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"What's the price?"
Miko Yotsuya stared straight at Max, her eyes flickering with a mix of hope and anxiety.
She couldn't be sure if he was telling the truth, but this might be her only real chance to deal with the spirits that had been haunting her life. If she let it slip away, she'd definitely regret it.
As the saying goes—miss the chance, and it's gone for good.
So she decided to take the risk.
"It's simple."
Max's lips curved slightly, his tone calm and even.
"Just become mine."
"Huh?!"
Miko's eyes widened instantly.
Her calm and rational mind was swept away by a wave of shock as she stared at him in disbelief.
She hadn't expected that kind of price.
"Become yours"… did he mean what she thought he meant?
Her first instinct was to say no.
But when she looked at Max again, another thought crept in, one she didn't want to admit.
If it's him… maybe it's not so bad?
After all, he was pretty damn good-looking.
The moment that thought appeared, Miko froze.
What the hell am I thinking?!
Her cheeks flushed red.
Max chuckled softly, as if sensing her confusion, and clarified,
"To gain exorcism powers, you need to become my follower—kind of like a shrine maiden who serves a god."
"That's the only way you can use my power."
"A shrine maiden who serves a god…"
Miko repeated under her breath, eyes flickering as something clicked in her mind.
A miko—one of the sacred attendants at a shrine. Traditionally, they had to be pure, unmarried, and in good health.
Because of their close connection to the divine, people often called them "the god's bride."
So the meaning was pretty clear.
Combine that with the word "follower," and… well, there was no mistaking the implication.
Her face grew warmer, her heart thumping faster.
Noticing that Miko wasn't rejecting the idea outright, Max's eyes narrowed slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting higher.
He smiled again.
"It's all up to you. No need to rush your decision. Think it over first."
"…Okay."
Miko's voice was soft. She clutched the hem of her skirt, emotions tangling inside her.
It felt like one of those cliché moments from a drama where the main character faces a tough choice—
—with a white "Miko" on one shoulder whispering say yes, and a black one on the other shouting say no!
The two were already fighting it out—hair pulling, dress tugging, perfectly matched in strength.
"I'll wait for your answer," Max said, standing up with a faint smile. "Come on, let's head back to class."
Miko rose too, glancing at his back as he walked toward the door. Her eyes flickered with hesitation.
"Um, Max…"
He turned around, eyebrow raised, smiling playfully. "What, already made up your mind?"
"No, it's not that…"
Her face reddened again. "I was just wondering… could you show me your power? If that's not allowed, just pretend I didn't ask."
She wasn't just curious—she wanted proof. Proof that he really could do what he said.
Max met her gaze, and for a moment their eyes locked.
Something about his calm, deep stare made her feel exposed, like he could see straight through her.
"…Sure."
He smiled faintly, then extended his right hand.
"Give me your hand."
"..."
Miko hesitated for a second, but slowly reached out and placed her hand in his.
He closed his fingers gently around hers, still smiling.
Her heartbeat skipped.
"Ready? Here we go."
Max murmured softly as a faint silver light shimmered around his hand—the power of gravity under his control.
"This is—?!"
Miko's eyes widened in awe.
She felt as if a breeze had lifted her body—
—and then her feet left the ground.
She was floating.
"Wha— I'm flying!?"
Her mouth dropped open in shock and delight, wide enough to fit a cherry inside.
She was actually floating—maybe only half a meter off the floor, but still.
She was flying!
Max just smiled quietly, saying nothing.
He didn't actually need to touch her to make her float—he'd just done it for effect.
The handholding was intentional. The kind of gesture that looked innocent but wasn't entirely necessary.
Like those stories where the hero has to heal a girl's injuries but, for some reason, it always involves taking off clothes.
If you get it, you get it. If you don't—well, go sit with the kids' table at dinner.
After letting her float for a few more seconds, he gently lowered her back down and released her hand naturally.
"So soon…"
Miko sounded almost disappointed.
If she could, she'd love to soar through the sky freely like a bird.
But even this brief moment was enough. She now knew for sure—Max really did have powers.
And deep inside, her mental balance had already begun to tilt slightly in his favor.
"Alright, let's go."
Max headed for the door first.
Miko followed behind, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, then at her own right hand—the one he had just let go of so casually.
A tiny smile tugged at her lips.
So far, Max had left her with nothing but a good impression.
The student council office was on the first floor of the library, right next to the classroom building.
When they stepped outside, Max stopped and said, "You go ahead. I need to return the key."
"Okay."
Miko nodded and walked off toward the classrooms.
Max smiled faintly and turned toward the front desk near the library entrance.
Five minutes later—
Miko returned to class.
"Miko! You're finally back!"
Her friend Hana Yirikawa leaned over with an unmistakably nosy grin.
"So? Tell me—are you and Max together now?"
"…"
Miko sighed. Hana's curiosity practically radiated off her face.
"It's not what you think," Miko said, sounding a little helpless.
"Yeah, right," Hana shot back, unconvinced. "Then why'd you go meet him alone, huh?"
Clearly, she wasn't buying it.
Miko didn't feel annoyed—just a little tired.
After all, it wasn't something she could tell her.
Then suddenly—an idea popped into her head.
"....."