Identical promotional airships with banners weren't just floating over Wakayama—they appeared in cities across Japan.
Naturally, this spectacle drew public attention and discussion.
People gazed up at the words on the banners, expressions flickering with vague recognition.
"Mai... Sakurajima?"
"Who's that?"
"That name sounds familiar."
"A national-level actress... Wait, isn't she the one who retired from showbiz two years ago?"
"Oh—oh! Now that you mention it, I remember. Mai Sakurajima."
"Right, didn't she officially quit acting two years ago?"
"Is she making a comeback?!"
"The banner doesn't explain anything clearly. It just says she'll appear at the handover ceremony for the ribbon-cutting. Nothing about her acting career."
"That's the whole point—you're not supposed to understand yet."
Faced with this overwhelming sight, every passerby who saw the airships and banners was reminded of the name Mai Sakurajima once more.
Across Japan, the awareness of millions—tens of millions—of people now clashed invisibly with Mai's Adolescence Syndrome, her desperate wish for the world to forget her.
The outcome was inevitable.
At the same time, the moment she saw the airships and banners, something occurred to Mai Sakurajima without her even realising it.
She no longer wanted everyone to forget her.
At the very least, she wanted one person to remember her forever.
Mai Sakurajima had found her reason to be firmly remembered by this world.
...
Meanwhile, in Chiba Prefecture.
"Mai... Sakurajima..."
Haruno Yukinoshita's gaze turned momentarily unfocused as she watched the airship in the sky, before regaining her usual sharp clarity after a long pause.
Reading the text on the banner, she murmured to herself.
"So it's that Mai Sakurajima... How could I have forgotten?"
All those who had forgotten Mai Sakurajima's existence but heard her name from Ye Xing's lips - people like Haruno Yukinoshita and the three members of the Supernatural Society - experienced a peculiar sensation.
It was as if long-sealed memories had finally been awakened.
Like waking from a dream, everything came flooding back at this moment.
"This time..."
Haruno raised her head to look at the airship and banner overhead, shaking her head with a wry smile.
"It's exactly as Ye Xing said. I owe him another favour."
The costs and applications for the airship publicity campaign had all been handled by Yukinoshita Construction Company - Ye Xing hadn't spent a single yen.
Yet even so, upon recalling Mai Sakurajima's identity, Haruno immediately realised she truly owed a debt this time.
Mai Sakurajima was no ordinary actress.
A child star who'd debuted young, she'd starred in numerous morning dramas, achieving household-name status throughout Japan.
If that were all, it wouldn't be remarkable.
Actors take endorsements - spending a few million to invite someone to cut the ribbon at an office building's completion ceremony would normally be considered overpaying.
However, two years ago, at the peak of her career, Mai Sakurajima had suddenly announced her indefinite retirement from the entertainment industry.
The incident had caused an uproar across Japan.
Everyone speculated why Sakurajima would retire at her career's zenith.
Theories abounded.
Some claimed she'd gotten pregnant out of wedlock and needed to hide her changing figure.
Others said she was getting plastic surgery.
There were even wilder theories about mental breakdowns, depression, or industry ostracism.
Yet Sakurajima never addressed the public's curiosity, nor granted any media interviews during this period.
The banner's specific content had been designed by Haruno following Ye Xing's instructions.
It mentioned neither Sakurajima's potential comeback nor any special connection with Yukinoshita Construction.
Vague and ambiguous by design - precisely to generate heated discussion.
Forget a few million yen.
Even spending tens of millions wouldn't have achieved such publicity without leveraging a former national idol like Mai Sakurajima - someone already hugely famous who'd become even more enigmatic after her sudden retirement.
...
Meanwhile, in a Wakayama City hotel room.
Ye Xing turned to look at Mai Sakurajima, who stood dazedly staring out the window, and chuckled.
"Well? Not a bad solution, is it?"
"I told you I wouldn't let you disappear."
Mai, utterly stunned, murmured:
"Everyone in Wakayama City can see that airship and banner now..."
"Wakayama?"
Ye Xing shook his head.
"Miss Sakurajima, you're thinking too small."
"Not just Wakayama, but pedestrians in every city across Japan saw that banner."
Hearing Ye Xing's words, Mai Sakurajima's pupils contracted in shock, her heart skipping a beat.
Her expression was one of utter disbelief.
"The... the entire country? Every city had airships and banners like that?"
"Correct, with identical content."
After receiving Ye Xing's confirmation, Mai felt her brain overload, dizziness washing over her as she collapsed onto the sofa.
The scale of this was simply too grand.
Never mind the astronomical cost of renting so many airships.
Just obtaining urban flight permits would require navigating countless bureaucratic channels.
Had Ye Xing orchestrated this entire spectacle just to make the world remember her existence and cure her Adolescence Syndrome?
As a former child star, Mai had witnessed every kind of fan frenzy imaginable.
But this? This was beyond anything she'd ever seen.
Amidst the awe, an unprecedented wave of emotion surged through Mai's heart.
Rising from the sofa, she approached Ye Xing and removed her high heels.
Her delicate feet, sheathed in sheer black stockings, gently stepped onto Ye Xing's shoes as she rose on tiptoe. Closing her eyes, her long lashes fluttering, she left the softest kiss upon his lips.
After the brief contact, Mai retreated half a step, cheeks flushed with shyness yet eyes sparkling with mischief as she smiled at Ye Xing.
"Finally... I got to step on you once."
Ye Xing shook his head with an amused chuckle.
"Mai-san, are you a child?"
Normally, the self-proclaimed mature adult Mai would vehemently deny such an address.
But this time, she merely lowered her head slightly and wordlessly moved closer, wrapping her arms around Ye Xing's waist. Pressing her porcelain cheek against his chest, she listened to his steady heartbeat and whispered in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum.
"If... if I were a child, then perhaps you'd understand if I made the selfish request to stay with you a little longer..."
...
The two shared an intimate moment together.
Alas, the mysterious, wonderful spiritual tool remained unused for now - just cuddles and kisses.
On the return train, Mai noticed passengers casting curious glances her way, comparing her to photos on their phones.
This confirmed one thing beyond doubt.
Her Adolescence Syndrome had vanished without a trace.
Thanks to the extravagant airship campaign, her public recognition had skyrocketed, nearly matching her peak acting career fame.
Meanwhile, Ye Xing pondered privately.
Truthfully, to cure Mai's condition with absolute certainty, even a single city's airship campaign reaching tens of thousands would have sufficed.
His request to Haruno for nationwide coverage served a simple purpose.
Ye Xing wanted to test whether she could deliver.
The result? Not only did Haruno succeed, she'd accomplished it within mere days.
This proves that while the Yukinoshita family's influence may not rival top-tier conglomerates like the Shinomiya Group, the connections they've cultivated over the years are still formidable.
There's another point.
At a time when no one could recall Mai Sakurajima's existence, Ye Xing's plan sounded like throwing money directly into the water.
It might even have caused Yukinoshita Construction to lose face.
After all, they were making such a grand publicity effort for a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring someone who, in their memories, had never existed.
Yet Haruno made it happen.
This shows she holds considerable sway within Yukinoshita Construction, rivalling even her and Yukino's mother, the company president.
Haruno Yukinoshita possesses both the Yukinoshita family's network and the financial resources of Yukinoshita Construction.
And she herself is undeniably a genius.
Most importantly.
During that incident in the abandoned building, Haruno had glimpsed a fragment of the world's truth, yet she never mentioned it to anyone.
Perhaps she could become one of his allies.
Speaking of allies...
Ye Xing recalled yesterday's tarot reading by the Godmother.
While she was completely baffled, as a transmigrator, he understood perfectly.
Justice. Judgement. Death.
Combined with the presence of Criminal Affairs Bureau Director Soichiro Yagami at the Metropolitan Police Department...
This could only point to Light Yagami.
The crucial question was:
Did this world contain shinigami and Death Notes capable of killing people simply by writing their names while picturing their faces?
Neither Miko Yotsuya nor he had ever seen a so-called shinigami, suggesting they didn't exist.
Even if they did, Ye Xing wasn't particularly concerned about his personal safety.
Shinigami?
That apple-munching bastard is just another evil spirit!
Having tasted both evil spirits and gods, a shinigami would simply be an extra course.
Ye Xing's perspective on Light Yagami was somewhat complex.
Before obtaining the Death Note, Light was the perfect high school genius in everyone's eyes - a young man destined to follow his father's footsteps and make his mark at the Metropolitan Police Department.
After acquiring the Death Note, Light became a self-proclaimed agent of justice, seeking to change the corrupt world while escaping his mundane existence.
But.
When Kira worshippers emerged online, and Light's ideals became influenced by others, his plan to become the god of a new world had already failed.
A god wouldn't care about mortal opinions or judgments.
Still, expecting an ordinary high school student like Light to maintain equanimity after gaining power over life and death was unrealistic.
The psychological aspects, debates about procedural versus consequential justice - these didn't particularly interest Ye Xing.
In short, with Light's brilliant mind and dedication to justice, having him as an ally would be advantageous.
But should their paths diverge, making Light a potential obstacle...
Ye Xing wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him.
...
As Ye Xing and Mai Sakurajima took the train back to Kyoto.
In Chiba Prefecture, inside a black luxury car.
"Haruno, you've done well this time."
Haruno's mother, dressed in a kimono, exuded an air of lofty superiority as she spoke calmly.
"Mai Sakurajima, the former idol actress who retired two years ago, will bring unprecedented attention to our Yukinoshita Corporation."
"Although we're a construction company that doesn't need public exposure, if we can use this opportunity to boost your father's upcoming re-election campaign and even take it further beyond Chiba Prefecture, that would truly be a joyous occasion."
Listening to her mother's calculating, utterly pragmatic words, Haruno merely nodded, her eyes betraying a distinct lack of interest.
"Yes, Mother is right."
Haruno's mother paid no heed to her daughter's indifferent attitude, merely parting her lips to speak in an unhurried manner.
"By the way, regarding that wager, I assume you've received the company's report?"
"Yes, I've heard about it."
Haruno pressed her lips together, her brow furrowing with concern.
The so-called wager referred to a match between Kengan fighters.
She'd heard of such things before, though back then, Yukinoshita Construction hadn't yet qualified to participate in those circles.
But just this morning, after airship advertisements had flown over various cities in Japan, Haruno's mother—as company president—received a call from Kyoto Municipal Bank.
The subject was a wager.
The terms were simple.
Each side would select one Kengan fighter for a match.
If the Yukinoshita family lost, they would donate their nearly completed office building to Kyoto City free of charge.
If they won, they would claim the prize: thirty million yen in cash.
Even for a construction firm at Yukinoshita's level, thirty million in liquid assets was no small sum.
Moreover, this represented an opportunity.
Victory would signify the Yukinoshita family's formal entry into that centuries-old circle composed of Japan's merchant elites.
This admission ticket was what Haruno's mother valued most.
"Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"
Faced with her mother's question, Haruno nearly shook her head—until a certain figure suddenly surfaced in her mind.
Actually... there might indeed be a perfect candidate.
During that incident at the abandoned building, Haruno had witnessed Ye Xing's entire battle against evil spirits firsthand.
His agile movements, astonishing explosive power.
His resilience and recovery ability.
The reaction speed that could keep pace with spirits whose movements defied the naked eye, far exceeding normal human limits.
And most crucially:
His enjoyment of combat coupled with ruthless decisiveness against evil spirits.
All these factors combined to create the perfect exorcist.
But by the same token, they also made him ideal Kengan fighter material.
Biting her lower lip hesitantly, Haruno finally said, "Well... I could make a call to ask. But I can't guarantee any definite results."
"No matter. It's worth trying."
Haruno's mother waved dismissively, not particularly concerned.
As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures.
After all, Haruno's mother herself knew no powerful Kengan fighters. Even with substantial rewards offered, against Kyoto Municipal Bank's deeply entrenched consortium, their chances were likely less than one per cent.
If Haruno could find a suitable, thoroughly vetted candidate, so much the better.
For this single match...
The wager involved tens of millions.
...
The following evening at eight o'clock, in Rio Futaba's spacious apartment.
"We're back with snacks."
Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya and Yui Yuigahama each carried large bags brimming with assorted flavoured snacks.
"Here, this one."
Rio extracted a can of Coca-Cola from the plastic bag and handed it to Ye Xing.
"I remember you like this, right?"
"Thanks, thanks."
Ye Xing took the Coca-Cola, opened it and took a sip, sighing sincerely.
"Nothing beats Coke."
The reason the members of the Supernatural Society had gathered here today was simple.
Tomorrow morning was the date Ye Xing had set to retrieve Onimaru Kunitsuna.
Operatives: Rio Futaba, Miko Yotsuya, Ye Xing.
Logistics support: Yui Yuigahama.
"Speaking of which..."
Rio Futaba glanced at Yui Yuigahama, who was not far away, taking snacks out of a bag and arranging them neatly on the table with a sweet smile, her tone flat.
"You really are a kind person."
Ye Xing kept his eyes on the TV, replying indifferently.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Fine, forget it then."
Though Rio Futaba wasn't skilled at social interaction, perhaps due to past rejection, she was acutely sensitive to the emotional shifts of those around her.
She could sense that, despite Yui Yuigahama's constant smile, her feelings of dejection had grown increasingly severe lately when interacting with the Supernatural Society.
As someone who had once felt unwanted in this world, powerless to change or achieve anything, Rio Futaba deeply empathised with Yui's emotions.
There had been no place for Yui Yuigahama in the plan to retrieve Onimaru Kunitsuna, yet Ye Xing had still called her for today's gathering.
Rio Futaba thought this was good—never leaving anyone behind, no matter the task.