386. Racing Against Time

Shuya continued, "Puberty Syndrome... You've heard of it, haven't you, Azusagawa? Your sister..."

Where did you hear that from?

Azusagawa frowned, feeling that his privacy had been violated.

"The Supernatural Bureau."

"..."

This name was unexpected by Azusagawa.

He had originally planned to seek help from the Supernatural Bureau if things went wrong.

Unexpectedly, the agency that sold him the information was the Supernatural Bureau.

He touched his head and sighed at how dark the world was, how everyone was colluding together.

Azusagawa wasn't angry; she just wanted to complain a little.

He asked, "... So what do you want to know?"

"I was hoping to see your sister, but your attitude tells me you probably won't let me."

"To be honest, my sister used to be your fan, and I won't stop you from meeting her, but my sister now, she's a bit..."

Azusagawa scratched his head.

"It's okay, I understand. You can ask me anything."

Shuya then shared his insights on Puberty Syndrome with him.

Azusagawa told Shuya about his sister's situation then and now.

He has been following online discussions on this topic for the past few years, and he told Shuya that the most important thing is to resolve one's own inner conflicts.

This is the same advice given by the Supernatural Bureau, and frankly, it's not very helpful to Shuya.

But Shuya certainly wouldn't say it outright to his face.

After politely thanking him, he handed him a note with his phone number written on it, which he had prepared beforehand.

Knowing that Azusagawa didn't have a cell phone, he asked for his home phone number.

After Azusagawa accepted the note, Shuya said goodbye to him.

Shuya flipped over and flew away. Azusagawa watched his back, then looked at the note in her hand, and went back without saying anything.

"Brother, who was looking for you just now?"

Azusagawa Kaede was watching TV, rushed over, her eyes blinking. "Is it a woman? Is it a strange woman?!"

"No, he's just a classmate."

Azusagawa answered casually, ruffling his sister's hair.

After Shuya flew away from his house, he landed at Mai's house next door.

His apartment and Mai's apartment were in the same area.

Shuya then said apologetically in a low voice, "I'm sorry, brother, I was just in a hurry."

He lied just now.

He outwardly refrained from forcing a meeting with Azusagawa Kaede, but that was merely a rhetorical device to avoid provoking resistance from Azusagawa.

He had secretly used his Power of Will to spy on his sister long ago.

Shuya admitted that this disregarded other people's privacy.

It is a very immoral thing to do.

Since he achieved success in his spiritual practice, he has always paid attention to controlling this aspect, unless it is someone he knows or an enemy.

Otherwise, he wouldn't attack ordinary people.

This time, however, an exception was made.

Shuya a rigid person; he would act when necessary.

Mai can't wait much longer; he urgently needs intelligence.

Through the investigation using the Power of Will, it was confirmed that the Supernatural Bureau had not lied at all.

No matter how I checked, I couldn't find anything wrong.

Perhaps if we send someone else to bully Azusagawa Kaede, we might find out something?

But Shuya really couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.

He had no choice but to give up, exchanged numbers with Azusagawa, and left.

Hopefully, if he comes up with anything, he'll be able to contact him.

415th Quarter, 386 seconds - Every second counts

Shuya returned to Mai's house.

Welcome back.

You're back?

"Yes, I'm back."

Mai and Yukino both at home.

They weren't talking; they were both silently thinking about something.

After Shuya came in, they greeted each other and then fell silent.

Shuya said, "I originally wanted to share the latest information with you, but judging from your expressions... has something happened?"

Shuya and the others divided their tasks and went to different places; he went to the Supernatural Bureau, while they searched for clues in the Fujisawa area.

There is indeed bad news.

Yukino glanced at Mai, and seeing that she didn't want to speak, she turned to Shuya herself:

"People in Fujisawa City have stopped seeing Mai- san."

What happened?

After Shuya finished speaking, the words that the Heavenly God had just told him flashed through his mind.

---As long as the future is observed, it will gradually slide in that direction.

---Your discovery of this matter accelerated the events surrounding her.

"..."

He also fell silent.

What news did you get?

Yukino asked, Mai looked over at the same time.

"Actually, it's like this..."

Shuya recounted the information he had obtained from the Heavenly God, the Supernatural Bureau, and the Azusagawa family.

"Puberty Syndrome..."

"Never heard of it."

They reacted the same way as Shuya.

"Based on what they said and the information they showed me, to resolve Mai- chan's issue, we mainly need to start with your mindset and the surrounding environment."

Shuya summarized what he saw at school today. "As far as I can tell, everyone at your school is deliberately ignoring you, and you're playing along by acting like you're invisible."

"Could this be related to what happened to you? I have my doubts."

"..."

Mai sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion, deep in thought.

Yukino suddenly said, "By the way, Mai- san, you mentioned that you were back to normal for a while, right?"

Mai nodded, puzzled. "Hmm? Yes. Some time after Shuya finished filming."

"This is it!"

Shuya after Yukino reminded him.

He clapped his hands. "I get it! After Mai- chan and I finished filming, it caused a lot of discussion. People from your school must have seen it too, right?"

"Therefore, Mai- chan, who had been ignored by them, came back into their sights and was noticed again. The atmosphere around her changed, which led to a return to normalcy during that period."

"Then, when the conversation returned to normal, the students ignored Mai- chan again, and the matter came full circle."

"So that's how it is?"

Mai listened, completely stunned.

"Inoue -kun said is exactly what I wanted to say."

Yukino nodded repeatedly. "So I have a guess. If we give Mai- san's classmates something that will make them unable to ignore Mai- san's impact anymore, we might be able to turn this situation around!"

Shuya added, "And one more thing, Mai- chan, you also have a problem with your mentality."

"I have a question?"

The Strange Path of Mai.

"Your temporary withdrawal from the entertainment industry must have caused you a lot of stress, right? Mental state can be a major cause of Puberty Syndrome."

Shuya looked at her seriously. "Mai- chan, I know you really love acting, so... take this opportunity to go back to the entertainment industry?"

"... My mom and I are still arguing."

Mai paused before speaking.

"Then stop hanging out with your mother and come work at my family's firm."

Shuya made the suggestion.

"You, your home? Hanazawa Agency?"

Mai- chan had never thought about this at all.

However... this is not impossible.

Although Hanazawa Agency's main business is not acting, Mai's fame means she has no shortage of opportunities.

The firm's resources are important, but not so much to her.

Because she is the irreplaceable Sakurajima Mai.

She admitted that she was attracted to him.

Shuya leaned forward. "So it's decided then?"

"I... um."

Mai finally nodded.

"But I need to talk to my mom about it properly."

After saying that, she sent a text message, asking her mother to meet her at the beach in Shichirigahama after school the next day.

"Very good, let's get one thing done first."

Shuya normally be happy Mai joined his agency, but given the current situation, he's not really happy about it.

What are your plans next?

Yukino asked the next question.

Mai's mindset has changed, but the atmosphere at school hasn't been resolved.

"... Actually, it's not difficult. I already have an idea. Leave the rest to me."