The dinner for Mori Shinra and Mai's first date was spent in a rather somber atmosphere. This was somewhat different from what he had expected, but since an even bigger discrepancy was right in front of him, it didn't really matter.
Mai's appetite wasn't good, but she still finished every last drop of the seafood congee he had served her.
When paying the bill, Shinra specifically asked the waiter about 'Sakurajima Mai,' and as expected, he received a negative answer.
—"Never heard of her."
Afterward, under the guise of a street interview, Shinra spoke to various people of different age groups—passing uncles and aunts, local elementary and middle school students, and elderly people. After asking a dozen or so people, he received the same answers.
—"Never heard of her."
No one said they knew Sakurajima Mai, and no one could see her.
It was as if the name of this once-famous star had never appeared in anyone's life.
For this reason, Shinra even sent text messages to Yuigahama, Hikigaya, and Yukinoshita Yukino, asking for information about her. He even sent a message to Yukinoshita Haruno.
But the final result was still the same.
—"Never heard of her."
Slapping his own cheeks, Shinra, not giving up, decided to stop another passerby to ask.
But this time, he was stopped by Mai.
"That's enough," she said.
"Don't want to try again?" When he said this, he stared straight into her eyes. If she showed even a hint of hesitation, he would not hesitate to find the next passerby to ask.
However, she shook her head firmly. "No need. The answer will still be the same if we keep trying. You should be well aware of that too."
"..."
This time, it was his turn to be silent.
Mai seemed not to want the atmosphere to remain so heavy. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you for today."
"Is this goodbye?"
"It's already so late. The date should be over, shouldn't it?"
"That's true."
"Well then, see you."
With that, she turned and walked towards the station exit, her pace neither fast nor slow, just like usual.
But his state of mind at this moment was completely different from before. He didn't know why he was so concerned about her. Perhaps it was because he coveted her Wish Request, perhaps it was because she was beautiful, perhaps it was...
He was worried that what was happening to her could also happen to him.
But no matter which possibility it was, he knew that if this continued, he might never see her again.
Even though he had been using 'Photographic Memory' the entire time he was with her recently, no one could guarantee that his ability could completely counteract the cognitive abnormality surrounding her.
And so, before his brain could make a decision, his body moved first.
"Mai-san, wait!"
Shinra caught up to her in a few large strides and grabbed her wrist.
She stopped but didn't turn around, simply staring at the ground not far away.
"Walk with me a little longer."
"..."
Her eyelids trembled. Then, she asked, "Where to?"
"I don't know. But maybe somewhere, someone still remembers you."
"You say that as if everyone has forgotten me except you."
She gave a strained smile, as if telling a bad joke.
But they both knew very well that this was not a joke, but a high-probability event.
Right now, it was possible that no one in the world remembered a person named Sakurajima Mai, except for him.
"We have to confirm it, right? Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."
He thought that perhaps this phenomenon was only occurring in Chiba City and its surrounding areas. If they went to some distant city, or even country, maybe the people there would all know her, see her, and point at her, saying, 'Look, isn't that Sakurajima Mai?'
"And after we confirm it? After we know that no one can see me except you, that everyone has forgotten me except you, then what?"
"At least during this time, I will always be with you. I can see you, and I remember you."
"!"
It was impossible for her not to feel uneasy when something like this happened. In fact, from his perspective, the emotion called 'unease' had been accumulating around her ever since she met her mother, almost to the point of crushing her.
She was already so uneasy, she didn't even know what tomorrow would bring, yet she still had to return to a lonely home where no one was waiting. It was impossible for her not to be afraid.
The slight coolness from her palm and her faintly trembling shoulders were the best proof.
"Or rather, Miss Mai is too cute, and I can't bear to part with you. I want to continue being with you," he said, his tone deliberately light.
"...Arrogant."
"It's a rare date, after all. We're already here."
"You're younger than me, yet you're so arrogant."
"What's your answer, Mai-san? If you don't give me a clear answer, I'll keep being 'arrogant'."
"I know."
She was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "My hand... it hurts a little."
"Oh, sorry," he said, loosening his grip a little, but still holding on.
She tried to struggle free. The force wasn't great. After realizing he wouldn't let go, she just let it be.
A full minute passed.
"...Where are we going?"
"Hmm?"
"Since you don't want me to go back yet, we should have a destination, right?"
Mai turned around and looked straight into his eyes.
It was clear that the corners of her eyes were slightly red, but there were no tear tracks on her face. It was obviously the result of holding them back.
"Let's go to the next city and see. The night tickets might be cheaper," he suggested.
"There's no such thing. Do you think the station is a convenience store?" she replied with a light laugh, seeming to have adjusted her mood.
"In any case, let's get on the train first. I have a feeling this journey won't be too short," he said, pulling her back to the platform waiting area.
"Also, did you bring your ID?"
Sakurajima Mai raised an eyebrow and asked back, "Even if I did, what's the use?"
"Well, you never know. What if you become visible again midway? It would be more convenient for buying a ticket, right?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"We might have to spend the night out, you know."
"...Don't you get any funny ideas."
"Does that mean you agree to stay the night?"
"It's not like I have a choice!"