Once Sakurajima Mai had calmed down and taken her medicine, Haruto leaned back in his chair, studying her with an almost lazy expression. His voice, however, was steady.
"So, Mai… why did you run all the way here in the middle of the night, in the rain?"
"I…"
She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the hem of her towel, before she finally decided to tell the truth. Slowly, haltingly, she explained her condition— the bizarre reality she had been facing.
When she finished, Haruto's lips curved into an amused smirk.
"Pfft—hahaha."
He chuckled lightly, not mocking her but genuinely entertained. "This really is something out of the ordinary. Feels like life keeps handing me stories stranger than fiction."
His playful tone only lasted a moment before his eyes sharpened, his smile fading into something serious.
"Still… your 'Adolescence Syndrome' isn't just some inconvenience, Mai. If you don't deal with it soon, you could end up in real danger."
Her heart skipped. "…Dangerous how?"
"You might completely disappear from this world."
The casual way he said it only made the words hit harder. He pulled out his phone, tapped something, and handed it to her.
"Here. See for yourself."
Mai leaned closer and scrolled through the search results. It was empty. Barely any traces of her name remained.
Her stomach twisted. This can't be right…
She wasn't arrogant, but she knew her own popularity. Even after stepping away from the industry, there should have been interviews, fan blogs, photographs—something. The fact that there was almost nothing left made her chest tighten with dread.
"This," Haruto said calmly as he took the phone back, "is exactly the problem. I've been keeping an eye on your situation for a while now. The fewer people notice you, the more your very existence is being erased—even in records, even in memories."
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. His eyes gleamed faintly under the lamplight.
"One day, even your photos could vanish into blank paper."
Mai's legs weakened, and she sank onto the sofa. "Then… what should I do?"
Her voice trembled. The thought of truly disappearing frightened her more than anything.
"Don't worry," Haruto said softly, almost teasingly. "At the very least, I still remember you."
Something in his easygoing tone steadied her. Her panic dulled, and instinctively, she clung to him in her mind—her only lifeline.
But Haruto didn't let the moment linger. He sighed, leaning back again. "Don't look at me like that. I can't solve your problem just yet either."
Her fragile hope cracked, but before she could wallow, he continued.
"Still, your situation is dangerous. How about we make a trade?"
The shift in his tone was subtle—lighthearted on the surface, but with an undercurrent of something firm.
Mai's eyes widened. She instantly clutched her towel tighter, heart racing. "N-no way!"
Haruto laughed. A light, amused sound. "Relax. You've misunderstood."
He waved a hand dismissively. "I don't mean anything indecent. I'm saying—trade your ability to me in exchange for staying here. Food, shelter, safety. A fair deal."
Mai blinked, stunned. Then, realizing her mistake, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"…Sorry. I jumped to conclusions."
"It's fine." Haruto shrugged, the corners of his mouth quirking up again. "Given your situation, it's only natural to be on edge."
He stretched as if it were nothing serious. "Anyway, just think about it. When you're ready, send me the request."
His voice was casual, but inside, Haruto had already made up his mind. He wasn't going to let Mai just vanish. Not because he was some noble hero, but because the moment he saw her… he knew she was special. Someone worth keeping close.
Still, he wasn't the type to rush. A hunter didn't scare off the prey by being too obvious. If he kept her here long enough, opportunities would naturally come.
Mai lowered her gaze, lost in thought. Returning home wasn't an option. But staying here…
Finally, she bit her lip, took a deep breath, and sent the request.
[Ding! Sakurajima Mai has initiated a trade request!]
[Trade terms]: Temporary stay.
Across the room, Stella's eyes widened as the notification rang in her interface. For a second, she panicked. Don't tell me it's another body usage rights trade…
Thankfully, the next line cleared her worries.
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trade with]: Sakurajima Mai.
[Trade terms]: Temporary stay.
[Trade condition]: Adolescence Syndrome: Cognitive Disappearance.
"Phew… a normal one this time." Stella let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
[Ding! Trade completed. You have acquired the ability!]
The deal settled instantly. Haruto felt the foreign ability seep into him, a strange, fading sensation brushing across his senses. For a brief moment, he worried it might affect him negatively.
But the system responded immediately.
[Ding! Defective ability detected. Auto-correcting… You have acquired the ability: Cognitive Disappearance!]
Cognitive Disappearance — Allows the user to vanish from others' perception at will.
Haruto's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "So it turned from passive into active. A stealth skill, huh? Not bad at all."
He stood, pointing lazily toward the guest room. "You'll sleep there tonight. Tomorrow, I'll take the day off and get you some proper clothes."
He stretched, yawning as though the entire matter had already been decided. "I'm beat. Going to bed. Good night."
The door shut with a quiet clang before Mai could even reply.
…
Lying in the guest bed, Mai tossed and turned. The bunny girl outfit was far too uncomfortable, so she took it off, leaving herself vulnerable in nothing but the blanket.
Even with the door locked, she couldn't relax. This was still a man's house. A man with power beyond human strength.
If he wanted to… this door wouldn't stop him.
She hugged the blanket tighter, her chest aching with insecurity.
How did things spiral into this?
…Sigh.
In the silence, Sakurajima Mai let out a long, weary breath, the sound of rain outside her only comfort.