Entering the house, Mai looked around curiously. She had known Futaba Rio's family conditions were good for a long time, but seeing it with her own eyes, she still felt a bit surprised.
With this villa, this decoration, and this location, undoubtedly Futaba's family counted as the upper class in Chiba City. Judging from the decoration style, it should belong to the new money that flourished in recent years.
Their influence in Chiba City might not be as great as the old money like the Yukinoshita family, but they were definitely rich.
But Mai was only surprised for a moment, because compared to the boyfriend beside her, Futaba Rio's family was still not enough.
After all, one was a multinational conglomerate, and the other was a regional landlord. The gap between the two was completely incomparable.
It must be known that those companies seeking her endorsement were all leaders in their respective industries. Few companies in Chiba City could compare, and even in Tokyo, they could be ranked high. And these companies had inextricably linked relationships with the Lin Consortium behind Shinra.
Mai didn't ask specifically, but during the process of filming commercials, she also learned some news, that is, the volume of the Lin Consortium was no smaller than the Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sanwa consortiums in Japan.
Although in Japan locally, the influence of the Lin Consortium was not as great as these consortiums, looking at the whole of Asia, especially in recent years, the influence and economic volume of the Lin Consortium far exceeded any of these consortiums.
In the final analysis, it's still the East rising and the West falling.
And these were too far from ordinary people, so Mai only knew a rough idea, that is, Shinra's family was really powerful, a truly high-ranking family, far beyond those so-called 'rich young masters' in entertainment tabloids.
But precisely because of this, Mai didn't have much 'security'. If possible, Mai preferred Shinra not to have such a prominent background, just being an ordinary high school student...
But then again, even without that background, with his superpower to perceive others' emotions and his exaggerated learning efficiency, he was destined not to be an ordinary person.
Mm, from this point of view, Mai felt she was much better than that person. Although Shinra would most likely cheat like her biological father, at least Shinra was much more outstanding than his father.
Regarding the point that Shinra would have other women, Mai was actually mentally prepared during the summer vacation.
Because she knew very well that for someone like Shinra, even if he didn't actively seek, various outstanding women would actively throw themselves at him.
You could say Shinra wouldn't actively seek, but could he refuse those actively thrown at him?
Rather than pinning hope on this, it would be better to lower expectations and prepare for it.
Cheating is allowed, but at least not too bad, and don't find that kind of coquettish bitch with a big appetite who wants to take everything away.
Ideally, reach some consensus with her...
"Mai-senpai?"
Placing the steaming coffee on the table in front of Mai, looking at the dazed Mai-senpai, Futaba Rio called her name softly.
Hearing someone calling her, Mai came back to her senses and hurriedly thanked after seeing the coffee in front of her.
"Thank you."
Futaba Rio just shook her head and said: "Nothing. Also, thanks for Senpai's advice before."
"Advice?"
Mai showed a doubtful expression, then remembered that Futaba indeed asked her about outfits before.
Eh? Wait...
Since Futaba could contact her before, why couldn't she find Inner Futaba later?
Because she came here specifically to solve the Adolescence Syndrome on Futaba Rio, Mai asked this question directly.
Futaba Rio thought for a moment and said uncertainly: "Maybe because at that time I hadn't got Adolescence Syndrome yet, or the symptoms were not severe?"
Mai felt Futaba Rio made sense. After all, she also went through this. At first, her presence would only be lost for a few minutes, and the range was limited. In the middle stage, it was measured in hours and ranged by districts. Finally, it evolved into only Shinra being able to see her.
If Shinra hadn't helped her back then, she might have completely become an unobservable quantum ghost.
The topic was opened, so Sakurajima Mai continued with this topic.
"Speaking of which, Rio, I heard from Shinra before that you seem to care very much about what I do after graduation?"
"Mm, because you are one of my only two friends. If you graduate, I'm afraid I will return to the solitary life state before."
Inner Futaba focused on being real, speaking the most sincere words in a flat tone.
"I just graduated, not died." Mai was helpless. She didn't have many friends either; she certainly wouldn't slowly cut off contact with friends after graduation like others.
"..." Futaba Rio pursed her lips and didn't answer.
Of course, she believed Mai wouldn't cut off contact with her after graduation, but that was based on the premise that she didn't have feelings for Shinra.
And once Mai knew she had feelings for Shinra, would the other party still maintain a friendship with her?
It would be considered generous of Mai not to run over and beat her.
Thinking of this, Futaba Rio glanced obscurely at Shinra watching the show on the side. This guy hadn't spoken since just now, not knowing what he was planning.
Seeing Mai seemed to want to say something more, Futaba Rio suddenly changed the subject: "Did the other me cause trouble at Senpai's house?"
Mai was stunned, then shook her head: "Of course not."
She smiled again and said: "On the contrary, I'm quite happy she can stay at my house. Living alone feels lonely occasionally; it's much better with a friend accompanying."
"Is that so." Futaba Rio knew Mai meant this sincerely.
Because she also lived alone, naturally knowing the pros and cons of living alone.
"When you solve Adolescence Syndrome, we can also live together often." Mai said.
Mai could see that Futaba Rio's house was big, but completely lacked human touch (warmth), meaning she lived alone like her. Moreover, Mai could conclude that Futaba's relationship with her parents wasn't good.
This wasn't some mutual attraction of similar Stands, but because during the days Surface Futaba lived in her house, she didn't mention her parents at all.
If the relationship were good, this situation wouldn't happen at all.
"Okay." When Futaba Rio replied to this sentence, a smile also hung on the corner of her mouth.
"Then the urgent task should be solving Adolescence Syndrome." Shinra concluded.
"Mm, holding back for so long, I thought you would say some solution." Mai complained.
From the beginning, Mai noticed this guy Shinra kept silent. Speaking now, she thought the other party had an idea, but unexpectedly he said nonsense.
"To untie the bell, the person who tied it is needed. Futaba's problem is not like yours, Mai; it can only be solved by herself. What we can do is only assist from the side."
Shinra paused, then looked at Futaba Rio and said: "You should have an idea these days, right?"
Since the long talk that night, Futaba Rio hadn't sent erotic... beautiful pictures to him anymore. Obviously, she had new ideas.
Hearing this, Futaba Rio hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "Have some ideas, but... hard to say if they are effective."
Mai said: "Whether effective or not, have to try to know."
"Then... you guys don't go back tonight."
"Eh?" Mai was stunned. What does this mean?
Staying overnight again?
This time not only keeping Shinra but also keeping me?
Before coming, Mai thought about whether Futaba Rio had feelings for Shinra. After all, if not, how could she invite a peer of the opposite sex to stay overnight at home? Even a friend wouldn't do.
Moreover, how long had Futaba and Shinra been together? Except for the recent period where Futaba spent some time with Shinra in reality due to Adolescence Syndrome, the two basically only communicated online at other times.
Such a short time, if Futaba Rio didn't already have a good impression of Shinra, it would be impossible to explain why she invited him to stay overnight.
But now the other party actively proposed to keep her and Shinra together, which made Mai shaken. Maybe... this is Futaba's unique way of solving Adolescence Syndrome?
Letting people stay overnight?
What kind of method is this?
Although Mai was full of doubts, it was just staying overnight, so Mai didn't refuse.
"I have no problem." Mai said, looking at Shinra.
Futaba Rio also looked at Shinra.
Shinra frowned and said vigilantly: "This time I won't sleep on the floor again."
Considered agreed.
Futaba Rio smiled and said: "My house has many guest rooms."
Didn't see you arrange one for me last time, Shinra complained in his heart.
After confirming the arrangement for tonight, Mai took out her phone intending to tell Surface Futaba at home that she wouldn't go back to sleep tonight, so she didn't need to wait for her.
Eh? Why is there a sense of déjà vu of a husband staying out sending a message to his cuckolded wife at home saying he won't go back?
Fortunately, Surface Futaba on the other end of the dialogue didn't have any reaction, just replied 'Okay', and there was no follow-up.
Although Futaba was basically this temperament usually, Mai still explained: [The other Futaba asked us to stay. If there is a problem, tell me directly.]
The implication was if doing so would affect you, I can go back to sleep.
However, Surface Futaba didn't feel it was inappropriate. Instead, she typed back: [No problem. Probably just haven't seen Senpai for a long time, so invited Senpai to stay overnight.]
Is that so...
A trace of doubt flashed in Sakurajima Mai's eyes. Intuition told her that Futaba on the phone might not really think so, but made up a lie to prevent her from overthinking.
But intuition was just intuition after all. Without evidence, Sakurajima Mai couldn't rashly destroy the plan of the Futaba here.
The plan of the Futaba here...
Mai suddenly thought, if only one of the two Futabas could stay, didn't it mean if Inner Futaba's plan succeeded, Surface Futaba would disappear?
And she said before she would stand on Surface Futaba's side. Although both Futabas were the same person, but...
"What's wrong, Senpai?" Futaba Rio noticed the struggling expression on Mai's face.
"..." Mai hesitated for a moment and asked: "After your plan succeeds, the other Futaba..."
"Will disappear."
Futaba Rio's words shattered Mai's last trace of fantasy.
"So Senpai wants to go back, right?" Futaba Rio asked. There was no anger in her words, as if she had guessed Mai would do this long ago.
"...Yes." Mai hesitated for a long time, but still made this decision.
"You... aren't angry?"
Mai thought the Futaba here would be very angry hearing her say this, because doing so might destroy the other party's plan, thereby affecting the final outcome of the two Futabas.
But unexpectedly, not only did Futaba Rio not show a trace of anger, but she smiled and said: "Why be angry?"
"I chose her."
"I am the same person as her. Choosing her is no different from choosing me." Futaba Rio shook her head.
"But... there is a difference after all." Mai said.
At least for Mai, the Futaba in her apartment was more real. No special reason, just because the other party had been with her longer.
"Mm... If I say I guessed Senpai would do this long ago, and this is also part of the plan, can Senpai accept this statement?"
"This is also part of the plan?" Mai was stunned, seemingly not expecting Futaba Rio to give such a reason.
"Yes."
Futaba Rio's gaze was calm. Her goal was to solve Adolescence Syndrome. Which Futaba could stay in the end wasn't important; what was important was Mai's choice.
Whether choosing her or choosing the other self, she could accept it.
Moreover, Mai choosing Surface Futaba didn't mean her side would disappear because of this.
In fact, for Inner Futaba, the other party choosing Surface Futaba allowed her to operate better.
At least in this way, the guilt would be much less.
Thinking of this, Futaba Rio looked at Shinra. She asked: "What about you? Are you leaving too?"
Shinra more or less guessed the other party's intention. He thought for a moment and said: "I'll come over again after sending Mai back."
Regarding Shinra's choice, Mai didn't say much. She believed Shinra must have his own considerations for doing so.
Of course, the jealousy due was still eaten.
"Don't take the opportunity to do strange things to Rio." Mai warned.
Shinra immediately cried out injustice: "If I wanted to do it, I would have done it last time. Why wait until now?"
Mai didn't respond but said to Futaba: "If he does anything strange, tell me, I'll deal with him."
Futaba Rio glanced at Shinra, then nodded to Mai.
Shinra beside them smacked his lips, feeling Mai's operation was no different from letting a weasel guard the chicken coop.
Just when Mai was ready to go home, Futaba stopped her.
"Senpai, please wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"Let's take a photo together."
Although a bit strange, Mai still satisfied Futaba's wish. Soon a photo was frozen.
Standing in the C position was Futaba, with Shinra and Sakurajima Mai on both sides. The location was the living room.
After taking this photo, Futaba posted a tweet.
Friends came to visit at home, happy. (Smiley face)
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