It took Kazuka Toyohama quite a while to recover from everything that had just been thrown at her.
"So this 'contract' you're talking about… what exactly is it?"
Now that she'd learned Mai had one with Ryuichi too, curiosity was clearly starting to win out over confusion.
"It's simple," Ryuichi said, his tone almost business‑like. "You commission me to fix whatever problem you're facing. In return, I collect the power generated from your soul's emotions as payment."
He explained patiently. After all, a new contract client was a rare find.
Honestly, he'd been struggling on that front. His familiars handed out fliers every single day, but he hadn't gotten a single new summoner in weeks. It wasn't that his familiars were lazy—it was the same everywhere. Even Rias's peerage didn't get many new human contractors these days.
Most humans who stumbled into summoning a Devil treated it like a top‑secret trump card and told no one about it. On top of that, the Three Factions had long imposed magical barriers—spells to alter human "common sense"—to keep their world hidden.
Maybe it was easier for Heaven, Hell, and the Underworld alike to manage a planet of oblivious humans.
The end result: most of those painstakingly distributed fliers ended up straight in the trash.
Ryuichi sighed inwardly. Maybe it's time to rethink my marketing strategy…
Still, recruitment woes aside, now that Kazuka knew his true identity, it'd be foolish not to at least try to sign her.
And judging by the glimmer in her eyes, the thought of making a contract wasn't exactly unappealing.
Today had opened a completely new world to her—Angels, Devils, souls, magic… all things that belonged in fantasy, now laid bare before her.
When you stand before a door like that, who could resist stepping through?
"So… what do I have to do?" she asked nervously.
"Just follow my instructions."
Ryuichi smiled, sensing victory. Pulling out a summoning circle he'd drawn, he guided her through the ritual, muttering incantations until the faint glow of connection appeared between them.
With that, the link was established. Once he solved the sisters' current predicament, the contract would officially take effect.
Mai had watched the whole process calmly. Once they finished, she finally spoke. "Alright then. What's next?"
Ryuichi lifted his hands in surrender. "Even if you ask me like that, I've got no immediate fix. I'll need time to figure out exactly what caused this."
"Fair enough." Mai exhaled softly. "Then for now… we'll have to live as each other."
Kazuka's face went pale.
"Uh… Mai‑senpai?"
"Yes?"
"I can't possibly pretend to be you!"
"And why not?"
"I mean, people who know you well will notice right away!"
Mai tilted her head slightly, looking oddly reluctant about something. Then, after an awkward pause, she murmured, "Um… at school, it shouldn't be… a problem."
"Huh?"
Seeing Mai's expression twist into a reluctant grimace, Ryuichi couldn't hold back a sigh. He rolled his eyes and answered on her behalf.
"Because Mai doesn't have any friends at school."
"Eh?!"
Kazuka stared at her, speechless. This was not the sister she'd imagined. To her, Mai was a glamorous, adored star. She'd assumed she was just as popular in class as she was in show business.
Ryuichi chuckled. "Honestly, if she was popular at school, she'd never have experienced that disappearance incident. It's her 'too‑perfect' aura that keeps people distant."
In that sense, Ryuichi had always thought his own low‑profile student act was smart—neither conspicuous nor forgettable, just balanced.
But Mai clearly didn't appreciate being "exposed." Scowling, she snapped back, "Hey, you're not one to talk. You don't have any friends either."
"I do now, thank you very much." Ryuichi smirked.
"Guy or girl?" she pressed.
"…Girl."
"I see." Mai's tone turned deceptively soft. Her eyes, however, narrowed dangerously. "Be sure to introduce me next time."
"Sure," he said bravely, even as her glare made his instincts scream of a coming shuraba—a battlefield of lovers.
Mai decided to drop the subject before it spiraled. Returning to task, she continued, "Anyway. Pretending to be me at school is easy. Just sit in my seat, take notes, finish class quietly. During breaks, keep to yourself with a book. No need to talk to anyone."
"O‑okay," Kazuka replied weakly. So… my older sister's school life is basically total isolation?
Ryuichi chuckled, easily reading her thoughts. "Don't be shocked. Your sister's the definition of the untouchable 'cool beauty' archetype."
Mai shot him a look so sharp it could cut steel. A second later, her foot found his shin under the table… and twisted twice for emphasis.
Ryuichi didn't even flinch. His expression stayed neutral.
Kazuka, still processing everything, hesitated before admitting in a small voice, "Actually… I'm kind of the same."
Mai blinked. "Hm?"
"Since my debut last year, I barely have time for school friends. I can't keep up with their chatter anymore. And after I dyed my hair for idol work, that was it—total alienation. So... I doubt anyone would notice if I acted different either."
She'd attended a prestigious academy full of rich daughters and heiresses. In such circles, her bright blonde hair practically made her a foreign existence.
"…"
Mai and Ryuichi exchanged looks. He burst out in quiet laughter. "Wow… the two of you really are sisters."
So alike that even their lack of school friends matched perfectly.
Both girls immediately puffed up their cheeks and glared.
"Go die. Twice," Kazuka huffed, cheeks flushed. "At least I get along great with my groupmates. That counts!"
"And I might not have many friends at school," Mai added, "but I do have plenty in the entertainment world."
Ryuichi raised a brow. "Friends in showbiz? Come on. The moment you're popular, everyone's nice. That doesn't make them real friends."
"…"
No argument there.
Mai pouted silently, then reached over and started flicking his forehead again and again.
Ryuichi rested his chin on his hand, smirking lazily. "What's that for?"
"I think you're getting too cocky. So consider this disciplinary action."
"Thanks for the reward, dear wife."
Kazuka made a face like she'd just witnessed a crime. "Ugh. What even is this dynamic?"
Was that flirting? Punishment?
Either way, she was starting to doubt her sister's entire taste in men…
…