After a brief moment of surprise, Kazusa Touma quickly regained her usual indifferent expression.
"What a coincidence."
She tried to mask her emotional turmoil, unaware that she had already revealed her biggest tell.
The fact that Kazusa Touma had called out Ye Xing's name and greeted him first was already unlike her usual behaviour.
"You actually remember me?"
Ye Xing teased with a light laugh.
"I thought you slept through class every day and didn't even remember what I looked like, let alone my name."
Kazusa Touma's eyes flickered slightly. Her slender fingers, clutching the tuna rice ball, tightened imperceptibly as she murmured softly.
"If it were anyone else, I wouldn't remember them, but..."
"You're different."
Ye Xing was stunned.
He was usually the one delivering blunt remarks to others.
This was probably the first time he'd been on the receiving end of such a perfectly executed straight shot.
"You're different" - if any other girl had said these words, it might have been just polite flattery.
But who was Kazusa Touma?
A socially awkward person who struggles to express emotions, often appearing aloof and detached from others.
Coming from her lips, even Ye Xing could feel the tremendous impact of these words.
A tsundere's direct attack was truly not to be underestimated.
Seeing Ye Xing remain silent, Kazusa pressed her lips together tightly and hesitated.
"Did I say something strange? I'm not good at communicating with people."
Kazusa herself didn't understand why she'd said those words.
Why did she feel Ye Xing was different from others?
And why was he the only person in school she could remember?
Because he'd helped her out of a difficult situation on the first day of term?
Or was it because of that can of cola - the first gift she'd ever given to a boy? Or perhaps the pillow for napping in class - the first gift a boy had ever given her?
Kazusa didn't understand.
What she didn't know was that there weren't just two people standing by this shelf.
Mai Sakurajima's intense gaze had been observing the entire exchange from nearby.
Since Kazusa couldn't see her, Mai could even stare directly at the girl's face, scrutinising every subtle change in expression.
As an actress, Mai Sakurajima understood microexpressions all too well.
She'd already reached a conclusion.
This beautiful girl before her, with classical elegance and an aloof, refined demeanour...
Even if she couldn't say she liked Ye Xing right now, she definitely had feelings for him!
Wait a minute.
Why was she suddenly feeling so agitated?
Meanwhile, Ye Xing had discovered a troublesome situation.
He...
Seemed to be caught in a dilemma?
This was a classic scenario from Galgames.
When two female characters extend invitations simultaneously, choosing either route would inevitably disappoint the other.
As a seasoned player, Ye Xing had thought he'd found the solution to such situations.
Either include everyone, or eliminate the multiple-choice problem at its root.
But despite all his calculations, there was one thing Ye Xing had overlooked.
Mai Sakurajima's Adolescence Syndrome.
The current situation was this:
Kazusa Touma couldn't see Mai Sakurajima.
If he chose for all three of them to hang out together, he wouldn't be able to openly converse with Mai without making Kazusa suspicious.
Mai would undoubtedly feel disappointed - after all, this was the only time when no one could see her, allowing her to relax freely in public.
Very well, very well.
Quantum mechanics, you bastard, scheming against me like this?
Suddenly, Ye Xing realised something.
No!
Even in despair, there's still a glimmer of hope!
"Touma-san."
Ye Xing looked at the rice ball in Kazusa Touma's hand.
"You seem exhausted. Did you not sleep well last night and just came to buy breakfast?"
"No."
Kazusa Touma shook her head, her voice flat.
"I haven't slept yet. This is my dinner."
"Ah, that won't do at all."
Ye Xing wore an expression of deep concern.
"You should go back and rest soon."
Kazusa Touma gave a slight nod, a faint trace of embarrassment flashing across her delicate face as she replied in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum.
"Mmm, I understand."
Perfect resolution.
The path to salvation lies within.
At this moment, Ye Xing felt the same sense of achievement as when he'd finally broken through after countless hardships playing Romance of the Three Kingdoms Strategy Edition in his previous life.
Exactly.
Kazusa Touma's sleep schedule was completely opposite to that of normal people.
Practising piano at night, sleeping during the day.
Especially since today was Saturday - she must have stayed up all last night.
Fortunately, Ye Xing suppressed the corners of his mouth; otherwise, he might have revealed the evil, charming smirk of a crooked-mouthed Dragon King.
Heh, is that all?
What can quantum mechanics possibly do to me?
My fate is mine to command, not heaven's.
Rejecting binary dilemmas starts with me.
After paying, Kazusa Touma hesitated about whether to bid farewell to Ye Xing, ultimately choosing to leave the convenience store without a word.
For her current self, being able to exchange those few sentences with Ye Xing - especially that "You're different" remark - was already unimaginable. Having exerted her utmost effort, she couldn't manage anything more.
...
After casually buying some food and exiting the convenience store, Mai Sakurajima unwrapped her rice ball while making what seemed like an offhand comment.
"You seem quite popular with girls."
Ye Xing nodded without hesitation.
"Indeed. It's all thanks to my outstanding personal charm."
Mai found his narcissism exasperating and curled her lip.
"You're too full of yourself."
That said, Mai didn't actually deny Ye Xing's claim.
While his appearance was certainly striking, looks weren't the main point.
After interacting with him, Mai had discovered that Ye Xing was fundamentally different from anyone else she'd ever met.
There were many reasons for this - his gaze, his mannerisms, the tone and expression he used when speaking to her.
But most importantly...
In Ye Xing's eyes, she, a former nationally famous idol actress, seemed to carry no special aura whatsoever.
To him, she appeared to be just another second-year high school girl at Sobu High School.
Nothing particularly special beyond that.
In fact, from their first meeting until now, Ye Xing hadn't once asked a single question about her former acting career.
Mai had debuted as a child star - for as long as she could remember, she'd always carried the identity of 'actress'.
She'd once believed that if she just quit show business, people would see her simply as "Mai Sakurajima".
Not "idol actress Mai Sakurajima".
But when she actually left the entertainment industry, Mai discovered she'd been wrong.
Even after retiring, in everyone's eyes, she remained that actress Mai Sakurajima.
It was as if the two words "Mai Sakurajima" had ceased to be just her name.
'Child star debut, former nationally beloved idol actress.'
This became a label on Mai Sakurajima that she couldn't tear off, no matter how hard she tried.
The school atmosphere, the gazes of everyone watching her, the suffocating pressure wherever she went.
All of this made Mai Sakurajima feel unbearable.
That's precisely why Ye Xing's attitude of not treating her specially was so precious.
...
Ye Xing and Mai Sakurajima wandered around the shopping district until it was nearly dark.
Along the way, they caused quite a few amusing scenes.
Since others couldn't perceive Mai's presence, to outsiders, Ye Xing appeared to be aimlessly strolling through the Saturday shopping district alone.
He roughly counted.
In just a few hours, he'd been approached sixteen times.
From office ladies in suit skirts with black stockings and high heels.
To girls his age in trendy outfits.
Just turning down these advances wasted considerable time and breath.
By the end, Ye Xing considered buying himself a face mask.
"You seem quite popular with girls."
The exact same words as when they'd left the convenience store earlier.
Only this time, Mai's voice carried teasing amusement, clearly enjoying his predicament.
"Laughing? Just wait. One day, I'll turn you into a cream puff."
"Cream puff? What strange nonsense is that now?"
"Never mind. You'll understand later."
"Hmph, suit yourself."
Mai had thought that after wandering around so long, she was satisfied, and it was time to head back.
But just then, she noticed an exquisite gift shop on the street.
A snow globe in the window display, with swirling snowflakes around a tiny castle, caught her interest.
"Come with me."
Mai instinctively grabbed Ye Xing's sleeve.
Only after pulling him into the shop did she realise her action might be inappropriate. Blushing slightly, she quickly released him and hurried to the snow globe, bending slightly to examine it closely.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement and delight.
"It's really lovely."
"If you like it, buy it."
"Wait."
Mai stopped Ye Xing from reaching for the globe, carefully picking it up herself.
Watching this, Ye Xing blurted out without thinking:
"Sakurajima-san, have you finally decided to use your ability to become the world's greatest thief? I support this."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Mai shot him a glare before walking to the counter and placing the globe down.
What did the scene look like to the cashier?
When Mai touched the globe, the cashier's memory and perception of it completely vanished.
When Mai released it onto the counter, the memory returned.
To the cashier, it simply felt like she'd momentarily zoned out, then suddenly noticed the snow globe before her.
"Here, money. Buy this for me."
Mai Sakurajima couldn't pay for the items herself. Though she had money, anyone who came into contact with her would completely vanish from others' sight.
Ye Xing didn't mind, simply accepting the banknotes Mai handed him before passing them to the cashier.
"Could I have a bag, please? Thank you."
"Certainly, thank you for your patronage."
Though Ye Xing was a veteran gamer and a master of the Dust Release: Mother Stripping Technique - making him a saintly figure in verbal sparring - he had one principle.
Those who hadn't provoked him didn't deserve his ire.
As long as people were polite, Ye Xing could be more courteous and friendly than anyone.
After the clerk finished packing, Ye Xing left the gift shop with Mai and presented her with the exquisite little bag containing the crystal ball.
"Mmm, thanks."
Mai took the bag. Though she'd seemed utterly fascinated by the crystal ball earlier, she now didn't even glance down at it before immediately handing it back to Ye Xing.
"A gift for you."
"Huh?"
This sudden turn left Ye Xing thoroughly confused.
Accepting the bag, he studied Mai's beautiful face and asked curiously, "Why give me a gift all of a sudden?"
Mai pressed her pink lips together before speaking slowly. "This is something I took from the shelf myself, placed on the counter myself, and bought with my own money."
As she spoke, her eyes shimmered slightly as she forced a smile. "You're someone who values gifts deeply. I hope..."
She took two steps forward, tilting her head up slightly to meet Ye Xing's gaze directly, her breath as fragrant as orchids as she whispered:
"Even if one day... even you forget me."
"I hope that whenever you see this crystal ball, you'll remember this afternoon when an ordinary girl-whose name and face you've forgotten-occupied a small part of your life."
"For me... that would be enough."
Having said this, a bashful blush spread across Mai's cheeks, though she maintained her composure, offering a sweet smile.
"Alright, let's go home together."
Ye Xing fell silent.
Can't take it.
Really can't take it.
Who could possibly handle this?
Mai Sakurajima's voice carried the sorrow of possibly disappearing, along with the trembling shyness of a young girl.
"Don't worry, Mai Sakurajima."
At this moment, Ye Xing made up his mind, looking straight into Mai Sakurajima's eyes.
"I will save you."
Mai Sakurajima froze for a moment, staring at Ye Xing's unusually serious and handsome face, suddenly feeling incredibly shy. Defying her usual mature demeanour, she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.
Then, Mai Sakurajima clenched her fist and lightly punched Ye Xing's shoulder—the force barely stronger than a massage.
"Who knew a mere junior could be so cool?"
...
The pleasant weekend passed quickly, and Monday arrived once more.
"Good morning."
When Ye Xing entered the classroom and took his seat today, he noticed that Kazusa Touma had arrived before him—and, shockingly, wasn't immediately asleep. She even greeted him.
Look what I found?
A rare Pokémon—Kazusa Touma in a conscious state inside the classroom!
Practically the ninth wonder of the world.
"Good morning."
After receiving Ye Xing's smiling response, Kazusa Touma nodded, rested her head on her small pillow, and slipped into a baby-like slumber.
...
By lunchtime, Ye Xing had returned to the Society's clubroom.
Leaning against the window, he gazed outside, silently pondering a solution to Mai Sakurajima's Adolescence Syndrome.
True, as a transmigrator, he could just copy the answer from the original plot—but that didn't guarantee a 100% success rate.
After all, this was another world. Mai Sakurajima hadn't even done a swimsuit photoshoot here—who knew what other variables might exist?
He'd given himself a deadline: before this Friday.
Not for any particular reason.
Mainly because he couldn't hold out much longer.
Last night, Ye Xing hadn't slept at all—because if he did, there was a chance he wouldn't be able to perceive Mai Sakurajima's existence the next morning.
And that would be game over.
Making a spectacle to engrave Mai Sakurajima's name in the minds of all the teachers and students was indeed a decent approach—one he could keep as a backup.
But at its core, Mai Sakurajima's Adolescence Syndrome stemmed from an unconscious desire, born under immense pressure, for the world to forget her.
If he could fundamentally change Mai Sakurajima's mindset—shift her from wanting to be forgotten to wanting to be remembered—wouldn't the problem solve itself?
It sounded simple.
And it was simple.
A peculiar idea had already formed in Ye Xing's mind.
What was the greatest emotion in the world?
A mother's love!
If he made Mai Sakurajima a mother…
Damn, where did such an outrageous thought come from?
There wasn't enough time for that.
What if she didn't get pregnant?
No, no—vetoed.
This was tough.
Just as Ye Xing was deep in thought, the clubroom door slid open, and Miko Yotsuya rushed in, breathless, stopping right beside him.
"Ye… Ye Xing."
Ye Xing struggled to keep his gaze from drifting toward a certain heaving part of the girl's anatomy, sitting up straight as he replied.
"What's wrong?"
"Take a look at this."
Miko Yotsuya didn't hesitate at all—or perhaps she was too rushed to remember propriety.
She directly shoved her phone in front of Ye Xing's face, pressing so close that she was practically leaning against his back.
'So soft.'
That was Ye Xing's first thought.
'Beneath that tasteless bright yellow sweater lurks such... formidable terror?'
'Miko truly conceals depths beyond expectation.'
Shifting his gaze to the phone screen, Ye Xing saw a news report:
[The renowned sword Onimaru Kunitsuna will be publicly exhibited for one week in Kyoto, Japan. Also on display are the following items...]
Ye Xing skimmed the rest.
Those other items were utterly useless.
Ancient handkerchiefs, ancient bathtubs, ancient chamber pots.
Even if these were spiritual objects, how would one use them? Smash a chamber pot over an evil spirit's head?
This probably wasn't Miko's focus either.
The real heavyweight item was the heirloom of the Hojo clan—one of Japan's famed blades, Onimaru Kunitsuna.
Legend claimed this sword genuinely enabled the ordinary Hojo Tokimasa to slay an evil spirit.
Even if the story was fabricated, after centuries of existence, Onimaru Kunitsuna would have become a spiritual object regardless.
Exchanging glances, the two spoke simultaneously as if sharing one mind:
"Observing this Onimaru Kunitsuna, it seems a fine blade indeed. Should we not devise a scheme to acquire it for Society?"