Sakurajima Mai thought for a moment. She realized that although the people around couldn't see her, they could see Mori Shinra. From others' perspectives, he seemed to be talking to himself, and the library staff were already intending to remind him to keep quiet.
Under these circumstances, even if others couldn't see her, she didn't have to worry about him suddenly becoming a threat to her safety.
Having figured this out, she sat down with peace of mind.
"How long has this condition been going on?"
The moment Mori Shinra spoke, he sounded like an old doctor.
Unfortunately, Sakurajima Mai had no intention of cooperating. Instead, she warned him seriously, "Shinra-chan."
"Uh-huh."
"Forget what you saw today."
"You mean you want me to forget about Sakurajima Mai, the has-been celebrity who came to the library in a sexy bunny girl outfit for some unknown reason?"
"How long has this condition been going on?"
Sakurajima Mai also sounded like an old doctor. Then, as if feeling a headache, she tapped her head and continued, "I'm being serious. It's best not to get involved with me."
"I'm being serious too. I've already prepared for the worst," he replied in kind.
Setting aside the Wish Request on her head that looked like a system bug, the supernatural phenomenon happening to her was enough to make him want to investigate.
This was his first contact with a superpower other than his own. Although she didn't seem to be able to control this ability, he felt that he had to find a way to figure this out.
Otherwise, it would be a joke if he became invincible on Earth, only for an enemy to descend from the heavens.
"Suit yourself."
Seeing him so unpersuaded, Mai lost the desire to talk to him. Anyway, she hadn't given out her home address like he had. After she left this time, it was highly unlikely the two of them would meet again.
Thinking this, she prepared to stand up and leave.
"I might have the same symptoms as you."
Her rising body froze. She turned her head to look at him, as if trying to gauge the truthfulness of his words.
"Suspicion, surprise, and some... helplessness? It seems Miss Sakurajima's emotions are quite rich."
"You're joking, right?"
"Huh? You calmed down so quickly."
Sakurajima Mai's face suddenly darkened, and her whole demeanor became terrifying. She said in a low tone, "I don't have time to joke with you!"
"Happiness mixed with some apprehension. Nice acting, by the way," he said, completely unaffected.
She sat back down. This time, she didn't mention forgetting her again, but instead asked, "What was that just now?"
"As you can see, we might be the same kind of people. I can perceive emotions, the very specific kind," Shinra said, selectively revealing some information to gain her trust.
"Mind reading?"
"I can't do it to that extent yet."
"Can you control it?"
"Of course. But judging by what you're saying, you can't?"
"I can't," she replied quite frankly.
He could have guessed as much. If she could control it, she wouldn't have been so surprised when she found out he could see her.
Besides, he had just said that he could perceive emotions. She decided to test it out and assume for now that he was telling the truth, so she had no intention of hiding anything.
After all, he had already told her his home address.
"How did you do it?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"How did you overcome the symptoms of Puberty Syndrome?"
"Puberty Syndrome... huh?"
He knew this term. It was a popular urban legend on the Japanese internet, referring to things like 'hearing people's thoughts,' 'seeing someone's future,' or 'two people swapping bodies.' In short, rumors of such supernatural phenomena were common online, each one told with great conviction, but in reality, not many people believed them.
Now, Mori Shinra's performance made her believe in this urban legend a little more, and she began to wonder if she had contracted a similar illness.
"You don't know?" Mai asked, seeing him ponder the words 'Puberty Syndrome' without answering.
"I know of it, but isn't that just an urban legend?"
"After what's happened, you still think it's an urban legend?"
Of course I do, because my ability was given to me by the system.
But he obviously couldn't say this to her. He chose his words carefully. "I'm not sure. In fact, this is my first time too."
"A virgin?"
"Although that's not what I meant, I am."
"Don't worry, me too. So you don't actually know how you overcame the illness? Natural recovery?"
If that were the case, it would be troublesome. Sakurajima Mai frowned but showed no intention of leaving. It was his first time, and it was her first time too.
They were in the same boat. And he looked like he had already pretty much recovered. Having finally found a kindred spirit, she didn't want to give up just like that.
Even if he didn't know how he did it, she could still get some information from him.
With this in mind, she decisively took out her phone and began to type.
Shinra glanced at her phone, which had a rabbit-themed case. The two ears were almost as long as the phone itself. He wondered if she was afraid of poking someone with them.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking notes."
"Notes on what?"
"Your home address."
He felt like he had met his match. He said, "No need to write it down. I can just take you there once, and you'll know."
"?"
Sakurajima Mai's gaze shifted from her phone to him, her eyes filled with vigilance, her face written with concern for her chastity.
"What's the use of writing it down if you don't even dare to come?" Shinra was speechless.
She shook her head without explaining.
Her condition was not constant, but intermittent. Normally, she was no different from an ordinary person. But when it acted up, she would be like a part of the air, and no matter what she did, she wouldn't attract any attention.
"Let's call it a day for now," Sakurajima Mai said.
"You're just leaving like that?"
"Yes, I'm leaving."
"Leave your contact information."
"Hitting on me?"
"I've already given you my address. As an exchange, I think a phone number isn't too much to ask, even if you are a big star," he said with a straight face.
Sakurajima Mai sighed. "You were the one who blurted out your address on your own."
"But you listened, didn't you?"
"That's sophistry, isn't it?"
Despite her words, she still held out her hand to him.
"A friendship fee?"
"Give me your phone. I'll type in my number."