The situation unfolding before them was beyond anything Ryuichi could have imagined.
Who would've thought that the mother who had just exchanged emails with Mai moments ago would, upon finally meeting her in person, suddenly be unable to see her again?
Even Mai herself couldn't process what she was witnessing.
She hurried to her mother's side, moving to stand in front of her and waving her hand right before her eyes.
"Can't you see me!?"
Her voice rose sharply, trembling with emotion.
And who could blame her?
Anyone would be shaken by this — it was her own mother, after all.Just moments ago, they were supposed to have an honest, heartfelt conversation. Now, this?
Mai couldn't accept it.
But her mother kept walking, unseeing, unhearing.
Mai's arms dropped helplessly to her sides.
She'd been through this before — she knew that no matter how hard she tried now, it would be useless. Her mother could no longer perceive her at all.
Then, as if to confirm the cruel truth, her mother walked straight into her shoulder. The impact sent Mai stumbling backward.
Before she could fall, a hand reached out and caught her.
In the blink of an eye — literally less than a heartbeat — Ryuichi had crossed the twenty meters between them.He appeared at her side, steadying the swaying girl in his arms.
His sudden arrival startled her mother. She turned sharply, eyes widening when she noticed the boy who hadn't been there a second ago.
She was clearly taken aback — she remembered him standing much farther away.
"Good afternoon. My name is Ryuichi," he said politely, still holding Mai's hand protectively behind him as he faced her mother directly.
Her mother frowned slightly, her gaze sharp and appraising."So it's you, then," she said curtly, her tone clipped.
Her resemblance to Mai was undeniable — same features, same commanding presence, even the same tone when irritated.
Ryuichi's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean by that, ma'am?"
"You're the one who called me out here, aren't you? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?" she asked briskly, irritation clear in her voice. "I don't even know you. You look like a high school student — is this some kind of prank? Because if it is, I'll be contacting your parents to make sure you're properly disciplined."
She spoke quickly, checking her wristwatch as she did.Her every movement radiated precision and efficiency — the kind of woman whose time was always booked and whose patience was in short supply.
"You've misunderstood," Ryuichi said calmly. "Mai was the one who asked you to come here."
He could feel the faint dampness of sweat in Mai's palm. She was nervous — badly so.He squeezed her hand a little tighter, silently reassuring her not to worry.
Her mother, however, continued to study him coldly. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that? Who did you say called me?"
"Mai," Ryuichi repeated, his voice firm but gentle.
Her mother's fingers brushed back a strand of hair blown loose by the sea breeze. Her expression shifted, a faint look of puzzlement crossing her eyes.
"…Mai?" she echoed softly. "Who's that?"
For a moment, even Ryuichi froze.
The hand gripping his suddenly tightened — Mai's fingers clenched around his, trembling.
Ryuichi's face darkened. A chill crept up his spine.
Damn it… This isn't just about being unseen anymore, is it?
"Mai Sakurajima," he said carefully. "She's your daughter. Don't you remember?"
Her mother's frown deepened. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't have a daughter."
Her tone was flat, almost dismissive. "Ryuichi, was it? What exactly are you trying to pull here?"
Ryuichi glanced sideways at Mai. The look in her eyes — confusion, shock, despair — said everything.
His own expression hardened. "Then what about the email? The one asking you to come here. You replied to it, didn't you? Surely you remember that."
"That's what's strange," her mother said, pulling her phone from her bag. She unlocked it and showed the screen to him. "The sender was unknown. I even marked the time in my schedule and cleared my afternoon specifically for it. But I don't remember why I did."
Ryuichi glanced at the phone — and there it was.The sender's name displayed clearly: Mai.
The name cut through both him and Mai like a blade.
Her mother wasn't pretending. She wasn't feigning ignorance or denying it out of anger.
She truly didn't remember her own daughter.
Even though she had raised Mai for over a decade — even though that name still appeared right there on her screen — it meant nothing to her now.
Ryuichi drew a slow, steadying breath.
He understood now. The situation had become unmistakably clear.
He bowed deeply, his tone humble and sincere. "I'm sorry. It seems I made a mistake. Please forgive me for wasting your time."
"…Oh?" Her mother blinked, caught off guard.
She hesitated, as if her instincts were telling her something wasn't right, but she couldn't place it.
"Well… I suppose I'll get going, then?"
"Yes. I truly apologize for the trouble."
"It's… fine, I guess," she murmured uncertainly, still looking puzzled as she turned and walked away.
"Ryuichi…" Mai's voice was barely a whisper.
He turned to her — and saw the fear in her eyes, deep and raw.She understood, too.
Ryuichi's expression grew grim. "This confirms it," he said quietly. "Your ability is spreading. We must have overlooked something."
Up until now, her power had merely affected people's perception — they couldn't see, hear, or touch her.But now… something far worse was happening.
Memories of her — every trace of her existence — were being erased from the minds of those who knew her.
Mai's eyes trembled. The realization hit like a physical blow.
Before, she could still live quietly, knowing that people remembered her even if they couldn't see her.But now… even that last thread of connection was vanishing.
Was she going to become a living ghost?No… something even more terrifying than that.
"Mai," Ryuichi said softly, his voice steady and reassuring despite the dread hanging in the air. "Calm down. I can still see you. I still remember you — clearly."
His words were quiet, but they carried a grounding strength that settled her panic.
Now wasn't the time to lose control.And Ryuichi's calmness — his unshakable composure — spread to her like warmth in the cold.
"Come on," he said suddenly, tugging her hand gently. "We're not done yet."
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice faint.
"If we were wrong about the cause," he said, his tone cool and analytical, "that means we still haven't found the true source of your ability. We need to keep looking."
He spoke with calm determination, but Mai didn't respond.They walked a few steps before Ryuichi noticed she wasn't following.
He turned. Mai stood there with her head bowed, silent.
"Mai?" he called softly.
"…Let's stop for today," she said finally, her tone level again — too level. "I'm going home."
There was no fear or panic in her voice now. Just quiet resignation.
She gently pulled her hand free from his and began walking away, alone.
Watching her back recede toward the sea breeze, Ryuichi let out a small, helpless sigh.How could he possibly leave her like this?
In a few quick strides, he caught up to her. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Don't give up so easily," he whispered, his voice low but filled with warmth. "If your smile disappears from this world… wouldn't that make it a far duller place?"
Mai's body trembled in his arms — a small, silent reaction.
And for a fleeting moment, the fading girl seemed real again.