"Huh?" Kael stared blankly at Mai, hardly believing his ears.
What was going on? Wasn't this supposed to be Adolescence Syndrome? Why was it connected to a divine being? Could it be that the Bunny Girl Senpai he encountered was fake?
But after carefully examining the beautiful girl before him, Kael was certain—she was indeed Sakurajima Mai.
Calming himself, Kael asked: "Are you sure you encountered a divine being?"
Mai nodded.
Kael said: "What exactly happened?"
Mai replied: "It may sound unbelievable, but it's true. I really encountered a divine being. It took away my presence."
???
So Adolescence Syndrome had turned into a divine being? Was this another peculiarity of the crossover world?
Kael didn't understand, but he was deeply shaken.
Meanwhile, Mai began recounting her experiences, which matched the storyline Kael already knew.
Mai entered the entertainment industry at age six as a child actress. Her debut morning drama, Nine Layers, rivaled the most popular shows of past years, instantly making her the center of attention. That success led to many more films, dramas, and commercials—she was constantly on TV.
Though her peak faded after two or three years, by fourteen she had grown into a mature beauty. A film released then brought her back into the spotlight, with her smile gracing magazine covers for a week straight.
But fame severely disrupted her life. Wherever she went, reporters swarmed. Whatever she did, countless people scrutinized and interpreted it. These interpretations, good or bad, always stirred public opinion.
To reduce negative press, her mother began interfering in her life—restricting what she could and couldn't do. Mai felt like a puppet, manipulated at will.
As a child, it wasn't so obvious. Everyone said children should obey their mothers, so Mai accepted it. But as she grew older, her personality formed, and she began to feel uncomfortable. She realized she was becoming her mother's puppet and money-making tool.
This feeling peaked when her mother arranged a swimsuit photoshoot without her consent. Mai quarreled fiercely with her mother.
In the original story, Mai would return to Kanagawa, awaken Adolescence Syndrome, and lose her presence—eventually forgotten. At the crucial moment, she would meet the talkative Rascal Azusagawa Sakuta, who saved her, and they became a couple.
But this world wasn't just Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. It was a crossover world.
Here, after her fight with her mother and before returning to Kanagawa, Mai encountered a divine being. This twist was something Kael never expected.
"That day, after arguing with my mother, I just wanted to return to Kanagawa. I even tweeted that I was quitting the entertainment industry."
"My mother deleted the tweet."
"Later, we fought again."
"I was furious. I hated her control. I wanted a place where no one knew me, where no one noticed me, to live quietly for a while."
"So I ran out of the house, wandering aimlessly, and somehow ended up at a shrine."
"It was there that I encountered the divine being."
Her voice trembled as she spoke, reluctant to recall it.
Kael narrowed his eyes. "What shrine?"
Mai said: "I'm not sure. It looked like an abandoned shrine."
An abandoned shrine?
Kael frowned. "Are you certain it was a divine being?"
Mai's heart skipped. "What do you mean?"
Kael explained: "Generally, if a divine being remains, the shrine wouldn't be abandoned. If it's abandoned, it likely means the god is gone. Perhaps what you encountered wasn't a god."
Mai's scalp tingled. "If it wasn't a god, then what was it?"
"I haven't been to that shrine, so I don't know." Kael shook his head. He couldn't be certain. Perhaps a god lingered even after abandonment—but that was unlikely. Most likely, Mai had encountered some monster or spirit that had taken over the shrine.
Kael asked seriously: "Tell me, what did this divine being look like?"
Mai bit her lip. "It was a fox that spoke human language."
"A fox?"
"Yes." Mai nodded, recalling the event.
At the time, she had fled home, seeking a place where no one knew or noticed her. When she came to her senses, she was already at the abandoned shrine. She didn't even know how she had arrived.
The shrine was desolate, giving her a bad feeling. She wanted to leave immediately. But as she turned to go, a pleasant voice spoke behind her: "You came all this way. Do you really plan to leave?"
Strangely, instead of being startled, Mai felt relieved. She turned back and saw, before the shrine's altar, a glowing fox.
The sight was unbelievable. She asked cautiously: "Was that you speaking just now?"
The fox nodded. "Yes, it was me."
Mai instinctively stepped back but didn't flee. She gathered her courage and asked: "Who are you?"
The fox smiled. "I am the god of this shrine."
Mai found it incredible, but she didn't doubt the fox's identity.