Volume 3 Afterword / Side Story: The Self-M Worldline

"President Hanazawa, I heard that your son has married Ms. Sakurajima Mai, is that true?"

"Inoue- kun, I heard you already have dozens of girlfriends, is that true?"

"Ms. Sakurajima, I heard you're already pregnant, is that true?"

"Inoue- kun, I heard you actually have children, is that true?"

Shuya and Mai, who were sitting to Hanazawa Sakura's left and right, were also asked all sorts of outrageous questions.

But they had already reached a consensus.

When asked about their relationship, they both said they were friends.

When asked about their feelings for each other, they simply said they were childhood sweethearts and very close.

The reporters then asked Mai how she felt about Shuya singing to her in front of everyone.

She immediately added that he sings very well, and hoped everyone would pay more attention to Shuya and her Little Senior Sister's new song, and that she would also work hard to make a good music video, etc.

It's as if I said nothing at all.

The Little Senior Sister sitting next to Shuya nodded repeatedly, mostly agreeing but not saying much.

Shuya and Mai's group, except for their Little Senior Sister, are all seasoned veterans.

Unable to get any information from Shuya Mai, the reporters tried to find a breakthrough with their Little Senior Sister.

But the Little Senior Sister's answers were either "I don't know" or "I don't quite understand," and she would shut up if pressed, so you couldn't get any information out of her.

The press conference then concluded.

Maeda Saori's hired online trolls started to stir things up, shifting the focus to Mai's signing a contract for a comeback and her upcoming music video.

As for the numerous tabloid news stories online, other girls' names are often deliberately thrown out in discussion threads, causing arguments to erupt and eventually veer off course, with no one remembering what was originally being said.

In this way, the online narrative gradually shifted.

Currently, 40% of people are discussing the new song, and another 40% are discussing the super evolution of Hanazawa Agency after Mai and Shuya were placed in the same agency.

Hanazawa Sakura's smug expression was even captured and featured in news reports.

The remaining 20% consists of discussions about gossip, and these people are simply impossible to eliminate.

Regardless, Shuya and Mai are both top stars of the younger generation, and this discussion will not disappear.

In fact Shuya has never cared about fame or status. Why should he compare himself to celebrities?

So low or not?

In fact, the shift in the momentum was partly due to the online trolls; Shuya's side also played a role.

He delegated the matter to his subordinates.

Those who were particularly active online were all summoned by Monster who crawled through the internet and invited them for tea.

Of course, it wouldn't be as foolish as Monster just going straight there; the Supernatural Bureau wouldn't allow it either.

The Japan Monster Alliance, a major force in the supernatural world, also controls numerous yakuza organizations.

This is perfectly normal, after all, neither of them are good things, and birds of a feather flock together.

When keyboard warriors can no longer hide their identities, all they have left is to follow their hearts.

That's why the pace became so fast.

The most intense first wave has passed; we don't need to worry about the rest. Netizens will probably gradually forget about it in three days.

After the press conference, Hanazawa Sakura and Inoue Hikoo had a quick meal with Shuya and his group before parting ways.

Because I'm busy.

Hanazawa Sakura and Maeda Saori both received a large number of phone calls.

As expected, Mai's mother called and asked to meet.

Shuya offered to go and speak on her behalf, but Mai refused. She went out to see her mother alone, saying that she would go home by herself later and that there was no need to worry about her.

Shuya agreed, but secretly sent Monster to follow them.

Seeing that Mai had left alone, Yukino didn't stay either. After saying goodbye Yukino Shuya.

By the way, she no longer lives at Shuya's house; she's gone back to her own apartment.

Seeing that everyone had left, Shuya escorted his Little Senior Sister home.

She's been very tired these past few days.

Shuya didn't thank his Little Senior Sister too much, because he knew she didn't care about such things, and thanking her too much would only make her angry.

Xiu had simply arranged to have dinner with Mai and his Little Senior Sister later, Shuya went home.

After spending almost a week in Fujisawa, he was finally able to go home.

Actually, living with Mai- chan is quite nice.

As soon as he got home, he sensed something was wrong; there was an extra pair of shoes in the entryway.

He sensed something and immediately recognized a familiar presence.

Haruno has arrived.

Shuya thought for a few seconds, realizing there was no way to avoid it, and then went inside.

He was completely at ease and showed no remorse whatsoever.

Upon entering the living room, where the lights and television were on, I saw Haruno lying on the sofa reading a magazine—the same magazine that he and Yukino had gotten from Hirai Ryuji.

"You're back? Shu-chan, you're so good at playing dead."

Haruno rested her chin on her hand and gave him a charming look.

She was wearing Shuya's T-shirt, which was too big for her, reaching her thighs, making it impossible to tell if she was wearing anything underneath.

Anyway, her long, shapely, and fair legs were completely exposed.

Shuya said, "Ahem, I wasn't pretending to be dead, I was just busy."

She was referring to the LINE group, Shuya had been lurking in.

No matter how many times they tagged him, he resolutely refused to show up.

So, what exactly happened?

Haruno had a big smile on her face, but it was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"About that matter..."

Shuya approached her and placed his hand on the sofa.

He has already pasted it on.

Dealing with someone as cunning as Haruno is something we'll deal with another day.

Volume Three is complete.

Section 425 Reflections on Volume 3

Volume Three is complete.

This volume is shorter than the previous two.

The third volume ends and the fourth volume begins, with a short time span between them, continuing from the beginning.

The main plot of Volume 3 is very simple; it has always revolved around Mai's Puberty Syndrome.

Interspersed throughout are numerous introductions and foreshadowing elements.

Hmm... it feels like the high school arc has only just begun?

Then, after the reflections, there will be another chapter released, which will be about the plot inside story of Volume 3 and beyond, the undercurrents beneath the surface.

It's normal if you don't understand it, because they're digging a hole for you.

I've thought about it for ages but can't come up with anything to say, so forget it, I'm off.

Chapter 426, from the M Worldline

It's normal if you don't understand this chapter; it's setting up plot holes.

While Shuya was engaged in an indescribable movement, an unknown phenomenon was taking place in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

After Shuya resolved Mai's Puberty Syndrome, he caused a fluctuation within the aggregate of human Power of Will.

This fluctuation was extremely subtle.

However, some people with special abilities still noticed it and were drawn to it, approaching the location.

As the person detected this fluctuation, an illusory space descended upon this world.

Without being noticed by any human, god, or demon, Shinjuku blurred for a fleeting moment, overlapping with a mysterious space.

This overlapping space is also Shinjuku, but the scene is extremely dilapidated, a desolate landscape after a great battle.

The building collapsed, garbage was everywhere, the road was riddled with potholes, and black and red bloodstains were visible all around.

The most terrifying thing is that there are always grotesque, twisted monsters wandering around.

In this post-apocalyptic city, a woman appears on the desolate land, hiding in a corner.

"Rio- senpai, Rio- senpai, this is Shoko, repeat, this is Shoko."

The woman, Shoko Makinohara, pressed her earpiece and whispered, "Just a minute ago, I sensed that the path to the SG Worldline had opened. I've already used Nakano- senpai and the others' location abilities to half-jump to the SG Worldline. I'll be arriving soon. Over."

A few seconds later, a mature yet lazy voice rang out. "This is Futaba, received."

"As a scientist, I still hope that Shoko- chan can be more rigorous. That's just one of the most likely worldlines to become the SG Worldline, not the SG Worldline... Well, whatever, sigh."

"If this is the timeline, I shouldn't need to offer any help, right? It's perfectly peaceful, Inoue -kun is in excellent condition. Just do as we agreed... Hmm? There's a violent energy fluctuation coming from your area... Shoko- chan, get out of the way!"

"Clear!"

Shoko dashed forward instantly.

The armor-like shoes she was wearing gleamed.

"Kirino- senpai, please!"

As soon as Shoko finished speaking, a powerful energy surge erupted from her shoes, making her incredibly agile and as fast as a phantom. She darted through the collapsed buildings like a parkour performer, disappearing from her spot in a few moments and reappearing on a distant street.

Half a second after she ran away, a powerful blade of light descended from the sky, cleaving the earth into a bottomless crack.

A pleasant female voice faintly drifted out. "They ran away?"

At the same time, an imposing aura swept in, and Shoko was already spotted.

Shoko's expression remained unchanged as she touched a rabbit hair clip in her hair with her right hand.

"Mai- senpai!"

Her figure vanished in an instant, as if into thin air.

A flash of light passed right by, but it missed its target.

A few seconds later, Shoko reappeared in the distance.

"Found you."

A female voice appeared behind Shoko, and a tall, slender figure wielding a katana descended from the sky, unleashing a dazzling slash crackling with black lightning.

"Shinmeiryu, Thunderclap Sword."

However, Shoko was prepared. She drew a katana from her body, lightning flashed around her in an arc, and her sword technique, imbued with golden lightning, turned and unleashed a furious attack.

"Shinmeiryu Secret Technique, Thunderclap Sword!"