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Ring!
Mai's mother barely had to wait before her phone lit up with a call.
Seeing the unfamiliar number on the screen, Mai's mother shot a hesitant glance at Kai. He was still lounging on the sofa, looking entirely unbothered.
Just then, Mai walked into the living room holding a steaming bowl of freshly cooked noodles. Seeing her mother frozen, she spoke up matter-of-factly. "That has to be Kai-kun's call paying off. Mom, why aren't you answering?"
"..."
'I wasn't even this hopelessly lovestruck back in my day.'
Seeing her daughter act like this, Mai's mother rolled her eyes. "You don't know that. It could just be a telemarketer."
Dropping that excuse, she answered the call.
In an instant, her skeptical look disappeared, replaced by shock and stiff professionalism.
"Hello! Yes, hello! That is me! Yes, I am Mai Sakurajima's manager!"
"Yes, yes, of course! Thank you so much!"
"We deeply appreciate you giving Mai this opportunity!"
"..."
As soon as she hung up, the phone rang again. And again.
Mai's mother found herself answering call after call, growing more deferential each time.
She couldn't help it. The names she heard on the other end were almost unbelievable—some were executives she'd only seen on TV. In Japan, where class is strict and conglomerates hold real power, it was only natural to feel intimidated.
"Phew!"
When the phone finally stopped ringing, Mai's mother leaned against the wall to steady herself. Her legs felt like jelly.
Just as promised, every single call was a massive offer—blockbuster movies, prime-time TV dramas, top-tier variety shows, and premium music deals. All of them begging to collaborate with Mai Sakurajima.
Their terms were universally simple: as long as Mai agreed to sign, money was no object, and she would receive the maximum possible profit split.
They were practically throwing money at her!
Mai's mother felt dizzy from it all.
He hadn't lied!!
Just who exactly was this young man sitting in her living room? He made a single phone call, and those ruthless conglomerates immediately bowed their heads. These were literal corporate empires!
"You..." She looked at Kai, who was currently eating noodles, then at her daughter, kneeling gracefully by his side, gazing at him with clear affection.
Mai's mother took a deep breath, walked over, and raised her voice. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS??"
"MOM!" Assuming her mother was about to scold Kai again, Mai jumped to her feet. "How can you talk to Kai-kun like that??"
"I'm talking about YOU!" Mai's mother snapped back.
"Huh?" Mai blinked in confusion. She stared at her mother, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her.
"Me?" She pointed a finger at her own chest.
"Of course I am!" her mother said, full of righteous indignation. "Kai-kun has done so much for us today! How could you serve him plain noodles? Wait here, Kai-kun. I'll make you something proper myself!"
Mai's mother was confident in her cooking. She rolled up her sleeves and headed straight to the kitchen.
"Huh?" Mai looked even more bewildered.
If she remembered correctly, her mother hadn't cooked in ages. Mai turned and gave Kai a confused look.
"Looks like your mom is on my side now," Kai laughed, flashing her a smug grin.
"..." Mai stared at him, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. "What exactly did you do?"
"Just showing off a little to calm your mom down," Kai said. "Never underestimate a Jujutsu Sorcerer's status. In the end, those corporate elites are just regular people!"
If anyone else had said that, it would sound like arrogant bragging from someone who didn't understand how the real world worked.
But when Kai said it, Mai believed him. He really did have the power to back it up.
——————————
The next day.
When Kai strolled into the classroom, he immediately noticed a bunch of students gathered around, gossiping about Mai Sakurajima.
That morning, Mai's agency had officially announced a massive slate of upcoming projects. Many of them were highly anticipated blockbuster IPs. Combined with her existing fanbase, Mai's online popularity was skyrocketing.
Before, she was just on the edge of being a top celebrity. Now, she was firmly an A-list star.
"Looks like Mai-senpai is really popular today. Everyone's talking about her," Kai said with a smile, glancing at the excited students.
"Obviously. I heard the school administration is actively supporting her now too," Yumiko Miura chimed in next to him. "She's a Sobu High student, after all. The more famous she gets, the better it makes the school look!"
It was essentially free marketing for Sobu High.
However, as Yumiko looked at Kai, she suddenly paused.
"What is it?" Kai asked, still smiling. He saw her holding up her phone, looking between the screen and his face, clearly comparing them. He already guessed what she was looking at.
"It's nothing. Just saw something interesting." Catching Yui Yuigahama glancing over, Yumiko smiled and shook her head.
But a second later, she leaned in close and whispered so only Kai could hear. "You never mentioned you were acquainted with Mai-senpai!"
Most of the scandalous photos of Kai and Mai had already been scrubbed from the internet. But a few blurry shots of his back and some lingering rumors were still floating around.
Others might not recognize him, but Yumiko knew him too well. She could tell it was Kai just from his silhouette. She'd never mistake him for anyone else.
"Is there a problem?" Kai asked. He didn't panic at being caught. Instead, he just shot her a playful smirk.
"YOU JERK!" Yumiko muttered.
He already had her and Yui, but he was still chasing other girls. He really was greedy.
Still, Yumiko wasn't disgusted. She'd known he was a player from the start. Expecting him to be loyal would be the real joke. Mostly, she was just surprised he'd managed to get together with a huge idol like Mai Sakurajima.
"Doesn't that just prove I'm a high-value catch? You hit the jackpot," Kai whispered in her ear.
"Hmph!" Yumiko scoffed.
He was so full of himself. Yumiko might not be a national idol, but she was sure of her own looks. She was a prize too!
"Hahaha!" Kai just laughed, not pushing the banter further.
Across the room, Yui glanced over, curious about what was so funny.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about how cute Yui looks today!" Kai called out.
"N-No I'm not!" Yui quickly looked down, blushing hard. But even as she denied it, a bright smile spread across her face.
——————————
That evening.
Even though he liked to flirt, Kai hadn't forgotten his promise to Yukino Yukinoshita.
"W-What is it?"
Since it was a formal family dinner—and because Kai was attending—Yukino had dressed up for the occasion. She wore a simple, elegant white evening gown. While the design was minimalist, paired with Yukino's flawless beauty, the dress looked stunning.
When she walked out and saw Kai staring, she quickly looked away. His intense gaze made her heart race, though she secretly wanted to know what he thought.
"You look amazing!" Kai said, giving her a thumbs-up after looking her over. "As expected of our untouchable Ice Queen. Your charm is lethal."
"I didn't realize you were so dramatic."
The blunt compliment made it hard for Yukino to hide her smile. Worried she'd lose her composure, she turned away and replied with her usual tsundere pride.
"Let's go. The driver has been waiting downstairs for a while."
Afraid her blushing face would give her away, Yukino quickly took the lead.
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