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"You have a way to solve the problem of disappearing presence?"
Sakurajima Mai's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and her body involuntarily leaned forward, looking at him.
After one's presence disappears, at first, it might feel fresh. One can play pranks on passersby, and one can appear in strange uniforms in streets and alleys without worrying about being pointed at. But as time goes on, everyone slowly treats you as air, and even your parents and relatives will forget you... That endless feeling of loneliness can only be experienced by those who have personally gone through it.
"One should look at a scholar with new eyes after a three-day absence." Kitahara Makoto smiled, "While Mai-senpai was lingering in the same spot every day, I was constantly getting stronger."
As he spoke, Kitahara Makoto's gaze swept over the girl's fair, slender neck and looked down openly.
The first time in the Otherworld, she was still a Bunny Girl. Today's attire was ordinary, a standard summer outfit: a short-sleeved shirt + skirt, and a combination of stockings and round-toed leather shoes.
Mai's long, slender legs were encased in black stockings, faintly revealing the fair color of her skin, and they felt a bit thinner than last time.
At this moment, her body leaned forward, and the collar of her shirt sagged due to gravity, revealing a not-so-deep but sufficiently fair cleavage clearly in Kitahara Makoto's line of sight.
Although not as good as Bocchi-chan and Tomori, the size was clearly far superior to Kita and Nijika. It could be said to be the standard size for a high school girl...
Cleavage always makes things popular.
"...Does it look good?"
Sakurajima Mai sat up straight, pulled up the slightly slipped collar of her tight-fitting top, and looked at him with disdain.
Kitahara Makoto clasped his hands together: "Thank you for the treat."
In such situations, whoever is thin-skinned loses.
Sakurajima Mai covered her chest with her right hand, bit her lip lightly, and her pretty face showed a complex expression, both anticipation and worry:
"Kitahara-kun, do you really have a way?"
"No matter how much I say, Mai won't be at ease, so you should experience it yourself."
As Kitahara Makoto spoke, he opened his backpack and took out the mysterious necklace.
Since he thought it might come in handy at some point, Kitahara Makoto also carried it with him.
"Eh, a necklace?"
"This is no ordinary necklace..."
"I'm sorry, no matter how I look at it, it's a very ordinary necklace."
"Mai, please don't judge a book by its cover."
"..."
Kitahara Makoto handed over the necklace and said seriously:
"Let me tell you first, this necklace is not that easy to wear. Wearing it requires a certain price."
"Tsk~"
Sakurajima Mai clearly misunderstood, and a look of disdain appeared on her pretty face: "Kitahara-kun, are you trying to take advantage of me and take away my virginity?"
"Mai-senpai, please speak with a clear conscience."
Kitahara Makoto said slowly:
"Last time in the Dream World, Mai clearly wanted to force me. If I hadn't refused, your virginity would already be gone..."
Sakurajima Mai's pretty face quickly flushed red, and she reached out and pinched Kitahara Makoto's waist:
"That's enough!"
This Mai is a standard high-attack, low-defense type. When she gets suggestive, just be suggestive back, and it's over.
As Kitahara Makoto talked to 'air' alone, more and more strange glances came from around him, and the staff behind the counter looked hesitant, probably planning to ask Kitahara Makoto to leave.
"If we keep talking, we'll be kicked out." Kitahara Makoto handed over the necklace and whispered, "Mai, experience the effect first. Make sure it's the front, definitely don't put it on backward. As for other precautions, I'll tell you later."
"Okay..."
Sakurajima Mai took the necklace doubtfully, took a deep breath, and put it around her neck.
Can such an ordinary necklace really solve the problems on her body?
Kitahara Makoto held his breath, ready for anything.
The last time Soyo wore the necklace, she directly transformed into a succubus. The terrifying charm effect was still fresh in Kitahara Makoto's mind. He had to be vigilant to avoid becoming Mai-senpai's captive.
"I don't feel anything at all..."
Sakurajima Mai frowned slightly, her tone puzzled.
However, the next second.
Sakurajima Mai suddenly felt two excited gazes fall upon her.
"Eh, eh, eh? That girl seems to be the famous child star Sakurajima Mai from before?"
"It's really her!"
"So cute!"
"She should be a high school student now, right?"
"..."
Sakurajima Mai looked over in the direction of the sound and saw two junior high school girls not far behind her whispering.
Their eyes met.
The two junior high school girls immediately looked away awkwardly.
"They... are talking about me?"
Sakurajima Mai opened her pink lips, only feeling a huge sense of happiness surge over her, directly engulfing her, and her eyes involuntarily welled up.
People can never truly empathize with each other.
Only those who have personally experienced the loneliness of a disappearing presence can understand her feelings at this moment.
"Don't cry, or people will suspect me of abandoning you."
Kitahara Makoto pulled out a tissue and handed it over, while silently breathing a sigh of relief.
That's good.
As he guessed, because Mai's presence was almost zero, after wearing the necklace, the positive and negative effects added up, restoring her presence to a level above normal. She didn't turn into a succubus Mai. This was something to be happy about.
Kitahara Makoto stood up and said:
"Mai, let's go out."
"Mm."
Sakurajima Mai stood up without hesitation. The bookstore was deserted, with only two students and one female clerk. She was already eager to go outside and experience the feeling of her presence returning.
The two walked to the cashier.
"Hello, that'll be two thousand yen."
The female clerk behind the counter checked out the items while secretly eyeing Sakurajima Mai, a big question mark in her small head.
How strange, when did this beautiful girl come to the bookstore? Why did she have no impression of her at all?
Her eyes were red, as if she had just cried...
Sakurajima Mai was in a good mood. She pointed at Kitahara Makoto and said brightly:
"I'll pay for his order too."
"Ah... please wait."
The staff member hurriedly took the game disc from Kitahara Makoto's hand and was immediately shocked.
"An, an R-rated game?!"
A quarreling young couple, the girl's eyes are red, but the boy is buying an R-rated game... Are they perhaps playing some strange game at the bookstore?
The female cashier's imagination ran wild for a moment, various R-rated scenes appearing one after another in her mind. Her small face quickly flushed red, and she almost miscalculated the bill. After finally finishing the transaction, she quickly bowed and said:
"W-welcome next time!"
"..."
Walking out of the bookstore.
The misty rain was still falling.
At the entrance, Kitahara Makoto had Mai take off the necklace. This thing couldn't be worn for too long, or there would be trouble.
Kitahara Makoto opened his umbrella and looked at Mai beside him: "Mai, didn't you bring an umbrella when you came out?"
Sakurajima Mai crossed her arms over her chest: "Of course I did."
Kitahara Makoto: "Then where is your umbrella?"
"Good question." Sakurajima Mai looked around, "I want to ask that question too."
Umbrellas in Japan are very cheap, especially those transparent umbrellas. A single one only costs two or three hundred Yen. Many people buy one on a rainy day and then just discard it at places like train stations or subways, letting others pick them up.
At this moment, it was empty outside, so Sakurajima Mai's umbrella was most likely taken by someone.
Kitahara Makoto raised the umbrella in his hand:
"Together?"
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