Mai's anger faded quickly.
She'd always been the calm and composed type—which was exactly why Ryuya dared to tear open her old wounds so directly.
"I thought you were obsessed with making this contract," she said coldly. "Why do you care whether or not I go back to showbiz?"
Her eyes were sharp, carrying a quiet fury that gave off an invisible pressure, enough to make anyone hesitate to meet her gaze.
"Because I think your current condition is connected to that," Ryuya replied evenly.
"And if you stay like this, returning to acting will be nearly impossible, right?
So first, we need to fix your mindset. Otherwise, who knows—your disappearance might spread even further."
It wasn't an unreasonable guess, and Mai found herself unable to refute it.
After two seconds of silence, she muttered gloomily, "Fine, let's just say you're right… but I still don't like it."
"…Why not?"
"Because you deliberately provoked me—and I still had to take the bait."
So that's what she was hung up on?
Seriously, how could she make even her irritation this adorable…
Ryuya couldn't help smiling faintly, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Then how about this—want to slap me once to let it out?"
"…Really?"
Mai's eyes brightened for a second—she actually looked eager.
"Go ahead," Ryuya said with mock seriousness. "I love it when cute girls abuse me."
Mai blinked, stunned by his nonsense.
"…Are you some kind of pervert?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and with a light huff she turned away, refusing to entertain his absurdity.
Ryuya chuckled silently to himself.
A moment later, Mai suddenly realized—
Wait a second.
"Did you plan that?"
Her beautiful eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam flashing within them.
"Oh? Is that what you think?" Ryuya didn't answer directly.
He just raised an eyebrow with a teasing grin, and that tiny expression alone made Mai's shoulders drop helplessly—he had completely taken the upper hand.
"Do you even want me to explain my situation or not?" she asked sharply.
"Of course! I'll hang on every single word," he said earnestly.
"Ugh. Gross. Now I don't feel like talking anymore." Mai huffed again, switching moods faster than flipping a page.
"Don't be like that—demons make excellent listeners," Ryuya said with a playful smile, snapping his fingers as if cueing a stage show.
Mai shot him a glare but finally gave in, deciding to speak honestly about her past.
"When I was in my third year of middle school," she began quietly, "there was this photoshoot for a magazine, and because of it, I had a huge fallout with my mother."
She paused briefly before adding in a low voice,
"My mother was also my manager. We had agreed—no swimsuit photos, ever.
But she broke that promise. She said, 'Those sell best,' and signed the contract behind my back."
Even just recalling it made Mai's face tighten with visible resentment.
"In her eyes, I was nothing more than a money-making tool!"
Her words were sharp—each one laced with lingering bitterness.
Ryuya tilted his head slightly, piecing it all together.
So that's why she broke things off with her family…and probably why she quit acting—to strike back somehow.
"I see… but you do love acting, don't you? To throw it all away over that one incident—it doesn't really seem worth it."
He spoke calmly, offering his honest perspective.
Mai's face twisted in displeasure.
That clearly wasn't the answer she wanted to hear.
"So you don't understand either, huh!"
"Of course I don't," Ryuya said evenly. "My parents died early, so I never got the chance."
The quiet weight of that statement caught Mai completely off guard.
"In truth," he went on, "you already understand the situation yourself, don't you?
You just won't admit that you acted out of emotion—that you didn't stop to think of a better way before making your decision."
"You're so annoying." Mai's eyes flared as she glared at him, full of frustration.
"Didn't I tell you to hit me? I've been waiting."
Whoosh!
Without another word, Mai's hand snapped through the air and her palm landed squarely across Ryuya's cheek.
Ryuya casually tilted his head to the side and Mai's slap sliced through nothing but air.
"Don't you dare dodge!" she snapped.
"I never said I wouldn't," Ryuya replied with a teasing grin.
Mai's pretty face hardened with righteous fury. Taking advantage of his relaxed stance, she stomped down sharply—right on his foot.
"…"
Ryuya froze.
He'd let his guard down.
"Mai?"
"What!" she said flatly, pressing down harder and even twisting her heel a little for good measure.
"Alright, Mai, I'm sorry!"
"Why apologize? Did you do something wrong?" Her tone was icy cold.
"I was wrong for thinking that angry Mai was so cute that I couldn't resist making her even angrier," Ryuya said softly, still smiling.
Mai's expression faltered for a moment.
Then, realizing what he'd just said, she quickly shot back, flustered,
"Then you deserve it even more!"
Even so, the strength in her foot eased up noticeably.
"Ryuya."
She suddenly called his name outright.
"I'm here, Your Majesty," he answered lazily, his eyes half-lidded in mock obedience.
"Be with me again tomorrow."
"Eh?"
Ryuya blinked, instinctively trying to remember if he had anything planned for tomorrow.
But in the brief moment he hesitated, the pressure on his foot increased again.
"Ow, ow, ow—! What's with this sudden temper!?" he said with a pained grin.
"Seeing you hesitate after I invited you pissed me off," Mai replied nonchalantly.
"…Or maybe," Ryuya said with a faint smirk, leaning down slightly to meet her lowered gaze,
"it's because it's your first time asking a guy to hang out, and you were nervous I'd turn you down?"
It was a direct hit.
Mai's cheeks flushed pink, her eyes widening for a brief instant in startled embarrassment. Ryuya caught that fleeting moment—the tiny panic, the bashful hesitation—before she forced her expression back to calm.
He couldn't help but admire her.
As expected of a professional actress—her emotional control was top-tier.
Truly amazing.
Mai, of course, would never admit it. She crossed her arms, pretending to be perfectly composed.
"It's just an invitation, that's all. And since it's you, Ryuya, it's even easier. All I have to do is call, and you'll come running like a wagging puppy, won't you?"
"…Why does that sound like you're describing a dog?" Ryuya muttered, rubbing his chin as if in thought.
"You said it yourself," Mai replied, a satisfied smile curling on her lips.
"Mai, your personality is seriously wicked."
"Right back at you."
From that casual invitation, Ryuya could already tell—she'd made up her mind about something.
He spoke gently,
"Then tomorrow… tell your family everything. She still remembers you, doesn't she?"
Mai didn't respond, but her expression said enough—he'd hit the mark again.
Out of everyone affected, her mother was without a doubt the most important.
Once Mai untied that emotional knot, the anomaly causing her invisibility would stop spreading.
After that, she could use her return to showbiz to amplify her presence again and shatter the "atmospheric barrier."
Everything would return to normal.
It looked like things might finally be resolved tomorrow.
Ryuya pressed his lips together, thinking to himself,
Man… for the sake of forming one contract, I'm really working hard here.
---
RedX43's Note:
➤ Want More? Get Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ [email protected]/RedX43
➤ +300 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter Drop!
➤ Please support the new book, Thank you! 🙌