavage. Though compared to Marin, it was lacking. Her white wrist cuffs and black bowtie completed the look.
No doubt—she was a bunny girl.
Kael exclaimed inwardly. He had just seen Bunny Girl Senpai in Tokyo. Yes, this was Sakurajima Mai, heroine of Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai.
If he remembered correctly, she should appear in Kanagawa, not Tokyo. This crossover world was truly strange. What wind had blown Bunny Girl Senpai from Kanagawa to Tokyo?
And judging by her outfit, she was clearly suffering from Adolescence Syndrome, her presence fading like Megumi Kato's. Otherwise, as a celebrity, dressed like this in a public library, she would have drawn a crowd. Yet the library remained quiet, as if no one saw her.
"You can see me?" As Kael stared curiously, Bunny Girl Senpai approached and stood before him.
He nodded. "I can." There was no need to hide it.
Her face lit up with joy, like someone drowning who had found a lifeline. She threw herself at him, hugging tightly. "Please, I beg you, save me."
"Huh?" Kael was dumbfounded.
If he remembered correctly, when Azusagawa Sakuta first met Mai, her attitude was: Don't get involved with me. But now, with him, her reaction was completely different.
Could her Adolescence Syndrome have reached its final stage? Had everyone already forgotten her? That would explain her excitement at being seen.
Kael said: "Calm down first. Tell me what happened."
Mai quickly composed herself, released him, and bowed. "Sorry, I was rude."
Kael waved it off. "It's fine. But what did you mean by 'save me'?"
Mai took a deep breath. "Before I answer, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Are you an onmyoji?"
Kael shook his head. "I'm not. But I do know some spells."
Her expression dimmed at his denial, but brightened again at the mention of spells. "You know spells?" she asked eagerly.
"A few," Kael nodded.
Mai grabbed his hand, pulling him into a quiet corner of the library. She bowed again, speaking solemnly: "Please, save me."
Kael didn't refuse. "Tell me what happened first."
He expected her to explain her fading presence. But instead, she shocked him.
With a serious face, she said: "I encountered a divine being!!!"