Mai's anger didn't last long. She was the calm and composed type by nature — which was exactly why Ryuichi had dared to press on her wounds so directly.
"You're supposed to be so obsessed with making contracts," she said sharply, her eyes narrowing. "So why do you even care whether or not I return to show business?"
The edge in her tone was like a sudden spike of pressure in the air. Even Ryuichi could feel it — a kind of invisible spiritual weight that made it hard to look her straight in the eyes.
"Because I think your current condition might be tied to that," he replied evenly. "And if you stay the way you are now, going back would be difficult anyway. First you need to fix your mindset. Otherwise, who knows if your situation will keep getting worse?"
It was a calm answer, but one that left little room to argue. Mai's lips tightened. She fell silent for two seconds before muttering under her breath,
"Fine… let's just say you're right. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"…Why not?"
"Because you're doing it on purpose! You knew it would get a rise out of me, and I still fell for it."
So that's what she's mad about?
Ryuichi couldn't help smiling faintly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Then how about I let you slap me to blow off some steam?"
Her eyes lit up. "Really?"
She looked way too eager.
"Go ahead," he said, grinning. "I love being tormented by cute girls."
Mai blinked in disbelief. "...Are you insane?"
Her face flushed a light pink before she turned away with a small huff, deciding to drop the whole thing.
Ryuichi only chuckled quietly.
After a moment, Mai realized something — and frowned suspiciously.
"Wait a second. You did say that on purpose, didn't you?"
Her beautiful eyes narrowed, a glint of danger flashing in them.
"Oh? Is that what you think?" Ryuichi didn't bother denying it — he just raised an eyebrow, still wearing that infuriatingly calm smile.
That tiny motion was enough to make Mai sigh in defeat. Somehow, he always ended up with the upper hand.
"You still want me to tell you everything or not?" she asked coolly.
"Of course. I'll listen carefully — not a single word will go to waste."
"You're so gross, I don't even want to talk anymore." She crossed her arms, clearly irritated again.
"Aw, come on. Devils are excellent listeners."
Ryuichi snapped his fingers with a lazy smile — his "ready to listen" mode engaged.
Mai shot him a glare, but after a sigh, she finally began to speak.
"When I was in my third year of middle school, there was this photo shoot…"
She paused for a moment when the word mother came to her lips, then added quietly, "My mom — who was also my manager — and I had a huge falling out."
Her voice grew colder, tinged with resentment.
"I'd made it clear from the start — no swimsuits. But she went behind my back and signed the contract anyway, saying, 'It'll sell better this way.'"
Even remembering it now made Mai's expression tighten with visible anger.
"In her eyes, I wasn't her daughter anymore… just a tool to make money."
Every word came out edged with bitterness.
Ryuichi tilted his head, piecing things together.
So that's how she ended up cutting ties with her family…And maybe leaving the entertainment world was her way of getting back at them.
"But didn't you love acting?" he asked quietly. "Throwing all that away just because of this… doesn't sound worth it."
Mai's expression darkened immediately. That wasn't the answer she'd wanted to hear.
"So you don't understand at all, huh?"
"Probably not," Ryuichi said simply. "My parents died when I was little, so I never had the chance to."
His calm tone made Mai freeze.
"In truth," he continued, "you already know the answer yourself, don't you? You just don't want to admit that you acted too rashly — that instead of thinking things through, you made a decision you can't take back."
"You're so annoying." Mai's glare was sharp enough to kill.
"I told you to hit me, didn't I? Been waiting for it."
Whoosh!
Mai didn't hesitate this time — her palm cut through the air toward his cheek.
Ryuichi tilted his head at the last second. The slap missed completely.
"Stop dodging!"
"I never said I wouldn't," he said with a grin.
Mai's pretty face hardened with authority. Taking advantage of his relaxed stance, she stomped — hard — on his foot.
"…Ow."
He winced, looking down. Big mistake.
"Mai?"
"What." Her tone was cold, her heel grinding a little harder — even twisting once for good measure.
"Okay, okay, I give! I'm sorry!"
"What are you even apologizing for?" she asked icily.
"I'm sorry for teasing you on purpose," Ryuichi said, smiling through the pain. "I just thought angry Mai looked… really cute."
Her eyes widened. Then, realizing what he'd just said, she huffed, "That just makes it worse!"
Her words were harsh, but her pressure eased.
"Ryuichi," she said suddenly.
"Right here, my queen," he replied lazily, eyes half-lidded in mock devotion.
"Be with me again tomorrow."
"…Huh?"
Ryuichi blinked, trying to recall if he had anything planned for tomorrow.
That tiny pause was enough for Mai to press harder on his foot again.
"Ow—ow, ow! Why are you mad again?" he groaned.
"I just saw you hesitate after I invited you. That's why!" she shot back.
"…Or maybe," he said, leaning closer with a teasing smile, "it's because this is the first time you've invited a guy to hang out, and you got nervous thinking I might say no."
As he spoke, he dipped his head slightly, catching the way her gaze flicked downward.
Her face flushed faintly — that quick flicker of surprise and embarrassment didn't escape him. But she immediately composed herself, forcing her expression back to calm.
Ryuichi couldn't help but be impressed.
As expected of a professional actress — her expression control was top-tier. Absolutely flawless.
Mai, of course, wasn't about to admit she'd been flustered. She crossed her arms and said coolly,
"It's just an invitation. And since it's you, Ryuichi, I know you'll come running the moment I call. Like a loyal little puppy."
"Huh… why does that sound way too much like you're calling me a dog?" he muttered, stroking his chin.
"That's your interpretation," she said with a playful smile.
"Mai, your personality is terrible."
"Right back at you."
Still, the look in her eyes had changed. Behind the teasing tone was a quiet resolve.
Ryuichi noticed. "So tomorrow, you're planning to talk to your mother, aren't you?" he said softly. "She still remembers you, right?"
Mai didn't answer, but the faint shift in her expression told him everything.
Her mother was definitely one of the key people tied to this "invisibility" phenomenon.
Once that emotional knot was untangled, the strange power surrounding her would stop spreading. Then, if she reentered the entertainment world and amplified her influence again, the distortion would collapse naturally — and everything could return to normal.
Looks like everything might finally be resolved tomorrow.
Ryuichi let out a small sigh and smirked to himself.
Man, the lengths I go to just to secure a contract…