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Energy Stone settlement, two chapters of reward sections updated, wish everyone enjoyable reading.
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Maybe she realized she'd let her attitude slip. Mai fell quiet, her steps slow and uncertain, not bothering to say where she was headed. Draconis just matched her pace, content to wander aimlessly. He had nowhere else to be—wasting a little time was no big deal.
An engine revved behind them. A motorcycle tore down the street, closing fast.
Draconis sidestepped early, but Mai was lost in thought, oblivious to the oncoming bike. The rider, unable to see her at all, was barreling straight toward her.
Instinct kicked in. Draconis reached out and pulled Mai into his arms, just as the motorcycle thundered past, its roar echoing and fading in seconds.
He found himself holding her by the waist, their eyes locking for a heartbeat.
Then, as if nothing happened, Draconis let go, his voice soft.
"That was way too close."
Mai nodded—her situation was more than inconvenient; it was dangerous.
"Thanks," she murmured.
Draconis waved it off, falling back into step beside her.
"Besides moments like that, there must be a ton of other hassles, huh?" He glanced at her profile, catching the faint lines of worry.
"Yeah. Not being able to buy cream bread from that shop is pretty rough." Mai's gaze drifted to a bakery up ahead, her tone light, almost joking.
Of course, her troubles went far deeper than missing out on pastries. But she chose the smallest, least painful example, as if it could stand in for everything else.
Draconis eyed the bakery, then took her hand and strode forward.
"Two cream breads, please."
The clerk smiled. "Certainly, just a moment."
Seconds later, Draconis was handed two warm pastries. Not once did the clerk glance at Mai—she was invisible to everyone but him.
He handed one to her. "Here."
"Thanks."
"No problem. That'll be two hundred yen—cash or transfer?" Draconis asked, straight-faced.
Mai blinked, stunned. "…???"
He caught her look and grinned.
"After all the effort I've put in today, letting me treat you to lunch isn't unreasonable, right?"
Mai shot him a look of pure exasperation.
"Who 'treats' someone after the fact?"
"As long as someone else pays, it counts as treating." Draconis shrugged, shameless.
Mai refused to play along. She recovered quickly, her voice calm.
"I'll treat next time."
So this round's on me, huh?
"…Fine." Draconis shrugged.
They reached the riverbank, standing side by side, cream bread in hand, watching the water flow past.
Across the river, an office building's digital billboard flickered alive—Mai's face appeared, radiant in a white dress, smiling in a field of flowers as she delivered a matcha tea commercial.
Draconis didn't bother critiquing the ad. Instead, he compared the girl beside him to the one on screen.
Fans would kill for this moment.
Mai was photogenic, for sure. But in person, her aura was sharper, more mature.
She stared at her own image, transfixed.
Draconis glanced over, catching the storm in her eyes.
…Whatever she'd been through, the frustration was almost tangible.
"Strange, isn't it? Your ads are still running, but no one remembers you."
He finished his bread in a few bites, squinting at the screen.
Mai said nothing, her eyes glued to the billboard.
Clearly, gentle nudges weren't enough.
Draconis let his gaze drift, voice casual.
"I don't know what you're running from, but you do want to get back in the business, don't you?"
"…When did I ever say that?"
"Your eyes looking at that poster already gave you away." Draconis's tone was calm, but he was peeling back her defenses with surgical precision.
"I just pay attention to that stuff."
"And maybe reminisce about what it felt like to film."
…Right on target.
Mai stared at him, wondering if devils could read minds.
But before she could say anything, Draconis spoke up:
"I'm no mind reader. You're just easy to read. Sure you don't want to try coming back? There's probably a lot of people waiting for you."
Mai: "…"
Being seen through like this was infuriating.
"What do you know? You're not even human." She shot back, deadpan.
The way she glared, eyes narrowed, told Draconis she was genuinely upset.
"Heh… Not human anymore, true. But don't think I don't understand."
Draconis's smile was gentle, his voice low.
"It's because of your family, isn't it?"
He knew he was poking a sore spot, but he didn't flinch.
Sure enough, Mai snapped.
"You're so annoying."
She turned on her heel, heading for the stairs up to the street.
"Not going to check the area a bit more?"
"I'm going home!"
Definitely angry. Her voice was practically shaking with it.
Draconis didn't hurry, trailing behind her at an easy pace. No matter how fast she walked, he kept up, calm as ever.
Mai noticed, and after ten minutes of trying to shake him, finally stopped and spun around.
He stood there, hands in pockets, looking so relaxed she wanted to laugh and scream at the same time.
"Are you a devil or just superglue?"
Draconis just chuckled, a lazy grin on his face.
"Feeling better?"
"I wasn't mad."
She denied it instantly.
He couldn't help but smile—she was cute when she was stubborn.
Draconis cleared his throat.
"I'm not trying to reopen old wounds, but I do hope we can be honest with each other."
He paused, then added,
"Uh, I mean literally honest. Nothing else implied—don't get the wrong idea."
Mai rolled her eyes. "…If you can skip the pointless commentary, please do."
…
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