With her arm linked around Ryuichi's, Sakurajima Mai felt completely at ease. She didn't have to worry about paparazzi sneaking photos or gossip rumors spreading anymore.
After all, if anyone did happen to spot them, Ryuichi would simply use his Common Sense Rewrite to make them forget what they saw.
To Mai, it was absolutely perfect. She could enjoy her ordinary daily life without it interfering with her work as an actress. Something that had once been an unsolvable headache was now effortlessly handled — all thanks to Ryuichi's existence.
As they walked together toward the station, the two chatted casually.
"How's work been going lately?" Ryuichi asked.
"Pretty well," Mai said with a small smile. "We just finished filming the commercial, and it went quite smoothly."
Since it was a job she genuinely loved, there was a certain glow of satisfaction in her voice.
"Well, it's only natural for things to go smoothly when it's the talented Mai-san performing," Ryuichi teased.
Mai's lips curved, clearly pleased by the compliment. That little spark of pride slipped through her usual composure. "Of course. But if you were the one acting, Ryuichi, it definitely wouldn't go as smoothly."
"Oh? Is that how little faith you have in your boyfriend?" Ryuichi replied with a faint, amused smile.
Mai didn't even bother to deny it. She just loved teasing him — that tiny streak of mischief lighting up her expression. "It's because you like it when I tease you, don't you?"
"I only like it because it's you doing the teasing," he answered smoothly.
"Hmph."
She made a sound as if she were displeased, but her slightly averted gaze betrayed her true feelings — that faint, embarrassed flutter in her chest.
"Not bad," she said quickly, trying to recover. "That acting performance of yours just now was actually pretty convincing."
It was her way of covering up the fact that his words had just made her heart skip a beat.
Ryuichi tilted his head a little, then slipped an arm around her waist with a calm, easy smile. "That wasn't acting, Mai. That was a genuine performance from the heart — the purest kind of acting there is."
Mai blinked. "…"
His tone was so gentle that it made his voice sound almost too sweet — dangerously so.
As she met his warm, affectionate gaze, Mai found herself unable to resist. The boy before her was just too charming — not only handsome, but disarmingly sincere once he let his walls down. It was enough to make anyone melt.
Maybe I really am blessed, she thought, to have someone like this show me his true heart.
Without even thinking, Mai wrapped her arms around his shoulders and looked up at him. Their eyes met — and in that quiet moment, she spoke softly:
"Ryuichi doesn't need any kind of acting. You're wonderful just as you are. And that's what makes you so easy to love."
That was her honest truth.
But Ryuichi only chuckled lightly. "Ah, but that's exactly why I do need acting — because if I just be myself, I'd be too charming. It'd cause all kinds of trouble."
Mai blinked again. "…Huh??"
For a moment, she was torn between laughter and exasperation.
"You really don't have a humble bone in your body, do you?"
"Excessive humility," Ryuichi replied seriously, "is just another form of arrogance."
Mai sighed. She couldn't decide whether to laugh or roll her eyes. So he's handsome, capable, and a total narcissist too. Figures.
With that thought, she leaned slightly into his arms — only to notice his gaze dropping to her lips.
Ryuichi wasn't hiding his desire in the slightest. As a Devil, his nature thrived on emotion and temptation, and right now, his expression was pure honesty.
"Mai," he murmured softly, his eyes locked on her.
She immediately understood what he wanted, and her pulse jumped. Her eyes darted aside, trying to compose herself as the boy leaned closer, closer still—
Until, just before his lips could meet hers, Mai suddenly raised a hand and pinched his cheek.
"Mm—ow—"
It didn't hurt, of course. Not even a little.
But Ryuichi didn't protest. He just let her tug playfully at his face, pretending to sound pitiful in an almost childlike way — which only made Mai giggle harder.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "You thought I was going to let you kiss me, didn't you?"
Her tone dripped with playful triumph.
Ryuichi, still smiling with puffed cheeks, replied pitifully, "Aww… but I really wanted to kiss you, Mai."
"Save that act for your next audition," she said, swatting him lightly.
She tried to ignore the pleading tone in his voice — but his soft gaze, warm and full of affection, was hard to look away from. Her heartbeat betrayed her all the same.
"Th-there are too many people around," she muttered.
"Oh? Don't worry. I can just use Common Sense Rewrite," he said innocently.
"This has nothing to do with Common Sense Rewrite," Mai huffed, giving his cheek another gentle tug.
Ryuichi only grinned wider, treating her flustered gesture like a tender caress. "Ahh, I get it. So it's not about the magic — you're just shy."
"…What was that? Care to say it again?"
Her calm tone carried a subtle, unmistakable threat.
Clearly embarrassed but too proud to admit it — typical Mai.
Ryuichi wisely didn't press the point. "Nothing at all. I was just saying you're really cute."
"I've heard that one so many times already. It doesn't make my heart flutter anymore," she said flatly.
Her expression was perfectly blank — though a moment ago, she'd been smiling like the happiest girl in the world.
As expected of Mai. She changes expressions faster than anyone I know, Ryuichi thought, amused.
Still, the way she kept avoiding his gaze made it obvious she was just trying to hide her embarrassment.
Ryuichi couldn't help but smile. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered softly:
"Mai… I love you."
"Huh?"
Her startled little sound was adorably genuine — wide-eyed and pink-cheeked, pure reflex.
For a split second, her composure vanished, replaced by flustered surprise. Then she quickly tried to steady herself again.
"…Didn't quite catch that," she said coolly, turning her head to the side — though her eyes kept sneaking glances back at him, and the corner of her lips couldn't quite stay still.
Ryuichi, lips twitching in amusement, played along. "Eh? I didn't say anything."
Mai blinked. "…???"
She immediately turned back toward him, eyes narrowing as she caught the playful glint in his expression.
Smart as she was, she instantly realized he'd done that on purpose — teasing her right back.
"Hmph. Is that so? Then let's just go home," she said, chin lifted in mock dignity.
"Sure, let's go," he replied casually.
"I meant you go home. Why are you following me?" Her tone regained that regal, queen-like edge.
Ryuichi tilted his head with an innocent look. Ah, she's doing that again…
Well, that was fine. As her boyfriend, it was his job to indulge her a little.
He clasped his hands together and spoke with exaggerated sincerity. "I really, really want to walk my beautiful Mai home. Please, grant me this one humble wish."
Seeing him yield so easily, Mai couldn't help but beam with satisfaction. She knew he spoiled her shamelessly — and she loved it.
Even as she tried to keep her composure, the sweetness in her eyes never faded. She coughed lightly, pretending to sound indifferent.
"…Fine. I suppose this poor boy's tiny wish can be granted."