For a moment, Kael couldn't recall which anime featured this Natori Shuuichi, but that didn't stop Mai from continuing her story.
Yesterday, she was still wandering near the shrine, trying to find the path back. It was then she encountered Shuuichi.
At the time, her presence was so faint she was practically invisible to the public. But interestingly, Shuuichi noticed her immediately. Curious why she was there, he greeted her: "Sakurajima-san, what are you doing here?"
That single greeting reignited her hope. She grabbed him excitedly. "Senpai, you can see me?"
Shuuichi was stunned, then studied her closely and realized something was wrong. He pulled her into a quiet corner and asked what had happened. Mai explained about the shrine and how her presence was fading.
After hearing this, Shuuichi paused, then said: "You may have encountered kamikakushi—being hidden by a god."
"Kamikakushi?"
"Yes," Shuuichi speculated. "The shrine's fox was forgotten, nearing disappearance. It met you and made a pact. You wished, it granted your wish—but tricked you in the process."
Mai admitted she didn't understand.
Shuuichi explained: "It took your presence. All attention from society shifted to the god. You were hidden, becoming transparent. When no one can see you, your existence will be replaced. Eventually, you'll vanish completely."
Mai was stunned. Her presence stolen, even her existence fading. The sun above no longer warmed her—its rays felt like ice.
She had wanted freedom, to escape her mother's control, to live quietly. But she had never wished to disappear.
"Was it deliberate?" she asked after regaining composure.
Shuuichi nodded with a sigh. "You shouldn't make contracts with gods so rashly. Not all are benevolent."
Mai trembled, summoning courage to ask: "What should I do now? Must I just vanish?"
"Don't worry, Sakurajima-san."
Just as she was about to give up, Shuuichi patted her shoulder. "Since I know of this, I won't ignore it. I'll confront the god and make it return your presence."
Mai was shocked. She hadn't expected her senior to help at such a moment. She was moved, but uneasy. "Can you really? That's a god."
Shuuichi replied: "Trust me. I am a descendant of the Natori family."
Mai didn't know what that meant, but bowed. "Then I'll leave it to you, Senpai." She truly didn't want to vanish.
"Leave it to me." With that, Shuuichi went to the shrine.
Kael asked: "And then?"
Mai's face darkened. "Then… I never saw him again. After entering the shrine, he never came out."
Kael: …
He had spoken so confidently, Kael thought he could solve her problem. But he had only gone to his death. It was almost laughable.
Suppressing his urge to mock, Kael pointed at her bunny girl outfit. "Then can you explain this?"
Mai nodded. "After what happened with Senpai, I realized there are special humans besides gods. To save myself and him, I wore this outfit and walked in crowded places. It was to make people notice me. Now, in the public's eyes, I'm transparent. I believe those who can see me have special powers—like you."
Kael admitted her reasoning was sound. Her presence was faint, so only those with supernatural power could notice her. Ordinary people couldn't.
Mai used this method to find extraordinary humans. It was a gamble, but as a heroine, she had some luck. At least, she found Kael.
His eyes flickered. "I don't know how strong that god is, but with my current power, I may not be able to fight it."
After all, he was only a First Grade Lower cultivator. Though close to First Grade Upper, he hadn't reached it yet. Even then, he doubted he could defeat a god.
Japanese gods might be weak, but they were still gods. And the fox had stolen Mai's presence, surely gaining strength. Mai was a top actress with millions of followers. Even if not all became believers, the fox gained power from them.
That explained why Shuuichi had failed. With that lesson, Kael wouldn't repeat his mistake.
Mai's hopeful gaze dimmed at his words.
But Kael didn't reject her outright. Instead, he offered an idea. "Since there are gods in this world, have you thought of seeking another god's help? After all, the fox acted unfairly. You could ask another god to bring justice."
Mai shook her head. "It's useless. I've tried. They all said I willingly made the contract, so they can't intervene."